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Epic's Mike Capps: It's A Really Confusing Time For The Industry

In a recent interview, Epic Games president Mike Capps discusses the myriad challenges facing developers, most of which he attributes to the uncertainty the industry is now facing.

Speaking with Gamespot, Capps discusses everything from the fate of triple-A games to microtransaction and subscription-based models for selling games. The common theme running through most of his answers is that the industry is a transition period, which makes it hard for developers to know what to invest their time and money in -- especially in regards to big budget retail games.

"It's hard to know exactly what's going to happen," Capps said. "We're bullish on the next generation. We're excited about it. But there's a big risk that nobody cares because they're all too busy playing [Zynga Facebook game] Empire and Allies, and they don't need a next-generation console box. So we're a little worried about it, and you see us experimenting some in the mobile space, partially because that's where the developer base is moving to."

Capps will be sharing more of his views on the industry at this year's GDC Europe, in his keynote speech, "Size Doesn't Matter: How Epic Brings AAA Attitude to Every Game, from Gears of War 3 to Infinity Blade" on Tuesday, August 16.

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Comments
  • I'll say. But also an exciting time, as he says. I'm completely confident that the future of video games is brighter than ever before.
  • God no please make those big games on the consoles I hate this free to play crap era it needs to go there is only one game that I play that is free to play and that is LoL, Im waiting for the next gen console to come out and for those big gorgeous 60 dollar games to come out. Down with free to play all that brings in are the trolls.

  • I'd say so honestly, it'll be a good thing for sure when the mobile and casual craze slows down and we know where it's maximum potential is.
  • I have to agree with Warhammer5001 on this, I hate free to play. The games that are worth playing are the ones you pay for, the ones that actually took time to develop and the games that took years of painstakeing hard work to create. Quality is the watchword...
  • I completely agree.  I just hope that we don't lose our roots - gaming needs to stay on consoles, and we need AAA titles in order to compete with other mediums.

  • Yep. After all, why bother having *real* AI, better graphics, better sound, better physics, more content and new ideas if most people just want to sit down for half an hour to kill zombies (like the average teenager who only plays CoD) or take care of their cows (the average adult gamer who only plays Facebook games)? From a business CEO's point of view, it makes more sense to spend less and just make simple games/re-skins of prequels, especially if that's going to generate more money. It'll take a lot of courage from the big-time publishers and developers to continue pushing consumer-grade technology forwards. I hope they do, though.
  • people will be busy playing facebook games? are you kidding? i would rather die than switch from my PS3 experience to a crappy facebook experience

  • Big triple AAA games won't go away anytime soon, because I won't let them!
  • this is kind of going against everything the data shows. Just last week EA said that SWTOR was their highest pre-order numbers in history. So how are little games like Zynga facebook games really affecting the game industries. Like BF 3 is going to make a lot of money so well any good game it just has to be good just because there is more little facebook games that some Adults and kids may play it really is not the people playing big video games
  • No matter what, I will always prefer full games over cheap, small time wasters.

  • Mod
    I am incredibly excited for what the next generation of gaming could bring. If it ends up micro games with packs and add-ons I'll be a sad panda.
  • I've never played Angry Birds, Farmville, Empire and Allies or any of that dumb crap. It's like the gaming industry is devolving back to Pong or something. I just lost so much respect for Epic. I want to shotgun this Capps guy in the face, he's an idiot. I've never even heard of Empire and Allies, but apparently that's what is holding back the next generation????
  • How bout another doom game? Bulletstorm and brink arent my type games
  • Keep it to the true gaming machines please. Not cell phones and ipods/ipads

    I want quality games.
  • I'm honestly not a fan of some of the recent trends in the industry. I'm old-fashioned. Give me a console and a full retail game on a cartridge or disc and I'm happy. I like to own physical copies of my games, so I'm not at all interested in digital download and cloud gaming services.

    Casual Facebook games have never even come remotely close to interesting me. If I want to play a farming game, I'll pop in Harvest Moon, not Farmville.

    I also hope microgames with add-ons to get a full experience never become a reality. I -love- DLC, but I love it as an addition to the full game I've already purchased and played, not as the remaining portion of the incomplete game I purchased. On that note, I also hate episodic gaming.

    I've also never played games on a phone and do not own an iPad, nor do I ever plan to. I'm not all that interested in mobile gaming. The closest I get to mobile gaming is playing Link's Awakening on my original Gameboy.
  • Certainly is more confusing than ever. The mobiles and the web based apps are thriving, and their honeymoon doesn't have an end in sight. Nintendo is the first one to feel it, then it will happen to Sony.

  • So basically EA is going to surrender to its casual side also? The hardcore fan group who actually enjoy games are going to suffer again?
  • You pay for the experience you get. The average male would rather pay 60 for a lasting experience than 1$ for Angry birds. And as long as theres buttons there would always be console, nuff said.
  • i think games should stay on gameing counsoles

  • this is just sad

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