Sams: Microsoft could do more for PC gaming
by Mike Schramm 
Jul 2nd 2008 at 2:00PM
Blizzard's COO Paul Sams spoke with Gamasutra the other day, and he called out Microsoft, of all companies, for not supporting innovation in PC gaming. He says that Microsoft's loyalties are split with their console business, and that if they put as much work into developing gaming on the PC as they did on the Xbox 360, everyone would benefit.An interesting idea, to be sure. It's not like Blizzard necessarily needs help from Microsoft to promote and develop their games -- if anything, it's Microsoft that could probably take a lesson from Blizzard on how to release software. But it's true that console innovations like achievement points and Xbox Live social networking accounts aren't really finding a solid place in the PC gaming world, and it could be that Blizzard wants to see those types of things on the platform.
Blizzard has always had a rocky relationship with consoles anyway, and the recent announcement of a non-console Diablo 3 definitely shows they're interested in the PC (including Mac) platform only. Can't really blame them for wanting a little more love from an OS developer like Microsoft.
[via BigDownload]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Hardware
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Doffencrag Jul 2nd 2008 2:08PM
If Microsoft, like Blizzard, only released things "when it's ready", they wouldn't be any Windows platform updates for a looooong time...
Jasperwind Jul 2nd 2008 2:48PM
If Microsoft only released software when it's ready, we'd still be waiting for the first version of Windows and Office (among other things).
Tekkub Jul 2nd 2008 2:56PM
How many years did Vista get delayed?
Too bad it's still not "ready". I myself use Vista, but if/when I reinstall my computer, it's back to XP for me.
Verit Jul 2nd 2008 4:44PM
Operating system dev cycle is so much longer though - I think 5-7 years is perfectly fine.
Blackhorn Jul 2nd 2008 2:37PM
Slightly off topic..
Often, when a game is ported to another platform (typically from Arcade to PC to Console or any variant), an outside company will be charged with the task.
That's why I can't figure out why we haven't seen a 360 or PS3 version of WoW.
Blizzard enjoys cash, as do I, and I don't see how this wouldn't be a good idea.
So you have to buy $15 worth of USB keyboards and mice. Big Deal. Brand a set with WoW and Blizzard stuff and include it in the optional "Master" edition or some sleaze.
darian Jul 2nd 2008 3:22PM
Blizzard's had several experiences with third parties that have probably tempered their attitude toward them.
Did you know there was an expansion to Diablo? It was produced by Sierra, and while sporting several interesting additions to the game, was extremely buggy and prone to frequent crashs. Look up Diablo: Hellfire.
Did you know there were additional third party campaigns for Starcraft? They were horrifyingly bad to say the least. You can find them on the Starcraft(series) page on Wikipedia.
Let's also not forget all the complicated mishaps and dealings Blizzard had with third parties in the development of Starcraft: Ghost.
Blizzard's had plenty of bad experiences with third parties. I think they're quite happy where things stand.
PeeWee Jul 3rd 2008 1:58PM
"That's why I can't figure out why we haven't seen a 360 or PS3 version of WoW."
It's to keep the worst of the kids away from the game. We really do not want more diaper-monsters that is the community for consoles. There's enough of them contaminating the scene as it is.
"swe?"
"Excuse me?"
"swe"
"I beg your pardon, sir?"
"swe!"
"I do believe the city of Orgrimmar lies to the north from here. "
"swe"
"Are you broken?"
Blackhorn Jul 3rd 2008 2:57PM
@ Darian
This would be a port, not a creative process.
Blizzard: "Make our game work on the 360"
Studio: "Can we add stuff?"
Blizzard: "Absolutely not."
JSG Jul 2nd 2008 3:03PM
Maybe they will go Mac-exclusive, since they obviously think Apple does such a great job supporting game developers.
Either that, or Blizzard can release their own operating system, seeing how Microsoft "could probably take a lesson from Blizzard on how to release software". Let's forget the fact that Microsoft could buy Blizzard about ten times, and still have enough money left to buy it ten more times. Cuz, you know, Microsoft doesn't know all that much about releasing software.
