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Post by Link"Guess"ski on Oct 25, 2018 22:30:41 GMT
...of EA. I noticed a tidbit in the news about Jade Raymond leaving EA about BioWare which I have always been wondering.
We know their CEO is Andrew Wilson and he has been ever since Ray and Greg left but with the top inside the studio being Aaryn Flynn and now Casey Hudson. They only make macro-decisions insofar as they have to present them to higher-ups at EA at some point - Aaryn mentioned showing Anthem to Andrew Wilson for a presentation for instance, so if you were ever in doubt EA make the decisions as to "what BioWare should be making" in a sense. No, they didn't say "thou shalt make a Destiny game" BioWare had to create a game pitch that would please EA based on what the higher ups have been saying regarding their read on the games market as of late. They are the end point which greenlights whatever idea BioWare would have.
And here's the info I mentioned: So basically BioWare from the top above the studio-level is being "run" by a gal who joined only in 2015 after being at WB Games as marketing/publishing lead (SVP) under projects like Arkham Knight and Shadow of Mordor.
Her title for EA reads "SVP of Mobile, Maxis and BioWare". And looking at mobile and Maxis as of late those have certainly dabbled into the depths of being interactive business negotioations, of the player having to purchase more Sims DLCs than ever just to get the baseline experience. Not saying Anthem is like that but the point is I get the impression that Samantha as a strictly clinical and marketing-oriented professional "runs" BioWare from a perspective that is ignorant of what BioWare is traditionally about and that may be how Anthem transitioned from whatever its earlier pitches were into strictly "Some online game with potential for microtransactions!" because Samantha joined in 2015 and had to "run" the show, and Aaryn Flynn had to answer to her and pitch a game in collaboration with her style of work as SVP.
Regardless I have learned something more about a AAA company today. I should have researched and confirmed more before writing but just take this as my wild conjecture in regards to the basic information that EA uses an SVP in charge of BioWare which I did not know previously. It would also explain how Rocksteady developed Arkham Knight the way they did after City so that it wasn't just a failure on behalf of their creativity but because top-level somebody running their publisher errands told them to pump out lots of expensive DLC and make the single-player sustainable enough to keep attach rates up and thus make players notice the DLCs.
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Post by smilesja on Oct 26, 2018 0:46:51 GMT
Anthem is abandoning fans? News to me.
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Post by simit on Oct 26, 2018 1:22:49 GMT
First i'd like to say i enjoyed both Arkham Knight and SOM quite alot an bought no mtx to enjoy any of them.
Second there was always someone above Aaryn an now Casey.
Third games change, it happens, but they've already said they still doing DA, how that looks on release is anyones guess an personally i wouldn't mind a live service in DA if it was strictly SP but consisted of updates with daily an weekly quests maybe even events, heck DA:I would've benefitted more from on going live events like rift spawns etc in the sp than the mp we got in my opinion
MTX can add to a game when done right, lootboxes are just crap
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Post by Sanunes on Oct 26, 2018 5:43:06 GMT
The Sims has always had additional content, even look back to The Sims 3. They released 11 additional "expansions" for The Sims 3 after EA left Steam, so additional content for that game is nothing new. There might be more now in the lifecycle of The Sims 4, but I don't see it as a negative that they are releasing more content for their games, for if you don't like it don't buy it there is no mandatory purchase for things you don't want.
As far as her experience it doesn't matter for they need certain skills at certain positions and they don't always overlap. That is where Casey Hudson's job is, to educate and inform the people above him about what BioWare wants to do and the pros and cons of those options and the alternatives.
BioWare has also said that the plan for Anthem is to be purely cosmetic with no lootboxes it will be direct purchases for that gear. Which to me is listening to the people that complained about the randomness of Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and Mass Effect: Andromeda by removing the random factor.
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Post by PillarBiter on Oct 26, 2018 5:52:17 GMT
If it abandons overreacting fans like, say, you... I'm fine with it.
Also, you derogatory term of 'gal' to appoint someone who is obviously accomplished a gazillion times more than you ever will completely disproves anything you say, really.
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Post by SofaJockey on Oct 26, 2018 6:32:17 GMT
As this 'speculation topic' is barely Anthem related, I'm moving it to 'Bioware News' thread.
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Post by Link"Guess"ski on Oct 26, 2018 9:00:55 GMT
Anthem is abandoning fans? News to me. They're trying to assure you that this is the usual BioWare stuff packed inside of a new concept but with no romances and where "The other players are sorta like your companions" it feels like they're catering in an uneven split to NEW players and less old ones.
And I'm arguing that while I think BioWare (as in from Casey being the uppermost exec and down to the grunts) is interested in speaking to their established audience they have been unable to do so as much as usual because it's the SVP who has laid the groundwork for them to make this "monetizable industry-trendy" game. If it abandons overreacting fans like, say, you... I'm fine with it.
Also, you derogatory term of 'gal' to appoint someone who is obviously accomplished a gazillion times more than you ever will completely disproves anything you say, really. It was not meant as derogatory. Just lazy speak. (and you say I overreact?)
