Poll: Cross platform gaming.

Recommended Videos

Patrick Dare

New member
Jul 7, 2010
272
0
0
Do you want cross platform gaming? I find it annoying that there are some games my friends have (none of whom use computers much in general let alone for gaming) on console I'd like to play with them and prefer the PC version but no games are cross platform. There are a few reasons given for not having cross platform gaming but I think most are pretty much not applicable anymore.

1)PC gamers have an advantage because mouse+keyboard is better than controller for FPS controls.
While this may have been true in the past even the PS2 had USB ports and now both the PS3 and 360 have USB ports (hell the PS3 even has bluetooth) so it's a breeze to hook up a mouse and keyboard, games just need to support them (and wish more FPS games on the PS3 would, the only one I know of that does is UT3). Even if this weren't true you could do either of two things to solve this issue. Either make cross platform server specific, i.e. some servers would be console only, some would be PC only and some would be both. Alternatively you could make it an option when you make a game (much as it's an option to allow mouse and keyboard use in UT3 when you host a game). This also would not even be a problem in co-op modes.

2)The game on console is slower than the PC version (again I'll use UT3 as an example, although there is a mod to fix that). I don't really see why this needs to be done, I play UT3 with the mod that ups the speed to be the same as it is on PC and it doesn't make a huge difference. Even if you do still absolutely need to slow it down on console you could simply speed it up to match the PC for online play while keeping it slower for single player.

That covers the reasons I think don't hold much water, the following arguments I think hold more water but that doesn't mean they can't or shouldn't be overcome.

3)PC updates can be pushed out as soon as they're done where as console updates have to undergo a long certification process. This makes it difficult to keep console and PC versions identical. This is, at least one of, the reasons UT3 abandoned mutli-platform.
Mark Rein VP of Epic said:
Unfortunately (or fortunately) when you [develop] games on console you have a lengthy certification process to go through each time you release anything new.

We looked at how this would impact our ability to respond quickly to things happening at internet speed on the PC side of the equation and realized that this would not be in the best interests of our very loyal PC userbase because we would constantly be holding on to updates to wait until they passed cert on the console platform.
4)Different networks. I don't really know any of the details of how all this works but there may be some inherent problem in getting PSN games on the same network as XboxLive. I don't know how much control the individual games have on the network vs Sony and MS. For example if there are rules XBL games have to adhere to, rules PSN games have to adhere to, etc.

I find it annoying that if I have the same game as my friends we can't play together just because they're on different consoles or one is console and one is PC.

So what do you think? Would you like cross-platform multiplayer?
 

Dimensional Vortex

New member
Nov 14, 2010
694
0
0
Patrick Dare said:
Do you want cross platform gaming? I find it annoying that there are some games my friends have (none of whom use computers much in general let alone for gaming) on console I'd like to play with them and prefer the PC version but no games are cross platform. There are a few reasons given for not having cross platform gaming but I think most are pretty much not applicable anymore.

1)PC gamers have an advantage because mouse+keyboard is better than controller for FPS controls.
While this may have been true in the past even the PS2 had USB ports and now both the PS3 and 360 have USB ports (hell the PS3 even has bluetooth) so it's a breeze to hook up a mouse and keyboard, games just need to support them (and wish more FPS games on the PS3 would, the only one I know of that does is UT3). Even if this weren't true you could do either of two things to solve this issue. Either make cross platform server specific, i.e. some servers would be console only, some would be PC only and some would be both. Alternatively you could make it an option when you make a game (much as it's an option to allow mouse and keyboard use in UT3 when you host a game). This also would not even be a problem in co-op modes.

2)The game on console is slower than the PC version (again I'll use UT3 as an example, although there is a mod to fix that). I don't really see why this needs to be done, I play UT3 with the mod that ups the speed to be the same as it is on PC and it doesn't make a huge difference. Even if you do still absolutely need to slow it down on console you could simply speed it up to match the PC for online play while keeping it slower for single player.

That covers the reasons I think don't hold much water, the following arguments I think hold more water but that doesn't mean they can't or shouldn't be overcome.

3)PC updates can be pushed out as soon as they're done where as console updates have to undergo a long certification process. This makes it difficult to keep console and PC versions identical. This is, at least one of, the reasons UT3 abandoned mutli-platform.
Mark Rein VP of Epic said:
Unfortunately (or fortunately) when you [develop] games on console you have a lengthy certification process to go through each time you release anything new.

We looked at how this would impact our ability to respond quickly to things happening at internet speed on the PC side of the equation and realized that this would not be in the best interests of our very loyal PC userbase because we would constantly be holding on to updates to wait until they passed cert on the console platform.
4)Different networks. I don't really know any of the details of how all this works but there may be some inherent problem in getting PSN games on the same network as XboxLive. I don't know how much control the individual games have on the network vs Sony and MS. For example if there are rules XBL games have to adhere to, rules PSN games have to adhere to, etc.

I find it annoying that if I have the same game as my friends we can't play together just because they're on different consoles or one is console and one is PC.

