Rockstar Boasts That Now is the Best Time for Xbox 360, PS3

[MikeWehner]

Rockstar Boasts That Now is the Best Time for Xbox 360, PS3

Are the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 getting better with age?

With talk of next-gen Microsoft and Sony consoles already ramping up, some may wonder why Rockstar decided to develop the upcoming Grand Theft Auto title for the current Xbox 360 and PS3 hardware. Well, if you take GTA V writer Dan Houser's word for it, it's because right now is prime time to make great games for the aging systems.

"We use the technology we have to create content, and we try not to let ourselves get beholden to the hardware," Houser explains in an interview with Famitsu, translated by Polygon [http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/14/3643990/gta-5-writer-explains-the-decision-to-develop-for-current-gen-consoles]. "The fact that hardware's so mature right now is exactly why we're able to go on to the next level. GTA 4 was our first attempt at a new platform and HD visuals, so the first part of development was seriously difficult. Now we know what the hardware's capable of, so it's become a lot easier to move things along and a lot more fun, too. GTA: San Andreas came out at the peak of the PlayStation 2's cycle, and we put out a really good game thanks to that. All the best games for a console come out at the end of the lifecycle, right? So now's the best timing of all."

It's hard to argue against Houser's logic. Historically, game quality tends to go up as each console generation drags on, with developers gradually becoming more comfortable with the hardware at hand. Of coure, this approach has a downside as well, which is that we're not likely to see a next-gen Rockstar adventure until the as of yet unannounced consoles have been on store shelves for at least a couple of years.

Source: Polygon [http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/14/3643990/gta-5-writer-explains-the-decision-to-develop-for-current-gen-consoles]

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[LordMonty]

Its solid logic, if a man knows his tools he'll craft a better artwork. Can't wait for this btw

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

I was thinking about San Andreas releasing at the PS2s end...this generation has gone on for so long. If the financial collapse or whatever it was didn't happen, we'd have been playing the PS4 for 2 years now. Were they too short before? I'm actually optimistic about seeing Rockstar try to really push the limits, when Epic has said they pushed the 360 with GoW3 and Naughty Dog pushed the PS3 with Uncharted 3.

 

[Fappy]

It makes sense, but I think they could have made the same quality game two years ago. This gen should have been over a while ago. Hopefully they don't make the same error a lot of others have been making recently: sacrificing performance for visuals and bleeding the consoles for every ounce of power they're worth.

 

[GonzoGamer]

He's right.
All the best PS2 games came out 2004: San Andreas, Burnout 3, Katamari Damacy.
After a few years in, they have a lot of resources in the bag so they can concentrate on content.

 

[Irridium]

I'm glad this cycle has gone on as long as it has. As time goes on, people get familiar with the hardware, and learn new ways to work it, and make older ways more efficient. Bigger isn't always better, after all. Both in graphics and gameplay. Besides, games look amazing now. Though I guess I'm not the best judge of graphics, since anything made after 2004 looks amazing to me. And in terms of more content, will that content be meaningful? Or will it just be extra fluff that doesn't really matter? The former would require quite a bit of money, making budgets bigger (and they're already ridiculously big now). The latter wouldn't really add enough to justify forking over $300+ for new consoles.

Or maybe I'm just close-minded. Guess we'll find out in time.

Also, speaking of GTAV, new trailer!

 

[Velociferocks]

There is absolutely no chance that I'll get this for my 360, I'll gladly wait for a pc version. I sincerely doubt this can run on a stable 30 fps.

 

[Tanakh]

"All the best games for a console come out at the end of the lifecycle, right? So now's the best timing of all."

It's hard to argue against Houser's logic. Historically, game quality tends to go up as each console generation drags on, with developers gradually becoming more comfortable with the hardware at hand.

I don't think it is hard at all to argue against it, off the top of my head:

- Contra III

- Golden Eye

- F-Zero

- Final Fantasy IV

- Mario 64

- Ocarina of Time

- Street Fighter II

- Super Mario Kart

- A Link to the Past

All very ealry in the life cycle of it's console; all contenders for the best game for that console.

Your argument however it's quite diferent from his. And though more reasonable I am not sold at all into it, without data on it i am more inclined to think the best moment of a console is halfway into it's life cycle.

 

[Something Amyss]

Well, I wouldn't expect them to release a game for this gen and say "yeah, this generation is dead shit," would I?

I'll be the asshole to say it: We don't have "gens" on PC, Rockstar...

Of course, you also don't have the base to merit being more than a secondary market to much of the gaming world. Could be why Rockstar is going for consoles.

Bigger isn't always better, after all. Both in graphics and gameplay.

But they're still going "bigger" in terms of both graphics (and in turn, budget) AND gameplay, so it seems kind of moot.

 

[RA92]

Secondary market or not, can't wait for the PC mod support.

 

[Something Amyss]

Oh look, it's the Michael Bay argument. Let's get asses in seats and nothing else matters, yeah?

Actually, itá the "when you have constantly evolving specs and myriad options for builds it's significantly harder to get the same results for the same time, money and effort" argument. I'm sorry you missed the main thrust, but you're the one who ASSUMED the Michael Bay argument.

That's also why the Wii's 40 million U.S install base is getting GTA V, right?

Of course, going by the Michael Bay argument, the software attach rate is so poor for the Wii they actively include pack-ins to make it look like half as good as the other consoles. If you're going to argue against the "Michael Bay" argument, think about the actual scenario. Would you develop a big title for the Wii knowing how unlikely it is people will buy your game?

Blizzard and Valve are totally filing for bankruptcy soon, aren't they?

Which doesn't mean that you're not a secondary market. You can often point to outliers in any situation, but they're still outliers. For example, your argument is the equivalent to pointing out that WiiFit and Zelda sold really well on the Wii, as though that negates the fact that there is a low attach rate.

There's nothing keeping R*'s RAGE engine from being ported and every single (non-mobile) GTA release has made it to PC. It's where the experience really comes alive for me and I will happily give them my money if they don't break that streak.

And people ***** about almost all of them, and complain about how poorly they're done. And it's fine if you're willing to shell out, but that doesn't mean you're not a secondary market. If you enjoy your status as a secondary market, more power to you, brotha! It's not inherently a bad thing, and if you're happy with what you're getting as a secondary market, that's fine. Just don't pretend otherwise.