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How to make a game that’ll sell a million copies

The guide to designing cynical, clichéd games that’ll make you a millionaire

Words: Dave Meikleham, GamesRadar UK

Any old Tom, Dick or Harry with a comprehensive grip of computer programming and loads of money-men friendly ideas can spew forth a game that’ll sell a shit-load of copies. With that in mind, and a science stick gripped in one hand, we’ve come up with fool-proof calculations on how to make the perfect moolah-making game for most of the major genres. Below you’ll find the perfect titles that’ll make any suit sully his 1000 buck boxers. Just don’t go nicking any of our amazing ideas. We’ve already put in for the patents.


The million-selling shooter


Attention Mr. Money Man: there are certain key rules you have to keep in mind if you want to make a shooting game you can retire to the Galapagos off the back of. Firstly, the primary reason people play these games is to murderise things they hate. And, secondly, they want to play in a world that’s had all emotion sucked out of it. After all, everyone knows feelings are just for women and communists and they’re clearly rubbish at games.


The cynical components you'll need


1. Biceps

The bigger the better. If the star doesn’t have forearms twice the size of his head then his game’s clearly shit and not worthy of a gamer’s precious time, which could be better spent venting all that aggression by smashing third party peripherals.

2. Give the hero claws for hands

Because fingers are lame. Oh, and robotic legs. Because human shins are even lamer.

3. Set half the levels in the hood and half in some hellish, Mars-style, ravished planet

This way your game will not only include that all important grit and street cred, but it’ll also lead nicely into the following…

4. Loads of aliens to shoot. Failing that, foreigners

Better yet, aliens who look French. That’s just a win/win situation in hatred-flaming marketing terms

5. Give your hero the biggest gun ever

Because less isn’t more. And anyone who tells you otherwise knows nothing about peddling interactive entertainment products to the gullible masses. They probably shoot small defenceless animals in their spare time, too.


The totally trendy title


Make sure to include blood in the game’s name. Only wimps don’t like a bit of the old claret of life. Inclusion of the letter X also adds mystery and is guaranteed to make your product sell 114% more copies.


The awesome end result




Next up...


The ultimate money-making racer.

 
43 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
legory  - 2 months 23 days ago 
I had to do it.
legory  - 2 months 23 days ago 
But anyways, just read it, and it's an amazing article. Half-naked mutations FTW.

ReCAPTCHA overall art
matt588  - 2 months 23 days ago 
very funny article GR, loved the uber gun and vader helmet and samus visor? racing games are so dull though, you need guns and plane/boat mode .... bloodwake 2 anyone? it has blood it the title so that's a bonus. and if you'r going to make me find stamps there better be an unlockable map after you're 90% done, i don't wanna pay for some crap gaming guide... ohhh right never mind. I will only kill the cat if i can absorb its powers(the agility part not the stuck in tree part)
recaptcha: wildness criticism
BadLadJon  - 2 months 23 days ago 
another reason for a good shooter, CO-OP!!! imagine Far Cry 2 if you could have a co-op feature, saves you from slowing down, changing to gun, shooting the enemy then drive on again.

for the RPG good/evil option i would totally pick "BLOW ITS FURRY FUCKIN FACE OFF"
manaconda  - 2 months 23 days ago 
i love leon neeson! so much better then that jerk liam
Dexsus  - 2 months 23 days ago 
@ matt588

Its a very nicely done photoshop of Darth Vaders head and the Timeshift visor me thinks.
Anyways, nice article as usual, now its time to copy your ideas with minor alterations! Mwahahahahahaha!
matt588  - 2 months 23 days ago 
@ Dexsus

ah, well never played timeshift so i'll take your word for it, good maniacal laugh.
Dexsus  - 2 months 23 days ago 
@ matt588

Thanks, been working on it awhile. :P
And its probably best you didn't play Timeshift......imo, that game sucked harder then a thai hooker.
Pocotron  - 2 months 23 days ago 
Ah man! They're all on the 360! Damn it!
Pocotron  - 2 months 23 days ago 
Except for the last few..
mrandydixon  - 2 months 23 days ago 
What game is that "biggest gun ever" screen from? Looks like a cross between HL2 and CoD: WaW.
mrandydixon  - 2 months 23 days ago 
Oh, wait, must be Resistance. Damn small iPhone screen.
oryandymackie  - 2 months 23 days ago 
BioShock sold over a million copies.......was that a cynical, over-cliched game?
silvereye  - 2 months 23 days ago 
I was so gonna get the super RPG game, but then I relised it said Liam Neeson, not Leslie Nealson :(
TheMasterOfBeingFirst  - 2 months 23 days ago 
lmao at the weird little pikachu
vic88  - 2 months 23 days ago 
great read!
Cyberninja  - 2 months 23 days ago 
interesting
iKOemos  - 2 months 23 days ago 
I'm totally stealing all these ideas.
WonsAuto  - 2 months 23 days ago 
Any article or column that can shoehorn in a reference to Mrs. Doubtfire is alright by me.
doomdoomdoom  - 2 months 23 days ago 
This is what games should be like. And have crazy ads for the games like japan.
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