Kalypso Media: "Xbox 360 is better suited to our forthcoming line-up"

Yesterday Kalypso Media announced that it would enter the console market with Tropico 3 as an exclusive to the Xbox 360.

Stefan Marcinek, Global Managing Director, told Strategy Informer that Kalypso Media decided to go with the Xbox 360 over the PlayStation 3 because it believes the console is better suited to its forthcoming line-up.

[littletad]

Not these crappy developer comments again. Whoever said a unified system would be best was a genius. But capitalism would never allow it.

[StanLee]

Jesus, turn your inner fanboy off. What he simply means is that they are a small, independent developer and they're going to focus on the easiest and cheapest platform development to cut production costs and minimize potential losses as this is their first foray into console development. Stop being a freaking idiot.

[Anon1974]

I would think given the sales data we've seen that if they were making a FPS they would have a better chance on the 360. We've seen time and time again even mediocre shooters are snapped up by 360 fans. Strategy games...not so much.

You know, I just checked a few titles to refresh my memory and it looks like strategy games have done equally as bad on both consoles. I guess you might as well go with the 360 then...it's easier to develop on and there's more of them out there.

Still, you wouldn't think a strategy game would be that difficult to port compared to other genre's. Wouldn't it be worth the extra effort to port it over just to have another 23 million potential customers to sell to? Mind you, I'm not in the position to make that call.

[littletad]

My inner fanboy? Do you even know what my comment was referring to? The fact is, I think many of us are fed up with exclusivity and the reasons as to why certain developers make their games for a specific. I own both systems, so why am I complaining? Because I think it would be best if both systems got an equal share of the same game. Why? Because it divides the fanboys from simply being what we all once were. Gamers. So next time stop and read between the lines of my comment if your going to bother commenting and proclaiming me a fanboy.

[ry-guy]

Competition breeds better products.

A singular console would stagnant the world.

What incentive would there be to bring new integrations and evolve your product if there was no competition.

The moment there is a single console market, you will see a new console to compete within the next 6 months to 2 years.

[SpoonyRedMage]

Ahh, that's understandable. The 360's nearly identical to PCs so it's an obvious choice for a PC developer stepping into the console business.

[ExgamerLegends2]

so then the 360 isnt better suited for their line up, it's better suited for their programming talents.

[-MD-]

"so then the 360 isnt better suited for their line up"

Translation: 360 is easy to develop for and our best bet to sell as many copies as possible.

[Trollimite]

i think he means that there is a slight lack of games coming out on the 360 "THE MONENT", and an exclusive game with no competition will always sell better!

if i was a developer i wouldnt want my game to go head to head with uncharted or god of war 3, in fact i would be stupid to try to release a game during those release windows.

[poindat]

But it isn't a PC. I really don't see the point in putting Tropico on a console. Look at how well Rollercoaster Tycoon and The Sims worked out on consoles.

Tropico has been and will be a PC game first and foremost.

[-MD-]

Now that you bring that up I really really really wish they could make a good Roller Coaster Tycoon console game.

[LazyDevs]

You say the same thing twice, but just re-phrasing it a different way makes you sound like a fanboy.

[SprSynJn]

"Translation: 360 is easy to develop for and our best bet to sell as many copies as possible."

If that was the case, they would be developing it for the Wii and/or DS.

[ExgamerLegends2]

@ lazydev.

I wasnt bagging on whoever is making this game. In fact the only word I used to describe them was 'talent'. Please leave your paranoia in the section to your right.

[KingKionic]

city builder...

ftw

[Foxgod]

And tropico is one of the more popular series in this genre as well :)

[Greysturm]

Simcity 4 was the end of popular in the genre. After that all other titles have been niche at best, tropico is one of those. It has a fanbase in europe but the gaming world wouldnt notice its absece. Someone should convince Maxis to make simcity 5 that would be a huge announcement.

[JamieReleases]

Not sure how the controls will work out, have to wait and see.

[paracardium]

What a big loss to the PS3 community :( lol

[-MD-]

Sorry you don't get to play it?

[Baka-akaB]

Well truth be told , seriously .. would you even play it ?

[sirbigam]

lol

[ExgamerLegends2]

no -_-

[LazyDevs]

Boohoo, does he need a tissue.

[Foxgod]

Actually, it is a big loss, because games like Tropico sells a lot of copies, and has been a popular series on the pc.

