We recently got the opportunity to talk to Cliff Bleszinski ahead of his appearance in the upcoming Shark Tank-inspired Wolves Den, and it was quite an illuminating chat, if a little short!
From his thoughts on Phil Spencer’s Xbox Game Pass/Game aims, his hopes for the show, what he wants to see, and who he thinks is the Sharon Osborne of the judges, to his simple request for the ending of Gears of War franchise, he didn’t hold anything back!
Wolves Den is the Gaming Shark Tank
If you’re wondering what Wolves Den is, the best explanation would be a gaming-centric Shark Tank (Dragon’s Den for you European folk), where contestants submit their ideas for games, and then throughout the rounds develop and refine them with the help and guidance of industry specialists like Cliff, all hosted and shown on the Spatial.io platform.
The judging panel consists of the aforementioned Cliff Bleszinski of Gears of War and Scrapper fame, Ice-T, actor and musician extraordinaire, Welyn, streamer and content creator, and finally Barji, indie developer and Youtuber! This isn’t for the AAA studios though, but the indie developers looking to get their start. If you think this could be for you, then submit here!
Cliff Gets Candid about Gears of War, Xbox Game Pass & Much More!
In the interview below, Cliff explains more about the show and what he hopes to see from it, but as a disclaimer, the interview was over email, which removed the possibility of any follow-up questions!
What attracted you to the Wolves Den project in the first place?
I started off as a “wet behind the ears” game developer WAY back in the day and I would have killed for this opportunity. As a veteran of the industry, I’ve always tried to be very supportive of aspiring game developers and this is a great venue to give someone their big break.
The deadline for submissions is fast approaching, so what sort of ideas are you expecting, or hoping to see?
My first hit was a game called Jazz Jackrabbit about a little green rabbit with a big gun. I love character action platformers and I believe retro gaming is totally in. I love games like Shovel Knight and Celeste so, obviously, I have a soft spot for the genre and hope to see some pitches.
It’s no secret you’re very outspoken on social media and in real life – would that make you the Simon Cowell of Wolves Den? And if that’s the case, who out of Ice-T, Barji and Welwyn is Sharon Osborne?
I’d say Ice-T is Sharon. Sharon gets shit done and Ice has proven over the years that he does as well. As far as Simon, well, I’d like to think I’m kinder than him, however, when pushed I can go full John Wick.
I believe Phil Spencer is gunning for the Netflix model. Sure, Netflix has some exclusives, but they realized the way to win the streaming wars is to be on EVERY platform.
If you could have absolutely ANYONE on the judges panel alongside yourself (other than the stars currently with you), who would it be and why?
I’d say my good friend Felicia Day, because she’s a geek goddess and knows her stuff!
Similarly to this, is there any established developer you’d enjoy having on the show as a contestant, either to critique their work or to applaud it?
I think Randy Pitchford from Gearbox would be a great choice. He’s a pretty busy guy these days, however, with the Borderlands series doing so well and the movie hitting soon.
It’d be a missed opportunity if I didn’t put you on the spot and ask, what indie developer would you consider your favorite of this moment? And if not a favorite as such, who would you say is offering something unique that no one else is?
I love the work that Ed McMillen does (Super Meat Boy, Binding of Isaac, Gish) – he’s the definition of a self-made developer and makes fantastic games.
Is there a type of game you hate to see indie developers gravitate towards? A particular genre, angle or idea?
I’m tired of battle royale. We tried smoke chasing it when I had my studio with Radical Heights, failed with it, and it just feels…played out.
“Go where the puck is going, not where the puck is” – Gretzky.
You’re helping indie developers realize their dreams with this opportunity, but a lot of our readers want to know when we can expect to see your next gaming project?
I’m of the age where I’m comfortable just consulting at this point as well as investing in various projects. The videogame biz is ROUGH, y’all!
If you could speak to 15-year-old you, finishing up The Palace of Deceit for the first time, what one tip or lesson would you tell yourself to better prepare for the career ahead?
You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. Know your worth. Don’t just be a cog in the machine. (pun intended)
And as an extension, what one bit of advice would you give budding developers of all ages?
“Go where the puck is going, not where the puck is” – Gretzky. Don’t “smoke chase” trends. A book that I love is called ‘Hit Makers’ that says ‘make something that feels familiar yet somehow new’. Mandalorian is a Western. And find a good work/life balance, which is really hard in the biz.
It’s not long until Scrapper’s Hardback drops, and you recently said you hope it gets adapted into its own game. Is that something you’d pursue yourself, or would you hand over the reins and let someone else develop it? If so, who and why?
I’d love an existing studio to adapt it with me being heavily involved. Scrapper is my baby, inspired by the loss of a dog and finding a new pup that I can adore. I’m also hoping it could be an animated series one day.
Everyone who knows you knows you cut your teeth with your work on Unreal Tournament and then Gears of War. Your original trilogy finished in a fitting place, and I for one was surprised to see the story continue with 4. If you had the opportunity and control to fully end the series, how would you want it to finish?
My friend, Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) told me one “Buffy suffer, show good.” Gears of War is ultimately about the horrors of war and the loss that it incurs. Dom having to put down his wife and later sacrificing himself for Delta Squad, for example. All I hope for is that The Coalition makes me feel something. Any great work of art has to have heart.
And as a followup to that, do you ever see yourself returning in any way, even as a consultant, to the franchise?
I’ve said it a thousand times that I’d be more than willing to do that. They have my number.
I’m of the age where I’m comfortable just consulting at this point as well as investing in various projects. The videogame biz is ROUGH, y’all!
There wasn’t a game quite as cinematic at the time as Gears of War, and arguably along with Halo it pushed Xbox into the position it’s in as a console. How do you feel about it potentially no longer being an Xbox exclusive, or are you utterly unbothered one way or the other?
I believe Phil Spencer is gunning for the Netflix model. Sure, Netflix has some exclusives, but they realized the way to win the streaming wars is to be on EVERY platform.
Comic, game, book, film, or none of the above. After Wolves Den, what’s next for you?
I’m dipping my toes into the local stand-up comedy scene. I find stand-up to be a fascinating art form. Somehow I’ve become friends with some prolific comedians along the way. Got to go backstage with Doug Stanhope and get drunk with him and his gal Bingo, same thing with Sam Morril.
Did I get tipsy and summon a crowd of random people to do Bohemian Rhapsody with me last night at @catskaraoke? pic.twitter.com/Y38R1a44L4
— Cliff Bleszinski (@therealcliffyb) February 5, 2024
Thank you so much for the time you’ve taken to answer these, and I’m hoping your head isn’t hurting too much after a night of bar singing Bohemian Rhapsody!
IT GETS THE PEOPLE GOING!
