stiknork

I'm sure we all have different answers to this question, but for me some of the qualities are clarity of vision, good execution and deep gameplay.

Shadow of the Colossus is a great example of all of these. The game is just bosses, and everything is designed to support that main idea. The world is beautiful and empty, travelling it gives you the feeling of an epic journey (with no random fights to interrupt it), then finding and arriving at a new Colossus is awe-inspiring, and finally the way you fight them really gives you the sense that they are these epic monsters. Everything supports the main idea of the game and works in harmony to give you a unique experience.

Thanks man!

A: Yes, we are planning Linux at some point in the future, not exactly sure when that will be, but definitely by release.

A: Don't know, sorry!

A: Yes! I know everyone seems like they're contractually obligated to say this about their company but let it be known that Klei has the best in the biz, for real, and I'm insanely excited to see what's coming.

My dad is a video game developer and brainwashed me!

e: I'm being told this is also called "parenting"

My advice: start small, develop good taste, play every game critically. What I've learned: it's the hardest thing in the world, but somehow you have to find the confidence to throw a mechanic you've worked really hard on in the trashcan if it isn't working.

Between Unity and UE4, I think the industry has some incredible potential right now for smaller companies to make things that feel more like AAA, and I think that's really exciting.

As far as AAA itself goes, I'm definitely frustrated by the trend towards hyper-narrative, open world shooters right now. But then again, occasionally one will hit me in the right way and it'll be an amazing experience. Last year, it was Far Cry 3 for me. But after that I was way too burned out on that style of game to play the otherwise excellent looking Tomb Raider for longer than an hour.

I think it's really awesome that stuff like Dark Souls exists too, partially because it's a great game but mostly because it gives other big developers the confidence to get innovative and make difficult, subtle games.