Lucasarts President: "Industry Business Model Does Not Work"

[Varsity]

In a curious reversal of Mark Rein's much-derided episodic diatribe (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14913), Lucasarts president Jim Ward has come out strongly in favour of the "nascent online model", GamesIndsutry.biz reports (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=18929). He is critical of the "one-shot" approach the industry has lapsed into continually taking and supports the principle of back-catalogue subscriptions, points in general if not total contradiction of Rein's alternative strategy, and like Nintendo wants to see games targeted outside the male 30-something gamer stereotype.
Right now this industry has a business model that does not work. This industry has been flat for the past six years; we've been selling games to the same people. Our revenue model is based on one shot at retail - we have no back-end revenue streams like a movie might in terms of DVD [or] TV.View the video interview here (http://www.eurogamer.net/tv_video.php?playlist_id=782).

[IRONGUSTAV]

from a old lucasarts fan to the new president of lucas ,fuck you and stop the bs

[BloodPack]

So he is publicly stating that the industry as a whole needs to figure out how to make gauge the loyal fanbase...interesting approach

[EvilBob46]

This is ridiculous. If there is one company that has sold "the same games to the same people" for the last 3 years it's Lucas Arts. It's sad how the company used to have games that really expanded the market but no longer do. I was always surprised at how many girls in HS and College knew of Monkey Island and had played (and loved) games in the series.

If this is going to highlight a change in the direction for Lucas Arts, then I would consider it good news. But they're going to have to show me they're serious with this before I'm gonna believe 'em.

[Ajguy]

Still though, he did mention back-catalogue games. Maybe those classic adventures will gain new exposure.

[Atepsflame]

So, basicly, he just wants new and exciting ways to coax the money out of my pocket and into his? F that.

[Varsity]

If this is going to highlight a change in the direction for Lucas Arts, then I would consider it good news.
Watch and read the entire interview. Seems that's exactly what's happening. This guy hasn't been around long, from what I've gathered (edit: he's been there two years as it turns out).

So, basicly, he just wants new and exciting ways to coax the money out of my pocket and into his? F that.
That is what everyone wants, and why nobody is taking any risks any more. More financial stability leads to better games (from those good enough to make them, of course).

[Heretic Machine]

Perigon: "LucasArts' dependance on Star Wars games doesn't work."

[The Continental]

I feel only a littlte slighted that the game industry is tired of selling me games. I should probably warn my parents not to get involved with these guys, as the romance will only last 15-20 years or so before they outright tell you they want to meet new people.

[InstaPete]

.........you're personally offended that this guy thinks it's a good idea to expand his customer base?

are you kidding? I don't understand why people on the internet (and presumably in real life) have a problem with game companies trying to sell things and make money.

[jeffool]

Gentlemen, we're officially being pushed to the side. And I, for one, could not be happier.

[Citizen Philip]

Someone from Lucasarts has something to say? I'm sorry, they ran out of soapbox time years ago. Try again.

[Atepsflame]

.........you're personally offended that this guy thinks it's a good idea to expand his customer base?

are you kidding? I don't understand why people on the internet (and presumably in real life) have a problem with game companies trying to sell things and make money.

It's more that I have a problem with the way in which he wants to try and sell it to me. And dude, getting upset about it is my right. I'm the guy that friggin buys the damn things.

[Kamalot]

Well, the reason Mark Rein is against eposodic content is because his company isn't designed to provide it. Epic is built around building an engine and churning out a big game every few years.

Of course he says episodic content will fail; it is in his best interests for it to fail.

[EvilBob46]

Watch and read the entire interview. Seems that's exactly what's happening.

Saying something is different from actually doing it though. I've been enormously disappointed by Lucas Arts in the last few years (except for their out-sourced projects) and it's going to take more than empty promises to convince me.

[The Continental]

.........you're personally offended that this guy thinks it's a good idea to expand his customer base?

are you kidding? I don't understand why people on the internet (and presumably in real life) have a problem with game companies trying to sell things and make money.


<whisper> Pssst. InstaPete! Over here (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sarcasm)! </whisper>

[Kamalot]

Saying something is different from actually doing it though. I've been enormously disappointed by Lucas Arts in the last few years (except for their out-sourced projects) and it's going to take more than empty promises to convince me.
I couldn't agree more.

They dropped a ton of good ideas in the past few years to recycle more Star Wars content. What happened to Full Throttle and Sam & Max? They were sitting on a goldmine of good ideas and threw them away to cash in on only the Star Wars crowd.

[Wonka]

You guys may not like what this guys has to say, but he is a good businessman. He is saying all the things that any good businessman would say. And he is right about the industry being broken. Sure, he could be a little more technically savvy, and he could be a LOT more forthcoming about what their company plans to bring new to the table, but I expect neither of these things from someone who is basically a very high up salesman.


