I think OldProgie is right on the money with this. It's going to cost more but it's not going to sky rocket out of control. Also, you failed to mention xbox arcade. Microsoft sees the issues with next generation games being hard on small indy development studios. Hence why microsoft is opening up microsoft arcade for indy studios. Microsoft already has a nice selection already lined up from indy studios that is fun and creative. I also think that handhelds will get a bigger drive next generation since their cost is so cheap. Companys will be more open to fund small projecst to test game ideas on a handheld first before going into making a huge expensive idea on consoles. PSP brings more then enough power to handle this.
...I was just gonna say I like the Acclaim piccy at the top of this thread, is it an aptly placed tombstone, 'cos it looks just like one? :dance:
(Un)fortunately it doesn't work for game industry. The whole outsourcing thing is going on since late 90-s, and show me how many successful games are coming from India? Zipity-zip. Game development is a complex form of no-thrills art. Kind of like sitcoms and such. You can't just hire a bunch of cheap villagers from India and expect them to come up with something that will appeal to western and asian audiences. They may, however, come up with some sort of local content, which will cost pennies and work on whatever is the 100$ MIT laptop that should revolutionize Indian villages. Kind of like Bolliwood. It's doing well and even generate some profits, but barely anyone is interested in it beyond India and immigrants from India. So no, outsourcing is not a big threat and/or salvation, due to creative nature of industry. What will happen is more and more people will move to next get mobile phones, which are hooked up to some serious broadband, and are always on, and have great bright screens, and sport some respectable CPU and even 3d horsepower. So I think game industry isn't going to disappear, but the focus will shift more to casual gamers and/or mobile MMORPG area. I, personally, will buy Xbox 360, PS3 and Revo correspondently. But it's only due to the fact that I'm an ubergeek, who owns useless junk like SEGA Teradrive and over 30 models of MSX computers... It's an obsession, and most people are blessed with having better things in life then videogame obsession. And even having that in mind, I won't go buy those systems on the day of release. Hardware is garbage. Games aren't. I'll buy Xbox 360 the day Halo 3 comes out. PS3 the day Killzone sequel comes out. Revolution - the day Metroid Prime 3 will come out. I doubt I'll buy any other games for a while, and I will only buy sequels in Grand Turismo, GTA and Castlevania series as soon as they hit the Golden Hits/Player Choice price tag. Oh, and by the way, ASSEMBER's pic is awesome. It just shows the things to come. Who's next in line after Interplay/Acclaim? Could be anyone... Just my 2 cents.
It is happening now. I'm not talking about cutting edge coding or full games though. I know of at least two companies who are looking to India for content production. Thinks like donkey work animation and rendering, scenery modelling and texturing. Basically anything that is easy to produce, but labour intensive. Besides, India's universities are churning out some good talent. Some of that talent is making it's way to the western world, but at some stage their industry is going to mature enough to compete on even terms with any western companies. Yeah, I was only joking really. It's just that it brings back bad memories for me when the company crashed leaving me with no wages
What happened to eastern europe? They have far more talent, like croteam, etc. BTW, the indians have been getting pissy about the low wages as well, so don't expect it to last forever.
I'm no expert on outsourcing, I'm only going on what I've been told. Apprently though, companies have tried to work with eastern europeans but for whatever reasons it hasn't worked out. Maybe because they are talented and want more than just the sweatshop type work. (My uninformed opnion only) As I say, I'm not the decision maker. But no doubt, if it starts getting too expensive in India the 'powers that be' will find someone else who will work for peanuts. Africa maybe. Note that I don't agree with nor condone these practices. My personal view is that at least these developing countries are getting some investment, but I don't like the sweatshop mentality. I hope any such companies that invest in offshore outsourcing will ensure the well being of staff they indirectly employ.
OldProgie, Suprised you did not mention about how some studios now have a division setup in china to deal with cheaper game development. All PS2 & GCN ports of Splinter cell were handled by ubi-soft's shangai studios. Hell as far back as the ps1 port of Rayman 2 was handled by shangai & bejgin studios. Actualy even the studio I work for now opened its first NA studio in canada since it was cheaper then opening it in the states.
I actually got hooked by PC gaming yet again. Guild Wars and Call of Duty 2 right now. I may go get WoW soon, since it's on sale right now. I do still play on consoles, on handheld to be more specific. Breath of Fire for GBA is a fabulous game.
Screw that No time to learn new tricks Sequels, sequels, more sequels! I can see myself getting newly released Halo 5: Humans and Covenant against Borg and Combine
Actually crappy companies getting killed off by their own crap is quite fitting. Perhaps the weeding will be accelerated. (Stares at THQ and EIDOS)
They've been letting the young lions have a go at it to try to save the company, and so far it's working. Project Snowblind was pretty good for online play. Good level design.
Isn't RARE WARE european based? I might be wrong, but those are some great titles they've produced: Banjo-Kazooie, Tooie, Donkey Kong Country...
The east of europe is VERY different from western europe. Rare is based in the west. Eastern europe is where you get the cheap employment.....
Maybe, but every time I played online, everyone went to the Agent class and shot through the fucking walls! :banghead: OH: :evil: :dammit:
I had to do an outsourcing project a few years ago for a class... the reason why India is a prime place for outsourcing right now is that they already speak english and are relatively well educated or can at least be taught cheaply. Consumers and competition demand lower prices of goods and companies don't want to spend lots on little return. That's why you'll never see companies flocking to Africa to hire some bushmen for their customer service or internet firms. Also India has a lower standard/cost of living than the US, which means lower salaries. A software engineer in california can make like 70k year, while in Bangalore they'll make 7k a year. Common sense says salaries will slowly rise as that class of people making the money grows bigger. I don't think outsourcing is bad, but is how a free market system works. A good company can save resources like money and staff by hiring cheap workers in India to do the work, which lets the company relocate the workers here to do more efficient things..or even hire more people.
