Cross platform multiplayer gaming, why not?

[smeghead25]

I just read this article:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104231-Gearbox-Steam-and-Microsoft-Should-Play-Nice

It reminded me of the whole debate about cross-platform multiplayer. I honestly don't know why we can't Have the three different lobby's. One for console's, one for PC, and one for everyone. That way people can go head to head against anyone they wish, but those who do not want to play against other platforms who may or may not have a better ability to play are also not forced into it.

So does anyone else want it though? Do you think it would actually work?

 

[JeanLuc761]

I do agree that we should have cross-console play (for PS3 and Xbox anyway), and we DEFINITELY shouldn't have any restrictions on PC->PC gaming, but console->PC gaming is a miserable idea for one single reason: Mouse and Keyboard.

While consoles do compensate for the lack of precision the joystick offers, a competent PC gamer with a mouse and keyboard will wipe the floor with the vast majority of those who are playing on a console.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Because people are greedy, good sir!

 

[smeghead25]

Yeah I know, but then again there's a lot of less competent PC players and many competent console players, surely there could still be a lot of competition between them?

 

[JeanLuc761]

Yeah I know, but then again there's a lot of less competent PC players and many competent console players, surely there could still be a lot of competition between them?

There's a lot of miserably incompetent people on both platforms, but I'd actually argue there are more on Xbox/PS3. That isn't a jab at the userbase, it's the fact that consoles generally appeal to those who prefer a simplistic approach to gaming, rather than the (relatively) more involved PC gaming community.

While it would be nice to play Modern Warfare on PC vs Xbox, it would be so horribly in favor of the PC players that the game would cease to be entertaining.

 

[feather240]

Just think, PC snipers Vs Console MachineGunners It would be great, except for hackers flooding in from the PC side. I assume it's easier for PCs.

 

[smeghead25]

While it would be nice to play Modern Warfare on PC vs Xbox, it would be so horribly in favor of the PC players that the game would cease to be entertaining.

But if the option was there to switch to play against PC folk it would be like turning up the difficulty in single player games. It's a lot more satisfying when you do actually overcome those sort of odds.

And not to mention it would give PC noobs (like me) a fairly decent chance when first beginning L4D on PC for example. That extra edge of control over some of your more experienced adversary's would keep new players from getting too frustrated to bother continuing to develop their skills.

 

[JeanLuc761]

Just think, PC snipers Vs Console MachineGunners It would be great, except for hackers flooding in from the PC side. I assume it's easier for PCs.

It is easier to use cheats on PC (usually), but a lot of servers have gotten really good at removing people who use said exploits. Rare are the games where I find a cheater, much less more than one.

And PcSnipers vs. ConsoleGunners? Could be fun...except snipers would win in a landslide (It's basically point and shoot).

 

[Ogre Arnett]

I didn't work very well with Shadowrun.

 

[feather240]

Just think, PC snipers Vs Console MachineGunners It would be great, except for hackers flooding in from the PC side. I assume it's easier for PCs.

It is easier to use cheats on PC (usually), but a lot of servers have gotten really good at removing people who use said exploits. Rare are the games where I find a cheater, much less more than one.

And PcSnipers vs. ConsoleGunners? Could be fun...except snipers would win in a landslide (It's basically point and shoot).

What if being shot shakes your scope?

 

[JeanLuc761]

Just think, PC snipers Vs Console MachineGunners It would be great, except for hackers flooding in from the PC side. I assume it's easier for PCs.

It is easier to use cheats on PC (usually), but a lot of servers have gotten really good at removing people who use said exploits. Rare are the games where I find a cheater, much less more than one.

And PcSnipers vs. ConsoleGunners? Could be fun...except snipers would win in a landslide (It's basically point and shoot).

What if being shot shakes your scope?

It's more a question of distance, really. A competent PC gamer can headshot someone from halfway across an average Call of Duty map, while machine gunners have to get considerably closer. It could be interesting, certainly, but I don't think it would be a fair matchup.

