Developing 'Hi-Fi RUSH' Backwards and Finding Our Positive Gameplay Loop

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 13 тра 2024
  • In this session, Game Director John Johanas shares how the initial concept for Hi-Fi RUSH came to be. From there, he provides in-depth details into the development team's early learnings on approaching this type of rhythm-action title.
    GDC returns to San Francisco in March 2025! For more information, be sure to visit our website and follow the #GDC2025 hashtag on social media.
    Subscribe to the GDC newsletter and get regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or RSS.
    Join the GDC mailing list: www.gdconf.com/subscribe
    Follow GDC on Twitter: / official_gdc
    GDC talks cover a range of developmental topics including game design, programming, audio, visual arts, business management, production, online games, and much more. We post a fresh GDC video every day. Subscribe to the channel to stay on top of regular updates, and check out GDC Vault for thousands of more in-depth talks from our archives.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 307

  • @OtterlyG
    @OtterlyG 26 днів тому +1666

    The timing…

    • @rngwrldngnr
      @rngwrldngnr 26 днів тому +50

      Could be deliberately provocative, but I'll admit to giving similar side-eye that it might be meant to make up hyoe for the game to quash out the shutdown discussion.

    • @williwerbung5203
      @williwerbung5203 26 днів тому +58

      ​@@rngwrldngnr GDC presentations have a restriction when they can go on UA-cam is all. GDC took place back in mid March.

    • @chidaluokoro9104
      @chidaluokoro9104 26 днів тому +18

      On the beat...

    • @detessed
      @detessed 26 днів тому

      ​@@rngwrldngnr You think Microsoft is bribing GDC to post Hi-Fi Rush content to... hype up Hi-Fi Rush.... to quell negative buzz around them shuttering the studio that made... Hi-Fi Rush.............

    • @rob19ny
      @rob19ny 26 днів тому

      The times are ever changing.

  • @GWYT2003
    @GWYT2003 26 днів тому +1171

    Rest in peace Tango Gameworks.

    • @NathanielJordan85
      @NathanielJordan85 26 днів тому +13

      To be fair, it's not like the talent that made the game is dead; they just don't all work at the same place anymore. Look for where they go for more good games still, and maybe other smart companies will pick up this star team.

    • @haihuynh8772
      @haihuynh8772 26 днів тому +6

      @@NathanielJordan85Or they just quit altogether, because who would still hold faith when your employment gets destroyed by the whims of CEOs?

    • @ThatGuy2005137
      @ThatGuy2005137 25 днів тому +6

      @@NathanielJordan85 I wish I was as optimistic as you but In first 5 months of this year there has already been 1000 more people laid off in the games industry then the entirety of 2022. The grim reality is that very few of these devs will find another job which let's them create in the same way or even another job which will pay them a similar salary. I do hope they find something that can lead them on a path to make more amazing games. They have proven that they only deserve that.

    • @MrDjBoyLover
      @MrDjBoyLover 22 дні тому +1

      Shame on Xbox and MS.......

    • @MarwinO3
      @MarwinO3 20 днів тому

      o7

  • @acudaican
    @acudaican 26 днів тому +933

    They really laid off this talent for more COD money.

    • @Miki-hk6vy
      @Miki-hk6vy 26 днів тому +78

      The real reason is even more pathetic, the investors can't possibly understand that the line of profit can not go up every year more and more without stopping so when they see it isn't going up anymore studios get on the chopping block which is really pathetic

    • @adam145
      @adam145 26 днів тому +28

      Man imagine all this talent losing because someone said
      "can you make more pew pew and me a billion dollars?"

    • @abdel1143
      @abdel1143 26 днів тому +8

      Blame Zenimax’s years of mismanagement.

    • @NootNoot.
      @NootNoot. 26 днів тому +14

      I find this especially funny when Helldivers sold over 12m units on PlayStation. Sony must be thinking, "Y'know what, losing COD ain't that bad after all".

