I appreciate it’s probably way to early to expect details on server configurations and availability but I thought a small competitive challenge is better than silence.
Saw this on Joystiq: section 8 brings user created dedicated servers to xbox 360
TimeGate will be releasing dedicated server files for the PC so that you can run your own PC and 360 server for their game Section 8. Seems like a damn good idea to me, especially if theres some cross-platform action going on.
Would you like the idea of playing on a 360 controller against a player with a mouse and keyboard?
Well I’d never willinging pick up a controller to play an FPS. 
Which is a shame because M.A.G. looks like an interesting FPS exercise.
But come on, between us. Is anyone ever going to take PC gaming seriously if every game is geared towards consoles and protecting the illusion that anything outside of consoles is expensive and pointless? Maybe we need the ability to give console gamers a good kicking so they know the world isn’t flat and the universe doesn’t revolve around them.
Maybe, but I highly doubt it… It just wouldn’t be sensible. And speaking of controllers vs. the keyboard, I feel like I need to bring up my opinion on the state of PC gaming.
mini-rant:
PC gaming is dying. For a numerous reasons it’s just not as profitable as it once was. And since consoles are booming it only makes sense from a business standpoint to focus on console gaming.
Which is a shame because shooters have taken a huge step backwards in recent years, focusing more on accessibility and marketing campaigns than longevity and quality. Instead of supporting games developers are pushing squeals every 16 months… or/and releasing overpriced map-packs (DLC) which would have been free a hand full of years ago. This is a great business model and I understand game development costs are sky-rocketing, but this method is bad for the consumer.
Well I was more directing the post at the availability of dedicated server files for the PC AND 360 versions of the game. I think that’s a brilliant idea as you’re then no longer reliant on third parties providing servers or the location of those servers (or, please no, using p2p for playing).
If anyone want to discuss the state of PC gaming perhaps we should start a thread in Others?
Everyone wants cross-platform games, and everyone seems to say mouse+kb vs controller wouldn’t be fair. Why doesn’t someone try it then we’ll find out for sure? Last cross-platform game I played was Dreamcast Quake 3, and well that doesn’t really count as that had mouse and keyboard support any way.
There’s some games that I prefer to play on PC, L4D being one of them, but some of my friends are console gamers only and they have it for 360… cross-platform would be great for the likes of that. It means we could play together no matter what, and i’m certainly not going to buy 2 copies just to play with my RL friends.
@p0S3R. No problem, I’m probably more guilty of it than most but I didn’t want the thread going too far off topic.
I don’t think it would be fair but perhaps this is the sort of thing we need to push MS and Sony to get the M+KB support into their games. What annoys me is the purist controller only chants from console owners who then pay $100 for a mouse simulator. 
There’s some games that I prefer to play on PC, L4D being one of them, but some of my friends are console gamers only and they have it for 360… cross-platform would be great for the likes of that. It means we could play together no matter what, and i’m certainly not going to buy 2 copies just to play with my RL friends.
Great point. And the fact that more games have co-op mean the complaint of M+KB versus Controller isn’t valid as you’re all on the same team. L4D cross platform would be killer.
[QUOTE=DarkangelUK;192298]Everyone wants cross-platform games, and everyone seems to say mouse+kb vs controller wouldn’t be fair. Why doesn’t someone try it then we’ll find out for sure? Last cross-platform game I played was Dreamcast Quake 3, and well that doesn’t really count as that had mouse and keyboard support any way.
There’s some games that I prefer to play on PC, L4D being one of them, but some of my friends are console gamers only and they have it for 360… cross-platform would be great for the likes of that. It means we could play together no matter what, and i’m certainly not going to buy 2 copies just to play with my RL friends.[/QUOTE]
It seems MS and Sony are too busy creating cute motion-sensing control systems to bother giving people that actually want to have to aim in FPS games the ability to do so without a huge amount of aim-assist which simply make people feel they have 60-70% accuracy all from their own skill.
/rant
Cross-platform play would be surely be a good thing though, what with the focus on blending SP/MP gameplay in the first place.
timestart: wait - you’re for or against console aim assist? Because I have to say, I’ve tried raw joystick inputs in FPS engines, and it’s pretty nasty. Aim becomes over sensitive when you’re trying to aim precisely, or way too slow when trying to face people.
I’m not a fan of “snap to” or “lock on” systems (unless the game is designed around them from the ground up, like Metroid Prime) but yeah… CFPS games without any kind of compensation when moving from the precision and articulation of a mouse, down to a humble thumbstick, are not really cutting it.
I can’t speak for him obviously, but it sounds like Timestart’s point is that autoaim has convinced CFPS players that there’s no problem with dual analog aiming, and so Microsoft+Sony don’t see a need to spend any time developing a proper FPS aiming system for their consoles.
So Microsoft+Sony don’t spend time developing a controller with a spinable 1:1 aiming trackball instead of a right analog stick (for example), but rather spend it on body-sensor gimmick thingies.
And then the developers that develop multi-platform with a primary focus on the console build games around the assumption that all players are going to have aim-assist on and can’t perform accurate aiming etc.
It’s a really great point. Nothing is going to drive the change on consoles unless the millions of owners demand it. Right now they’re very content and actually resist any changes. Introducing co-operative cross platform play could really highlight deficiencies but would be doing so directly at the controller/console setup not at an opponent who has an unfair advantage.
Other than expecting developers to support two control types (and the obvious lack of consumer demand) what is there really to stop MS and Sony from introducing M+KB like support on their systems?
