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| Is Interplay able to produce a decent PC game now (such as Fallout 3)? |
| Yes |
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25% |
[ 5 ] |
| No |
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75% |
[ 15 ] |
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| Total Votes : 20 |
Dwango
Head Merchant
Joined: 06 May 2002
Posts: 68
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| Interplay Able to Produce a Decent RPG? |
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So I'm reading the comments to the news topic about the RPG of the year voting. It seems like a lot of people are still hoping Interplay comes out with Fallout 3 in 2004, despite recent events.
Not wanting to clutter the news thread with unrelated discussion, I decided just to post here. And since this is a more general issue with Interplay, I'm hoping this won't be moved to the Fallout forum.
I just was truly wondering how many people really believe any PC Game Interplay makes now will be better than crap. They got rid of their main developers for such a game and they really don't have any maintainence support if such a game gets released.
It just seems a lot of people are holding on to the false hopes that if the game has the name Fallout 3 on it, it will be good. I think Deus Ex 2 shows that even a good dev team with good support can screw up a game. Interplay has much less support now in light of the layoffs. In my opinion, it would be better to let this project die and Interplay move on to whatever console items they want to make. I'd rather see quality PC games put out than another miserable PC game that fails.
_________________
Ha, Ha, Ha.... Oh, you were SERIOUS?
-Dwango |
Tue Dec 16, 2003 6:25 pm |
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Ammon777
Warrior for Heaven
Joined: 20 Apr 2002
Posts: 2011
Location: United States |
Nope. I dont have any faith in Interplay now. |
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Tue Dec 16, 2003 7:13 pm |
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Val
Risen From Ashes
Joined: 18 Feb 2002
Posts: 14724
Location: Utah, USA |
Those comments in the news thread were made prior to the news of BIS' demise.
_________________
Freeeeeeedom! Thank heavens it's summer!
What do I have to show for my hard work? A piece of paper! Wee!
=Guardian, Moderator, UltimaDot Newshound=  |
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Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:23 pm |
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Dhruin
Stranger In A Strange Land
Joined: 20 May 2002
Posts: 1825
Location: Sydney, Australia |
Yes, I voted for FO3 in our "Game of the Year" for most anticipated but that was a week before it all went south.
Interplay won't ever develop another "real" RPG. They may get FOBOS2 finished but I'm dubious they'll even survive that far.
_________________
Editor @ RPGDot |
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Tue Dec 16, 2003 10:16 pm |
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Hexy
High Emperor
Joined: 28 Jun 2002
Posts: 621
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Interplay could very well develop another good RPG. Thinking that BIS and the people who worked there are the only people who know how to make RPGs is plain silly.
Although, if things continue to go badly economically... well, that's another issue.
_________________
Like some bold seer in a trance;
Seeing all his own mischance |
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Tue Dec 16, 2003 10:26 pm |
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Namirrha
Noble Knight
Joined: 03 May 2002
Posts: 218
Location: Utah County, Utah. |
quote:
Originally posted by Hexy
Interplay could very well develop another good RPG. Thinking that BIS and the people who worked there are the only people who know how to make RPGs is plain silly.
Although, if things continue to go badly economically... well, that's another issue.
Thing is that Interplay has let go a lot of accumulated talent. People who've been working together for years and make good PC RPGs. What remains of Black Isle isn't enough to create another PC RPG let alone any RPG. Interplay still has tens of millions of dollars of debt to pay off. According to their latest SEC filings, the company has barely any money to stay afloat (a few hundred thousands dollars, IIRC), let alone pay salaries, pay utilities, licenses, etc. And Herve Caen has made it clear that Interplay doesn't do PC games. The market has gone console, in his view, and Interplay needs to keep up with the times.
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Give me the shadows, shield me from the light, and I shall let nothing pass in the darkness of the night. |
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Wed Dec 17, 2003 3:40 am |
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corwin
On the Razorblade of Life
Joined: 10 Jun 2002
Posts: 8376
Location: Australia |
I doubt Interplay will even exist at all by this time next year. I hope not!! Maybe then some other group will be able to obtain some of their licences.
