Wed, Sep 10, 2008 | 15:38 BST

Hocking: Amount of studios able to deliver CoD4-level linear shooters will “diminish rapidly”

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Speaking to RPS, Far Cry dev lead Clint Hocking has predicted that the amount of studios in the trade able to deliver knock-out linear shooters – compared to the open-world design of his game – is set to diminish.

“For me, personally, I find it much, much harder to become engrossed in your ‘typical’ linear FPS after having worked on and played Far Cry 2 for so long now,” he said. “However, at the same time, the level of polish and execution in games like CoD4 is insanely high.

“My feeling is, tightly controlled and scripted ‘cinematic experiences’ like CoD4 will always remain competitive, but that the number of studios who can deliver this level of polish will diminish rapidly. I think the environment will become even more competitive than it is now.”

There’s a lot more through there. Very good interview.

Far Cry 2 releases at the end of October for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

16 comments

#1

Blerk
10/09/08, 3:40 pm

Is there any kind of buzz around Far Cry 2? I’m not feeling anything from the forums. I smell… tank. And I don’t mean an armoured car.

#2

Syrok
10/09/08, 3:45 pm

Apart from the shooting and killing I really like Far Cry 2. Based from what I’ve seen in the trailers. :)

#3

deanimate
10/09/08, 3:45 pm

…errrr…far cry 2 and buzz are giving each other blow jobs me old son. maybe not as full on as fallout 3 where the recipient loses their reproductive organ but nonetheless i would say the hype is there.

want proof?
hoorays Far Cry 2 for the w1ns!!! :D :D ONE!1
admittedly that sounds sarcastic but its not meant to be.

#4

Tiger Walts
10/09/08, 3:46 pm

I think it’s genre-fatigue, Crysis wasn’t too long ago and we have Stalker : Clear Sky to occupy the sandbox FPS needs.

Expect a bit of a media push closer to the launch, there’s not point starting your campaign too soon as it could get forgotten about amongst the promotion of all those Winter releases

#5

Blerk
10/09/08, 3:53 pm

I wasn’t really talking about media campaigns, more forumite froth. There’s plenty of talking about many of the forthcoming Christmas biggies, but I’m not seeing many people talking about this and it’s almost out. Which leads me to believe that most people don’t really care.

For example, the ‘official’ EG thread is pretty sparsely populated.

#6

No_PUDding
10/09/08, 3:56 pm

I think everyone has it on the outskirts of their radar.

Maybe becuase of the name, and the fact it’s a sequel. Maybe it’s overshadowed by other notable FPS/shooter releases, but it’s certainly the best looking and imaginative FPS/shooter this year.

I will commit to that.

And I am not just trying be less of a hard ass on games, this oen genuinely does it for me.

Hoping it’s a sleeper hit.

#7

Blerk
10/09/08, 3:59 pm

I think it’s going to get Resistanced/Gearsed to death.

#8

Tonka
10/09/08, 4:01 pm

It sounds as if someone has overestimated forumites and underestimated the power of PR.

Take a quick glance at the tagbox to the right. PR generated those massive GTAIV tags.

#9

No_PUDding
10/09/08, 4:04 pm

What’s that got to do with anything?

The PR indeed, but word of mouth and ‘word of mouse’ is what gets real sales going.

Although admittedly a huge Ad campaign will always do the trick. Ala Halo 3.

#10

Blerk
10/09/08, 4:09 pm

But the pre-GTA forumite activity was huge, even before the campaigns started.

#11

Psychotext
10/09/08, 4:18 pm

Just another FPS for me… and right now I’m meh on the whole genre.

#12

Tiger Walts
10/09/08, 4:19 pm

These forums still need seeding with information by the developers otherwise there would be nothing to talk about.

No PR at grass roots means no grass roots support.

#13

reask
10/09/08, 4:25 pm

The first one done nothing for me.

I gave up halfway through.

The controls were terrible imo.

#14

Tonka
10/09/08, 4:53 pm

Yeah yeah boys. Keep living the dream.
Tiger Walts got it right.

#15

scuz
10/09/08, 8:38 pm

because of the price of development rising rapidly due to the extremely competitive and overly expensive console market.

nothing else.

#16

rainer
10/09/08, 11:52 pm

Well its certainly going to be a toss up as to who gets squeezed out of the market Farcry2, Left4dead, Resistance 2, Gears of War 2. Not everyone can afford more than one of those & they are all launching pretty close to each other.

I’d wager the crowded release dates are why EA moved Dead Space forward.

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