Dyack predicts more publisher consolidation

by Justin McElroy { Nov 16th 2009 at 9:00AM }

Publishers have been disappearing faster than Ludwig's snickerdoodles at Joystiq's Mid-Autumn Tea Social lately, both through bankruptcy or (for the lucky ones) being purchased. Designer and industry soothsayer Denis Dyack told Gaming Union he expects that to continue, comparing the shift to that of Hollywood which went from hundreds of individual studios to the six major houses we know today. Dyack expects the role of publishers to change as well, though he's less specific on exactly what that means.

Boy, one console and now fewer publishers? Sounds like Denis has been listening to too much They Might Be Giants.

Tags: consolidation, denis-dyack, economy, layoffs, publishers, silicon-knights

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 16th 2009 9:04AM

Since when did this guy decide he was the new Pachter?

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] ATDFs Financier and Batman @ Nov 16th 2009 9:05AM

since before anyone heard of pachter

Bobby Kotick - Co-Founder of the ATDF @ Nov 16th 2009 9:09AM

He just declared it about nine minutes ago.

Chromekreeper @ Nov 16th 2009 9:16AM

hes different from pachter, he might actually be right,

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] ATDFs Financier and Batman @ Nov 16th 2009 9:18AM

pachter is actually right most of the time, there was just a post about that awhile ago wasnt there?

rubAdub72 @ Nov 16th 2009 9:23AM

Is he a celebrity designer? I thought you needed to make a good game before claiming this title...

LegendaryRedass @ Nov 16th 2009 9:51AM

Apparently since he can't make a decent game anymore he's trying his hand at the ever popular lip flapping industry. Fine with me; the more he talks, the less opportunity to assault us with another too human.

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Nov 16th 2009 3:20PM

Less predicty more Eternal Darky 2.

MystileArmor @ Nov 16th 2009 9:17AM

DEY TURKK UR SNAKKERDUDDALS!

holyice7 @ Nov 16th 2009 9:19AM

Mmm, yeah. This is good, Denis, but you know what I think everyone might enjoy? Another Eternal Darkness. Possibly one with a 2012 undertone. You could probably come up with something way better than the shit the general media is slinging about that date. Why not get on that?

ganrob @ Nov 16th 2009 9:30AM

I'd hit that.

That Guy @ Nov 16th 2009 9:22AM

I seriously hope not, capitalism can't function that way. If that happens, gaming will be dead (except to the retards who will inevitably keep paying more for less).

Ryan @ Nov 16th 2009 9:27AM

So this guy notices a trend, much like another in the past, slaps a vague prediction on it and it becomes an article?

Blank-Mage (ATDFs Nuker) @ Nov 16th 2009 9:36AM

Welcome to the internet, I expect you'll be with us for some time.

GewurztraminerX @ Nov 16th 2009 9:34AM

Is there such a thing as too much They Might Be Giants?

MowDownJoe @ Nov 16th 2009 1:26PM

Maybe if you only listen to only their first kids' album. Though Here Comes Science was awesome.
As for their non-kids stuff... well, it's all good.

Blank-Mage (ATDFs Nuker) @ Nov 16th 2009 9:35AM

I'm waiting for EA and Activision to pull a merger so I can finally live in a dystopic tyrannical future where there are only 10 games, and a loudspeaker overheard commands in a booming voice that I must play one.

Blank-Mage (ATDFs Nuker) @ Nov 16th 2009 9:37AM

*overhead.

Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 16th 2009 9:37AM

Such a partnership would collapse on itself.

And Peter Moore would probably be pissed too.

MrSpaceCowboy @ Nov 16th 2009 10:04AM

...And out of those 10 games, 6 of them would be Guitar Hero titles.

Biggie @ Nov 16th 2009 9:36AM

Me thinks SK is looking to be bought out. The question is who would buy them and will we ever get a Too Human 2?

Blank-Mage (ATDFs Nuker) @ Nov 16th 2009 9:37AM

Did anyone play Too Human 1? I know I didn't. The DEMO was too long for me.

Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 16th 2009 9:38AM

We can only hope there won't be a Too Human 2.

EA wouldn't buy them, nor Activision...and I doubt MGS is looking to expand, and Sony doesn't want them.

Unless Ninty decided they want Eternal Darkness 2 as an internal game, not many takers.

jw @ Nov 16th 2009 10:04AM

Nintendo and SK go way back so I wouldn't count that marriage out.

Also, @ Bradwart, why would you say "we can only hope there won't b a Too Human 2?" I mean sure, you may not have liked it. I'm sure there are many people that don't like it. But that is not to say that there are not just as many people that enjoyed the game.

Thats why games are great. With what seems to be an unending plethora of selections, you can play what you like. Why chastise those that enjoyed the game just because you didn't?

