Limbo Developer: Bigger Companies Need "Safe Zones"
LimboLimbo won plenty of honors last year when it launched on the Xbox Live service, and it'll be coming to the PlayStation Network next week.
And with giant blockbusters typically following tried-and-true formulas for mass appeal, independent developers like Limbo's Playdead recognize the pressing need for freshness in smaller packages.
Playdead CEO Dino Patti told VG247 that they were a little surprised at the number of people who loved their game. As for the unique style, Patti explains that his team wasn't going to avoid taking risks. Why? Because the bigger crowd-pleasing titles are just too familiar.
"It’s a deep question, but I believe that we humans too quickly get too acquainted with the past and things that have already been created – so much so that we sometimes lose the ability to think in new ways. I believe that many mainstream games are created by people where this phenomenon is more severe. You take what you know and change a few parameters and then measure it towards statistics when there are things that needs to be decided.
Especially in bigger companies where de-risking is a big part of the individual’s agenda, it’s all about not going too far from the ‘safe zones.’ Arnt Jensen, my working partner and game director of Limbo, just had a vision for the game, and went with his feelings, until Limbo was born."
These safe zones of which he speaks are commonly known to gamers, even if they don't readily acknowledge their existence at all times. But we've said it before and we'll say it again: while one can find innovation and even revolution in big-name games, one can discover freshness on a routine basis in the downloadable world.
Related Game(s): LIMBO
Tags: limbo, limbo psn, playdead, game news
7/15/2011 10:40:20 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (12 posts)
Claire C
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 12:07:53 PM
5 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 8:24:18 PM
Battlefield 3 looks pretty good, but it's just another modern warfare FPS with tweaks. Then there's WWII FPS' but that bubble has burst now. Then there's sci-fi FPS' like Halo and Bioshock which I prefer due to there creativity.
0 up, 0 down
Kiryu
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 11:03:35 AM
Reply
PS3 Exclusives like The Last Guardian are taking chances by trying new things in a Blu-ray disc way.
4 up, 1 down
Claire C
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 12:01:34 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 8:27:57 PM
1 up, 0 down
Qubex
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 1:15:23 PM
Reply
I respect them though... they have gonads and want to make a point that gaming should not become digital Hollywood...
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 1:22:58 PM
Reply
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 7/15/2011 1:25:21 PM
0 up, 0 down
Clamedeus
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 5:02:22 PM
0 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 8:29:35 PM
I highly recommend it to all. :)
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 1:36:48 PM
Reply
If only they would put the marketing dollars behind them. I mean, imagine if EA had published Catherine here, and put the Battlefield 3 marketing engine behind it, it would be huge. I'm dreaming though. B-Team, FTW!
0 up, 1 down
___________
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 4:48:23 AM
Reply
you want to separate yourself from the crowd, but you dont want to separate yourself straight into bankruptcy!
games dont make themselves, people gotta get paid so of course publishers are going to be reluctant in investing on higher risk titles.
0 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Reply
Friday, July 15, 2011 @ 11:02:27 AM
Many of my female friends loved Limbo, cos it didn't involve getting the perfect headshot or fastest lap time. You were presented with a chllenge, and completing it allowed you to move on and explore the world further til you hit the next puzzle.
Braid was by far my fave game of 2008 and even 2009. It's difference, simplicity yet level of challenge was brilliant and I continue to play it even though other great AAA titles I own from that year mostly collect dust now.
But just remember, it's not only the little guys innovating. Look at Heavy Rain and Child of Eden. Look at Katamari and Catherine. The big boys can still innovate too, but FPS' are too safe for now. I can't wait for the FPS bubble to burst, I want RPGs to become big again, especially JRPGs!
Last edited by Dancemachine55 on 7/15/2011 11:03:40 AM