Are Multi-Platform games a good thing?

[Zoglog]

Everyone's got their opinion, but recently in the 1up show last week (Episode 83) Itagaki (DOA/Ninja Gaiden) from Tecmo talked about his take on the issue. He basically summed it up that it's a bad idea to do so because every console is unique and by porting it to all the different platforms you have to develop for the lowest common denominator and compromise constantly. Also he mentioned that if he was a hardware mfr, he would be very upset if that happened.

http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3145462

I think Kojima also mentioned something similar to that point.

Either way, what do you guys think?

[Derrick1979]

I don't know because giant companies like EA will go as multi- platform as possible to take in as many sales as they can but some games should be console specific because me being the person buying the games I want the best quality product for my money and companies shold put that into the game because it is a lot harder to bring people back to buy your next installments if you put something half ass out there the first time...

but seeing most of the time its all about the mola im sure more and more companies are going to be going multi- platform ..

the only positive note on Multi-platforming a game is that it gives the person a chance to play a game on what ever hardware they are using at the time instead of having to buy every system out there to get the games.. especially with the price of the systems and the games nowdays...

[depascal22]

From a gamer sense, multi platform games suck. Most games are programmed for the lowest possible denominator. Gears of War would never been as great if Epic also had to program for the PS3. It makes sense that the more programmers you have working on a game, the better or more efficiently it can be made. If you have to split up the teams according to hardware, the product suffers.

From a business standpoint, multi platform is the way to go. There isn't going to be a clear cut winner for this console generation so they'll need to get to the most possible households.

[kell]

In terms of game quality there is some validity that developers have to program for the least powerful system or not take advantage of a system's unique qualities. But it also allows bigger game budgets, since there are higher revenue forecasts. So the multi-platform aspect can contribute to better game quality as well.

However, I am a cheapass and as long as multi-platform games contribute to lower pricing I will be a fan of it.

[dallow]

No.

Every game should cater to that specific platforms' strengths.

[dpatel]

Nope. Sure everyone gets to play the game, but the games usually don't take advantage of the pros of each system. Instead, they just go for middle of the road type stuff to make porting easier.

[Chacrana]

No. I don't really care about everyone getting a chance to play a game -- I'd rather see something take advantage of a system's strengths rather than have that game be dumbed down just so it can be duplicated on another console.

[buttle]

i loved it when metal gear solid twin snakes got put on the gamecube. i'd like to see a lot more last gen exclusives be revamped and put on other consoles.

i think timed exclusives are the way to go. the developer puts all their energy into taking advantage of one console, and then they put all of their energy into putting it on another console.

[dpatel]

i loved it when metal gear solid twin snakes got put on the gamecube. i'd like to see a lot more last gen exclusives be revamped and put on other consoles.

That's not as bad, seeing as how MGS1 was built specifically for the PS1, and then Twin Snakes was redone specifically for the GCN.

i think timed exclusives are the way to go. the developer puts all their energy into taking advantage of one console, and then they put all of their energy into putting it on another console.

Not necessarily. We have seen with ports from 360 to the PS3, that even the extra time yields inferior results. I do realize that the PS3 is a difficult machine to work with, but Oblivion did end up better on the 360, which does show that it is possible, if developers want to take the time and effort. Problem is, most don't seem to want to.

[PyroGamer]

I think gamers fail to recognize how simple it can be to make a game multi-platform. Many studios use engines that are mult-platform already, they're not going to focus on tailoring the engine anymore than they already have, so it's just as easy to spend that tiny bit of energy it takes to make it multiplatform and enjoy their doubled profits.

It has its pros and cons, but alot of the time the pros vastly outweigh the cons.


Now, when you're talking about the Wii included, no, I don't think it's a good thing. Unless you're like EA with different devs on all the different versions of the game.

[Derrick1979]

Multi-platforming in the past hasn't been terrible one prime example is Soul Calibur II.. I was on all three and barely looked any different on any of the systems and on top of that looked great for each platform...

All bottoms out on how much the developers want to put into it even goes for console exclusive titles.....

[FriskyTanuki]

It's good for offering consumers a choice of any game they'd like regardless of the platform, but it's not going to result in games that take great advantage of each console it's on. The only problem is that it's not going to be likely to be the best looking game on their respective consoles unless it's exclusive, or at least the different versions are made by different developers.

One good reason for exclusive in the current next-gen race would be for the install base size, but neither console has nearly a big enough install base to really warrant an exlcusive without some financial help from the console maker.

[captainfrizo]

I'd rather have a great multi-platform game that doesn't take full advantage of each console than a lousy tailor-made exclusive for any console. To me it's about the quality.

[FriskyTanuki]

I'd rather have a great multi-platform game that doesn't take full advantage of each console than a lousy tailor-made exclusive for any console. To me it's about the quality.
No offense, but are you trying to say that exclusives can't be good or just that you like great games over lousy games?

[captainfrizo]

No offense, but are you trying to say that exclusives can't be good or just that you like great games over lousy games?

I'd rather have great games (multi-platform or not) over lousy games (exclusive or not).

[FriskyTanuki]

I'd rather have great games (multi-platform or not) over lousy games (exclusive or not).
I'm sure that's a no-brainer for pretty much anyone, so I don't get why that type of argument is used by everyone. Who doesn't like good games over the bad game, whether they're exclusive or mutli-platform doesn't really have an impact at all? Except for DMK.

[dallow]

I'd rather have great games (multi-platform or not) over lousy games (exclusive or not).

Haha, no shit right?
I bet you like to have fun too, over say... having a bad time.

Me too man, me too.

[buttle]

Not necessarily. We have seen with ports from 360 to the PS3, that even the extra time yields inferior results. I do realize that the PS3 is a difficult machine to work with, but Oblivion did end up better on the 360, which does show that it is possible, if developers want to take the time and effort. Problem is, most don't seem to want to.

yea, but at least the first version produced good quality. where when a game is multiplat from the beginning, then none of the versions have good quality more often then not.

what makes me weak on this is that there are certain games that i would really like to play. it would be worth it to me to have a lower quality game just so that i could actually play it.

[dpatel]

what makes me weak on this is that there are certain games that i would really like to play. it would be worth it to me to have a lower quality game just so that i could actually play it.

Very true. While it would be nice to have every game exclusive and tailor to their respective console, I'm not so sure that would be worth it for me, as I would have to plunk down $1000+ to play everything. While I only have a PS3, I'll be able to play games like Oblivion, Enchant Arms, etc. Sure they aren't as great as they could be, had they been built from the ground up for the PS3, but at least it doesn't cost me an extra $300+ to play.