Console and PC parity

[gogchops]

Console and PC parity

I have a question about the necessity to keep the PC version from being markedly superior to the console versions. It is not about a "downgrade".

I was watching the IGN live stream with CDPR. The IGN guy got a tweet asking if the PC version they were streaming was superior to the PS4 version he reviewed. The IGN guy said the PC version looked much better, and realised straight away he had said the wrong thing. Then the CDPR guys talked for ages about all versions being equally great, and he started reversing and saying the differences were minimal. It was a really laboured talking-point.

It made me wonder - do console developers like CDPR make deals with console makers, in which the PC versions of games must not be clearly much better than the console versions? Is this 'a thing' in the industry? It would explain a lot, in this game and many others.

 

[SpotEnemyBoats]

Console manifacturers have alot of power, which means they can bribe other companies to make parity. See Ubisoft trainwrecks the last couple of years.

I've learned to accept it, PC gaming will always be held back because weak consoles and their laptop-esque CPU.

 

[gogchops]

I'm just curious, because I had always assumed (maybe naively) that the holding back effect was due to it being more efficient to make just one version, for the lowest common denominator - the consoles. But I began to wonder if this was something that was also brought about by outside pressure.

 

[P1ckleJ4r]

Red Dead Redemption was a masterpiece on last gen @ the end of it's cycle. If they can't make a game better than that on next gen than it's the programmers fault.

 

[zanderb19]

You'd be stupid if you think sony/microsoft don't pay off companies to make the pc version the same or worse as the console version. These companies are incredibly rich and powerful. If CDPR has "sold out" to sony/ms/both then I think there can be 2 sides to that. It is incredibly expensive to make such a large AAA game (possibly more than 100 million dollar) as such they might have needed the money that sony/ms offered them to make the pc version worse or else there maybe wouldnt be a witcher 3 game AT ALL. Or they (cdpr) are evil and have fooled us all since the beginning.

 

[harkinsteven]

I only hope they do an enhanced edition that will enable the effects they removed now that the game is complete and they have the time and money.

 

[gogchops]

I'm explicitly not moaning at all. I'm just curious if this kind of deal-making goes on, and if anyone knows a bit more about industry shenanigans.

 

[P1ckleJ4r]

I'm explicitly not moaning at all. I'm just curious if this kind of deal-making goes on, and if anyone knows a bit more about industry shenanigans.

This vid pretty much explaind everything.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LE0ycgkBQ

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Console market needs more competition to kill this trend. That's all there is to it. Not all developers deal with MS and Sony, and they can easily release more features in PC versions. It's MS and Sony that should want their games, not the other way around.

Are there any sources that say that CDPR got money from MS and Sony for trimming features in their PC release?

 

[keldrath]

For sure pressure from console manufacturers is a thing. They want to push sales for their systems and they all want to make their console look like the best version to play on. That's hard to do when there's clearly superior PC versions. It's something that's been going on for a very long time.

Whether or not CDPR decided to hold back on the PC version to make the console versions look appealing as well, well who knows?

 

[zanderb19]

The problem is that most people are incredibly stupid sheep who do anything the tv tells them and they don't make informed purchases or do research. Most people see PC gamer as nerds who sit 2 cm from their screens but they forget that PC REKS consoles at EVERYTHING including playing on a couch in front of 60" TV. And does it cheaper and is capable of pretty much anything whereas consoles are limited to playing games at fixed graphics, stuck with a controller in FPS games, and things like netflix.

Not to mention you can build a PC that DESTROYS consoles for around 400 dollars.

Console manufacturers take advantage of these stupid people and pay off popular news sources such as IGN or gamespot to promote these buckets of bolts that htey call consoles. And ofcourse TV commercials / superbowl ads which americans love so much.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

For sure pressure from console manufacturers is a thing.

What kind of leverage do they have? There is no pressure if developers are independent.

 

[sidspyker]

Then the CDPR guys talked for ages about all versions being equally great, and he started reversing and saying the differences were minimal. It was a really laboured talking-point.

I'll give you a hint OP. PC has no entity controlling it, both the consoles have respective companies at whose beck and call things on their platform happen, from releases to patches. This is not new, it just baffles me when people express 'outbursts' over it, everytime developers 'have' to say the differences are minimal/all look the same and everytime after release we find out that's simply not true. It's been like this for close to a decade now, it's not surprising at this point it's expected.

The software clearly shows differences but the devs can't blatantly point it out for obvious reasons. "You're getting the superior experience", "You're getting the inferior experience" not only is that disingenuous because one would obviously try to the best of their abilities to make it the best experience, what kind of a business would do that? One that would want to alienate their customers for sure. Plus pressure from either companies.

It's 'PR Parity' I guess is the best way to call it. We know the games will be different on different platforms, we've seen it for about 8 years now.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

It's 'PR Parity' I guess is the best way to call it. We know the games will be different on different platforms, we've seen it for about 8 years now.

Such PR pressure is only possible because of uncompetitive console market at present. I.e. it's not a good thing. In a competitive market MS and Sony would run to improve their hardware instead of pressuring anyone with PR.

May be Valve will break the status quo with console / PC hybrid approach.

 

[Tzirael]

PR at its best. This has been the case with different platforms for years.

Also inb4 derail into downgrade thread.
inb4 the lock.

 

[AboundingTbone]

I just wish CD Projekt didn't lie to the fans. I don't even care about graphics if the game is fun, but I simply don't have faith in their word anymore. This is just one man's opinion, though.

 

[wildspirit]

I work in a video game studio, and we have a new game in preparation. Every day the conversation turn around the fact that if we can make some deals with either MS / Sony, we'll gut the PC version.

Problem is that actually, there is no counter power to MS or Sony on the PC market. And those two are making everything in their power to make games looks as best as could be on their crappy platforms.

So yeah, PC gaming is held back by console market. I just don't want to believe that CDPR has sold out but at the moment , It looks like it sadly.

I think CDPR said that there wouldn't do a Enhanced version of TW3 so I guess it will be down to modders to make the game better. I have high hopes on that end.

 

[keldrath]

What kind of leverage do they have? There is no pressure if developers are independent.

Money.

Lots and lots of money. Money that's needed to make and market games.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Problem is that actually, there is no counter power to MS or Sony on the PC market.

What do you mean exactly? PC market is not dependent on MS and Sony. And those who make deals do it only because MS and Sony are the only major console manufacturers at present. That can change soon.

 

[Ljesnjanin]

Wasteland 2, Pilars of Eternity, Divinity:Original Sin....

As long as I have these kind of games, I don't give a fuck about parity....