European Game Developer Failures Enumerated 21
Thanks to Polygon for their article discussing the recent problems faced by European videogame developers. The piece explains: "According to a recent study conducted by London's Financial Times, 23 European game developers folded in 2003, which is up from 14 in 2002 and 8 in 2001." It also notes that "one of the biggest European companies to close its doors this year was Rage Software, perhaps best known for their David Beckham Soccer series", and a recently-linked editorial mentions a number of other notable independent developers who are no more, including Mucky Foot, Lost Toys, Computer Artworks, and Silicon Dreams. The news piece ends by quoting Eidos CEO Mike McGarvey as suggesting: "A studio of about 150 people, split into three teams, is about the ideal size and it's hard to see how it makes sense for the cottage industry types. They may have more of a future in post-production as a service-based business."
Wow (Score:4, Interesting)
Is it the beginning of the game developer decline?
Re:Wow (Score:5, Interesting)
"Cottage industry" game production is perhaps best suited to retro [atariage.com] and portable gaming, where the technical abilities are limited such that a large team and lots of money don't outweigh talent and a decent game concept.
Re:Wow (Score:1)
I think a lot of these developers go under due to piss poor management more than anything else. Either that, or the conspiracy theory is true, that being the likes of EA contract these developers. If they're good, they absorb the talent, and if they're not, they bury them.
Re:Wow (Score:2)
Re:Wow (Score:2)
Silicon dreams ?! (Score:1)
Well, i think they closed doors just in time to avoid the impending "most unfortunate name of the year award"
That many close? (Score:1)
Karem
23 is far too low (Score:3, Interesting)
Thats a bit harsh, isn't it? (Score:1)
open source will get to games, too (Score:2, Interesting)
McGarvey will be surprised when open source will start eating his lunch. First, industry insiders thought open source couldn't develop compilers, then kernels, then desktops, and they were proven wrong each ti
Re:open source will get to games, too (Score:2)
Games and $$$ (Score:1)
Games cost so much money its almost like a movie production, artists, scene directors etc. The # of companies that can afford to produce a good game shrinks then, and that is why there is less and less variety occuring.
Kris Holland [mailto]