150°

Notch: Windows 8 is "very, very bad for indie developers"

Markus "Notch" Persson, the creator of Minecraft and founder of Mojang, has echoed Valve and Blizzard on the negative repercussions of Windows 8 for developers.

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gamesindustry.biz
gamer78044284d ago

Cmon guys, wait until MS releases info on that, its got windows 7 underneath. Worse case you have to pay to make yours a metro app like you have to do on apple's appstore, anything else could still run under the os.

Fishy Fingers4284d ago (Edited 4284d ago )

I'm sure there's more to it than just that, these guys will have preview builds (likely almost complete) of W8 and will be working to support it at launch (regardless what they say) so their opinions are based on experience, not guess work.

But it's often the case, especially with Gabe, they dismiss everything at first, but usually come round to it.

I quite like the look of W8, but I can't see me upgrading my W7 gaming PC anytime soon.

nukeitall4284d ago

There have been a number of people voicing concern, but I'm frankly confused about what?

Nobody really says clearly what is so bad, just "it's bad"!

@Fishy Fingers:

Windows 8 is a lot faster in all the tasks I do, so why not use it for gaming as well?

It seems way more optimized for lower end hardware than Windows 7.

Smkt4284d ago

don't know why notch and blizzard guy are upset with win8, but Gabe is probably worried about the Windows App store as that might become a direct competitor to Steam if Win8 gets popular.

nukeitall4284d ago

That was my initial thought that the app store is a competitor to Valve, but now Blizzard and even Mojang says otherwise. Yet nobody clearly says why?

It sounds like they fear their lack of freedom, but to me nothing in Windows 8 stops them from running whatever software they are doing now and likely whatever they are planning.

So I would also like a clear answer to the fear!

Letros4284d ago

Flamebait title, not even the original title. Reading the article, Notch throws a big "if" out there.

humbleopinion4284d ago (Edited 4284d ago )

Precisely. According to him Windows 8 will only be bad to developers *IF* it will be locked (like the console business). But why would Microsoft do this when openness is what gave them the huge market share they have today?

Valve and Blizzard have other concerns: If Microsoft seriously handles the game-marketplace business (and not like they handled it until now with GFW and similar crap), it might be a serious hit for other store fronts - and both Blizzard and Valve compete in that area. But as for the gamers themselves? more competition is always better.

MWH4284d ago

what's going on here?! many devs are complaining.

Moncole4284d ago

One 3 devs complained.
Gabe Newel
Notch
a guy from Blizzard

JBSleek4284d ago

How could that possibly be true because of the Windows Store? Wouldn't that make the indie scene actually thrive and not falter due to it being easily accessible to all or is the real reason because you have to take a cut of your profits and give them to Microsoft?

That isn't particularly bad for indie developers but possibly bad for big names who don't want to either share the spotlight with other games on the store or pay the money.

Smkt4284d ago

exactly... Valve knows that many indie devs would pick Windows store over Steam because of the potentially greater install base and the fact that both Valve and MS charge will charge the same.

Apart from that I don't think MS is actually preventing developers from developing for Win8.. just that now they have their own OPTIONAL distribution channel which the Devs can pay for if they want to use OR they can just use their own method i.e their own site or physical media.

Somebody4284d ago

The indie devs who were swooned by XBLA got a harsh reality check when there's barely any promotion about their products and the long certification process.

Windows 8 will have XBLA handle the gaming portion-the very thing that made most XBLA indie devs branch out to Steam.

Smkt4284d ago

true.. which will lead to devs avoiding the win8store if its crap and using better alternatives.

That is unless MS doesn't lock the OS with the Win8Store being the only place where users can get software from, in which case win8 will turn out to be vista 2.0
The best thing about windows is the wide range of applications available for almost anything you may want to do. MS will be retarded if they take that away.

also I'm not liking the new Metro UI, good thing the classic desktop is still there, hopefully there will an option to disable the new UI or at least someone will mod it

Somebody4284d ago

@Smkt
Yeah. We'll still have to see when Windows 8 comes out to get/give the final judgement. I'm just not uncomfortable with MS ever since it shifted focus towards the X Box and cared almost nothing for the PC. The only times MS praised the PC is when it needed them to sell Windows Vista, 7 and now 8. Other than that it's all about X Box. Even the 360 gets the latest MS-designed hardware such as the Kinect and Smart Glass. The PC...has yet to see any of those apart from a few researchers playing around with them. Surface is a tablet - a stand alone product that is actually in competition with the traditional PC concept.

By making the Metro (optimized for mobile devices) as the default UI for Win 8 while the classic Windows UI as an option that you have to look for...I guess I'll still be uncomfortable with MS.

BuffMordecai4284d ago

You're tearing me apart Windows 8!

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260°

Microsoft has ‘let Blizzard be Blizzard’ following its acquisition, studio says

Microsoft has 'let Blizzard be Blizzard' following the acquisition of the veteran developer according to World of Warcraft's executive producer.

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videogameschronicle.com
Kaii6d ago

Diablo 4 storefront being a cash grabbing shitshow does unironically attest to that, kudos.

kythlyn5d ago

Microsoft needs to be guiding Blizzard to be what it USED to be, not allowing it to continue to be the greedy bastardization of itself that it has become.

XiNatsuDragnel6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Okay i will be interested if they become old Blizzard but might as well be dead.

