Horizon: Zero Dawn has obviously been a big deal for PlayStation, but it's perhaps easy to overlook just how important the release is for Holland as well. Guerrilla Games is far and away the largest studio in the Netherlands, and not only does the PlayStation 4 exclusive's critical and commercial success reflect well on the company, but also the country as a whole.
In fact, so important is the game that a Dutch broadcaster has aired an hour-long documentary investigating its success. It's obviously been produced with non-gamers in mind, so some of the information will come across quite straight-forward for those of you who frequent games websites, but it offers a decent peek into Guerrilla's studio culture and the genesis of the game.
Just a note: you will need to turn on sub-titles for portions of this video, but just push the button on the YouTube embed to toggle those on and off.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 6
Also worth adding that those of you in the Netherlands can't watch this via YouTube. I guess they want you to go to the original broadcaster's website instead.
No I don't need subtitles thanks ;p
Interesting, if somewhat simplistic and clearly made to appeal to non-gamers as well. I did find some of it quite generalised too.
@VotesForCows I see no reason why a UK (and I include Ireland) can't make a game like this. The main issue is that most of the talented studio's are struggling to stay alive and we have seen quite a few big closures. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the talent ends up moving to a big studio in Europe the way things are looking at the moment. I do think that the UK studio's would have to try and stretch their budgets further though. Even if they had the same 'budget' as Guerrilla Games, chances are that wouldn't go as far over here.
There are still a few big studios in the UK that could still make a game like Horizon though. Playground Games, the Forza Horizon developers, are expanding to make a non-driving game. Rebellion, Ninja Theory or Creative Assembly (for example) could make a game like Horizon too.
Guys, er, GTA5 was made in the UK.
@get2sammyb This was excellent. Thanks, Sammy!
i was in the netherlands for 2.5 years, and have passed GG's building many times. have to admit, it's a bit of struggle watching without the subtitles.. though i can still read the language fairly well, not hearing it for 6 or 7 years it's much more difficult to pick up. amsterdam is most definitely not a cheap place to have a studio. outside of london, i'd guess it'd be cheaper to have an equivalent size studio anywhere else in the uk. maybe GG gets tax relief from the Belastingdienst - from what I can remember there are different rules for subsidiaries, and several foreign owned businesses have special agreements (eg: starbucks and microsoft). though it's not just about having the money/budget, you need the talent as well.. undoubtedly guerrilla games has been blessed with having a long-serving and incredibly talented art department and software engineering team.
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