LukasTaves
Member
What's strange is that they bought them after LBP. I mean, the concept had an huge potential, but they failed on so much that even though I would definitely see if they could improve on the sequel I wouldn't have bought them.
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I'll give it to Sony, I would have axed Media Molecule/Dreams by now
- Thread starter Mikey Jr.
- Start date
I understand the trepidation with the nebulous nature of Dreams, but think a lot of people are underestimating Mm's influence on Sony as a whole. They popularized the Play.Create.Share. movement which not only played a large role in their own games, but influenced others like ModNation Racers and LBP Karting. While it's not 100% due to Mm, we now even have a share button on our controllers.
They also find unique ways to use Sony tech. LBP's Move Add-On provided new experiences with motion controls. Those ideas transitioned to the use of their IP on the Vita version of LBP. Tearaway also made excellent use of camera and touchscreen technology. Tearaway Unfolded continued this with clever implementations of the PS4 Camera and the new features on the DS4 like the light bar and touch pad. I'd go as far as to say they're the only studio who have found innovative ways to use the new tech. If I'm Sony and I have new ideas for tech or controller design, I go to Mm and ask them what they think since their level of creativity is unrivaled.
Even though it didn't set the world on fire, discrediting the Tearaway franchise is foolish. It has lead to two great, critically acclaimed games.
To me they are Sony's version of Nintendo's first party, or Sony's Double Fine. They may not always strike gold, but their creativity and contributions are much needed.
It always gives me hope that, despite lackluster sales, we may still get stuff I enjoy, like a Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time sequel or Puppeteer 2.
They also find unique ways to use Sony tech. LBP's Move Add-On provided new experiences with motion controls. Those ideas transitioned to the use of their IP on the Vita version of LBP. Tearaway also made excellent use of camera and touchscreen technology. Tearaway Unfolded continued this with clever implementations of the PS4 Camera and the new features on the DS4 like the light bar and touch pad. I'd go as far as to say they're the only studio who have found innovative ways to use the new tech. If I'm Sony and I have new ideas for tech or controller design, I go to Mm and ask them what they think since their level of creativity is unrivaled.
Even though it didn't set the world on fire, discrediting the Tearaway franchise is foolish. It has lead to two great, critically acclaimed games.
To me they are Sony's version of Nintendo's first party, or Sony's Double Fine. They may not always strike gold, but their creativity and contributions are much needed.
It always gives me hope that, despite lackluster sales, we may still get stuff I enjoy, like a Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time sequel or Puppeteer 2.
That's a big if, more than a when, I think.
The total operating cost of Media Molecule since 2012-2016 (which would cover Tearaway cost, and LBP3 cost - which MM did have to assign some resources to), has been less than £20m.
The threshold for a return on that kind of investment should be well within the reach of Dreams. Even if it was only a fraction as successful as LBP was - a million full-price copies ought to cover that kind of budget?
Even if Dreams failed completely, they've been profiting throughout this period, and it sounds like they have a strong set of retained earnings they could fall back on (to the tune of ~£30m). Obviously the company's ongoing operation is at Sony's pleasure, and I'm sure there'd be some changes if Dreams did outright fail, but the financial situation seems like it could afford some leeway even in the face of that.
If we weren't in the dark timeline, Puppeteer would have been a launch title for PS4 and would be a huge franchise right now, and Knack would have been that weird game that came out reallllllly late in the PS3 cycle and bombed
Sangetsu-II
Member
That's how I wish it would have went down as well. Puppeteer had more engaging and challenging gameplay, better creativity, atmosphere and characters, great bosses, and was all around way more fun. At the very least, hopefully Knack 2 can turn around what to me was a very underwhelming game.
Man. It really should have been on PS4. Amazing game.
Tumle
Member
Not going to quote your avatar description.. but wow you have a lot of opinions on what "gamers want"..
If your assumption was true.. why does this industry even exist, if gamers didn't want to make games?
Hell half of Gaf are armchair developers, while the other half is actual developers..
wowbaggerBR
Member
Thats because you don't follow Poliphony's Digital shenanigans.
Theslammer
Member
Holy crap, some of you guys need to realize that you're just making things up and simply pull back from the weird assumptions.
First, Knack sold well, provided a type of game that you don't see often right now that also goes beyond hardcore gamers (though its hard mode is more a , and isn't pushing a large budget. There's nothing remotely inexplicable about this.
A game not selling a lot doesn't mean it didn't sell well in relation to what it cost. Stuff like Gravity Rush 2 isn't expensive. This isn't Horizon: Zero Dawn/Uncharted 4 we're talking about here. GR2 or Last Guardian don't need to do Uncharted 4 numbers to recoup costs. A game's success doesn't hinge on whether or not it makes sales charts considering a lot more goes into a game and a cheap game that sells decently can net you more money than an expensive game that sells OK.
