Why ModNation Racers is only capable on the PS3

With the recent revelation that ModNation Racers will feature four-player split screen, we wanted to ask the development team if we should expect a lack in frame rates or gameplay lag. As it turns out, the PlayStation 3 hardware will allow for fluid graphics and gameplay during four-player split screen sessions, with only very minor draw delays. But, there are more reasons as to why United Front Games partnered with Sony when it started looking for a publisher for its quirky kart racing game.

[Lord_Ranos]

I smell another AAA exclusive. Only on the PS3.

[PirateThom]

I'm not so sure. I played the beta and the controls felt off... they would have be better to, pretty much, make it Mario Kart.

[presto717]

But my biggest problem with it is that its too different from other conventional gaming machines. I guess that would explain why its mostly games tailored for the ps3 that really shine.

Multiplat devs are not willing to put in the time and money to max out the ps3. Sony should have foreseen that....

@ P.Thom really?? Hmm I haven't played the beta / demo. The game looks a lot like CTR / MK. Hopefully it will feel the same at launch

[darthv72]

the only reason a game for one platform would be slated as being "only capable" or "possible" would be to restrictions imposed on another platform. For example, little big planet as well as this game are possible on the 360 (maybe even the wii) but it has been stated time and again that MS has a lock out on user generated content. That is the main reason for those games to exist. The players get to do stuff on their own and share it with others.

It isnt about technical power or abilities. If MS would have been a bit more open minded to such things they would be approached more with ideas like this. Keep in mind LBP was pitched to 360 at one point. It wouldnt surprise me if these guys wanted to do the same but saw the restrictions as a major turn off for the system.

MS and their restrictions are whats keeping innovative titles like this from being enjoyed by its users.

[lelo2play]

"Why ModNation Racers is only capable on the PS3"

Isn't it coming out for the PSP?

Tried the beta on my PS3, and did not like it much. I'll pass.

[MrMacabre]

Sony seems to have had a crystal ball back in 2006, all the standard tech in the PS3 has paid off in the long run just like they planned. Its almost scary.

Edit: Ah, now I see it was Kevin Butlers time travelling shenanigans that tipped them off.

[Blaze929]

Isnt there...a PSP version o_O?

[deadreckoning666]

The Modnation Racers beta made me wish I was playing GT5. The controls definetly need tweaking.

[Polluted]

@1.1: As a huge Mario Kart: Double dash fan, they felt weird to me at first too, but i got used to them after a while and began to appreciate them for what they were. Similar to Mario Kart, but without being a total rip-off. I could get used to that. After all, we already have Kart.

The things that troubled me were the framerate, which is easily fixable before release and the relatively boring tracks. The tracks is the one that still concerns me. I get that they want to leave the track making up to the community, and that's cool, but it would be nice if the ones they included were a little more interesting.

Guess we'll find out how it pans out soon enough.

[Syronicus]

Yeah, but those of us who tend to use our brains know that the version for the PS3 and the version for the PSP are going to be different in both code and content. Perhaps the PSP version would be the one they should consider porting to the Wii and 360. it might be the version best suited for those other consoles.

[Ju]

He didn't even talk about just the technically realization of the project (obviously they can port it, see PSP). But the network infrastructure which allows user generated content to be shared and the fact that every machine has a storage medium (HDD), where you'd need to store downloaded content. Those are the two main reasons why (and both are available on PSP as well - well, you'd need a Memory Stick there).

[cliffbo]

i think you've missed the point here. read it again.

[cry from the sky]

can it be done on the green consol? no. why? because it cant.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

Besides. ModNation Racers was proyected as Multiplatform.

The problem was, the Online. They wanted the game for consoles to play online for Free.

That is why United Front Games decided develop for PS3. Is for free to play online.

However, I asume Sony have an agreement with United Front Games, because this game looks fun for the Wii platform, besides is free online. And that is what United Front Games was looking for, free online play.

[TehSuperCell]

Yea, and Gears of War 2 is only possible on Xbox, and Mario Galaxy is only possible on Wii. And God of War 2 is only possible on PS2.

[Biggest]

Then how did it get onto the PS3? What kind of trickeration are those Sony people up to?!?!?

[tunaks1]

isnt there a psp version?
a kart game can be made on any system,

[Bnet343]

lol I was about to say the same thing, this game is also on PSP.

[Nicholas Cage]

what i dont want? 360 fanboys trolling this page like crazy cause there butthurt, but thats all my opinion. thanks! cant wait for mass effect 3

[ARBitrator]

DOUCHEBAG ALERT!

[Thudd]

Before you call out Xbox 360 fanboy's you may want to learn basic grammar. The word is THEIR, not there. I swear the average PS3 fanboy on this site is age 12 and has an IQ to match. You guy's make me feel ashamed to own 2 PS3's.

[AssassinHD]

You should remove the plank from your own eye before taking out the splinter in someone else's. You incorrectly placed an apostrophe in "guys". You also incorrectly placed an apostrophe in "PS3s". By the way, correcting grammar in a public forum is a breach of social etiquette. One might question your upbringing.

[maxcer]

lol must be a slow day for 360news. ps3fanboys are trolling their own stories!

