Why NS:S should be on consoles also

Alcapwn · September 2006

<div class="IPBDescription">Good for the fans, AND for UWE</div>We all know NSS is going to be on the PC (Duh) but it should <i>also</i>be avaible on the 360/PS3.

Regardless of "OLOL, PC>ALL" arguments, i think NSS on a console would be a great success. Reason being, everyone has a mic and is on an equal playingfield.

Also, Flayra could bypass the retail shelves just like he will on the PC. On the PC, its going to be released through steam. On the 360, it could be released on Live, and the PS3 is going to have a similiar set-up as well. (Infact, the PS3 will even support mods for games like UT2k7).

Also, the console market is alot bigger than the PC market. Releasing it on consoles, as well as PC, will ensure that the money keeps flowing in. If ZOS is doing rather well, think of how NSS would do on Live or PS3 Online.

Personally, as a fan, i would buy both the PC and Console versions.

GiGaBiTe · September 2006

It would be a literal nightmare to port any sort of NS to a console. Not only would you have to port the mod code from x86 to PowerPC or PowerPC Cell, you would also have to port the entire source engine over as well (if it hasn't already been done.)

Among the marketing, programming and PR, it would likely cost more than you would get return on in profits.

Epidemic · September 2006

When consoles gets a keyboard as standard, maybe.

Alcapwn · September 2006

<b>Simmer down, no need for that.</b>

CoolCookieCooks · September 2006

just to sort some things straight, portal and other HL2 related games are going to be released on the xbox 360, so i cannot see why NS source cannot be put on there. But thinking about some gameplay aspects and the requirement for alot of binds and keys, im not sure if a bobstandard controller will have enough buttons and controls that NS requires.

Flayra · September 2006

Yep. I saw Source running on the 360 and it looked great. The bigger problem here is the engine license cost (big money) and distribution (need a publishing deal). If we design the next NS game properly though, I think we could put it onto consoles after we release on Steam.

TychoCelchuuu · September 2006

I think it would be awesome if NS:S came out on consoles, but the publishing for that would probably be a difficult affair. I don't know what Flayra's got worked out with Valve, but until they get Steam onto a 360/PS3 then he'd have to do a seperate deal with different publishers other than Valve, which might entail licensing the entire Source engine (assuming he hasn't done so already).

Edit: Bad news, Flayra beat me. Good news, I got everything right, so booyah.

Alcapwn · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Flayra @ Sep 22 2006, 07:40 PM) [snapback]1567454[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
Yep. I saw Source running on the 360 and it looked great. The bigger problem here is the engine license cost (big money) and distribution (need a publishing deal). If we design the next NS game properly though, I think we could put it onto consoles after we release on Steam.
</div>

But that's exactly the thing...besides the engine license money (Which you need anyway to release NSS over steam for $$$, right?) if you use Xbox Live's marketplace for the release of the game, and PS3's online service, you wouldnt have to pay for the retail stuff.

It could be just like releasing over steam.

Mouse · September 2006

My main reservation about NS:S being ported to consoles is the track record that the RTS genre as a whole has on consoles. I shudder to think how commanding would work.

[EDIT] <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com:90/forums/index.php?s=8819514741217351680&showtopic=88971&hl=" target="_blank">Perhaps commanding would work something like this?</a>
(but using a thumbstick instead of the mouse)

Swiftspear · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mouse @ Sep 23 2006, 01:11 AM) [snapback]1567517[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
My main reservation about NS:S being ported to consoles is the track record that the RTS genre as a whole has on consoles. I shudder to think how commanding would work.

[EDIT] <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com:90/forums/index.php?s=8819514741217351680&showtopic=88971&hl=" target="_blank">Perhaps commanding would work something like this?</a>
(but using a thumbstick instead of the mouse)
</div>
While comm mode is unarguably better suited for a keyboard and mouse then console, I really don't think that would be a massive problem because only one player has to comm. You'll get people who just like it and you'll get people who may have commed for computer but won't for console because it is too klunky, but you really don't need lots and lots of comms, only one per a game is needed.