As I've said a thousand times in this very thread, we are talking about mainstream appeal. The average gamer. Of course there are plenty of devs, but they are not the ones who have games charting month in and month out despite them contributing. If you're going to quote me please read the full thread first.
semiconscious
Member
well, this's the first time i've heard a description of what the 'game' part of dreams is all about (&, unfortunately, having seen what i've seen, i'm still tending to agree with that response
)...Aw yiss. They hinted long time ago that they will make a full on SP campaign.
It is not like Littlebigplanet sold incredibly well and achieved a 96 average on metacritic. Plus as was previously posted the study is actually making a profit despite not releasing games for years.
Melchiah
Member
I think the audience for WipEout had decreased last gen, and it didn't do the game any favors that it was only released digitally, when it wasn't that popular option. It was released on retail a year later, when Fury launched, but only in Europe. Those two issues, and perhaps the unforgiving nature of its gameplay, probably contributed on its lacking sales.
There was some concept art of the supposed PS4 installment floating around 3-4 years ago. So, it could be, that it was in the works.
Acquiescence
Member
Please, stop. You're so right and it's making me upset.
Poor Kutaro. He deserved so much better.
It was a fun game but definitely wouldn't be a huge franchise.
Acquiescence
Member
Maybe not, but by virtue of it being a PS4 launch title, we would've been guaranteed a sequel. And that'd be a better situation than what we've got now.
Blueingreen
Member
I still think it's astonishing yet somewhat amusing that both the Puppeteer and GT6 were relegated to last gen because Sony obviously had high hopes fore Knack and Driveculb (before it was delayed). And when you look at their realese windows they sent them to the gallows with one game releasing in GTA 5 week and the other releasing post the PS4 launch. Baffling just baffling.
somecrazymember
Banned
Lol, so much wrong in this post
mysteriousmage09
Member
Exciting!
Goldenroad
Member
Tearaway was a great campaign. I believe MM is capable of a great single player experience, but I also believe that almost any game in development for 4+ years has probably gone through some serious development hurdles. To be fair, Breath of The Wild had been in development for just as long, and turned out amazing. I think MM is the type of team that likes messing with new tech and seeing what sticks. They nailed it with the PS3 and Vita. My concern is that they've already shown the game with Move, which I think is less than cutting edge technology, and are probably trying to figure out how it all works in VR, which I am just not interested in right now. It could be a VR killer app, but as such, could sacrifice the TV experience in a way that would really limit sales. All speculation I know, but I'm curious to see what they announce next. I feel like the Public Beta starts during their E3 press conference, with the full game releasing Holiday 2017.
cookie-monster
Member
like what
backbreaker65
Banned
Well it looks like this guy got to see Dreams in all its glory and is hyped about it, don't know who he is or what he does, but Media Molecule retweeted him. Check his tweeter time line, he spent about 4 days with media molecule.
https://twitter.com/hyperdude53/status/843893159318835200
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53
Day 1 @mediamolecule: Met so many amazing folks, worked with @kiockstantin and @Jenny__Lawrence, and played a lot of #DreamsPS4. <3
https://twitter.com/hyperdude53/status/845436424644112385
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53
Oh god, #DreamsPS4. Where to do i begin. Only a *mere fraction* have been shown publically. The WORLD will go WILD when fully revealed.
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53 6h6 hours ago
@Aratiatia1 Weve been given a small piece of the cake all along. Wait till we see the whole thing.
https://twitter.com/hyperdude53/status/843893159318835200
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53
Day 1 @mediamolecule: Met so many amazing folks, worked with @kiockstantin and @Jenny__Lawrence, and played a lot of #DreamsPS4. <3
https://twitter.com/hyperdude53/status/845436424644112385
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53
Oh god, #DreamsPS4. Where to do i begin. Only a *mere fraction* have been shown publically. The WORLD will go WILD when fully revealed.
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53 6h6 hours ago
@Aratiatia1 Weve been given a small piece of the cake all along. Wait till we see the whole thing.
Catalix
And on the sixth day the LORD David Bowie created man and woman in His image. And he saw that it was good. On the seventh day the LORD created videogames so that He might take the bloody day off for once.
This is what I like to hear. I've always suspected we haven't seen anything close to Dream's final form. It has the potential to be mind blowing on all fronts. Easily my most anticipated game.Well it looks like this guy got to see Dreams in all its glory and is hyped about it, don't know who he is or what he does, but Media Molecule retweeted him.
https://twitter.com/hyperdude53/status/843893159318835200
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53
Day 1 @mediamolecule: Met so many amazing folks, worked with @kiockstantin and @Jenny__Lawrence, and played a lot of #DreamsPS4. <3
https://twitter.com/hyperdude53/status/845436424644112385
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53
Oh god, #DreamsPS4. Where to do i begin. Only a *mere fraction* have been shown publically. The WORLD will go WILD when fully revealed.
Danny Berbara‏ @hyperdude53 6h6 hours ago
@Aratiatia1 Weve been given a small piece of the cake all along. Wait till we see the whole thing.
i'm crying.
KingdomHeartsFan
Member
That story tidbit getting me excited for the game.