id and Epic: Multiplatform because of piracy

[Switch]

id and Epic: Multiplatform because of piracy - Chris Faylor
Across two separate lectures at this week's Game Developers Conference, id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead and Epic Games president Michael Capps both admitted that piracy of PC games caused their companies to pursue developing beyond the PC platform. "Piracy has pushed id as being multiplatform," stated Hollenshead, whose company contracted Z-Axis to handle the PlayStation 3 version and Nerve Software the Xbox 360 edition of Splash Damage's forthcoming Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (PC).

Comments made by Epic's Capps carried a similar tone. "PC gaming is really falling apart," he revealed. "It killed us to make Unreal Tournament 3 cross-platform, but Epic had to do it," adding "the market that would buy a $600 video card knows how Bittorrent works." Epic is currently developing Unreal Tournament 3 for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in-house.

Meanwhile, Firaxis designer and programmer Soren Johnson remained confident in PC development. He suggested that "game design on the PC is going to bend toward persistence," noting Blizzard's World of Warcraft is "successful because you can't pirate WoW. You cannot pirate an MMO. Period."

Source : id and Epic: Multiplatform because of piracy - Shacknews

 

[Params7]

Well if that's true, its sad. Piracy is stealing, no doubt about it and it definitely affects PC Gaming more than anything else, and everybody could see how badly they were gunning down all Doom 3 overcrowded torrents that popped up within days after its launch.

Piracy on the consoles is not that widespread, simply because you need to invest in a modchip which voids the warranty and people would rather stick with the original instead of bricking their 200$ system.

 

[Sesar]

A few things here and there can solve a lot. its not THAT hopeless. Piracy is not all because of consumer greed...its also partially there because of developer's greed.

 

[Ck Nish]

I think in India, the opposite would hold true. Console piracy is much higher in the non-established regions.

 

[evilution]

A few things here and there can solve a lot. its not THAT hopeless. Piracy is not all because of consumer greed...its also partially there because of developer's greed.

So, if tomo if my building watchman wants a car but cant afford, so will he steal mine?? Think from developer's perspective also. Pirating software is as good as stealing someone's car. Just that we have become so used to it, we can't feel the guilt. If you cant afford, dont use it, but dont pirate it.

 

[Switch]

So, if tomo if my building watchman wants a car but cant afford, so will he steal mine?? Think from developer's perspective also. Pirating software is as good as stealing someone's car. Just that we have become so used to it, we can't feel the guilt. If you cant afford, dont use it, but dont pirate it.

Its not the same my dear... There is a major difference... There is a term which we call Cost per unit... Every additional unit sold for a computer game after the equilibrium point is more or less 80% profit for the publisher... So if they can bring down their profit margin by 50% and reduce the cost of games they will end up getting higher volumes and higher profits with of course less piracy...

Come on do you think valve is making peanuts by selling Chapter/Episode based games for 20$...

 

[Ck Nish]

Switch! What you're saying is no doubt true, but you have to remember that the standard development costs for games are around 10-12 million$ which is why a game is considered to be a huge success if it sells 500K(returns=twice as much money spent on developing the game).

 

[Sesar]

So, if tomo if my building watchman wants a car but cant afford, so will he steal mine?? Think from developer's perspective also. Pirating software is as good as stealing someone's car. Just that we have become so used to it, we can't feel the guilt. If you cant afford, dont use it, but dont pirate it.

i never said that only the developer is at fault, consumers are also very greedy. I was simply stating that a couple of steps on all the sides can solve atleast the major issues.

 

[Params7]

People must know games these days are leveling Hollywood B-Movie budgets.

Also, they need to crack down on major piracy retailers like Palika in Delhi if they really want to catch it by throat. Piracy in Western/Developed countries is not a problem as it is not that widespread at all - The problem is in Developing countries.

 

[Sesar]

they need to crack down on major piracy retailers like Palika in Delhi

they'll need much more innovative steps then that to kill piracy in Delhi. Making titles a little cheaper might be a gud move in the long run....that is if the developers can swallow a little pride and profit.