Quote: "Strange thing is, its the games which use stock with no frills but a determination to get the game out there that go commercial I can think of at least three like this."
I've noticed the same thing, Rolfy.
It happens in many creative fields, really. Where in time, it becomes the trend to design for peer and industry accolades at the risk of loosing touch with the consumer audience.
That said, I think its still possible for developers to make game with stock assets but in time consumers will wisen up. If I bought this game and it ended up being quite poor, I would remember it. If later I saw another game using the same media it would make me think it was some sort of spin off or something which would make me want to avoid it. Fool me once, etc., etc.
What I do take away from this as being a crucial factor is that the developers do indeed finish and release product. They simply buckled down and did something start to finish. They didn't get distracted with WIP threads, compos, waiting for updates, being perfect, forum drama or whatever. It's something I too should take in a lesson in though I probably wont but there has to be some middle-ground within reach.
In the last four years I've seen many games which easily out-do something like this but nearly none brought to market. Although it plays into the waiting game, I'm sure that there will be a formidable crop of advanced-level FPSC games in the not so distant future. If I didn't honestly believe it, I wouldn't still be here and supporting the product and community. I look foreward to the day someone post a link to something in the marketplace which makes me proud to be associated with the product and what offers to the bedroom developer. Anderson was a good looking game but the budget for it far exceeded what I personally feel is represented in-game. I know there are members here which can do as good or better at a fraction of the cost and without a team.
I think ongoing developments in the Mod and BOTB/VOTB scene will really help to push the edges a bit and in its wake pave the way for quality FPSC games to be brought to market. I'm going to try to make more of an effort to recognize BOTB-tier projects with serious potential and do what I can to help, if possible. I was very happy to volunteer custom media to Alpha Project and to Pioneering. Though it involved some actual work, it's something I prefer over contributing compo prizes, for example.
Anyhow, I've totally lost the plot of what I'm rambling on about so I'll just stop
