Bizarre Creations Throws Support Behind Government Petition
UK industry starts to wake up?
Back on March 13th we ran a story regarding Dan Spence's online petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown regarding support for the UK video game industry. This is the industry that the UK government has cast as 'small business'.
The petition (which you can sign here) currently stands at 1,645 signatures.
Of those, you will find Ben Ward - Ben's the Community & Web Lead at Bizarre Creations (The Club, Project Gotham Racing 4 to name but two).
Bizarre has also released a statement regarding its support for the petition. SPOnG has tried to get comment from several developers and publishers on this subject, and has been met with either no comment or with platitudes. Frankly, therefore, for a game developer of note to enter the political arena in the world of buttoned-down, 'shareholder value' corporate gaming is worthy of comment. Here's some of what Bizarre has to say:
You can read the rest of the statement here.
Okay, so there is some vested interest in Bizarre's statement - but at least it's prepared to make a statement rather than ignoring the issue.
We also managed to catch up with Dan Spence, the person who originated the petition. We wanted to discover what motivated him - what his vested interest is. Here's what Dan told us:
So, a gamer who just wants to see an healthy industry. In case you missed that petition link here it is again. Messages of support to Dan can be sent via us or straight on to the SPOnG Forum.
The petition (which you can sign here) currently stands at 1,645 signatures.
Of those, you will find Ben Ward - Ben's the Community & Web Lead at Bizarre Creations (The Club, Project Gotham Racing 4 to name but two).
Bizarre has also released a statement regarding its support for the petition. SPOnG has tried to get comment from several developers and publishers on this subject, and has been met with either no comment or with platitudes. Frankly, therefore, for a game developer of note to enter the political arena in the world of buttoned-down, 'shareholder value' corporate gaming is worthy of comment. Here's some of what Bizarre has to say:
"...the UK has always been, and still is, a real hotbed of talent, producing some of the world's best selling games across many genres and formats. But it's getting harder and harder to be a developer or publisher in the UK, as increasing costs and global competition mean that everyone's under great financial pressure.
"As the years have gone by, many studios have struggled and had to close, and different gaming studios have had to find their own ways to deal with this pressure. It was a big part of the reason that Bizarre chose to become part of the Activision family - in order to guarantee security to our employees, and security to our future games in this difficult climate. But even as part of a large publisher, without active Government support of our industry, developing or publishing games in the UK is still stressful with current economic conditions.
"The problem has been compounded recently by some foreign government tax breaks and financial incentives given to studios and/or publishers who set up or operate in their countries. Many publishers have already taken advantage of financial incentives and moved, bought or set up development studios overseas, and UK talent (both experienced, and new graduates) is being tempted away."
"As the years have gone by, many studios have struggled and had to close, and different gaming studios have had to find their own ways to deal with this pressure. It was a big part of the reason that Bizarre chose to become part of the Activision family - in order to guarantee security to our employees, and security to our future games in this difficult climate. But even as part of a large publisher, without active Government support of our industry, developing or publishing games in the UK is still stressful with current economic conditions.
"The problem has been compounded recently by some foreign government tax breaks and financial incentives given to studios and/or publishers who set up or operate in their countries. Many publishers have already taken advantage of financial incentives and moved, bought or set up development studios overseas, and UK talent (both experienced, and new graduates) is being tempted away."
You can read the rest of the statement here.
Okay, so there is some vested interest in Bizarre's statement - but at least it's prepared to make a statement rather than ignoring the issue.
We also managed to catch up with Dan Spence, the person who originated the petition. We wanted to discover what motivated him - what his vested interest is. Here's what Dan told us:
"I'm not onto anything at a professional level yet. I'm just interested in the mod scene at the moment, I play a lot of Team Fortress 2 and the scene there is pretty friendly.
"I'm really not sure what gamers themselves can do, we really are the last part of this bottom heavy food chain. I'm reluctant to use the word hardcore because I think it has a bad connotation but really the people who care about the industry are a very small part of the gaming audience. We don't have the power to vote with our wallets."
"I'm really not sure what gamers themselves can do, we really are the last part of this bottom heavy food chain. I'm reluctant to use the word hardcore because I think it has a bad connotation but really the people who care about the industry are a very small part of the gaming audience. We don't have the power to vote with our wallets."
So, a gamer who just wants to see an healthy industry. In case you missed that petition link here it is again. Messages of support to Dan can be sent via us or straight on to the SPOnG Forum.
Companies:
Bizarre Creations
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Comments
SuperSaiyan4 18 Mar 2008 12:55
1/13
And this is coming from a company that hasn't made a decent award winning game since PGR2...Am sorry but imo BC suck ass.
TimSpong 18 Mar 2008 14:06
2/13
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
And this is coming from a company that hasn't made a decent award winning game since PGR2...Am sorry but imo BC suck ass.
There is just the tiniest of possibilities here that you might possibly be totally missing the flipping point.
Maybe?