Personally, I enjoyed the game. Along the same note, I know of several people that didn't like it. To each his own. For example, i can't stand MW2. I think IW castrated MW2 to be something completely different than what made it great. However, I won't lobby for them not to make another one. Why? Because thats immature and shortsighted.

Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 16th 2009 10:08AM

Sometimes, things are just so bad that they shouldn't have a chance to make it better.

I'd lobby for IW not to make another Call of Duty game, because it's a tired series with little innovation, driven by sheer arrogance.

And TH2 would probably support Natal...which destroys all hope of it being decent.

That Guy @ Nov 16th 2009 10:18AM

Was such a pity TH sucked, the cyberpunk future-past Norse mythos seemed so damn cool.

D-5 @ Nov 16th 2009 3:33PM

Really? Why mess around with a Call of Duty game if the current formula sells so well? Same goes for Madden, NHL, Halo, etc.?

There are plenty of other games "innovating" and trying new things out there.

scott1646 @ Nov 16th 2009 10:48AM

Unless another Eternal Darkness comes out, I think Dyack should stay out of the public eye, cause I think his company is sure to hit the chopping block very soon. I wonder if his next game, if it's not another ED game, he will use another companies engine cause he knows his is sloppy, then delay it for another year, then try to sue them and make a public announcement that they tried to purposely effect the game.

Enosoma @ Nov 16th 2009 10:48AM

This guy is funny. Somehow he talked his way into everyone thinking he makes good games.

CheesePirateAssassin @ Nov 16th 2009 11:48AM

Dyack is THE MAN.

Don't be jealous.

Silicon Knights are some of the best devs, even after Too Human.

Nook @ Nov 16th 2009 11:53AM

If SK did ED2 and it was on Wii (or ported to PSP), I'd be all over it like white on rice - no reviews or previews even required.

SK is one of those companies for me that have provided a couple of all time fav titles - Legacy of Kain and ED. Those two games alone have given SK a few get out of jail free cards, wiht me anyway.

As far as consolidation - I think this is not good. Anytime you put more 'stuff' under a decreasing number of 'controllers' - you run the risk of stifeling (sp?) the industry as a whole. Just look at the 'scary' movies hollywood makes nowadays - complete dreck, total yawn-a-thon. No one wants to foot the bill for stepping outside the box, of course we've seen how that pans out time after time.

It's a tight spot, no doubt - but what can we do as gamers to help avoid this from happening? I'm not going to go buy a 'hardcore' game now just because that's the flavour of the month - I've wasted enough money on that route.

*shudders recalling manhunt 2 and RE:UC*

Dyack is an intelligent guy and has had some pretty creative efforts in the past, I wish him the best - although it seems they have become too mired in the technical side of gaming and less on...gameplay. Granted - they are one of the best IMO for giving you a pretty good story, and that is important to me - I like that depth.

Side note - is that a pic from Japan on his desk? Maybe an old Nintendo photo??? Maybe SK needs to go to the Wii for a moment and rediscover fun again.

Ed Penano @ Nov 16th 2009 12:37PM

Sometimes, combining forces to form Voltron is the only way to survive in the game industry (and all others for that matter). Either you get muscled out by the big guys or you end up joining them. Just sayin...

Balloonfighter99 @ Nov 16th 2009 12:40PM

Last time I lend you my shirt Dyack, you stretched the collar with your bulbous head.

CheesePirateAssassin @ Nov 16th 2009 12:55PM

So you're a big guy (judging by shirt size) with a tiny head? AWKWARD!

MystileArmor @ Nov 16th 2009 1:30PM

aka the MadCatz guy

D-5 @ Nov 16th 2009 3:40PM

Quit beboppin' and scattin' on him or he'll lose it.

firelord @ Nov 16th 2009 5:17PM

@D-5

Nice Sein reference there.

mutebomb @ Nov 16th 2009 1:04PM

It cannot be said enough:

Shut your yapper and give us Eternal Darkness 2.

Devin @ Nov 16th 2009 2:43PM

I only care what good game developers think. Too Human was horrible - valuing his opinion would be like getting math advice from mentally challenged. Sorry Dyack, respect must be earned - worry about making a good game.

D-5 @ Nov 16th 2009 3:37PM

Well, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain was pretty sweet. But yes, Dyack is quite annoying and smug.

Joe Smith @ Nov 16th 2009 6:34PM

huh - Dyack is still around? Anyone really care what he says?

CH3BURASHKA @ Nov 16th 2009 6:36PM

I didn't even read the thing. I'm just disappointed that Joystiq missed out on one of the best opportunities for DSG: there were a bunch of toys and a picture in the background! The blurry background! It would've been awesome!

Terra @ Nov 16th 2009 7:46PM

GOD he is so good looking. /swoons

I would eat him up in a heartbeat.

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