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Post by Sanunes on Oct 26, 2018 12:32:17 GMT
Anthem is abandoning fans? News to me. They're trying to assure you that this is the usual BioWare stuff packed inside of a new concept but with no romances and where "The other players are sorta like your companions" it feels like they're catering in an uneven split to NEW players and less old ones. And I'm arguing that while I think BioWare (as in from Casey being the uppermost exec and down to the grunts) is interested in speaking to their established audience they have been unable to do so as much as usual because it's the SVP who has laid the groundwork for them to make this "monetizable industry-trendy" game. So they are obligated to make the same game each time they make a game and are not allowed to alter things and if things are being altered its because of pressure of some sort from EA and not a choice by the developer? The way David Gaider was talking near the end of development for Dragon Age: Inquisition was that romances were being added purely for the "fans" because he really made it sound that they didn't want to do them every game they release, but the developers felt obligated instead of being something that added to the game. As far as companions, we don't know how they are going to be implemented in the game. Just because they are not going to have companions in combat where you are going in with friends or alone doesn't mean when we are with NPCs in other areas of the game won't give us the same feeling. My experiences the best parts when dealing companions are having conversations on the Normandy/Tempest or Citadel/Nexus which is where the companions have the most meaning aside and where the relationships grow. If anything it could also be seen that EA would "force" them to have those features because they are expected in a BioWare game due to that is what has always been there, its just as likely as what you are claiming for that way they know making the exact same game all the time will appeal to the exact same group of people they can milk for money.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2018 13:13:52 GMT
Bioware tries something new and its abandoning fans. Ok.
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Post by Iakus on Oct 26, 2018 23:04:34 GMT
They're trying to assure you that this is the usual BioWare stuff packed inside of a new concept but with no romances and where "The other players are sorta like your companions" it feels like they're catering in an uneven split to NEW players and less old ones. And I'm arguing that while I think BioWare (as in from Casey being the uppermost exec and down to the grunts) is interested in speaking to their established audience they have been unable to do so as much as usual because it's the SVP who has laid the groundwork for them to make this "monetizable industry-trendy" game. So they are obligated to make the same game each time they make a game and are not allowed to alter things and if things are being altered its because of pressure of some sort from EA and not a choice by the developer?
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Just a flip of the coin.
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Post by Sanunes on Oct 26, 2018 23:08:03 GMT
So they are obligated to make the same game each time they make a game and are not allowed to alter things and if things are being altered its because of pressure of some sort from EA and not a choice by the developer? Tell me why is it a strawman to say it might be the developers wanting these changes and not EA? After public comments the developers themselves have said about those features?
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Post by Iakus on Oct 26, 2018 23:15:22 GMT
Tell me why is it a strawman to say it might be the developers wanting these changes and not EA? After public comments the developers themselves have said about those features? Reread what I quoted. Slowly. Specifically the first sentence.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2018 1:13:48 GMT
Also, you derogatory term of 'gal'
If that's considered offensive then people need to swallow some cement..
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Post by pessimistpanda on Oct 27, 2018 6:54:03 GMT
Also, you derogatory term of 'gal'
If that's considered offensive then people need to swallow some cement..
If the person in question were male, there is absolutely no way that OP would have used the word "boy" instead of "man".
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Post by CrutchCricket on Oct 27, 2018 16:02:24 GMT
If the person in question were male, there is absolutely no way that OP would have used the word "boy" instead of "man". Not boy, but dude? Guy? He didn't call her a girl, which is the traditional counterpart of boy. Boy, girl Guys, gals (or dolls, if you're some type of musical nut ) Dude, (chick?) and so on. So yeah, nothing to see here.
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Post by Qui-Gon GlenN7 on Oct 27, 2018 18:41:28 GMT
If it abandons overreacting fans like, say, you... I'm fine with it. Also, you derogatory term of 'gal' I'm pretty sure most of us are more accomplished than this gal. Just because you aren't....
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Post by SofaJockey on Oct 27, 2018 18:52:01 GMT
This thread's heading to a lock if we don't calm down and return to what passes for the original topic.
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Post by smilesja on Oct 27, 2018 18:52:14 GMT
Can we go back on topic without the need to attack others?
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Post by bshep on Oct 28, 2018 3:52:19 GMT
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Post by andydandymandy on Oct 28, 2018 22:53:07 GMT
For me the implications are in the possibility that future Dragon Age and Mass Effect games will be made under this mindset. Anthem being a multiplayer only, "live service" game is one thing (its a new IP) but if all future BioWare titles are being forced into this mold because of execs who don't understand why people like Mass Effect and Dragon Age games to begin with, I am going to be sad.
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Post by alanc9 on Oct 29, 2018 1:32:01 GMT
Can we go back on topic without the need to attack others? I dunno. I thought the microagression debate was more interesting than round 573 of "Bio's betraying its fans."
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Post by smilesja on Oct 29, 2018 1:57:36 GMT
Can we go back on topic without the need to attack others? I dunno. I thought the microagression debate was more interesting than round 573 of "Bio's betraying its fans." Bleh I’ll go to the Politics thread for that.
