Peak developer Aggro Crab has hit again at “friendslop” haters, insisting there’s a spot for co-op video games that “ship a particular expertise”, particularly as they are often “very cost-effective for indie manufacturing”.
Speaking to GamesRadar+, studio head Nick Kaman stated that whereas these video games might “forego conventional high quality markers”, some gamers simply need to hang around with their mates and have enjoyable – and that is what “friendslop video games put […] on the entrance and centre of the expertise”.
“There’s backlash as a result of generally these video games forego conventional high quality markers like polished graphics or story, however these video games aren’t making an attempt to be Sport of the Yr, they deal with delivering a particular expertise and that may make it very cost-effective for indie manufacturing,” Kaman stated.
Whereas he acknowledges that “like with any sizzling style, you get loads of fast-follows and low-quality makes an attempt flooding the storefronts”, he reckons “it is primarily simply enjoyable to be a hater, particularly when a time period like ‘friendslop’ is so juicy”.
“There’s an actual need to attach and hand around in on-line worlds, and friendslop video games put that on the entrance and centre of the expertise,” Kaman added. “These are video games that emphasise teamwork and communication, versus simply testing your particular person talent in a gaggle setting.”
Peak – which follows a string of different multi-million sellers for writer Landfall, together with Content material Warning and Completely Correct Battlegrounds – is out there now on Steam. Eurogamer contributing editor Christian Donlan referred to as Peak his “new gaming obsession” earlier this 12 months, writing: “Nice climbing, nice enjoyable, a really pure tackle design. And perhaps avoid the mushrooms. A few of them, anyway.”
It has been so profitable, in truth, that it has spawned so many clones, the staff behind indie hit would quite its group pirate its personal recreation than play a “microtransaction-riddled” ripoff.
