With so many developers leaving AAA in favour of indie, many are wondering why AAA is so horrible. Is it soul crushing, or do developers just get irritated when things don’t go their way? Or, are developers finally seeing that it can be viable to make the games of their dreams, including weird mixtures of FTL and Mad Max.
Polygon’s Ben Kuchera did an interesting opinion piece about why AAA developers hate their jobs and it doesn’t sound too far off from this comedy sketch.
Instead of leaving the actual game design and creation in the hands of those who know best, too often it is influenced by outsiders who think they know what will help the game to succeed. Sounds like a mess to me and definitely something I’d run from if I were a developer.
Want to make the game of your dream? That’s what these guys are doing with Convoy which is described as FTL meets Mad Max. Okay, here’s more of description:
Presented in pixel art and set in a future post apocalyptic setting, Convoy is a squad based tactical combat roguelike-like in its core. As a player you travel with your combat vehicles and convoy across a wasteland to find parts needed to repair your broken spaceship. During your journey you might encounter strangers in randomized scenarios by picking up radio signals. Depending on the choices you make as a player, this can either lead to tactical combat, text based dialogue or chance based role-play. Whatever choice you make, you need to keep your convoy and its cargo safe from raiders, warriors and other enemies. Keep upgrading your vehicles, as death is permanent in Convoy.
It’s being released on Steam on 21 April, here’s the trailer:
I told you last week about Haiku Warrior. If you haven’t backed it and you like playing tabletop games, you might to reevaluate your decision making procedures. It’s two thirds of the way to funded with 21 days to go, so I think it’s a fairly safe bet that it will happen. Maybe. Kickstarter is weird.
I am a huge fan of Klei’s creations. Mark of the Ninja was one of my favorite gaming experiences, and Don’t Starve was an instant cult classic. Their latest project, Invisible Inc, has been looking rad for a while. It’s gotten quite some upgrades since it’s last Early Access build, and now it has a release date. 12 May 2015 you can grab it on Steam, but it’s also going to come to PS4 – happy days! Here’s the release date trailer.
Last Updated: April 16, 2015
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 16, 2015 at 12:31
Convoy seems like something I can sink my teeth into
Her Highness the Hipster
April 16, 2015 at 12:55
i thought it might appeal to you 😛
RinceThis
April 16, 2015 at 12:40
Ohhhh.
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 12:42
Indie is hipster.
RinceThis
April 16, 2015 at 12:48
But now she is playing with a Samsung, not an iPhone…
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 12:54
Huwaei about that?!
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 12:59
Huawei sucks. I have one of their phones, It aint hipster at all. Mind you, My LTE dongle is Huawei and it works ok, as long as I only play COD online. I wonder if the Chinese are spying on me ? Mmm.
Her Highness the Hipster
April 16, 2015 at 12:54
i review all the things. also, we already said on twitter that HTC is the new hipster brand.
RinceThis
April 16, 2015 at 12:56
You are an iPhoney! Traitor!
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 12:50
That video is a hoot. I have dealt with clients that want me “to pan” the camera up, Also have no clue of what a wip or playblast is. One of the questions I get asked all the time is ” Why is it grey ” ?.
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 12:52
I’ve been asked by countless people to do countless, literally impossible things. Including my current creative director (who should know better. “should”) who’s asked me several times to fix a blur in footage, which is a camera problem. I’m a video editor – using already captured footage. The camera settings need to change, before filming. Once it’s done, it’s done. Nothing I can do about it. Who cares? Fix it.
Riiiiiiiiight.
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 12:57
Ouch. Get a plastic toy hammer, a yellow one, and go outside to beat yourself senseless. Creative Directors are never wrong…
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 12:58
I take enough of a beating in my job thanks. I’d rather just suffer the day and spend the nights gaming my misery away.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 12:57
Stopped watching the video after two minutes, to close to the truth….
Eric
April 16, 2015 at 13:03
That video was so scary.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:09
You know what’s scarier? It happens every day…
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 13:09
Someone posting Darryn’s mankini on Lagz?
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 13:10
And now I read that with the correct inflection. Ah written language, why do you do this to me?
Eric
April 16, 2015 at 16:24
I know… to me 🙁
Ir0nseraph
April 16, 2015 at 13:06
One of those vids were you can’t decide if you need to laugh or go grab a beer.
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 13:07
Just one?
Ir0nseraph
April 16, 2015 at 13:07
XD my bad one case.
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 16, 2015 at 13:08
It’s like reading Dilbert cartoons.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:17
I’m turning more and more into Wally everyday…
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 16, 2015 at 13:23
That reminds me, I want more coffee.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:25
fourth cup for me… I need to up my intake.
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 16, 2015 at 13:01
Convoy sounds nearly identical to a KS game I backed, Bedlam.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:02
Invisible Inc. and Convoy looks pretty cool. I wouldn’t cry myself to sleep if AAA games died. It’s amazing what can be created without publishers like EA or Ubisofts involvement
Ir0nseraph
April 16, 2015 at 13:04
Ok step back from the edge slowly.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:06
Nah, indie games is about games and not profit as much. Their budgets aren’t bloated or filled with season passes and DLC. No bugs or day one patches. Cheap, small and fun to play. They’re doing it right, AAA, not so much
Ir0nseraph
April 16, 2015 at 13:07
I get that , but I can’t have my PS4 idle along forever.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:08
Agreed, it will be a while before a n indie GTA pops up and thankfully an indie COD as well.
Ir0nseraph
April 16, 2015 at 13:09
A indie COD 🙂
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 13:11
I think I need to make an indie game that subtly teaches spelling and grammar to people on the internet.
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 13:11
I need that.
Ir0nseraph
April 16, 2015 at 13:12
I might just play that.
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 16, 2015 at 13:13
http://store.steampowered.com/app/246580/
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 13:17
Not bad, but that’ll teach you typing more than anything. I’m talking about actually teaching the correct rules, to be applied universally when constructing a complete and correct sentence in English.
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 13:18
I just try to emulate what I see, like a monkey would do…
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 13:21
Awwww, aren’t you just a peach? 😛
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 13:08
Good point. But I need to point out indie games are like a gateway drug. It may all be about the art at first, but soon they will move on to more nefarious practices.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:16
MAybe, but I’ll enjoy it till then.
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 13:17
And then the bandwidth issue comes up. Most indie games are about 3 gigs. I have a cap.
Pariah
April 16, 2015 at 13:18
3GB indie. 30GB AAA. And that number keeps going up.
Yeah indies are my choice if bandwidth is an issue.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:26
Which ones? Most I’ve played were not even close to that size…
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 13:29
The free monthly ones on PS4 +
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 13:35
I really cant think of any indie game being that big. And I’m trying to find out on Google.
Darren Peach
April 16, 2015 at 16:54
In all honesty, I don’t play many.
Pieter Kruger
April 16, 2015 at 13:51
Well, they’re not. The databank only has so much space for games……….
Pieter Kruger
April 16, 2015 at 13:27
Convoy sounds like a nice concept, but why oh why do they still feel obligated to use crappy graphics? Just pretty it up a bit dammit! Even the crappiest phones out there support great graphics these days! I refuse to get dragged back to the 80’s and will never pretend to like these games no matter how hip it’ll make me!????
Kensei Seraph
April 16, 2015 at 14:59
That video… I know how he feels.
Kensei Seraph
April 16, 2015 at 14:59
That video… I know how he feels.
Wardonkey
April 16, 2015 at 15:57
____________________________________________________ look, a red line with black ink.