Aion on Consoles

[Zyuu]

Great exercise. Imagine if you have to run real fast if you dash/sprint too.

[baybaykei]

I would not like the idea of AIon on console ever! My consoles were made to play done games..I cant imagine myself getting hyped about Aion if it came out on console for any MMORPG for that matter..Wouldn't be the same game as it could be on PC...I think Aion on console will never happen less they get greedy and want more gamers (not to say they wont but as I read here there are kids that cant get PCs)
It brings a question...maybe someone has asked...if down the line for some reason they do make Aion on console and have it on PC also, would it be the same thing as in ppl can play on console and yet in the same map with a PC playing person?

[Ipmia]

Originally Posted by [PhiberOpticks]

But you're just being cheap. If people are willing to dole out for a monthly fee, then why wouldn't they be willing to spare some money for a keyboard and mouse? And the average person already has them in their house. And typically they're USB. I don't see why it's so unrealistic when you're just arguing from the perspective of a penny pincher who, given their penny-pinching nature, probably wouldn't P2P anyways.

nope i 'm not being cheap. Im just trying to see things from an objective point of view, as a company would you take the risk to spend money on the assumption that customers are gona buy an acessori for you re game ? i m sorry but that its way too risky on a pure marketing point.

now you dont need to be agressive on your comments, i have curerntly 4 P2P accounts , a PS2 , PS3, a WII and 2 computers able to run aion

If cant be oblective withou being insulting jsut read and dont post.. or better stop trolling here.

[[PhiberOpticks]]

Originally Posted by Ipmia

nope i 'm not being cheap. Im just trying to see things from an objective point of view, as a company would you take the risk to spend money on the assumption that customers are gona buy an acessori for you re game ? i m sorry but that its way too risky on a pure marketing point.

now you dont need to be agressive on your comments, i have curerntly 4 P2P accounts , a PS2 , PS3, a WII and 2 computers able to run aion

If cant be oblective withou being insulting jsut read and dont post.. or better stop trolling here.

I'm not trying to fight with you. Just an aggressive debater XD

Anyways, I'm just saying that if people are willing to pay (this game will probably be $15USD; it's somewhat of an standard at this point) $15 a month, I see no reason to believe that people wouldn't spend a little extra for a keyboard and mouse. Square Enix was able to market FFXI on this premise with great success. And people even had to pay extra for their copy in order to get the HDD.

Originally Posted by baybaykei

I would not like the idea of AIon on console ever! My consoles were made to play done games..I cant imagine myself getting hyped about Aion if it came out on console for any MMORPG for that matter..Wouldn't be the same game as it could be on PC...I think Aion on console will never happen less they get greedy and want more gamers (not to say they wont but as I read here there are kids that cant get PCs)
It brings a question...maybe someone has asked...if down the line for some reason they do make Aion on console and have it on PC also, would it be the same thing as in ppl can play on console and yet in the same map with a PC playing person?

Are you saying that Aion, upon release, wouldn't be a 'done game'? Are you sure that just didn't just miss the fact that it would still be on PC? It would just be cross-platform.

[Old_ben]

Hard to say. Final Fantasy Managed it, but as I recall it wasn't a massive hit. A lot of people are asking for it, so it may be within the realm of possiblility. The problem lies here:

To create a council version, they don't just "burn" it to a diffrent disk. they have to go through and rewrite code, do more polishing for that certain game system, etc. Since the game wasn't designed with that in mind, a port wont be so simple. It will take awhile and to be perfectly honest, I'd rather they work out bug fixes rather than port it to more vgame systems.

The system requirments are not very high guys. Anyone with a modest system from the last two years should be able to run this game on at LEAST medium settings, otherwise cough out $100 bucks and get a videocard/RAM worthwhile.

Just my 2 Cents.

Originally Posted by [PhiberOpticks]

Are you saying that Aion, upon release, wouldn't be a 'done game'? Are you sure that just didn't just miss the fact that it would still be on PC? It would just be cross-platform.

What he means by this, is that AION will constantly be updated and bug fixed. Therefor like any MMORPG, it isn't "done" Imagine a 3 Gb game, on you ps3, or Xbox360, with years of updates. BOOM 10 GB's. More Updates BOOM 12 Gb's. Are you willing to sacrifice your valuable Harddrive Space? I mean gee, you PS3 players wanna be just like a PC with your... movie watching and web browser, why not just a buy computer.

[Ipmia]

@ fiber

no biggie, i took it abit too personnaly too !

anyways liek Old_ben mentionned why jsut not play on a computer ? now days its eazy to have a mediacenter able to run those games and the result is the same with lot of plus. so why would a company bother ?

The day the console makers company stop being idiots and add a Computer emulation all this arguiong will be fixed ( i m surprised microsoft havent think of it yet but at least they pretty much turned they consol game as a PC extention)

I barely play on my PS's and i considere my PS3 as a waste of money ( should have gotten the microsoft one if it was not ... microsoft :evil the console itsefl remind me the NEO GEO back in the days... a shame.

my second computer is pluged on my TV and i often play sitting in a chair as long as the game suits it (i m not gona play a mmorpg there though AoC could do it imo if it was not for the chat).


