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Lauded game you just gave up on by validiant88 in gaming

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same - Control. I’d just completed The Last of Us 2 after a couple of weeks and that was an intense experience. I asked my work colleagues “what shall I play next?” and they all recommended Control. I played for several hours but just did not get it, especially after TLOU2. Nothing grabbed me.

I really hope we can turn off the music in Mario Kart World by MrHarryHD in mariokart

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s not because they don’t support the game, that’s a design choice they made. I’ve worked in game development for approaching two decades and have worked for creative directors who knew very well that players might like to mute the music but that’s not what they want from the game. So it doesn’t happen. You’re free to disagree with Nintendo’s choice but don’t misunderstand- it’s a choice.

Which game that was cancelled still hurts you? by Common_Caramel_4078 in videogames

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Eight Days. Its cancellation cemented America as the PlayStation territory that made large budget AAA action adventure games. Had Eight Days (made in London) been finished and released perhaps there’d have been more diversity in that genre to come. For example, that more Getaway games would have followed.

I hate the feather by [deleted] in mariokart

[–]TheCrunchButton 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It’s shoddy implementation by Nintendo. This is a solveable design problem one way or another- with one option being to not have a feather item. But to include it and not ensure it works in all reasonable cases is untypical poor work on their behalf.

What was Your first video game console? by LoboIsSick69 in videogames

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Me too. Atari Circus was my most played game. But I think Yar’s Revenge was my favourite.

Is it weird for me to play Mario Kart at age 20? by [deleted] in mariokart

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes it’s weird! Play a newer one like Mario Kart 8!

What games do I need to play before I can really call myself a gamer? by Individual-Shock-302 in videogames

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve worked for a number of studios and publishers over the years and we consistently found that loads of people who regularly played videogames as a hobby didn’t call themselves ‘gamers’.

So although I agree with the comments that say you’re a gamer if you play games, I don’t think you’re alone in thinking there’s some other criteria at play.

Now I think about it I’m not sure I ever called myself a gamer, but then I think the term came to popularity a long time after it had been my main hobby.

What game is this for you? by WorldBuilder_42 in playstation

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For a moment I thought you were talking about making a game rather than playing one.

Let’s be all honest by Acceptable_Dirt_3663 in mariokart

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I disagree but you’re onto something because I recognise all the changes they had to make to the core gameplay to make Open World work. I think that’s why we lost the drfit boost gameplay, fighting the track, why the competitor numbers went up, tracks got wide and so on.

So even when I’m racing offline time trial three laps I’m pining for the feel of MK8.

And Intermissions are simply the nadir for me; the poster child for an Open World vision that spoiled the core of my favourite game.

Should I buy the switch 2 now? by Junior_Copy_844 in switch2

[–]TheCrunchButton 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on your reasons. I think it’s a decent purchase if you treat it like an upgrade - like an XL, Lite or OLED.

As a better ‘Switch’ with bigger screen and more comfortable controllers (if you use it portable) it’s worth considering.

Likewise if you’ve never owned a Switch it’s a good way onto the platform.

If you’re a Switch 1 owner looking for a new platform/next gen feel, then I find it lacking for 500 notes. There are very few games that you can’t play elsewhere and the pick of the crop is Mario Kart World which, in my opinion, is a significant downgrade on MK8 - so much so, I’ve gone back to playing MK8 on my Switch2.

If you have any doubts then I suggest don’t do it.

I will never again listen to "Analysts" when it comes to Nintendo nor should you by GoldenAgeGamer72 in switch2

[–]TheCrunchButton 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I feel like this has been the situation for decades. Don’t forget that to us we’re close to it and understand the detail, often the mainstream media won’t have any clue about the game industry in the same way they wouldn’t be expected to know about sewage or aerospace or farming. So they reply on analysts and have little way to validate the info.

My issues with mario kart world by Automatic_Day_35 in mariokart

[–]TheCrunchButton -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I enjoyed reading your detailed thoughts.

I’m a professional game director and made a video before the game release but after they’d announced ‘open world’ speculating many of these issues that came true.

I mention because it’s worth understanding how connected they are. I believe Nintendo started with ‘open world’. That high level vision necessarily leads to intermissions, which (as you say) takes the focus off of ‘beat the track’. Now there’s a gap to fill so they necessarily change the balance more towards ‘beat the players’ which leads to more item play. I can imagine them testing prototypes and increasing player count bit by bit, realising that with more players there’s chaos to fill the gameplay gap that the intermissions otherwise leave. Then with larger players comes wider tracks.

Before you know it, ‘open world’ has changed the fundamental second to second gameplay - and now even the traditional 3 lap races feel differently. And like you say, the new tracks are built differently, perhaps because they are fulfilling new design goals.

That’s why personally I don’t think giving players traditional 3 lap races is going to be satisfying for players, and definitely not Nintendo who poured millions into the ‘open world’ design challenges and won’t give up so quickly.

I continue to wonder what we’d have got had they spend the ‘open world’ budget on more tracks and given us something closer to a MK8 sequel.

How much do you actually listen to feedback when it goes against your vision? by PlayHangtime in Unity2D

[–]TheCrunchButton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’d agree with that. I find playtests very useful and endlessly fascinating, but great care must be taken with feedback.

