#1
#1 out of 1
business17h ago
Monkey Island legend Ron Gilbert had big plans for a retro Zelda-style open-world RPG, but publishers said no: "They didn’t look at it as 'we're gonna make $100 million and it’s worth investing in'"
- Ron Gilbert explains his Zelda-style open-world RPG concept couldn’t secure funding due to publishers’ analytics-driven approaches.
- Gilbert says the project could only be a passion project or require substantial publisher backing over many years.
- Gilbert criticizes the market tendency to rely on profit forecasts, leading to similar-looking games.
- The interview ties the funding struggle to broader industry pressures and investor-driven publishing models.
- Death by Scrolling is described as a pawn in a market where investment bankers and capital influence game themes.
- Gilbert stresses he has not named specific publishers but points to a trend of analytics-driven decisions.
- Gilbert views recent industry events as fueling his critical stance on capital-driven game development.
- Gilbert states the Zelda-style concept could have been a long-term project with sufficient funding.
- The piece connects Gilbert’s experience to ongoing debates about video game funding and market viability.
- Gilbert emphasizes the tension between creative risk and the demand for predictable returns.
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