Please make ALL your FPSs so that you can change the way to use the analog sticks.

I like them like this:

Left stick: walk forward/back + turn left/right.
Right stick: look up/down + strafe left/right.

This setup is known as Legacy on Call of Duty 4 and Radical on Timesplitters.

I never buy an FPS-game that hasn't got this option, and many of my friends neither.

I've posted this message on as many forums I can think of, but there are still games that only let you have the sucky default controller.

It really shouldn't be hard to implement. It's mostly PC-developers that do this when making console games (I'm looking at you, VALVE!).

Gringorilla

It doesn't have to stifle innovation. After all, if everyone only makes games based on what already exists, people are going to get bored and switch off. It's identifying the gaps and creating new markets - that's where the real innovation lies.

I'd take a guess that there are people from every aspect of the gaming industry reading this blog - plus plenty of marketing types who DON'T work with games, and just happen to like catching up on the latest gossip.

princess_stomper

but in general, i HATE market research, it breeds mediocrity.

if you're only making games based on what gamers like in other games, then you aren't doing anything NEW.

and being stagnant and copycat-ish is THEE worst thing there is.

take some gaddamn chances.

joelface

But I welcome corp. guys reading my posts. Unless they try to please everyone and cram a bit of everything into the game then it can only be good IMO. Even the odd occasion I talk about games I pirate, it's not like they lose any sales to me since I buy what's good. (And this isn't an apology because I go out of my way to obscure personal info anyway so they have no clue who I am... 'cept PSN ID - oh noez!)

Still, that's just fine. I just don't want to see "Hey guys! I'm super hyped about Kane and Lynch(TM)! I'm going to run out and buy 30 copies as soon as I finish this case of Mountain Dew(R)! Do the Dew!(TM)" You know... shills. But really, who needs to shill a game on a forum anyway? There will always be fans to defend a game even if they've never played it!

fuchikoma

Tei

Shilling in forums, though, is always a bad thing. And I joked about it before, but yes, it is done, probably by every company in the industry. There are marketing companies that do nothing but this. Some publishers even do it in-house, with people they hire and pay $1 per post or whatever. (I'll tell you from experience that the smart ones pay not just for posts about that company's games, but also for posts about other company's games and even other subjects entirely. It makes a poster seem less suspicious, and less of an obvious shill. They're just really enthusiastic about GTA!)

There's no problem if a company's up front about being in a forum and posting about their game. Most companies would never do that, though, for a variety of reasons (it can confuse a carefully-planned marketing or PR message, it can lead to accidental divulging of proprietary info, etc.). Smaller companies sometimes do, and even larger ones *occasionally* do if it's part of a larger strategy that's planned in advance.

But the shilling thing is pretty pervasive. It's not just this industry, either. Every once in a while I'll see obvious shilling somewhere on the net... I remember a year or two ago on Engadget, they ran a story on the new Zune and all of a sudden within the span of about 2 hours there were about 200 positive posts in support of it, most of them supposedly from current Zune owners. Stories the previous day about the Zune only attracted about 30 posts total, most of them negative. Sometimes it's really obvious like that, but most of the time it's a lot more subtle. Companies are really sneaky these days.

badasscat

SpearXXI

Since I'm with a dev who doesn't have any publisher types in-house (no PR, marketing, etc) there's no real datamining. That would be some serious work with charts, and formulas, etc. and why would I want to do that. Bleh! :)

I say for me personally I just like to see the comments in forums to see what a general impact our games have.

JohnnyLA

Fuga

Mikazukinoyaiba

There really isn't and the use of "big brother" is a negative connation for the gathering of information.

Many game developers are also gamers, therefore they already WOULD be browsing game forums. What is wrong if the big guys up top also decide to take note and make sure all employees see the critiques and comments from their consumers?

I don't see how there is a need for balance, when already there isn't any balance in danger.

Mikazukinoyaiba

I mean, there is one thing to look at and take constructive views of another. See suggestions and make corrections (Read: Lair's controls).

It's another thing to datamine and big brother forum posters who just want to talk about games.

A great balance might be the best. Watch for trends, but not try to dissect the mind of the gamer to the point it distracts from the whole process.

just my 2 cents

huginn

Where I am at now if a post comes up on here or NeoGaf about one of the games we created, 90% of the time it gets sent to the rest of the staff on our "Hey, look at this" newsgroup.

This is especially true if it just shipped and we're in some needed "downtime".

