Nan Desu Kon - Mark Baldwin |
|
To millions, this is the gaming experience: a home console game, usually a fighting contest or a shoot-em-up. Dozens enjoyed these games in the Nan Desu Kon video game room. Others look for something where strategy and tactics come into play... |
|
...and they turn to people such as Mark Baldwin for their entertainment. Baldwin evolved from rocket and space flight design to game design and is considered one of the best in the business. before he created the current Metal Fatigue game, he created a warfare simulator for the U.S. Air Force, so Baldwin must know what he's doing. |
|
Is gaming design fun? Sure, Baldwin said. Is it profitable? Not always. "It's a sexy industry but it's a high-risk industry when you're financing these things," he said. Those who compare electronic strategy game design to movie making are correct, Baldwin said, because the games need the sort of scripting and planning that go into a motion picture. Unfortunately, they also take movie-sized expenses (one major game cost as much as $2 million to develop, he noted). And the same sort of hit-or-nothing mentality that rules motion pictures has moved into the game industry, to the point that only a fraction of the titles on sale make any money. |
|
So why are games always late? It's because each new game tries to outdo previous titles and break new ground in programming and gameplay, and that means bugs. Loads of bugs. "Because you're doing something innovative, you can't predict how long it'll take to solve all the problems," said Baldwin. |
Day One |
Day Two |
Day Three |
 |