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[Dictator93]

Amazon continuing the 'jack of all trades master of none' in my eyes.

Hard to see where you see that here. They are building PC only games apparently, that would imply they are not trying some mass market minecraft like thing that is on every platform. Picking Cryengine seems to echo that as well (which scales to other platforms... but definitely not as much as say... Unity).

 

[golem]

Curious to see what their goal is here, not sure how it fits in with their company exactly. Or maybe Bezos just loves PC gaming

 

[Wiktor]

Fixed it.

Even their mobile games aren't all F2P. So I doubt their PC ones will.

Anyway, good to see another big company investing in PC games.

 

[Silent Chief]

So, Shopping Frenzy? Or something like that?

 

[M3d10n]

They are shovelware because they are smaller-scale games? That doesn't make sense.

Shovelware is a harsh term, but their games so far have that weird look of "constrained ambition" you would find in many B-tier PS2 games where the developers try to emulate big boy games out of passion in a much smaller budget and the result is a game that, even if fun, has no target audience: They lack, casual appeal and "core" gamers have better alternatives elsewhere. This happens a lot when you get a bunch of ex-console developers into mobile development at first.

 

[akachan ningen]

I was hoping they'd be looking for a janitor in Irvine.

 

[Wagram]

Excited to see what any of the non f2p games are.

 

[Wiktor]

Amazon continuing the 'jack of all trades master of none' in my eyes.

They definitely are master of ebooks and ereaders.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Awesome news, I can't wait to see what Amazon puts out. I wonder, will they create their own storefront seperate from Steam?

 

[Hendrick's]

I'm ready for my Prime Games™.

 

[p3tran]

Awesome news, I can't wait to see what Amazon puts out. I wonder, will they create their own storefront seperate from Steam?

probably, when they are ready. I mean, they are doing this for money, right? and they are a pretty big shop already..

 

[Lady Siara]

Introducing the FirePC - with Prime benefits!

You know, if they did this, it has the possibility to be an interesting move. An Amazon pre-built PC that's subsidized like most of their other products is what a lot of people wanted out of Steam Boxes, right? A flagship that's priced well with decent specs?

 

[Tregard]

This isn't the Amazon Console.

Curiouser and curiouser...

 

[Nirolak]

This isn't the Amazon Console.

Curiouser and curiouser...

Their console effort tanked, but they didn't want to lay off all the studios, so they went this route.

 

[IvorB]

 

[Durante]

Their console effort tanked, but they didn't want to lay off all the studios, so they went this route.

Well, they create TV series despite not selling TVs. It makes sense to start creating games even if they don't sell gaming systems.

 

[Jetman]

Curiously, I got an invite to an "E3 After Party" in LA from Amazon earlier this week. Did anyone else not in the industry get this? I guess they're showing off some new games, and playable Crossy Road And Gunsport (probably shitty mobile games)?

 

[darkside31337]

Well, they TV series despite not selling TVs. It makes sense to start creating games even if they don't sell gaming systems.

They have a built in ecosystem though that warrants creating product for it.

This just seems like a giant mess. They failed with their initial gaming ventures and are trying to salvage something now. Good for consumers I guess.

 

[Nirolak]

They have a built in ecosystem though that warrants creating product for it.

This just seems like a giant mess. They failed with their initial gaming ventures and are trying to salvage something now. Good for consumers I guess.

They rounded up a lot of high end talent, so it makes sense to make a go of it.

 

[Durante]

They have a built in ecosystem though that warrants creating product for it.

Then the logical conclusion is that they want to extend their ecosystem to PC games.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Amazon storefront incoming?

Might be a bit early for that though. I'm looking to see what they come out with, they certainly have the funds to prop up a development studio.

 

[Interfectum]

The question is are they going to try and build their own Steam or support Steam or both.

 

[Nirolak]

Then the logical conclusion is that they want to extend their ecosystem to PC games.

I noticed that Twitch is listed in the job postings, so they might view that as part of being in the PC ecosystem already.

 

[Arkhanor]

Well, I'm going to try and send them my resume.

 

[Easy_D]

Huh? PC? I thought they were gonna do something of their own? I hope they go all in on a store/client. Steam desperately needs a good competitor

 

[Obliterator]

Hiring 70 people to form PC development teams?

I'm interested Amazon, let's see what you can do

 

[TouchMyBox]

Fixed it.

Good thing PC free to play games have a pretty decent reputation.