    • @cybertubeman745
      @cybertubeman745 26 днів тому +9

      @@NootNoot. They didn't backtrack fully just yet, in fact there's even more countries banned from PSN that can't access the game anymore now.

  • @khursaadt
    @khursaadt 26 днів тому +375

    The fact that this video came out just after Tango Gameworks closure is such a salt on wounds...

    • @alan.smitheeee
      @alan.smitheeee 26 днів тому +7

      I'm pretty sure it was intentional.

  • @rosthouse
    @rosthouse 26 днів тому +288

    If anyone from Tango is reading this: Your game inspired and excited me like nothing else in the last few years. The soundtrack is still in my daily playlist and I advocate on every opportunity I have for others to play it. I was really looking forward to what you had in store next.
    Thank you. I hope you find your paths.

  • @alexeybulatov3547
    @alexeybulatov3547 26 днів тому +241

    Buy successful Studio -> milk their current project until the last drop -> PROFIT -> Shut them down before you will have to take financial risks of developing a new game -> wait for another tasty acquisition to appear on the horizon.

    • @juliencarpentier2724
      @juliencarpentier2724 26 днів тому +24

      You forgot the part where they keep the IPs for few years and just serve you remakes just few years after the original studio got shut down 😮‍💨

    • @moritakaishida7963
      @moritakaishida7963 26 днів тому

      ​@@juliencarpentier2724 fable series anyone, god I miss lionhead

    • @DLxxx
      @DLxxx 26 днів тому +31

      It's absolutely *disgusting.* And don't forget that Hi-Fi Rush has licensed music. Without the developers around to patch the it out, the game will inevitably get de-listed when those licenses expire. Because the game doesn't have a physical release, and the PC version has denuvo, that means this gem could potentially be lost to time and inaccessible after a decade..
      What an incredible way to repay all of Tango's hard work and the positive publicity they got you last year, Microsoft..

    • @JamesListener
      @JamesListener 26 днів тому +9

      ​@@DLxxx Ahoy, lass! Welcome aboard, yo-ho-ho! ☠😉

    • @blacxthornE
      @blacxthornE 21 день тому +1

      absolute vultures

  • @StefanLopuszanski
    @StefanLopuszanski 26 днів тому +407

    😢 Too soon... You can create a great game that sells and wins awards and some giant corporation can still shut you down. Always remember that.

    • @AZ-qw1kz
      @AZ-qw1kz 26 днів тому +49

      The problem is capitalism and publically traded companies, really. It doesn't matter how beautiful or amazing the art is, if line don't go up, they will shut it down.

    • @StefanLopuszanski
      @StefanLopuszanski 26 днів тому +33

      @@AZ-qw1kz : That's the thing, the line supposedly did go up. They said it sold well enough but it was closed anyway.

    • @thebookofive
      @thebookofive 26 днів тому +30

      @@StefanLopuszanski But it didn't go up enough. Also, supposedly Tango had "the audacity" to ask their parent company for resources needed to extend the team. So yeah, the problem is the same old capitalism

    • @milk_bath
      @milk_bath 25 днів тому +4

      @@StefanLopuszanskiLine goes up higher by dissolving the studio. 🦍

  • @abx_yenway
    @abx_yenway 26 днів тому +265

    My heart goes out to everyone who was at Tango.

    • @r6scrubs126
      @r6scrubs126 26 днів тому +3

      they didn't die

    • @NathanielJordan85
      @NathanielJordan85 26 днів тому +12

      ​@@r6scrubs126no, but layoffs still suck. Empathy does not require death. 😅

    • @DLxxx
      @DLxxx 26 днів тому +10

      ​​@@r6scrubs126And? They STILL lost their jobs and got thrown out into a struggling, oversaturated job market immediately after producing their magnum opus. All in the name of greedy corporate scumbags who wanted the line to go up faster (the very _same_ people Tango made this game for)..

  • @punishedbung4902
    @punishedbung4902 26 днів тому +178

    Rip Tango, if only Microsoft hadn’t condemned you to be a sacrificial tax write off.

