Warren Spector speaks out against new Wolfenstein, 'generically dark' FPS games (update)

Epic Mickey and Deus Ex developer Warren Spector gave the newly revealed Wolfenstein: The New Order a verbal lashing today, asking if the world "really needed another Wolfenstein game," via Facebook.

Spector continued to ask if another "generically dark, monochromatic, FPS, kill-the-Nazi-giant-robot game," was necessary, adding that he is "so tired of stuff like this."

Wolfenstein: The New Order was announced earlier today by Bethesda Softworks. The game is a "reimagining" of the franchise and will take place in an alternate, 1960s universe. Spector also commented on the game's release trailer, which features Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower."

"Oh, and could we all just agree we'll never use the generic gravelly-whisper trailer voice guy ever again," Spector continued. "And one more thing: Please stop using Jimi Hendrix to promote your adolescent male power fantasies."

Further clarifying his post in a later comment on Facebook, Spector added that he is not "holding up the new Wolfenstein as emblematic of everything I think is wrong with the games industry."

"All I was saying was that I'm personally sick of shooters," Spector wrote. "I'm sick of a particular look and tone. I'm very sick of a particular trailer narration style. And I AM worried about the state of the core game business.

"Anyone want to deny it's a shooter? Anyone want to deny it's using a monochromatic color palette? Anyone want to defend the 'in a world where...' narration? Does anyone look at the state of the industry and, leaving indie stuff aside, the major publishers are pushing much besides shooters, sports and action-rpgs? Anyone want to say the core games business is doing just fine right now?"

"All I was saying was that I'm personally sick of shooters."

Spector ended with saying that he's sure the team is committed to the project, and he hopes there's "more to it" than the trailer and announcement have let on.

During this year's DICE Summit, Spector aimed negative comments at Grasshopper Manufacture's Lollipop Chainsaw, saying that "there are some games that should just not be made."

"I want content that is relevant to my life, set in the real world," Spector said at the time. "If we're going to reach a new audience, we have to stop making games for teenage boys, or even teenage girls."

We have reached out to Bethesda for comment and will update accordingly. Wolfenstein: The New Order is currently being developed for Windows PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and next-gen consoles.

Update: Spector returned to Facebook today to issue an apology to the Wolfenstein team and expand on his belief that there is "too little variety in games today."

"I owe the Wolfenstein team an apology," Spector wrote. "I wasn't trying to diss you or your game. I have total respect for anyone making a game. I know how hard it is ... And to everyone who pointed out that I didn't know enough about the game to judge, well, you were right. Consider this my mea culpa."

Spector added that Wolfenstein merely "got in the line of fire," but that he's been "shooting at this target for a long time."

"Though I was wrong to take out general frustrations on an individual game and on a single team, I'll stand by my overall statement about lack of variety and innovation in mainstream gaming," Spector wrote. "I was simply expressing, once again, my long-held belief that we make too many shooters, lots of which look, sound and feel like basically the same game dressed up in different clothes. I've been saying that for years — it's nothing new."