Imo those games will be viable and actually bring it to a next step when the chat window ll disapear to let only voice as an option and when the gameplay allow a PAD to be usefull and still keep the complexity of the mmorpg style.

but i dont see it comming anytime soom :s

[k1klass]

Ive tried the mmo's that are out on my 360, but i got to say the 360 is best left to arcade and driving games, the keyboard and mouse rule in rpg and fps games, trying to play these with a pad is beyond terrible.

[birdman]

Originally Posted by Ipmia

that is not realistic. You dont design a game that is only gona work with accessories that just not a viable option.
Even if somehow they decided to do so. that would be paying a lot for a single game ( mousse, keyboard, game, monthly fee).. comon get real

the "just buy a keyboard/mouse " argument is just wrong.... a game like a mmorpg need to be planned to play on console first for that.. and then add the keyboard/mouse support for more convenience of the player "IF" he wish too.

now that is realistic

Accessories not viable??? Have you played singstar, Guitar hero, Rock band, FFXI? These all require more than $100 worth of "unrealistic accessories" yet they have had GREAT sales. So by no means are the things needed for Aion unrealistic.


Actually singstar just needs a mic, but you can add more mics.

What he means by this, is that AION will constantly be updated and bug fixed. Therefor like any MMORPG, it isn't "done" Imagine a 3 Gb game, on you ps3, or Xbox360, with years of updates. BOOM 10 GB's. More Updates BOOM 12 Gb's. Are you willing to sacrifice your valuable Harddrive Space? I mean gee, you PS3 players wanna be just like a PC with your... movie watching and web browser, why not just a buy computer.

Ps2 had an external HDD that FFXI players had no problem buying. 12gb's is nothing nowadays anyways.

[[PhiberOpticks]]

What he means by this, is that AION will constantly be updated and bug fixed. Therefor like any MMORPG, it isn't "done" Imagine a 3 Gb game, on you ps3, or Xbox360, with years of updates. BOOM 10 GB's. More Updates BOOM 12 Gb's. Are you willing to sacrifice your valuable Harddrive Space? I mean gee, you PS3 players wanna be just like a PC with your... movie watching and web browser, why not just a buy computer.

On top of what birdman and I said regarding HDDs, that's an absurdly exaggerated claim. The WoW game itself only took up about 6GB at release. Patchs only add up to a few hundred MB, and that's for the bigger content.

Not only that, but the PS3 HDD is a typical HDD, dimensions and all. That means you can switch the HDDs for bigger ones if you must.

Originally Posted by k1klass

Ive tried the mmo's that are out on my 360, but i got to say the 360 is best left to arcade and driving games, the keyboard and mouse rule in rpg and fps games, trying to play these with a pad is beyond terrible.

But that's why you can use a keyboard and mouse with your console. Please read the previous posts.

Originally Posted by Ipmia

anyways liek Old_ben mentionned why jsut not play on a computer ? now days its eazy to have a mediacenter able to run those games and the result is the same with lot of plus. so why would a company bother ?

Not necessarily. With the power of a PS3, you could do just about as much as you could on a PC with this game. And the argument for putting it on consoles is that it more cost effective for the average gamer, who does not have the $2K computer that would match the PS3's power.

The day the console makers company stop being idiots and add a Computer emulation all this arguiong will be fixed ( i m surprised microsoft havent think of it yet but at least they pretty much turned they consol game as a PC extention)

Technically, consoles are computers. Regardless,

the PS3 runs Linux very well

. And you can even buy them with Linux pre-installed for a little extra.

[Ipmia]

Originally Posted by birdman

Accessories not viable??? Have you played singstar, Guitar hero, Rock band, FFXI? These all require more than $100 worth of "unrealistic accessories" yet they have had GREAT sales. So by no means are the things needed for Aion unrealistic.


Actually singstar just needs a mic, but you can add more mics.




Ps2 had an external HDD that FFXI players had no problem buying. 12gb's is nothing nowadays anyways.

did they really ? link a source that is not mentionning japanese sales please

[Verth]

Originally Posted by Zyuu

There's many reasons why this is not viable. To design an MMO to work well on a Console and a PC require a lot of things to get mainstreamed. Such as the User Interface. Things will get less then appealing for the majority that are used to MMO's on the PC. Final Fantasy XI is a great example of this, the UI of that game leave a lot to be desired.

Another great point mentioned is that you rarely design an MMO around accessories. To be able to play an MMO efficient (at least the way Aion is intended to be played) you'd need a mouse and a keyboard.

