Atikali Havendoorr
HERBGROWERS
24
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Posted - 2013.06.16 10:08:00 -
[1] - Quote
Interesting to see that comments posted in May just disqualifies the OP, and now then are giving him more cred.
If one now can't see that there actually is no secret masterplan, no ultimate build in the pipeline, then one is truly blind.
CCP have 4 major problems as I see it:
Corporate management:
CCP have their own style of management. While generally, this is not a disadvantage per definition, in this case it is, because they cannot withdraw and overhaul a bad major decision, but instead lives with it, defends it and tries to fix it.
Since this is a key element of what makes CCP what they are, this is not gonna change. And should not.
I'm sure someone with deep knowledge of management can spin ahead and dig deeper in this area, and drop a few nice terms that explains all, but noone understands. So I'll let this be.
Lack of console experience
They are used to PC. One can be quite sloppy on the code crunching and still get away fairly unnoticed.
In addition, todays consoles lag far behind most PCs today, even the casual office computers, so you have to scale down things to make them fit. To make things look good, you have to count every byte of data. Optimization is crucial. The guys at Naughty dog haven't made the PS3 produce wonder overnight. The have worked hard with the machine as a software developer from the beginning, and really dug down in it.
To go from the PC platform to the Playstation 3, without the slightest console experience, with it's Cell is like asking for problems. The Cell is very very complex. And this is just the technical aspect.
The audience and distribution environment are other challenges. Due to consoles having a fixed life span, development can't go on forever. After a while, the project must undergo a major overhaul if it is to be relevant, which means function on current platforms. One platform functions very differently compared to another. This is especially important when optimizing.
This contrasts sharp to the PC, where technical transitions can be made smoothly and in small steps. The large raw calculation power compensates for all overhead. Therefore, at least theoretically, the MMO concept fits PC well because of its ongoing development nature, and not so well to the sharp release cycle edges of the console. This requires large burst efforts if a software is to last more than one generation, something that has never been done before.
The audience follows this sharp edge nature. If the player isn't given a fully functional experience from the start, it's discarded. Betas and half-finished products belong on the PC. The whole point of consoles is to give the players a very polished simple-handled and smooth experience in terms of product use. All parts needs to be there. The graphics, mechanics, balance, tutorial, game modes. Nothing missing and nothing redundant. Just a perfect little microverse. They buy consoles to get rid of the "hassle" with PCs. To get rid of betas and half-finished products and compatibility issues. True plug 'n' play. You don't wait for patches. That belongs to the PC.
Lack of FPS experience
I have not as distinct points here as in the other areas. It's true that balancing out combat outfits and equipment that are player customizable, and even though they have done fairly well on this, they handle it very poorly, trying to copy the way from Eve online, which have completely different conditions. Eve is very strategic and about preparations, while Dust is about instant combat where micromovements and handling is crucial. Lag is a critical issue in Dust, while in Eve not so. The mechanics are incredibly sensitive, and is on a whole different level. Balancing is hard enough when all players are equal in speed/movements and hit points. To balance things with thousands of different equipment combinations is something that noone has ever done before. To do that when you have never even touched an FPS before is... just too much.
Chinese developers
Okay, this one can be a bit fishy and questionable, some might call it racist. I don't know for how long their Chinese team have been around. My experience is that generally Chinese programmers are good at crunching out the bulk, but they lack the feeling and ability to make high quality products all the way out like we are used to.
I've heard small talks and comments about peeps from other studios have been recruited, with experience from some major FPS game, including some from Dice, but I can't say I've noticed much of that. Anyone know who they are?
With all that said, I'm still hoping CCP pull themselves together and make this thing flourish. They still have something... they "just" need to learn how to get that out.
Hm, maybe I should make a new thread instead. |