Traditional console gamers are vehemently resisting a major change in the business: the increasing influence of online integration and microtransactions. The closer we get to the next hardware cycle, the more game developers and publishers seem to defend this vision of the future. Like all advances forward, the industry is probably going to stumble a lot before it, as a whole, really figures this out.

For a little while now, it seems like we’ve been looking at an all-out assault on the very idea of a video game as a singular piece of content or as a creative work for that matter. The latest stated intentions come from companies like publisher Electronic Arts and developer Crytek, which are basically saying they’re doing away entirely with the old notion in an attempt to get people to stop trading in their games, with seemingly no room for coexistence.

EA wants all of their future games to include microtransactions. Forward-looking statements like this rarely end up being 100 percent true, but I also don’t like the idea of EA moving on with a blanket approach to every game they publish. I could only imagine what Need For Speed, all EA’s sports games, and Battlefield will look like laden with microtransactions, but I believe Dead Space 3 (pictured top) was the most egregious example because of its history as an atmospheric, isolated experience with the series’ game elements focused on a narrative instead of profit in and of themselves.

Crytek’s statement that single-player games are going to disappear is just as much of a speculative blanket proclamation as EA’s. That says that the developer isn’t really going to think about whether free-to-play is really a good thing for this particular game or that particular game. I have no idea how it’d implement microtransactions into a single-player Crysis game.

Former Epic Games designer Cliffy Bleszinski recently tried to defend companies like EA, and he’s right in regard to how varied the free-to-play and microtransaction-based business models are. But very few developers have really figured out good ways to implement them. He also makes a point that, apparently, people do buy these microtransactions. The market has generally accepted them, which brings forth the point that core gamers so vehemently against these new business models are a minority. It’s actually kind of scary when you think about how only a small portion of gamers actually care about the idea of a game being a singular creative work rather than a service with which to generate revenue.

One game that a lot of people (including Bleszinski) seem to bring up as a great example of melding single-player and multiplayer is Dark Souls (pictured below). But I actually see Dark Souls as a great example of not ceaselessly pushing forward with online-connected gaming in every single product a company makes.

Maybe a reason I’ve gravitated back towards Japanese games a little bit is because Japanese developers don’t seem to feel the need to cram online into each and every one of their games. When From Software made Demon’s Souls and later Dark Souls, the company didn’t just slam token multiplayer or microtransactions into the games in order to keep people from trading them in. From Software actually thought up a genuinely unique idea for a game that happened to require an Internet connection. People have probably given Nintendo crap for not making enough online-focused games for the Wii U already, but I applaud them for simply sticking to what makes their games fun whether they be connected or not.

Maybe, however, this is because online gaming isn’t as big in the Japanese market. What is big over there is local multiplayer for handheld games as well as passive communication between devices. That’s why so many handheld games have tried out Monster Hunter-style local multiplayer features and why Nintendo implemented Streetpass as a system-wide feature in the 3DS.

Still, I think market differences like that — as well as the continuing demand for wholly single-player experiences — will result in a landscape in the next-gen consoles that’ll be a hodgepodge mix of such games alongside the fully connected ones. We already have publishers like Nintnedo, Bethesda, and Rockstar that still primarily make single-player games.

Nintendo and Rockstar can do this because their games sell well enough already. You never seem to find used copies of Nintendo games, and their prices never seem to go down at retail — even five or six years after launch. With a game that sells as much as Grand Theft Auto, you don’t really see Rockstar complaining as much about the second-hand market, either.

Bethesda is the kind of company that can put out Skyrim – a game with no online features whatsoever outside of a few rather large pieces of downloadable content — and sell over 10 million copies. You never see Bethesda complaining about the used market — likely because it made a game that people can spend 100 hours playing. Plus, you’re also probably still going to have a lot of indies releasing games of all kinds, including those strictly based around single-player.

The appearance of microtransactions and free-to-play on consoles next gen is inevitable, but what’s also inevitable is that we’ll see a greater variance of business models and price points for console games.

Originally Posted on MultiPlatform.

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GamesBeat 2013 is our fifth annual conference on disruption in the video game market. You'll get 360-degree perspectives from top gaming executives, developers, and analysts on what’s to come in the industry. Our theme this year is “The Battle Royal.” Check out full event details here, and grab your early-bird tickets here!