  • @spikkle2627
    @spikkle2627 26 днів тому +91

    So you have a crazy idea, take the risk, pour gallons of talent and dedicaton into it, somehow succeed against all odds, and then polish the end product to a mirror shine, and it's critically acclaimed, sells well, brings joy into thousands of real human lives and wins a bunch of awards. Surely it's only up from here!
    :')

  • @AxWarhawk
    @AxWarhawk 26 днів тому +88

    Hi-Fi Rush is my personal GOTY 2023. It's extremely rare to see a developer making as many correct game design decisions as Tango did with Hi-Fi Rush. The fact that the game did extremely well despite being a new IP and being shadow dropped shows what kind of masterpiece it is.
    I am truly sorry for what's happening to Tango. I cannot believe that Microsoft is killing yet another goose that laid golden eggs. Hoping you make the best out of it!

  • @manhattan2003
    @manhattan2003 26 днів тому +39

    To the poor fellow who had to release this video within days of the studio's closure, I am truly sorry 💀

  • @neverhave
    @neverhave 26 днів тому +62

    Unbelievable to close a studio after such an incredible and purposeful game

  • @Pakigi716
    @Pakigi716 26 днів тому +57

    "Great job you guys, by the way, you're fired"

  • @namesurname624
    @namesurname624 26 днів тому +51

    You've done your best and for your players it was more than enough ❤
    Thought and prayers to the devs!
    RIP great studio.

  • @amiibler
    @amiibler 24 дні тому +21

    I was there in-person for this talk, Johanas seems like the exact type of person that you'd want to be a game director. It's such a shame that Microsoft ripped this studio apart.

    • @applehazeva2739
      @applehazeva2739 19 днів тому +1

      He has made one of my Favorite Games of all time. I will Support any other game he and Tango Devs will ever work on

  • @slingshotdev
    @slingshotdev 26 днів тому +24

    Hi-Fi Rush stands out amongst its peers, the game had so much style, soul, and pure fun not found by most AAA games studios. It felt like I was playing out a Saturday morning cartoon in the best way possible, the fact that the game did as well as it did with absolutely no marketing is a testament to its quality. Unfortunately, you can't exactly put the smackdown on corporate greed with a junk guitar IRL, but I think this may dissuade other studios with unique gameplay experiences from signing on with a megacorp that can dissolve them with a snap of the fingers.

  • @MegaMbembe
    @MegaMbembe 26 днів тому +27

    I hope they open a new studio and make more games like Hi-Fi Rush.

  • @GameDesignThinking
    @GameDesignThinking 26 днів тому +22

    Thanks for sharing this talk, GDC. It really shows how passionate and talented Tango Gameworks folks are. Hope the best for them in this difficult time.

  • @darkduds38
    @darkduds38 26 днів тому +20

    Damn, Microsoft really said thanks for the new IP that we can lock in a vault for 20 years

    • @applehazeva2739
      @applehazeva2739 19 днів тому +1

      May be good fr. Without Tango, Bethesda lacks the Talent to recreate Tangos Talent

  • @THExRISER
    @THExRISER 26 днів тому +17

    Thank you all for giving us such a wonderful game, I hope you can all find better career opportunities, under companies that actually value your skills and experience.

  • @PotentialNrgy
    @PotentialNrgy 26 днів тому +12

    An important presentation to preserve.

  • @squiddywiddy8891
    @squiddywiddy8891 26 днів тому +27

    RIP ❤

  • @ShinPepsiman
    @ShinPepsiman 26 днів тому +17

    Praying for them to find a new home. Mikami's studio, UNSEEN, platinum, nintendo. Somewhere

    • @gregorymansour1763
      @gregorymansour1763 26 днів тому +3

      Nintendo's investor report details plans to hire more staff rather than pursue M&A. I hope all of the talent at Tango finds publishers that value their talent.

