Honestly with having just finished F.E.A.R. and its expansion packs I feel the loss of good DLCs so hard. Even with games where their lifeblood is expansion packs aren't entirely immune. I honestly like watching Stephanie Sterling's videos on the same topic, because she's pointed out time and time again that the AAA sphere can absolutely afford to use the same model that the indie studios use, but if it can't make them all the money, they don't want it. They're like gambling addicts that way, insisting that the only way to win big is to make a huge bet all at once on the same numbers, then getting surprised pikachu when it doesn't land them the big win they wanted. There's also an additional factor to live service games that should be considered, and that's market saturation. As pointed out, player attention is limited, and when the player already has Fortnite, why should they play another studio's rebranded version of it? That is what the current live service market is really up against. Too many developers are trying to get in on the live service pie, and all that's left are slivers when the biggest pieces have already gone to some of the games that came first and/or did it better, with an immediate comparison between Fortnite and PUBG coming to mind. Remember when PUBG tried to sue Fortnite for being the more successful version of their game? Honestly, I think a return to DLCs in games would be excellent, because there are games where a sequel may not be warranted, but there are still some plot threads left to weave in. They can be incredibly cheap to make, since it would just be reusing the engine and assets with most of the costs going to level design, writing, voice work if needed, etc. Plus, if the base game was already successful, then the DLC would feed the player base's desire for more content and tide them over until a proper sequel can be made if one is already in the works, where it either continues the story, or starts a new one in the same universe.
First, thanks for the comment quizness ^^ Second, I love the comparison to gambling addiction. It’s an all or nothing approach to business that truly is just hyper capitalistic greed that transcends all rational logic and stability. They have all the money, so they’ll gamble all the money, for even more all the money. To think that No Man’s Sky’s dev hasnt released ANYTHING in nearly 10 years, and they’re all probably filthy rich. Small studio, big hit, means they can afford to support their baby forever if that’s what they so choose to do. I should have given it more than just a visual reference, but Stardew Valley is another great example of that. Even Minecraft. When you develop your project off the back of an excellent idea, and modest development costs, if it strikes fire, it can reasonably be infinitely worked on, and infinitely fruitful. We keep seeing small studios pop off (Black Myth Wukong / Palworld etc) so here’s hoping we return to a model of “here’s a great idea, and if you help us make it work, we will work on this as long as people will play it” Talk about the ultimate love letter ^^ Love ya quizzy, thanks for watching ^^
@@arkyUS_YT Happy to watch, it's another great essay from ya dude. :D Stardew I agree with as an example, but not so much with Minecraft. Mainly because it was indie, but was then quickly bought up by Microsoft and added to their collection. However, unlike a lot of other studio's they've run into the ground, they did a smart for once and let Mojang do what it does best, and that's work on Minecraft. I would also disagree with keeping an idea running forever, which is part of why Larian has stopped with Baldur's Gate. It was a creative decision, yes, but one born out of the wisdom that trying to drain all the creativity and viability out of an IP isn't sustainable either. We're seeing that to a degree with all the reboots/makes as well, to where video games are starting to fall under the same creative cannibalism that's running through Hollywood right now, but that's a whole other can of worms unto itself. I do still agree with the final sentiment though, as there needs to be more studios allowed to do what they love, because when a game has love and heart into it, it shows, and that's what can draw players in just as much as the story or graphics can to a series. Love ya too man, thanks for another awesome essay from the Arky Archives. :D
I still argue Minecraft is the progenitor for the whole “make small, earn big” formula of the video! It lasted a good chunk of time being the sole form of income for these devs, and made many of them multimillionaires! I think associating Mojang and Indie these days can be sorta jarring, since they’re one of the biggest devs on earth now, but they really did start as a baby sized studio with like 4 people. Watch em go! I think I speak more towards, think of making so much money as a small dev, and being able to live your dream infinitely working and expanding on your title for a small community of people, just because you can! Like as a small dev, you did it! Never need to work again. If people within your community want more, you can just give them more and live knowing you’re working on whatever you want not because capitalism, but because passion and love. I respect Larian in that regard, because their choice, by having financial freedom (though they’re not super indie themselves anymore), allows them the ability to keep going, or not! If they were a money hungry, publically traded company, you best believe Balders Gate 4 is lined up RIGHT MEOW. So I guess I’m coming from a “even if you’re the one making this tiny indie game, you seek to gain huge returns on a small investment, and possibly gain independence from the capitalist world at the same time” Two different points, but I suppose that’s the sentiment I find most interesting and cool of the whole exercise ^^ Go hello games!
