Sucker Punch explains why it remains PS3 exclusive

[Marine Mike]

Sucker Punch explains why it remains PS3 exclusive

by Jason Dobson { Jun 11th 2009 at 9:00AM }

Developer Sucker Punch started life nearly a decade ago with its first release on the Nintendo 64. Since that time, however, the studio has created titles exclusively for Sony platforms, including the Sly Cooper franchise and recent electro-shocky superhero game, inFamous. Co-founder Brian Fleming recently spoke out on his company's love-in with Sony, explaining that Sucker Punch's platform exclusivity has less to do with money and more to do with simply enjoying what they do.

According to Fleming, while going cross-platform puts a game in front of more potential eyeballs, "it also introduces a whole bunch of problems and compromises and difficulty that doesn't make making games a lot more fun. In fact, I think it subtracts from that."

While the exec notes without reservation that the studio is in this business to make money, he adds that you "have to be careful about being greedy." He adds that the pursuit of dollars has to be weighed against other things, like enjoying what you do for a living, publisher relations and game quality. We'd be hard pressed to argue, especially since our obsession with inFamous has only grown since the game first shocked our hearts.

[Rike255]

Eh, while I'm glad that they make PS3 games/exclusives, this sounds like PR stuff.
I hate Valve for not making PS3 games, I'm sure many 360 owners feel the same way about these guys. At least we're even!

[NARMAK]

i agree that they turn out better games but valve doesn't try & push system limits like exclusives & they're too lazy to try & get to grips with it

if they decided to develop from start they wouldn't be whiney babies but then & again Gabe newell is a M$ tool

[Sponge-worthy]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

i agree that they turn out better games but valve doesn't try & push system limits like exclusives & they're too lazy to try & get to grips with it

if they decided to develop from start they wouldn't be whiney babies but then & again Gabe newell is a M$ tool

Gabe Newell strikes me as similar to many programmers I have known (not just game coders--other systems as well). A person gets comfortable and proficient with a technology and becomes loathe to move forward with that tech or adapt when new tech comes along. Newell was just as annoyed with DirectX 10 as he seems to be with PS3. Problem is, he should be able to hire the right people to overcome those challenges, I would think.

[STARSCREAM]

. The more exclusives the PS3 has or can get the merrier! Last gen I was an xbox fanboy, this gen I started out that way as well with the 360 but soon did a 180 and now only own a PS3. There is so many reasons for my switch that I'm not even gonna list them but I'm sure most could figure them out.

Forgot to add that I'm sick and tired of the 360 getting exclusive downloadable content for multi platform games.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

. The more exclusives the PS3 has or can get the merrier! Last gen I was an xbox fanboy, this gen I started out that way as well with the 360 but soon did a 180 and now only own a PS3. There is so many reasons for my switch that I'm not even gonna list them but I'm sure most could figure them out.

Forgot to add that I'm sick and tired of the 360 getting exclusive downloadable content for multi platform games.

*cough* RROD *cough*

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

i agree that they turn out better games but valve doesn't try & push system limits like exclusives & they're too lazy to try & get to grips with it

if they decided to develop from start they wouldn't be whiney babies but then & again Gabe newell is a M$ tool

To be fair, Valve does push its own engine to its limits, but those limits are within current PC parameters. Valve does an excellent job with story creation and playability though. Neither of those aspects are compromised by their games' visuals at the moment.

I do think Gabe Newell just needs to keep his personal disdain for the PS3 to himself though. His comments are just uncalled for most of the time. He's losing sales on PC (at least mine) due to his big fat mouth.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

To be fair, Valve does push its own engine to its limits, but those limits are within current PC parameters.

That engine is a good three years to old.

They did not say the same thing. SP said they would rather develop for one console, as MP has to much stress involved. They would say the same if they were 360 exclusive as well. Valve thinks the PS3 is shit, and Gabe hates it with a passion.

Not the same.

[mjbethancourt]

If I were a game publisher, I wouldn't waste my time with Xbox, either. Like they said, it's a compromise in quality. I applaud them for putting quality of game design ahead of breadth of market... I wish more third-party developers would do the same.

[Hedchekr]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

If I were a game publisher, I wouldn't waste my time with Xbox, either. Like they said, it's a compromise in quality. I applaud them for putting quality of game design ahead of breadth of market... I wish more third-party developers would do the same.

Your right. Although I don't think the xbox is a waste of time for them. Its about time and resources, and having one unified team focused on one goal. You are always going to have a better project that way.

