Game Innovation by the Bedroom Coder

scriptedfun writes "The BBC reports on how bedroom coders might regain their place in the game development world by providing the industry 'an injection of imagination.' Microsoft's XNA Game Studio Express (covered previously on Slashdot) is given a special mention, but the article points out that 'the concept behind XNA is nothing new,' citing Sony's Net Yaroze as another example. With user-generated content fueling innovation in many aspects of technology, current initiatives by the major players to provide easy access to game development tools may just redefine the face of next-gen gaming. Peter Molyneux, creator of Populous, says: 'It's 100% down to the passion that people have, and the ability to perhaps bring in other people, maybe from all around the world on the internet, and create something.'"

Comments

Case in Point: The GP2X is *Hot* ..

[torpor]

.. because of the bedroom coders. Such a platform wouldn't have survived - and done as well as it has - without bedroom coders.

The major platform/console mfr's need to recognize this. Hopefully we'll see them do so in the near future..

Re:Case in Point: The GP2X is *Hot* ..

[AcidLacedPenguiN]

oh sorry that second one must have come out in the last few months. You didn't have to get all high and mighty about it, All I was saying is that for it to be a competitive handheld system it has to sell far more than 40,000 units and it has to have software that is easy (read: you take it out of the package and put it in the system and it works) for people who aren't computer savvy. Do you believe that the Nintendo DS would be just as successful in selling over 22 million units if for all of the software, you had to download it then put it on a flash disk?

The GRAPHICS!!!

[DoktorSeven]

TFA:
"Peter Molyneux from Lionhead Studios says: 'I was lucky. I could start with a friend and we just worked on this crazy idea called Populous and that's where we came from.

'Those days, unfortunately, have gone.

'What we created was amateurish to be honest with you, if you compare it to today. What we are dealing with today are not only fantastic game designs, but amazing quality visuals. '"

"Amateurish"? Populous? I would much rather play Populous than Black & White or his other new "pretty graphics" game any day of the week. Populous may look simple, but there is a great game under there, and to me, that is NOT "amateurish." Just because a game doesn't have the latest 3d gee-whiz, two billion polygons, real-time lighting, and perfectly rendered pubic hair does not make it "amateurish."

Game developers, as well as gamers, need to figure out that good games *can* look like they did in the old days, even today, and still be fun. I don't play a game for the pretty graphics, I play it for the gameplay.

Re:The GRAPHICS!!!

[cliffski]

Bless you my son, we need more people like you.
Im tired of graphics demos dressed up as games too. Im al;so tired of people who wont even review a game unless its '3D' or supports bump-mapping / HDR lighting / this months buzzfeature.