Ahnteis · September 2006

NS has SUPER fast players (alien team). Tracking them as marines OR playing them with any skill at all would be impossible with a controller. You'd have to completely change the game to make it any fun on a console.

ChimpZealot · September 2006

Ahnteis hit the big gameplay problem dead on. Lots of people have trouble tracking with a mouse, I can't imagine how tough it would be using a gamepad.

Swiftspear · September 2006

The reality of the situation is that, yes, If it was simply a matter of pressing the "port to this console" button then NS definitely should because there would be no downside to doing it. Realistically however there are LARGE production costs to porting to a console and NS is in MANY ways not a game suited for console play without significant balance changes which would require significant on console testing, which would take ages and cost tonnes of money. Really all the arguments made in the original post can be discounted because they frankly are just completely inaccurate, NS for consoles is more likely to cost flayra money then it is to make flayra money.

plAstiC · September 2006

How about a port on the Wii ^^

Maybe it´s more fun to play ns with the wii remote, then with keyboard and mouse <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />

Alcapwn · September 2006

Controls will be fine, dont know why people are worrying about that.

SkulkerHunter · September 2006

Maybe I'm just an old timer than remembers the consoles that were, well, crap. I personally despise consoles, but any way to improve the NS community (even at the expense of getting the normal console crowd) I'll support it.

Petco · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(WaterBoy @ Sep 23 2006, 08:47 AM) [snapback]1567573[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
Controls will be fine, dont know why people are worrying about that.
</div>

Please explain why?

I really don't like shooters(third or first person) on consoles. I definately don't like RTSs on consoles(my experiences on Starcraft on the N64).

It is hard to aim, move, select units(as a com) and other things with the commander. Another thing is, unlike other third/first person shooters(like CS on xbox), you really need to take use of movement. Especially as an alien or jetpacker for marine.

Shooters don't require you do to do much moving at all when in a firefight, you crouch, you aim with the analog stick, then you just press a button a few times. A few reasons you don't move around while firing at people is that your gun will be unsteady and you'll miss more, and you move slowly.

But in NS, marines can move as fast as they want and still aim like they're not moving(in terms of gun shaking, etc), aliens need to move to be able to attack.

I've seen a lot of people say that the console versions of games like halflife, counter-strike, call of duty, etc is much more worse than the PC version. And I've experience it as well, and agree with them.

I'm not sure for those of you with keyboards and mouse on consoles play, but I'd imagine it's not as comfortable as playing on a table, desktop, etc. You need a spot to place the keyboard/mouse, and it needs to be on some table or hard surface so both do not move(especially the mouse).

Why NS:S might be better on the next gen consoles, appears to do only with graphics. It doesn't seem NS will be a crazy 32v32 game, the game is pretty fun even in small matches(which most people play anyway). So you only need decent video card/ram/etc which is becoming cheaper and cheaper(obviously).

That's why I think porting it to the next gen console is only better graphics, nothing more. Speaking of graphics, I really see no need for better graphics. HL2 pretty much has "enough good graphics". In other words, I see it as pointless of trying to get graphics like HL2's better than what it has already. It's just forcing people to buy better video cards, and forcing people to pay much more crap. HL2 is the peak of graphics in my book, and anything more/better is just a waste or isn't needed at all.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(WaterBoy)</div><div class='quotemain'>Reason being, everyone has a mic and is on an equal playingfield.</div> Headsets with mics, or just mics, are hardly expensive at all. You still need to buy a headset/mic for the next gen consoles as well. And I don't know what you mean by "equal playing field", please explain what you mean.

<b>Realistically speaking</b>, the NS team is only starting on NS:Source and still don't have a lot of funds. Getting NS:Source at all on steam/for PC is one big obstacle right now. Porting it to a next gen console AND distributing it is a <b>much</b> bigger obstacle for the ns team.

