GeordieMark
Member
Posts like this show just how ignorant some people are to reality. PR? You have no clue what you are on about. Just because you play a few games and read GAF doesn't mean you know shit.
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Sony closes Evolution Studios (Motorstorm, Driveclub)
- Thread starter Finaj
- Start date
Posts like this show just how ignorant some people are to reality. PR? You have no clue what you are on about. Just because you play a few games and read GAF doesn't mean you know shit.
DR2K
Banned
Nintendo wont close Retro, just give them a popular ip to work on instead.
I'm sure they're looking at the many delays, horribly botched launch, and bring in programmers from outside Evo to fix their issues as a failure and money burnt.
GankzyMcfly
Member
Sony potentially making an upgraded version of the ps4 and now closing down evolution studios. I wonder if anybody is going to interpret this as Sony leaving the console biz.
Crayon
Member
gundamkyoukai
Member
Because there games sell huge amounts .
Last gen PD sold over 20 million unit of software on PS3 .
That is of course not counting DLC (and what ever else they doing) and there size was less than 130 people .
That1BlackGuy
Member
I absolutely agree, but unfortunately the software and workflow just aren't there yet. I've maintained that middleware going "free" was a game changer and visual scripting tools like Unreal Engine's Blueprint represents a massive step forward in terms of easing workflow and making game development easier and more accessible but there is still much work to be done with regards to streamlining the development process. Unforeseen costs to consider is a natural part of any project but I would imagine like in other business industries good project management can mitigate and navigate. You also touched on it, but brick-and-mortar costs are expensive no matter your location, but compounded even more depending on your location. I know many startups that went the %100 virtual route and saved a shit ton of money.
While some may not be a fan of their content, I've long sang the praises of Idea Factory and how they have managed their business. They built a devoted niche, consistently releases software around that niche and doesn't price their development costs out of their budget. Their games don't sell millions or even 1 million and while I am sure they'd love to like any business, they are not breaking their bank. Valve, love or hate their games is another example albeit on a much larger scale, I'm" speaking more to their development philosophies.
Obviously in business (especially large corporations like a Sony or MS) you got to look at the numbers from all perspectives and there are times the numbers and/or external factors just may not work in a developer's favor even if they are pulling a profit at the time. The game industry can very volatile that way but it can and does happen in many industries.
I'm" not sure if they talk about these things at GDC but I feel it's an important conversation to have. Getting development costs down and making it more streamlined and accessible is something I am certainly passionate about at least.
At the same time the project had multiple issues that led to layoffs and their eventual clousure today. Obviously all things considered it would seem after several chances they have not been able to make their investment back and/or don't see a valuable path in which they can make money again for them.
Sadly at the end of the day they are a corporation and need to make money/justify their investments.
For real.
ND and PD are probably the only 2 devs at WWS that have 100% immunity.
This sucks. I loved Motorstorm and eventually Driveclub, too. I think a platformholder needs a racing franchise at or close to launch because those are the games that demonstrate the new systems graphical capabilities early on. Polyphony can't be relied on for that kind of punctuality. Evolution failed, too with Driveclub but they came through with Motorstorm. Really disappointed in Sony right now.
Portugeezer
Member
Lionhead and now Evolution?
Is UK development that expensive or is it just a coincidence? I thought there was some sort of tax break?
RIP.
Is UK development that expensive or is it just a coincidence? I thought there was some sort of tax break?
RIP.
No way!!!!
If anyone from Evolution Studios reads this. Seriously you guys will always be one of the greats.
With the rocky launch of Driveclub, which would have doomed any other game you guys managed to go above and beyond with the work you guys put in to the game.
The level of polish, the support and constant content updates, you guys gave us one of the best and my personal favorite racing game.
You guys raised the bar and set the standard for this generation for any future racing game.
Here's to you guys.
If anyone from Evolution Studios reads this. Seriously you guys will always be one of the greats.
With the rocky launch of Driveclub, which would have doomed any other game you guys managed to go above and beyond with the work you guys put in to the game.
The level of polish, the support and constant content updates, you guys gave us one of the best and my personal favorite racing game.
You guys raised the bar and set the standard for this generation for any future racing game.
Here's to you guys.
Garrett 2U
Member
It's a shame to see big studios close. I hope they find great jobs as soon as possible.
It's crazy how similar the timelines are
It's crazy how similar the timelines are
OmegaDL50
Member
Not only that, the game managed somewhere of around 2 Million plus copies. (BEFORE the game went on PS+ too)
So it's not like was sales number failure in terms of entirely new IP.
Even with the extended development and fixing the online issues at launch, I am not even sure one can say Sony lost money here.
Halph n Halph
Member
Sad news for those losing their jobs. I know that if I was in charge of a studio I would be frantically trying to contact the devs responsible for driveclubs visuals and offering them a position.
