Viva Las Bio-Dome. I mean, Las Vegas.
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D.I.C.E. Summit 2008
D.I.C.E. Summit 2008Design Innovate Communicate Entertain
February 6-8
Las Vegas
Unlike GDC or E3, D.I.C.E. is a gathering of the industries finest minds, kindly conversing, and sometimes arguing about the major issues facing the video game industry. D.I.C.E. isn't about thousands of fanboys running wildly through a convention center, waiting in line for hours to get a first look at a game. D.I.C.E. is about the developers, discussing gaming strengths and weaknesses, and future industry trends.
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You might need to know this for the following paragraph.
A game engine is the core software component of a computer video game or other interactive application with real-time graphics. It provides the underlying technologies, simplifies development, and often enables the game to run on multiple platforms such as game consoles and desktop operating systems such as Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows. The core functionality typically provided by a game engine includes a rendering engine (“renderer”) for 2D or 3D graphics, a physics engine or collision detection (and collision response), sound, scripting, animation, artificial intelligence, networking, streaming, memory management, threading, and a scene graph. The process of game development is frequently economized by in large part reusing the same game engine to create different games. - Wikipedia
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One of the most interesting lectures at D.I.C.E. was delivered by Mike Acton, Insomiac Games (Ratchet and Clank, Resistance: Fall of Man), game engine director. Acton argued that licensed game engines such as Epic's, Unreal Engine 3, are basically a psychological benefit rather than a tangible, physical and monetary benefit. Cost and time saved by using licensed engines are fallacies and not beneficial to game development. He also points out that Insomniac has three, current generation games available, all done in-house. Michael Capps, CEO of Epic Games, developer of the Unreal Engine 3 (license cost: $500,000 and up), obviously had a different point of view. Capps stated that licensing their technology is cheaper and allows developers, without the resources to create an engine from scratch, the ability to design a more stable game without the hassle of self testing and debugging. To add another kink in the chain, Ubisoft Montreal's CEO, Yannis Mallat, argued that emotion rather than technology will steer the course of games in the future. He showed a clip from Bambi, informing the audience that his son cries every time he sees it, and doesn't when he watches the Lord of the Rings, a far more technologically advanced movie. The two movies are nothing alike but his point is in there somewhere. - based on info provided by IGN
To me it sounds like Mike Acton isn't getting the attention he believes he deserves. If someone would have just told him that graphics engines developed for Insomniac Games are special in their own little way maybe he wouldn't have started this donnybrook. On the other hand $500 - $750,000 isn't exactly making Unreal Engine 3 cost efficient. But I don't know how much it is to develop an in-house game engine, blah, blah, blah.
I agree that storytelling is the most important aspect of video games but Ubisoft Montreal hasn't had to worry about licensing graphics engines. Ubisoft Montreal has created some of the most beautiful games in the industry. Ubisoft's, Splinter Cell series was cutting edge last generation and Assassin's Creed is one of the best looking games in the current generation. Even though Assassin's Creed is mighty pretty, the story has been subject of ridicule, time and time again. Thus proving, just because a game is mouth wateringly pretty, it won't necessarily keep your interest after the first few hours if the story isn't up to par.
In other happenings at D.I.C.E., Michael Morhaime, CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, was inducted into the AIAS (Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences) Hall of Fame. If you doubt Morhaime, Blizzard Entertainment's line up of properties is insane. World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, and of course World of Warcraft, the ludicrously popular MMORPG. Morhaime joins an exclusive club, reserved for video game greats like Peter Molyneux (Populous, Black & White and Fable), Sid Meier (the Civilization series), and Shigeru Miyamoto (creator of Donkey Kong, Legend of Zelda, Star Fox and Mario).
D.I.C.E. isn't all about industry gurus flapping their gums at each other. The Interactive Achievement Awards showcased the past years greatest and most innovative games such as COD 4, Bioshock and Rock Band. The awards were hosted by Jay Mohr, popular comedian and guy who does things. Gamespot provided a live steam over the internet, which Jay Mohr, used to splatter the crowd with F bombs like Gallagher smashing watermelons.
For a full list of winning games, check out dice.gamespot.com/.
D.I.C.E. is one of the less, publicized events in the video game community because it isn't about showcasing individual games, it is about bringing the greatest minds in the industry together to discuss games as an art-form.
Do work D.I.C.E.
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