Capcom set to pump out content, shorten development times

I love to be scared - the anxiety, the adrenaline. Whether its being enveloped by a good book, teetering on the edge of my seat in the theatre or plunging head-first into the world of survival horror, I want to be there.

We brought you news way back in 2010 that Capcom was looking to pump out more games from their popular series.  News today from Eurogamer confirms that Capcom is looking to maximize efficiency and deliver content like never before.

How, you ask?  Well, by shortening the development times!  COO Haruhiro Tsujimoto wrote in Capcom’s annual report,

In the event that there are few hits, it will be difficult to create a series title every year and earnings will be adversely impacted.  For this reason, it is important to either maintain a large number of popular titles or shorten the sales cycle to ensure stable earnings.

Among the multitude of major titles held by Capcom [...] we will promote shortening of the sales cycle in pursuit of further earnings stabilization and growth.

Tsujimoto also wrote that those major titles (Resident Evil included) will have development teams limited to 100 people, with multiple sequel titles developed at the same time.

Hope you like the direction they’re going with Resident Evil 6, because by the time the game releases and they get sales feedback, several other titles could be in the early stages of development.  Multiple titles!  So that could be Resident Evil 7 and 8, plus a spin-off title!

In an effort to cut back on the development time, Tsujimoto wrote that while Capcom would outsource.  While initially that sounds awful, it’s not quite as bad as it appears. Core portions of projects would be developed in-house, by Capcom.  Process work would be outsourced to outside development companies.

Last but not least, the report stated that it would focus on pumping out DLC between games.  Lots of DLC, to make users “captive fans until the release of a sequel, as we acquire revenue from the sales of additional items to maximize profits.”

[Source]

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1827963903 Daniel Maupin

    I’m personally alright with this. I mean Resident Evil 1,2,3 and Code Veronica all came out within 4 years of the originals debt. No one complained then. What I don’t what to see is over priced DLC that is already on disc. Also I don’t want games to be rushed if they are going to be poorly polished. I mean we’re already dealing with Silent Hill being in a rut as of late I’m sure no one wants Resident Evil to join in on that slow spiral to hell.

  • V-Jolt

    i know we have to wait a long time for a resident evil game , but when it finally arrives its worth it. i quality not quantity

  • Nick

    Am i the only one who wants dead rising 3?

    • liam

      capcom are making it I thought I heard its going to be their version of dead island but with the engine that dead rising uses.

      • Nick

        so its dead island but with awesome n silliness of dead rising? im cool XD

    • Alice

      No, you are not alone. I think they need to get more games in this awesome series, and this marketing aproach seems like good news for it, we may finally get Dead Rising 3 and spin-offs.
      Also, was it confirmed that they are really making that island thing? I thought it was just a joke made by “Frank” in the facebook page or something…

  • Ali

    Im not bothered about waiting as long as its in stellar quality! Loved RE Revelations and hopefully RE-6. Besides the wait is what’s half the fun, right?

  • Swcloud99

    Like they don’t already threat their employees like crap, now they are going to force them to work harder and longer (is that even possible?) to release half thought out games filled with DLC?
    Really!? What’s wrong with these people!?

    • liam

      How are they going to do this for ps4 and 720 ? the more consoles evolve the more hard work you need to put in to a game . so does this alos mean we are going to get a half finished game with bugs and then they just keep patching it lol.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=649675768 Cris Hipolito

    anyone else also expecting jill and claire as lead stars for RE7? i hope they get hunk in the story as a parallel to ada’s single player campaign in RE6. i wish that could happen

  • TrueAnakin09

    Oh, goodness. Look, Resident Evil, you’ve been a good friend to us. You’ve popularized zombies and the use of viral weaponry, given us iconic characters that decades will not be able to erase, and became a legend unto yourself. So it is only with love in mind that I say this: It is better to retire gracefully than to be thrown out by a bored, tired, and resentful fanbase.

  • Silent Evil

    If this means getting a reboot of Dino Crisis, a new Onimusha game, Clock Tower 4, Haunting Ground 2, and a return of Strider, I’m in.

  • SurvivHor

    Just wanted to say this because it bugs me. I loved Claire in Resident Evil 2 and I really disliked Leon. I thought he was a d-bag and never wanted to see him again. Until I did and then I liked him. Thing is, he was always a fighter. Back to Claire though, she was just looking for her brother when she became involved. Code Veronica, still looking for her brother. Not really a fighter as much as a survivor. An excellent survivor. Now she does the enviromental thing and doesn’t need any games. We also don’t need Billy Coen since he was presumed dead and he would be in hiding. There are others but this has gone on too long. We already have a cast that we could expand upon with the kids of the series that are all grown up.

  • Jon Gum

    Do NOT outsource Resident Evil. We all saw what happened when it was outsourced to Slant 6. Even if the core mechanics are there, the story was piss poor shit on a stick.