Ben-DutkaWhen people earn a name for themselves in this industry, they often want to branch out and go their own way.
Such is the case for former Infinity Ward creative strategist, Robert Bowling. After suddenly resigning his post last month, Bowling is opening his own studio , Robotoki.
Apparently, this decision was made "immediately after" he quit his long-time position with Activision, and he said the new development studio's primary goal is to put the team first and everything else is secondary. There may be a hint as to the reason behind his leaving when he says, "I believe as an industry, we have a lot to learn about how to treat talent." He goes on to say that gaming is progressing in the artistic areas, but the industry is failing to "properly inspire and support our creative talent."
Robotoki will be "completely self-funded" and will only partner with those who support that model. Said Bowling:
"I wanted to create an environment where the creative vision holders held complete control over their work and could guide and maintain it from concept to execution."
The studio's first project won't be revealed until later this year, but we know it's scheduled to arrive for "next-gen consoles, PC and mobile devices." Bowling added that he wants to create the "universe first, experiences second, and game mechanics last," which sounds just a tad frightening from a design standpoint. "Man, this world is awesome, the atmosphere is awesome…but damn, these controls suck ." …just kidding, Robert.
But we really like this part:
"Our focus is creating an experience that is no longer strictly single player, strictly co-op, or strictly multiplayer, but adapting the strengths of each of these into a unique experience that is fueled by the actions and contributions in each."
No further comment besides- Good luck. And we do mean that.
I really like how his focus seems to be on creativity and ingenuity. That's always a good sign.
Some of his quotes though… makes you wonder if there's some real merit to the complaints that CoD is always the same now… Maybe the development studios aren't to blame at all… maybe they don't have a choice!
depending on the publisher, i think you're right that some
studios are rushed..
Been saying this for awhile now.
*points to prototype 2*.
yea i think thats pretty much confirmed!
ok radical may not have the best reputation out there, but come on they can do better then this!
@World
you haven't quite said exactly that. You've never really provided more than generalizations, if your honest, have you. You've never really paid homage to the publishers that allow their devs free range. (Sony and Quantic Dream or ThatGameCompany, for example)
I'm so glad hes doing this. We're seeing more and more developers try and get away from publishers because they want more creative freedom.
With Kickstarters and now this guys studio, man if this stuff takes off we're going to start seeing some really creative stuff in the near future.
Kickstarter is the single greatest achievment so far this century. Banks, Publishers, and millionaires better be shaking in their collective boots, because over the next say decade their gonna get the boot literaly.
Developers are now being given the single greatest tool and that is money. They used to have to sign their company(at least a %) over to a wealthy investor, be pushed around by overcontrolling publishers, and have to worry about losing everything if they went with a bank. Now all they have to do is ask the fans, and at most give out some swag which costs next to nothing.
I personally can't wat for the first publisher to say in an interview this Kickstarter thing is ruining our industry, its coming and we all know it 😉 You've pushed the devs around for a long time and now they basically have a bully willing to stand in their corner, come on devs just ask for the help because we are willing to give it.
Yeah, I think kickstarter is brilliant stuff. I'm backing Banner Saga, because Austin Wintery who did the music for Journey is composing the music and they got enough money for a full orchestra.
I'm also probably going to get wasteland 2 as Brian Fargo is a boss, and had the balls to call out publishers for the BS that they have been doing to the game industry.
I'm sooooo hoping that Kickstarter works well. I also hope this Bowling fellow has great success.
I imagine at some point kickstarter will have something go horribly wrong be it corruption, a hacker, or just some smart ass who basically steals the money that was suppose to go to a project. However I don't think this concept in general will ever die.
We have relied on the 1% for far to long to fund ideas and it has brought us to this point of a nearly stagnant world. Don't get me wrong certain fields are pushing forward, but many more are just dieing. The 1% are essentially too closed minded when it comes to fresh ideas, unless it is something that can absolutely guarantee success, and in a sense I don't blame them, but on the other hand if you don't have risk then the rewards are minimal. The 99% are much more open to creativity and being that we are micro-investors we don't care whether it is a business success or not. Just the thought of having an idea you helped fund come to life is enough(and the swag, can't forget the swag). That is why I think this idea will flourish in the upcoming decades, it might even be the kick to the balls that the large investors need, since parting with their money has become a fear in todays day and age.
I'll be looking forward to what they put out. Hopefully everything goes well for them and they can give us some good games.
I think he is trying to go beyond what "The Suits" are imposing on the industry at the moment… it has become such a money cruncher that "talent" are disillusioned, jaded and frankly tired of how difficult it has become to execute ideas within a reasonable space of time and budget.
The drive for profit is taking the fun out of making games people want to play.
Good luck to you and your "creative vision"…
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 4/24/2012 11:51:00 AM
Could you imagine being forced to release the same game every 2 years?
You go get 'em!
Seriously. All the best. As alive as gamers are we can see how money centered the whole industry has become.
A tough feat you're undertaking.
There ya go, proof that publishers are running the show. Ben I accept your apology.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 4/24/2012 2:45:19 PM
Unfortunately, such a generalization isn't an absolute. Especially when your case study is Activision (or EA). I'm sure you'd agree that a company like Activision isn't as likely to give a publisher free range games (especially one as well established) as… well… most other publishers.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 4/25/2012 10:17:30 AM
Good luck to him, hope to see something great in the future from his studio.
their first projects being announced later this year for next gen systems?
huh?