COO Karl Slatoff says it "doesn't make sense" to release new entry in open-world action series biennially.
Take-Two Interactive has explained why it does not release a new Grand
Theft Auto game every two years. Speaking during the Wedbush
Transformational Technologies Conference this week, chief operating
officer Karl Slatoff explained doing so would degrade the franchise's
value.
"Often times people ask us 'Why don't you come out with Grand Theft Auto
every two years?' To us, that doesn't make sense, because Grand Theft
Auto, every single time it comes out, is a brand new experience. You
can't possibly do that in two years. And if we did that, our product
would fatigue and the franchise would degrade from a value perspective."
Slatoff's comments match up with Rockstar North developer Leslie Benzies, who said in November that the company could develop a new GTA title every year, but won't.
"We could easily have churned out a new version year after year without
really progressing as a franchise, but if we did that, eventually the
fans would lose interest," he said at the time.
Grand Theft Auto V is due out on September 17 across the world. Slatoff reiterated that this game will feature a world larger than Grand Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas combined.
For more on GTAV, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
COO Karl Slatoff says it "doesn't make sense" to release new entry in open-world action series biennially.
Take-Two Interactive has explained why it does not release a new Grand
Theft Auto game every two years. Speaking during the Wedbush
Transformational Technologies Conference this week, chief operating
officer Karl Slatoff explained doing so would degrade the franchise's
value.
"Often times people ask us 'Why don't you come out with Grand Theft Auto
every two years?' To us, that doesn't make sense, because Grand Theft
Auto, every single time it comes out, is a brand new experience. You
can't possibly do that in two years. And if we did that, our product
would fatigue and the franchise would degrade from a value perspective."
Slatoff's comments match up with Rockstar North developer Leslie Benzies, who said in November that the company could develop a new GTA title every year, but won't.
"We could easily have churned out a new version year after year without
really progressing as a franchise, but if we did that, eventually the
fans would lose interest," he said at the time.
Grand Theft Auto V is due out on September 17 across the world. Slatoff reiterated that this game will feature a world larger than Grand Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas combined.
For more on GTAV, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
COO Karl Slatoff says it "doesn't make sense" to release new entry in open-world action series biennially.
Take-Two Interactive has explained why it does not release a new Grand
Theft Auto game every two years. Speaking during the Wedbush
Transformational Technologies Conference this week, chief operating
officer Karl Slatoff explained doing so would degrade the franchise's
value.
"Often times people ask us 'Why don't you come out with Grand Theft Auto
every two years?' To us, that doesn't make sense, because Grand Theft
Auto, every single time it comes out, is a brand new experience. You
can't possibly do that in two years. And if we did that, our product
would fatigue and the franchise would degrade from a value perspective."
Slatoff's comments match up with Rockstar North developer Leslie Benzies, who said in November that the company could develop a new GTA title every year, but won't.
"We could easily have churned out a new version year after year without
really progressing as a franchise, but if we did that, eventually the
fans would lose interest," he said at the time.
Grand Theft Auto V is due out on September 17 across the world. Slatoff reiterated that this game will feature a world larger than Grand Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas combined.
For more on GTAV, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
Studio general manager says server rollout in North
America has been "challenging," promises studio is working 24/7 to fix
issues.
Polygon has obtained an internal memo from Maxis general manager Lucy Bradshaw. It comments to developers on SimCity's rocky launch in North America and outlines the developer's plans to address the game's ongoing server woes.
"I'll start by saying that I couldn't be more proud of SimCity and the
Maxis team that made it and are supporting it," Bradshaw wrote. "The
game launched with great reviews from both new critics and the veterans
who have loved this franchise for so many years. SimCity is a software achievement that everyone at Maxis is extremely proud of.
I am also thankful for all of the hard work put in by our marketing, EA
Global Publishing and Origin teams, which drove very strong Day One
performance around world." [Bradshaw's emphasis.]
"Then we launched it," she added.
Bradshaw said more than 700,000 cities were created by players in the
game's first 24 hours, but also acknowledged that a portion of gamers
are "experiencing server instability and consequently, the rollout in
North America has been challenging. It's also now evident that players
across Europe and Asia are experiencing the same frustration."
Maxis' top goal, Bradshaw said, is to "quickly and dramatically increase
the number and stability of our servers and with that, the number of
players who can simultaneously access the game." A trio of new servers
were added yesterday and more will be introduced this weekend, she said.
Bradshaw said Maxis is working "24/7" to fix the SimCity server issues and also commented on review scores for the game.
"I'd like to say that it's not fair--that the game score shouldn't be punished for a server problem," she said. "But it is fair.
SimCity is an online game and critics and consumers have every right to
expect a smooth experience from beginning to end. I and the Maxis team
take full responsibility to deliver on our promise." [Bradshaw's
emphasis.]
For more on SimCity, check out GameSpot's review.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot.
He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and
loves extra chunky peanut
