Big Huge Games

[ajbera]

He could also be following a strategy employed by many actors: make a successful film or two, then make the less successful but more personally important art film.

In this case BR just released two well-reviewed and pretty successful (at least for RoN, dunno 'bout RoL) games, now he has some slack to pursue a project of personal interest that may not rake in as much money.

I'm not much or a RTS player anymore (though I have fond memories of Starcraft), but I did play RoN and it was a very good game. But I concur it would be nice to see his talents directed towards TBS again.

[DrSpike]

My money is for his next game to be RTS, with a few (pretty small) tweaks intended to differentiate from more standard fare. Like RoN. I didn't play RoL so can't comment.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It does seem that BR left because his heart was in the TBS genre as much as it is in the RTS genre. I don't know when or if he'll do a TBS game again.

[Solver]

I think RoN is the best RTS game out there. While I do prefer TBS and Civ to RTS, I've played my share of RTS games. I like RoN more than any other RTS I've played, didn't really like AoE3 or the post-RoN ones I've played. RoN also has the distinction, for me, of being the first RTS with a decent AI. I couldn't beat it immediately on the tough difficulties, like I can with AoE3 or the like.

[Zero]

Because making an RTS game is a bad choice. RTS is gonna implode like fighting game genre..... if something dont happen soon.

THE RTS game to play STILL is Starcraft, which is more than 10 yrs old. Just like how fighting died with too good of a success of sf2, with mediocre game here and there and once in awhile good game that dont live up to the colossus that is sf2, fighting genre fizzled out. fanbase of genre gets split up in cases like this because some stick to the old but respected game and others move to new but mediocre game. And in either, it doesnt gain popularity.

couple that with increasing complexities and skills of RTS, newbies will be discouraged to play. Just like what happened to fighters once again. And if they dumb down play, they will get negative response from the vets. So its a catch22.

This is why MMORPG and FPS always grow in popularity. point and shoot and spend time leveling up is soooo much more noobie friendly. And no FPS's these days require alot of complex movements like bunny hop, strafe jump and other complex movements making it bare minimum of point and shoot....

if BR wants to tap into market of another genre's fanbase, he obviously chose the wrong genre, he should have rather incorporated MMORPG element into a TBS with bling bling subscription fee, or introduce FPS like shooting ability into TBS!

"Boom!~ Headshot!1!! during diplomacy!11!!"

[vovan]

I don't know, I might be wrong, but it seems to me that another large contributing factor to the massive decline of the fighting genre is the near death of the arcade... Whereas the main RTS platform isn't going anywhere any time soon. In fact, whereas things like sports, to some degree FPS (and with the internet-enabled next-gen consoles - MMORPG) are likely to move to consoles, I think actually the market share of strategies and other games not suited for consoles will go up.

Also,
Boom! Headshot!

[Zero]

fighters reluctantly made move to online consoles yet its still declining. DOA4 while it did alot of revamping was still a let down imo.

although in other countries fighters are still ive n kickin' and their arcadescenes are alive, so u may be right, but i dont think thats entirely to balme.

Any recent RTS releases? not many. and not with big success. I am currently playing company of heros (a big eye candy game) and having some hopes. Along with new c&c... but RTS too, hasnt made it big fer while... if u wanna make a big hit game RTS just isnt the right genre these days IMO. its gotta be fps or mmorpg for pc games....

[Solver]

RTS surely isn't dying. Starcraft is still popular because it's a great classic RTS. It's not the only popular RTS - AoE2 still has a sizeable community playing and creating scenarios, and that game is from 1999, so quite an oldie, too. Company of Heroes got lots of major 2006 awards, and I hear that the game is very good, though I haven't played it myself.

In my opinion, anyway, gameplay quality and huge commercial success aren't exactly related. Even a mediocre FPS game will have good sales. Many of the more complex strategy games (like GalCiv2) will have low, niche-level sales, despite the gameplay. The Sims franchise, which is amazingly well-selling, has, in my opinion, no redeeming gameplay qualities. WoW I dunno about, it's a huge hit but I haven't played it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Solver is correct. RTS makes a good amount of money and can't be considered 'dying'. Company of Heroes did great business (for a PC game) for one.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Solver
The Sims franchise, which is amazingly well-selling, has, in my opinion, no redeeming gameplay qualities.

/me approves.

[Zero]

In my opinion, anyway, gameplay quality and huge commercial success aren't exactly related. Even a mediocre FPS game will have good sales. Many of the more complex strategy games (like GalCiv2) will have low, niche-level sales, despite the gameplay. The Sims franchise, which is amazingly well-selling, has, in my opinion, no redeeming gameplay qualities. WoW I dunno about, it's a huge hit but I haven't played it.

thats my point. mediocre FPS becomes greatest hits over goo d RTS. whats the motivation for industry to make RTS.

[Solver]

Well Zero, thankfully, the industry does (despite what some people believe) care about things other than making money. Companies like EA don't, but most companies are concerned also with making a good game, a game they like and that the fans like. People like Bruce Shelley or Brian Reynolds clearly like strategy games - I don't think they would just go make a FPS out of blue air. As long as it's possible to make a profit with a good game in any given genre, there'll be developers willing to make games in that genre if they like it.

Sure enough, you don't see EA publish RTS games, because those aren't guaranteed to make heaps of money. EA wants games that make good money AND are made quickly but will still sell. Well, fortunately they're somewhat of an exception.

[Harovan]

I would like a MMORPG made by Soren Johnson.

Should be teh potential savior of next generation MMOGs... oh wait!

[DrSpike]

Fool you once, shame on Brad, fool you twice, shame on you.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Solver
Well Zero, thankfully, the industry does (despite what some people believe) care about things other than making money.

Companies like EA don't, but most companies are concerned also with making a good game, a game they like and that the fans like.

.........so they can make money. This is how a market economy works. Your naivety amuses me.