  • @NoxideActive
    @NoxideActive 26 днів тому +31

    Investing in 'Tango Gameworks' backwards.
    ~Phil Spencer

  • @sonicartist91
    @sonicartist91 26 днів тому +9

    MAAAAAAAAAN, really wished that Xbox had smaller teams making award winning games.😬😬😬😬😑
    This game is amazing! I am learning so freaking much! Thank you John Johanas, Tango GameWorks, and GDC for sharing this!

  • @Daniel__Nobre
    @Daniel__Nobre 24 дні тому +3

    Thanks for putting this video out at this time. This situation needs to be exposed as much as possible.

  • @Navierstokes256
    @Navierstokes256 26 днів тому +5

    Hope every person from tango can land on their feet, because what they created is magical. While the parent company they worked under didn't have a positive loop, I hope tango employees have found their way back to land back on their feet.

  • @o_O81
    @o_O81 26 днів тому +6

    NAME: Chai
    AGE: 25
    PROFESSION: Rockstar
    Chai: Future… Rockstar…
    RIP Tango Gameworks / Hi-Fi Rush 2

  • @baconx6476
    @baconx6476 26 днів тому +8

    Microsoft: "You guys made a great game, we love that for you. Go ahead and empty your desk and vacate the premise or security will do that for you."

  • @VikingRobotNinja
    @VikingRobotNinja 26 днів тому +6

    I hope the suits at Microsoft get linked this video a billion times

  • @Iskra_Audio
    @Iskra_Audio 26 днів тому +7

    Hopefully all the devs get picked up by other studios! It's crazy that you can make good games and you're still not safe from layoffs or your studio closing

  • @higon99
    @higon99 25 днів тому +3

    13 years of Tango Games, that's glorious. Making a kick-ass action game must be a long-long-time dream for John Johanas and his lead programmer when they joined Tango Gameworks where the legendary dev Mikami resides. Reverse-developing action game shown here reminds me how GodHand was developed. They did it with new IP Hi-Fi Rush. Released it and EVERYBODY LOVED IT. But then they got fired. How sad.

  • @activemotionpictures
    @activemotionpictures 25 днів тому +2

    9:12 What an inspiring prototype. Thnak you for sharing this awesome dev conference.

  • @prototypelq8574
    @prototypelq8574 26 днів тому +5

    My heartfelt condolences to the team at Tango, they deserved so much better

  • @bcrane86
    @bcrane86 26 днів тому +6

    Well great timing for this to come out.......We'll miss you Tango :(
    Hope the team sticks around somehow for more titles in the future.

  • @luxxers
    @luxxers 26 днів тому +21

    Is the upload date of this intentional?

    • @IvaN-cf7qt
      @IvaN-cf7qt 26 днів тому +20

      oh for sure!, but i think it was with good intention, to let more people know about the talented devs behind this game.

  • @newkickztv
    @newkickztv 26 днів тому +8

    RIP TANGO ❤

  • @nairocamilo
    @nairocamilo 26 днів тому +16

    Bring awareness and justice for Tango Gameworks developers!

  • @brookrichardson1373
    @brookrichardson1373 11 днів тому

    Hi-Fi Rush was innovative and refreshing. I was very much looking forward to seeing what they would do next. RIP, Tange.

  • @VincentGuillotine
    @VincentGuillotine 26 днів тому +8

    if tango people are reading this, you never deserved what happened

  • @REXanadu
    @REXanadu 23 дні тому +3

    @52:58 - I think it's both shocking and inspiring to find out it took 6-9 months for the game devs to not only go through the prototyping phase but also to figure out the game engine
    Even after watching the PsychOdyssey documentary - which explains how they made an entire commercial game to learn about Unreal Engine - I always assume professional game developers watch a few tutorials and have the entire engine learned in a few weeks
    It's a good thing to keep in mind going forward: even professionals spend more time learning than you think

  • @jakkdlaw
    @jakkdlaw 14 днів тому

    I have not played it yet but this game is amazing, I can't believe they went through all that to make it.
    These devs are amazing.

  • @Jehzar
    @Jehzar 26 днів тому +2

    One of my favourite games of all times. We will miss you, Tango.

