Wii U Discussion

[Icemage]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Well, they're using Unity as their framework. How good is Unity at porting to all the different platforms?

Hard to say for sure, since there are only a handful of Unity-based multiplatform games.

Looking at the Wikipedia article for Unity, I recognize a handful of games that I own that use it. Escape Plan (Vita), Max and the Magic Marker (iOS, PC, PS3), Rochard (PC/PS3), and the upcoming projects for Wasteland 2 (PC) and Project Eternity (PC) all use Unity.

What's interesting is that I find almost no cases of Xbox 360 games using Unity. Even the official site for the engine only lists a single multiplatform Unity game that includes Xbox 360, Harold, and it's not out yet. Makes me wonder if there's something wrong with the Xbox version of Unity, or if Microsoft is just that much of a pain in the butt to work with that it doesn't even make sense to port already-created games to the platform.

In any case, I think the big wall for cross-platform development is still the requirement to buy dev kits and test the software, even with a putatively cross-platform engine like Unity.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Wii U Discussion

I do hope they get everything up and running, but 4 versions running on vastly different hardware and working with 4 different certification processes (Steam Greenlight, Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade, Sony PSN, Wii U eShop) seems like a big mouthful to chew for such a small team.

I do wonder why some studios cast the net so broad when the certification/authentication process an be so costly, this particularly when Steam, Apple and Nintendo aren't charging indies for that now and MS and Sony are.

[Armando]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Well, they're using Unity as their framework. How good is Unity at porting to all the different platforms?

[Icemage]

Re: Wii U Discussion

I don't worry about whether or not it will sell. I worry about Kickstarters that literally run out of money before they finish because the people running the project grossly underestimated the costs involved. For instance, 225K for multi-console support means not only buying dev kits for all of the pertinent consoles (non-trivial cost), but paying for first-party certification (also non-trivial). And that's assuming you make it clean through 1st party certification the first time and no one finds any showstopper bugs which tie up your release and force you to resubmit.

I do hope they get everything up and running, but 4 versions running on vastly different hardware and working with 4 different certification processes (Steam Greenlight, Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade, Sony PSN, Wii U eShop) seems like a big mouthful to chew for such a small team.


Icemage

[Armando]

Re: Wii U Discussion

I've seen that project before, but I'm worried about their unrealistic budget. We have Skullgirls doing a kickstarter for $150K to add one character to their fighting game, and these guys only budgeted $60K for their entire base project? Something doesn't add up there.

I don't know much about what kind of budget would be required for a game like this, but the $60k was the bare minimum. They had stretch goals at $76k for full voice acting, an extra dungeon at $83k and 90k, and four extra weapons at 95/100/105/110k. The stretch goals went up to $225k for console support. They ended up with $242k, so even if they underestimated the budget, that's four times what they wanted for the base game.

EDIT: Actually, they're still taking pledges for another 2 weeks on Paypal, so that $242k isn't the final amount. $15 gets you a digital copy of the game. Even if they flop, it's not that big of an investment to lose.

[Icemage]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Action-RPG Cryamore headed to Wii U

Been keeping tabs on this one 'cuz I saw it on Kickstarter. Looks like a fun game. Action RPG with multiple weapons and overworld abilities for puzzle solving (think Golden Sun). Also has some Mega Man-inspired choose-the-next-stage thing going on (start out with 2 dungeons, then 4 after you beat 1, then another 4 after beating the first 4.)

I've seen that project before, but I'm worried about their unrealistic budget. We have Skullgirls doing a kickstarter for $150K to add one character to their fighting game, and these guys only budgeted $60K for their entire base project? Something doesn't add up there.


Icemage

[Armando]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Action-RPG Cryamore headed to Wii U

Been keeping tabs on this one 'cuz I saw it on Kickstarter. Looks like a fun game. Action RPG with multiple weapons and overworld abilities for puzzle solving (think Golden Sun). Also has some Mega Man-inspired choose-the-next-stage thing going on (start out with 2 dungeons, then 4 after you beat 1, then another 4 after beating the first 4.)

[Malacite]

Re: Wii U Discussion

New BF is always exciting, especially if it finally bridges the gap between PC and Console versions. Going up from 24 to 64 player battles is a pretty big deal (BF4 is slated for 2014 btw. EA canned MoH for good and hasn't announced any plans to replace it or annualize BF which I'm grateful for). Also, just because you're not a fan of <insert series here> doesn't mean it won't be exciting to others. I'm all for new IPs (it's why I adore Sony) but you're being entirely too dismissive.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Well, as they pointed out at GT, EA was surprisingly absent from the Sony event, which means they've no doubt got something major for E3 - Probably BF4 and quite possibly the next Mass Effect. They're not the #1 publisher in the business for nothing. Plus I'm sure Activision can't wait to show off at least a preview of the new CoD. Not that I care particularly for that, I just wanted to make a few important observations with regards to that franchise.

