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To Console or Not to Console - Is that the question?
Breezeycouk
Member Posts: 82
Is it me or am I seeing a worrying trend of good games heading towards console driven developments?
I think this would be terrible as, as happened with SWG and the article - The search for the mythical audieance, I think so many consoles are bought, played with once or twice and then put away to gather dust.
(Jeez - Even my local phone shop was giving away a Xbox 360 if you signed up for a new phone contract)
Whereas if you look at PC gamers they tend to be a little more dedicated and "hard-core" due to time and expense that they have invested in their machines.
So therefore should design companies invest a little more time in working out who is likely to play their games for longer or design low brow / quick and easy to play (keyboard and mouse vs joypad) for a fickle / quick churn client base?
Or how about developing the same game along two different plafforms so at least the PC community gets some real value for money?
Comments
Well first of all what you're saying is completely incorrect. Console gamers buy a lot more games then PC gamers do, so in general there are more hardcore console gamers buying games then PC gamers.
With that said, I don't think an MMORPG on multiplatforms between consoles and PC is in the best interest of players.
PC's evolve over time where consoles are a one time purchase. Final Fantasy XI's graphics are really starting to show their age but Square Enix can't upgrade the graphics simply because it's stuck to the Playstation 2. An MMORPG's lifespan is much longer then a console lifespan.
On the other hand, looking at it from a business perspective...over 160 million consoles sold previous generation..It's might be tempting to try to appeal to those players.
Just don't buy AoC.
Well first of all what you're saying is completely incorrect. Console gamers buy a lot more games then PC gamers do, so in general there are more hardcore console gamers buying games then PC gamers.
With that said, I don't think an MMORPG on multiplatforms between consoles and PC is in the best interest of players.
PC's evolve over time where consoles are a one time purchase. Final Fantasy XI's graphics are really starting to show their age but Square Enix can't upgrade the graphics simply because it's stuck to the Playstation 2. An MMORPG's lifespan is much longer then a console lifespan.
On the other hand, looking at it from a business perspective...over 160 million consoles sold previous generation..It's might be tempting to try to appeal to those players.
I believe PC gamers tend to be hardcore with one or two games. A console user can still be a hard core gamer, but will tend to have a wider variety of experience.
Developers need to do whatever makes them more money.
-------------
The less you expect, the more you'll be surprised. Hopefully, pleasantly so.
Stop worring. Consoles lifespan is 5 years, 7 years for the current generation. Today, current gen is 3 years old. The PS3, the XBox 360 will start to fade in 2 years, and in 3 years will stink to death.
Current gen is strong, because has added tons of PC features, and because are only 3 years old. But as time passe, the PC continue updating, but the consoles not. So the abism will grow big, and we will look back at console titles and laught.
If it was fun, there's nothing to laugh about.
Over here phone shops give away lots of "free" things if you sign up for a contract. You do end up paying for it though...
Anyway, I most definitely think that they should do what they want. If the trend shifts towards consoles, then I'll be shifting along with it. If not, then I'll stay put. I don't mind. Each machine has its advantages and disadvantages.
Don't think that consoles are used on such a rare basis as you're applying though. If I'm not mistaken, then Xbox 360 game attachment rate per console is at 7.something games per machine. That's quite a lot...
On one hand, it would give more players to MMOs. On the other hand, do we really want the Xbox Live retards? I say give consoles MMOs simply because I doubt Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will allow consoles to link to PCs or "the enemy".
Why would Microsoft consider the PC an "enemy?"...They have already implemented Windows Live gaming or something along those lines which allows cross-platform gaming.
Are you kidding me? PS2 is still strong. They still release games on that, Gamecube and XBOX also for that matter. PC games have much more trouble than console games do because a platform game is good for about 10 years. While I love my PC, I know there is power in the console market because it is much more stable than the pc. Saying that, I won't be trading in my pc gaming habit for console any time soon.
Fear not fanbois, we are not trolls, let's take off your tin foil hat and learn what VAPORWARE is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware
"Vaporware is a term used to describe a software or hardware product that is announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge after having well exceeded the period of development time that was initially claimed or would normally be expected for the development cycle of a similar product."
PC gaming isn't in more trouble than it has been the last 20 years. Console games have ALWAYS sold much more than PC games.
Well first of all what you're saying is completely incorrect. Console gamers buy a lot more games then PC gamers do, so in general there are more hardcore console gamers buying games then PC gamers.
With that said, I don't think an MMORPG on multiplatforms between consoles and PC is in the best interest of players.
PC's evolve over time where consoles are a one time purchase. Final Fantasy XI's graphics are really starting to show their age but Square Enix can't upgrade the graphics simply because it's stuck to the Playstation 2. An MMORPG's lifespan is much longer then a console lifespan.
On the other hand, looking at it from a business perspective...over 160 million consoles sold previous generation..It's might be tempting to try to appeal to those players.
Does this not prove my point?
If console gamers buy more games then surely they have less commitment to the games they buy and are therefore more fickle in hteir game playing and therefore not "in to " the games they buy?
I graduated from console gaming a long time ago, but I'm all for more players in MMOs, even if they're using an obsolete method to access the game.
And this is a problem because ...?
We are talking about GAMES here. Entertainment. We are not talking about marriage, or even going steady. Play a game, have some fun for while. Move on when bored. Nothing wrong with that.
MMO is no different in this regard except it takes longer because of a) more content and b) the grind.
Console gamers buy more games because the majority of them are designed to be disposable games...i.e. play it, beat it, trade it in.
PC games for the most part are designed for longevity...weather they be MMOs or games with enhanced modding and editing support.
Whether tis nobler in the game to suffer the slings and arrows of PC errors... or take arms against this sea of troubles?
To game, to play... to play perchance to win. Aye. Theres the rub.
For in that game we play what scores may come when we have shuffled off our mouse and keyboard.
The ultimate solution to every problem: more space marines.
Well first of all what you're saying is completely incorrect. Console gamers buy a lot more games then PC gamers do, so in general there are more hardcore console gamers buying games then PC gamers.
With that said, I don't think an MMORPG on multiplatforms between consoles and PC is in the best interest of players.
PC's evolve over time where consoles are a one time purchase. Final Fantasy XI's graphics are really starting to show their age but Square Enix can't upgrade the graphics simply because it's stuck to the Playstation 2. An MMORPG's lifespan is much longer then a console lifespan.
On the other hand, looking at it from a business perspective...over 160 million consoles sold previous generation..It's might be tempting to try to appeal to those players.
Does this not prove my point?
If console gamers buy more games then surely they have less commitment to the games they buy and are therefore more fickle in hteir game playing and therefore not "in to " the games they buy?
What console gamers do is "Get with the new stuff", but that certainly doesn't define what makes a person more "dedicated to gaming" or "Hardcore". Many console gamers like to play new games and experience new game experiences. You don't really see many console gamers playing with the same gameplay mechanics for years.I would say that's correct. It's always nice to return to something old and familiar, like an MMO. The thing is, at this time if you want something new, or close to new, better chances are you'l find it on a console, and I just get bored realy quickly of the same gameplay.
As for MMOs on consoles, ofcourse it'll work, if you buy warhawk, you get a free USB headset, is it hard to imagine that you could get a shitty USB keyboard with an MMO, if that's the so called problem with MMOs on consoles. (because that's the feeling I get every time this question arise)
As for game mechanics, well, none happyer than me if more MMOs go the road of AoC and The Agency and breathe some life into MMOrpg combat.