Cliff Bleszinski: "New Developers Should Ignore Consoles and Mobile"

Epic's Cliffy "Cliffy B" Bleszinski B just told a huge crowd of developers at 2012′s GDC that when starting up a developer, forget Xbox Live, PSN, iOS, Android and Windows phones, and instead make games for PC. Condemning the way Microsoft and Sony treat indies, and dismissing mobile gaming, the Unreal developer said that the PC was the only place to start.

In a five minute microtalk, he rapidly fired through a series of tips for new developers, heavily emphasising the need to focus on PC, and only jokingly suggesting that they should use UDK to do it.

But what about other platforms later? Even then, his suggestion was to stick with PC, and maybe consider iOS if you can get touch controls to work properly. Xbox and PlayStation he still qualified with warnings that Microsoft or Sony may not give you the promotion you deserve.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/03/09/epics-cliff-bleszinski-says-new-devs-should-make-for-pc/

I were where he is coming from - but without actual first hand knowledge of the industries inner workings this insn't much more than speculation.

The whole point of this thread is be surprised that Bleszinski said something good about the PC instead of being under Microsoft's load of money.ShadowDeathX

I'm quite surprised aswell.

Considering his past I wouldn't be surprised if he is just preparing a huge PC-trolling attempt to just do a 180° back to consoles when his next game sucks hard and sells so low that it doesn't even manage to break even, lol.

*waits for gears 4 announcement for the next box*

The whole point of this thread is be surprised that Bleszinski said something good about the PC instead of being under Microsoft's load of money.ShadowDeathX

Ditch PC after you have some success on consoles. There's no money in PC development.Cliff Blezinski

[QUOTE="ShadowDeathX"]The whole point of this thread is be surprised that Bleszinski said something good about the PC instead of being under Microsoft's load of money.ActionRemix

Ditch PC after you have some success on consoles. There's no money in PC development.Cliff Blezinski

He has a good point. Valve has been known to back and advertise new indie games. Along with easy internet access, it's easy to get your game out there.

So... ignore Microsoft... for Microsoft... That just blew my mind.

Mobile games are a good way to build revenue though.Cherokee_Jack

It's very hard to get people to buy your game though. An indie developed interesting PC game will almost have a much higher notoriety than an IPhone game.

There's nothing wrong with porting your games to phones later but it's an almost impossible place to start.

[QUOTE="Cherokee_Jack"]Mobile games are a good way to build revenue though.JLF1MarkII

It's very hard to get people to buy your game though. An indie developed interesting PC game will almost have a much higher notoriety than an IPhone game.

There's nothing wrong with porting your games to phones later but it's an almost impossible place to start.

But tons of new studios do start there.

I don't know how it works out for them, but it can't be that bad.

I agree.

Make PC a testing ground for new devs.

Then when the games catch on to the PC gaming crowd send em over to consoles.

Let them be the guinea pigs.

I just want great games...

I agree.

Make PC a testing ground for new devs.

Then when the games catch on to the PC gaming crowd send em over to consoles.

Let them be the guinea pigs.

ebrezzy1

But wouldn't the PC technically be the guinea pig?

I just want great games...

Lach0121

[QUOTE="ebrezzy1"]

I agree.

Make PC a testing ground for new devs.

Then when the games catch on to the PC gaming crowd send em over to consoles.

Let them be the guinea pigs.

WiiCubeM1

But wouldn't the PC technically be the guinea pig?

thats what i was refering to......

I agree Cliffy was one of the original PC guys from the 90's. He designed many of the great level's in Unreal 1 which came out in 1998. It was the Crysis of 1998.

I would love to see Cliffy work on Unreal 3 with Samaratian like graphics. Wouldn't that be something?

The whole point of this thread is be surprised that Bleszinski said something good about the PC instead of being under Microsoft's load of money.ShadowDeathX

Yeah...I am surprised as well. But I think in his heart he was always been a PC guy. That's where he started with Unreal 1 and with the Unreal Tournament series.

He made some GORGEOUS levels in Unreal 1. I was blown away when I played Unreal everything maxed out. It was definitely a better game than Quake II back in the day.

but the ios market is a goldmine if you make a game decent

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

[QUOTE="ebrezzy1"]

I agree.

Make PC a testing ground for new devs.

Then when the games catch on to the PC gaming crowd send em over to consoles.

Let them be the guinea pigs.

ebrezzy1

But wouldn't the PC technically be the guinea pig?

thats what i was refering to......

Ah, weren't too clear there. My mistake.

I'm not surprised he endorses the PC environment and directed would be developers to begin there, but a good game idea succeeds regardless of platform. Unfortunately, it's when you get so intwined with other parties that your idea gets recast and reshaped into something it was never supposed to be. Any situation where you can retain creative control is the place to be. But, again, it doesn't mean you're going to make money.

[QUOTE="ActionRemix"]

[QUOTE="ShadowDeathX"]The whole point of this thread is be surprised that Bleszinski said something good about the PC instead of being under Microsoft's load of money.DarkLink77

Ditch PC after you have some success on consoles. There's no money in PC development.Cliff Blezinski

He has a point with something he didn't say?

He said to maintain development for the PC even after you've grown large enough to where you can comfortably develop for consoles and smartphones.

but the ios market is a goldmine if you make a game decent

fueled-system

*waits for gears 4 announcement for the next box*

lbjkurono23

no pc no cliffy.b.

I feel like the guys at Epic say something different every year. One year it's consoles are the way to go. The next year it's phones are the future. Now it's PC's turn again.

Sooo... new PC game from Epic incoming? They did say they were working on multiple new IPs and only Fortnite has been shown so far.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="ActionRemix"]You left out the rest of his quote:

[quote="Cliff Blezinski"]Ditch PC after you have some success on consoles. There's no money in PC development.SW__Troll

He has a point with something he didn't say?

He said to maintain development for the PC even after you've grown large enough to where you can comfortably develop for consoles and smartphones.

common sense much? why is everyone surprised? soapandbubbles

Because they fanboys...