CryTek on why Developers move to Multiplatform

CC: It wasn't a total shock when we heard that Crysis 2 would be coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, basically because it's going to do well on the PC, and the addition of two huge entertainment systems wasn't going to do it harm. However, it seems the reason that CryTek moved to consoles in the first place, was because of piracy.

[ruleroftekken]

Understandable, but I would have thought that Crysis 2 was coming to PS3 and 360 because it'll rack up a few good sales.

[mjolliffe]

I just want to see a bit more footage of Crysis 2 and CryENGINE 3 :D

[Arnon]

That footage looks so subpar. I am so happy I am buying Crysis 2 on PC. That looks like Crysis on medium settings. Unfortunately, I have a feeling it's going to punish our PCs considering it supports DX11.

[champ21]

cant wait for the game. pc version will be great.

got a 5970 waiting to play this.

[presto717]

Will it be on ps3 and xbox?

[Skip_Bayless]

Developers who choose multiplatform want to make a quick buck instead moving technology forward. Case in point GTA4 and Final Fantasy 13.

[m-s-8-2]

A quick buck? Most are in no position to take a chance with a single platform release. Unless a developer is owned outright by a major publisher 1 game that doesn't do well critically or commercially could be their last, and even that doesn't make them safe.

[Persistantthug]

I remember the Crytek Engine being described as being so well developed and fully optimised among the 3 platforms (PC, XBOX 360, and PS3) that basically, if you design 1 version, with a "button push", you have 3 versions pretty much made.

That would in fact be revolutionary in terms of game design. That would be driving the game industry forward by saving developers countless hours, money, and resources.

And hopefully it works REALLY well, so well, that we can finally get the Unreal Engine put to rest.

[aGameDeveloper]

Developers who really want to make a quick buck would develop a 360 exclusive. With a fixed hardware target and a PC-like development environment, you have the best of both worlds.

The only thing that could be quicker would be to license a multi-platform engine and use it with little to no modification... giving gamers tons of "Gears of Wars" or "Unreal 3" clones. Obviously, this does not apply to CryTek.

[siyrobbo]

in other words, they saw the runaway success of unreal engine 3 and saw dollar signs

[Persistantthug]

Unreal Engine is so overused this gen, I'm definitely awaiting this Crytek 3 Engine. Id's engine might be good too....we'll see.

[_insane_gamer_]

What it's going to look better than Killzone 2 and Uncharted 2?

Day one buy. Defo.

[thereapersson]

Because it sure isn't going to be a 360-based engine that looks better than those titles you mentioned

[Sarcasm]

Maybe it will, maybe it won't. The fact that it's coming to consoles is already good enough IMO.

[Nihilism]

That would be amazing for all gamers if it was, as cryengine 3 is a middleware engine it would open up the floodgates for a stack of amazing looking games, but for some reason, people seem to wish it failure, if I had a ps3 I would be praying to god that every game released topped every other in graphics, but the backwards logic of many means they want uncharted 2 to remain at the top :S

Don't know why anyone would want graphics to stagnate, but I suppose it comes with buying a console

[thereapersson]

I just hope that if they create their CryEngine as middleware, that they can make it run smoothly across ALL platforms. It just doesn't help forward-progression if your engine which is multiplatform-centric catered primarily toward one console (Unreal Engine, for example).

edit @ Guido:

Agreed, although I think by the time the tech is actually out and used in practice, I'm sure bigger and better things will come along for both of those games that will mean advances in their respective technology.

[Guido]

We will see a game that is ok on the consoles and look even better on the PC. It will more than likely have a few subtle differences between PS3 and 360 but will turn out to be a touch less attractive than Killzone 2 and Uncharted 2. By the time it is released, the PS3 will have more titles that rival the game and give it a run for the money.

Multiplatform games just can't compete with the top dog exclusives to the PS3. The PC version will look great but the console version just won't do it justice.

IMHO

[Nitrowolf2]

well with the engine they are using and how it looks on PC i would not be surprised
only game i see that can possibly beat KZ2 in graphics
im just happy its coming to console

[DaTruth]

Than you agree all developers should stop making multiplatform titles and games for 360 and focus exclusively on the PS3; Because we don't want graphics to stagnate, Right?

[Nihilism]

I've got no problem with multiplats, I do have a problem with bad multiplats though. Farcry 2 is the second best looking pc game I have ever seen ( counting crysis and crysis warhead together at the top), and it is a multiplat, with the right amount of effort etc there is no reason the games cannot look the best they possibly can for their respective platform.

Fingers crossed cryengine 3 is the middleware engine to eliminate the exclusive/multiplat gap. But we'll find out in time.

I would honestly prefer 60 frames over insane graphics at 30 frames though right now, poor performance kills immersion.

[bjornbear]

but i foresee a Killzone 3 VS. Crysis 2 (PS3 VERSION) HEAD TO HEAD matches here on N4G in the future =O

EDIT: Before anyone misinterprets this:

I don't mean KZ3 will HAVE to be out to compete with Cry 3, but that by the time Cry3 comes out, KZ3 will have come out too =D

[Pandamobile]

Killzone 3 will look better than Crysis 2 on PS3.

But the PC version will be in a league of its own.

[DeathMetal]

of course it will look better, the last one is 3 years old and it still looks better than any console game

[kevco33]

More £££.

[mjolliffe]

Definitely. Though I wouldn't be surprised if the got a little bored of the PC and wanted to explore the console systems :)

Either way, it's going to be a good move for them.

