PC vs. Console game production

[tweetintoucan]

Is it a lot more challenging to make a came for a console compared to the PC? I don't consider myself a techie by any means, so I apologize if this is obvious. I'm a huge adventure game fan, but not much of a PC gamer. Unfortunately, there are a lot of really interesting low-budget adventure games on PC that I wish I could play on a console. Why don't we see the amount of games on consoles than we do for the PC?

[Cyros]

Re: PC vs. Console game production

Probably because you need a dev kit to develop on a console, and you have to pay licensing fees on consoles. If CHooe stops in, he can probably provide more in depth info.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: PC vs. Console game production

In reality........console and PC games are programmed in the same language, Visual C. The reason why you see more PC games then console games is because more people own a PC then a console.

Keep in mind I am talking general PC. Then on top of that, 90% of PC games can be played without a gaming graphics card. Therefore you have vast and broad audience customer pool to work with.

Console gaming is a much smaller niche market. You can't take the risk with games not selling on the console market like you can on the PC market. When you make a console game, you have to make sure it appeals to a bigger audience.

Sad to say, but honestly console gamers are VERY picky. PC gamers on the other end, will play and at least try any and everything.

[tweetintoucan]

Re: PC vs. Console game production

Probably because you need a dev kit to develop on a console, and you have to pay licensing fees on consoles. If CHooe stops in, he can probably provide more in depth info.

So is a dev kit only acquired and used by development companies? I've always thought it would be great to see some independent game companies like you see in the music industry, that put out quality games more focused on the passion of what makes a great game rather than sales figures.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: PC vs. Console game production

If you making games for Live Arcade or PSN store, then you don't need a dev kit.

[Cyros]

Re: PC vs. Console game production

So is a dev kit only acquired and used by development companies? I've always thought it would be great to see some independent game companies like you see in the music industry, that put out quality games more focused on the passion of what makes a great game rather than sales figures.

There is an indie gaming scene, but it's bigger on PC.

[mudman]

Re: PC vs. Console game production

In reality........console and PC games are programmed in the same language, Visual C. The reason why you see more PC games then console games is because more people own a PC then a console.

Keep in mind I am talking general PC. Then on top of that, 90% of PC games can be played without a gaming graphics card. Therefore you have vast and broad audience customer pool to work with.

Console gaming is a much smaller niche market. You can't take the risk with games not selling on the console market like you can on the PC market. When you make a console game, you have to make sure it appeals to a bigger audience.

Sad to say, but honestly console gamers are VERY picky. PC gamers on the other end, will play and at least try any and everything.

This is far from the main reason. The main reason is it's basically free to make a PC game. Sony and MS make it near impossible for people start making games on console due to the added costs/fees etc. Virtually every single company out there started making games for PC first. Only when they made enough money was it feasible for them to make a console game.

[RedPhazon8]

Re: PC vs. Console game production

The gaming market is aimed toward consoles more because there's more control over games. As a company, there's no telling what will happen to their game if they release it on PC. One good example is Madden, the last game they released on the PC was 08, and if you compare it to the console versions, there's mods, edits and exploits in it. It's a lot harder to do those things on the consoles. And there's always the "torrent" excuse...basically there's more money in it for companies if they go the console route, and don't have to ultimately worry about their game being tampered with.