Who knows maybe 360 tech would of held InFamous back if it came out on both systems. But it would have got held back cause they would have to lose focus on the main goal of making a great game by now focusing on whos on the 360 team and whos on the PS3 team. Also worrying about hows stuff running over here, now we have twice as many bugs to fix, etc, etc. It takes major resources to do multi platform.

Look at Temco with Ninja Giaden. One team focused on making a great 360 game. After the game has been released it goes to a seperate team focused on the PS3 version to play to that systems strenghts making it not a direct port but truely a seperate PS3 version of the game.
I wish more companys would do this.

[Hedchekr]

Originally Posted by Rike255

Eh, while I'm glad that they make PS3 games/exclusives, this sounds like PR stuff.
I hate Valve for not making PS3 games, I'm sure many 360 owners feel the same way about these guys. At least we're even!

I don't hate either way. I have always been a gamer period, with my only execption being PC gaming. I had multiple systems the whole time or had best friends that had the other systems for me to come and play. I owned the Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox, a varitey of gameboys, PSP, Xbox 360, and PS3. They always have had different games, and thats part of the reason I own the different systems.

Now I know this sucks for people that can't afford to buy multiple systems, they can't play all the good games. But people that are 360 or PS3 or even PC loyalists, they basicaly take themselves away from playing those other games while ripping developers for not making the game for thier system.

Until we come out with one game system that plays all games, this "issue" will always be.

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by Hedchekr

I don't hate either way. I have always been a gamer period, with my only execption being PC gaming. I had multiple systems the whole time or had best friends that had the other systems for me to come and play. I owned the Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox, a varitey of gameboys, PSP, Xbox 360, and PS3. They always have had different games, and thats part of the reason I own the different systems.

Now I know this sucks for people that can't afford to buy multiple systems, they can't play all the good games. But people that are 360 or PS3 or even PC loyalists, they basicaly take themselves away from playing those other games while ripping developers for not making the game for thier system.

Until we come out with one game system that plays all games, this "issue" will always be.

Exactly, that's why single console owners "rip" developers that don't make games for that console of choice. I don't want to have to buy a new PC or own a 360 to play games that look interesting. Since it's up to the developers to make the games for the PS3, naturally we (PS3 only owners) will "blame" the developers. Same goes for 360 only or PC only owners.
For me though, with Valve the hate comes from their disrespect and insulting remarks to my console of choice. Honestly I have no interest in playing L4D, but because of the way they talk, I can't stand the company

[Poetic]

That's an interesting point of view on it. I guess as long as I was turning a profit, I'd probably be the same. Video game developing should be fun (sounds like it)... but if you have to stress out about developing the same game on multiple platforms, pleasing multiple companies, meeting dead-lines, could sap the fun pretty quick.

Thank god Sucker Punch chose my console of choice, they make great games.

I can buy Valve games on the PC.

[Sponge-worthy]

Originally Posted by Hedchekr

But people that are 360 or PS3 or even PC loyalists, they basicaly take themselves away from playing those other games while ripping developers for not making the game for thier system.

Until we come out with one game system that plays all games, this "issue" will always be.

Admittedly, I am a Playstation loyalist myself. But as such, I have surely benefitted from the competition that Xbox gives Sony. So, no hating here. I just don't have the time or money to invest in multiplatforms, let alone to sit and play every game that appears on them. I just saw PS3 as a good investment, particularly given the reliability and longevity of the previous PS consoles.

[Septimus Prime]

It sounds to me like Valve and Sucker Punch basically said the same thing, but Sucker Punch just said it with more class.

[PA_Kid]

Originally Posted by Septimus Prime

It sounds to me like Valve and Sucker Punch basically said the same thing, but Sucker Punch just said it with more class.

Almost, but I don't think you see Sucker Punch saying that the Xbox 360 should just be stopped.

Valve said they don't develop for PS3 because they hate it - Sucker Punch said the only develop for PS3 because they do love it.

Not only is it classier, but it's a much more positive attitude. (If someone who has never bashed the 360 before came out and said the stick with 360 because they enjoy it, I'd respect their decision - but that's not what Valve said.)

[supercutz]

Sucker Punch

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by ryan69969

Admittedly, I am a Playstation loyalist myself. But as such, I have surely benefitted from the competition that Xbox gives Sony. So, no hating here. I just don't have the time or money to invest in multiplatforms, let alone to sit and play every game that appears on them. I just saw PS3 as a good investment, particularly given the reliability and longevity of the previous PS consoles.

You sound like me. Going into this generation, I had made my mind up that for the first time since I've been gaming I was going to support one console this time around. I just don't have the time or the money to support all of them anymore.