ManaByte
Member
Sea of Thieves was a passion project, probably the first Phil greenlit, and it’s Rare’s most successful game ever.
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So, how are you feeling about XBOX "Passion Projects"?
- Thread starter Ghost of Caelid
- Start date
Bumblebeetuna
Member
Bleeding Edge was good fun.
Grounded is not my type of game, I loathe survival resource collecting games.
Pentiment was great, one of the best of 2022.
Have HiFi installed but haven’t started it yet. Word of mouth is pretty spectacular, but that might just be buzz from the shadow drop.
Grounded is not my type of game, I loathe survival resource collecting games.
Pentiment was great, one of the best of 2022.
Have HiFi installed but haven’t started it yet. Word of mouth is pretty spectacular, but that might just be buzz from the shadow drop.
ManaByte
Member
No it’s fantastic. The type of game old Sega would release on the DC.
StealthGoblin
Banned
None of them interest me, but I love that Microsoft are enabling and growing that. It’s something I’d like Sony to do. The sheer talent at both groups is astonishing so there must be some brilliant ideas we don’t ever get to see.
RGB'D
Member
They were making Bleeding Edge before the MS acquisition so I do question if it was a passion project like the rest. But Obsidians output were definitely passion projects and it appears that Hi-Fi Rush was as well (even if they started development before acquisition, that process took time to get certified and I'm sure that Microsoft had shared their vision of being able to do projects like this because of Gamepass. In fact Todd and Pete mentioned these types of projects specifically when they were talking about why they were so excited to partner with MS.
ManaByte
Member
GHG
Member
vaibhavpisal
Member
MS would be crazy not to make more of these.
Gamepass fodder .... Whatever.
I could keep playing these if this is all they made, in rotation with one of online shooters.
I am thinking Minecraft Legends would also fit in this bunch.
Gamepass fodder .... Whatever.
I could keep playing these if this is all they made, in rotation with one of online shooters.
I am thinking Minecraft Legends would also fit in this bunch.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
As a professional, maintaining objectivity is crucial. This is why I strive to ensure accuracy and impartiality in my analysis.
Punished Miku
Gold Member
Bleeding Edge was started before. Redfall started before.
Pentiment and Hi-Fi were specifically explained in interviews as "only being possible because of Gamepass."
Grounded, not sure. Maybe started before.
Fart Knight
Al Pachinko, Konami President
Passion = morelife
A professional what? Troll? Jackass?
ChorizoPicozo
Member
is already stated.
Umbasaborne
Banned
As other have said, they would be great if they complimented some big games too, but microsoft seems incapable of getting anything beyond an indie title out the door
Beastclaw Raider
Banned
The xbox situation reminds me a lot of Sega and their last consoles. Lots of really nice out there creative games but nothing big pulling it front.
Dr. Claus
Vincit qui se vincit
Yes. Also:
You people always prove me right.
Not hard to be on the top when you don't have a lot to offer in terms of first party releases. Not to mention suck cost fallacy looming ever larger for those who bought into the poor, greedy design.
SimCade. Not the same as Arcade. GT7 *is* a current gen game. But please, continue showing how much of a sad little console warrior you truly are.
This is literally a discussion about a lack of variety being released on Xbox. Note the RELEASED part.
Also developers have come out and said that there are problems with Fable, Perfect Dark, and Everwild for a while now. We even got a dev confirming that Perfect Dark will be delayed until *after* the next Tomb Raider release which won't be for at least 2-3 years. You can do the math, bud.
Strawman arguments are all you really have, huh?
RCU005
Member
This
Hi- Fi Rush was a great surprise, and if it wasn’t for it, reactions would’ve been worse.
AngelMuffin
Member
Yeah, I agree. That’s why I bumped it up to a “meh”. Will be trying that out tonight.
SF Kosmo
Al Jazeera Special Reporter
I didn't get into Pentiment but Grounded and Hi-Fi Rush are both excellent, and honestly just as fun as any of the more AAA-oriented fare. I think it's important to take chances and see what players connect with, not just follow proven formulas over and over.
I can't wait to see what Double Fine do.
I can't wait to see what Double Fine do.
BbMajor7th
Member
I'm all for it and I wish Sony were still greenlighting these smaller scale projects - as others have noted though, these land better when they're part of a more substantial framework of releases.
semiconscious
Member
Ghost of Caelid
Banned
I think that, sadly gamers have gotten too invested in how much a game cost to make. It's weird because rarely for film or music do the fans go "this album cost _____ to make" as an indication of quality...no one cares that Avatar cost more tha Everything Everywhere All At Once...because at the end of the day the art speaks for itself. But since gaming is so cause up on A/A/AAA mindset fans put alooooot of emphasis on budget. It's sad because who cares if Hi-fI Rush cost 10% the budget of Forspoken, one is goingto be better recieved and on top of that does something new. Thats why passion projects are important...risk is rarely taken in the expensive games, but if you let creators try new ideas in the smaller games, when they start their 5 year projects they don't have to worry about fleshing out the new concept.For fucks sake, man
Don’t people read anything these days?
Jigsaah
Gold Member
Hit or Miss.
Bleeding edge was fun until I played with a full group of my toxic friends. Made sure I never played that game again.
Hi Fi Rush is stylish and a lot of fun.
I prefer more realistically styled survival games like The Forest as opposed to Grounded, but I can see why people enjoy this game.
I have not played Pentiment. Obsidian has really been pumping the games out huh?
Bleeding edge was fun until I played with a full group of my toxic friends. Made sure I never played that game again.
Hi Fi Rush is stylish and a lot of fun.