[poopface1]

YOU CANT LOOSE SOMETHING THAT YOU NEVER HAD.

I most likely wont play it, doesnt mean someone else wont tho.

[Sunny_D]

OH NO!!
What a big loss to the PS3 community :( lol

[-MD-]

In gamer zone <<<

"5 - OH NO!!
What a big loss to the PS3 community :( lol "

Multiple accounts much?

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

Nobody has ever heard of these guys, but good job bringing your obscure titles to the 360

[iDystopia]

Tony Scarboni.... no one talks about or buys any of PS3's Exclusives....whats your point?

[Rob0g0rilla]

They're PC devs and this is also there first console game. Too bad I never heard of this game until now.

[poindat]

You should try the first one, especially if you enjoy city-builders. The visuals have aged rather well, the atmosphere is wonderful, and overall it is a pretty solid and fun game.

[jakethesnake]

In fact, I had been playing this game the day before I read about Tropico 3. It is clearly dated visually, but that doesn't distract one bit from the high quality of the game itself. If it is anything like the original it will be a great game and will help me recover from the disaster that the simcity series has become.

[devilhunterx]

lol i can already imagine why dis and all his dummy accounts buying this game.

[-MD-]

Well atleast he'll have the option to buy it.

[ssipmraw]

anybody has the option to buy it.

but its just the matter of can i play it? or do i really want to play it?

[Sez]

i guess they figured if they want to sell games. the 360 is the best way to go. i can't blame them

[peeps]

i quick read up on them (i haven't heard of them before now) it would seem their games are likely to appeal to a more niche audience (is that the right word? lol) so bringing their games to the 360 will be in an effort to expand the audience if possible, without the need for heavy programming i.e. pc > 360 port is much much easier than pc > ps3

[Kinetix]

O you motherfu*ing, sons of bit**es... This better come out on PC or will sell my ps3. I don't care what you guys say, these are the types of games ps3 needs even if ya think they're crappy. It is indeed a loss, though not significant, because at least it would of expanded ps3's type of games. I can only take so much action and shooting games before it starts to get boring.

[Rob0g0rilla]

It is coming to PC. In fact, it was exclusive to PC before it was announced for 360.

To be honest, I think strategy games are played best on PC, not a console. But yeah, the more the merrier.

[Baka-akaB]

Yeah let's act as if civiliation and a few other games of the kind never got released ...

Me joking about it was mostly because well , on any platform it never seemed a particularly great game even for the genre .

[blizzard_cool]

Can someone answer what games they made? No seriously I hear from the the first time. Are they known for something big???

Can someone please answer my question & not give me random disagrees?

[-MD-]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=kalyps...

[peeps]

they're a publisher not developer. and i've never heard of them before.

from wiki:

Tropico 3 is an upcoming 2009 politics and city building video game developed by Haemimont Games and published by Kalypso Media

something different i guess but not surprising i haven't heard of this company or the games they have published before

[Kinetix]

Robo, you're absolutely right and yea tropico was exclusive on pc, I used to play it all the time. Anyways I got a lil carried there but yea I take what I said back, these kiind of games are best played on pc.

[peeps]

i guess it makes more sense for them to publish the games on 360 because of the similar architecture compared to pc's so another way to broaden their augience. With a game like tropico i imagine it's more of a small devoted fanbase that will buy it on pc? i could be wrong though, just i've never heard of it before so presume it's a lesser known but loved game by its fans

[-MD-]

Nowadays you need to have your game on multiple platforms to get its name out there.

[ssipmraw]

KALYPWHO???

[peeps]

kalypso publishing a game called tropico. i couldn't help thinking of the ice lollys lol

[Foxgod]

Do you know, you sound just as stupid as pc gamer that screams, Guerrilla who ?!?!?!

[Kinetix]

It's a very unique game, not like civilization, more like a combo of simcity/roller coaster tycoon. Very good game, addicting too. If you dig those kind of games then you should get this. I was upset that this isn't coming out for the ps3 but these kind of games are best on PC.

[kewlkat007]

they have been working on....The Possibilities.

Playing RUSE on there look crazy
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Kinetix]

Man, forget motion control and all that bs, that is what the future of gaming should be like.

