Sony.. Microsoft.. What do they have in common? They don't know WHAT the hell they are doing right now. The PS3 is bombing, and does anyone care? I surely do. How about you? Competition keeps the great games coming. As we have seen with the EA/NFL deal, and now the Capcom/MotoGP deal, exclusivity contracts SEVERELY hurt quality. But, the obvious aside, that is not what I am here to write about today.
My gripe today is about all of these studio closures we are all hearing about these past few weeks. I find it a bit crazy that after a year of not only sales success, but industry growth in regards to profits, too many good studios are being closed. In some cases, like with Ensemble, now they will be able to create whatever they want, and for whatever platform they want, now that they are out from under Microsoft's thumb. Some of the choices by these companies are really, from a business point, retarded? Rare, after all of their LACK of success, is being kept and reorganized/tasked? But, Ensemble has been shut down? Who is the idiot that made that decision. But more importantly, why does that idiot still have a job? If he does, of course. ;) That utterly baffles me.
As a gaming fan, some of these decisions as of late disturb and worry me about the direction gaming is headed. I look at the coming year, and I am somewhat excited, because I know that the games I am looking forward to already are in good hands with the third party developers making them. I think racing fans will be happy with the games coming this year. That is one of my favorite genre's. But, what else is coming out that makes me giddy inside? Not much really? Fight Night Round 4.. God of War 3, if it makes the holiday window.. Maybe Madden and NBA Live, but we get those every year.. But, I don't see much else, except for the racing community. Race Pro, Dirt 2 with an expanded online, and F1 from Codie's was talked about as an '09 release, and if it happens, Gran Tourismo 5 might make it this year. I have lost all hope for the MotoGP series after '08 was released. Now that Climax (now Black Rock Studios) is no longer making that series, my only motorcycle hope for this year is Superbike from Milestone. :(
I think it is time for these big companies to rethink their staffing decisions. It is apparent that some of the exec's in the two big players houses are out of touch with the gaming community AND business as a whole. You definitely don't need to be a genious or have a college degree to see that. One thing is for sure, '09 is shaping up already to be a crazy year for the gaming business all together!
UrbanMerc (Live! & PSN)