 

[WOPR]

the PC gamers would dominate the console goers with advanced video cards allowing them to see further and clearer, having multiple monitors doing multiple things, and having the precision of a mouse redefining "Boom head-shot!" while they try to steady their shaky joy-sticked thumbs

on an off note

Everyone I know plays beat hazard with Xbox gamepads on the computer via Steam
I play with keyboard and mouse

they keep telling me keyboard and mouse suck and yet I have 280x the score of my friend in second place

 

[JeanLuc761]

Well, here's another take on it.
Have cross-platform play enabled for each TYPE of device. Someone on a windows PC can play with people on Mac and Linux and vice-versa. Then have cross-platform enabled between 360 (or a new 8th gen console), PS3 (same insert as 360), and if they can come out with something capable of it, whatever Nintendo's next console is. I think that this would work MUCH better, and would also raise support for PC OS's other than windows, OpenGL, and some other things that I'm undoubtedly not thinking of.

This man speaks wisdom.

 

[Mr. Omega]

FPS? See above posts for why not.

Other genres: Sure, why not? Games like Madden, Need for Speed, Street Fighter, AC Brotherhood, Marvel vs Capcom, Gran Turismo, ect. would greatly benefit from cross-platform online. I really pray this will happen soon.

 

[feather240]

Just think, PC snipers Vs Console MachineGunners It would be great, except for hackers flooding in from the PC side. I assume it's easier for PCs.

It is easier to use cheats on PC (usually), but a lot of servers have gotten really good at removing people who use said exploits. Rare are the games where I find a cheater, much less more than one.

And PcSnipers vs. ConsoleGunners? Could be fun...except snipers would win in a landslide (It's basically point and shoot).

What if being shot shakes your scope?

It's more a question of distance, really. A competent PC gamer can headshot someone from halfway across an average Call of Duty map, while machine gunners have to get considerably closer. It could be interesting, certainly, but I don't think it would be a fair matchup.

Cloaking or Le Parkour should help the Console side out.

 

[octafish]

But Sony won't talk to the other kids...

Basically: You're Dreaming. MS and Sony are never going to be friends and PC players would dominate FPS. However get Kinect working in RTS and there may be some possibilities. It will never include Sony though, because Sony will never play ball.

 

[Zer_]

Because the controls are lopsided one way or the other. For games like SFIV, cross-platform play would suck for PC players without a gamepad. The reverse is true for FPS games.

 

[Ashsaver]

It happen before,that fps game,what was it called? Shadowrun i think,lets Xbox users compete with PC.

But it didn't end well,before of how fast the PC users can pull off headshots

But if we can have XboxLIVE user play together with PSN user that would be nice too,it just that i don't think either Microsoft or Sony would play along.

 

[Sacman]

I'll leave this right here...

 

[Fire Daemon]

Yeah I know, but then again there's a lot of less competent PC players and many competent console players, surely there could still be a lot of competition between them?

There's a lot of miserably incompetent people on both platforms, but I'd actually argue there are more on Xbox/PS3. That isn't a jab at the userbase, it's the fact that consoles generally appeal to those who prefer a simplistic approach to gaming, rather than the (relatively) more involved PC gaming community.

Actually, I find that with multi-platform titles like The CoD and MoH franchises the better players are found on the console versions. The reason for this is that the higher difficulties in aiming and getting head shots results in the players having to adapt. Can't quick-scope person in the house so I need to throw a flash bang, can't aim fast enough to take out person around corner so I wait for them to come to me. Adaption! Console players adapt to the game and fill in the void created by the controller.

You can actually see this in the 360 version of MW2, in which players that abuse of the Intervention quick scope glitch which allows the player to insta-kill anyone withing range and view very easily. These players tend to fail at completing objectives and lack a basic survival instinct. These players, who may be able to kill you very easily face to face, fail at completing objectives and playing in a way that stops them from ending up in asymmetrical battles against their favour (shot from behind etc).

Playing CoD4 and MW2 on the PC I've noticed that many players focus on their aiming ability rather than their tactics and the game becomes a quick draw bonanza. Introduce a console player into the equation and they'll play in a way that minimizes the PC players aiming advantage while also avoiding their own weaknesses. Basically, a console player wont play in a way that lets others engage them equally because they can't rely on their aiming, while a PC player might.

However if a PC player uses both his aiming and tactics that they are much superior players. That's also probably why you find more a skill spread on PC games as well.

I wouldn't mind having more cross platform games if you can turn it off. I would like the chance to pwn some of those PC gamers as a lowly console cretin, but if I'm wrong and it turns out every PC gamer pwns every console gamer (somehow) than there would need to be an option to turn that off.