Anyway, back to what I initially mentioned. Mainstreaming a title due to console support - it would take away or change some of the aspects that really make MMO's unique and fun. Especially Aion. It'd be a bit harder to use the current UI and custom settings in a console due to the limitations a console has. Set hardware, etc. We all know if we think hard enough that it's just extra work that wouldn't really benefit NCSoft that much, since MMO's are mainly played on the PC and the MAC anyway.

Now, having options is great! I agree. Sadly, this isn't an option I see ever occurring due to how consoles require all that extra revamping and mainstreaming. Removing options is no fun. Also due to the multi-platform support, the release of content/patches/expansions will get delayed if you run into unexpected problems; which is more likely as more platforms you support.

I suppose sometimes people are too lazy to really speak their mind and/or have a hard time to put it into words. I always fear the results of an MMO if it's coming out to consoles and the PC. AoC is one example, I don't like the sacrifices (on many levels, development-wise too) they had to make.

Some drawbacks are that the closed platform makes it more difficult for developers to collect fees from players. Something that is even more prominent on the Xbox 360. Another additional fee to the already existing Xbox Live charges seems very unreasonable and also unexplainable to the masses.

Another thing is storage. Expansions and patches for MMO's are many. Actually scrap that, they are numerous. Limited harddrive space is something that could become an issue rapidly. Not to mention frapsing and making videos and such will be much tougher if you don't own a PC and play it via that system. Sharing is caring.

Either way, debating the pros and cons can be done endlessly. In the end, it's very hard to anticipate what the future has in store for this niche market. Many enjoy to grind from the comfort of their living room. To be able to give the end user the option to play on their platform of choice would be ideal and in the end most likely expand the player base of MMO's in general. Right now I'm not sure how feasible it is, though.

I really think this gives a nice overview of the general arguments for and against console vs PC, a lot of valid points and just goes to show you that no matter what people will have different views on this subject, there will never be a right answer for this topic.

As much as I can see the pro's for adding MMO's the console, the con's for me just out weight it at this time, the limitations set upon the MMO due to the console contraints for upgrades and flexibility would just limit what I can and can't do in the MMO therefore ruining the MMO experience for me, but that's me.

[[PhiberOpticks]]

For posterity, I'm going to list the cons that I have read for putting Aion on consoles:

• Controller: Ineffective with the gamepad. And for some reason, buying a keyboard and mouse is "unreasonable".
• Hard drive: you need one.
• Flexibility: Can't do as much as a PC, because of conflicting UI usage
• P2P: It's difficult to collect fees.

Now, I will address these points to counter the claims that the console is ineffective for MMORPG playing. Keep in mind that I am arguing specifically for the PS3 copy, not because I own a PS3, but because NCsoft has a deal with Sony for exclusive content anyways and it's the most powerful console this time around.

• Controller: The average person already has a keyboard and mouse in their home. If they don't USB keyboards and mice are cheap. If you're the average MMO gamer, you'd be more than willing to pay a little extra for them, since you've already doled out for a P2P game. Hell, the PS3 has Bluetooth. So you can have a wireless keyboard and mouse, if you're willing to spend a little extra (did you know that the PS3 controllers were Bluetooth?)
• Hard Drive: The PS3 has one. Even if it didn't, the PS2 didn't have one, and Square Enix had a successful result from marketing FFXI for the PS2 with that drawback (players even had to pick up a keyboard and mouse for it, and they still got it)
• Flexibility: With a keyboard and mouse, players can use the same UI and in the same way. No special UI needed. The only problem I see is that the PS3 requires different coding, and that would mean that updating it would probably take about a week extra for the big stuff with the same workforce, since they'd have to convert all the content to "PS3-speak". But NCsoft could just hire a couple PS3 developers (even though they already have a bunch) and they could code for it, removing the delay.
• P2P: Xbox 360 users did not need to pay for Xbox Live to play FFXI. They only need a Silver membership (free) and an internet connection. And players I have talked to about it, since I considered buying FFXI for the 360, since I lack a PC (my parents prefer Macs damn them), they told me that paying was not an issue. No problems whatsoever.

Now I will list the pros of putting it on a console:

• Growing market (especially for PS3s) means that putting it on consoles is more profitable than before.
• The PS3 is more powerful, for less money.
• You can play on a bigger screen (sales indicate that lots of people, especially people with next-gen consoles, are buying big TVs).
• Consoles dedicated to gaming (therefore having an OS like Windows is completely unnecessary), which means that it will probably run faster, than a PC with equally powerful specs.
• NCsoft has a deal with Sony anyways. Just one more way to take advantage of an opportunity.

[birdman]

Originally Posted by Ipmia

did they really ? link a source that is not mentionning japanese sales please

Guitar Hero's $115 Million First Week | Game | Life from Wired.com

Can't find the HDD sales numbers. Rock band will cost you almost 200 dollars yet it's still doing pretty well.

NPD Fallout: Rock Band Proves its Worth news from 1UP.com

Honestly, you really don't need a new hdd anyways, the 40/80 gig models are more than enough. I don't understand how this isn't realistic.