RIP EGM, Microsoft, Midway Sucks

Japanese developers aren’t as prominent as they were a decade ago. Our FPSs are going overseas, not the other way around. It’s the same thing as when RPGs first hit America with the SNES-no one bought them. They sold like hotcakes in Japan and no one bought them here-same scenario. Japanese gamers like RPGs because they can sit down and play them without having to remember a gazillion things to do. In FPSs they have to be alert and doing something entirely different than an RPG…or even a fighter. Since they don’t like what the big stuff out is now, they aren’t buying it which equals less numbers. Americans like doing lots of things in their games- then there was the happy medium (ex. Mario) that everyone loved. It’s just a shift in equilibrium. Why isn’t there much genres? Because games cost too much to make thanks to Final Fantasy VII. Developers have to stick to what works, in America, dating simulators don’t work, FPSs do. In Japan, they can’t come out with much original titles to keep the country interested in video games anymore, and American stuff isn’t doing it either.

Game sales will plummet until Japan can pull its head out of its ass, make original titles, and quit doing sequels and dating simulators. America isn’t going to help them, they are too concerned on Halo 5 and appealing to their new macho jock high school audience to care what made money years ago. Console launches have nothing to do with this-it’s the lack of variety.

So Midway is having severe problems after horrible games like that Mortal Kombat/DC crossover (alright it wasn’t THAT bad) and TNA Impact, but that isn’t enough to hurt the executives.

Yeah, I found this to be just f*cking hilarious. Midway is in the red, could face a hostile takeover if they aren’t careful, and NONE of their execs have taken a pay-cut. I hope I read that story wrong last week, because that just shows you how poorly handled that company is. It’s one thing if they knew that cutting the grunt’s salaries wouldn’t hurt the company-but that company is going down, quick. You’d think the execs would look around and say “Alright, lets cut some of our ventures to save this company”. Nope.

I’d like to be there during a meeting….

Vice Prez: Hey president!
Prez: Yeah?
Vice Prez: You are valued, so am I. So with this rut the company is going in, lets keep our six to seven figure salaries, cut the grunts and enjoy the good life. It’s corporate America and we don’t need to take care of them. Let’s just put the programmers on minimum wage. Whatever we need to do, we’ll cut the bottom.

(Programmer who makes minimum walks in)
Programmer: Yo! I just did 80 hours and need a raise to put my kid through school, you think I can get a bonus? What about me?

Prez: What do you mean about you? Get back to work! You get nothing!

It should be obvious to everyone by now, Midway, gamers, the media, that Midway is handled POORLY. And wherever that company is going, they brought it on themselves. They cut everyone’s salary, then the execs just sit in the room knowing they are going under and don’t even sacrifice their money to try and stop it.

Idiots.

I think that’s all I need to say this week. Next Week: A look at the Metal Gear Series, did it go out well? Or was it bad all around? I’ll try and continue the Spike TV bashing tomorrow possibly.

El Pato Outo