Deep Silver publishes a wide range of smaller games, and you might not even have heard of them – unless you played the broken, but fun-with-friends zombie-slasher Dead Island. The publisher, however, believes that they’re better than the likes of mega-publishers such as EA, Activision and Ubisoft…because they actually turn a profit.
“People say, ‘Oh, you acquired Volition and Metro, you’re going to be a triple-A publisher. What separates us from a triple-A publisher is that I don’t really have a desire to be a triple-A publisher,” Deep Silver’s chief Operating Officer Geoff Mulligan says in GameInformer Magazine (via Videogamer.)
“I actually think we’re much better than the Activisions, EAs, and Ubisofts of the world. People say, ‘What do you mean? They are valued at three billion dollars.’ I say the difference is that we make money.”
You’ll probably be hearing a lot more of the Koch Media-owned publisher now since they acquired the rights to Metro and Saint’s Row, including the teams that make them. Mulligan, however, insists he doesn’t want to see the company become one of those giant, faceless multinational corporations.
“With the acquisition of Metro and Saints Row, it allows us to, again, go from strength to strength. But do I want to hire 500 people and build a world headquarters? That’s not what we do – nor is it what we need to do,” Mulligan said.
“I firmly believe that you do not need a giant organization anymore. That’s what’s killing so many publishers. The moment you don’t have a giant, triple-A hit, your overhead absolutely eats you alive. What do you do if this big, triple-A game didn’t hit? You’ve got to ship another one very quickly and hope that one does.”
They’re also better, Deep Silver, says, because they’re able to be more reactive to industry changes, because there’s no stuffy board of directors or group of investors to answer to.
“We’re a publisher that, in a difficult and rapidly evolving marketplace, uses guerrilla tactics. We move quickly and we don’t have a public board of directors to answer to. We like what we do and have fun,” he said.
“That’s important. You go to some of these companies – you probably have good friends at some of these companies. You go hang out with them, and they are miserable or they are frightened. I think our people are having a really good time.”
I have to say that I like his attitude, and I wish Deep silver the best of luck now that they’re entering the ring with the big boys.
Last Updated: April 11, 2013
TechniKyle
April 11, 2013 at 11:24
Yoh! That’s like a triple A, bitchslap right there! I love these guys! 😀
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 14:14
Hahaha. Triple A b*slap. Nice haha
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 11:25
Usually such brazen cockiness (scuse my French) would be frown worthy and initiate a rant.
But you know what… I like what he has to say. He sounds more like he enjoys creating games and puts that over making millions.
I like this. I like this a lot
AndriyP
April 11, 2013 at 11:30
Exactly how i felt reading this, as a gamer this is what i want so that means they know how gamers feel ans what they want
Slade Boender
April 11, 2013 at 11:58
I do too, it means, at least from what I understand, is that they’re confident in the work that they are doing and most importantly ARE HAVING FUN while doing so.
Not everyone gets to work their “dream job” but I know some people are heavily passionate about producing and developing games.
Not for the sake of making the “next big thing” but more because they enjoy the process the ups the downs and the time spent working through the entire experience, but never the accolade.
I’d like to see more pubs do this and have this kind of attitude to the work they do and stand for.
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 12:16
No need for Le Sigh?! 0_O
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 12:21
Nope. Sir-Rants-a-Lot approves this message!
I need a *Le Celebrate*
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 12:28
I don’t do happy…
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 12:30
*Le Sigh*
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 12:38
SCORE!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 12:42
Lol. You weirdo
*Disclaimer: Not meant in a mean way at all
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 13:02
Take that disclaimer back!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 13:07
Fine! Weirdo!
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 13:28
Good man!
Verrayne
April 11, 2013 at 13:39
” he enjoys creating games and puts that over making millions”
Why not both?
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 13:41
EA tried and failed. With millions comes the fact that to sustain it you need to continue to make even more millions and one inevitably becomes a tad bit greedy (ie: Microtransactions on/in absolutely everything)
Verrayne
April 11, 2013 at 13:43
I honestly believe that EA’s downfall is the fact that it is a publicly listed company.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 14:05
Nah.
It’s because it has horrible PR and more often than not give their customers the finger because they refuse to listen to reason or advice from the their consumers
Verrayne
April 11, 2013 at 14:14
Shareholders decided 0 budget for PR 😛
I’ve learnt that the corporate monster only becomes worse when listed.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 14:32
True
FoxOneZA - The Chosen One
April 11, 2013 at 11:36
They all say this before fame hits them. To EA’s defence, they are obligated to turn out AAA games all the time. There’s games in EA’s stable that I would rather pick over the mediocre Dead Island.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 11:39
May I make a non-attacking response? 😛
EA may be expected to churn out AAA games, but that doesn’t mean that they are also forced to make the bad choices they make.
Also as the guy said, the bad choices come not because they are churning out AAA titles but because they have so many overheads (The company is mind bogglingly big) that even a smash hit AAA game isn’t enough to turn good profits because it’s eaten away by their overheads.
AAA games can be made for less and this is what the guy is trying to point out.
BUT, the proof will be in the pudding. Let’s see what quality they can bring to the industry before we all start singing praise or running around with pitchforks.
Ultimo_Cleric_N7
April 11, 2013 at 11:51
Agreed. Seems like a lot of these developers have become a bit arrogant lately. Lord British, EA and now these clowns.
Seems like alot of these guys forget that pride comes before a fall.
FoxOneZA - The Chosen One
April 11, 2013 at 11:55
Konami, Capcom, Squueeenix just to name a few but remove their games in favour of hippy developers and things won’t be rosy on our side.
FoxOneZA - The Chosen One
April 11, 2013 at 11:57
A fine example is MoH: Warfighter. First half of the game is horrendous, Looks ugly and has a seriously disconnected story but at the second half it takes off as if a totally different studio developed the game.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 12:13
Exactly! And that’s because in effect… it is!
The companies are so big that I cannot believe that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing at all times.
Hence why some games seem so disjointed. Because it travels through so many departments instead of a small focused team.
Galbedir
April 11, 2013 at 11:36
I will be keeping an eye on Deep Silver in future, sounds like they have the right idea.
Ultimo_Cleric_N7
April 11, 2013 at 11:49
Talk is cheap. Prove it through your games Deep Silver……
Trevor Davies
April 11, 2013 at 11:50
He’s got a good point about the overheads. Next time you finish a AAA title from EA & Ubi have a look at the credits, it seems like a never-ending list of CEOs, presidents, vice-presidents, department heads, etc, etc, etc with a few developers tacked on at the end.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 12:11
You check game credits? Man, you are one seriously patient man
vinayxbox
April 11, 2013 at 12:15
Very true !!
Mathias
April 11, 2013 at 11:59
Well, when your goals are millions of dollars behind the goals of bigger companies, of course you’ll turn profit.
I don’t particulary like them, though. I’m not a fan of Dead Island at all. We’ll see what happens with the Metro franchise…
Brady miaau
April 11, 2013 at 12:46
Are these note the guys who did X2, X3 and so forth? the big space sim / fighty / trading games
matthurstrsa
April 11, 2013 at 13:43
He is with the times. I like this guy. Shooting from the hip man, long may it continue.
Bluesky02
April 16, 2013 at 21:53
You don’t want to be a big Triple A publisher but the least you can do is push for some marketing of your games. Aside from Singles 1, 2 and Dead Island, I haven’t heard much of what Deep Silver published.