Ubisoft: We delayed PC version of Endwar to increase console version sales

[Rangers]

Intersting, something that makes a lot of sense to me, and I suspect we'll see more of, if we're not already. But I'm sort of surprised at the admission.

http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/10/08/ubisoft-creative-director-piracys-basically-killing-pc/

“To be honest, if PC wasn’t pirated to hell and back, there’d probably be a PC version coming out the same day as the other two,” he said, talking of the voice-controlled RTS.

“But at the moment, if you release the PC version, essentially what you’re doing is letting people have a free version that they rip off instead of a purchased version. Piracy’s basically killing PC.”

I cant say this hasnt enticed me a few times. for example, it's tempting to pirate the PC fallout 3 instead of having to buy the console version.

 

[pjbliverpool]

In a way I kind of admire them for just coming out and saying it. Makes a change from all the studio's that come up with BS excuses for delaying or cancelling the PC version.

Frankly, I don't mind waiting a month or two for a better version of the game but thats just me!

Obviously fixing the route of this issue is preferable though. Whether Piracy is as big a problem as its claimed to be or not, studio's will continue using it as an excuse (legitimatly or otherwise) to delay or cancel PC games.

 

[eastmen]

Just put out a call home program with it something like steam and on the box say exactly what it does and thast that

 

[pjbliverpool]

Just put out a call home program with it something like steam and on the box say exactly what it does and thast that

Yeah but then the community comes down on you!

PC devs can't win really.

Don't produce games or delay them because piracy is hurting your sales - you'll get slated for abandoning the PC to consoles

Produce the game but try to protect yourself from the pirates - you'll get slated for burdening users with 'useless' DRM

Make a game that pushes graphical boundries - you'll get slated for low performance

Make a game that performs well - you'll get slated for not delivering better graphics!

 

[Skrying]

Piracy is killing the PC. That's really why I can understand why DRM is being put on everything. Even though it will get cracked, its really their only way to combat the issue. If I was a developer or publisher right now I'd say screw off to the PC as well. You simply can't win.

 

[obonicus]

Frankly, I don't mind waiting a month or two for a better version of the game but thats just me!

How often is it just a month or two?

 

[eastmen]

Yeah but then the community comes down on you!

PC devs can't win really.

Don't produce games or delay them because piracy is hurting your sales - you'll get slated for abandoning the PC to consoles

Produce the game but try to protect yourself from the pirates - you'll get slated for burdening users with 'useless' DRM

Make a game that pushes graphical boundries - you'll get slated for low performance

Make a game that performs well - you'll get slated for not delivering better graphics!

Just spell it out on the back of the box and thats that. I don't hear steam users up in arms over having to have steam running and connecting every few days to use their games

 

[obonicus]

Make a game that performs well - you'll get slated for not delivering better graphics!

Or take the blizzard route: make games that were never demanding to begin with, negating PC's great advantage in the first place. But then everyone loves you for it.

 

[Richard]

In a way I kind of admire them for just coming out and saying it. Makes a change from all the studio's that come up with BS excuses for delaying or cancelling the PC version.

Frankly, I don't mind waiting a month or two for a better version of the game but thats just me!

I agree. I don't mind having to wait 6 months (though that is kinda pushing it) for the PC version of GTA4 because of all the extras, but even for games that don't have any extra content in the PC version waiting a month or two (max) isn't a problem for me if it means I get to choose the resolution, AA, etc.

If they spend the extra time polishing the PC-specific support (multiple hardware/configurations) and rolling in fixes to console versions' problems then even better. I just don't want 6+ months waiting time even if the game has extra content (see Gears of War PC).

 

[pjbliverpool]

How often is it just a month or two?

Pretty often I would say. Its only really a hand full of games that are released after a long gap like GTA4, Gears, Halo etc... In fact it seems to be the really big names.

Other games, Bioshock, DIRT, CoD etc... all come out pretty much at the same time.

 

[obonicus]

Pretty often I would say. Its only really a hand full of games that are released after a long gap like GTA4, Gears, Halo etc... In fact it seems to be the really big names.

Other games, Bioshock, DIRT, CoD etc... all come out pretty much at the same time.

Well, the ones that come out at the same time pretty much come out at the same time. I meant the 'there's no PC version planned, oh wait' games. When there is a wait over a few weeks, it seems like it's usually a long one. Are there really many games with 1-2 month delays?

 

[dobwal]

Isn't the delays on average for the PC ports more like 6 months?

 

[pjbliverpool]

Isn't the delays on average for the PC ports more like 6 months?

PC PORT perhaps but most games that are on both PC and console aren't ports, but are developed on all platforms at once, hence the release is either simultaneous or within about 4 weeks of the console launch.

 

[Richard]

When there is a wait over a few weeks, it seems like it's usually a long one. Are there really many games with 1-2 month delays?

I don't think there are many but here are some with a lag < 6 months for reference:

Stranglehold - 2 weeks
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent - 3 weeks
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - 3 weeks
Need for Speed: Most Wanted - 1 month
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - 2 months
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter - 2 months
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - 3 months
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - 3 months
Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay - 4 months
Assassin's Creed - 4 months
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 - 4 months
Manhunt - 5 months
Condemned: Criminal Origins - 5 months
Devil May Cry 4 - 5 months
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition - 6 months