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Nintendo has gone demo-crazy this week as the company is devoting almost half of its weekly eShop update to letting you try things out before you buy them.

First up is the Wii U, which is getting demos of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Trine 2: Director’s Cut. Both are available now in addition to a classic Super Nintendo racing game that is way better than Mario Kart (despite what everyone I’ve ever met thinks): F-Zero. As you may recall, Nintendo announced last month that Captain Falcon’s debut would be part of the company’s anniversary celebration. That means for 30 days (starting yesterday), you can download F-Zero for only 30 cents and play it offscreen with the Wii U’s tablet controller.

Not to be outdone by its big brother, the 3DS is also getting a demo of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate this week, along with a demo of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, both of which are downloadable now. Also, if you’re jealous of the Wii U’s Nintendo classic this week, the 3DS eShop has something for you as well: the slightly less fondly remembered Nintendo Entertainment System puzzler Yoshi.

Fans of very descriptive titles can check out Viking Invasion 2: Tower Defense, which is a tower-defense game about invading vikings, while those of you looking to scratch your first-person-dungeon-crawler itch can download Picdun 2: Witch’s Curse. Of course, you could also wait until Sunday, which is when the full version of Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan comes to the 3DS eShop.

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GamesBeat 2013 is our fifth annual conference on disruption in the video game market. You'll get 360-degree perspectives from top gaming executives, developers, and analysts on what’s to come in the industry. Our theme this year is “The Battle Royal.” Check out full event details here, and grab your early-bird tickets here!

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If you follow VentureBeat but don’t regularly check our GamesBeat site, here’s a list of the best video game stories we ran over the last seven days that you may have missed.

This week, World of Warplanes developer Wargaming bought Gas Powered Games, Nintendo announced a bunch of new content focused on Luigi as the company celebrates his 30th birthday, and both House of Representatives Minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and President Barack Obama defended video games.

You’ll also find a review of Aliens: Colonial Marines and previews for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Darkstalkers Resurrection.

News:

• The DeanBeat: The state of free-to-play mobile gaming, by the numbers
• After last year’s boom, social casino games remain strong
• Zynga and EA settle lawsuit
• Four payment trends that will shape the future of game development
• $79 GameStick console now available for preorder
• January NPD: Xbox 360 outsells Wii U again
• The Ouya open Android console has nearly 500 confirmed games
• This is what a prototype PlayStation 4 controller reportedly looks like
• Valve officially releases Steam for Linux — and celebrates with a sale
• This week in the Nintendo Download: Wii Street U, Naruto, and Rabbids
• Game Closure launches free tools for anyone to build fast mobile-web games
• Wargaming buys Gas Powered Games following failed Kickstarter and layoffs
• Here’s some 3DS DLC and eShop love from today’s Nintendo Direct
• Nintendo announces Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, coming this summer
• Betable’s experiment with real-money gambling pays off in the U.K.
• PlayJam licenses its GameStick technology to Asian hardware manufacturer
• Kickstarter suspends online casino game’s campaign after four days
• Naughty Dog delays The Last of Us to June
• Valve reportedly cuts hardware jobs despite ‘Steam Box’ console rumors
• ‘Orbis’ vs. ‘Durango’: The altercation over rumored specifications for the next PlayStation and Xbox
• Hideo Kojima will talk Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes at GDC in March
• Next Batman Arkham game coming this year
• Mojang releases Minecraft: Pi Edition for the Raspberry Pi Linux computer
• Gas Powered Games’ chief Chris Taylor struggles to stay positive after crowdfunding failure
• Rayman Legends developers protest Wii U game’s delay
• GameStop’s Digital Ventures chief resigns
• Gas Powered Games kills Wildman Kickstarter project (updated)
• Crytek CEO: ‘Single-player modes will have to transform’ into co-op experiences in free-to-play future
• Nintendo announces Valentine’s Day 3DS for sweeties everywhere
• Skylanders crosses the $1B revenue mark with over 100M toys sold
• Warren Spector wants game developers to think about their legacies
• Nancy Pelosi defends video games on Fox News Sunday
• Path of Exile: Crowdfunding that isn’t following the Kickstarter crowd

Mobile News:

