Just Cause 2 Developer Avoids Making PC Games

[Greg Tito]

Just Cause 2 Developer Avoids Making PC Games

The Avalanche Studio co-founder said that he recommends that publishers not to make a PC game from his console title.

Christofer Sundberg is the creative director and co-founder of Avalanche Studio, based in Sweden. Avalanche made the first Just Cause 2 [http://www.amazon.com/Just-Cause-Xbox-360/dp/B000FZZ5UA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1278961508&sr=1-3] came out this week on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, even though Sundberg said that he doesn't prefer making games for all platforms. Ultimately, the decision is not up to him, but rather rests with publisher Square-Enix.

"The choice of developing a PC SKU is always up to the publisher. We can develop anything on any platform as it's just a question of time and money," Sundberg said. "If the game is primarily a console game, we always recommend the publisher to avoid a PC SKU as PC gamers are PC gamers and console gamers are console gamers."

Avoiding PC has nothing to do with piracy or anything like that. "Avoiding a platform because of piracy rather than attacking the problem is just giving in," he said, hinting that DRM is needless. "So I'd recommend finding smart solutions to allow players the freedom needed to play our games full out and the developers and publishers getting their return of investment.

"All in all, Avalanche Studios is primarily a console developer and the high-end platforms are the ones we prefer," Sundberg stated.

Just Cause 2 takes the fun of blowing up stuff in open-world games to a new height, making it a focus rather than a side activity. Sundberg is happy with how it turned out.

"The press and consumer feedback has been amazing and we are super proud as we see four years of extremely hard work through a business climate similar to a world-war paying off," he said.

I've been playing Just Cause 2 as much as I can but it's a huge world that takes a long time to digest. Look for my review next Tuesday.

Source: VG247 [http://www.vg247.com/2010/03/25/interview-just-cause-2s-christofer-sundberg/]

Permalink

 

[Cherry Cola]

Is the PC version of Just Cause 2 inferior to the console version then? Just a curious question.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

How exactly is a PC not a high-end platform?

And what the drek is an SKU? (Stock keeping unit? Unlikely)

 

[uppitycracker]

When I saw the title, my first thought was "haters be hatin".

But after reading it, I can understand it. Nothing is worse than a crappy PC port from the console (IE: MW2). Games for the PC should really be developed for the PC first and foremost. Otherwise it sells the experience short, and gives off a bad impression of the developer.

And really, Just Cause doesn't seem like the kinda game that I'd have fun with on the PC, anyway.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

When PC games are made for consoles they often end up with bad controls on the console or end up negatively affecting the PC version in ways that PC gamers do notice.

Not sure if the same negatives can be said for console to PC conversions. Console conventions on PC are pretty bad but the games themselves normally end up benefiting from the additional power and flexibility of the PC. Add mods to that and the PC ports of console games sometimes end up as the definitive version.

 

[UnravThreads]

Not sure if the same negatives can be said for console to PC conversions. Console conventions on PC are pretty bad but the games themselves normally end up benefiting from the additional power and flexibility of the PC. Add mods to that and the PC ports of console games sometimes end up as the definitive version.

Alone in the Dark 5.
Most irritating Console > PC port I've ever played, and it's not even ashamed to hide it.

 

[Thomly]

I have bought the game for PC, and I must say, you don't see anything of what Sunberg is saying.

I mean, there have been a lot of bad ports recently for the PC, but Just Cause 2 is not one of them. No XBOX controls everywhere, perfectly customizable controls, also great keyboard+mouse schemes, and more options for graphical quality than most games. You can go as low for a resolution as 640*480 rofl, but the game looks really gorgeous on high settings.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Well, he seems to understand the horror of rushed ports. Go...Avalanche Studios!

 

[Woodsey]

Is the PC version of Just Cause 2 inferior to the console version then? Just a curious question.

Not from what I've seen/heard - they had a whole dev. diary devoted to graphical updates for the PC version.

This PC gamer OR console gamer thing is getting a bit tired - most people are both (although generally lean towards one) and just because someone games exclusively on the PC doesn't mean they can't like a "console" game.

 

[-AC80-]

just a note to anyone wanting to play it today if they pre-ordered it good luck installing it as steam isn't letting you. so thanks steam i pre ordered it to wait on my shelf for 24 hours.

Its bad enough we get it 3 days after America, but the fact we have to wait till 7PM to play the game on our country's release date. When console players will be playing as soon as they get it on the day, and people who pirate it have been playing it for over a week now?

 

[Abedeus]

They do know that PCs are right now, even mid-ranged ones, superior to a console hardware... right?

Also, Just Cause was pretty boring, so I wouldn't buy the sequel anyway.

 

[AceDiamond]

They do know that PCs are right now, even mid-ranged ones, superior to a console hardware... right?

Also, Just Cause was pretty boring, so I wouldn't buy the sequel anyway.

Prepare to miss out then, the Steam demo alone shows why Just Cause 2 is at least 10 times the game the first one was.

 

[raunchysandwich]

Just Cause he said this we have to make a thread about it? i dont get it

 

[Kollega]

It sounds good in theory - ports from consoles to PC suck and vice versa. A reasonable claim.

But the implication is that you have to pick one platform and concentrate on it. And i'm sure everyone except indie developers and Valve would pick consoles over PC if faced with that choice... for one reason or another. And it would suck for me, because getting console games in this country is nigh impossible.

And i'm still angry at them for not including XP support.

 

[Natdaprat]

He sounds like a teenage boy that happens to be a developer and discovered console gaming before PC gaming. Quite said really.

 

[DTWolfwood]

PC development will cost more than console iterations. with dwindling profit margins for PC games i can see his point. Looks like i might have to get this game for the Console

 

[Yokai]

Well, After playing JC2 since release on PC, I love Avalanche Studios, but this guy is being stupid. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the PC port of Just Cause 2. No framerate problems, no ridiculous control scheme, nothing that detracts from the experience at all. I really don't know what he's worried about, because his own studio seems quite capable of developing for multiple platforms without any issues.

Unless he just prefers consoles over the PC, and as such doesn't want to go to the trouble of developing for a platform he doesn't appreciate, which seems awfully selfish to me.

 

[Jared]

Well, Its certainly a loss for them there. But, if it means they avoid one, hopefully means they will excel in the area of consoles

 

[Jared]

Well, Its certainly a loss for them there. But, if it means they avoid one, hopefully means they will excel in the area of consoles.

I cant wait to stay playing JC2 tommorow