I doubt the next ME will be shown when Casey Hudson was all "prequel or sequel" a couple months ago. If anything it will be DA3 Inquisition. If EA, UbiSoft and Activision want to show how boring they are they can show off the new Madden, BF4, Assassin's Creeed, Spiderman, CoD and other IPs that have been annually or semi-annually run into the ground, that's fine - but don't pretend its exciting. This is all shit we knew was coming and we know where its going.

Even a 3D Mario game can be a bigger shake-up by contrast.

What gets me, though, is it was the likes of Ubisoft telling us that new hardware was needed so new IPs could be created and outside of Watch Dogs - which seems to be scaled for current gen - where are those new IPs? I don't see them.

A lot of people were saying that there's no way that demo of Deep-Down was gameplay, but I think it was for 1 reason - it looked like you had some kind of menu in the lower left with those 3 icons. Either way it was an impressive demo.

It looks cool, but when has Capcom ever been a graphical powerhouse studio? I doubt whatever comes of Deep Down will end up looking as good as that did, at least where particle effects are concerned.

[Firewind]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Actually I never heard it. I guess your mic is just well positioned to not pick up background noise.

I use a Turtle Beach headset, they all have built in monitors so if I can hear background noise I can easily adjust mic settings on the fly to filter that out. I also have a bunch of different programmable mic settings where I can do things like change sensitivities and volumes on the fly.

Even the entry level ones are really nice in terms of sound quality and mic quality.

[Malacite]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Well, as they pointed out at GT, EA was surprisingly absent from the Sony event, which means they've no doubt got something major for E3 - Probably BF4 and quite possibly the next Mass Effect. They're not the #1 publisher in the business for nothing. Plus I'm sure Activision can't wait to show off at least a preview of the new CoD. Not that I care particularly for that, I just wanted to make a few important observations with regards to that franchise.

- Infinity Ward should have the last kick at the can for a CoD game this gen, meaning Treyarc will be first on the next gen platforms (unless by some oddity BO2 ends up being the last of this gen)
- Whichever console launches first, if they're out in November, could potentially get the new CoD before the other which even if you hate CoD, you can't deny it's selling power.

A lot of people were saying that there's no way that demo of Deep-Down was gameplay, but I think it was for 1 reason - it looked like you had some kind of menu in the lower left with those 3 icons. Either way it was an impressive demo.

MS has their work cut out for them. I'm eagerly awaiting what they've got planned, but right now Sony definitely has the momentum. You can't count Nintendo out just yet, but so far it's looking like an uphill battle for them, especially if the specs for the new xbox are anywhere close to PS4's (and I'm sure they will be if they want to stay competitive). Nintendo's always been somewhat safe because of the popularity of their 1st party stuff, but there is going to be a stark world of difference for 3rd party games given the difference in hardware this coming generation which may very well come back to bite them in the ass.

[Icemage]

Re: Wii U Discussion

It's not really a matter of PS4 having a ton of excitement (which it does, actually, particularly amongst developers and publishers). It's more an issue of "where does Nintendo go from here?" The system just needs games, period, and what we know about what's coming to the platform is not going to fix what ails it. 3DS had huge issues until it got a bunch of major software announcements and a huge price cut, and it had a much easier road to recovery being a Nintendo handheld with much less competition. None of the software known to be coming to Wii U is going to do much to help it out of its funk. Granted, it doesn't have anywhere really to go but up from where it is, but it really needs to be doing much better before this fall or it's going to get steamrollered for 3rd party software like the Wii did.

Anyone who thinks Microsoft and Sony aren't going to make a huge splash by E3 is delusional. Two console launches in a year is going to turn a lot of heads, especially if the 3rd party stuff we end up with looks half as good as that real-time Deep Down reveal from Capcom (it wasn't CGI, or if it was, it's the best badly faked CGI I've ever seen).


Icemage

[cidbahamut]

Re: Wii U Discussion

And your point would be...what exactly?

[Kailea]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Actually I never heard it. I guess your mic is just well positioned to not pick up background noise.

I'll agree that Nintendo input devices are usually pretty durable. I'm only just now looking at my SNES controllers beginning to show their age, and I'm still pretty sure the only reason my N64 controller's sticks went out is because I owned the original Mario Party(anyone who's played knows exactly what I'm referring to).

That said, shit happens and a single input devices should not account for 50% of the cost of the system. It's outrageous. No if's ands or buts BBQ. It's straight up nuts.

I agree about the price, but at the same time, look at the thing....... it is not just buttons and sticks.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Wii U Discussion

Actually I never heard it. I guess your mic is just well positioned to not pick up background noise.

I'll agree that Nintendo input devices are usually pretty durable. I'm only just now looking at my SNES controllers beginning to show their age, and I'm still pretty sure the only reason my N64 controller's sticks went out is because I owned the original Mario Party(anyone who's played knows exactly what I'm referring to).

That said, shit happens and a single input devices should not account for 50% of the cost of the system. It's outrageous. No if's ands or buts BBQ. It's straight up nuts.