Gearbox boss claims that 'all games suck', industry still 'in the stone ages'
Duke Nukem Forever man claims 'games suck', and that increased budgets and improved hardware will allow for better experiences.
Gearbox Software boss Randy Pitchford has said that he believes gaming is still stuck "in the stone ages", saying that "all games suck compared to where they could be."
"You contemplate that the opportunity for complexity will expand with the technology, and we're not even close to where [games] could be," Pitchford told GamesIndustry International.
"Games suck, frankly. Compared to where they could be, all games suck."
So, what's the solution to getting games out of the stone age? Well, Pitchford thinks that billion dollar budgets could lead to even more spectacular titles.
"It's going to be exciting to be part of a $100 million development team, or a $500 million, or a $1 billion dollar team.
"I'm excited about that. Can you imagine how awesome it's going to be when we can make a billion dollar game, and doing that's a great decision because that's where the market is.
"Think about how crazy these simulations are going to get. And then someday we'll be living in the Matrix, or the Holodeck, and I'm gonna be writing the software. We're not even close to what's possible. We're in the stone ages, man."
Talking of games that suck, Gearbox's most recent title, of course, was last year's abysmal Duke Nukem Forever.
Martin slapped a 4/10 on it when he reviewed it, calling it "one of the most lacking, uninspired, and outright inadequate games of our times".
But do you agree with Pitchford that bigger budgets and improved technology will lead to better games? Do you think the industry is still in the stone ages? Let us know what you think in the comments below.





User Comments
CheekyLee
Throughout any creative medium it has been the little guys that moved it forwards, and the big guys then copy and add sparkle. Just pumping a billion dollars at a game without having a genuine reason to beforehand will lead to a billion dollar failure. Bigger is not always better.
munkee@ dudester
For some reason it made me think of this. It's unrelated but made me giggle, because I'm childish.
YouTube Video
Clockpunk
dudester@ munkee
Count your pennies dude ;)
munkee
"Games suck, frankly. Compared to where they could be, all games suck."
Most things suck compared to where they could be. Where are flying cars and food replicators? Why can't I take vacations on Mars?
altaranga
Don't tar the entire industry with your brush, Bitchford. Whilst it is arguable that all games could be better than they are I cannot agree that they all suck. If you believe that games are all about big money budgets then you are a penis. A $1b Duke Nukem Forever is still likely to be a piece of sh!t.
Hooded
stealth
FantasyMeister
Unless of course that $1bn injection includes unlimited stamina and no chance of feeling exhausted afterwards. Considering it takes a couple of decades to bring a new drug to market, and here we're talking about mind-altering experiences that are still on the drawing board, then I dispute the fact that Randy will be around to write the software by the time the tech becomes available.
Then of course the damage a minor glitch could do doesn't bear thinking about.
Kudos for his vision though.