Capcom: "We Aren't Beholden To Our Fans At Every Turn"

Resident Evil 6 is finally here and as many of you may have noticed, it's generating plenty of heated discussion.

And that's primarily due to a rare split decision among critics. Typically, you don't see a range of 3 to 9 when a new game arrives but in fact, that's exactly what we have with RE6. And producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi tries to explain a few key points of interest during a new interview over at the PlayStation Blog.

One of his comments seems like a direct answer to my own personal question, which I raised in the review (linked above): Why does the game feel so unfocused? Why is there this identity crisis as if it tried to be many different things? Well, here's a Kobayashi analogy that might help explain why this happened:

"The way I always think of it is that if Resident Evil represents a child, then the fans and us as creators are the two parents. The resulting games are like the children that are born between both of us. And just like real parents, you’re not always going to agree on what is best for raising that child."

Furthermore, as some of the fans are more than a little miffed at the result, Kobayashi had to address those fans. This was possibly the most intriguing response because it's plain that they don't believe the fans always have the best interests of the franchise at heart:

"It’s our job to create a new gaming experience and to offer them something that’s fresh and challenging. We want to make sure that what we do pleases them, but the initial reaction might not always be positive. We do listen to the fans, but we can’t be beholden to them at every turn or I don’t think we’ll ever make progress in terms of the series’ development."

Take from that what you will.

Related Game(s): Resident Evil 6

Tags: resident evil 6, re6, capcom, resident evil sequel

10/3/2012 11:11:39 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (47 posts)

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OtisFeelgood
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 11:42:17 AM
Reply

I've been enjoying RE6 so far and I think your review score is pretty accurate.

1 up, 0 down

Sunni_Boi
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 6:16:05 PM

Me 2! Leon campaign is very crazy! And also long! it took me an 3hrs just to beat his 1st two chapters and i didnt die much!

1 up, 0 down

Neo_Aeon666
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 11:55:30 AM
Reply

... I don't think changing the whole *genre* of the series is the right answer either. Innovating and surprising the fans and building a bigger fan base is one thing but totally ignoring what made your game popular and just merging it with some action flick won't make your *child* grow healthy. Feels like somewhere down the road their *child* became a dope addict. Better send it to a detox center so it can return to it's roots. :P

8 up, 1 down

Phoenix
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 11:58:55 AM

Kinda sounds like another franchise we all know of......

*looks at Final Fantasy XIII disc*

2 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 12:06:52 PM

I fully agree Neo.

4 up, 1 down

Clamedeus
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:30:36 PM

I'm with you on that.

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 6:26:52 PM

HMMMM,
If you change.....

"We Aren't Beholden To Our Fans At Every Turn"

into this......

"We Aren't Beholden To Our Fans At Any Turn"

....then it's Squarely $E's own motto.

3 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 12:08:39 PM
Reply

Except unlike a child a videogame is not free thinking and influenced by anything other than what the creator chooses.

What a stupid analogy but not surprising given his track record.

10 up, 0 down

tes37
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 1:11:07 PM

I agree that his analogy is stupid. I'm filing for a divorce.

5 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 6:28:53 PM

I've got separation anxiety.

1 up, 0 down

Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, October 04, 2012 @ 12:10:28 AM

lol

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 12:43:05 PM
Reply

It's too bad for them all you have to do to make a great game that scores well and sells well is to BE beholden to those fans. Give them what they want and then grow the franchise from within and you've got all you need, there is no need to add outside influences that corrupt the thing.

Start with what people like and then go from there, you hear that Square Enix!!! Ahem, I mean Capcom!!

Good thing I'm looking forward to Remember Me.

3 up, 0 down

mustang750r
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 12:50:31 PM
Reply

Capcom. Wat R U Doin? Capcom. WTF STOP!

2 up, 0 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 12:51:44 PM
Reply

I can see from a developer viewpoint and can understand this. Most folks do not know what they want and it really is just that simple. Game devs are supposed to make games for entertainment. Just like directors make movies for entertainment. If everyone and their grandma had a say so in what happens nothing would ever get done.