@@arkyUS_YT I was thinking more on it from the perspective of the game's whole life cycle as it is currently, because while minecraft did start out small, it's now been owned and run by Microsoft for longer than it was a small team. However, the hard work of that small team to even be noticed as something worth having by that giant is nothing to scoff at either, but due to how long it's been owned by Microsoft, I just can't see it as indie any more personally. It has indie roots yes, but it's no longer an indie game or production. And I also wouldn't say they became free of the capitalist system, but that they won it and are now on one of the upper rungs of the system. They are still dependent on that game's success in order to remain in that place, however. Yeesh, this is makin me sound like a regular negative nancy idn't it?
There is something to be said about the Nth game in a series having expansions. BG3 really doesn't need a massive DLC cause there's like 6 other games in the series and if you want more from Larian, there's the Divinity games. On top of that, if Larian doesn't wanna do BG4, get a different studio. That'll keep the game fresh and transformative where as Larian could easily find themselves making an even lesser version of BG3, which some people have said is just a lesser version of DOS2. Once you get that deep into a series. As a company it's fairly easy to say "on to the next thing" or as a player "well, I can always go back to the previous games." I expect to see established series continue to do large expansions less and less, but also return to it every once in a while. Great video! Keep up the good work!
I think there’s something to be said about using the latest and greatest Larian tech, with all the systems and such, and expanding upon the base game for an expansion. That said, I think it’s really cool they stood up and said they weren’t going to keep working on one thing forever. Keeps them agile, and always pushing creatively, which is super commendable! I do wonder what a BG4 would even look like without Larian. I guess time will tell! Thanks for the comment always brother
Honestly with having just finished F.E.A.R. and its expansion packs I feel the loss of good DLCs so hard. Even with games where their lifeblood is expansion packs aren't entirely immune. I honestly like watching Stephanie Sterling's videos on the same topic, because she's pointed out time and time again that the AAA sphere can absolutely afford to use the same model that the indie studios use, but if it can't make them all the money, they don't want it. They're like gambling addicts that way, insisting that the only way to win big is to make a huge bet all at once on the same numbers, then getting surprised pikachu when it doesn't land them the big win they wanted.
There's also an additional factor to live service games that should be considered, and that's market saturation. As pointed out, player attention is limited, and when the player already has Fortnite, why should they play another studio's rebranded version of it? That is what the current live service market is really up against. Too many developers are trying to get in on the live service pie, and all that's left are slivers when the biggest pieces have already gone to some of the games that came first and/or did it better, with an immediate comparison between Fortnite and PUBG coming to mind. Remember when PUBG tried to sue Fortnite for being the more successful version of their game?
Honestly, I think a return to DLCs in games would be excellent, because there are games where a sequel may not be warranted, but there are still some plot threads left to weave in. They can be incredibly cheap to make, since it would just be reusing the engine and assets with most of the costs going to level design, writing, voice work if needed, etc. Plus, if the base game was already successful, then the DLC would feed the player base's desire for more content and tide them over until a proper sequel can be made if one is already in the works, where it either continues the story, or starts a new one in the same universe.
First, thanks for the comment quizness ^^
Second, I love the comparison to gambling addiction. It’s an all or nothing approach to business that truly is just hyper capitalistic greed that transcends all rational logic and stability. They have all the money, so they’ll gamble all the money, for even more all the money.
To think that No Man’s Sky’s dev hasnt released ANYTHING in nearly 10 years, and they’re all probably filthy rich. Small studio, big hit, means they can afford to support their baby forever if that’s what they so choose to do.
I should have given it more than just a visual reference, but Stardew Valley is another great example of that. Even Minecraft.
When you develop your project off the back of an excellent idea, and modest development costs, if it strikes fire, it can reasonably be infinitely worked on, and infinitely fruitful.
