PC and PS3 gamers will be able to play Portal 2 co-op together. Let's be friends
pressxordie.com/2011/01/14/portal-2-to-have-p...Posted Jan 14, 2011, 7:06 PM UTC
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pressxordie.com
Remember, there's a HUGE difference between twitch-based shooters like Counter strike, CoD etc. and something like Portal. In the former, obviously controllers can't really compete with mouse and keyboard, however, in the latter, one is afforded much more time to aim and fire, as well as a much greater margin for error - I imagine that the difference between the two control schemes will be minimal and possibly even unnoticeable.
I, for one, am thoroughly looking forward to playing with my console-using brethren!
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I'll be using a 360 controller on the PC and a keyboard on the PS3. Take that!
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Will the console versions of Portal 2 have keyboard and mouse support? That would make me absolutely giddy, in large part because it could help to pave the way for wider-spread keyboard and mouse support in console titles. I know it's possible (Unreal Tournament 3 did it), but it's something that's been almost completely neglected, even by Valve with their console release of the Orange Box.
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Not neglected, but purposefully ignored.
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even by Valve with their console release of the Orange Box.
Not sure if keyboard/mouse is possible on the Xbox 360 (UT3 didn't do this AFAIK), but the PS3 version of The Orange Box was outsourced to EA. This lead to problems during development. It's hardly surprised (though unfortunate) that they didn't bother to add in keyboard/mouse controls.
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Not on the 360, but PS3 supports kb+mouse input, even on the xmb(it's just that some games don't)
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There is an adapter "Eagle Eye" from Penguin United that allows you to use a mouse and keyboard on your PS3.
I use it in COD BlOps.
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Too bad the dreamcast died, huh. Mouse/kb support in every game? Oh hell yes.
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I can imagine myself doing the same however during a difficult session of the game, I suppose I'll just switch to mouse/keyboard to quickly solve a puzzle that would be rather difficult with a controller.
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There were a few times in portal where you had to aim and fire portals while in the air, If there is much stuff like this in portal 2 I still might get frustrated having a console sidekick if he caused us to have to redo parts a lot.
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This was my first thought. I've played Portal both on PC and PS3, and I would definitely say some segments were disproportionately harder on the PS3 - basically, any of the puzzles that involved firing portals mid-air - dual analogue sticks just aren't fast enough. This time around though, Valve actually had the PS3 in mind while developing, so rather than being a bad port of the game, the puzzle design will be more controller-friendly.
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the puzzle design will be more controller-friendly.
That sucks.
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You know what's funny? He could be a PC-using sidekick and you'd never know the difference unless he told you.
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You'd see the different because of the set speed of their lateral scrolling.
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Meh, I'm an average gamer, and I'm sure there are loads of people who could cream me with their skills with a controller vs my skills with the keyboard and mouse.
It shouldn't matter in any case, if the game matches you up with people of similar skill level.
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It shouldn't matter in any case, if the game matches you up with people of similar skill level.
What is this "match you up" nonsense you speak of?
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Like Trueskill matching, matchmaking.
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Sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. Is this some sort of dating service?
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Its funny how people say COD is a twitch base shooter..I have never had to twitch aim in that game at all..
Quake Live on the other hand is a twitch base shooter.
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'twitch' probably isn't the right word. But it requires much faster movements and much more precision than Portal.
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You haven't played any Portal mods, have you?
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He's probably referring to vanilla Portal which is what the console versions are restricted to.
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portal puzzles could require twitch too (aiming a portal behind you while flying across the room)... Had to do a bit of those in the first game. Or did I play them wrong?
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Wish we could play some CS or CoD versus console peasants, they are so out of our league that the entire concept was scrapped for actual competetive games.
Doesn't mean I can't out-portal those dipshits in Xplatform.
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obviously controllers can't really compete with mouse and keyboard
Obviously you don't know what obviously means. Controllers > mouse & keyboard.
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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You mean VVVVVV? Good game.
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someones never used a computer before...
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Controllers > mouse & keyboard
Shadowrun had 360 and PC shared multiplayer. [But they had to handicap the PC players](http://shadowrun.wikia.com/wiki/Shadowrun_(2007_video_game\)#Differences_between_PC_and_Xbox_360_Versions) because the console players were getting their asses handed to them.
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I have a PC and a PS3... You're saying I can play WITH MYSELF? Technology sure is swell!
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Psh, I've been playing with myself for years.
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...I was playing with myself on vinyl?
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[deleted]
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I was playing with myself on howler monkeys.
