Most talented current developers........Criterion?

[Anthony1]

The developer behind the Burnout series just might be the one company that is just making things happen.


Recently I was playing the demo of Burnout: Revenge, and I must say that it almost seemed like I was playing a freaking XBOX 360 right now. I mean, these guys tax hardware like nobody out there right now. Maybe I'm giving them too much pub, but gawd dang!. These guys know what they are doing.


Right now, Burnout:Revenge appears to be the game that is going to hold me over till mid November and the arrival of the 360. In fact, I might even pop this game in my 360 and play it. Although I'll be deep in Most Wanted and Oblivion and Madden 360, but still, Burnout Revenge on the current XBOX can almost compete with stuff like "Full Auto". I mean, Full Auto really doesn't look that much better.


Just imagine when these guys make their first XBOX 360 and PS3 games.


Of course they are also working on a game called "Black" that looks absolutely amazing in the FPS category. If these guys are No. 1 in Racing and FPS, then that would be a pretty impressive feat.


The only other developer out there right now that is doing stuff like Criterion is maybe EA Chicago. They are the guys doing the new Fight Night and Def Jam games for the 360 and PS3.


Sure, you can talk about Bungie and Konami and Capcom and Namco and everybody, but right now, Criterion might be No.1 with a bullet.

[Slimedog]

I got that it looks pretty. Is it fun?

[Anthony1]

I got that it looks pretty. Is it fun?



fun?


Who the hell cares if a game is fun?



As long as it's purdy and makes my eyes hurt, it's aight wit me!!!!

[chrisbid]

horray for viral marketing?

[Anthony1]

horray for viral marketing?



Damn you caught me. How did you know that I live in Seattle?



GO SEAHAWKS!!!!!


Damn you Mike Holmgren! Give the ball to Shaun more, and we will win. Only 14 carries, that pisses me off!

[Jed]

I agree.







More carries for Alexander.





That's a splendid idea.

[Cauterize]

I got that it looks pretty. Is it fun?fun?
Who the hell cares if a game is fun?
As long as it's purdy and makes my eyes hurt, it's aight wit me!!!!

That your problem there....
Games are to be, not drooled over...

Sure, nice graphics are good, but gameplay is more important...
and another reason why id happily play Sonic 2 over some next gen release like Batman Begins or such...

[jdc]

Criterion reminds me of some of the past truly great development houses. They make technically great games that are well balanced and addictive. You don't want to put the controller down.

It has to have been sort of tough trying to capture another audience since leaving Nintendo, but I'm praying that the mighty Rare will once again hit their usual stride and kick major ass. These guys were making 64-bit console games look damned near 128-bit......when NO-ONE else could. IMO they have a higher level of magic than anyone else.

[njiska]

Criterion is definetly a top current developer but i'd also give a nod to some other talented production studios like, Kojima Prodcuctions, Silicon Knights, Capcom Production Studio 4, Retro and my personal favorite Team Ninja.

They all know how to make a good game and the all know how to tax the system and get good results.

Out of all of those i'd say my picks for top modern developer would be a tie between Team Ninja (NG & DOA), Criterion (Burnout series and Black) and Capcom Production Studio 4 (RE4, Killer 7 and Viewtiful Joe)

[njiska]

I got that it looks pretty. Is it fun?fun?
Who the hell cares if a game is fun?
As long as it's purdy and makes my eyes hurt, it's aight wit me!!!!

That your problem there....
Games are to be, not drooled over...

Sure, nice graphics are good, but gameplay is more important...
and another reason why id happily play Sonic 2 over some next gen release like Batman Begins or such...

Wrong. Games are to be drooled over. I drool over Sonic 2 everytime i play it. So it's good to drool over games, just not solely over graphics.

[CocoVG]

Capcom Production Studio 4 has really done a stellar job this generation - stellar. They give me hope and faith that third party developers can still push the envelope and create new gaming experiences and characters. Criterion is currently the bees knees - it's just too bad they're being published by EA. (Insert EA hatred here.)

About Rare, I don't think they'll ever return to their "former glory". Many of the team members responsible for it have moved on to other projects and other teams. A notable bunch of them obviously spew their past GoldenEye prowess all over the TimeSplitters games - which while fun, are just not the same.

[Anthony1]

I was being totally sarcastic.


Of course it's all about the gameplay. I know a million games that are purdy, and there definitely isn't enough time to play them all, so I pick the most purdy ones that also have bomb gameplay.


Why not have the best of both worlds?



Also, I totally understand that Bonk's Adventure in RGB is just as beautiful as Amped 2 in 720p for XBOX 1. In fact, it's more beautiful.