Fallout Creator Criticizes AAA RPG Games
Fallout series co-creator Tim Cain explained why violence is so prevalent in AAA RPGs. Cain stated in a YouTube video that the focus of big-budget games is entirely dependent on sales figures. Cain said, “Companies make games not because they want to, but because they know they will sell,” and drew attention to the fact that players’ purchasing habits can change this situation. These explanations reveal why AAA RPGs have difficulty offering different ways to interact.
The Default Violence in Fallout and AAA RPGs
Tim Cain, creator of games like Fallout, said that the reason big-budget RPGs use violence as a primary method of interaction is due to marketing and sales strategies. According to Cain, games that include action-packed scenes and conflicts are generally easier to market and achieve higher sales figures. “Seeing people running, jumping and fighting in a trailer makes you think about how fun the game is,” Cain said, adding that story- and dialogue-heavy games are harder to promote.
Cain spoke about the difficulties of showing the story and dialogue-focused aspects of the game in trailers during the Outer Worlds project at Obsidian. He stated that it is almost impossible to summarize a deep narrative in a 15-30 second trailer. However, Cain emphasized that non-violent games can also be successful. He said that examples such as Myst and Life is Strange prove that non-violent games can also find a wide audience.
Tim Cain thinks that players can create a change in the gaming industry with their purchasing preferences. Stating that the success of violent games such as Fallout has led to the continuation of such content, Cain called on players to support games that offer more variety by saying, “Vote with your wallet.”
According to Cain, if there is a change in players’ purchasing habits, game companies may also start to focus on different genres. However, he stated that there needs to be a widespread demand for this change to happen.
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