I got to thinking about this, after playing with the editor in Far Cry, and noting it's unbelievable feature set compared to the Xbox360 editor.
I also realize that Epic Games recently broke the mold by allowing cross-platform mods that could be transferred from PC to PS3. But, at the same time, I read (I think right here on B3D) how Epic apparently gimped the PC editor to allow for this (I don't know the specifics).
How likely is it that we'll see more of this happen in the future, for cross-platform games? For example (and I know it sounds like I'm beating a dead horse), Far Cry 2, which has been announced as coming to both consoles and PC. The console version is likely to include an editor, but I have a feeling it will be similarly gimped like the current console editor in the Far Cry games. But, given the same assets and engine used on both platforms, could a mod or finely-tuned map not be made on the PC and ported over?
Let me give an example. I've only had Far Cry for a couple of days now, and I've spent most of my time in the Sandbox editor. I'd made a few maps on the Xbox, and was impressed (at the time). But that doesn't hold a candle to what I did today on a test-map I'd created to try out various routines... I had a AI character defending himself against, and was subsequently killed by, a cloud of black smoke. Yes, I'm a Lost fan.. hehe.
Now, aside from the sound I imported for the monster, everything in the scene was created using in-game assets. Theoretically, assuming that the console version used those same assets and algorithms (in this case, it doesn't), I should be able to recompile that level into something that a console could read and play.
Even if a console version of a game were limited to using only in-game assets, I think it should be a fairly easy matter. A next-gen console map editor like Far Cry 2 might include far more features than the last-gen versions.. things like AI and the ability to link various things together to behave in a certain way (my "monster" is a particle emitter and proximity damage attached to a AI pig, which is programmed to follow a character around once it sees it.. the pig is rendered invisible by removing it's model). But doing this on the PC is likely to be far easier and quicker. Even if the console is limited, the PC editor could simply include the option of creating a console-specific map, thereby limiting the use of only in-game assets, while still allowing everything for a PC-specific map.
I've read that UT3 allows "full" mods and maps and even total conversions on the PS3. Do you think this is something that other developers may allow in the future? Will we see this show up more often on games that are released cross-platform between PC and console?
I also realize that Epic Games recently broke the mold by allowing cross-platform mods that could be transferred from PC to PS3. But, at the same time, I read (I think right here on B3D) how Epic apparently gimped the PC editor to allow for this (I don't know the specifics).
How likely is it that we'll see more of this happen in the future, for cross-platform games? For example (and I know it sounds like I'm beating a dead horse), Far Cry 2, which has been announced as coming to both consoles and PC. The console version is likely to include an editor, but I have a feeling it will be similarly gimped like the current console editor in the Far Cry games. But, given the same assets and engine used on both platforms, could a mod or finely-tuned map not be made on the PC and ported over?
Let me give an example. I've only had Far Cry for a couple of days now, and I've spent most of my time in the Sandbox editor. I'd made a few maps on the Xbox, and was impressed (at the time). But that doesn't hold a candle to what I did today on a test-map I'd created to try out various routines... I had a AI character defending himself against, and was subsequently killed by, a cloud of black smoke. Yes, I'm a Lost fan.. hehe.
Now, aside from the sound I imported for the monster, everything in the scene was created using in-game assets. Theoretically, assuming that the console version used those same assets and algorithms (in this case, it doesn't), I should be able to recompile that level into something that a console could read and play.
Even if a console version of a game were limited to using only in-game assets, I think it should be a fairly easy matter. A next-gen console map editor like Far Cry 2 might include far more features than the last-gen versions.. things like AI and the ability to link various things together to behave in a certain way (my "monster" is a particle emitter and proximity damage attached to a AI pig, which is programmed to follow a character around once it sees it.. the pig is rendered invisible by removing it's model). But doing this on the PC is likely to be far easier and quicker. Even if the console is limited, the PC editor could simply include the option of creating a console-specific map, thereby limiting the use of only in-game assets, while still allowing everything for a PC-specific map.
I've read that UT3 allows "full" mods and maps and even total conversions on the PS3. Do you think this is something that other developers may allow in the future? Will we see this show up more often on games that are released cross-platform between PC and console?