[Foxgod]

Howabout motion controls + MS surface, + a tv setup,. to create some wicked gaming experiences.
MS owns the tech for both full body motion control, and surface technology's

[Foxgod]

Judging from all the comments here, i can tell the ps3fanboys are blind as ever.

You gotta be pretty ignorant to act like a series like tropico doesnt matter.
Tropico is one of the better selling city building/managing series ever on the pc.
Its good news that it comes to the 360 now.

[ExgamerLegends2]

Now that its coming to the 360 you and all the other 360 owners can play it !!!

* Pats fox on the head, sets him in his high chair, gives him a cookie....................... and goes back to the U2 beta*

But seriously, most ppl here (ps3 and 360 owners) have never heard of the game or company. And if they have theyre uninterested. Doesnt matter if its the best CB game. In our eyes its still just that... a CB game. Have fun with it if it's your thing.

[bjornbear]

Less exclusive competition = its a good thing, don't get me wrong (compare with PS3 MASSIVE ones....)

Easier / cheaper to program for

Easier to sell well / guaranteed to sell a little better than on PS3 vs. the cost of making it

Thats what i think anyway =) but its good! New exclusive IP for 360 = good news

[maverick1191]

foxgod now you just sound stupid STFU causing people to b1tch troll somewhere else for once

[Man_of_the_year]

Its a 360 article about an exclusive 360 game...i think he is in the right spot.

[BrianC6234]

So what exactly is this lineup anyway? A bunch of lousy PC games they want to quickly port to a console hoping to make a quick buck?

[Tony P]

Games you've never heard of aren't automatically lousy. Tropico isn't the best of the best imo, but it certainly isn't a lousy series of games.

A better question: is there still a viable market for PC city-builders/sims on consoles? I don't see it tbh.

But if there is, they could do FAR worse than Tropico.

[Dark_king]

If they were smart they would of made it a ps3 (console)exclusive and got sony to foot the bill.

[_Q_]

What do they make?

[BYE]

It's totally understandable from their perspective.

I like my PS3 and I would love to see a Tropico 3 for that console but I would do the same as a game developer starting out on the console market. 360 is easier and cheaper to develop for.

[Mo0eY]

"Xbox 360 is better suited for our forthcoming line-up"

Translation:

M$ paid us a sh!tload of money. Sorry for you Wii, PC, and PS3 peoples.

[Deadman64]

Hmm... I think I would translate it this way:

"We don't want to waste time/money developing on the harder to develop for PS3 when we will get no sales, we would rather optimize and focus on the Xbox 360 version where it will actually sell copies."

[Bladestar]

well.. it does not matter how much Sony leg humpers complain and insult them. It's ether Making their games where the have a better chance of making a profit or getting into a project that may require more than what they can chew and go the rout of Lair and Haze developer that for going exclusive on the PS3 and not having the response from gamers that they were hoping they went belly up.

It takes a little more than Love for Sony and loyalty to make it in this game industry... once a developer make a game and use all their money to do so... Sony nor their leg humpers will write a check to save them. So, if developers that are not big and can't a failure of their first game in the console industry decide to make it for the console with a larger demographic, lower cost and least difficulty than people should understand that or start writing checks.

[titntin]

If your skillset is in PC development, then its much easier to use tools you've always been used to, and an architecture thats easier to understand as so 'PC like'.
Ramping up for PS3 development would require the hiring of some new engine coders, and thats prohibitive for a smaller developer. It's better that they concentrate on making one good console version rather than squander limited resources trying to produce a conversion for a platform they don't have any expertise in. We've had enough of shoddy ports in the past, so its better to avoid them! :)

[keysy420]

what game do they make

plus you have a better chance i believe of doing better as a new exclusive to ps3 because people only play like 4 games on 360

[keysy420]

dystopia you nuts who doesn tbuy ps3 exclusive some people only buy the exclusives. dude go get a ps3 and then talk in these forum because until you own them all you dont really have a real say its like you talking about a different galaxy cause somebody told you about the milky way

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

This a XBLA game? Actually it looks pretty cool. Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind having SimCity 2000 as a PSOne Classic.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Not a big fan of these types of games but still more games for my 360 is always a good thing!

[rjackson1]

You sony guys dont get it.Its big loss any time some developer picks 360 over ps3.Because it lets game people know who in charge.Yes its a big loss to the PS3 community.And its sad that you dont get it.

[360usetobegood]

I imagine most of us have better PC's than our consoles at this point..