Cheers
Tim
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SuperSaiyan4 18 Mar 2008 14:38
3/13
No not missing the point, the point being how amazing it is that BC is supporting this petition when ironically they have churned out s**tty games...I mean what better way to justify anything in the first place.
Studios are just best being bought out imo like Lionhead studios where they will get enough funding from the likes of Microsoft to make amazing games not half assed crap like PGR3 and 4.
Studios are just best being bought out imo like Lionhead studios where they will get enough funding from the likes of Microsoft to make amazing games not half assed crap like PGR3 and 4.
TimSpong 18 Mar 2008 15:07
4/13
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Studios are just best being bought out imo like Lionhead studios where they will get enough funding from the likes of Microsoft to make amazing games not half assed crap like PGR3 and 4.
Let's look at your argument:
To make amazing games:
Studios need funding from companies like Microsoft.
Studios are best being bought.
Now... let's test that theory against your own conclusion.
Bizarre got funding from Microsoft hence keeping PGR on Microsoft platforms.
Bizarre was bought by Activision.
Both criteria are met, yet you think Bizarre's games are 'crap' not 'amazing'.
Even your own logic implodes.
As for missing the point; this was about a game developer actually making some form of stand regarding the wider issue.
That is a good thing. Unless you want a development landscape consisting of:
Electronic Arts
Activision Blizzard
UbiGrames
Microsoft
Sony
Nintendo
If that happens, then nobody will need to make 'amazing' games. They will need to make adequate games that match expectations and increase shareholder value.
Oh s**t, that means 'post Apocalyptic dystopian futures' or party games for the rest of eternity.
In terms of lobbying the government, that comes down to whether you fall for the myth of laissez faire capitalism in which the market finds its own levels - or whether you live in the real world.
Ta
Tim
Cheers
Tim
SuperSaiyan4 18 Mar 2008 16:13
5/13
BC got funding and churned out crap.
Sega published The Club and thats complete crap.
Activision own BC but what franchises are BC left with? None I can think of? MSR?
I think developers need to ensure their games are created properly as well as getting funding or being bought out and its a fact that developers dont usually listen to gamers anyways a good example is PGR4 from the problems with 3 hardly anything was taken into account.
All in all developers do what they please, I would love the day a developer says 'Thanks for the feedback and here we go we implemeted your idea or suggestion' and this is not just 1 person's feedback its looking at the basis of many gamers perhaps all agreeing on the same thing because I know developers cannot always meet everyones suggestions.
Lionhead studios is a top developer Peter thinks about what the gamers like and want and the way he thinks and the kind of ideas he has is what all developers need - they need to think more about what the gamers might want or like.
Most of the games on the market are crap or below average.
Put it this way I cannot name any game on the Xbox 360 that is as good or better than the original Xbox:
Xbox 1 superb games:
Deus Ex
Ninja Gaiden
Fable
PGR2
Halo 1
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Star Wars: Jedi Knight outcast
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Chronicles Of Riddick
These are games I can heartly hold up and say are the absolute BEST Xbox 1 games I have ever played, and there is NO game on this generation that can come anywhere near how good those games were.
These developers want government funding? Well they need to show their reasons why by giving us games such as the ones listed or better.
Sega published The Club and thats complete crap.
Activision own BC but what franchises are BC left with? None I can think of? MSR?
I think developers need to ensure their games are created properly as well as getting funding or being bought out and its a fact that developers dont usually listen to gamers anyways a good example is PGR4 from the problems with 3 hardly anything was taken into account.
All in all developers do what they please, I would love the day a developer says 'Thanks for the feedback and here we go we implemeted your idea or suggestion' and this is not just 1 person's feedback its looking at the basis of many gamers perhaps all agreeing on the same thing because I know developers cannot always meet everyones suggestions.
Lionhead studios is a top developer Peter thinks about what the gamers like and want and the way he thinks and the kind of ideas he has is what all developers need - they need to think more about what the gamers might want or like.
Most of the games on the market are crap or below average.
Put it this way I cannot name any game on the Xbox 360 that is as good or better than the original Xbox:
Xbox 1 superb games:
Deus Ex
Ninja Gaiden
Fable
PGR2
Halo 1
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Star Wars: Jedi Knight outcast
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Chronicles Of Riddick
These are games I can heartly hold up and say are the absolute BEST Xbox 1 games I have ever played, and there is NO game on this generation that can come anywhere near how good those games were.
These developers want government funding? Well they need to show their reasons why by giving us games such as the ones listed or better.
Rutabaga 18 Mar 2008 16:30
6/13
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
...These are games I can heartly hold up and say are the absolute BEST Xbox 1 games I have ever played, and there is NO game on this generation that can come anywhere near how good those games were.
STOP THE PRESS: Super Saiyan in admitting 360 games are not very good shocker.
SuperSaiyan4 18 Mar 2008 16:57
7/13
There are 'good' games on the Xbox 360 but none are absolutlely amazing as in exclusives I think the ones I listed were all Xbox 1 exclusives as in console exclusive.