The biggest example, and I'm guilty of this, is the new DmC. I will not be buying it because it's not the Devil May Cry i played starting on PS2. I will acknowledge that there are folks who enjoy the new direction and maybe will enjoy it even more. I won't however, go and rub it in their faces how Capcom dropped the ball and doesn't know how to make games etc etc. They wanted a change and felt that giving the series a reboot and having NT make it would give a new audience something to get into. We can hold onto nostalgia all we want, but change is inevitable.

I'll admit that his analogy isn't too great, but I understand what he's saying.

Last edited by DIsmael85 on 10/3/2012 12:52:23 PM

1 up, 2 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 1:26:50 PM

How do you know DmC isn't the same type of game as before? A new story isn't really the same as a new genre and confused identity.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 10/3/2012 1:27:15 PM

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 1:55:32 PM

LOL! This guy stands behind RE6 and the mess that's been made to the series but refuses to buy the new DMC.

I haven't seen anything from the new DMC other than art design that would make someone think it's a drastic change to the DMC format.

1 up, 1 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 2:47:11 PM

It's a reboot and LV you haven't said anything that adds to the convo. So childish man. Anyway, to explain myself on my opinion of DmC. I enjoyed Capcom's inhouse work on Devil May Cry. I love Ninja Theory, own both enslaved and heavenly sword, but I don't much rather care for their take on DmC. Make sense? I hope everyone does enjoy it, I just won't be one of those. It'll probably get some good scores and I hope it helps NT come back to life. I want more of their original stories. I'm not sitting here saying the game is garbage and is destined to fail. Get that?

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:19:23 PM

[It's a reboot]

What does that matter?

[LV you haven't said anything that adds to the convo.]

Just pointing out that by your own parameters in terms of gaming quality you've quickly praised RE6 while dismissing DMC even though DMC has shown nothing drastic in terms of the overall presentation/gameplay like RE6 has.

Besides it's worth it for the lulz if nothing else.

[but I don't much rather care for their take on DmC. Make sense?]

No. You've yet to explain why you don't care for it. How could it possibly make sense?

1 up, 1 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:26:39 PM

LV I just did man, please for the love of your intelligence reread what I just posted. I don't even think it's worth me copy/pasting it. *facepalm* I seriously feel like I'm being dragged down to a goofus level and being beaten by it. :(

Last edited by DIsmael85 on 10/3/2012 3:27:00 PM

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:55:35 PM

[LV I just did man]

Um...no you didn't. It's one thing to state a position it's another to EXPLAIN.

[please for the love of your intelligence]

wtf?!

[reread what I just posted.]

Okay I did, now what?!

[I don't even think it's worth me copy/pasting it.]

Of course not, you're a very busy person.

[*facepalm*]

Oh my!

[I seriously feel like I'm being dragged down to a goofus level and being beaten by it.]

Ah yes, when you can no longer properly explain yourself or engage in a civil discussion give up and start with the name calling. It's ironic that you demonstrate the very thing you've attempted to accuse me of.

3 up, 2 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:58:30 PM

I wasn't trying to sell you on DmC, I just wonder if you have any specifics on why it looks like too big of a change for you. All we have are the trailers but even there the basics of the game, combat, and main character appear to be intact. RE can't say the same to its critics.

2 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:59:53 PM

World stop it! I'm trying to have a conversation here....

geesh

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 4:07:53 PM

"Ah yes, when you can no longer properly explain yourself or engage in a civil discussion give up and start with the name calling. It's ironic that you demonstrate the very thing you've attempted to accuse me of."

As I said in the other thread....He's projecting.

0 up, 1 down

CrusaderForever
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 1:19:49 PM
Reply

You cannot please everyone that's for sure. Especially if the devs are sick of the old way. They may just be bored with RE4 and below. To work on a project you have to be all in and it sounds like they needed to change things in order for that to happen. It's a no brainer to beholden to fans to make massive cash. However, if the project is stale and uninspired that will upset fans as well. It seems they did this to spice up RE and to draw in more western fans. I am still getting RE6 after I beat 5. The Marshlands just seem to go on forever! LOL!

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 1:28:39 PM

But just because you use something from the old games doesn't mean you leave it be and change nothing, you're supposed to expand it. That's how Final Fantasy stayed great while it was turn-based, every entry still had an all new battle and level system so the core stayed intact.