We keep seeing small studios pop off (Black Myth Wukong / Palworld etc) so here’s hoping we return to a model of “here’s a great idea, and if you help us make it work, we will work on this as long as people will play it”
Talk about the ultimate love letter ^^
Love ya quizzy, thanks for watching ^^
@@arkyUS_YT Happy to watch, it's another great essay from ya dude. :D
Stardew I agree with as an example, but not so much with Minecraft. Mainly because it was indie, but was then quickly bought up by Microsoft and added to their collection. However, unlike a lot of other studio's they've run into the ground, they did a smart for once and let Mojang do what it does best, and that's work on Minecraft.
I would also disagree with keeping an idea running forever, which is part of why Larian has stopped with Baldur's Gate. It was a creative decision, yes, but one born out of the wisdom that trying to drain all the creativity and viability out of an IP isn't sustainable either. We're seeing that to a degree with all the reboots/makes as well, to where video games are starting to fall under the same creative cannibalism that's running through Hollywood right now, but that's a whole other can of worms unto itself.
I do still agree with the final sentiment though, as there needs to be more studios allowed to do what they love, because when a game has love and heart into it, it shows, and that's what can draw players in just as much as the story or graphics can to a series.
Love ya too man, thanks for another awesome essay from the Arky Archives. :D
I still argue Minecraft is the progenitor for the whole “make small, earn big” formula of the video! It lasted a good chunk of time being the sole form of income for these devs, and made many of them multimillionaires! I think associating Mojang and Indie these days can be sorta jarring, since they’re one of the biggest devs on earth now, but they really did start as a baby sized studio with like 4 people. Watch em go!
I think I speak more towards, think of making so much money as a small dev, and being able to live your dream infinitely working and expanding on your title for a small community of people, just because you can! Like as a small dev, you did it! Never need to work again. If people within your community want more, you can just give them more and live knowing you’re working on whatever you want not because capitalism, but because passion and love.
I respect Larian in that regard, because their choice, by having financial freedom (though they’re not super indie themselves anymore), allows them the ability to keep going, or not!
If they were a money hungry, publically traded company, you best believe Balders Gate 4 is lined up RIGHT MEOW.
So I guess I’m coming from a “even if you’re the one making this tiny indie game, you seek to gain huge returns on a small investment, and possibly gain independence from the capitalist world at the same time”
Two different points, but I suppose that’s the sentiment I find most interesting and cool of the whole exercise ^^
Go hello games!
@@arkyUS_YT I was thinking more on it from the perspective of the game's whole life cycle as it is currently, because while minecraft did start out small, it's now been owned and run by Microsoft for longer than it was a small team. However, the hard work of that small team to even be noticed as something worth having by that giant is nothing to scoff at either, but due to how long it's been owned by Microsoft, I just can't see it as indie any more personally. It has indie roots yes, but it's no longer an indie game or production.
And I also wouldn't say they became free of the capitalist system, but that they won it and are now on one of the upper rungs of the system. They are still dependent on that game's success in order to remain in that place, however.
Yeesh, this is makin me sound like a regular negative nancy idn't it?
There is something to be said about the Nth game in a series having expansions. BG3 really doesn't need a massive DLC cause there's like 6 other games in the series and if you want more from Larian, there's the Divinity games. On top of that, if Larian doesn't wanna do BG4, get a different studio. That'll keep the game fresh and transformative where as Larian could easily find themselves making an even lesser version of BG3, which some people have said is just a lesser version of DOS2. Once you get that deep into a series. As a company it's fairly easy to say "on to the next thing" or as a player "well, I can always go back to the previous games." I expect to see established series continue to do large expansions less and less, but also return to it every once in a while.
Great video! Keep up the good work!
I think there’s something to be said about using the latest and greatest Larian tech, with all the systems and such, and expanding upon the base game for an expansion. That said, I think it’s really cool they stood up and said they weren’t going to keep working on one thing forever. Keeps them agile, and always pushing creatively, which is super commendable!
I do wonder what a BG4 would even look like without Larian. I guess time will tell!
Thanks for the comment always brother
What’s good Arky! Nother banger my man
Thanks for thinking so dude!
Appreciate the comment :)
🥰 New Arky video! Yay!
Hope you enjoyed it!
"We" made the bed? Who's we? Why you speakin' French, Arky??? I don't wanna play no Nintendo >:(
;~; WE WE?! YOU NO WANNA PLAY NINTENDO WIF ME?
thanks for the comment pancakes ;~;