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I don't think you understand
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If you would have stood on your tippy toes, it would have hit you on the head.
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Ouch. That must've hurt.
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Vinyl? I started off on vinyl, but switched to more environmentally friendly steam whistles.
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I don't get why you're getting downvoted, I laughed.
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Hipsters have been downvoting since before Vint Cerf was born.
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Don't you get tired?
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I've worked out a schedule.
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I still jerk off manually.
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You don't need either to play with yourself.
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Yes but you have to pay twice
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"I'll do the hard bits and you do the easy bits."
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I can't wait!
It will be interesting to see the differences in movement and approach to puzzles when playing with someone on the PS3.
I welcome any chance to play with more people. Though I admit I do prefer co-op games versus competitive.
I also currently have a single computer and a PS3 so my wife could play with me on the TV while I use the computer.
I think this is a great addition to the franchise.
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The try anything instead of pausing and thinking method gets me through more puzzles than I'd care to admit.
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I think they removed the competitive portion awhile ago
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Isn't there Split-Screen???!
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Way to give your wife the shitty console.
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You seem to be trying to start something.
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It was a joke. It was not accepted well.
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indeed it was not.
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[deleted]
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No thanks, Clippy.
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Can somebody explain why exactly the ps3? I mean in terms of corporation the Xbox360 stands much closer to the PC (Microsoft) I don't want to sound like I'm nagging, it just seems wierd.
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Actually that is not true at all. Xbox360 is much further then the PC compare to PS3
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PS3 get online for free, like the PC
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PS3 have less restriction on patching and updating for games then Xbox 360
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PS3 games have the option to use their own server for internet connectivity instead of PSN network provided server, where Xbox360 games must use Xbox live servers.
Those are all corporation decisions and what Xbox360 did so far are not trying to close the gap between PC and xbox360
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Thank you for your response. I didn't see that point of view, but I agree. Still I'd think that Microsoft should consider to close that gap, in their own interest.
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Well, the most profitable part of Xbox is currently the subscription fee. If they made Xbox360 replaceable by PC, they risk losing the subscription. Since there are no way they can sell those subscription on PC... they are unlikely to do such a thing.
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They tried to initially, when they released games for windows live on the PC. Obviously there was a large PC gamer backlash, since there's already several similar and better systems like steam available for free. Since then, they've made the service free, but if they get the chance again, you can probably bet they'll charge for it.
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Actually with Xbox the developers host servers I think. Some games allow you to host on your own server as well, just not many.
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Developers can set up their own servers, EA does it with their sports games.
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Online for free? lies?
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- The PS3 online sucks balls.
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How so?
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Sony allows Valve to run a version of Steam on the PS3. Microsoft doesn't. That means Valve will be able to do real-time updates and have their own cross-platform matchmaking system.
All while waiting 3 months for Microsoft to approve that 300kb patch for XBL.
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Didn't know they were cooperating. Thanks for letting me know.
Also yea XboxLive update policy sucks... they could work for Steve Jobs right away.
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Probably more to do with steamworks coming to the PS3.
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Xbox LIVE is pretty much a closed system and Microsoft doesn't want that to happen.
Really, it doesn't take too much to have things talk to each other over the Internet. The 360, PS3, PC, and Wii have the capability to talk to each other due to the TCP/IP stack.
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microsoft have a long history of forcing developers to charge for their dlc that are otherwise free to pc and ps3
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Same reason why PS3 version of Unreal Tournament 3 could have same mod maps as the PC version.
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Also, the PS3 version has Steamworks. The Xbox version doesn't.
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Technically there is no reason why it couldn't be done, but Valve has taken the initiative which Sony might be bank rolling.
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I'm disappointed that this isn't standard practice for every multi-platform release.
Go ahead and keep rankings separate and make cross-platform matchmaking optional to counter the "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!" crowd.
Just remove the artificial fences that prevent us from playing together now.
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I'm not making it my life goal to ridicule console players (all platforms have their advantages), but apparently console vs PC play is so one-sided it's not even funny. "Destroyed" is a wording that makes me think that the results were beyond a slight bias.
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In twitch shooters, perhaps, but you can hardly apply that reasoning to platformers or anything that's co-op. And I think O2J was also referring to the idiocy that is preventing PS3 and Xbox users to play with/against each other.
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Microsoft really don't want that. 360 owners would start asking why they have to pay to play online and their friends on the PS3/PC don't.