Candina@WH Jul 2nd 2008 3:20PM
Wow, take a valium guy. The writer was making a Joke. Look it up, Jokes are (mostly) harmless.
The comment is justified. Microsoft routinely releases software that is buggy and poorly tested.
Blizz software usually has fewer bugs per release, but also has many fewer titles to cope with.
jbodar Jul 2nd 2008 7:53PM
Did you just invoke Worthington's Law? I think you did.
http://www.wikiality.com/Worthington%27s_Law
Angry Joe Jul 2nd 2008 3:27PM
Sorry, this is a WoW blog, I have to do this:
QQ more, Paul Sams!
Truckin Jul 2nd 2008 4:05PM
I believe the point Mr. Sams was getting at was more in terms of OS and DirectX type ventures vs social innovations such as achievements. Will have to see when the full story is released.
GamerJunkie Jul 2nd 2008 5:02PM
Console gaming is much more profitable than PC Games. It's all about profit, less to do with making a better game.
Veji Jul 8th 2008 8:31AM
If Sam was so worried about what MS is doing, why did'nt they develop the game for Linux? They did for the Mac, but if they want the game running on PC hardware w/o MS, i would only think that maybe they would either make the game work on all current versions of linux or take a linux/unix kernal and build their own OS which will support WoW.
Blizzard Linux + WoW = yeah, i'mma fan boy.
cactusham Jul 2nd 2008 8:53PM
everyone always mentions Ghost when talking about Blizzards failed relationship with consoles. Who here has played.. STARCRAFT 64? NOT a game for the consoles =p
Umgawa Jul 3rd 2008 3:22PM
Reasons not to put WoW on consoles:
1) Just from a hardware standpoint, it's another game that would require a hard drive, like Final Fantasy XI. Not necessarily a bad thing, but Microsoft is generally averse to requiring hard drive installs for most games on the 360.
2) From a display point of view, NTSC is out the window, and therefore the game would have to require a high-def set, because we all remember what happened with the text in Dead Rising, in that it's totally illegible on a 480i set. Even a crappy 1024x768 monitor has a vertical resolution to match a 720p HDTV. Given how much of the game involves reading, unless you can guarantee that everyone who buys the game can play it, you're just looking for a headache.
3) I think you'd only see Microsoft buy Blizzard if they said, "This is our new game, and we're developing it for the Mac," because that's how Microsoft came to acquire Bungie. Yes, Halo, like Marathon before it, was going to be a Mac game.
4) Everyone on the 360 would be stuck with the default UI, unless Microsoft could find a way to sell them through the Marketplace. Wouldn't it be a joy to get to pay 500 Microsoft Points every time CTMod got broken by a patch. Oh, but dashboard wallpapers might be free, so that's certainly a plus.
5) The UI itself isn't really conducive to a gamepad. Hell, it's not especially conducive to a keyboard, unless you throw out the idea that, "This is something for typing on," and start looking at it as a large slab of hotkeys. By the time you move your little pointer with the right analog stick to the spell you want to cast, you could be quite dead. Radial menus and such have made some games more bearable on consoles, but they're still not as good as the slab of hotkeys.
6) Being at the mercy of a system with a five-year life cycle isn't the best way of making money. Just look at Microsoft's view toward backward-compatibility. Or Sony's. "Yeah, some stuff, but we emulate it through software, because we threw out the hardware emulation, so there might be some quirks, but you're just going to have to live with that." At least with computers, they can say, "Yeah, this doesn't run on Vista. Don't upgrade to Vista, or set up a dual-boot, or just buy a Mac."
7) I'm not necessarily against including the people from Xbox Live, as long as they can't talk to me. Not in any way, shape or form. They are, if you listen to the chatter in any online game of Halo 3, clearly the shallow end of the gene pool. Having been raised on games that offer instant satisfaction, you'll see even more temper tantrums when you inform them that, being a new member to the guild, they do not have access to the guild bank. Oh, that makes the kids mad.