And another one bites the dust....
And another one bites the dust....
Originally Posted by Alan
// Previously known as Blind Faith or Pr⊕phet
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Going mainstream, or "targeting a larger market", is not always such a good thing.
Your brilliant title can very quickly devolve into just another piece of junk...
the companies are going to the money, that's what everyone is forgetting.
in the end they are still businesses, and the main aim is to get cash. not supply a good experience.
Play games, not platforms
BioWare already has consumer loyalty. Theoretically, they could release doggy-doo and it will still sell because of the loyalty that they've built up over the years. However, that financial leeway won't last forever and that loyalty they've worked so hard to accrue will wear out--maybe one poor game from now, maybe ten. The fact is that when that loyalty wears out, it's gone.
I'm reminded of ArcaniA and how badly that went down, how quickly JoWood's attempt at mainstreaming a cult classic via a different developer backfired.
BioWare aren't immune to failure and it would honestly be a massive shame to see them follow that path.
Interest in a solid; perhaps not exactly "mainstream" game like The Witcher has grown since its release, CDProjekt are garnering substantial loyalty each time they prove themselves by sticking to their guns, by offering a unique experience that isn't dumbed down or simplified. It's a game aimed at mature/experienced gamers, not children who need to be spoon-fed an adventure or gameplay.
The problem with mainstreaming a game is that it begins to lose its flavour and appeal to gamers seeking new, thrilling and perhaps even challenging experiences.
Yes, you get people who just want to sit down in front of a game and click a lot to finish it, to them I say go and play Bejewelled. The rest of us, I believe, are more demanding and expect a much more refined and immersive experience that is simply impossible to achieve in a spoon-fed and simplified universe.
"Mainstream" is never the way to go. Listen to your fans--the people who buy your games and appreciate your vision. Expand upon that vision but never reduce it.
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