Rockstar's Wasserman: Ignore 'Next-Gen', Make Great Art

Vikingod · Jun 22, 2007, 02:53 PM

Source: Gamasutra
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As part of an in-depth Gamasutra interview posted today, Rockstar San Diego exec Alan Wasserman (Midnight Club series) has been discussing the state of game development, commenting that he "absolutely hates" the phrase next-gen as a "manufactured marketing term" - and that developers should create their own "special recipe".

Talking in the first of a series of articles making up a San Diego Studio Tour, Wasserman, who is director of product development at Rockstar San Diego, commented when asked what the phrase 'next-gen' means to him:

"I absolutely hate the term, because it's a manufactured marketing term. To me, next-gen is any combination of thousands of things that developers pull out of their bag of tricks and mix and match things together to create their own special recipe. If it's done well, it's a masterpiece, and that experience is a next-gen experience."

topbob · Jun 23, 2007, 02:23 AM

To me any "next-gen" title means they're focusing extently on the "latest and greatest" graphics, physics, and any new and/or experimental technologies. I agree its a marketing term, to average gamers, they think it sounds cool, the wave of the future, and all other past games are inferior, and no longer are worth their time. It's a dangerous word and is really pointless to be using if you ask me, you'll never match the expectations, in the end hurting your game.

Mazuko · Jun 23, 2007, 02:08 PM

Personally I think that "next-gen" should only apply to HUGE changes in the development and or entertainment process. For instance Nintendo was next-gen compared to Atari. SNES was next-gen compared to NES. PSX was next gen compared to everything else prior. XBX, PS2, PS3, XB360 are all really just revamps of prior consoles. There is really nothing NEW in them.

Hell even in the PC market nothing is really new wherease the only thing coming up that could be considered "next-gen" is DX10 as it will redefine how games are made/played/viewed and THAT is a PC based thing for the time being.

Jun 22, 2007, 02:53 PM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Rockstar's Wasserman: Ignore 'Next-Gen', Make Great Art Source: Gamasutra ______________ As part of an in-depth Gamasutra interview posted today, Rockstar San Diego exec Alan Wasserman (Midnight Club series) has been discussing the state of game development, commenting that he "absolutely hates" the phrase next-gen as a "manufactured marketing term" - and that developers should create their own "special recipe". Talking in the first of a series of articles making up a San Diego Studio Tour, Wasserman, who is director of product development at Rockstar San Diego, commented when asked what the phrase 'next-gen' means to him: "I absolutely hate the term, because it's a manufactured marketing term. To me, next-gen is any combination of thousands of things that developers pull out of their bag of tricks and mix and match things together to create their own special recipe. If it's done well, it's a masterpiece, and that experience is a next-gen experience."

Jun 23, 2007, 02:23 AM	#2
topbob HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SFBA, CA, USA Posts: 463 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	To me any "next-gen" title means they're focusing extently on the "latest and greatest" graphics, physics, and any new and/or experimental technologies. I agree its a marketing term, to average gamers, they think it sounds cool, the wave of the future, and all other past games are inferior, and no longer are worth their time. It's a dangerous word and is really pointless to be using if you ask me, you'll never match the expectations, in the end hurting your game. __________________ 12090 in 3DMarks06 on current system, 5001 on old system, 4164 on older, 1587 on oldest

Jun 23, 2007, 02:08 PM	#3
Mazuko DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 1,008 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Personally I think that "next-gen" should only apply to HUGE changes in the development and or entertainment process. For instance Nintendo was next-gen compared to Atari. SNES was next-gen compared to NES. PSX was next gen compared to everything else prior. XBX, PS2, PS3, XB360 are all really just revamps of prior consoles. There is really nothing NEW in them. Hell even in the PC market nothing is really new wherease the only thing coming up that could be considered "next-gen" is DX10 as it will redefine how games are made/played/viewed and THAT is a PC based thing for the time being. __________________ E-bay feedback: http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...me=STRK:ME:UFS