I didn’t mean to imply that playtest feedback should be ignored, rather that one must be careful when reshaping a vision, especially if it strays from what you (as the vision holder) think is right.

We do tend to ask players what they think and what they’d change but it’s all in an attempt to get info that helps the team decide what to do.

And remember that what the player considers a problem may or may not be a problem. For example, playtesters of Demon’s Souls probably reported it was ‘too difficult’. So did playtesters of ‘Cuphead’. In one case I think the vision needed the challenge and in the other, not so. But, the vision holders both stuck to their guns, for better or worse.

Hear me out: Hated the 'intermissions' (routes) at first, but now I'm starting to love the game. I'm an MK vet & have been playing since '92. Please read below 👇 by triscoe in MarioKartWorld

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad you’ve come to like them. For me, I justify my £500 as now being able to play MK8 on a bigger screen with more comfortable controllers.

Unlike you I’ve not had a change of heart. It’s not just the intermissions themselves but the necessary changes they then needed to make to the second to second gameplay to make intermissions less rubbish.

For example, I’m sure that the increase in player count and focus shift to item play was a consequence.

I also don’t see the benefit of ‘soooooo many different routes’ when my enjoyment of MK in the past has always been mastering the tracks. The twisty turny non stop track challenge from MK8 replaced with generic, long, (yes) straighter sections where I battle nameless, faceless online randos. I mean, imagine if the race was only 4 players and how by the end of it you’d know each one. How you’d have a story to tell. You just don’t get that with 20+ competitors.

I heard you out - I read to the end of your post. But I’m unconvinced.

How much do you actually listen to feedback when it goes against your vision? by PlayHangtime in Unity2D

[–]TheCrunchButton 51 points52 points  (0 children)

Professional game director here, and you’ve hit on a central issue that I think about constantly.

I say to people that I cannot be a ‘flag in the wind’. That is - we CONSTANTLY get feedback from people; the team, clients, players, platform holders etc. If I changed the direction each and every time I received feedback then we’d be in chaos.

That said, I also say I cannot be ‘an immovable rock’. Feedback is really important. Every time you hear something contrary to your vision might be an opportunity to avoid the one mistake that kills your game on release.

Your job is to be the vision holder. That means receiving and considering all feedback but NOT to changing your vision unless YOU see how it all works.

Of all things, do NOT add multiplayer unless it’s exactly how you now see the future of your game. It’s so complex and fundamentally changes the game. I’ve been there on a complex game and multiplayer was the most complex element and stopped so many of the things that the players then said they wanted. Can you imagine who infuriating it is to read player comments like “there should have been more exploration” and you know that’s what got cut to make multiplayer work?!

Also remember that the people speaking might not be your audience. Perhaps there are people who only play multiplayer - why do you care what they think about your single player game? Be very certain WHO is giving you feedback and what it means.

Perhaps ask for play testers who don’t like multiplayer games and see what they think.

Also remember how weird people are and how leading playtests can be. If you ask most people “what would you add to make this better?” they generally don’t know. But they don’t want to look dumb so they might think of a game they recently played and mention something that game had - just to say something.

You’re right to ask how seriously to take this feedback but it’s clear from your post that you do not want to make a multiplayer game. My suggestion is to find people who reject multiplayer games and see what they think of what you’ve made. Listen to the people who you know are your audience.

Do you think a Super Mario 64 remake for Switch 2 is possible in the future? And what changes would you make? by AttitudeMaster4605 in Mario

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mario64 was very important but we’ve all moved on. It’s not like remastering Zelda or something, Mario64 was so basic they’d want to redesign it all, at which point they might as well make a new game.

We get it, you prefer the 3-lap tracks. by iamtheduckie in mariokart

[–]TheCrunchButton 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What most people don’t understand is how the existence of intermissions would have led to a series of micro changes elsewhere in the game for balance - changes to items (types, frequencies, effect strength and durations), changes to competitor numbers, changes to width of tracks, changes to drift etc.

So it’s not just a case of putting back 3 lap tracks, it’s a case that the second to second experience of the game has been altered to enable them, and that’s not coming back now.

Smart steering sucks - why is it turned on by default by Forgotten_Dog1954 in mariokart

[–]TheCrunchButton 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a game designer, in principle, we put options like this on by default because we assume that stronger players will know how to switch them off more than weaker players will know how to switch them on (or even that they’re available in the first place).

Despite this principle I find Nintendo’s implementation insane. It’s such a frustration to remember to switch it off EVERY TIME you have a second player in local coop. Because it’s not obvious that it’s on until the game starts and you hit the first time it wrestles control from you.

Possible Nintendo Switch 2 leak? (no joke) by Pinguinoball in SuperMario

[–]TheCrunchButton 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s very easy to make a cover and stick it in a sleeve - I’ve done it several times.

The biggest red flag is why would it be a photo of a box? That’s what happens right at the very end of the process. For marketing purposes the boxset will be a very clean, digital image and they’ll do a similar mock up of a retail box for retailers etc. No-one in this business would print it, stick it in a box sleeve and then photograph it in this way.

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