Alcapwn · September 2006

People playing Halo2 and BFME2 on xbox/360 seem to be doing fine at FPS/RTS games.

If you dont like it on console...erm...dont play it?

Im just saying, <i>when there done</i> with NSS, they could port it over to the 360/PS3 for alot more $$$ than they would make on the PC, simply because of the bigger market. Also, if the release the game as a multiplayer only componet over Marketplace (360) or PNP (PS3) then they could bypass the store shelves and middleman altogether.

Cereal_KillR · September 2006

I don't think NS:S has the overinflated hype Halo benefits from to allow it to enter the console market. Nobody ever heard about UWE, and it's not a handful of fans swearing how good a game is that's going to make the game available or successful on Consoles.

Alcapwn · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cereal_KillR @ Sep 23 2006, 06:54 PM) [snapback]1567630[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
I don't think NS:S has the overinflated hype Halo benefits from to allow it to enter the console market. Nobody ever heard about UWE, and it's not a handful of fans swearing how good a game is that's going to make the game available or successful on Consoles.
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Bungie was unknown too console people also; look how they turned out.

It sure wasnt people talking about marathon for the mac that made people rush out and buy copies of Halo1.

Flayra · September 2006

I think we'll probably do some experiments to see if we can make early design decisions such that the game would work on consoles and with a controller, but our main priority is going to be PC. That might mean changing commander mode or player speeds, but we wouldn't do this at expense of the overall game of course!

Underwhelmed · September 2006

I refuse to play FPSes on a console. People already can't aim with a mouse, what makes you think they can with a control pad?

Alcapwn · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Underwhelmed @ Sep 25 2006, 05:27 PM) [snapback]1567896[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
I refuse to play FPSes on a console. People already can't aim with a mouse, what makes you think they can with a control pad?
</div>

<i>Then dont buy it.</i>

What makes that so hard to understand?

puzl · September 2006

Actually, Shadowrun will be released on 360 and Vista and will allow cross platform multiplay. Mouse vs Controller, the showdown.

Skydancer · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(puzl @ Sep 26 2006, 04:25 AM) [snapback]1567956[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
Actually, Shadowrun will be released on 360 and Vista and will allow cross platform multiplay. Mouse vs Controller, the showdown.
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Omg I wonder how a mouse user will feel when fragged by someone using a gamepad <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

Swiftspear · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Skydancer @ Sep 26 2006, 05:51 AM) [snapback]1567963[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
Omg I wonder how a mouse user will feel when fragged by someone using a gamepad <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
</div>
Humiliated, that being said, it will be more of a rarity then not.

myrigth · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(WaterBoy @ Sep 25 2006, 07:06 PM) [snapback]1567914[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
<i>Then dont buy it.</i>
What makes that so hard to understand?
</div>

Ha, ha, exactly. No one will.

Skydancer · September 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swiftspear @ Sep 26 2006, 06:22 AM) [snapback]1567964[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'>
Humiliated, that being said, it will be more of a rarity then not.
</div>

I'm looking forward to the outcome of this experiment. I don't think console gamers' ego will take it lightly <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />

J! · September 2006

I think it'd be cool to focus on an awesome multiplayer game for source, then use the assets we've made to push out an awesome single player game for consoles. I think the most successful FPSes have been designed with gameplay mechanics that allow them to work perfectly on one platform (Halo, Goldeneye, HL, etc). When it comes to cloning titles across platforms, to me, it always looks like someone is just trying to make a quick buck.

Valo · September 2006

hmm yeah i think work on source n get it perfect for the PC rather than mess about at the moment with consoles. Also they should totally get it sorted so using a web cam you can have your face on your marine, i want to see who im eating <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

broadband · September 2006

playing ns on a console would handicap you hardcore

Why NS:S should be on consoles also

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