[aGameDeveloper]

Actually, that's a relevant point. The career/resume of a programmer is boosted by having console experience. A developer who gives their programmers no chance to expand their skills in this area runs the risk of losing them to other developers.

[scruffy_bear]

looking forward to it

[hitthegspot]

Not that I don't disagree whith what he said, but we all know that multiplat is all about the money. The more targets, the more money..

[dpdvxkpizbnwg]

Agreed. All about the money. What would they do if there weren't any consoles? Just give up because of piracy? No.

They're in it for the money. And their gonna get mine because I can't wait for Crysis 2 :D

[tdrules]

theyve developed a system that allows SIMULTANEOUS development on PS3 and 360.
theyre clearly leading industry forward and decided to kick multiplat development in the arse and stop people using vaseline unreal engine 3 that only really runs well on one system

[Sarcasm]

Well they said it's because of Piracy, which is an indirect way of saying losing money.

It's still pretty amazing that the 360 is heavily pirated but still managed to SELL a lot of copies. I wonder what the sales would have been if piracy wasn't an issue on it.

[tdrules]

its their fault for releasing a game that no one could run on full on release.
no one is willing to fork out money for a game that may murder their PC in cold blood.
and it wasnt on Steam, if it was it would have sold much more than 2M that it did.

[DaTruth]

I was gonna say 2 million sounds like a profitable number, but than I realized PC games are like half the price and Crysis probably cost more to make than most games!

[Nihilism]

PC games are royalty free, meaning that even at a lesser price the games usually have a higher profit margin, just look at the companies that use steam etc, they sell the games for practically half price + they give valve a cut, and they still laugh all the way to the bank

[MajestieBeast]

Cant wait to see more hopefully my pc can handle it like crysis or else i need a new gfx card:(

[Nihilism]

I honestly hope this game isn't as big a leap as the first game, but seeing as it will support DX11 etc I imagine it will be punishing, I should really wait for this game to release before I even think about upgrading, because if a shiny knew card goes weak in the knees again, i'll be pissed

[Akagi]

Money is the reason, pure and simple.

[saint_john_paul_ii]

CryEngine 3, the Real Next-Gen Middle-Ware Engine.

[Nihilism]

Here's an example of the true scalability of cryengine 3

here's the working Wii version:

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

@dreamhunk

There have been studies done that suggest that there is a positive link between piracy and game sales ( meaning pirates are exposed to games and are able to try them, and that the majority of them buy the games etc), piracy claims are a cop out, the reason it sold poor was because every single review of crysis came with a major warning :" supercomputer required" if they didn't make the specs so harsh they would have sold a lot more.

[Arnon]

Lulz... I was going to post that version.

[devilhunterx]

And XB2 is the most pirated CURRENT Gen console.

[nefertis]

bubbles

[Letros]

They made an amazing engine, and it wasn't taken up by other developers because it didn't offer console tech. Most developers as we can all see, use UE3.

Crytek wants money, there's no denying that, but there is also a desire to show the world what their engine is capable of, they are German they have egos! Hopefully one day we can say, "God...another CE3 game???" like we are doing now with UE3.

[omicron009]

obviously they'll make more money

[bcooper56]

oh please Crytek made a solid profit from Crysis, enough so to open two new studios and purchase another. Piracy isn't something that just up and appeared within the last 3 years either. Game has sold over 3 million and Crytek just wants the massive one week sales of consoles but don't realise after that the game just stays dead on the shelves.

[N4g_null]

If you guys want the SONY movie game experience then you need to support these developers, sure they want more money you do realize the pay of a hi end cgi artist is reaching programmer status in competing industries like movie cgi. billion dollar sales will have to be the future. Say bye buy to normal gaming and welcome the new movie studio gaming world.

[S4NDM4N]

what a joke Crytek. I don't mind it going multiplat, but at least admit they just want more profit.

The game sold over 3 million. And that is not including Crysis Maximum Edition or Steam. It has outsold so many PS3 exclusives....seriously Crytek?

Hell, the game was selling like on Direct2Drive on Black friday because they had a 50% off deal.

[N4g_null]

sure they need money and they want it you want these super detailed games right so don't you think they need even more money to make these games? Artist do not work for free. Neither do programmers.

[DJ]

But don't they realize how rampant piracy is on the Xbox 360? There's a reason over a million Xbox consoles were banned last month.

[N4g_null]

Well that's fine since you know 4 million gamers did buy mw2. Even after all the threats of piracy and boycotting.

PS3 may have blue ray for piracy but I've been developing or helping in projects for a while and nothing is better than pirates becoming horribly addicted to what you offer and then MS putting the ban hammer down on them so they have to become legit. It is better than a demo since they get to see what they are getting and then they have to buy it after wards yet no hype is needed because they already know they like it.

This type of publishing is very similar to what made doom and id very successful it was called shareware back in the day.

Yet on the PS3 if you can not have a great demo that gets players addicted to playing it every day then you are dead in th3e water.

I keep telling you guys MS is bring more and more of the PC ways of doing business to consoles. Most of these HD gamers are very green to how this all works also.

The journalist of this industry are even greener since they exist only as PR extensions for hire now anyway.

This may be why PSN is becoming a pay network to possible support subscription based game owner ships or complete steam like downloads yet an uncompressed blue ray content is going to make for very long waits.

[Pootangpie]

hmmm go on I'm waiting piracy happens all the time you can still mod pirate PS3 games btw