Microsoft Killed Plans For "PC Vs Xbox 360" Online Play

[BugsBunny]

The founder of Voodoo PC, Rahul Sood, says that Microsoft once floated the idea of implementing cross-platform play between the PC and Xbox 360 for a range of titles. Thing is, testing didn’t go so well.

The proposal, part of Microsoft’s LIVE push, popped up “many many months ago”, and would have allowed people playing games available on both PC and 360 – like Gears of War – to take each other on. Kind of like 2007 shooter Shadowrun, only people would actually play it.

Problems quickly arose in testing, however, when Microsoft found that even the best console gamers simply couldn’t compete with the accuracy a mouse and keyboard afforded a PC player. “The console players got destroyed every time”, Sood says. “So much so that it would be embarrassing to the XBOX team in general had Microsoft launched this initiative.”

I know it sounds silly, and in light of Microsoft’s recent abandonment (Fable III excepted) of the PC like a thing of the past, but I’d have liked to see this succeed. Sure, it would have had teething problems, but that’s what science is for: to test, repair and improve things. I’m sure eventually a nice compromise could have been worked out, if not for competitive play, then at least for the casual user.

http://www.coflash.com/stuff/nomnom.jpg

Source : http://www.rahulsood.com/2010/07/console-gamers-get-killed-against-pc.html

[Delicieuxz]

It's surely better for PC gamers that it didn't work out, as all the compromises in gameplay would have been on their side.

[Kristian Joensen]

The problem is MS's insistence to BAN devs from allowing the use of keyboard and mouse for their games. Sony allows devs to implement optional keyboard and mouse control(and cross platform multiplayer for that matter) for their games. Sadly almost no developer has taken advantage of that option. Having to use a controller is one of the reasons I have never owned a console. Keyboard and mouse support shouldn't just be an option for developers it should be a certification requirement.

[8IronBob]

The problem is MS's insistence to BAN devs from allowing the use of keyboard and mouse for their games. Sony allows devs to implement optional keyboard and mouse control(and cross platform multiplayer for that matter) for their games. Sadly almost no developer has taken advantage of that option. Having to use a controller is one of the reasons I have never owned a console. Keyboard and mouse support shouldn't just be an option for developers it should be a certification requirement.

Right, like Unreal Tournament 3 is one good example of PC/PS3 cross-platform. It's also true for the mapping/modding community as well. Unfortunately, PC users can't interact with the X360 version of UT3 as easily, which is sad. Seems like Epic's one of only few game developers that has this down pat. Wonder if any others will soon follow.

[Aegeri]

Nothing really to see here to be honest :P

Minding I am quite used to playing console FPS games now, but I would hate to be doing so against someone with a mouse and keyboard.

[0marTheZealot]

I could never play a console FPS. I've tried a couple of times but it's so damn frustrating not being able to aim precisely. Most shooters are cross-platform anyways, so I'm not bothered.

[Scream]

Took me more than a full run through the original Halo to get used to the controller, and it was frustrating as hell at the very beginning, but I eventually got comfortable with it. It doesn't compare favourably to a mouse and keyboard though, that's for sure. However, as long as everyone is using the same type of controls I am happy playing most FPS on consoles, and my focus is on campaign for the most part anyway. I do wish there was some way to use my 360 controller on the PS3 though.

[8IronBob]

Yeah, as they say...only play the games in the way you feel most comfortable with. I've always been brought up behind a keyboard and mouse. I mean, sure, I have console gamed quite a lot, too, but...anytime I've done first-person or done any RTS game, etc...it's always been PC-based. Console games for me have been more for driving and third-person gaming mainly, or at least with a gamepad for the PC for doing those. With me, it depends on the genre of game that determines how and where I play it best. Of course, for me, the best console for FPS gaming right now would have to be the Wii, thanks to motion control, which is way, way less frustrating than X360 or PS3 shooters. Of course, whether Kinect will change that, time will tell.

[WarThrash]

It's no secret that mouse and keypad are more accurate than a joystick when it comes to aiming, but I've always found character movement much smoother on a stick. I always suck at it when using th "WASD" keys. There's so much more directional points on a joystick. That's my reason for being a console player.

[8IronBob]

Well, when more and more console gameplay goes more towards motion controlling vs. that of analog sticks, like the Wii, and MS Kinect and everything, then I have a hunch that it'll change my mind. However, there are only a handful of FPS games on the Wii that I can think of that'll make motion control actually feel natural now, but that'll likely change in time. Until then, keyboard and mouse it is.

[WarThrash]

I avoid motion control like a plague. I'll stick to being a lazy bastard when I play my games, not some guy playing charades.

[KO Gilligan]

Huxley was originally going to be a Cross-Patform MMOFPS - took them until beta testing to announce they were having problems balancing play between console controller and mouse....

What the hell is happening with that game? That was 3 friggin' years ago when they started beta and taking pre-orders :insomnia:

[WoodenSword]

Couldn't they just manufacture a keyboard for xbox?

those who prefer it could use it. just wondering...

[DerricktheW]

"Microsoft once floated the idea of implementing cross-platform play between the PC and Xbox 360 for a range of titles. Thing is, testing didn’t go so well."

Maybe if the games didn't require Games for Windows Live and they had chosen a better selection (instead of just Shadowrun, if I remember right) then they would've succeeded.

[8IronBob]

Yes...like I said before, I believe that Epic was the first major developer outside of MS themselves to try this. Wasn't Gears the first game to have this possibility of trans-platform gameplay? Although I believe this was attempted with UT3 as well, but...it almost seems like UT3 plays better with the PS3 than it does with the X360 when it comes to PC/console connection. After all, the PS3 will play custom mods and maps, the X360 won't.

[DerricktheW]

I dont think any Epic games are cross platform play.

Only thing close to this is being able to 'cook' mods for the PS3 and transfer it over.

Microsoft are such *******s though that they're rules disallow this to happen, even though I'm PAYING for their online service.

[Nacho]

Microsoft are such *******s though that they're rules disallow this to happen, even though I'm PAYING for their online service.

you hit the nail on the head... you are paying for THEIR service, not yours. You know full well what you are getting when you pay the fee, anything new they add to it is just a bonus. I see no problem in what they are doing at all, after all if I did I just wouldn't use their services anymore.

[8IronBob]

Yeah, maybe that was CliffyB playing politics...I could have sworn he uttered the words "cross platform" back at E3 2006. Can't remember now.

[Damien_Azreal]

Cliffy stated they wanted cross platform play between PC and PS3 with UT3... but weren't going to guarantee anything.

[8IronBob]

Yeah, then I thought he said that Gears would've been cross platform with X360 and PC, which MS later denied would happen, presumably.

[Damien_Azreal]

No.
Gears was always a 360 exclusive title. There were no plans on a PC port originally.

[KO Gilligan]

I bought Lost Planet, and I remember when they were talking about Gears on PC and being Cross-Platform.

Lost Planet supports it, it even states it right on the box:

Cross-Platform combat: Play together on XBox 360 and PC.

The game is rather mediocre, and I don't remember it being very dependant on aiming from the little I played ;), and I don't have a Live account, and I don't play a console at all... so I have no idea what it's like... I should check it out.