Console games and PC Ports

[ethaninja]

So I think I've figured out why the console to PC ports are so sloppy most of the time. Bear in mind this theory is probably untrue (although it could be), but I thought it up while I was booting up my computer so here goes:

The reason console to PC ports are so douchey is because they don't want to waste their time and energy/resources to convert it properly to a PC game, since it would probably get pirated anyway and they would loose money. This (as far as I know) is impossible for consoles... hence why the PC gets singled out a lot for mainstream games.

Whats your opinion on that, and what would be your theory be it completely random or not?

 

[SavingPrincess]

I'd say that's not too far from the truth... but that's been the established theory for quite some time now.

 

[pirate64]

sounds about right

 

[Lazarus Long]

Console piracy isn't impossible, just much less common, since it requires some technical ability from the end user. I blame the suits. The programmers have their product as fine-tuned as they can get it on the platform of choice. The suits want to make as much money off the product as possible, so they want it on other platforms, but they don't want to wait a year or more to allow for further optimization.
So to get the PC port out while the product is still hot, the programmers barely have time to change the tutorial text.
That's my theory, anyway.

 

[Denamic]

Except the 360 has been a victim to piracy basically since it launched.

 

[Woodsey]

Wrong wrong wrong would be my response.

1) They're not sloppy most of the time, if we're talking in-terms of major releases (and not things like God-awful film tie-ins which apparently need a quad-core or some such BS).

2) If it was that bad for them, developers/publishers wouldn't bother at all with the PC.

3) Piracy is definitely there on the consoles, although its not as prolific because:

- Its a little harder
- Console gamers (very generally speaking) are likely to be more "technophobic" compared to PC gamers (generally). Meaning they're less likely to want to, or know how to, piss about with a torrent.
- Sony/MS know if you've modded your console, which you'll need to do to play pirate copies.

The ones that are sloppy are so because they've just been lazy and want a quick turn-around, or because their team isn't skilled enough to do it. Its the same reason as why multi-plat games on the PS3 tend to suffer pretty much.

"hence why the PC gets singled out a lot for mainstream games." Singled out how? In quality or that it sometimes doesn't get certain games the consoles do?

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Pirating is possible on consoles, but it's far less common as it requires some technical know-how and perhaps a bit of spending to get some necessary equipment, which defeats the entire point. And yes, that sounds about right.

 

[Sephychu]

I reckon that theory is sound. All you need to prove it now is a lot of studies, surveys, graphs and a several hundred page paper and it's fact!

Yeah, console piracy is actually pretty simple, except on the PS3, where the firmware has proven harder to crack. It's now just a choice of whether you want to risk some soldering, or whether your morals restrict you. My case is the latter.

 

[ethaninja]

"hence why the PC gets singled out a lot for mainstream games." Singled out how? In quality or that it sometimes doesn't get certain games the consoles do?

The games don't get to PC ones. Actually a bit of both.

 

[Woodsey]

"hence why the PC gets singled out a lot for mainstream games." Singled out how? In quality or that it sometimes doesn't get certain games the consoles do?

The games don't get to PC ones. Actually a bit of both.

Again, the quality issue will be down to either the skill of the team and/or the time alloted.

Other games don't get to the platform for similar-ish reasons; there may not be enough time to even bother, or they don't want to waste time on a version that isn't as good when more money could be spent polishing the existing versions. That's just the same as going for an exclusive on a game though; more time can be spent focusing on one set of hardware.

Anyway, if a game's released on the 360 exclusively then I'll bet you a ManBearPig that it'll be ported to the PC later on. Even if its a game between the 360-PS3, although perhaps not as likely.

PS3 games don't really make it because of the hardware differences, a 360 is essentially a not-too-great PC.

 

[ethaninja]

So I think I've figured out why the console to PC ports are so sloppy most of the time. Bear in mind this theory is probably untrue (although it could be), but I thought it up while I was booting up my computer so here goes:

The reason console to PC ports are so douchey is because they don't want to waste their time and energy/resources to convert it properly to a PC game, since it would probably get pirated anyway and they would loose money. This (as far as I know) is impossible for consoles... hence why the PC gets singled out a lot for mainstream games.

Whats your opinion on that, and what would be your theory be it completely random or not?

too bad you're wrong on both points. firstly, piracy has never been conclusively linked to lost revenue (1 pirated game =/= i lost sale) so a lack of piracy does not mean more sales. and second, console piracy is quite possible, and a lot of time it's possible without voiding your warranty or modding the console.

Mmm that is too bad.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Yeah, that sounds right. That makes a lot of sense, seeing all the console games on the rise.

 

[Woodsey]

They're not sloppy most of the time

have you played the pc version of resident evil 4?

Have you read the very sentence you've quoted me on?

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Eh? PC ports are often better than the console version.

 

[Capt. Crankypants]

Yeah, the thing I particularly love, is when they dont bother changing the 'Options' menu and booklet info to PC controls instead of Xbox ones... sorry guys, I just don't have a left and right bumper on my keyboard.

 

[wordsmith]

So I think I've figured out why the console to PC ports are so sloppy most of the time. Bear in mind this theory is probably untrue (although it could be), but I thought it up while I was booting up my computer so here goes:

The reason console to PC ports are so douchey is because they don't want to waste their time and energy/resources to convert it properly to a PC game, since it would probably get pirated anyway and they would loose money. This (as far as I know) is impossible for consoles... hence why the PC gets singled out a lot for mainstream games.

Whats your opinion on that, and what would be your theory be it completely random or not?

Sorry man, I know you've had this eleventy twelve times already, but you're wrong.

The sloppy Console to PC ports you refer to are sloppy because some devs just can't be arsed. They've released their game to the wider market (let's face it, everyone and their mum owns a console of some sort, because it's more basic to set up than a PC), a game ported from the PC to consoles is usually done as an afterthought. If a game is going to be released on PC and console, they're better off to write it for PC and then port it to the console, as the console will have less variation, so has a standard demand level.

As someone pointed out, 1 pirated game =/= 1 lost copy. Consoles are relatively easy to mod to play pirated games, just go to any torrent site and search for xbox360, that'll show you how prevalent console piracy is.

As for PC's getting "singled out"... Why is it that there are such things as "exclusives"? Did the 360 get "singled out" when LBP didn't get released on it? What about the PS3 getting "singled out" for Halo?

 

[Ninjamedic]

Eh? PC ports are often better than the console version.

Yep.
Step 1: Develop PC Version.
Step 2: Perfect PC Version and port to 360.
Step 3: Develop PS3 Version separately to utilize it's unique software to the maximum>
Step 4: End Platform War.
Step 5: Defeat molyneux, take his power and use it to defeat Quick man.