The problem with cross-platform MMOs

by Kyle Horner on Apr 6th 2008 11:00AM

Darren over at The Common Sense Gamer has brought up an interesting reason for cross-platform MMOs to never happen. The reason is that patching and updating on PCs is an easier-going process than on a console, because consoles are closed platforms with certification processes for any new incoming software updates. This is a headache for developers to figure out and possibly for the players too, since many may have to wait for the console certification before a PC version patch can go up.

Granted, there already has been a cross-platform MMO by the name of Final Fantasy XI, but you can look at the subject in a different way; will cross-platform MMOs ever become more than the seldom release? Aside from FFXI there hasn't been a cross-platform releas that we can easily recall. The Agency is unlikely to ever have 'crossplay' according to John Smedley, although SOE's reasoning is player control issues rather than updates.

There is the soon-to-be-released PC version of Age of Conan, which will supposedly have an Xbox 360 version coming out next year. Still, that has yet to happen so call us skeptical -- as the console version of AoC may ride on the PC version's success.

Source

Tags: age-of-conan, aoc, cross-platform, crossplay, ffxi, final-fantasy-xi, funcom, soe, sony-online-entertainment, square, square-enix, the-agency, the-common-sense-gamer, xbox-360

Reader Comments (3)

Well, of course it is a problem if you are trying to shoehorn a PC-specific or console-specific MMO onto the other platform. Voice chat in games can level the communication playing field, but as long as most big budget MMOs continue to have keyboard-specific controls, any type of cross platform play is going to seem unfair. I participated in the TR beta and I felt that the UI for that game -- even if it was only a minor step away from the norm -- was still a step toward something that would work with a gamepad.

As for certification issues, again, if you take the typical release/patch/update chain from PC-based online games, sure it's easy to make that kind of argument, but if developers focused on fewer, more substantial updates the certification process might not be as daunting. Placing an emphasis on server-side changes might also be a boon to developers.

Of course, this is all contingent upon whether or not a developer would actually want to make a cross-platform game. I believe it certainly opens up some opportunities for subscribers, but isn't something that has to be done.

I believe you're forgetting a successful cross-platform MMO that already exists - Final Fantasy XI is playable on PS2/3, Xbox360 in addition to the PC.