Star Citizen, Wing Commander creator says PC held back by consoles

The power of a modern PC in terms of realising heavy visual fidelity is great, says Chris Roberts, boss-man at Roberts Space Industries, the dev behind the upcoming, hugely ambitious space game Star Citizen. Basically I can do stuff that a few years ago youd have to pre-render on workstations.

Even if Star Citizen is some way off being a fully working game, its already proof that current high-end tech is capable of much more than is often asked of it. Weve seen Star Citizen running in real time with our own eyeballs and in terms of polygons alone it outstrips a lot of current day games by a substantial factor. Roberts himself puts that factor at ten.

Because Im not worrying about current day consoles, theres a level of detail I can do that wouldnt otherwise be possible, he says. Just the memory it would take to store these textures you just dont have that on the consoles.

I made my name on the PC and Im really sad that the PC isnt being pushed the way it used to: I want to get back to that Wing Commander thing: Yeah, upgrade your machine to play this. I dont want to make a mobile game.

Roberts also cites the way PC has embraced online, both in terms of digital distribution and the opportunities for social interaction, as other factors that set it apart from lesser platforms.

I made my name doing PC games, and I love PC games, says Roberts. Its the best platform because its always evolving, and its open. But no ones really pushing PC. There are a lot of PC gamers who are proud of their gaming rigs but dont have anything to really show it off.

Hopefully, if Roberts gets the extra cash hes looking for (just over a million dollars are needed over the remaining 22 days of crowdfunding) Star Citizen will have us digging deep to refit our rigs some time in 2014.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/10/18/star-citizen-wing-commander-creator-says-pc-held-back-by-consoles-no-ones-really-pushing-it/

The power of a modern PC in terms of realising heavy visual fidelity is great, says Chris Roberts, boss-man at Roberts Space Industries, the dev behind the upcoming, hugely ambitious space game Star Citizen. Basically I can do stuff that a few years ago youd have to pre-render on workstations.

Even if Star Citizen is some way off being a fully working game, its already proof that current high-end tech is capable of much more than is often asked of it. Weve seen Star Citizen running in real time with our own eyeballs and in terms of polygons alone it outstrips a lot of current day games by a substantial factor. Roberts himself puts that factor at ten.

Because Im not worrying about current day consoles, theres a level of detail I can do that wouldnt otherwise be possible, he says. Just the memory it would take to store these textures you just dont have that on the consoles.

I made my name on the PC and Im really sad that the PC isnt being pushed the way it used to: I want to get back to that Wing Commander thing: Yeah, upgrade your machine to play this. I dont want to make a mobile game.

Roberts also cites the way PC has embraced online, both in terms of digital distribution and the opportunities for social interaction, as other factors that set it apart from lesser platforms.

I made my name doing PC games, and I love PC games, says Roberts. Its the best platform because its always evolving, and its open. But no ones really pushing PC. There are a lot of PC gamers who are proud of their gaming rigs but dont have anything to really show it off.

Hopefully, if Roberts gets the extra cash hes looking for (just over a million dollars are needed over the remaining 22 days of crowdfunding) Star Citizen will have us digging deep to refit our rigs some time in 2014.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/10/18/star-citizen-wing-commander-creator-says-pc-held-back-by-consoles-no-ones-really-pushing-it/

clyde46

He's got my money. I see it just cracekd a million. His voice is like a breath of fresh air.

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop. Everything should be on PC.

I can't wait for Star Citizen. It looks awesome!

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop.

GamerwillzPS

How bout... no

Thank goodness they have held them back. Imagine how bad it would be upgrading your computer at the rates they actually could be going. I know I wouldn't be willing to put in that sort of money or effort just to play a game.

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop. Everything should be on PC.

I can't wait for Star Citizen. It looks awesome!

GamerwillzPS

I agree with everything int this post!

His crowd funding seems to be slow considering the awesomeness of the project. Meanwhile project eternity which will likely just prey on nostalgia and be mediocre doubled its original goal :roll: Colour me dubious of Obsidian.MBirdy88

Doing it on kickstarter gives it way more visibility,and to be honest,even on his site he already got over 1M,and guess what?

A kickstarter for Star Citizen went up less than an hour ago! :o

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop.

GamerwillzPS

I like to buy a game, insert in on a console and play it. I don't like to see if my machine can run it at 100% or only at 90%, I just want to play. Console makes it way easier. Consoles will ever exist, and if it wasn't for League of Legends and Steam, you PC gamers would be on the limbo.

I don't buy that excuse. Developers are free to enhance their games for the PC. It's their fault if they don't.

Since when was Wing Commander's target audience consoles?

