The 'deprofessionalization of video games' was on full display at PAX East

gamedeveloper.com

4 points·bitbasher··3 comments

I'm trying to square this with my memory of gaming. Hasn't it long been dominated by far fewer names than the number of people actually making the games? Electronic Arts was, specifically, known for highlighting the names of the main individuals behind the games.

I'm also not clear what to make of the idea on the section title: "Deprofessionalization is built on the back of devaluing labor". Just, what? Is the labor involved in creating games in the crafting of the game, or in the marketing of them? To be clear, marketing is a valuable way to build a market. Literally in the name. But it is not the same as building of the game.

I think there is almost certainly something to this. But really feels like this story is stretching.

Yes.. the entire idea is upside down.

Indie (solo developers + small teams) are somehow... destroying AAA companies and causing layoffs.

The problem couldn't possibly be... AAA companies are over budgeting and under performing. Maybe they should learn from the indies. Stop building slop no one wants.

Yes, one of the examples I saw is Far Cry. In the 2, there was this nice mechanic of fire that spread from grass to trees to houses. It added a realistic dimension to the game. You think they kept it in the latest Far Cry ? No, of course they prefer to put very beautiful graphics than add/keep interesting mechanics. Also the number of bugs in the first release version of AAA's lately is insane. Signs that editors don't polish their games so they can sell them fast. This is not normal, we don't want mediocre quality for our games.

One of the counter-example is Baldur's Gate 3, this game is polished and oddly, people like it !

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