• Maybe social games are the cure for the Valentine’s Day singles
• From tabletop to digital: Why people are paying $500 for a game that’s not out yet
• New smartphone shooter The Drowning hopes to improve first-person controls on touch devices
• Everyplay lets you brag in mobile-game replay videos with FaceCam
• Playnomics launches PlayRM monetization and analytics for mobile
• Call of Duty alum Robert Bowling announces new iOS and Android tactical strategy game
• Leanplum creates A/B testing for small mobile game developers
• Activision dates Black Ops II Revolution map pack for PlayStation 3 and PC
• Fingerprint is a safe multiplayer gaming platform for kids using mobile devices
• Microsoft opens a Los Angeles Xbox entertainment studio for next generation
• Nomad Games seals deal with Thumbstar to publish Talisman on mobile
• Uzbekistani startup Spair plans to bring OnLive-like streaming technology to smartphone games

Reviews:

• Aliens: Colonial Marines isn’t the Aliens sequel you wanted (review)

Previews:

• Darkstalkers Resurrection is a detailed re-creation of the arcade experience (preview)
• Anatomy of a monster: Dissecting the beasts of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (preview)

Interviews:

• Aliens: Colonial Marines dev discusses the highs and lows of triple-A development (exclusive)
• With $7.7M raised via crowdfunding, Chris Roberts makes his sci-fi game in the public eye (interview)
• How much choice did the player really have in The Walking Dead? (interview)
• Gaming academic Jesse Schell expounds on chocofication and motivating players to play and pay (interview)
• Origin Stories: How Gearbox got to make Aliens: Colonial Marines

Pieces of Flair: 

• Obama says we need more gamers. Who are we to argue?
• Celebrate Valentine’s Day the gaming way
• University professor schools us on writing good video game poetry
• Show some love with GamesBeat’s gaming valentines
• 18 ridiculous(ly expensive) video game special editions

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GamesBeat 2013 is our fifth annual conference on disruption in the video game market. You'll get 360-degree perspectives from top gaming executives, developers, and analysts on what’s to come in the industry. Our theme this year is “The Battle Royal.” Check out full event details here, and grab your early-bird tickets here!

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Giant, menacing sword? Check. Garish armor fashioned from the bones and hides of your prey? Check. For you, it’s just another day on the job. But to them, it’s a matter of survival.

In the world of Monster Hunter, you are the invader. Your constant struggle with creatures big and small is the main draw of Capcom’s multiplayer-focused hunting game, and it can feel daunting — and almost impossible — to take down the beasts all by yourself. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (out March 19 for the Wii U and 3DS) makes this process a little easier, as both Wii U players and 3DS owners can play with each other locally.

Only the Wii U version, however, supports online play. But you’ll definitely want to try to wrangle up a few friends or strangers to tackle the hunting quests in multiplayer, where the difficulty kicks up to accommodate your increased firepower.

Though defeating Ultimate’s cast of monsters and upgrading your gear is your goal, we don’t know much about the creatures outside of their eating habits and locations. GamesBeat spoke with producer Ryozo Tsujimoto at a recent preview event to discuss how his team comes up with new and imaginative monsters for would-be hunters to slay.

Creating a ‘living thing’

“When we make monsters, there’s a process that we go through,” said Tsujimoto through a translator. “The first thing that we think about is, ‘Where does this monster fit within the world of Monster Hunter?’ … If we only make really big, gigantic monsters, that really won’t make the gameplay a full experience. You need to have a variety of big, small, and medium-sized monsters. They need to be able to fill many different roles and many different characteristics and responsibilities within the gameplay. So not only do we want to focus on that, but we really want to make sure that the monster is considered a living thing.”

One such living thing is the Brachydios, a new addition to the Monster Hunter bestiary. With its green-and-purple skin, the Brachydios looks like a distant but deranged cousin of Barney the Dinosaur — except instead of offering you love, it wants to destroy you with its fist-like appendages. To prepare for battle, I armed myself with a Wii U GamePad while my two partners connected to the game using 3DSes. We left Ultimate’s tropical Tanjia Port — an online hub where you can team up with other players — to one of the Brachydios’ known habitats: a fiery volcano.

Wide tail swings, explosive attacks, and damage-dealing goo almost knocked us out of the fight entirely (you share three “faints,” or deaths, among your group before you have to start over). But we prevailed, lopping off its tail before delivering the killing blow. I almost felt bad about carving its innards for raw materials.

“Although [the monsters] are just enemies that you go and hunt, we really want to make sure that we give players the feeling that these monsters are actually living in this world and you are someone who is going into their territory to hunt them down,” said Tsujimoto. “So we try to make it as realistic within the gameplay world as possible.”

