Gaming Pitfalls - Part II: Cross platform danger

Mike Bantick
Friday, 11 May 2007 16:14

Opinion and Analysis

A recent interview with Rock Star (Grand Theft Auto IV developer) admits that issues such as the lack of some features of a device – for example the non-compulsory Hard Drive on the Xbox 360 – have hamstrung development of the title.

Games such as the recent Ricky Ponting International Cricket 2007 featured releases for PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2 and PS3.  One could argue that on the next-gen platforms, visually at least this release was obviously somewhat restricted.

There may be many reasons for this kind of code homogenisation.  Time to market could easily be the main one.  A lot of these games are targeted to coincide with the release of some other form of media, be it a movie or sporting event.  As such it is easy to understand that some short-cuts could be taken.

The resultant hobbling experience could get you down, what the heck did you pay for all that space on a Blu-Ray disc, or the spectacular Cell processor, if the game is only going to play like it could run smashingly on a Vic20 (kid’s ask your grand parents)?

Without the constraint of time, some companies get to make sure this cross platform experience can be an enjoyable experience for consumers.  PC gamers especially tend to be taking a chance when buying an obvious “console port”, regardless of the accolades the title may have received.  Witness the recent failure of Resident Evil 4 on the PC platform.

On the flip side there are games such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, a vast hardware straining PC title that has successfully (with a bit of shoehorning) made its way to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. 

So all is not lost for the cross-platform title, although there will be times when we thumb through the release lists of exclusive titles on the game console we DON’T own, be thankful for your own exclusives and always know that game developers will continue to strive to give you what you want, because then you can give them more of what they want  $$$.