Shouldn't the coding be the most important aspect of a video game? Why would the branding be important, especially when brought into a comparison to the game play?
Marc Ecko replies: If there was anything that I said that I wish I could have clarified, it was exactly this. Thanks for asking.
Of course the strength of the code is paramount, there wouldn't be a game without the programmers. But games aren't only about the tech. I don't think gamers necessarily care about whether a game is maxing out the capacities of a console, or whether a character's hair is perfectly rendered. All that stuff is cool, but at the end of the day is about the experience, the "soul" I guess you could say. I don't think the best music is necessarily made by the most polished musicians. I don't think the Star Wars prequels were better because of the advances in CG. Great entertainment experiences aren't about what they do, or say, or look like. It's about how those experiences make you feel. For me, a truly defining brand experience is one that makes you feel as if it's something you couldn't get elsewhere. Starbucks, iPod, even the Beatles. It's that "soul" that makes them special.
The point is, so many games out there are driven first by what the "code" will do, then figuring out "how can I apply a relevant brand experience to it?" Thus a market defined by games that are fundamentally the same, with different names on them. The differences are defined by nuances that only the hardcore gamer can really appreciate. I think Getting Up has been tricky for people to categorize, because it doesn't fit neatly into one specific style of game play — and although not everything in the game is perfect, I think this effort to do something different paid off. I tried painting the best picture I could with the resources I had available. I knew the risk and give tremendous credit to the 225 soldiers who cranked to work on what we all rallied around as a truly "first time" type of product. In the end, it was a professionally gratifying experience that has taught me beyond my expectations. And I'm proud of it, as if you couldn't tell!
One thing I haven't seen yet is your own personal gaming history. There had to be some inspiration to get into the business, so what are your favorites, either then or now? Did any of those titles influence Getting Up?
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!!