Huh? PC? I thought they were gonna do something of their own? I hope they go all in on a store/client. Steam desperately needs a good competitor

GoG Galaxy seems to be the most pro-consumer competitor to Steam that doesn't try to degrade the quality of Steam's service. It's just a bit barebones at the moment.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Go get 'em Garnet.

 

[Lunar15]

build up massive infrastructure to make mobile -> belly-flop -> release like 3 games in a year, none of which broke 4 digit sales -> suddenly you're a game publisher so... uh... pc it is?

This. Amazon makes a lot of weird moves.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Then the logical conclusion is that they want to extend their ecosystem to PC games.

And probably a Steam rival. After all, they create TV shows for their streaming service. Makes sense to create PC games for a new Amazon service.

 

[Easy_D]

And probably a Steam rival. After all, they create TV shows for their streaming service. Makes sense to create PC games for a new Amazon service.

How fucking cool would it be if they released pilots for their games and had users vote on what they wanted made the most?
It's an insanely dumb idea, but it would be cool dammit

 

[IvorB]

Amazon storefront incoming?

Might be a bit early for that though. I'm looking to see what they come out with, they certainly have the funds to prop up a development studio.

Well they don't seem to put anything out that doesn't support their core business in some way so I doubt they're putting out games just to keep gamers happy. Amazon vs Valve would be pretty entertaining...

Edit: Whatever the case it would seem that Amazon has fixed their eye on gaming so things could potentially get interesting.

 

[Durante]

How fucking cool would it be if they released pilots for their games and had users vote on what they wanted made the most?
It's an insanely dumb idea, but it would be cool dammit

Is it insanely dumb?

 

[IzzyF3]

I've been playing their most recent mobile release from Wayforward. Til Morning-- something, my phone cuts off the rest of the title. It's actually a pretty decent adventure game without any of the mobile money traps. I hope to see some console games from them though.

 

[Krejlooc]

Amazon should have honestly tried to push a Steam Machine instead of their fire console.

EDIT: And this was a sentiment I shared before their console even was announced.

 

[Parsnip]

Well, if they are good I'll play them.

 

[Interfectum]

So... FireTV was a bomb then? I figured they had more of a long term plan than that.

 

[Nzyme32]

So... FireTV was a bomb then? I figured they had more of a long term plan than that.

Considering the people they have been hiring for so long that are gaming focused, I doubt FireTV's failure or success has any bearing on the plans for what those guys are up to

 

[JaggedSac]

Power of the cloud games.

 

[10k]

Any word on if they'll be making AAA games? I'd love to see what they're capable of.

 

[Freedom = $1.05]

So... FireTV was a bomb then? I figured they had more of a long term plan than that.

the fireTV was a streaming device that just happened to also play games. It wasn't the main focus of the device.

these hirings seem to point to them making games that isn't limited by their hardware platforms. Kinda exciting stuff, though i doubt they would throw their weight behind something with AAA production values.

 

[Luke_Wal]

Amazon has the potential to make what the Steam Box could have been. They already have a huge Digital Distribution store, and sell almost every big game through it. Ironically, most of them are just Steam codes, but I see that as being their play. Build up their version of Steam, then release the "console" (actually just a PC).

 

[scitek]

Then the logical conclusion is that they want to extend their ecosystem to PC games.

Maybe Tony's competitive nature with Steam made them decide it might be worth pursuing that audience on their own.

 

[vatstep]

Remember when they were going to develop Fire TV games? And even had a trailer for them and everything? I expect that this will be another fruitless endeavor.

 

[Denton]

This is very good news. I was afraid talent like Clint Hocking would be completely wasted on some mobile games and what not. Now I am quite curious what are they cooking there.

 

[Steel]

Not what I expected from Amazon. Then again, amazon seems to be trying to get their hands in everything.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

I'll bet they end up porting their efforts to consoles in order to make some of their money back. Just a hunch.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

I really hope not all of these are f2p.

More companies doing game development is always a good thing.

 

[scitek]

Curiously, I got an invite to an "E3 After Party" in LA from Amazon earlier this week. Did anyone else not in the industry get this? I guess they're showing off some new games, and playable Crossy Road And Gunsport (probably shitty mobile games)?

I've been looking for a good after party to go to. I'm too new to get those invites, or maybe it's because I just don't know anyone lol

 

[Phoenix Fang]

Why? What's next Walmart publishing?

Well not sure if you knew this but Walmart is releasing music albums. The Walmart Choir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3iuxN2IpxI