This problem isn't really that new. When I think about it, they have done it since arcade gaming. At that time, it was making the game harder so people would put in more coins. I am sure they would have done the microtransaction stuff even then if it was plausible.
The problem isn't new, but due to technology development, now it's really hard to make a AAA game alone or with a bunch of friends. You sure as hell can make a megahit, but you simply can't cross that gap and make AAA game from the get-go. We had a brief moment of time when it was possible, but it lasted for less than 10 years. P.S. I'm talking about PC gaming.
Indie game scene has still been relatively lively, and it's easier for a random Joe to make a game now. I know it's hard, but it happened with a few, like Vampire Survivors and Valheim off the top of my head.
Though a big problem with indie game scene is Early Access and never finish game. Hard to trust devs.
I disagree, you don't need 9,000 people to make a AAA game. Honestly, I don't even think the "it's too expensive" argument even works since while technology is higher, the tools to develop those games are also "MUCH BETTER."
Every day, I feel like we should outlaw public trading.
Now you just sound like henry ford :P
I'm not against trading shares. I just believe all shareholders who own stock should be allowed to vote and veto a new buyer, something that isn't allowed in Public trading.
Yes, I was talking about those games. They are fun, and cool, and they can't compete with AAA games. Here's what I am talking about. Before, a small team was able to make Enclave. Compare it with games that came out the same year. WC3 ROC, GTA Vice City, Morrowind, and so on. Obviously WC3, GTA, and TES are much more well-known, much more succesful, and overall better games. No doubt. But if you compare WHO made it, and compare budgets, and so on, you will understand what I mean. Although Enclave was not able offer as much in terms of gameplay, it looked just like any other game made by a great, established studio. And the engine for that game if I remember it correctly was made by one person. And Enclave isn't even the best example. What about Mafia?
To be honest, it doesn't really matter.
It depends on the player base. For me, gameplay is always the number one thing. I won't buy something terrible to play, even if it had the best graphics out of any game. However, I will play a game with shitty 8-bit graphics if it's fun.
I've been hearing this fairy tale, about how indie dvelopers will be able to make better games since they have better tools, for at least ten years now. Haven't seen a single game that is even remotely close to AAA. BG3 is not AAA. In terms of actual fun and gameplay it might as well be AAAAAAA, I don't know, didn't play it. But animations and graphics are not AAA level, it's AA.
I can tell you BG3 is definitely AAA. Graphics, production, and multiple other things it's higher than any of the AAA developers have made recently except the updated Cyberpunk 2077. Even if the budget wasn't as high, but being a small private company, they didn't need to hire all the bloat for DEI and ESG.
The point is Enclave was still fun. Not as good as other games, but fun. However Mafia was great. Maybe gameplay was once again so-so, but it had an incredible story. And what about Gothic 2 that came out that year? Finally I can say that this game, Gothic 2, fucking slaps. It's not worse than Morrowind, GTA, or WC3. Gothic 2 is a goated game. Yet the team consisted of ten or so people, and before Gothic 2 they made Gothic 1. They made Gothic one, and they had one year to develop Gothic 2. Compare it with Blizzard, Rockstar, or Bethesda. Can something similar happen now?
Gothic sucks ... ... ...
It is not.
Maybe? I have no idea. I am sure it could, but it would be a lot of work for ten people to do. And they probably wouldn't make their own engine as it is much easier to just use UE5 or some other open source.
It can't happen now. Let's not pretend. You can't make a shooter that will be able to compete with CoD or BF on all aspects of the game with ten people. You could do it before, now you can't. You will have to compromise one thing or another. While before we could have EVEYRTHING, graphics, gameplay, story, animations, music, everything from a small team. Now a small team has to compromise.