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| Split Fiction: Josef Fares says video games studios should 'stick to vision' | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Video game director Josef Fares says his studio is "the best in the world" at making co-operative adventures | Video game director Josef Fares says his studio is "the best in the world" at making co-operative adventures |
| Think of video games, and you'll probably think of something competitive. | Think of video games, and you'll probably think of something competitive. |
| Some of the most popular titles in the world, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty, are focused on outgunning, outrunning or outclassing opponents. | Some of the most popular titles in the world, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty, are focused on outgunning, outrunning or outclassing opponents. |
| But, as Josef Fares and his studio Hazelight have shown, that's not the only thing gamers want. | But, as Josef Fares and his studio Hazelight have shown, that's not the only thing gamers want. |
| His latest, Split Fiction, is a collaborative experience where two players work together to solve puzzles and beat obstacles. | His latest, Split Fiction, is a collaborative experience where two players work together to solve puzzles and beat obstacles. |
| The adventure game has received rave reviews, sold one million copies in 48 hours and is currently among the most-watched titles on streaming platform Twitch. | The adventure game has received rave reviews, sold one million copies in 48 hours and is currently among the most-watched titles on streaming platform Twitch. |
| It's not a one-off. His previous title, It Takes Two, featured similar "couch co-op" gameplay and sold 20 million copies and won a Game of the Year Award. | It's not a one-off. His previous title, It Takes Two, featured similar "couch co-op" gameplay and sold 20 million copies and won a Game of the Year Award. |
| What draws players to these friendlier experiences? | What draws players to these friendlier experiences? |
| "Collaboration!" - It Takes Two, Hazelight's previous game, was a smash hit | "Collaboration!" - It Takes Two, Hazelight's previous game, was a smash hit |
| A report from analytics company Midia Research found that couch co-op was especially popular among people aged 16 to 24. | A report from analytics company Midia Research found that couch co-op was especially popular among people aged 16 to 24. |
| It surveyed 9,000 gamers worldwide, and said roughly 40% of respondents in the age range reported it was their preferred way to play. | It surveyed 9,000 gamers worldwide, and said roughly 40% of respondents in the age range reported it was their preferred way to play. |
| The report said "social play is a key part of gaming for younger consumers," and suggested more developers could look to incorporate collaborative elements. | The report said "social play is a key part of gaming for younger consumers," and suggested more developers could look to incorporate collaborative elements. |
| Co-operative games are also big with streamers - watching players bicker as they try to conquer a new title is a great source of viral moments. | Co-operative games are also big with streamers - watching players bicker as they try to conquer a new title is a great source of viral moments. |
| Last year Chained Together, where players work together to escape the depths of hell, was a hit thanks to huge names like Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed getting in on the action. | Last year Chained Together, where players work together to escape the depths of hell, was a hit thanks to huge names like Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed getting in on the action. |
| Couple Melissa and John, from Middlesbrough, have been uploading clips of themselves playing Split Fiction together to TikTok. | Couple Melissa and John, from Middlesbrough, have been uploading clips of themselves playing Split Fiction together to TikTok. |
| Couple John and Melissa say co-op games give them a break from competitive play | Couple John and Melissa say co-op games give them a break from competitive play |
| The game centres around fantasy author Zoe and sci-fi writer Mio, who become trapped in simulated versions of their own stories. | The game centres around fantasy author Zoe and sci-fi writer Mio, who become trapped in simulated versions of their own stories. |
| Melissa, a keen reader, says the plot appealed to her, but the chance to team up got her invested. | Melissa, a keen reader, says the plot appealed to her, but the chance to team up got her invested. |
| "A lot of the time when you play video games you are isolated from other people and it's just nice to be together, spend that quality time together," Melissa tells Newsbeat. | "A lot of the time when you play video games you are isolated from other people and it's just nice to be together, spend that quality time together," Melissa tells Newsbeat. |
| John says popular online games are often very competitive, which can be stressful. | John says popular online games are often very competitive, which can be stressful. |
