Update: They seem to be running some damage control on the article. Rubin claims that he loves Saints Row the Third and Volition and that Rubin's statement was in response to the interviewer's remarks about how he is embarrassed to play the game.
Original:THQ's newly appointed president, Jason Rubin, is already starting to make headlines with his recent remarks about Volition and franchises under the THQ branding. Rubin came out swinging saying that Saints Row the Third was "embarrassing" and would rather the company create titles like Red Dead Redemption or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
It should be noted that Rubin has been with THQ for just one week thus far. These remarks, and others made to The Verge, come off as a huge slap across the face for developers like Volition and the success they had with Saints Row the Third. The reason why they shouldn't do a Red Dead Redemption or a Skyrim is because those games already exist. They have their own niche in the market just as Saints Row does. With how well Saints Row the Third did last year and how many game of the year awards it picked up, why mess with what has become a proven formula?
This just seems like a bad move.
(via)
Original:THQ's newly appointed president, Jason Rubin, is already starting to make headlines with his recent remarks about Volition and franchises under the THQ branding. Rubin came out swinging saying that Saints Row the Third was "embarrassing" and would rather the company create titles like Red Dead Redemption or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
"Why couldn't that be a Red Dead Redemption or a Skyrim?" he said. "I look at that title and I say, ‘Who cares what it is and why it got to be what it is? From that team we can make something that isn't embarrassing."(...)
Saints Row the Third isn't a bad game, but it's not the sort I'd want to play, I tell Rubin. Then I ask him if he thinks that's an issue.
"That's why I am here," he said, after saying he wants more from Volition, "because of what you just said."
To be clear, Rubin isn't saying there isn't any room in his company "for a game that features a purple dildo," in fact he points out there are now two such games (the other is South Park: The Stick of Truth). But that sensibility isn't always a good fit for a studio.
"It works for South Park, but I'm not sure it does elsewhere," he said. "I don't think (Volition) chose to do what they did because they had all of the options available to them. It was the environment at the time.
"I know I can change that."
Saints Row the Third isn't a bad game, but it's not the sort I'd want to play, I tell Rubin. Then I ask him if he thinks that's an issue.
"That's why I am here," he said, after saying he wants more from Volition, "because of what you just said."
To be clear, Rubin isn't saying there isn't any room in his company "for a game that features a purple dildo," in fact he points out there are now two such games (the other is South Park: The Stick of Truth). But that sensibility isn't always a good fit for a studio.
"It works for South Park, but I'm not sure it does elsewhere," he said. "I don't think (Volition) chose to do what they did because they had all of the options available to them. It was the environment at the time.
"I know I can change that."
It should be noted that Rubin has been with THQ for just one week thus far. These remarks, and others made to The Verge, come off as a huge slap across the face for developers like Volition and the success they had with Saints Row the Third. The reason why they shouldn't do a Red Dead Redemption or a Skyrim is because those games already exist. They have their own niche in the market just as Saints Row does. With how well Saints Row the Third did last year and how many game of the year awards it picked up, why mess with what has become a proven formula?
This just seems like a bad move.
(via)
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