Thank goodness they have held them back. Imagine how bad it would be upgrading your computer at the rates they actually could be going. I know I wouldn't be willing to put in that sort of money or effort just to play a game.

lx_theo

Same.

There's no chance I would be willing to spend 200+ bucks just on a graphics card every two years again.

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop.

Ricardomz

I like to buy a game, insert in on a console and play it. I don't like to see if my machine can run it at 100% or only at 90%, I just want to play. Console makes it way easier. Consoles will ever exist, and if it wasn't for League of Legends and Steam, you PC gamers would be on the limbo.

Huh?

I just boot my PC up and give the game a double click, and off I go!

But I can understand why people buy consoles though, they're for computer illiterates who haven't got a clue how computers works and how to upgrade the parts inside computers.

If you are techy and knows all of this stuff, you should game on PC otherwise it just doesn't make sense.

He isnt wrong. Console gaming has really watered down gaming in general.

He isnt wrong. Console gaming has really watered down gaming in general.

Fizzman

And yet, the best modern PC RPG is a console port (Dark Souls)...

[QUOTE="Fizzman"]

He isnt wrong. Console gaming has really watered down gaming in general.

nameless12345

And yet, the best modern PC RPG is a console port (Dark Souls)...

The only thing holding back PC gaming is PC gamers.

The only thing holding back PC gaming is PC gamers.

SUD123456

Well, this is obvious.

Some console games still look great for today standards (RDR, Gears 3, Uncharted 3, Halo 4, TLoU, etc), but looking at some recent PC games (Planetside 2, Star Wars 1313, Watch Dogs, etc, and engines like Unreal Engine 4), it's clear that this gen has been too long! New consoles are needed.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

[QUOTE="Fizzman"]

He isnt wrong. Console gaming has really watered down gaming in general.

MrYaotubo

And yet, the best modern PC RPG is a console port (Dark Souls)...

So which is better, according to you?

(you're not allowed to go back in the Ultima/Wizardry/Baldur's Gate times since we're talking about "modern" RPGs btw)

And yet, the best modern PC RPG is a console port (Dark Souls)...nameless12345

Which is why he said in general.

[QUOTE="MrYaotubo"][QUOTE="nameless12345"]

And yet, the best modern PC RPG is a console port (Dark Souls)...

nameless12345

So which is better, according to you?

(you're not allowed to go back in the Ultima/Wizardry/Baldur's Gate times since we're talking about "modern" RPGs btw)

Witcher 2.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

[QUOTE="MrYaotubo"] lol,sure it is :lol:Fizzman

So which is better, according to you?

(you're not allowed to go back in the Ultima/Wizardry/Baldur's Gate times since we're talking about "modern" RPGs btw)

Witcher 2.

That's debatable.

Visually and story-wise it is, but gameplay-wise - I do not agree.

Yes in some ways, graphics is not pushed like it used to. On the other hand Ubisoft wouldn't have been able to create over a thousand new animations for Connor in AC3 and Bioware could not have had the level of cinematography for Mass Effect and Rockstar could not have afforded to recreate an insanely detailed version of New York. Yes these games are casual, but they are also fun spectacles that would not have been possible if consoles hadn't opened the doors for the masses.

What he says is true. But he has to critisize all the developers that are wroking on pc exclusives and not pushing the hardware. But then we get into money and cost of development. So, saying the console holds back pc, is only partially true, disregarding all other factors.

[QUOTE="SUD123456"]

The only thing holding back PC gaming is PC gamers.

04dcarraher

Which has nothing to do with my point.

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"][QUOTE="SUD123456"]

The only thing holding back PC gaming is PC gamers.

SUD123456

Which has nothing to do with my point.

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop. Everything should be on PC.

I can't wait for Star Citizen. It looks awesome!

GamerwillzPS

please......just shut up. anyways, this game looks amazing.

[QUOTE="lx_theo"]

Thank goodness they have held them back. Imagine how bad it would be upgrading your computer at the rates they actually could be going. I know I wouldn't be willing to put in that sort of money or effort just to play a game.

nameless12345

Same.

There's no chance I would be willing to spend 200+ bucks just on a graphics card every two years again.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

[QUOTE="lx_theo"]

Thank goodness they have held them back. Imagine how bad it would be upgrading your computer at the rates they actually could be going. I know I wouldn't be willing to put in that sort of money or effort just to play a game.

clyde46

Same.

There's no chance I would be willing to spend 200+ bucks just on a graphics card every two years again.

and a little too often

Since when was Wing Commander's target audience consoles?

nameless12345

Well, the first was on the SNES and its sequels have been on consoles like 3DO and PSX from time to time. It's the same for a good number of what we think of as PC games.

[QUOTE="SUD123456"]

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"] um no Pc gamers create mods to fix and or add to the games.....Nanomage

Which has nothing to do with my point.