Adaptation

At times, the monsters serve a functional purpose as well: In Ultimate, the developers added a number of large, sea-dwelling brutes. But fighting underwater is not the same as fighting on land, so Capcom created other fiends to teach players the difference between the two.

“What we really wanted to do was to teach players how to get to that stage first — of fighting underwater — before moving them on to fighting [the aquatic monsters],” said Tsujimoto. “So we thought, ‘How are we going to introduce this new underwater fighting element to the players?’ The idea we came up with was to create a monster that could not only live underwater, but on land as well.

“When we worked on the design of this monster, one thing we came up with is that it’d be able to absorb the water while it’s [submerged], and when it came up on land, it’d be able to release the water, kind of like a sponge. Once the water was all gone, it would shrink and it would need to go back in … to absorb more and grow back to its big size. Those kind of little details are things that the player might not notice at first or might not really care about, but we really think it’s important in order to create a world that makes sense, a world that’s consistent with what we really want the player to experience.”

While my group of hunters didn’t face the type of creature Tsujimoto described, we did fight the dragon-like Plesioth, who also roams around on land and underwater. In past Monster Hunters, you’d have to lure the Plesioth out of the water if you wanted to fight it head-on — this time you can dive right in. Though my character was noticeably slower by swimming around, I inflicted a decent amount of damage with my bow as it crawled back on land, where my teammates finished it off.

My brief time playing Ultimate convinced me that the Wii U and 3DS connectivity is the best way to play Monster Hunter (as opposed to just playing online). Sitting next to my partners — shouting for help, giving advice, and healing my character — was a key part of our victories over Plesioth and Brachydios. And with many others left to hunt, Ultimate should keep players busy for a long time … at least until the next one.

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GamesBeat 2013 is our fifth annual conference on disruption in the video game market. You'll get 360-degree perspectives from top gaming executives, developers, and analysts on what’s to come in the industry. Our theme this year is “The Battle Royal.” Check out full event details here, and grab your early-bird tickets here!

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This morning, Nintendo finally announced the price and launch date for its upcoming Wii U video game console as well as its new TVii feature that lets you use it as a Netflix/Hulu/Tivo/whatever box. Of course, you can also play video games on the Wii U, and we have the complete list of the system’s launch window games, as well as screenshots of many of them.

The Wii U console is in stores Nov. 18, with the basic version costing $300 and the deluxe $350; for specifics on each package, see our story from this morning.

Now, the system’s “launch window” extends from when the Wii U comes out all the way until March of next year. That means a few of these might not actually be available in 2012, but Nintendo still includes them in the “launch window.” It makes sense if you try not to think about it too much.

Either way, check out the list and gallery below to see all of the games you’ll be playing on your hot new Wii U … at some point within the next six or seven months.

• Funky Barn
• NBA 2K13
• 007 Legends
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Transformers Prime
• Wipeout 3
• Skylanders Giants
• Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2013
• Rapala Pro Bass Fishing
• Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
• Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
• Ben 10: Omniverse
• Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
• Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
• Mass Effect 3
• Madden NFL 13
• FIFA Soccer 13
• Trine 2: Director’s Cut
• Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
• Zumba Fitness Core
• Jett Tailfin
• Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition
• Tank! Tank! Tank!
• Nintendo Land
• New Super Mario Bros. U
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
• Sing Party
• Lego City: Undercover
• Wii Fit U
• Game & Wario
• Pikmin 3
• The Wonderful 101
• Aliens: Colonial Marines
• Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
• Nano Assault Neo
• Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper
• Darksiders II
• Wheel of Fortune
• Jeopardy!
• Toki Tori 2
• Assassin’s Creed III
• Just Dance 4
• Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
• Rabbids Land
• ESPN Sports Connection
• Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
• ZombiU
• Rayman Legends
• Scribblenauts Unlimited
• Game Party Champions
• Batman: Arkham City — Armored Edition

The gallery is below, but if you prefer your pictures to move and have sound, take a look at these Wii U launch trailers.

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GamesBeat 2013 is our fifth annual conference on disruption in the video game market. You'll get 360-degree perspectives from top gaming executives, developers, and analysts on what’s to come in the industry. Our theme this year is “The Battle Royal.” Check out full event details here, and grab your early-bird tickets here!

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