MagicWithEarvin
Member
Well, that certainly was an interesting exchange with Marley.
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Jonathan Blow : "doing a deal with MS is an existential risk for your company & game"
- Thread starter maquiladora
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NoirVisage
Banned
IHaveCandy
Banned
I imagine Sony will have a system similar to Apple. Indie people can make a game and ask Sony if it can be released on PSN. Sony is free to say yes or no. They don't require the devs to be published by a larger group, but they won't greenlight any crappy broken game.
Vincent Alexander
Member
Its shocking how many people still blindy dismiss Blow's views after all these years. I don't know why it surprises me every time.
Saying that doing business with Microsoft as an indie developer is an existential risk seems like it would be helped by some specifics of what that exactly means. Did Blow encounter a situation where Microsoft would have destroyed his product or claim ownership of the game and his company?
That quote is used as a standalone in the article in a strange way. The other comments were perfectly reasonable, but saying that Microsoft will potentially cause your game and your company to cease to exist with no anecdote alongside it seems ... weird?
That quote is used as a standalone in the article in a strange way. The other comments were perfectly reasonable, but saying that Microsoft will potentially cause your game and your company to cease to exist with no anecdote alongside it seems ... weird?
test_account
XP-39C²
I dont think he puts out statement like this, but rather that it is asked by others in interviews. And if the same question is asked by different people, it is natural that he will give basically the same answer to everyone.
Not from what i've seen, but Mojang havnt done any work on Xbox 360 from what i know. Minecraft for Xbox 360 is done by 4J Studios, not by Mojang.
George Claw M.D.
Member
Heh. The example they use for a developer praising Microsoft still has their game in development for the 360.
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
They were the devs that MS championed when XBLA was still finding its niche. But it's a different kind of environment now. Most of MS's original XBLA/XBox visionaries are gone. It's harder to be financially successful with XBLA exclusives these days. The platform is growing but the tastes are getting narrower and the expected production values are going way up.
TaroYamada
Member
I never have and never will understand the hate for Jon, he seems like a really nice dude who is very passionate about his craft and I say that as somebody who didn't even like Braid that much. What he says here seems perfectly reasonable given what else we've heard.
Well, I don't particularly like the guy, something about a person who gets upset that you really like their stuff but for the wrong reasons rubs me the wrong way.
but will say that he is always worth listening to, even if you disagree with him
AndrewDean84xX
Banned
Isn't this the guy that trashed all Japanese games? If not for MS, would anyone know who this guy is?
That was Phil Fish.
TaroYamada
Member
It can come with the territory, creative people often want something they make interpreted in some manner. Given I don't know the full extent of how upset he was, I never read many of his complaints, just a few.
Didn't seem outlandish to me, given the sampling I saw.
They could always go back to Sony. Or work with Nintendo. Possibly work with both of them.
krypt0nian
Banned
Wow we lost some folks in this thread too. I figure MarleyMan and Wiz' times were short though.
Blow seems to be saying what other indies are saying too now.
Blow seems to be saying what other indies are saying too now.
Pertaining to what exactly? Self publishing? Blow himself states he doesnt even know the details of Sonys policy. They just might end up being just as restrictive as MS depending on the circusmstances.
Ploid 3.0
Member
Wow Marley, what the crap dude. Right before E3 too.
weevles
Member
I read something similar regarding MS' handling of XBLA for indies in one of the most recent issues of Gameinformer. Basically MS made it very unfriendly and not cost-effective for indie devs to put stuff up. Oddly enough, Braid was one of the success stories of XBLA, and ended up one of the select few that MS put marketing resources behind.
ThisWreckage
Banned
He's worked with both Sony and Microsoft and he had a large amount of success with Microsoft. So I definitely think his opinion is worth listening to.
I thought it was common knowledge that Microsoft is a nightmare to work with. Look at all the studios they shut down, look at the Bungie break up, look at Valve getting pissed at them, look at indie devs spurning them for the PS4. There is a pattern developing. Most people that work with Sony, on the other hand, sing praises of Sony's creative understanding and support.
I thought it was common knowledge that Microsoft is a nightmare to work with. Look at all the studios they shut down, look at the Bungie break up, look at Valve getting pissed at them, look at indie devs spurning them for the PS4. There is a pattern developing. Most people that work with Sony, on the other hand, sing praises of Sony's creative understanding and support.
Darth Tigris
Member
That's just a mess. I really just don't get people like him at all.
lol exactly
ThusZarathustra
Member
Bullshit. He's speaking about systemic issues within corporate culture, and he's far from the only one to do so in that interview.
Teletraan1
Banned
MS french fried when it should have pizza'd. If you french fry when you should pizza, indies are gonna have a bad time.
And YET XBLA still gets many more games, is still getting new games every week since launch and PSN isn't and hasn't had anywhere near the level of success. These are a COUPLE of developers out of the HUNDREDS of XBLA developers. Microsoft must be doing something right if they are still getting more indie suppport than Sony after over 6 years. YES, Sony gets alot more now but Microsoft still sees more releases on XBLA. Maybe these developers need to write better contracts for themselves...it's just business.
Hes worked with MS so in reality is he talking about his own personal experiences.
soulassssns
Banned
He must love the sound of his own voice.
Indies still have a strong opportunity to sell well on XBLA. Just look at State of Decay and how much it sold in 2 days. It didn't get a strong push from the media talking about it but it had great word of mouth.
http://undeadlabs.com/2013/06/news/breaking-records/
Sony also has stepped up and the past year has been great. The Vita is a indies machine for me.
http://undeadlabs.com/2013/06/news/breaking-records/
Sony also has stepped up and the past year has been great. The Vita is a indies machine for me.
Another one bites the dust
There have been a TON of axes dropping. I am in awe.
I'm still giving MS some credit for basically getting the ball rolling with XBLA but their Xbox one plans sure sound terrible for indies
How does it work on the 360? Is a game like Telltale's walking dead not also basically selfpublished?
Angelus Errare
Banned
So Microsoft is the Bad Boy Records of game development?
The majority didn't hate Phil Fish for speaking his mind, they disliked the way he embarrassed and singled out a developer when he was up on stage by saying what he thought in a douchebag way. These two cases are not the same at all.
CassidyIzABeast
Member
krypt0nian
Banned
New gen, punkin. New winds blowing.
This guy gets it.
njean777
Member
Or they could just go to apple, steam, or sony.... oh wait
people on random forums can laugh at blow all they like, but in indie developer circles he's a well-liked and highly regarded figure. his words carry weight and since he helps run the Indie Fund he talks to basically everyone.
if he is badmouthing microsoft, developers will listen to him and take his words to heart.
if he is badmouthing microsoft, developers will listen to him and take his words to heart.
njean777
Member
I agree, Blow is a smart person wether you like him or not he says the truth. So if MS is ass backwards like they seem to be then I believe him. He isn't the only one to be complaining about all of this stuff. Just more reasons for Sony to capitalize, which it seems they are doing so far.
he was the first really big indie success story this gen, and most people think braid is a bit better than mediocre. he used his success in conjunction with some other devs and started the indie fund, which has helped monaco, antichamber, qube, the swapper, and dear esther reach completion without having to sign over their IP rights and profits to a publisher.
i'd say he's earned a bit of cachet in the industry.
njean777
Member
Oh so we shouldn't complain about problems at all? Come on now. Just because they put you were you are does not mean he has to shut up and just be quiet. If anything he is warning all other indies to not do business with them if they do not have to.