Oddworld creator: console game development is a step backwards |
Video gaming has never
been more popular than in this generation of consoles, but you can't deny the fact
developers seem to have a hard time making games for them (for the Xbox
360 and PlayStation 3, at least).I can't even keep track of how many game delays I had to twiddle my thumbs through. Would gaming be actually better if it just focused on the PC? Lorne Lanning, creator of Oddworld, seems to think so.
Lanning believes that console gaming is a "step backwards," making game development an unnecessarily long process, and an expensive one. On the flip side, PC games can offer smaller games at lower price points, and offers greater customization options:
Personally, I think the consoles are a problem. Years ago I was excited about consoles, but anything that makes development more expensive, rather than better, faster, cheaper, I think is a step backwards.
When I look at what's happening, it's a bit disappointing because the consoles are running into a place where affordable games are having a rough time getting out there.
[...] Personally, I'm more excited about
what I see happening on PC because I see it allowing for more smaller
games to be sold that can be delivered to anyone who's connected at
much lower price points.
[...] PC games also allow people to build their game as they chose. There's a big difference between spending $50 or $60 on a game and hoping I love it and buying a game for $5 and then buying additional content for that game, so by the time I have invested $50 in it I really love it and I've personalized it a lot more to what I'm interested in.
... The thought made me snicker. Anyway, he does make a good point, even if he says it in Abe's voice. Perhaps if game developers actually stuck to one versatile platform (for now, the PC is the most ideal candidate), perhaps there wouldn't be so many delays.
Related Articles:
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- Jack Thompson, Lorne Lanning debate after Moral Kombat screening
- Oddworld Inhabitants' Lorne Lanning confirms new Oddworld title
Via GameDaily
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Comments
it looks to me like he's advocating episodic content more than a standard platform... this argument is moot anyway. XBL, PSN and WII all have games like what he describes. PC games have never been that much cheaper than console games. most people i know would rather spend $300 on a console they know will run games well for 5+ years, than to build a few thousand dollar PC that will need a $300 card in a year or two to run the best games...
He's wrong. Console games should be easier to produce, cheaper, and in this generation, look better. This is because you have only one tec spec sheet to design for rather then picking a minimum performance level, at which your game doesnt even actually deliver any sort of worthwhile gameplay, that for most modern games is already out of reach of the $2000 computer you bought not even a year ago. If he wanted to be honest he would have said "PC gamers are more of a casual gaming group and we can rip them off easier by cranking out another version of peggle, jewel quest, ect."
ya man bring it to the PC!! We PC gamers deserve more games for our gaming Rig's :D
but my computer sucks
ya so where can i get those awesome $5 games for my pc, other than the old ones or cheap crappy games that i dont want to play? i like my pc but i prefer to game on my ps3 by far. and whether its harder to develop for the consoles or not, maybe they should just work harder =D lol
I chose to play console games, just like he says people chose to build their gaming rigs how they want; if I wanted to I'm sure I could build a great computer, and one day I want to but for now I really do enjoy playing on consoles. Yes, delays suck but games get delayed for the PC as well and most of the time when one game is delayed there is always another one out there: like when GTA IV was delayed there were literally a dozen other games to play so it is not as if one game being delayed means that no one has anything to play during the wait. Also, one games delay might not affect all of the console gamers. He also says "anything that makes development more expensive, rather than better, faster, cheaper, I think is a step backwards" which I must disagree with as well because well let's face it, faster and cheaper don't normally mean better, yes this generation has a distinct lack of budget games, even Conflict, which has long been a budget franchise, was a $60 game this generation so on that I agree. Then he continues to say "There's a big difference between spending $50 or $60 on a game and hoping I love it and buying a game for $5 and then buying additional content for that game, so by the time I have invested $50 in it I really love it and I've personalized it a lot more to what I'm interested in" Yes, spending $60 on a game and finding out you hate it is a bummer....Assassin's Creed....but that's why I tend to put research into the games that I buy, and yes, occasionally a game that looks great (not just visually) and gets good reviews might not click with a person once you buy it but if you have doubts that you can always rent a game before buying, which, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is something that you cannot do with PC games. And sure spending $5 as he says and then spending more later once you find out you like it may be the same but not all games do that and just like demos it can be misleading of the final product. Yes, he makes a good point that there appears to be longer development periods for certain games, however those are generally triple-A titles that may be publisher's big games for their quarter. Yes it is disappointing to see so many would-be budget titles pushed to the side or overlooked but if the game is marketed properly than those cost can (but not always) be made up by the games sales. I to wish that there were more budget games at $30 or 40 but that does not mean that it is a step backwards for game development, it is just a natural evolution of the business, you could argue that PC is the television of the game industry while Console games are the Blockbuster films; television costs less to produce and some shows can really connect with some while turning away others and those fans will stay loyal to the show, with the odd big budget made-for-TV-movie standing out to some. Film on the other hand can reach a broader audience and is much more expensive to make, and many big flicks may become classics while others just offer some relief between other films and their sequels.
at one point I was saying to myself buying a console just for game at $500 (and games) is insane but then ever since I stop upgrading my PC a few years ago I saved slightly more money compare to my spending on consoles and games (I buy used and I am not a heavy buyer). So it might work for some of you (or it might not)
We need more games like Abe's Odyssey on the PS3. There is no really good jump and run for it in Germany!!
Steam! XD
The market for platform games is wide open, theres loads of people who want platform games and no developers are filling the void! Only games are 3D ones like Ninja gaiden and ratchet + clank... need a ps3 oddworld with abe!!! I disagree with the oddworld dev, he's right about it being cheaper for devs but that's not a good thing - many people bought consoles because they can't afford a gaming rig every year and a console provides a stable format. he's wrong about consoles not having downloadable games for £5, I buy loads of games on PSN for that amount, plus £15 and £20 games like tekken and warhawk; warhawk has loads of DLC.
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