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If God said it, then that settles it!
I don't use Smileys, I use Emoticons!!
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Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:24 am |
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Arma
Mysterious Lady
Joined: 24 Oct 2003
Posts: 1230
Location: in the middle of hell |
I don't think so. They no longer have the people to do it, nor the money. Also, they are clearly broke, as they have already started selling their remaining assets - I just read they have sold the rights of some game called Galleon. |
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Wed Dec 17, 2003 7:46 am |
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Danicek
The Old One
Joined: 15 Dec 2001
Posts: 5922
Location: Czech Republic |
Yes, Interplay is able to produce decent RPG.
However I strongly believe that it will not. |
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Wed Dec 17, 2003 8:30 am |
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Dhruin
Stranger In A Strange Land
Joined: 20 May 2002
Posts: 1825
Location: Sydney, Australia |
quote:
Originally posted by Hexy
Interplay could very well develop another good RPG. Thinking that BIS and the people who worked there are the only people who know how to make RPGs is plain silly.
Although, if things continue to go badly economically... well, that's another issue.
I'm not suggesting for a minute they can't find new staff to develop a RPG. My point is that the management don't want to develop RPGs and will concentrate on action console titles until they go under.
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Editor @ RPGDot |
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Wed Dec 17, 2003 8:43 am |
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MageofFire
Griller of Molerats
Joined: 03 Oct 2003
Posts: 1594
Location: Monastery of Innos |
I am INCREDIBLY disappointed by the cancellation of Fallout 3.  I really hope Interplay is able to continue its development. However, I'm not sure if I want any other developer working on Fallout 3, because then we all probably will be disappointed when it comes out.
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OMG! WTF?! MONKEYS!!!!
=Member of numerous usergroups=
=Active in none of them=
Mediocreties, I absolve you! |
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Wed Dec 17, 2003 2:44 pm |
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Lintra
Elf Friend
Joined: 23 Apr 2002
Posts: 9448
Location: Bermuda, the triangle place with SANDY BEACHES |
quote:
Originally posted by Danicek
Yes, Interplay is able to produce decent RPG.
However I strongly believe that it will not.
'nuff said.
_________________
=Member of The Nonflamers' Guild=
=Just plain clueless= |
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Wed Dec 17, 2003 6:28 pm |
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Dwango
Head Merchant
Joined: 06 May 2002
Posts: 68
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quote:
Originally posted by Val
Those comments in the news thread were made prior to the news of BIS' demise.
Aaaaah! That is good to know. I was worried RPGDot forumers had lost their minds temporarily, hoping for a cancelled game from a bankrupt (fiscally and morally) company.
As for those thinking that Interplay could make a good CRPG if they still wanted to, I don't think so, with current staff. Sure, they could pull all the existing staff onto such a project (assuming magic money fell from the sky, though we know they got 100 US dollars to their name) But even then, who do they have experienced enough with PC programming to pull together such a project. I think those people were shown the door (though correct me if I missed someone.)
Making console games is easier for developers, but it makes them lazier. They don't have to worry about optimization for multiple platforms, or testing beyond the simple set up. But they get lazy with thier code, not being as vigilant for mistakes, or being as efficient. Its hard to move back to PCs once you get used to a console set up.
_________________
Ha, Ha, Ha.... Oh, you were SERIOUS?
-Dwango |
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Thu Dec 18, 2003 3:50 pm |
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Namirrha
Noble Knight
Joined: 03 May 2002
Posts: 218
Location: Utah County, Utah. |
quote:
Originally posted by Dwango
Making console games is easier for developers, but it makes them lazier. They don't have to worry about optimization for multiple platforms, or testing beyond the simple set up. But they get lazy with thier code, not being as vigilant for mistakes, or being as efficient. Its hard to move back to PCs once you get used to a console set up.