2 up, 0 down

DIsmael85
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 2:49:16 PM

Notice what game your brought up. Final Fantasy, that series seriously went down the drain after 10, but you know I still played them. I enjoyed 13 even though the consensus was that it was a miserable Final Fantasy. I am sensing so much hypocrisy these days from fans, not you in particular, just gamers in general.

1 up, 4 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 4:05:13 PM

I don't think it's hypocrisy to still play a series and yet be critical of its direction.

5 up, 0 down

Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, October 04, 2012 @ 12:16:36 AM

Hehh so true.

Now you got me wondering... Would it be hypocrisy to label a totally new game with an existing IP's name and fooling it's fan base? lol

0 up, 0 down

Gamer46
Thursday, October 04, 2012 @ 10:46:18 AM

Thing is they didn't have to draw in more Western fans, there has always been a strong fanbase for RE in the Western territories. If the guys currently making RE are bored with it, fine, move them on to a new project and new IP and put RE in the hands of people who have respect for the franchise and its fans. Don't give me this crap they gave me with Chris' and Jake's campaigns.

Last edited by Gamer46 on 10/4/2012 10:48:14 AM

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 1:27:16 PM
Reply

This company is a mess.

7 up, 0 down

telly
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 2:21:30 PM

I would LOVE for Capcom to not be beholden to fans. Artists should make the art they want to make. And that's why I find it disingenuous for Kobayashi to insinuate that artistic instincts dictated the design of RE6, when market data clearly is to blame for this appeal-to-the-masses mess. This game is blatantly pandering to the broadest swath of consumers possible across the globe, and this guy is going to pretend they have integrity of the franchise at heart? Please!

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:09:26 PM

Exactly. This company is nothing but a shell of its former self. They should just sell all of their top franchises to Sony or Nintendo and call it quits.

1 up, 0 down

Oyashiro
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:26:35 PM
Reply

I'm calling Child Protective Services!

Last edited by Oyashiro on 10/3/2012 3:27:10 PM

5 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 3:28:32 PM
Reply

Of course they don't answer to the fans, they answer to their own creative souls, but to say that Resident Evil 6 does that with the way that it appears to bastardise everything that the series was when it began, and go so far down a route that it was never meant to take... yeah, bs. New people may be in charge of the franchise now, but to see it adopting the same sentiments as the RE films in an attempt to cater to the mass audience is wrong. Just stick to what you know and what is familiar. Work within those bounds and don't try to change the very essence of the game.

Also, how is it analogous to a child? The fans have no say whatsoever in the creative processes... Perhaps if one of the parents is cut out entirely and can only watch and rage from the sidelines. Stupid.

Last edited by Lawless SXE on 10/3/2012 3:30:01 PM

3 up, 0 down

Knightzane
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 4:02:52 PM
Reply

Don't care about the multiple hecticness because this game is freaking awesome. Beat chris's and leon's campaign and they both have such epic moments, especially the final chapter. Anyone with a problem with re6 is mad its not like the older ones. As much as i would love for the old style to come back some people need to realize that getting freaked out in the subway, then taking out zombies like a bada$$ is the future of this series. I don't mind it, i jumped like 6 times in the subway (Leon's campaign)

I would personally give it a 10/10. It has so much content and replyability and for the first time, i actually desire some DLC. This game deserves DLC. My girlfriend loves the game too (she rage quit against a certain boss on jake's and sherry's) but even after playing re4, 5, and code verconica she still likes re6 the best. I know its all opinion but sometimes people like nit picking at things that can be ignored.

I noticed several shoddy textures, jumpy timelines, and the cover system does not work well. Otherwise the music, gameplay, graphics, it all fits into this game making it fun and epic to play. My friend and i reached leon's chapter 5 yesterday and we played with a human ada (someone joined) and there was no lag, and it had no issues with the guy joining. But the events leading up to... Well, i'll just say save your ammo for chap5 for leon's campaign.

