This Week Year in the Business: 'Someday We'll Be Living in the Matrix'
A look back at what happened in the business of video games in 2012.
QUOTE | “Someday we’ll be living in the Matrix.” – Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford talking about the huge aspirations some game developers still have and why today’s games “suck” by comparison to where they should be.
QUOTE | “No sex please, we’re gamers.”―GamesIndustry.biz’s Matt Handrahan talks to Miriam Bellard of No Reply games, who explains why she thinks their erotic game Seduce Me was removed by Steam Greenlight.
QUOTE | “You’ve decided that some breasts deserve a prime spot.”―Rachel Weber, GamesIndustry International journalist, commenting about Future’s CVG site posting a gallery of E3 booth babes and sadly asking readers to “get their scorecards out.”
QUOTE | “Nintendo has to let Mario games on non-Nintendo devices.”―Nanako Imazu, Tokyo stock analyst, said this after Nintendo announced its massive losses for last year; other analysts have also called on Nintendo to put its iconic brands on smartphones and tablets, but the company has resisted all such advice.
QUOTE | “The Vita is almost DOA.”―Richard Browne, industry veteran and former Sony exec, talking about how Sony has fallen on hard times but can still come back.
QUOTE | “Consoles may quickly go the way of the dinosaurs.”―Nexon America CEO Daniel Kim, talking about console developers and how they need to go free-to-play.
QUOTE | “Sony has had a miserable generation in the console market.”―Rob Fahey, former editor of GI.biz, talking about the harsh lessons Sony has learned and what they need to succeed.
QUOTE | “Dropping a nuclear bomb on GameStop.”―Leading games industry analysts react to the rumor that the next PlayStation could block used titles, which could prompt GameStop to avoid stocking it.
QUOTE | “Xbox is the one console actually defying gravity.”―Matt Barlow, general manager of product marketing at Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business, talking about the momentum Xbox 360 has seen and how he expects it to have a huge holiday.
QUOTE | “Pre-owned has really killed core games.”―David Braben, founder of British developer Frontier Developments, talking about how single-player core games are dying.
QUOTE | “Ouya will go down in history as something as big as iPhone.”―Mark Friedler, game industry veteran, talking about the hugely successful Kickstarter for the Android-powered console Ouya.
QUOTE | “Social and freemium is not where gaming is headed.”―Jack Tretton, head of SCEA, talking about Sony’s rough times and how the console business will be better than ever.
QUOTE | “Xbox 360 isn’t so good anymore compared to PCs.”―Matt Firor, head of Zenimax Online Studios, talking about why we haven’t seen successful console MMOs on 360 as part of an in-depth Elder Scrolls Online interview.
QUOTE | “There is a dark underbelly to Xbox Live.”―Rob Fahey, former editor of GamesIndustry.biz, talking about what can be done to rescue Xbox Live and online gaming from abusive bullies.
QUOTE | “The single player mechanic is a gimmick – games are meant to be played with others.” – Jonas Antonsson, Gogogic CEO, talking about why games are moving toward a sort of multiplayer singularity.
QUOTE | “Technology will drive gameplay, always.” – Cevat Yerli, Crytek founder and CEO, talking about the latest edition of CryEngine and the upcoming Crysis 3.
QUOTE | “Nintendo has set up the Wii U for failure.” – Dan Hsu, editor in chief of GamesBeat, talking along with journalists and analysts about the mixed critical reception to the Nintendo’s launch of the Wii U.
QUOTE | “We’re going to be a 100% digital company, period. It’s going to be there some day. It’s inevitable.” – Frank Gibeau, head of EA Labels, talking about the future of Electronic Arts.
