The last few weeks we’ve often brought up, on the gaming podcast, our reasons behind why Gears of War 2 wouldn’t be a PC title and only an Xbox 360. Our theory was more of a marketing tactic, assuming there would be no PC version because Microsoft wants to focus the attention of their big titles to the Xbox 360 as it’s a real gaming platform and they want more attention on it. We might have been wrong.
In a recent interview, IGN asked Epic’s Cliff Bleszinski some pointed questions about the PC release. Like us, everyone has been questioning the move to NOT release Gears of War 2 on the PC especially considering the first game made a PC debut and Epic has always been a big PC developer. Turns out, Epic is utilizing the Xbox 360 as a nice big can of DRM.
“Here’s the problem right now; the person who is savvy enough to want to have a good PC to upgrade their video card, is a person who is savvy enough to know bit torrent to know all the elements so they can pirate software.” (ign)
Following this answer he confirmed with a definitive no that we won’t see GoW2 on the PC. Of course, they also underscore the fact that the PC can have a wild array of hardware chipsets for video cards and catering to the masses with compatibility is pretty much a nightmare. A system with great DRM and a closed hardware platform is hard to pass up.
If Epic is going to take this route, will we see other major PC developers take the same road? Had the Xbox 360 been a failure, developers would continue to rely on the PC as their platform of choice for many franchises. Now, with the 360 vibrant and popular, developers are able to build a closed platform game with a high degree of safety against piracy.
Although pirates can produce hacked 360 games, it’s not nearly as easy to get them, create them and make them work on a stock Xbox 360 console. It’s not about making it impossible to pirate, it’s about making it hard enough that gamers will justify purchasing over the work of making the game function on their 360.
If I were a die-hard PC gamer, I’d be afraid of this movement. You’re running bleeding edge hardware that developers are afraid to take advantage of because you might just push the game to a torrent site. And, why would they cater to the bleeding edge customers when all the others don’t have hardware strong enough to play the game.
The chipset excuse seems a bit weak, we’ve always had hardware that’s been good and hardware that’s been old and crusty yet developers do their best to try to accomodate the middle end and high end systems leaving the “System Requirements” specifications on the box to do the rest. Are they just making excuses so they can protect the integrity of their game from would-be pirates?
Now here is another interesting video game for the Atari 2600, the game Dragon Fire consisted of two game screens, one which you ran across a bridge while fireballs were shot at you, you had to duck or jump over the fireball. This screen was a side-scroller style screen (although it doesn’t actually scroll), at the other end of the bridge was a castle door which you’d enter to get to the next screen.
When you finished collecting all the treasure an exit would pop up in the corner and you had to run to it without being burned by the fireballs, that dragon would turn from left to right nearly instantly too! Then, you’d jump into the exit and be back on the bridge again, but this time it was harder. You could die up to 7 times before the game was over (just to show you how hard it is, they gave you a bunch of lives).
I think it’s legit. And pirates deserve to get the blame. They wanna steal games? Fine – let’s see how they react when all there is to pirate is Cabella’s Duck Hunt.
I think it’s legit. And pirates deserve to get the blame. They wanna steal games? Fine – let’s see how they react when all there is to pirate is Cabella’s Duck Hunt.
and the PC gamers get to pay the penalty. 🙁
Of course, that would give the pirates more incentive to hack the 360 better.
and the PC gamers get to pay the penalty. 🙁
Of course, that would give the pirates more incentive to hack the 360 better.
360 is a different beast. It doesn’t have internet access like the PC. It doesn’t have BitTorrent. And do you know how much trouble it is to mod an Xbox 360? It’s more convenient to rent a game. (And cheaper.)
360 is a different beast. It doesn’t have internet access like the PC. It doesn’t have BitTorrent. And do you know how much trouble it is to mod an Xbox 360? It’s more convenient to rent a game. (And cheaper.)
Hack and be hacked!! Hack the Planet!!!
360 will be so Hacked so Cracked that Microsoft will wish there was a PC version!!!
Even MS will conform and create new (HardWard GPL Licence )!! Updates will give the 360 more functionality!!! Run Windows XP,Windows Vista,Windows 7, Linux 100% !!!free online gaming. 360 will become the new seconed PC Box to own, alongside PS3!!!
the futrue is bright the future is whatever we make it!!( power to the people)!!!
Hack and be hacked!! Hack the Planet!!!
360 will be so Hacked so Cracked that Microsoft will wish there was a PC version!!!
Even MS will conform and create new (HardWard GPL Licence )!! Updates will give the 360 more functionality!!! Run Windows XP,Windows Vista,Windows 7, Linux 100% !!!free online gaming. 360 will become the new seconed PC Box to own, alongside PS3!!!
the futrue is bright the future is whatever we make it!!( power to the people)!!!
OK, that was a nice glimpse into a disturbed mind.
OK, that was a nice glimpse into a disturbed mind.