  • @RobertleeEtn
    @RobertleeEtn 26 днів тому +3

    Thank you for everything

  • @AnAngelineer
    @AnAngelineer 22 дні тому +2

    This couldn't be more ironic, considering how brutally those very people were betrayed just a few days ago...
    Kinda sends a message of "it doesn't matter how well you worked and how clearly you can teach it to the world, big money will kill you anyways", which sadly has become the reality of our world, and the entertainment industry in particular.

  • @JO-hs1ue
    @JO-hs1ue 26 днів тому +4

    You guys made a fantastic game. I don't care what xbox thinks. It's just been bad decision after bad decision with them for years.

  • @joshwpro4499
    @joshwpro4499 25 днів тому +1

    This is one of the best. A masterpieces for generations to come

  • @LateNightHalo
    @LateNightHalo 26 днів тому +1

    Amazing timing

  • @nicoblasss
    @nicoblasss 26 днів тому

    Best wishes to everyone involved in the project. It was truly amazing.
    Much love

  • @happycapy47
    @happycapy47 26 днів тому +5

    They were shaping up to be one of my favorite studios. Shame on Microsoft.

  • @solofox9426
    @solofox9426 26 днів тому +2

    Give this man a job!

  • @PoweredbyidTech
    @PoweredbyidTech 26 днів тому +4

    RIP Tango. Hope you all land on your feet ASAP

  • @Gmouse
    @Gmouse 25 днів тому +1

    Makes sense, even how their owner reacted to its success was backwards, Microsoft was just doing a sick Hi-Fi Rush reference but no one understood.

  • @Dastankbeets9486
    @Dastankbeets9486 23 дні тому

    Seeing how much dedication went into all the levels, it’s no wonder one of the main levels got cut from the game. It’s incredible that we got as much content as we did considering how bespoke it all is

  • @rkrams1989
    @rkrams1989 26 днів тому +2

    Man good game....the timing

  • @soul-5
    @soul-5 26 днів тому +3

    im fucking crying over here man. we will never get another hi fi rush by tango games 😭

  • @vul4ak
    @vul4ak 26 днів тому +3

    Tango Gameworks - just as you finally got the freedom to do what you were best at doing - you got shut down. Thank you for everything.

  • @egementon
    @egementon 26 днів тому +17

    It's painful to watch this now...

  • @nick02417
    @nick02417 26 днів тому +3

    Hope every member of your team land on your feet.

  • @eneekmot
    @eneekmot 26 днів тому +4

    The devs deserved better.

  • @benjoe1993
    @benjoe1993 26 днів тому +2

    Thank you for the cool game Tango Gameworks

  • @Soloman274
    @Soloman274 26 днів тому +9

    Microsoft really shooting themselves into leg with closing their best studio.
    Good luck to them, with such anti-long-term decisions.

    • @alicatdotcom
      @alicatdotcom 26 днів тому +2

      Microsoft: I took an arrow to the knee
      Everyone: You shot your whole leg off..
      Microsoft: More blood for the heads 🤑 🤯

  • @mirrikybird
    @mirrikybird 25 днів тому

    Thank you for my favourite game of the last 3 years

  • @britishninja
    @britishninja 24 дні тому

    Fascinating talk, really looking forward to their next game : D

  • @way_way_better
    @way_way_better 26 днів тому +3

    There were multiple times when playing this game that I thought to myself "this is a masterclass in game design". This talk is a nice supplement to that.
    Well done, everyone. And thank you for sharing your design process!

  • @ty_teynium
    @ty_teynium 26 днів тому +5

    I'm Sorry Tango; you deserved better.

  • @sonarthecat17
    @sonarthecat17 26 днів тому +3

    Wow the timing of this ...

  • @BlazeMakesGames
    @BlazeMakesGames 25 днів тому +3

    I seriously was hoping that Hi Fi Rush would become a franchise with at least a few more entries, evolving the action-rhythm gameplay and mechanics to new heights.
    Microsoft are clowns for killing this studio

  • @victorjacobson4077
    @victorjacobson4077 26 днів тому +4

    I'm a solo indie dev but I hope I can get my game out before microsoft shuts me down.