[Blaze929]

the sharing will be big for this game and the thing that itll hold over mario-kart

[TheBand1t]

I'd say it has less to do with the PS3's power and more with Sony's more lax control over user generated content. (Look at Unreal Tournament 3, for example. MS wouldn't allow mod support on the 360, but PC and PS3 supported it.)

[Lavalamp]

I absolutely love this Play, Create, Share idea for games! LittleBigPlanet and ModNation Racers are such cool titles where it's just a blast going online and trying out all of the incredible things the community puts out. It's unreal what people have come up with.

[Dead_Cell]

There reall isn't anything in this game that the Xbox couldn't, and it's a damn fun game.

[palaeomerus]

Uh huh. Looks like it could be on the iPhone to me. Whatevs.

[Dead_Cell]

Moot point.

[Thudd]

Something better will be on I-Phone. This game is o.k. at best. I found it to be mediocre during the beta.

[Kyur4ThePain]

Wait...."capable"? Really?

[Bathyj]

This is why I dont get Valve.

They must have the most heavily modded engine available and they wont embrace a company that tries to bring that to consoles.

It makes to sense, other than Gabe is really embarrased at their lack of technical expertise, from having such a late start. If he'd only listen at the beginning Valve could be up to speed on PS3.

And why arent more games taking advantage of this. GTA could have new life if the mod scene took off. This is the way for Sony to really stand out from the others, not by buying exclusive DLC, but by allowing people to make their own stuff and intergrate it.

PS
Why dont you guys complaining above READ the damn article before claiming XB could do this game. You're missing the point. They could do it on Xbox, if they were ALLOWED.

[palaeomerus]

I think Valve just doesn't care about the PS3.

They are mainly focused on taking over the downloadable end of the PC market with Steam.

360 ports from PC development are easier to do than PS3 ports so as a byproduct of PC oriented development 360 benefits and PS3 doesn't unless someone else wants to do a point like EA did.

Hiring some system programmers just to port stuff to the PS3 just isn't worth doing from Valve's point of view.

[maxcer]

I think the real reason developers/publishers don't do more projects with modding support is that the testing phases and all subsequent modding means untested content. Resulting in possible crashes and glitches, it just means more time and resources wasted on a finished product that could be spent on an entirely new project. imo of course.

[Cuddlefish]

There are tons of 360 games that let you create maps, videos, screenshots etc and share them with friends through Live. Even XBLA games have this feature for example Trials HD and even Band of Bugs. MS allows sharing, they just control it very tightly to keep the network secure.

[A change in the wind]

Because it fun. Because it`s creative. Because it`s not a shooter. If it meets any of these conditions, it aint` coming to 360. Sorry.

[Strikepackage Bravo]

Not this again *RHE*

[Sevir04]

none the less, the beta told me this game would be amazing cause i loved it.. I cant wait till may 25th.. gonna be awesome

[Rowsdower]

the game was no little big planet, i found it to be pretty mediocre

[Biggest]

Please don't take this as my usual sarcasm. What about it wasn't up to snuff? I was planning to buy the game as a family thing. As of now we play LBP. If there is no reason to change, I would like to know.

[Rowsdower]

at its core it felt like a rehash of mario kart just not done nearly as well.

also the creative aspect did not feel as interesting as lbp.

if someone wants a cute racer then the game may be for you, but to go on like its an amazing achievement "only possible on the ps3" strikes me as hyperbole.

its not a bad game by any means, but not a great game either.

I am interested in the final product due to the fact that all i played was the beta, which was plagued by issues (like constantly being kicked out of games).

I really wanted to like it.

Now that i think about it, as a family game its cool, I forget that not all gamers share my life situation. i think you should rent it first, kids may really like it.

[Pennywise]

I am surprised you didn't mention the longest loading screens ever.

I tried the beta and hated it. Now, MAG was the same way, but now I love it... I think I will be passing on this one unless the improvements are huge.

[Snert]

That's why you will never see games like this on the 360. The 360 is a shooter console. Hell, Mass Effect 2 is really not a rpg, it's more like a third person shooter with a little bit of rpg elements.

[Miraak82]

its like games like this and demon's souls that make psn unique ... the developer can think outside the box and make experiences that aren't so divided from the realms of single and multiplayer games and be able to interweave them in to a universal experience

[cheapness1]

The reasons stated are pretty obvious and nothing to do with t3h power of the ps3:

-free PSN
-Users sharing content

Which are perfectly valid because I think this game would lack a lot of appeal if you couldn't create and share tracks!

[gamer7804]

Its also on the psp, so i'm pretty sure even the ps2, gamecube, or original xbox could make this game technically speaking. User generated/shared content is just possible, so if that were changed it could be made on any system.

[Ju]

Go read - for example the article, or, if you don't want to click the link, how about the comment right above you ? Would spare you (and some others) some time commenting totally off topic. ts ts ts

[awesomeperson]

Look at all the varieties of games on the PS3 then look at the variety of games on the 360. Yeah...

I'm strangely actually looking forward to this game, the user created levels should have some awesome things, we else is looking forward to making a kart version of the top gear track? :)

[N4BmpS]

I'm actually pretty stoked about this game I'm 100% behind the "play, create, share" idea, hopefully if there are small problems with the controls they tweaked(most likely they did)wouldn't mind trying this game out. Oh I also wann add I'm glad Sony continues to embrace Creativity.