Are games focus-tested too much?

Thrasher · February 08, 2017, 04:03:30 PM

It seems like some (not all) developers nowadays try to apply to the lowest common denominator. Instead of trying to be risky/innovative they stick to what is safe. A good example is Dead Rising 4. Their dev blogs talked about appealing to as many people as possible. The resulting final product had no time limit, zombies aren't more aggressive at night, etc. because their feedback was that the previous games were too hard.

So do you think that focus groups have too much influence in development?

Big Boss · February 08, 2017, 04:45:16 PM

Like Kojima pandering to people who complained about MGS cutscene length...

Onion · February 08, 2017, 05:01:18 PM

the trifecta of normie shit will never change, so there's no point in trying to appeal to a wider audience

pander to your fanboys

gats · February 08, 2017, 05:37:32 PM

Wargame red dragon bro

Turkey · February 08, 2017, 05:57:58 PM

Selling to a wider audience means more money and in an ever-more-competitive industry, it's sadly a requirement for studios to stay afloat.

February 08, 2017, 10:31:12 PM

Dead Rising 3 was trash as well.

I miss being Chuck.

Luciana · February 08, 2017, 10:38:27 PM

Quote from: Thrasher on February 08, 2017, 04:03:30 PM

So do you think that focus groups have too much influence in development?

No, I think you're over thinking it. They make it "accessible to as many people as possible" because that's what rakes in the most money, and the video game industry, as with any, is trying to find the best ways to make money.

big sponge · February 08, 2017, 11:04:57 PM

I think that there's an argument to be made that says by trying to appeal to everybody you end up appealing to nobody. A good example of this being the success bravely default had in the west.

Luciana · February 09, 2017, 10:17:09 AM

Quote from: LC on February 08, 2017, 11:04:57 PM

I think that there's an argument to be made that says by trying to appeal to everybody you end up appealing to nobody. A good example of this being the success bravely default had in the west.

Yeah I'm not saying it's right. The casualisation of games can be very annoying and barebones.

Did Bravely Default not do good in Japan?

True Turquoise · February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM

They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc

Luciana · February 09, 2017, 10:46:06 AM

Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM

They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc

Oic

It did what FF2 did I think? I forget.

True Turquoise · February 09, 2017, 11:19:26 AM

Quote from: Luciana on February 09, 2017, 10:46:06 AM

Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM
They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc
Oic

It did what FF2 did I think? I forget.

I forgot exactly, but I think it was along the lines of what LC said, they tried to appeal to everybody, and in a place like Japan, its almost always been a set of limited things that work over there, hence why the games never really get much different and a lot move to the west, so it didn't do well, whereas it worked in the west because its more open to that attempt in the west.

Luciana · February 09, 2017, 11:49:51 AM

Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 11:19:26 AM

Quote from: Luciana on February 09, 2017, 10:46:06 AM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM
They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc
Oic

It did what FF2 did I think? I forget.
I forgot exactly, but I think it was along the lines of what LC said, they tried to appeal to everybody, and in a place like Japan, its almost always been a set of limited things that work over there, hence why the games never really get much different and a lot move to the west, so it didn't do well, whereas it worked in the west because its more open to that attempt in the west.

I see

cool

big sponge · February 09, 2017, 12:31:38 PM

Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 11:19:26 AM

Quote from: Luciana on February 09, 2017, 10:46:06 AM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM
They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc
Oic

It did what FF2 did I think? I forget.
I forgot exactly, but I think it was along the lines of what LC said, they tried to appeal to everybody, and in a place like Japan, its almost always been a set of limited things that work over there, hence why the games never really get much different and a lot move to the west, so it didn't do well, whereas it worked in the west because its more open to that attempt in the west.

actually it was the opposite. it worked well because it focused on appealing to JRPG fans instead of trying to cast a large net and appealing to everybody.