As for Mark Reins previous comments; Mark Rein is just satisfied with the status quo. Because in the status quo, his company is one of the only ones that makes any money... That's not ok. If things continue like that, then we will only have more sequels to the same games we already have. Oh and Mark would get even richer. A healthier marketplace would offer more ways for newer products to get into the marketplace. Which MEANS more ways for people like Mr. Ward here to sell you stuff. Thats a good thing. You have to assume that more ways to sell you stuff will result in some crap and also some good stuff (see marketplace on LIVE! for an example). But the important thing is that there is MORE. MORE means more chances for something good to get made and sold. And that's a good thing if you are a gamer.

[bKangy]

I know what business model doesn't work:

making shit games.

Guess who's done that for a long long time?

[Mason]

The guy speaks some truth. Publishers need to keep distributing their back catalogs, because via online distribution a lot of those old titles could still get a decent trickle of income.

And regarding Star Wars titles, to be fair, the final 3 SW movies coming out probably short-circuited their little executive brains. They could develop some weird crap with a cartoon dog and rabbit, or they could make co-released tie-in titles to the most anticipated movies of all time. You expected them to go with the rabbit?

[CrashT]

The first part of that Interview provides a better look at what LucasArts are planning to do: http://www.eurogamer.net/tv_video.php?playlist_id=777&s=l

[easi]

How about focusing on making good games (I'm looking at YOU, Lucasarts with the 50/50 hit/miss record) and not making more money than you know what to do with.

[Flatpicker]

Lucasarts is sitting on possibly the best back catalog ever created but I still have heard nothing about porting them to live.
Damnit, I want Day of the Tentacle, Monkey Island, Loom, the Xwing series, Full Throttle, and Sam and Max on my 360.
Until that happens, anybody from Lucasarts can STFU.

[Varsity]

Lucasarts is sitting on possibly the best back catalog ever created but I still have heard nothing about porting them to live.
You have now.

[balamoor]

Unless this guy goes to SOE right now and bitch slaps Smedley as his crew is rolling the SWG servers out the door he has zero credibility.

[pavlovscow]

Okay, I watched both videos and read the article.

REALITY BREAK:
He is not saying anything new about the industry.

The games industry has a distinct problem that film doesn't have. Improvements in quality to the end user produce exponential costs to the game industry, where it creates new revenue opportunity for film and TV.

Example: When the DVD format came out, people accepted buying DVD's and the cost to create a DVD quality film was not dramatically increased for the studios. They just pulled it from the archives, make a dub at DVD quality send it to print.

Conversely, when the PS2 comes out, even with backward compatibility, products from the PS1 don't meet the new quality standards. And the cost to upscale the game to PS2 is cost prohibitive.

Finance guys, good business men, want to be able to predict a certian amount of revenue for the year to balance their riskier ventures. Warner Bros. can predict a certain amount of back catalogue sales, for forecasting the next years budgets.

This is far more difficult in the game industry. And when a new technology is launched , publishers and developers have only additional costs. It is far more difficult for them to move up without a significant investment.

So what he is saying is, "Our company is making some awesome new stuff and the industry has to give us an opportunity to create predictable revenue streams so we can create the awesome new stuff. Xbox Live helps. Hopefully, Sony will gives something that will help with that too."

[Xerxes]

I'm tired of LucasArts.... Didn't they just say "We make kick ass games, on time." Is this the same guy?

[Shifteh]

Who doesn't know the Video Games industry has a shitty business model? Christ, the overtime companies do alone would fold most other industries.

[Taco]

So, basicly, he just wants new and exciting ways to coax the money out of my pocket and into his? F that.

Obligitory rebuttle about business, money, corporate world, yadda yadda yadda.

[AngelFaceBabyTeeth]

Heres what I think would get more people playing and buying PC games. Start putting really great trailers for pc games in the main stream media. More commercials. Play on the fact that everyone has a PC these days, and thers so much fun to be had with it. Not just for browsing. How about the opening trailer for BF2 in the movie theatre, right at the beggining before movie trailers. And finish it with......"For your PC only!!"
I would shit my pants if I saw that great trailer on a 50 foot screen!!!!
who wouldnt.

[Demize99]

Obligitory rebuttle about business, money, corporate world, yadda yadda yadda.

I could spout off about wanting to put food on my table and keep my job... you know, if that would help your rebuttle.

[Johan]

Here's what doesn't work about this whole gaming-business-model for me...games retailing for $50-60 (or more) and then collapsing to $20-30 less than a year later (I feel like I've been raped when I see that happen to games I bought...especially when it's just months, not a year, later). Retail the damn games for $30 from the start and keep 'em there; you'll make more with double or more in sales, and people won't sit it out for the cheaper price, at which time, they have forgotten about the game and moved on to other stuff.

[Kamalot]

Here's what doesn't work about this whole gaming-business-model for me...games retailing for $50-60 (or more) and then collapsing to $20-30 less than a year later (I feel like I've been raped when I see that happen to games I bought...especially when it's just months, not a year, later). Retail the damn games for $30 from the start and keep 'em there; you'll make more with double or more in sales, and people won't sit it out for the cheaper price, at which time, they have forgotten about the game and moved on to other stuff.
I couldn't agree more. There are lots of games I would like to have tried, but didn't think they were worth the asking price of $50-$60. Instead, I pass, and then miss them or forget about them when they hit $20-$30.