Disc Swapping and the Variable of Choice

We’ve all seen the argument before, a game comes out on PS3 and Xbox with the latter version arriving on multiple discs spurring the ‘system fundamentalists’ into an immature back and forth flame fest. The likelihood of somebody mentioning RROD or lack of cross-game chat growing exponentially by the second and, as tempers soar and IQs dip, chances are high that innocent commenter’s will end up covered in the sticky residue of ignorance.

The aforementioned argument has seen more than its fair share of ridiculous comments and, although I think offering a logical resolution would prove futile, I’d like to try and clear up some points in the hope that I can provide a metaphorical wet-wipe to future N4G readers.

It all comes down to one word, a word that is incredibly important but so often taken for granted, choice. When you need to make a decision you weigh up the pros and cons in your mind or even make a list, if you’re that way inclined. For some the choice is simple they have ’heavy’ reason to make one choice over another; small minded people find themselves in this situation often as they tend to remove variables from any thought they have to do. Do you see where I’m going with this? That’s right, as with religion and politics, fanboyism is one big choice that removes the need to make more, just as important, choices down the road. Unfortunately the people that make the choice to remove choice need to ‘block out’ any reference of opposing points of view or risk having to actually think or worse, admit that they were wrong.

Anyway, the point and decision I want to analyze today is the choice of console on which to purchase you next multi-platform game. Let’s go back to the weighing analogy for a second and imagine you have your scales, with PS3 on one side and 360 on other. Assuming you aren’t tainted by irrational bias, when a game approaches release that is identical on both platforms the scales should be exactly even right? OK, now imagine the developer announces the game is coming on 3 DVDs on 360 and 1 Bluray on PS3, would the rational mind consider this a ‘weight’ to be used for the PS3? Of course it would, who wants to get up to change discs, even if it is only once in 40+ hours of gaming. Not only that, multiple discs just give off this air of inferiority, as if technology hasn’t advanced since 1995, although that’s more of a personal side note.

However, this ‘weight’ is often over exaggerated in comments sections to the point that it would make any other factor redundant. This is just as much a statement of ignorance, from the overly zealous hater of choice, as dismissing it altogether. In the end all it boils down to is another variable in a, sometimes complicated, equation of choice, which, should you choose to dismiss, will skew your final result. It’s like my mother always said to me...

“Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent to the programming of the matrix. You are the eventuality of an anomaly, which despite my sincerest efforts I have been unable to eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision. While it remains a burden assiduously avoided, it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control.”

Play Games, Win Swag

At the end of this week N4Gers and beyond are going to be playing games to benefit their local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. http://n4g.com/user/blogpos...

...and you have two ways to win a ton of swag!

1) Join the N4G team to play games and pick up a few sponsors of your own

2) Donate $24 or more to any member of the team

Where are my PC ports sony?

This generation has seen the biggest divide among gamers since Mario vs. Sonic. But in a place where you would think there would be a shift to unite there has been no move made.

That place? The PC. Sony came in to this generation wanting an all in one experience and as such went from calling their system a "Computer Entertainment System" opposed to "Videogame entertainment system."

But if this is the case why has Sony not used the PC to further implement this strategy. Outside of everquest and DC online there aren't many games I can think of that Sony has published on the PC.

But why? Their system as built is as close to a PC as the home console has ever been. Standard HDD, multiple ports to allow sharing of files (original fat anyways newer systems are more streamlined) an internet browser and they started off by allowing a Linux OS to be installed (again OG fats). So how is it that we have yet to see an Uncharted or Resistance grace a platform which it so much emulates?

What does Sony have to lose? The one thing I can think about is piracy, nobody wants to work on a game only for people to play it for free while others are stuck paying $60 a pop. The other thing I can think about as well is the initial investment, developing a game for multiple platforms is more expensive than solely developing for 1, but one can argue more money can be made if it sells well.

But what does Sony have to gain? I think depending on the game a whole lot. Games no matter what system they are developed for, are made on PC, so developing a PS3/PC is not really too far of a stretch and think about the possibilities. Take the upcoming Uncharted 3. 11/1/11 is the day most PS3 gamers are waiting for (I am) this series is one of my favorites, but having to explain the game to some of my PC buddies is a bummer, because most will never invest into getting a PS3, because as far as they are concerned its only one game and they are not going to shell out $300+ for a 1 game system. Now lets imagine on 6/1/12 the launch of Uncharted 3 takes place on PC. Now there is no longer that divide, now what you spent talking to your buddies about 7 months ago can be experienced by them and most likely at a cheaper price, either the standard $50 or now that they are getting along, on Valve's Steam service for $40 or below.

Now all of sudden you have just widen you audience, people who potentially wrote off the PS3 may start looking more into it wondering what else they might be missing out on. But this goes further than a few games, this goes into the area of providing a somewhat different experience of the same title if done correctly. Imagine playing Uncharted 3 on a dedicated server! I mean for me its a big plus. I would potentially buy the game twice if I really liked the MP. I would buy it on PS3 to play it close to release with a controller, the only way to play it, and if dedicated server support was active for the PC port I would buy it again to play a game with a lot less lag. Warhawk comes to mind when thinking of games that would succeed as a PS3/PC game. PS3 Warhawk ran on dedicated servers and the game played great when playing in North America (my region) I got pings as low as 20 when playing on my basic cable line, I can only imagine how good that number would be with my upgraded connection. I was playing games with Euro players with a ping of 100-160 which is fantastic considering the distance.

So with is all this, I am left wondering where are my PC ports? I don't think it would be much of a loss to release big name exclusive for the PC, especially now with valve being super supportive. From personal experience, I don't own a X360 so some games that are console exclusives like fable 3, Splinter Cell:Conviction (started off exclusive) were always missed out on because I didn't own a X360, but when taxes rolled around I took my refund invested in a rig and was able to play these games thanks to them being on PC. Same effect can be had with Sony games. If you to think the last line is the reason why Sony wouldn't publish their games for PC here is some food for thought. I really want to play Gears of War 3, but I really don't have a need to own a X360, I played the first Gears when it was ported over to PC, about 4 years ago and I haven't touched the series again since, even though I have this urge to play Gears 2 and 3. Point? As much as I want to play Gears its not enough for me to pay for a X360 and at this point I don't think there is any game that can be released that will make me buy a X360. But, if a Gears of War trilogy collection were set to release on PC I would buy it on release day. So that I can experience the series.