So what do you think? Would you like cross-platform multiplayer?
Yes of course, it would help with games that have dead multi player. If I buy a heavily multi player focussed game and find no one online I will be pissed off.
 

Soviet Heavy

New member
Jan 22, 2010
12,218
0
0
Well, thanks to steam, we have cross PC and Mac gameplay.

With steam coming to the PS3, I always hoped that some day a link could be made between Steam on the PC and Steam on the PS3. It would be awesome.
 

Proton Packmule

New member
Oct 29, 2010
191
0
0
I'd love it, but to be cynical, it's better for console manufacturers to say 'you can only play with your friends if you buy our console. Go now, we'll wait.'

I just can't see the big men reaching an accord, really.

Whatever happened to games for windows, come to that? Didn't shadowrun let 360 and pc play together?
 
Dec 14, 2009
15,526
0
0
As of today, I have all of this generations consoles and a decent laptop.

Cross platform gaming is nothing to me! I am now a gaming god!
 

Proton Packmule

New member
Oct 29, 2010
191
0
0
Daystar Clarion said:
As of today, I have all of this generations consoles and a decent laptop.

Cross platform gaming is nothing to me! I am now a gaming god!
Bravo my lord! As long as you, a 360 owner and a ps3 owner don't want a game.
 
Jul 22, 2009
3,595
0
0
Proton Packmule said:
Whatever happened to games for windows, come to that? Didn't shadowrun let 360 and pc play together?
It was too difficult to code for and PC players still had the advantage.

The only gaming which console players have the advantage in was cross platform racing games.
 

Proton Packmule

New member
Oct 29, 2010
191
0
0
GamesB2 said:
Proton Packmule said:
Whatever happened to games for windows, come to that? Didn't shadowrun let 360 and pc play together?
It was too difficult to code for and PC players still had the advantage.

The only gaming which console players have the advantage in was cross platform racing games.
Makes sense, i thought it died suspiciously quickly. Nice idea, though.
 

Danceofmasks

New member
Jul 16, 2010
1,512
0
0
http://gizmodo.com/5593116/were-pc-gamers-too-good-for-microsofts-cross+platform-gaming-project

EDIT:

Erm, oops ... here's the original article
http://www.rahulsood.com/2010/07/console-gamers-get-killed-against-pc.html
 

Danceofmasks

New member
Jul 16, 2010
1,512
0
0
DC Universe Online looks VERY promising.
Seems like both control schemes are excellent (with PC players able to plug in a controller if they want), but it still suffers a little from consolification.

For example,

Only 8 hotkeys for a game with dozens of powers (and items)?

or

Nested menu system that is easy to navigate with a controller, but potentially frustrating for a mouse user who can just click anywhere on the screen ...
 

Continuity

New member
May 20, 2010
2,053
0
0
Well, if they did do it at least it would end all the silly arguments about whether or not keyboard and mouse > controller for FPS games. its still exasperates me no end that some foolish fanboys think the controller can compete.

For that reason alone I voted yes!
 

Danceofmasks

New member
Jul 16, 2010
1,512
0
0
Continuity said:
Well, if they did do it at least it would end all the silly arguments about whether or not keyboard and mouse > controller for FPS games.

For that reason alone I voted yes!
That's not a silly argument.
It's a fact that keyboard and mouse wins ... it's even been tested, since PCs can use controllers.
 

Riggsby101

New member
Jul 23, 2008
23
0
0
One thing I was curious about is the possibility of being able to import a character from the PC version of Mass Effect 1 onto the PS3 version of Mass Effect 2. Thoughts?
 

manythings

New member
Nov 7, 2009
3,297
0
0
Isn't this already on the cards? I'm pretty sure they are planning a cross-platform/cross-genre thing for EVE and an FPS on Xbox (maybe PS3 but I dunno).
 

Continuity

New member
May 20, 2010
2,053
0
0
Danceofmasks said:
That's not a silly argument.
It's a fact that keyboard and mouse wins ... it's even been tested, since PCs can use controllers.
You misunderstood me, I was referring to the silly arguments where someone insists on saying the controller is as good as keyboard and mouse. The argument being silly because it blatantly isn't.
 

Danceofmasks

New member
Jul 16, 2010
1,512
0
0
Continuity said:
Danceofmasks said:
That's not a silly argument.
It's a fact that keyboard and mouse wins ... it's even been tested, since PCs can use controllers.
You misunderstood me, I was referring to the silly arguments where someone insists on saying the controller is as good as keyboard and mouse. The argument being silly because it blatantly isn't.
Right, fair enough. :D
I don't consider it an argument at all, in exactly the same manner as shooting a duck isn't a fight.
The point can be missed, but the other side never has a chance.
 

Korten12

Now I want ma...!
Aug 26, 2009
10,766
0
0
Soviet Heavy said:
Well, thanks to steam, we have cross PC and Mac gameplay.

With steam coming to the PS3, I always hoped that some day a link could be made between Steam on the PC and Steam on the PS3. It would be awesome.
I believe Portal 2 players on PC/Mac can play with PS3 players.