On the 360 you got Mass Effect, Lost Odyessy, Blue Dragon which are great but not fantastic as in mind blowingly addictive like KOTOR was.
They are all great graphically but the way a game like KOTOR played it was unique.
As far as racing goes PGR2 was the best racing game ever for the Xbox 1 oh and there was Rallisport Challenge 2 imo the best Rally game I ever played with amazing graphics, gameplay and physics + damage.
Xbox 360 games and PS3 games seem to be aimed at graphical upgrades however gameplay and story etc doesn't seem to have the same impact as the original Xbox 1 games I played and enjoyed.
Every game I have looked forward to this gen has dissapointed me in some ways now I look towards Fable 2 and Ninja Gaiden 2 to lift the dissapointments and want to be holding those 2 games up and saying they are the best Xbox 360 games ever.
I seriously hopes whoever makes PGR5 can make it just like PGR2 with the feel on the feedback and how the cars actually felt like they were on the road and same lobby system.
On the 360 you got Mass Effect, Lost Odyessy, Blue Dragon which are great but not fantastic as in mind blowingly addictive like KOTOR was.
They are all great graphically but the way a game like KOTOR played it was unique.
As far as racing goes PGR2 was the best racing game ever for the Xbox 1 oh and there was Rallisport Challenge 2 imo the best Rally game I ever played with amazing graphics, gameplay and physics + damage.
Xbox 360 games and PS3 games seem to be aimed at graphical upgrades however gameplay and story etc doesn't seem to have the same impact as the original Xbox 1 games I played and enjoyed.
Every game I have looked forward to this gen has dissapointed me in some ways now I look towards Fable 2 and Ninja Gaiden 2 to lift the dissapointments and want to be holding those 2 games up and saying they are the best Xbox 360 games ever.
I seriously hopes whoever makes PGR5 can make it just like PGR2 with the feel on the feedback and how the cars actually felt like they were on the road and same lobby system.
deleted 18 Mar 2008 19:53
8/13
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I seriously hopes whoever makes PGR5 can make it just like PGR2 with the feel on the feedback and how the cars actually felt like they were on the road and same lobby system.
I for one wish we could of seen the real Metropolis Street Racer as it was designed to be, about street racing, about earning respect for driving good!, remember the DC screenshots where there were traffic with buses and taxis all busying about, but that never happened,
It lost its good idea and became PGR, and I agree 1 and 2 were great but it just became a game that couldn’t decide on arcade or simulation, the Kudos system which really had a great idea just became boring tedious work, and I hope PGR 5 can reinvent itself back to what it should of been.
As for losing the disappointment, in my opinion, too much focus is on streamlining games, making them look great with 10 hours of game play based on a gimmick of game play type that will hold your interest, just long enough to finish it, and therefore getting itself a 9/10 reward from lazy review sites (ahem IGN) , prime examples of this are Gears of War and Bioshock great games in their own right but the game play becomes repetitive and originality lasts for the first couple of levels until it’s a case of getting it out the door on time (or a little late but not too much for shareholders)
Too keep having a fantastic experience it’s going to take Fable 2, GTA4, Alan Wake, Resident Evil 4 and even that can’t help but keep switching on Online Halo 3, don’t forget it’s still early and the best games are in development still by the end of 360 life there will be plenty to re-fond over.
Dreadknux 18 Mar 2008 21:42
9/13
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Sega published The Club and thats complete crap.
Sorry I couldn't read that properly, you were typing complete crap.
deleted 18 Mar 2008 22:00
10/13
Posted by SuperSaiyan4
Registered: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 526
Replying to SuperSaiyan4
because you are the only one left listening to you!
Registered: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 526
Replying to SuperSaiyan4
because you are the only one left listening to you!
PreciousRoi 19 Mar 2008 20:37
11/13
you're loony...
PGR blows, Kudos are an abomination...the only thing remarkable about PGR2 is that it featured LIVE! and it came out before the FAR SUPERIOR Forza...which was and is the best racing title on the original Xbox by a country mile.
I oppose government subsidies by default...it takes something for me to countenance an exception...something I'm not seeing here.
So I guess I'd have to agree that BC can quietly crawl off to a corner somewhere and expire.
PGR blows, Kudos are an abomination...the only thing remarkable about PGR2 is that it featured LIVE! and it came out before the FAR SUPERIOR Forza...which was and is the best racing title on the original Xbox by a country mile.
I oppose government subsidies by default...it takes something for me to countenance an exception...something I'm not seeing here.
So I guess I'd have to agree that BC can quietly crawl off to a corner somewhere and expire.
TimSpong 20 Mar 2008 12:08
12/13
PreciousRoi wrote:
I oppose government subsidies by default...
Oh, go on then... do mean that:
"By default, I oppose government subsidies"?
or
"I oppose government subsidies by default"?
or both?
Hap-hap-happy Feaster!
I'm now quite cheered up.
Tim
PreciousRoi 20 Mar 2008 17:48
13/13
A wise man once said...
"Both"
"Both"