I think this has been going on for almost all of the companies I worked for over the years. It's good to know what the general buzz is out there.

JohnnyLA

enewtabie

If I can then so can they!

Derigor

GET OFF YOUR ASSES.

Kayeliminal Antithesis

There's also the important fact that a lot of people seem to gloss over - people don't develop or do PR for games because they hate them. ;)
A lot of developers and PR folk visit these forums because it's genuinely something they're interested in. They'd be visiting even if they didn't work in the industry. I don't think it's necessarily a big shocker. :)

ghostgirl

Doomstalk

NinjaGoesWhaa

Wolfers

Please PLEASE put Gunstar Heroes on XBLA. That is all.

Signed,

Me

Gray665

Users can't think revolutionary, only think evolutionary.

If you follow user suggestions, your system will evolve and evolve, but never break the BFW

Also, seems users want things to improve very limited aspect of the games. Not only users lack imagination, but the scope of what could be improved is limited. Users may never ask about enhancement of usability on a horrible menu, but will always ask for more skin options.

You can also have different types of users. You could have users that want more eyecandy, and other less eyecandy. You can't follow all directions, but your own direction.

Is nice and all to read what user think. But ultimatelly, you sould follow your design decisions. Even If everybody else think your are wrong. Design by commite is doomed.. a forum is another commite.

Tei

More Mutant League and Road Rash please.

After research looks like EA released it on PSP as part of EA replay. Um. Gunna have to go acquire that.

Derigor

Shiryu

On to the topic: this has actually been a long time fact, a couple of game companies that I have worked at have hired people in the Sales department to sign up for every possible message board and spread good publicity about the game in the weeks leading up to it shipping. Hell, we even have everybodys most hated lawyer who has posted here.

The evil empire is just that evil, they really can't be stopped, the only thing to be thankful for is the fact that, at least they aren't sending ads into our dreams.

...yet...

fawrh

Lixie

beeporama (brian.j.parker)

I will get you for this badasscat if it's the last thing i do!

Cchrist

If they are listening then hopefully better games will be made. Unless they are listening only to see which ads to put in games.

aplusjimages

Tei

Please make Legend of Dragoon sequel, for it would make me buy a PS3 the second it's announced.

Go! Go! Go!

karasu is my homeboy

Funny bit, though, is when they'd call me to tell them what ______ was actually like, as opposed to whatever talking point they'd been arguing.

Slatz_Grobnik

"Metal Gear Solid 4 will revolutionize the way games are made on the playstation 3!"

Good thing they are doing the package deal, now lets throw some final fantasy 7 remake on that and sony will win.

Wasted_Paper_Cow

Sollus

enewtabie

Llost

+ Watch video

We're not people to them, just voices... idiot fanboy voices...

DiscipleofJamzy

UFO

Maybe only a really small minority is posting and replying. The "most verbal guys". Maybe most gamers don't use forums. So you don't know what Average Joe think, but what Mr Internet Random Guy think. Different guy!.

Tei

vhd244

mrrobsa

Some were cool about it and enjoyed it, and like the SDA staff says most of thier mail from devs is positive.

SkutSkut

Elderwulf

You never know who's on the other end of that keyboard.

badasscat

I hope they don't just listen to a bunch of mindless posts too.

Llost

I'm giving you the finger if you can't see it Hideo - you ruined MGS!

Shocky

2SBs

2SBs

Tei

Lov3

Shiryu

I have read somewhere that a Ham is 2 Spoons ductaped togueter with only gimmicky games, that Fanta overheat and that theres not enough games to run on Watermelons.

What I hate about Ham is that you have to pay to play multiplayer (is free everywhere else), and that is soo closed you can't use mods on Oblivium and If you change your HD, you break the warranty (it don't break the warranty of the Watermelon).

Tei

Cchrist

Just out of interest, why would a dev dislike those who speedrun through their games? Surely speedruns open another avenue of gameplay keeping the same title fresh for longer?

mrrobsa

psychobaka

Nooooooooooooooo!!!

I wonder what it felt like to be a Sony rep when people where slamming the PS3 after the launch.
Or the MS rep that was reading all those RROD stories.

2SBs

photoboy

As long as you pay me a lot, lot, lot of money. =D

Come on Devs. You know you want to.

Black-Dog-Howls

Zhen-Chan

dynendal

HEY, PR PPL! I HATE PAID DLC! MAKE IT FREE!

... did it work!?

Shiryu

Are they watching me right now....?

Dannon

SkutSkut