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Post by Hanako Ikezawa on Oct 29, 2018 2:00:55 GMT
I dunno. I thought the microagression debate was more interesting than round 573 of "Bio's betraying its fans." Bleh I’ll go to the Politics thread for that. Politics Thread is straight up aggression, not microaggression. A wretched hive of scum and villainy.
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Post by SwobyJ on Oct 29, 2018 2:50:58 GMT
I am hesitant about the likelihood that a DA4/ME+ being online multiplayer only. While possible, I have doubts that EA would push that hard. However, with Anthem experience, I can easily imagine MP centric hub stuff (like ME3 Silversun, but replace the N7 NPCs with players). The integration will only go further, but not just *yet* necessitate an online connection.
And I kinda think the 'players are your party members characters' things is just Bioware making things easy on themselves at first. This game seems like quite a task and programming and designing 2+ other characters to go along with you sounds more than a little daunting, all things considered. Reminder that this is the first Bioware game even using true verticality, not minor platforming.
Anthem looks like a platform, even a testing ground in some ways. It segregates the story and the gameplay more than usual. If people cry out for story, priority goes to producing story and new ways to tell it (romances, temp companions, more hubs, whatever). If people cry out for gameplay, priority goes to that (classes, maps, bosses, raids, items). All as hook to show off super kewl suit visuals, emotes, weapon skins(?) etc to sell. The full lifecycle depending on longer term reception to the game. Perhaps its just some planned updates through 2019. Or perhaps its more than a few years, and including larger expansions. Or perhaps it's up to a decade (unlikely), cross-gen and very very successful.
I don't love this. I think Bioware does so much testing about so many annoying things, to me as as player. But I can see them trying new approaches in a changing market.
(Like, I really don't love this. If I'm GOING to be doing MP/MMO, I tend to much prefer the item appearances be utterly hinged on accomplishments, and I can buy content DLC that supplies the activities for this. So bleh. But not hate.)
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Post by Sanunes on Oct 29, 2018 3:51:22 GMT
I am hesitant about the likelihood that a DA4/ME+ being online multiplayer only. While possible, I have doubts that EA would push that hard. However, with Anthem experience, I can easily imagine MP centric hub stuff (like ME3 Silversun, but replace the N7 NPCs with players). The integration will only go further, but not just *yet* necessitate an online connection. And I kinda think the 'players are your party members characters' things is just Bioware making things easy on themselves at first. This game seems like quite a task and programming and designing 2+ other characters to go along with you sounds more than a little daunting, all things considered. Reminder that this is the first Bioware game even using true verticality, not minor platforming. Anthem looks like a platform, even a testing ground in some ways. It segregates the story and the gameplay more than usual. If people cry out for story, priority goes to producing story and new ways to tell it (romances, temp companions, more hubs, whatever). If people cry out for gameplay, priority goes to that (classes, maps, bosses, raids, items). All as hook to show off super kewl suit visuals, emotes, weapon skins(?) etc to sell. The full lifecycle depending on longer term reception to the game. Perhaps its just some planned updates through 2019. Or perhaps its more than a few years, and including larger expansions. Or perhaps it's up to a decade (unlikely), cross-gen and very very successful. I don't love this. I think Bioware does so much testing about so many annoying things, to me as as player. But I can see them trying new approaches in a changing market. (Like, I really don't love this. If I'm GOING to be doing MP/MMO, I tend to much prefer the item appearances be utterly hinged on accomplishments, and I can buy content DLC that supplies the activities for this. So bleh. But not hate.) I agree, I don't think EA would push Mass Effect or Dragon Age to be a MP only game that isn't what they are and EA has also gotten the feedback on games like Titanfall where players want some single player content for a completely new IP like that. If EA was to really push Mass Effect for an always online game they would not have gone to the costs to develop a completely new IP with Anthem to do it, instead it would be Mass Effect: Something or the Other and if it failed just kill that wing of the franchise off. I wish I could find it, but there was an article I read years ago where they were talking about companions and AI in video games and how resource costly they were in terms of man power to develop it and on the system itself to run it. Its why companions can seem to be about as intelligent as a stack of bricks because they try and minimize the impact. I think that could be one of the reasons why they are also removing companions so they can utilize those developer hours and resources on consoles to improve other areas of the game. Frankly as long as we can get the conversations outside of the combat area with NPCs that were like having talks with combat companions I doubt I will care that they aren't joining me in the combat areas because they I won't be yelling at how stupid they are to be standing on a wall spinning in circles. My guess is BioWare needs to adapt to the market as well, there is only so much interest in what BioWare has made in the past while players are looking for games where they feel they get better value for their money. To a lot of people BioWare games are a one-time only playthrough and then it either sits on a shelf, you share it with friends, or you trade it in. The looter shooter games that are online to people can generate a lot of content and hours because they are not getting the exact same experience all the time because you are with people and there is randomness to what you are being rewarded for playing. The way I see it is that its a lot like the old point and click adventure games, for there are still people interested in those games, but not enough to justify spending tens of millions of dollars developing a game that would be expected from major developer like BioWare. It would be sent down to a smaller developer under the umbrella of EA like the teams making Unraveled or No Way Out where they have a smaller budget title process and lesser expectations.
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