When i saw this dislike for downpour i was shocked too, because i haven't heard a single complaint about it from anyone i know. The same goes for re6. I love this game, and i have been playing resident evil since its conception and leon's campaign has the creepiness. It felt like re2 and 4 in 70% of his campaign. So once again, anyone who is thinking this game is not worth your time, rent it from redbox or something. My friends love it, my future wife loves it, and i love it. If this is the future or RE then it shall be a good one. This is from a huge resident evil fan. This has always been my favorite series (well it used to be final fantasy...) anyway enjoy the discussion i only hope the people who listen to bad reviews don't give re6 a try because of them.

2 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 4:06:26 PM

"I would personally give it a 10/10."

Then thank the Lord you're not reviewing games as a profession.

2 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 7:37:10 PM

"I noticed several shoddy textures, jumpy timelines, and the cover system does not work well."

Uh...doesn't right alone disqualify it for a 10?

2 up, 0 down

Gamer46
Thursday, October 04, 2012 @ 11:00:10 AM

Again though we come to the argument here that 'people hate change' and while I can only speak for myself I don't think I'm alone in believing that change is fine, and in fact can be good to help keep a franchise fresh, but only if the changes are well done. I mean, how is turning RE into a Gears wannabe with a putrid cover system, poor camera and subpar shooting mechanics when compared to top shooters, good for the franchise? It's not. And what really bugs me is that Leon's campaign is in fact awesome, that one on its own I'd rate about an 8-8.5/10 and it could've been even better had they taken that campaign, fleshed it out a bit and fixed some of the technical issues I mentioned. Instead, because the bottomliners want the CoD crowd, we get a jack of all trades, master of none and that's not good for anybody.

0 up, 0 down

daus26
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 4:48:04 PM
Reply

It's official. These guys, along with the FF franchise, simply doesn't really care for the old fans. They're trying to appeal to new ones and build a new fanbase. If they want to change on what makes the game so great, then why not just make a new franchise? Oh yeah, that's right, they're trying to use the name for some sales.

Last edited by daus26 on 10/3/2012 4:58:03 PM

2 up, 0 down

DazeOfWar
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 5:58:28 PM
Reply

Who cares if it's not the same as it use to be. Either play it or don't. Make your own judgement don't let somebody else do it for you. I'll be playing RE6 later on down the line but right now I'm just to overloaded with games and limited income.

0 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 8:00:42 PM
Reply

This is just a dumb thing for a company to say. It sets up a big time no-no when it comes to running a bussiness...arguing with the customer. For the record I love RE6 based on Leon's campign alone. What a freaking thrill ride! Intense is a word that comes to mind. Also this game is a blast playing online with friends!! Absolute coop bliss.

Last edited by Excelsior1 on 10/3/2012 8:02:40 PM

2 up, 0 down

LowKey
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 9:02:55 PM
Reply

Honestly, I hate that fan's of certain games get the way they do, but I also hate that devs just kind of ignore what the fans have to say. Nobody ever said that these devs have to be "beholden" but ya know what? listen to the fans give then as much as you can that they have asked for then cereate something new around said ideas. It's not rocket science. But thats just me...

2 up, 0 down

LowKey
Wednesday, October 03, 2012 @ 9:04:00 PM

It is starting to feel like these devs are doing it just to spite the fans.

2 up, 0 down

jdt1981
Thursday, October 04, 2012 @ 1:08:59 AM
Reply

We're not asking them to make carbon copies of the original RE games we just want them to stay true to the core RE experience. RE used to be a survivor horror game and now it's an action TP shooter. It's fine to want to expand your game and keep it fresh but can You at least keep the series in the same genre that it started out in?

0 up, 0 down

SaiyanSempai
Thursday, October 04, 2012 @ 8:39:40 AM
Reply

The problem is, fans don't know what they want until they get it...

0 up, 0 down

Gamer46
Thursday, October 04, 2012 @ 9:28:58 AM
Reply

Pathetic, so a piss poor Gears ripoff in one of the campaigns is 'progress' now? Crapcom has become a joke. The only thing that can save Resident Evil is if Sony puts the money together buys the franchise and puts it in the hands one of its first party studios.

Last edited by Gamer46 on 10/4/2012 9:29:35 AM

2 up, 0 down

clue
Sunday, October 14, 2012 @ 1:12:13 PM
Reply

"Resident Evil represents a child"

Yes a red headed step child that you wanna amack around a bit..

0 up, 0 down

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