Epic is going to affect the performance of next-generation consoles
President of Epic Games Mike Capps in an interview with Develop reported that his company intends to participate actively in the preparation of specifications for new gaming platforms. “It’s just part of our plans. I can not tell anything more – he said. And then he added vaguely, “Well, let’s say that this is our plan was a year ago, and I can not tell you whether we realized it or not.”
Mr. Capps said then that the demonstration Samaritan (Samaritan), shown at last year’s GDC event was the first part of the company’s plan: “Our concept is designed for mass Samaritan PC hardware, two or four years and he shows what will be capable of following the console. Just at that time no one knew how the game will look like the next generation – our idea was to show people what we can achieve. ”
“I mean, that Samaritan – a demonstration in real time, which looks like an animated film 5 years ago – so advanced steel technology. Thus, our aim was to demonstrate some of the technologies that we would like to see in next-generation platforms, as well as provide a Samaritan as a test of the package. We believe that we have demonstrated achievable at reasonable cost to develop, this is something that will require next-generation game “- he added.
In another interview with Mike Capps told the details of what he would like on next-generation consoles. First, of course, better performance: “I think it is very important that the player is looking at the Xbox Next, or PlayStation Next, he could clearly see the technology that is not possible on current consoles. Otherwise they will be unsuccessful. This is a very difficult task. I mean, the PS3 is still very cool – Heavy Rain looks great. In order to transcend it, we need the appropriate equipment. ”
Another key requirement for its next-generation platforms is that Microsoft and Sony gave publishers a more open system of content delivery, “I think another thing that has changed is how people want to spend their money. Console must adapt to this. Gaming revenue transferred to the services and microtransactions. It is essential that the console provides a comfortable fit and that, and more. They need to make a system in which small-game items could be bought and sold for 20 cents without a long process of certification and confirmation of price. At present we can not even change the price of virtual content. We can not set prices. I do not think that such a protectionist approach will be successful in a world where prices for virtual items change on a daily basis. ”
Mr. Capps believes that allowing developers to set prices as it does in the digital gaming market for the PC – is vital in maintaining a healthy market of console games, “Games with a rating of AA will never be popular again, if we do not get rid of the principle to sell the game for $ 60 or do not produce them at all. Manufacturers of consoles should go for it. The best way to direct development to the PC market – tell them that they have no freedom to set prices for virtual items. It would be nice to have a level of freedom, which provides Steam ยป.
If the advice and criticism Epic will be taken into account the manufacturers next-generation consoles, then this will not happen the first time. The company is reported to have persuaded at the time Microsoft to double the amount of RAM the Xbox 360 with 256 MB to 512 MB, arguing that the original Gears of War game needs more power to run the HD-mode.