Quantic Dream: "We're Crazy, We Don't Do This For Money"
Beyond: Two SoulsQuantic Dream boss David Cage is an artist first and a businessman second. That's not always good for business but in rare circumstances, the consumers recognize this as a virtue and respond en masse.
That's basically what happened with Heavy Rain, which was a big risk that paid off in a big way. Once again, the talented studio is taking a risk with another brand new IP, the hotly anticipated PlayStation 3 exclusive Beyond: Two Souls. The team is building a brand new engine for the game rather than using the Heavy Rain engine...and why? Because as Cage puts it, they're "just crazy people."
"We're just crazy people. We don't do this for money or fame. We want to take risks because we enjoy trying to push the envelope. Does it make sense from a company point of view? Not really, to be honest. Being the CEO of the company, I can tell you that it's totally absurd. But we enjoy it so much. We're a team of passionate people. This is 'what we should have done,' but we've done something else."
He also confirmed that although Beyond is set in the US, players will actually explore various locales all around the world. "You will travel much more," said Cage. "It's going to be a journey in a physical sense, and an emotional sense." We have no doubt about either, especially after the emotional drama that was such a big part of Heavy Rain.
Quick side note- Because Activision requires a new Call of Duty every year and because the mainstream/casual fans who lap it up every year aren't exactly picky, the CoD developers at Infinity Ward and Treyarch have just upgraded the same engine for over 6 years. ...Quantic Dream is making a new engine for a new IP after one project was finished. There might be a contrast there, don't you think?
Related Game(s): Beyond: Two Souls
Tags: beyond, beyond two souls, quantic dream, david cage, heavy rain
1/7/2013 11:40:32 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (22 posts)
Nestore
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 12:48:48 PM
Reply
2 up, 11 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 1:26:29 PM
11 up, 1 down
maxpontiac
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 1:44:47 PM
Relax brother!
10 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 2:50:28 PM
3 up, 1 down
xenris
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 1:02:53 PM
Reply
I like this guys philosophy and I think it is that philosophy which is helping his games sell well.
Like I have always said, make a great game that you want to play/experience without worrying about how many people will play it and how much money you will make and people WILL play it and you'll probably make money >.<. You can tell when passion was put into a game and ALL the decisions were made without sales/money involved. Darksiders 2 felt like that to me, and so did Dragons Dogma, these were games that just did what they wanted without wondering how they could appeal to more players. Surprise surprise they both sold well :)
Cage has to be one of the coolest devs this gen. He is just so down to earth.
5 up, 0 down
DrRockso87
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 1:42:28 PM
Reply
"We don't do it for the money?" Come on, man! This is the same company that complained about used sales since over 3 million people played Heavy Rain but only netted over 2 million sales.
First off, your game, a new IP and considered a risky gamble sold over 2 MILLION copies. You're seriously complaining about used sales?! Secondly, if you're not interested in the money then wouldn't you be happy more people have access to playing your game? Why would it matter if that game was purchased first-hand or second-hand?
7 up, 7 down
maxpontiac
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 1:52:17 PM
I honestly believe you missed the point.
David Cage was letting everyone know that money doesn't drive them. It's the love of their craft.
With the statements that were made regarding the sales, you need to remember that wanting more money for their work isn't the same as using money as the driving force.
In my profession, I design homes for a living and have been for about two decades. When I wake up in the morning, I don't have money driving me. It's my love for what I do.
Do I like money? Sure I do, but I have been on both ends of the spectrum (having it and not) and I have learned that when the love of money takes priority in your life, you will NEVER have enough nor will everything be perfect.
Perhaps the folks at Quantic Dream have reached this conclusion!
10 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 1:51:53 PM
Reply
And I only hope that more & more gamers will join in with their philosophy, by handsomely rewarding them with the profits they need most to continue on making more & more uniquely inspiring, innovative games.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 1/7/2013 1:53:36 PM
5 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 2:24:49 PM
Reply
I'm a little daunted by the fact that Jodie will travel across the world though. That typically tends to take the focus away from the storytelling and makes for a less inherently cohesive tale. I really hope that I'm wrong though. Can't wait to see what else these guys have up their sleeves. Amazing, innovative developers.
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 2:52:59 PM
4 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Tuesday, January 08, 2013 @ 1:51:03 AM
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 2:34:41 PM
Reply
1 up, 1 down
maxpontiac
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 3:19:37 PM
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 2:56:27 PM
Reply
If I were an eccentric billionaire I'd fund a bunch of companies like this whether they turn a profit or not.
3 up, 0 down
Looking Glass
Tuesday, January 08, 2013 @ 12:14:57 PM
0 up, 0 down
AcHiLLiA
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 3:19:34 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 4:54:26 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
___________
Tuesday, January 08, 2013 @ 6:48:08 AM
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sometimes being just a bit crazy is not such a bad thing.......
1 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, January 08, 2013 @ 8:28:04 PM
0 up, 1 down
___________
Wednesday, January 09, 2013 @ 9:31:41 AM
yea i complained about heavy rain, it had such a stupid nonsensical story.
hey im going to go f*ck with the mafia, and frame them when there are multiple every day guys i could frame instead.
that makes perfect sense!
the guys so smart hes been able to avoid being caught for so many years, and were suppose to believe hes stupid enough to frame the mafia?
1 up, 0 down
DjStiv3
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 7:12:40 PM
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i will say this congrats to CoD on finaly doing something new with the dlc ive wanted new guns for a while but then again i bet the guns were developed before the games release anyway dlc these days is out of control i bet you every penny i have that at least 80% of the time dlc for games is created before release of the game they milk more money with the expansions in the future do an article on that... next gen were gunna see even more dlc...i gurantee you that
0 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Reply
Monday, January 07, 2013 @ 12:46:54 PM
No while I am sure that most (if not all) gaming developers love their craft, I have to wonder just how many of them share the viewpoint that Quantic Dream has.
I have read that PDI (the makers of Gran Turismo) share this feeling, but in the age of Call of Duty and annual releases it sure is nice to see a few studios think like this.