Bethesda Softworks - Changing Approach to Single Player

@OnlySP Bethesda say they need to change their approach to single player.

Although Bethesda Softworks continues to be one of the greatest proponents of single-player games in the AAA arena, the publisher believes it needs to adapt its approach to such projects.

Speaking to The Guardian recently, Bethesda’s senior vice-president of PR and marketing Pete Hines first reiterated that the publisher remains dedicated to the format, saying “it’s part of who we are, and we still think there’s room to be successful.”

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Thanks Farflame!

More information.

I'm afraid to read the article.

I can't wait until that mostly meaningless sentence gets blown way out of proportion and we get to enjoy another endless tirade of death-of-singleplayer lamentations.

He says single player is really important to Bethesda, and says

Single-player is still a thing; it might continue to grow or evolve, but it’s part of who we are, and we still think there’s room to be successful. That doesn’t mean that we should keep doing things the way we did five or 10 years ago – we’ve got to continue to change how we approach it.

Which seems reasonable enough to me.

Originally Posted by Darth Tagnan
I can't wait until that mostly meaningless sentence gets blown way out of proportion and we get to enjoy another endless tirade of death-of-singleplayer lamentations.

I was tempted to make the headline:
"Bethesda Softworks - Changing Approach to Single Payer"

Originally Posted by Silver
I was tempted to make the headline:
"Bethesda Softworks - Changing Approach to Single Payer"

Wait, isn't that the headline?

Either way, since he doesn't specify what he means I can't see any reason to be upset. Yet.

What does it mean to change ones approach to SP ?

Originally Posted by you
What does it mean to change ones approach to SP ?

It means that the future approach is not identical to the past approach.

Originally Posted by you
What does it mean to change ones approach to SP ?

Bethesda wants the co-op. It iz the future!

Originally Posted by Silver
Bethesda wants the co-op. It iz the future!

Online only coop with tons of "social" features

As joxer would say, an MMO with 2-4 people.

Originally Posted by Darth Tagnan
Online only coop with tons of "social" features

As joxer would say, an MMO with 2-4 people.

Sounds about right. Probably with online advertising for those that want to play for "free".

What if we don't want to play at all. Do we still get fed advertising ?

Originally Posted by Silver
Sounds about right. Probably with online advertising for those that want to play for "free".

Originally Posted by Darth Tagnan
As joxer would say, an MMO with 2-4 people.

So the plan is only 2-4 people will buy the game and play it's multiplayer?
Or a mass of people will buy the game but only 2-4 will play it's multiplayer?

No. The masterplan is that a mass of people will play it's multiplayer. Won't all be able to see each other? That's supposed to remove "massive" from "multiplayer online"? Gimme a break.

Also, it doesn't matter how many people actually plays it. It's the plan that matters and the plan is mmo. As any other plan, it can succeed or fail.

Bethesda say they need to change their approach to single player.

Generally they don't need to. Prey being an utter garbage doesn't mean their other singleplayers' design sucks.

Originally Posted by joxer
So the plan is only 2-4 people will buy the game and play it's multiplayer?
Or a mass of people will buy the game but only 2-4 will play it's multiplayer?

No. The masterplan is that a mass of people will play it's multiplayer. Won't all be able to see each other? That's supposed to remove "massive" from "multiplayer online"? Gimme a break.

That has the potential to be an interesting statement.

Do you have a human version of it?

Yes. It's called "immersive sim". There you go - nonhumans like me cannot understand what's that supposed to mean.

Actually, I meant the non-alien version of human, but that's ok

Originally Posted by you
What if we don't want to play at all. Do we still get fed advertising ?

Desktop integration is mandatory

Originally Posted by you
What does it mean to change ones approach to SP ?

It means Bethesda had their own approach and that there are other approaches to switch to.

Bethesda, up to FO 4, were committed to try to bring a living world. They have failed so far so they might turn to heavy story lined world, with pathetic NPCs a la TW3 and KC.

All flash, no substance.

Are you suggesting that pre changing sp bethesda had good NPCs ?

Originally Posted by ChienAboyeur
, with pathetic NPCs a la TW3…

No but NPCs that could grow in ulterior versions into NPCs to sustain a living world, yes. Templates for improvement.

A feature that neither TW3 or KC display.