  • @kirbles2035
    @kirbles2035 26 днів тому

    Great timing

  • @xxCreeplyxx
    @xxCreeplyxx 26 днів тому

    Amazing game, can't wait to see what they make next!

  • @STANNco
    @STANNco 26 днів тому +1

    can't wait to see what they develop next, Microsoft is so lucky to have them

  • @metalmonster9536
    @metalmonster9536 26 днів тому +3

    Nice tribute I must say

  • @ariloulei814
    @ariloulei814 23 дні тому +1

    Okay now hire the voice actor for Smidge to do this entire talk. I dunno why but I want it.

    • @GertyFlings
      @GertyFlings 23 дні тому +4

      John Johanas IS the voice of smidge

  • @Orionhart
    @Orionhart 26 днів тому +2

    RIP Tango. You didn't deserve to be just another notch in their financial portfolio.

  • @soheil4471
    @soheil4471 26 днів тому +1

    Yeah seeing this talk now is sad
    amazing talk by the way too bad Microsoft couldn't handle such a talented studio.

  • @hamboy2610
    @hamboy2610 24 дні тому +1

    44:20 Microsoft: "what future projects?"

  • @kylerclarke2689
    @kylerclarke2689 26 днів тому

    I hope that everyone who contributed to this amazing game finds work with a company that values them.

  • @TheCzarsoham
    @TheCzarsoham 17 днів тому

    My heart...

  • @MartinGP_3dfxlegacy
    @MartinGP_3dfxlegacy 26 днів тому +5

    Press f to pay respect

  • @terry-
    @terry- 13 днів тому

    Great!

  • @ShinPepsiman
    @ShinPepsiman 22 дні тому +1

    I think it's really impressive how the prototype hardly differs from the final game. They knew exactly what they wanted to do. Please find a new home Tango 🤞

  • @BenGoodsonModular
    @BenGoodsonModular 26 днів тому +3

    Unreal timing

  • @GuatekeFrankie
    @GuatekeFrankie 26 днів тому +2

    best timing ever

  • @soyunbonus
    @soyunbonus 25 днів тому

    What a gem of a game!

  • @Nov-5062
    @Nov-5062 26 днів тому +7

    Rest in peace Tango, screw you microsoft

  • @user-fy1fs1cu2x
    @user-fy1fs1cu2x 25 днів тому

    very cool, YOU FIRED

  • @chompyumyum4615
    @chompyumyum4615 26 днів тому +4

    With all tiny shreds of due respect, F*CK MICROSOFT
    R.I.P. Tango.

  • @nekokna
    @nekokna 26 днів тому +3

    they were the dopest...

  • @mythiclegend117
    @mythiclegend117 26 днів тому +4

    RIP Tango Gameworks.

  • @HeyImKevin
    @HeyImKevin 26 днів тому +9

    Pssst….Friends don’t let friends buy Call of Duty anymore, pass it on.

  • @manrique_1984
    @manrique_1984 26 днів тому +2

    Damn you Phil Spencer and Matt Booty. 😢

  • @sadcyberboy
    @sadcyberboy 26 днів тому

    Wow!

  • @Jacklanton
    @Jacklanton 26 днів тому

    The timing man..the timing...

  • @ArtofWEZ
    @ArtofWEZ 24 дні тому +1

    Amazing game, they did not deserve to be closed.

  • @gregorymansour1763
    @gregorymansour1763 26 днів тому +2

    I hope everyone at Tango finds new work now that the studio is being shut down. There's so much talent they're just letting go.

  • @IDubz1
    @IDubz1 16 днів тому

    Rest in peace Tango Gameworks

  • @somefishhere
    @somefishhere 26 днів тому

    The timing…. Oh my god

  • @BraedenAnimations
    @BraedenAnimations 25 днів тому

    Hope everyone at Tango can find a place to go. Thank you for everything!