I prefer more realistically styled survival games like The Forest as opposed to Grounded, but I can see why people enjoy this game.
I have not played Pentiment. Obsidian has really been pumping the games out huh?
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Ghost of Caelid
Banned
I spent 1800 on my oled, 500$ on my xbox headphones, 1000$ on my ps5 xsx respectively so I can enjoy games like GOW with all the bells and whistles, but also the mellow sounds of Signalis in 4k with proper hdr and pure blacks...I think you need to expand your taste if you think a game has to be of a certain budget in order to be impressive. Take a moment turn on a game like Inside, lights off head phones on, and just play it...I promised you will be more immersed than almost any game ever, because it's not about budget but how well the vision is achieved by the game design team.
sachos
Member
I think its great they are trying new stuff, regardless if they end up being good or not. I want them to keep doing it, wee need more AA like 8-10 hours experiences that do not take 9 digit production costs and 5 years to make.
A small project from one of their studios? I would love to see iD try make an FPS campaign similar to either FEAR or Soldier of Fortune, i would love for Playground Games to go back to old school racing games, make something more akin to NFS3HP or NFSHP2 closed circuit racing with beautiful designed tracks around the world.
Killer8
Member
Indies and these smaller scale games are the antidote to the growing mediocrity of AAA gaming. Having something like Game Pass to act as a safety net for the teams making them is also very important. If this model makes developers comfortable enough to take risks again then I am all for it.
itsjustJEFF
Member
They've been doing a damn good job! As someone who is not an Xbox guy, but a gamepass on pc guy, it always seemed like Xbox gamers didn't like the "smaller" games. They always seemed to prefer the AAA games or the big realistic bangers or something... at least that was sentiment I got online, and maybe that's the problem lol, it would have just been a very vocal minority. Every release can't be a AAA banger, you need smaller titles in between to hold you over. With the semi-regular droughts of AAA games Xbox has had recently it looks like those most vocal has started to recognize the value of smaller games. They're almost always unique and almost always a good time.
I wonder if these smaller games turnout so well, and seemingly on time, is because they are smaller... meaning Xbox leaves them be. Maybe they're not as involved cause it's a "smaller" title that isn't that big of a financial risk
I wonder if these smaller games turnout so well, and seemingly on time, is because they are smaller... meaning Xbox leaves them be. Maybe they're not as involved cause it's a "smaller" title that isn't that big of a financial risk
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And yet Grounded has sold millions of copies on Steam alone, has 80+ MC rating and 83% user rating on Steam…with over 10k daily concurrent players.
Cleverly dodging Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush also doesn’t do you any favors. Those are ‘passion projects’ as mentioned in this thread, and one has multiple GOTY awards with the other being hailed as one of the best action games in a long while. Hardly ‘low quality Gamepass fodder’.
Bleeding Edge was a side project made by a handful of Ninja Theory devs. It flopped and they moved on. You pitching it as a studio-wide passion project is completely on-brand.
darrylgorn
Member
Considering Hi-Fi and Grounded are two of the best games this generation, I'd say passion projects are doing well!
Pelta88
Member
Seems my data was from a weekend spike. Still, 7k+ daily players is nothing to scoff at.
At least you saw the review stats when you made this crop. So much for ‘low quality fodder’
Thirty7ven
Banned
It’s what these subscription services should bet on, it’s the way to go.
Unrivaledx88
Member
Okay say Forspoken is a Miss… How many AAA games did Sony bring to Playstation before having a crappy AAA game lile Forspoken??
And now MS?
Point made.
Now we Laugh and keep waiting
KungFucius
King Snowflake
I think small games like these does push the medium forward with more varied content that gets to take some risks you don't see much of anymore. Your definition of a passion project is shallow and misses the mark. They are small scope games where they can take risks and not have to worry about tanking the studio if it doesn't score in the 90s.
bluecowboys
Banned
Laugh at what exactly? MS just got a good game to start this year and have three AAA first party exclusives this year that are more than likely going to score well. Age of empires is coming to Xbox soon at the end of this month too.
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bluecowboys
Banned
Halo infinite is competing with both MS and third party games. To be top 20 is really good and far from a failure.
Simcade isn’t even a real word and FM is a simulator racer. Also, GT7 released on the ps4 making it a cross generation game. FM is going to be current gen game only.
Lack of variety released games? Just last 2 years we got the following games.
Halo - FPS
Hi Fi Rush - Rhythm
Flight simulator - Simulator
Gears Tactics/ Age of empires - Strategy
Grounded - survival
Forza Horizon - Arcade racer
Pentiment - Role playing.
This year we are going to get a co op team based shooter, racing sim, and a AAA role playing game. All releasing relatively soon. Beats Sony’s third person adventure games that they keep releasing over and over.
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Dr. Claus
Vincit qui se vincit
You keep telling yourself that while you ignore the numerous reports and statements by the developers themselves stating that it was far from their projected hopes, the critical response from long time fans, and the complete shit show that has been 343i as of the last year with numerous lay offs and massive changes at the top. A strong, "really good" game wouldn't let that happen.
https://gprivate.com/637bb
So a game is only next gen when you impose idiotic constraints to it?
Yes, as I have already explained above and a number of those games are more than 3 years old. Not released during the drought we have now. Any more attempts at ignoring what is being written and moving goalposts?
And you constantly try to bring up Sony for some odd reason, almost as if you are afraid and need to remind people which "Team" you are on. Further showing how much of a sad little warrior you truly are. Sony deserves just as much criticism as Xbox. Doesn't mean Xbox shouldn't be criticized.
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