I believe that having my name on the box helps. Complex Magazine, *ecko unltd., Getting Up, whatever…When I attach my name, my brand, the consumer can rest assured that it is a product that was created with them in mind beginning to end. These are products based on relevant content that speaks to my consumer in a sincere and precisely focused way. Content. Content. Content. This game is a manifestation of that belief.
That and the fact that I was hoping I could use the box to get free lap dances. Hasn't worked yet, but I'll keep you posted…
The "urban" genre is one of those that's still fresh in the scheme of gaming's history, yet there's a lot of hostility towards it already. Do you feel Getting Up falls into this genre, or is being lumped together unfairly to the Grand Theft Autos of the world?
Marc Ecko replies: It truly pains me to see Getting Up lumped in with titles like 25 to Life and 50 Cent Bulletproof. Even getting compared to GTA doesn't sit well with me, no matter how brilliant and innovative that title is — just because they both happen to be set in non-rural environments they get described as "urban." Getting Up is a bit tricky to categorize, and there are tons of innovative elements of the game play that span multiple genres. For example, the style of Prince of Persia is a more apt comparison of Getting Up's game play than GTA.
Sure it's set in the streets, but that's true to the graf culture. I'd like to think Getting Up extends out of that class of games. Graf culture has nothing to do with gunplay — and if that is what people automatically assume "urban" culture to be, that's just sad. But to be fair, it isn't uncommon to see new emerging content get lumped all together. It's unknown. It has no real precedent. I faced that in every business I have ever created. In fashion when *ecko unltd. was placed next to Rocawear. In publishing with Complex, I have always gotten that…"well, what do we call you? Where do you fit in?" thing. Ultimately that has motivated us to better carve out a space for ourselves and the company.
I'm going to take another quote from your other interview that sticks out:
"There are guys that have a predisposition to be slaves to the code, rather than be slaves to the branding, products or experience."
Article comments
1 - Deano
Nice interview Matt!
I would agree that the hard-core gamers are fussy or pissy (whatever term you want to use) but I would argue that given the propensity of the game industry to over-hype, over-promise and then ship buggy, below-standard products out, gamers generally have a reason to be pissy. Far too often they've been sold products that, due to the publisher's need to ship or to hit the stores for Christmas, that are poor quality, untested and crash frequently.
Given the reviews I've read, it does'nt sound like Urkel's (sorry, Ecko's) game is buggy or problematic. My guess is that the negative reaction is a knee-jerk response to a). yet another "name" pushing a game onto the market and b). his comments which probably got a small number of hard-core gamers backs' up...who then just couldn't resist trying to spin up some trash talk in response.
2 - whatever
who is mark ecko?
never heard of him.
3 - Victor Plenty
I don't know why gamers hate Marc Ecko's Getting Up, but I have seen some fairly strong evidence that many gamers do in fact hate the game rather intensely.
4 - Eric Olsen
very nice, thanks Matt!
5 - justin
well i live in OZ, (it may as well be a mythical place the damn country is run by a dwarf....) and as soon as this game was anounced in under a week it was banned, i mean if we are going to get in to the whole 'games are evil' thing take this in to retrospect, PACMAN.... ahem (if we are going to get critical here.....) pac man is about a guy/thing that is chased by the fears and taughnts of the world (ghosts) so he turns to a life of drugs to help him cope (pac pills) he eats the pack pills and sudeenly all his problems aren't what they were before, and then as with most drug trips he gets the munchies and eats the ghosts and various other fruit and such around the level..... i'm sorry but that sounds all to much like a good friday night, and how old is that game.... mid 60's i think, and when was the hieght of drugs and so forth... mid 60's i think, hmm there is a pattern there, what i'm saying is i fix computers for a living, and as i by product i love playing games, and after having to aquire this game thru illegal means, (cos its the only way i can get it...) i have to say after seeing a preveiw video of getting up and then playing the game for about an hour or two i have to say this game is not urban and it is not just another gta, and it is not 'dumb' as most of the games are leaning towards ( and by dumb i mean you have to think about certain things that you have never thought of while playing a game before) this game is quite simply put one of the best games i have ever played and if the ban gets lifted i will go out and buy 2 copies because it is that good the gameplay is fresh and instinctive, the levels are very well planned the story and the voice acting is top notch ( take note hollywood) and the graphics are great considering the time at which the engine was started, ( if they get updated with the latest tech you will have a game to surpass all others) i belive that if this is the direction that games are going i will egarly await the next installment by mr marc ecko, yes he has a clothing label and shoes and from what i read a magazine, and god knows what else but he is on a good thing with the games mark, fresha dn innovative 20 out of 10, its about damn time
6 - aaron
that game waz bad these haters wish they can make a game like that!!