| "I don't want to have to come home tired and have to focus 100% to just be able to do ok at a game," he says. | "I don't want to have to come home tired and have to focus 100% to just be able to do ok at a game," he says. |
| "Whereas this one, I can just sit back, relax and just enjoy the experience." | "Whereas this one, I can just sit back, relax and just enjoy the experience." |
| What Hazelight does is unique, but other companies do implement co-op features into their titles. | What Hazelight does is unique, but other companies do implement co-op features into their titles. |
| Guildford-based Supermassive Games, which specialises in "interactive horror movies", made couch co-op a standard mode in its titles after publishing its breakout hit Until Dawn. | Guildford-based Supermassive Games, which specialises in "interactive horror movies", made couch co-op a standard mode in its titles after publishing its breakout hit Until Dawn. |
| They found players were going through the single-player title in groups, passing the pad between them as the narrative - which changes based on choices made in-game - progressed. | They found players were going through the single-player title in groups, passing the pad between them as the narrative - which changes based on choices made in-game - progressed. |
| Competitive social play is also popular. Some of the best-selling games on Nintendo's Switch system - Mario Kart 8 and the Mario Party series - are frequently played with mates around the TV. | Competitive social play is also popular. Some of the best-selling games on Nintendo's Switch system - Mario Kart 8 and the Mario Party series - are frequently played with mates around the TV. |
| Split Fiction follows the story of authors Zoe and Mio, trapped in simulations of their own fantastical worlds | Split Fiction follows the story of authors Zoe and Mio, trapped in simulations of their own fantastical worlds |
| In recent years, developers have tried to replicate the success of games like Fortnite - so-called "live service" titles that constantly update and retain players for months, if not years. | In recent years, developers have tried to replicate the success of games like Fortnite - so-called "live service" titles that constantly update and retain players for months, if not years. |
| If you get it right, the potential financial rewards are huge, but cutting through in a saturated market is difficult. | If you get it right, the potential financial rewards are huge, but cutting through in a saturated market is difficult. |
| And as the video games industry continues to deal with mass layoffs, studio closures and decreased spending on premium games, not many publishers want to take a risk. | And as the video games industry continues to deal with mass layoffs, studio closures and decreased spending on premium games, not many publishers want to take a risk. |
| Josef believes there may be too much focus on the bottom line. | Josef believes there may be too much focus on the bottom line. |
| "Publishers need to step up and really trust the developer," he says. | "Publishers need to step up and really trust the developer," he says. |
| "But also developers, I think, need to have a clear vision and stick with what they believe in." | "But also developers, I think, need to have a clear vision and stick with what they believe in." |
| He does admit, though, that not everyone has his studio's history, nor his personality. | He does admit, though, that not everyone has his studio's history, nor his personality. |
| "I am a - what do you say? - a different breed," says Josef. | "I am a - what do you say? - a different breed," says Josef. |
| When he was directing his first game, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, feedback from some early playtests was "super bad". | When he was directing his first game, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, feedback from some early playtests was "super bad". |
| "I'm like, they're wrong, they're wrong, because I know it's great," he says. | "I'm like, they're wrong, they're wrong, because I know it's great," he says. |
| He's spoken before about resisting pressure to put micro-transactions - in-game purchases - in his projects, and is uncompromising despite his studio's close relationship with EA, one of the world's biggest publishers. | He's spoken before about resisting pressure to put micro-transactions - in-game purchases - in his projects, and is uncompromising despite his studio's close relationship with EA, one of the world's biggest publishers. |
| "I don't expect everybody to be like me, but that's me with my extreme confidence," he says. | "I don't expect everybody to be like me, but that's me with my extreme confidence," he says. |
| "What we do, I love it. | "What we do, I love it. |
| "We're sticking to the vision of what we believe in. Stick with the vision, go with it. | "We're sticking to the vision of what we believe in. Stick with the vision, go with it. |
| "And I think if you really love what you do people love it as well." | "And I think if you really love what you do people love it as well." |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |