Articles by Rob Fahey - Page 2
Rob Fahey, Contributing Editor
Rob Fahey is a former editor of GamesIndustry.biz who spent several years living in Japan and probably still has a mint condition Dreamcast Samba de Amigo set.
Recent articles by Rob Fahey
Telltale Games and the lure of the cliff edge
Disastrous studio collapses are a fixture of the industry - and that won't change until we stop celebrating the brinksmanship of executives
Nintendo tries out streaming on Switch in Japan
As Switch rapidly catches up to PlayStation 4's installed base in Japan, Nintendo takes aim at major cross-platform titles with cloud streaming releases - a possible taste of the future to come?
Pokemon Go and the potential of seasonality
Major changes to Niantic's mobile AR game helped its popularity to surge over the summer, suggesting a new model developers could consider adopting
Is the Olympics relevant for esports?
IOC president Thomas Bach dismissed games as “contradictory to Olympic values” - but his approval is less important than what esports is building elsewhere
Riot's struggle with toxicity turns inwards
After years of focusing on toxicity in its player base, Riot Games faces up to unpleasant revelations about its own work culture - and the industry at large should take note
Assassin's Creed's gap year could start a trend
Annual franchises have always had their critics - but as their advantages fade, more careful and quality-focused franchise management needs to come to the fore
China's censors may target business models, not content
With no games approved in four months, China's censorship regime is in flux; could game monetisation be in the sights of the new authorities?
Sony and Nintendo's strategies converge
Bumper results for both platform holders point to a similar key to success - seeing themselves as game creators first and foremost
The business case for a streaming Xbox
Microsoft may be experimenting with streaming as a full-parity option for the next generation of Xbox - question marks remain over tech, but the commercial case is sound
Breaking down Azeroth's gates
Nostalgia is a powerful force for millions of former WoW players; but to convince them that they can re-engage without facing a time-sink, Blizzard needs to innovate once more
What's behind Nintendo's falling stock price?
Nintendo has lost almost a quarter of its valuation in recent months - but its strategy and line-up remains sound despite investor jitters
Coming out from under Grand Theft Auto's shadow
For years, Take-Two's other games have lingered in the shadow of Rockstar's series, but GTA V's monumental status means it's pointless to compare it to the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2
Our Uncertain Streaming Future
The idea of streaming games from the cloud was a hot topic again at E3 - but no matter how close to that ideal the tech is coming, the business case remains a mess
Prickly denial is the wrong response to WHO's "gaming disorder"
The proposed definition is careful and cautious; more research is needed and the industry should be cooperating, not stonewalling
E3 2018: Starting next-gen hype early is bad for business
Casual references toward next-gen consoles and games risks overshadowing the huge releases coming in 2018
Xbox has everything to prove at E3
The E3 playing field has rarely been so uneven; Sony's strong position means it needs to do very little, while Microsoft arrives in LA with a heavy weight of expectation
PUBG vs Fortnite: Let the market decide
A court case in South Korea revives the old question of whether a game concept deserves legal protection - but 'clone wars' should be settled in the market, not the courtroom
Sony's PlayStation 5 hints confirm an eight-year PS4 lifespan
Rejecting hardware updates in favour of a full generational refresh, Sony implies a PS4 successor will come in 2021 - but how big a leap can that offer?
Reassessing the legacy of PlayStation Vita
As software production ends, it's a good moment to reassess Sony's handheld - its commercial failure looms large, but its innovations remain hugely influential
Nintendo still won't commit to online services
"Netflix for retro games" would be a huge selling point for the Switch - but Nintendo's reticence to commit to online services will stop it happening
Why do mobile games get a 'free' pass?
The mainstream media launches attacks on Fortnite's business model, but ignores more egregious behaviour in mobile - does this reflect a bias?
Self-regulate loot box mechanisms - while you still can
As European states begin ruling against loot boxes, this is the industry's last chance to prove it can be trusted to regulate itself
Sony's studios continue their winning streak
The success of the PS4's excellent first-party experiences belie the commercial challenges single-player titles still face
Battle Royale threatens a repeat of the MOBA bloodbath
With around a dozen Battle Royale titles set for release by the end of this year, developers need to be realistic about their chances of wresting market share from PUBG and Fortnite
Finding the PC game consumers of tomorrow
As smart devices replace PCs in homes and bedrooms, Steam Machines - or something like them - could play a key role in securing the market's future consumers