Fact Or Fiction?

With the unfortunate failure of Dragons Age, something I wanted in all my heart to actually be good and back to its best in the writing department. There is a really big year ahead for EA. After all, it’s the success of Split Fiction from Hazelight that continues to propel EA to any significance within the gaming industry.

For a company that hedges its bets on wanting live service and blaming game failures on that principle. In hindsight, that looks like a rather stupid and misinformed comment from the head honchos at EA. After all, the turmoil that EA has been in has been led only by its leadership. Nothing is on the developers or studios themselves. Because ultimately, Hazelight are a studio that are funded by EA but are strictly independent from them in the decision making. They’ve really shown the way in how Bioware were led astray frankly.

However, is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Are EA going to learn? Well, Respawn, another incredible studio that EA does control, will make the third and probably last Star Wars game of their outing. Will that be a success? You’re damn right it will. Going back to previous years though, they misused the Star Wars IP with Battlefront and were considerably tone deaf in every situation.

Battlefield and the team at DICE are at a point now and another EA franchise we know of. It’s make or break for them. However, the good news is the new Battlefield is previewing incredibly well. It’s just going to be interesting what the output of EA games is going forward. How they utilize their studios and if they will give more creative control to them. I am of the point of view that when you allow game studios to cook then ultimately it’s always going to be in your best interests. Unless, of course, you know what the hell you’re doing and what your fans actually want.

Microsoft for example and the success they’ve had this year. It sets a benchmark, of course I’ve praised them quite considerably lately. However, game sales and performances do not lie. Sony will get to a point where they’re cooking themselves again but the industry itself really owes itself to allow the creators to own their games and flourish a lot more. Once you do that it creates an effect that will be industry-wide and be very positive for all. The message is loud and clear though, accomplishment only comes from the trust you put in your developers and studios you have. I personally think if you look at all the independents right now. What you’re seeing is developers being able to do what they love and have massive success with it without being on a leash.

On that point, I have a massive amount of optimism that we’re going to see even more great future games when you actually allow developers to take the lead and do what they know and love. While also, considering what it is the gaming community wants out of a game. Normally, they do that by supporting your game. When all fails, you cannot then resort back to nonsense that doesn’t actually fit the narrative that’s going on.

You deliver the fiction, we’ll deliver the facts. As subjective as that is, you cannot deny that when studios are independent they do pretty damn well. It’s up to the suits to actually figure that out.