It was a thing of beauty.
It was a thing of beauty.
//DEVIL//
Member
it does. I bought it couple of weeks ago and every time i have like 20 minutes or so i load it.
its still early access with couple of stages and 2 cars ( different colors thought ) but in general its really fun and its not really expensive either compared to the full value you will get when the game is fully released this year.
i am a hardcore fan for these kind of games. Fast Racing NEO, Wipeout. Fzero Xtreme G racing and rollcage. so i will support anything for these kind of games.
OdysseusVA
Banned
Wow
I think problems started with first Motorstorm that had issues and two later ones not selling well... then DC really was a huge blunder. But in the end, what killed the studio was that their next project did not work out.
Thebeardofknowledge
Banned
StrongBlackVine
Banned
Media Molecule has two big hits in the first two LBP games in their recent work. They should be no where near the chopping block.
Doug Heffernan
Member
They are a UK studio working on a very risky game. I wouldn't classify that as safe nowadays.
Relaxed Muscle
Member
No season 2? HOLY SHIT
This industry sucks.
This industry sucks.
GametimeUK
Member
This is an end result of releasing buggy, unfinished games. We criticise our whole industry for these practices, vote with our wallets and this is the outcome. I hope every one of these people find jobs, but I must also say I hope this is a lesson learned for pubs / devs when moving forward. Don't be reckless with your ambition, time frames, budgets and expected target audiences. Do the job properly and hopefully reap the rewards. As much as it sucks to see them go, a better job has to go in to making these games.
DidntKnowJack
Member
I don't care what Sony says, we can kiss any new updates to DC goodbye. Do you really think Sony's going to put anymore money into development? Yeah, no. That dream is over. They might shit out a few cars Evo had waiting in the wings, but that's about it.
More ignorance. I bought DC at launch, it was neither buggy or unfinished. The single player game was virtually unaffected. It had network issues.
Team Ico doesn't really exist, they are a part of Sony Japan and they work on all the titles Sony Japan makes and publishs so there not just sitting around.
OmegaDL50
Member
The game managed to sell over two million copies BEFORE it released for PS+ and a significant portion of those 2 million sales was when the game retailed for $60, as Driveclub didn't even get a price drop until mid 2015.
And for a brand new IP, 2 Million copies sold is very good.
I don't really think we can say it was financial thing but more of an issue of PR being the likely case here.
The initial layoff of 55 staff members was a considerable blow, so it makes one ask the question how many people were left to continue the post-release support for the Season Pass and Bike Content, also their early work on the VR edition that not see the light of day.
I wonder if Sony plans to do anything with the IP without Evolution involved.
And for a brand new IP, 2 Million copies sold is very good.
I don't really think we can say it was financial thing but more of an issue of PR being the likely case here.
The initial layoff of 55 staff members was a considerable blow, so it makes one ask the question how many people were left to continue the post-release support for the Season Pass and Bike Content, also their early work on the VR edition that not see the light of day.
I wonder if Sony plans to do anything with the IP without Evolution involved.
If I recall, Team ICO doesn't exist as a traditional team.
They are employees that are part of Studio Japan, some of whom came together within the Studio and formed a group while working on ICO and SotC.
Those team members have been working on other studio projects, alongside TLG.
Because they are just a few people that work on other things too, not a full studio.
I did say way back in the original delay thread that I'd love to see a detailed postmortem as to how the issues at launch came about. I feel that even more strongly now.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
For comparisons sake how much does gt and forza usually sell?
Mass_Pincup
Banned
Driveclub was massively bundled.
Relaxed Muscle
Member
I guess Team ICO is mostly kept as a pedigree team than anything, but even so most of the top talent is not at the company anymore, anyway.
Actually I can see Sony disbanding the team after TLG and relocate it's members on different studios inside Sony Japan.
GametimeUK
Member
Sales aren't everything, but I don't thing single Forza installments sell as much as DC did and GT smashes them both.
RadarScope1
Member
Pretty crazy. I thought DC was doing well now. I thought they'd get a chance for a full-on sequel. I'm sure these guys will reform and we will see another cool racer released as independent devs. With the way they have supported their community over the last two years, they have a solid footing and reputation to launch something via Kickstarter.
You forgot the PS4.5, MS crossplay and MS confirming that all future exclusives will be on PC. It's been a wild week or so. I might even be forgetting something myself.
I'm thinking GT levels because after the horrible handling of DriveClub, from launch to the PS+ promise, it turned out to be one of the greatest turn around stories in the industry (in terms of sales). If that wasn't enough, they had to have had GT expectations.
I would, if this were the PS3 gen when they were being decimated by the competition.
Media Molecule is probably shaking in their boots right now. I have a ton of confidence in Dreams doing well because of Twitch but I fear for them as well.