True Turquoise · February 09, 2017, 12:37:09 PM

Quote from: LC on February 09, 2017, 12:31:38 PM

Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: Luciana on February 09, 2017, 10:46:06 AM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM
They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc
Oic

It did what FF2 did I think? I forget.
I forgot exactly, but I think it was along the lines of what LC said, they tried to appeal to everybody, and in a place like Japan, its almost always been a set of limited things that work over there, hence why the games never really get much different and a lot move to the west, so it didn't do well, whereas it worked in the west because its more open to that attempt in the west.

actually it was the opposite. it worked well because it focused on appealing to JRPG fans instead of trying to cast a large net and appealing to everybody.

Yeah I asked my sister after I replied and forgot to edit, but I cant remember the game I was thinking about.

Luciana · February 09, 2017, 02:24:59 PM

Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 12:37:09 PM

Quote from: LC on February 09, 2017, 12:31:38 PM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: Luciana on February 09, 2017, 10:46:06 AM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM
They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc
Oic

It did what FF2 did I think? I forget.
I forgot exactly, but I think it was along the lines of what LC said, they tried to appeal to everybody, and in a place like Japan, its almost always been a set of limited things that work over there, hence why the games never really get much different and a lot move to the west, so it didn't do well, whereas it worked in the west because its more open to that attempt in the west.

actually it was the opposite. it worked well because it focused on appealing to JRPG fans instead of trying to cast a large net and appealing to everybody.
Yeah I asked my sister after I replied and forgot to edit, but I cant remember the game I was thinking about.

Dummy

challengerX · February 09, 2017, 02:34:38 PM

This user has been blacklisted from posting on the forums. Until the blacklist is lifted, all posts made by this user have been hidden and require a Sep7agon^® SecondClass Premium Membership to view.

True Turquoise · February 09, 2017, 02:56:01 PM

Quote from: challengerX on February 09, 2017, 02:34:38 PM

Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 12:37:09 PM
Quote from: LC on February 09, 2017, 12:31:38 PM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: Luciana on February 09, 2017, 10:46:06 AM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM
They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc
Oic

It did what FF2 did I think? I forget.
I forgot exactly, but I think it was along the lines of what LC said, they tried to appeal to everybody, and in a place like Japan, its almost always been a set of limited things that work over there, hence why the games never really get much different and a lot move to the west, so it didn't do well, whereas it worked in the west because its more open to that attempt in the west.

actually it was the opposite. it worked well because it focused on appealing to JRPG fans instead of trying to cast a large net and appealing to everybody.
Yeah I asked my sister after I replied and forgot to edit, but I cant remember the game I was thinking about.
Tell her to post her boobs

i just got slapped because of this

fuck you man

challengerX · February 09, 2017, 02:56:51 PM

This user has been blacklisted from posting on the forums. Until the blacklist is lifted, all posts made by this user have been hidden and require a Sep7agon^® SecondClass Premium Membership to view.

True Turquoise · February 09, 2017, 02:57:42 PM

Quote from: challengerX on February 09, 2017, 02:56:51 PM

Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 02:56:01 PM
Quote from: challengerX on February 09, 2017, 02:34:38 PM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 12:37:09 PM
Quote from: LC on February 09, 2017, 12:31:38 PM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 11:19:26 AM
Quote from: Luciana on February 09, 2017, 10:46:06 AM
Quote from: True Turquoise on February 09, 2017, 10:27:57 AM
They didnt like what Bravely Default did iirc
Oic

It did what FF2 did I think? I forget.
I forgot exactly, but I think it was along the lines of what LC said, they tried to appeal to everybody, and in a place like Japan, its almost always been a set of limited things that work over there, hence why the games never really get much different and a lot move to the west, so it didn't do well, whereas it worked in the west because its more open to that attempt in the west.

actually it was the opposite. it worked well because it focused on appealing to JRPG fans instead of trying to cast a large net and appealing to everybody.
Yeah I asked my sister after I replied and forgot to edit, but I cant remember the game I was thinking about.
Tell her to post her boobs
i just got slapped because of this

fuck you man
tell her she can slap me any time she likes

i said this and she laughed