Studio closures have become far too common in the gaming industry, with a couple more falling victim in the last week.
Amongst all the news last week of THQ studios finding new homes and intellectual properties being sold to the highest bidder, came the depressing information that not all studios would be kept around. Vigil Games, developers of the Darksiders series, were passed over by potential buyers and closed doors shortly after the auction did.
Alex & Mike talk Biomutant, a game from Experiment 101/THQ Nordiq you likely have not heard of. While the AAA side of the industry tends to homogenization and imitative, cinematic presentation, “AA” games remain creative and innovative in 2021. Drawing on inspirations as varied as Dark Souls, third person shooters & kung fu cinema, Biomutant is Ratchet & Clank on acid, developed by a team of 20 people.
"Vigil Games may not be around anymore but their 2 Darksiders games really raised the bar for 3D action adventure games. Let's take a look at both titles' gameplay and worlds and see which one emerges victorious." - A.J. Maciejewski from Video Chums
Darksiders 1 is a complete game but it’s obvious with Darksiders 2 they ran out of budget after the Ice world and the game just becomes a poorly paced mess.
Remember THQ? They published such games as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Darksiders I & II, the Destroy All Humans series, Homefront, the Red Faction series, and Saint's Row 1-3. Almost as famous as their games were the THQ marketing stunts, including a Golden Wii.
Bigger money does not necessarily mean better games, Microsoft ... look at what you have done to the gaming industry. Your "Go Big or Go Broke" take on gaming has taken its toll on so many game developers' minds and pockets.
Your billions has disrupted the industry with devastating effect. Like an atom bomb to the flourishing industry the Japanese has nurtured since the 1980's. Nintendo was forced to side step back instead of progress and Sony to match your big budget even if it means losing billions just to keep up.
Its a good thing Apple and Android gaming platforms came out to reverse the damage you have caused by providing livelihood for small independent game makers.
Why don't you go back to Windows PC gaming platform? No? because you have done nothing for it? can't run it well? Steam? can't charge for online play & services?
The business of making games is just like any other business sector.
Grassroot developers will continue to be bullied out of business, swallowed up by bigger companies, or unable to compete with the bigger names in the business, Just like your local grocer being forced out of business by Wal-mart.
It's ruthless and cruel, but as the saying goes 'nothing personal, just business.'
The sad fact is that these people losing their jobs were in it for the love of it, and just like your local grocer with the friendly smile, they are being replaced by lifeless factions with profits in mind, which is why we're being bombarded with annual releases of endless sequels.
Thanks for reading!