Interviews with developers

[Uncle Buck]

How much stock do you guys place in interviews with game developers? Do you come away thinking "Hmm...that sounds great" or are you more cynical and thiink that they'll never live up to the honey-coated picture they paint?
Of course, some developers are more credible than others, and thus easier to believe. But still, in the greater context...how do you, on average, feel about interviews with developers?

Me? I've become more cynical - particularly with anything EA have to say. I think Turn 10 (Forza 2) painted a pretty accurate and fair picture of how the game was going to turn out.

[Miktar]

This is why I refuse on principle to do interviews with the big publishers and their cohorts - I stick to interviewing the indie scene, because that's where the good stuff is. (Ninja Loves Pirate, Aquaria, etc).

[Gazza_N]

I think that interviews are good and fine for raising awareness and clarifying certain aspects of the game, but I don't think they should ever be taken as gospel. This is because (a) The game is still under development, so anything could change and (b) the developers are trying to get the hype machine running, so they'll naturally be hitting you with a huge dose of marketing spin.

This is why I never, never allow myself to get excited about a game until I've read a few reviews of the final product and/or play the demo. Anything other than that is suspect.

[dislekcia]

It depends very much on the developer. Some are honest and will give you a real feeling for what the game's like, others will spout line after line of either bull**** or press-rhetoric. Generally you can tell based on how much they seem to care about the game and enjoy developing it...

-I don't read much into anything The 'Neux says anymore.
-Carmack annoys me, hardcore all you want but give me actual games please.
-I'll hang off every word in an Introversion interview.
-Jonathan Blow rocks my socks.
-Bill Roper brings the flavour, although sometimes you don't quite know what it is you're tasting...

You should be able to tell when you're getting a marketing line, compared to when you're getting actual developer enthusiasm. And anyone who's still enthusiastic about a game they've been working on every day for the last two years or more is definitely working on something fun.

-D

[echo]

Have any of you guys read the interview with the guys from Bioware about Mass Effect on gamespot? I really can't help but get excited.

[dammit]

Interviews are useful tools when used in conjunction with reviews, previews, demos and your own brain cells. Most, that I've read, are pretty fair in their view on the game and often mention that they cannot possibly please everyone (so somebody is bound to dislike it) but that they're proud of the work they've been doing --- something which i think is important.

[MrDeVil_909]

I always enjoy interviews with Ken Levine (Bioshock) he has such obvious passion and come across as a real gamer, there is never the sense that he is reading a script. And he doesn't try to be too cerebral.

[Gazza_N]

I always enjoy interviews with Ken Levine (Bioshock) he has such obvious passion and come across as a real gamer, there is never the sense that he is reading a script. And he doesn't try to be too cerebral.

At the risk of sounding like a jaded hack, an enthusiastic developer makes for entertaining previews, but doesn't guarantee a good final product. Dis already mentioned good ol' Peter Molyneux...

Meh, I've just been burned by too many "great preview, pathetic game" scenarios. Maybe I should lighten up a little.

[MrDeVil_909]

I see what you say, and I agree about Peter Molyneux. Ken Levine comes across differently somehow, in the interviews I've read and heard he doesn't overstate the game.

Lets see when Bioshock comes out. ;)