1. WC creator is not being held back by consoles. He is making his new game exclusively on PC.

2. As hermits say, PC has many/the most exclusives. None of those are being held back by consoles.

3. WC says that:no ones really pushing PC. There are a lot of PC gamers who are proud of their gaming rigs but dont have anything to really show it off" which has nothing to do with consoles since the PC has many/the most exclusives.

4. Games ported from consoles to PC - don't buy them if they are below your standards

5. Games on PC - buy more of them and developers will make more of them

6. Technically advanced games on PC, see above.

7. Games on PC that are simultaneously developed on consoles and downgraded because of it (real or perceived). Don't buy either version. They won't make the PC follow-up. Reward the PC game makers of games you like, not the ones you don't.

7. Hermits who own at least one console and then complain about consoles - you are idiots. Assuming you game for entertainment and you do not have infinite time and money then: A. you are encouraging developers to make console games, which is self defeating of your position, and B. you are spending money on a console game, that you would have otherwise spent on a PC game, thus denying the PC developer your business. Double whammy.

If enough PC gamers buy enough PC games, particularly the most demanding PC games from a technology point of view, then those types of games will exist. If not, then they won't. It has nothing to do with consoles. I have yet to hear Ferrari or Porsche complain that they can't engineer and sell enough great cars because Hondas and Toyotas exist.

TL:DR My point is that gaming is not immune to the laws of capitalism. Every single PC complaint about consoles has nothing to do with consoles. It has everything to do with the PC game marketplace which is defined by PC gamers' purchasing habits.

PCs are more powerful than consoles. They are also more powerful than other PCs, and they are less powerful than other PCs. They are more compatible than some PCs, and they are lesss compatible than some.

The fact is, if a developer really wants to make a game that pushes tech they are free to do so. The reason they don't is that they want to sell more than 600 copies of the game.

Take consoles out of the equation, and you still have the same problem, as the enthusiast PC gamer is a small group among PC gamers, and if a game company wants to sell a lot they need to make sure their game can run on realtively modest hardware.

forget PC, bring back the console love

Still can't get over how amazing this game looks. can't wait for the alpha

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop.

Ricardomz

I like to buy a game, insert in on a console and play it. I don't like to see if my machine can run it at 100% or only at 90%, I just want to play. Console makes it way easier. Consoles will ever exist, and if it wasn't for League of Legends and Steam, you PC gamers would be on the limbo.

I don't even need to insert discs to play my PC games. And my laptop boots up faster than my roommates PS3. And even if I can only run a game at medium settings, I'll just keep the resolution at 1920x1080 (real HD), and any multiplat will look better than the console versions. I also don't play League of Legends.

Please, I am begging you make another Wing CommanderHarlockJC

wouldn't this game and a next gen wing commander be very similar? i mean after you take away the online portion of Star Citizen

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"]Please, I am begging you make another Wing Commanderlawlessx

wouldn't this game and a next gen wing commander be very similar? i mean after you take away the online portion of Star Citizen

[QUOTE="lawlessx"]

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"]Please, I am begging you make another Wing CommanderHarlockJC

wouldn't this game and a next gen wing commander be very similar? i mean after you take away the online portion of Star Citizen

Star Citizen will have a single player campaign

I know what's holding back PC gaming and is not the consoles.

[spoiler] [/spoiler]

[QUOTE="Ricardomz"]

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop.

the_bi99man

I like to buy a game, insert in on a console and play it. I don't like to see if my machine can run it at 100% or only at 90%, I just want to play. Console makes it way easier. Consoles will ever exist, and if it wasn't for League of Legends and Steam, you PC gamers would be on the limbo.

I don't even need to insert discs to play my PC games. And my laptop boots up faster than my roommates PS3. And even if I can only run a game at medium settings, I'll just keep the resolution at 1920x1080 (real HD), and any multiplat will look better than the console versions. I also don't play League of Legends.

I said this 10 years ago but it doesnt matter unless a ''dev says it''.

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"][QUOTE="lawlessx"]

wouldn't this game and a next gen wing commander be very similar? i mean after you take away the online portion of Star Citizen

lawlessx

Star Citizen will have a single player campaign

[QUOTE="lawlessx"]

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"] I want more of the story. Wing Commander had a very deep story. HarlockJC

Star Citizen will have a single player campaign

Oh i didn't know the lore behind the game was so vast.

Consoles shouldn't exist, full stop. Everything should be on PC.

I can't wait for Star Citizen. It looks awesome!

GamerwillzPS

would you like the ps3 games to work on your 360, and the other way around?

If so, then then you agree with no consoles to exist, and pc's only ;)