I strongly disagree. I've spoken to a former BIS programmer about this, and he said that programming for consoles is still difficult, especially for the PS2. (This particular programmer worked on both BIS's PC and console games before he left a few months ago.) Programmers for consoles face limitations from CPU power and memory as well as having to learn new languages to write for the different processing units and adapting to different architectures between the systems. The PS2 requires two different languages for its different processing units, and these aren't written in C++ or anything of the like. When porting between different systems, the game essentially must be re-written from the ground up, unless you port from the X-box to PC or vice versa, where the system architectures and coding is somewhat similar. But between the Gamecube, PS2, and X-box--totally different. It's like trying to do 3 games at once. It has nothing to do with laziness, ignorance, or inefficiency.
_________________
Give me the shadows, shield me from the light, and I shall let nothing pass in the darkness of the night. |
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Thu Dec 18, 2003 10:12 pm |
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Dwango
Head Merchant
Joined: 06 May 2002
Posts: 68
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quote:
Originally posted by Namirrha
I strongly disagree. I've spoken to a former BIS programmer about this, and he said that programming for consoles is still difficult, especially for the PS2. (This particular programmer worked on both BIS's PC and console games before he left a few months ago.) Programmers for consoles face limitations from CPU power and memory as well as having to learn new languages to write for the different processing units and adapting to different architectures between the systems. The PS2 requires two different languages for its different processing units, and these aren't written in C++ or anything of the like. When porting between different systems, the game essentially must be re-written from the ground up, unless you port from the X-box to PC or vice versa, where the system architectures and coding is somewhat similar. But between the Gamecube, PS2, and X-box--totally different. It's like trying to do 3 games at once. It has nothing to do with laziness, ignorance, or inefficiency.
If your friend was working on both the PS2 and PC at the same time, then he has my full sympathies. I'll bet he was pulling quite a few 70 hour weeks.
I think my choice of words were poor. I'm definitely not trying to say any developer is lazy. I wouldn't want to work as any developer, the hours are ridiculous. But, when they move to different platforms, they will sometimes uses shortcuts to help with the workload.
For instance, you've already sort of brought up one issue in moving from a console to a PC. When working with consoles, you have to optimize the game for limited memory and video resources. When a developer moves back to the PC, they find the added resources liberating, too much so. Soon extra graphics are added and shading gets used. But they forget that you still have to optimize the code for a PC too! That gets lost in the change, as can be seen in Deus Ex 2. Not everyone has a top of the line machine!
Going back to programming to the limits of a console, at least you know what they are. With a PC you have so many different variables to consider: the amount of memory, the video card, the sound card, the disk space, even the Operating System. Don't think Windows Me, XP, 98, or 2000 run the same! Then on a console, you only have the one game running at a time. PCs have so much extra crap that could be running in the background: Firewalls, virus software, web pages, tsrs, etc., etc.
This leads to a third problem with moving to the PC again. Bugs! I bet you ask your friends which had more bugs, the PS2 or the PC, I know the PC will win. All those variables are impossible to account for. No matter how careful the testing, there is always something missed. And even if you find all the bugs, with deadlines looming, there are only so many that can be fixed. With a console, once it work on a particular one, such as a PS2, it should work for all PS2s. But if you get it working on a work PC, there is no guarantee it will work on another PC, with all the different setups. A developer and QA loses that need for detailed analysis and out of the box thinging required to figure out a crazy pc bug.
But, in a way, its truly understandable why developers would move to a console. It really standardizes the work and cuts down on the errors that can be made. This is all I meant by being easier. Surely, you still have to be a top notch developer to work in consoles or the PC, but you save yourself a lot of the post development work with the simpler console. And if habit is important to work, its hard to get back in the bug control mode required for PC development.
_________________
Ha, Ha, Ha.... Oh, you were SERIOUS?
-Dwango |
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Sun Dec 21, 2003 5:42 am |
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