DidntKnowJack
Member
Since you post on GAF, yes.am I a games journalist now?
Of course, that's only if you regard Kotaku as games journalism.
Since you post on GAF, yes.am I a games journalist now?
If you don't use focus groups, how do you tell your target audience is interested/satisfied?
Probably the same people that say Wind Waker looks like it's for babies.
Get these people off my planet.
In case some have forgotten, the entire reason Insomniac made R2 that way it was (like with the two weapons instead of the weapon wheel) was because of "focus groups". IMO, Insomniac should just not use them.
Why bring this up when there is pretty much no information around about the original pitch? Would you be willing to share more details about that version?This (ie, Brian Allgeier's comments) relates to the original pitch -> Overstrike iterations / evolution process.
It does not refer to the Overstrike -> Fuse iteration / evolution process.
Gonna keep reposting it because folks don't seem to be getting it.
This (ie, Brian Allgeier's comments) relates to the original pitch -> Overstrike iterations / evolution process.
It does not refer to the Overstrike -> Fuse iteration / evolution process.
Why bring this up when there is pretty much no information around about the original pitch? Would you be willing to share more details about that version?
You know what makes valve games so good?
Focus testing.
Nope. It was a history of Insomniac piece. The interview was pre-Fuse reveal (Colin hadn't even seen the game when we had that interview). It asked how things had evolved from the original pitch.
We feel confident in the changes in that it's made a better game and provided a big creative spark for us.
Nope. It was a history of Insomniac piece. The interview was pre-Fuse reveal (Colin hadn't even seen the game when we had that interview). It asked how things had evolved from the original pitch.
We feel confident in the changes in that it's made a better game and provided a big creative spark for us.
Isabelle and Jacob are the most striking to me... pun intended.
Valve is also pretty good at not being an idiot with the results, so that's not really the same thing. Focus testing alone isn't the problem here.
Great article from IGN. I'm enjoying the read.
Nope. It was a history of Insomniac piece. The interview was pre-Fuse reveal (Colin hadn't even seen the game when we had that interview). It asked how things had evolved from the original pitch.
We feel confident in the changes in that it's made a better game and provided a big creative spark for us.
And yet over on PC, we gots this Team Fortress 2 shit that everyone lurves...
Keep getting the impression that this generation consoles have done a great job of growing and conditioning an audience to only accept an extremely thin slice of game content. In all ways: interface, design, structure, aesthetics. Seems like any focus group of console gamers sampled from the general population is going to say "MAKE IT LIKE COD, THAT GAME FUCKING PWNS."
I think it is true that focus groups should not be obeyed, instead used as a guide to investigate an issue more deeply. But at this point I just wonder: for a certain audience on consoles, could anything not COD make an impact or make them happy? No matter how you tweak it. I wonder how much overlap there is, on large scale, between people who did buy Borderlands and people who mostly play other kinds of shooters on console.
I just want to ask you one thing.
What do you think about borderlands?
I could have sworn I remember there being a focus group for Resistance 2, where it was determined that they had/preferred switching between two weapons vs. the weapon wheel.1000% not true
I knew it was focus groups and the "me too" mentality that caused all these changes, not EA. What blaming EA does is set up this notion that developers aren't capable of making their own dumb decisions (hi Bioware) when the Partners program is bad for its own reasons.
1. Bulletstorm and Brutal Legend were left to die with little to no marketing or publicity that didn't correctly represent them.
2. APB cost over £100m to make with no publisher intervening and asking "What the fuck are you doing?"
I wonder which fate will meet Fuse, being ignored or not having the input? GJ, Insomniac.
Also too many people are confusing focus testing and play testing.
Oh man, i was actually happier when i thought it was EA who forced them to change it. Because i always thought Insomniac will do their own thing when the opportunity arises. Now Insomniac is ran by focus groups
I could have sworn I remember there being a focus group for Resistance 2, where it was determined that they had/preferred switching between two weapons vs. the weapon wheel.
I could have sworn I remember there being a focus group for Resistance 2, where it was determined that they had/preferred switching between two weapons vs. the weapon wheel.
So this is the THIRD revision of this game?!
Not usually a good sign.
So this is the THIRD revision of this game?!
Not usually a good sign.
@JS, is there any chance Insomniac will try an idea like Overstrike again?
So this is the THIRD revision of this game?!
Not usually a good sign.
what do you mean "like Overstrike"? Do you mean try a more stylized idea rather than a realistic one?
Most definitely.
The amount of games with potential getting focus grouped to death this gen is staggering. I remember focus groups led to us getting Bad Spencer and a crummy "Serious" Bionic Commando (Of which the developers had a meltdown and just went full Gainax at the end because "Fuck Capcom Management").
Though I wonder if its more damning of Insomiac for being cowards in the face of public focus group pressure, the industry in general for trying to "keep up with the Joneses" and releasing the same kind of game instead of innovating and taking risks or the public for only being interested in playing the same game over and over.
Also damning. Letting 12 year olds dictate a M-Rated game and expecting THEM to play it when it changes to a M-Rating. That is comical levels of irresponsibility.
what do you mean "like Overstrike"? Do you mean try a more stylized idea rather than a realistic one?
Most definitely.
Welcome to the real world of game IP development. Even Outernauts went through insane iteration from its early version
what do you mean "like Overstrike"? Do you mean try a more stylized idea rather than a realistic one?
Most definitely.
Said no one ever.
yeah, it is kind of hilarious that people not old enough to purchase the product from the store are allowed to dictate the direction of the product. Hell, they have to be at least 13 to buy a T rated game lol
what do you mean "like Overstrike"? Do you mean try a more stylized idea rather than a realistic one?
Most definitely.
Nope. It was a history of Insomniac piece. The interview was pre-Fuse reveal (Colin hadn't even seen the game when we had that interview). It asked how things had evolved from the original pitch.
We feel confident in the changes in that it's made a better game and provided a big creative spark for us.
That was exactly the impression I got.
And exactly what I wanted. : (
Resistance 3 came out and even though i even listed as my GOTY here, i had experienced LOTs of bugs during the single player campaign, then during the offline coop campaign my game locked up and even though i posted it on the Insomniac forums, i never got an answer and had to end up trying countless times to replicate the bug until i saw that the problem was with related with the stats tracking system for your offline coop partner.
Also, there was a huge problem about your game data taking up to an hour to delete from the ps3 HDD.
And that's without mentioning that R&CF Tools of Destruction and Quest for Booty never got trophies patch in.
Sometimes it seems that Insomniac simply ignores the fans voices when it comes to actual and real criticism with their games. When it comes with the art style change from Overstrike to fuse, they simply made and make it look generic shooter #711. I know this is a forum, and that this is the Internet, but i personally think that making a game look generic, actually screams bomba all over the place.
Maybe its just me but Fuse looks like a linear 4 player co-op Mercenaries with crazy weapons. Am I off base?