GDC: Game Developers Choice for 2010

Let’s be honest over the past couple of years you’ve questioned every review score you’ve read and the grade it was given. You’ve thought to yourself that games that were given a 9.2 deserved a 10, a 10 should have been a 7 and so on. That’s the debate that fuels the gaming internet and blogs to no end, but this week behind closed doors there’s a new debate brewing. One that’s been getting stronger and stronger over the past few years.

The debate for developers to choose a lead platform, development with the 360 or optimize their projects by leading on the PS3. The debate to create the next best genre defining game or pale in comparison to what’s coming from Sony’s first party studios. Journalists won’t talk about it and they’ll never make it a front page article. Although Developers are beginning to speak out and become more vocal, because they see the trends changing but the media isn’t eager to swallow their pride and report anything that’s really newsworthy.

Hardware sales are in the PS3′s favor worldwide and while the NA gaming media may not be interested in talking about anything but US numbers (NPD) since it would completely crush their sales argument, the last battleground is software. For Third Party it’s gotten to the point, that if they don’t release games multiplatform they’re losing a large group of potential customers, games are no longer selling 2:1 in favor of the 360. Game sales are now dependent on the game type, and what other titles the system is releasing around that same time. BFBC2 was competing with MLB the Show, Heavy Rain and MAG on the PS3 which all sold well. When the numbers for BFBC2 release it’s my belief that the it won’t sell double on the 360 as was not the case with MW2. With that being said developers not only have to cater to the PS3 audience just as much as the 360 audience now, they are torn with being average amongst their peers if they’re unable to innovate. Mind you I say average but with this generation of games an average game is a very very good game.

This is where GDC, which I’m calling Game Developers Choice 2010 comes in. Are the third party studios going to be content to lose out on all the awards to Sony First Party Studios again? Uncharted 2 says BOOM! These games take an extremely long time to create and for the developers it’s not just about a business but it’s about recognition for their hardwork and ideas. If you’ve worked on something for a long time and it goes unnoticed, or just doesn’t have that special something to get recognition from your peers, it’s gonna hurt, and make all that hard work like it was wasted.

2010 has already started with a “BOOM” and you’ve seen Heavy Rain praised by gamers and developers alike, you’ve seen MAG push the boundries of what PC and console shooters can do, and it looks like God of War is getting more praise than most games from 2009 did already. A common theme you’re hearing about these titles is, “A new bar has been set!” and “It only does Everything!” is becoming the perfect tag line for anything the PS3 does.

So this GDC there will be some developers deciding weather they need to be a trendsetter, setting standards or hoping the confused gaming press will help hide they average projects. I’m a fan of those who push the boundries and develop beyond what gamers are used to, so I’m going to give you my best advice.

1. Embrace Blu-ray
2. Develop with the PS3 as your lead sku
3. Don’t worry about gaming press and reviews, we don’t base our purchasing decisions on them anymore
4. Don’t kid yourself thinking you can release a poorly ported game on a sony console and it won’t tarnish your image
5. Develop Good games and gamers will buy them

Follow these five rules and you’ll increase your chances of being nominated for Game of the Year awards and praise from other developers.