Rynxie6d ago

They will never be old blizzard. Most of all the OG's left from developers to those on the top (even some decision making folks left).

Vits6d ago

Shame most of the people that made Blizzard what they were, have already left a while ago.

ApocalypseShadow6d ago

I was about to say this. How can they be blizzard when they're no longer blizzard from yesteryear?

blacktiger6d ago

Rare was the thing I lost heart

victorMaje6d ago

Exactly. Blizzard hasn’t been Blizzard for a long time.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Knightofelemia6d ago

Blizzard is not the same Blizzard like it use to be.

PassNextquestion6d ago

Were you expecting Microsoft to hire everyone that had left Blizzard long before they purchased the company...

Microsoft has let the Blizzard company they purchased continue to be the Blizzard company they purchased.

thesoftware7306d ago

Wow, PassNextquestion,

You fully understand what that saying means, unlike some people on here who just have to say negative garbage talk.

When someone says, "Just let *blank* be *blank*, "they are just letting them operate how they operate.

It's pretty much how Sony "let Bungie be Bungie."

This comment section is full of outright haters, but you have to "let N4G be N4G"

GamerRN6d ago

This site leans so heavily in one direction...

BISHOP-BRASIL5d ago

I don't think people commenting are necessarily blaming MS for anything here, this is just collective longing for what Blizzard/Vivendi was before Activision's meddling.

Show all comments (43)
390°

Former Blizzard President Suggests Players Should Have Option to Tip Developers

Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra recently suggested an interesting concept that has sparked a debate among gamers - the idea of being able to tip developers after completing a game.

LG_Fox_Brazil10d ago

If I had a 100% way to be sure that this money would go to a fund or a reserve dedicated only to the guys who develop the games, be them designers, artists, programmers and so on, I could think about it.

But we all know that this 'tip' would only end up in a publisher's CEO pocket to buy a new yacht, so, no, I ain't tipping anyone anytime soon on this industry

neutralgamer19929d ago

Exactly these companies were raising money for good causes and gamers were donation and come to find out they are keeping a good chunk of be pie

PapaBop8d ago

Yeah tip your developer, 5% proceeds go to developer, 95% to the publisher or whoever. Isn't tipping for staff not making minimum wage? How about they just pay their developers properly and like you know, give them fair bonuses? Too much to ask from Blizzard these days, Kotick saw to that and is now laughing all the way to the bank.

MrDead9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

It's the t**ts at the top looking at ways to cut devs wages and get the players to tip them like waiting staff, and I'll guarantee a percentage is skimmed and kept by Activision Blizzard. This is 100% for shareholder and CEO playouts.

Popsicle9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

I have to agree with this. On the surface tipping devs sounds like a great idea, but in the end it leads to pay cuts and subsidization of pay. Tips then become an expectation or the devs “can’t make a living.” Lastly, especially in the US, tip culture has gotten out of control, and it serves as an excuse not to properly pay employees. Sounds good but doesn’t end well.

drizzom8d ago

@ Popsicle

I think your right on the nose with how much tipping has become rampant. Instead of it being a relationship directly between the customer and the developer or employee, it now has a middle man ingrained in the system. DoorDash is one example. It ends up becoming a metric where the company can measure 'just how much more money you are willing to part with' before raising the price on the main product.

1Victor9d ago

Uh so they’re trying triple dip or more we buy the game that they’re already withholding/cutting content for dlc we was told that season pass would help the developers thrive we felt for it.
Now on top of all that plus their sales bonus they want tips enough is enough whatever happens to you create/built a good game get a bonus for sales milestones you care about your game and community we reward you with more sales not for doing 3/4 of a game then save the other 1/4 for dlc and passes after

raWfodog9d ago

The 'tip' is me buying your game in the first place.

S2Killinit8d ago

Very well said. If it was possible to send the money to either the developer or some organization for the betterment of gaming, sure. But we all know that will not be the case.

Rynxie8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

No, it would go to those on the top. They will still fire developers, have a bunch of microtransactions, raise prices of games and so on.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 8d ago
H910d ago

So they eventually don't pay their workers and depend on our tips to pay them like the case with waiters!

Deeeeznuuuts9d ago

That kind of practice is only normal in the states, as far as I know anyway, what a backwards system

H99d ago

No it's as well in a every country that wants to amercanize

bloop9d ago

Ireland is literally the first stop across the pond and we don't have a tipping culture. The only establishments here that would expect a tip are the tourist haunts that Americans visit. Other than that, you might tip in a restaurant as a sign of gratitude for great service and waiting staff would be paid a full wage anyway.

Rebel_Scum8d ago

Tipping is not customary iin most countries dude. Get a passport lol.

Jin_Sakai10d ago

Is this a joke? How about the big wigs giving up some of their pay for their hard working developers.

MrBaskerville9d ago

Maybe the CEO could earn his money based on tips.

mastershredder10d ago

good god. The devs are not baristas dude. Total 1% ideals. Fing Chadosaurus.

Show all comments (76)
50°

Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase Renew Agreement to Bring Titles Back to China

Blizzard and NetEase have announced that Blizzard's games will return to mainland China under a new publishing agreement.

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blizzard.gamespress.com
AdonisIsBeast11d ago

Chinese propaganda incoming. Thanks Microsoft!