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Well it's not that simple, XBL and PSN provide all the infrastructure for matchmaking and what not, if a developer wanted to do this then they would have to spend the infrastructure like EA does. Valve already provide network support for L4D1/2 on the 360 I think? But to what extent I don't know.
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Indeed. This thread should be full with utter hatred yet I see none. Where are all the obnoxious PC gamers making r/gaming hell for everyone?
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I know, this place is starting to turn into a console fest. Maybe they should make a subreddit for console users, ( r/gamingconsoles for ex.), and leave r/gaming for those more fortunate.
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Oh, fine. I'll step in for the PC gamers:
Pretty cool. Coop games should always be cross-platform.
Crap, that wasn't negative enough, was it?
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Where are all the obnoxious PC gamers making r/gaming hell for everyone?
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If I had a grain of rice for every single time someone brought up a pc gamer as a "douche" and a console gamer as a "minority" on this subreddit, the would would have no more rice.
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Well, it's not like I didn't know I was going to get downvoted for correcting you. The Reality Distortion Field of the Master Race is even stronger than that of Mac users.
http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/f2dlp/pc_and_ps3_gamers_will_be_able_to_play_portal_2/c1cs77q (is not even on topic)
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Haha, it's funny and sad that you care about that. :D
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Well, I did it mostly because I was interested in just how wrong he was.
Glad you liked it.
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Yeah I know. I OCD'd on stuff like that, too, a few times.
But in the end it's a bad habit, do something fun with your time, it's weekend, buddy!
Have a nice one! :)
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(not real stats, just my impressions)
- At least a half of those are jokes.
- Around a quarter of those are legitimate scepticism, not bitching.
- The rest of those are actual bitching/master race propaganda ("Nooooooo", "Fuck consoletards" etc.)
Console users aren't the only ones going on about the master race, but they are the majority.
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That's pretty great news.
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Oh yes, press x or die, I know this blog well and trust everything that they post.
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Sarcasm? It's so hard to tell, nowadays.
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I don't think he minds as long as eating is involved.
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Another month.
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Oh, you bastard.
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You do know he came out and apologized for that at the most recent E3, right?
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That's the only reason he said that in the first place
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I think Sony have been trying really hard to overcome the problems they had at launc. The dev tools are far far better now than they were at launch and they seem to be doing a much better job of letting developers have more control over their projects than MS currently are with the 360.
At the time, what Gabe said was entirely correct. However Sony have done a pretty good job of overcoming the hurdles they set for themselves and things have most certainly improved for the better.
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How, exactly, have PS3 improved their tool-chain? Curious on your thoughts here.
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I assume this includes Mac too as it's via. Steam.
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Macs ARE personal computers. Stop thinking like Apple and Microsoft :)
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Yes, but in the context of gaming it's a valid question.
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Not at all actually. Macs are just a different OS, they're still PCs. If it worked that way, then PC devs would be proudly boasting "cross-platform play between Vista, Win7 and XP!"
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Okay true, both are Intel while the PS3 is a PPC. But Macs usually need games to be re-written for openGL as they don't do DirectX. They're also an entirely different OS. I'm no hardcore developer but I believe they're closer than Windows and PS3, but nearly as different.
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John Hodgman, the "PC" in the Mac and PC commercials points this out every time somebody asks him about it.
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This and Dota 2 are both receiving Mac ports. It's safe to say Valve is very serious about being a cross-platform developer.
Though, keep in mind, if any PC titles are delayed because of you guys, we'll have your heads. ;)
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if? lol
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Our Mac brethren are PC users, your always welcome in the fold. iMacs (MBP, MP) are already pretty powerful systems at stock, once the software and drivers get ironed out I imagine Mac users will enjoy everything PC gamers do.
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Yep. I only ask because the Mac and Windows version of the game are as different as the Windows and PS3 version are to each other.
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Well Mac is beyond a given I would say/hope, seeing how well TF2 has managed it.
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Up until mid-last year, they planned the same thing with DC Universe and then changed their mind. Let's see what happens with this.
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If you ignore controls (hard, but in Portal's case thinkable), the biggest issue IMO is text chat. It's still a default way of communication on the PC and with text messaging overtaking voice calls for cell phones, I doubt people ultimately really value voice chat as much as you'd think.
It's hard to read on a TV screen and a console player will either not communicate at all or use voice chat. The latter wouldn't be that much of a problem, but one of the main ways of communication being essentially one-way (text chat), this could make things odd at times.
Then again, their "pointing" system to show other players where to go seems to be perfect for this. Let's see. I'm intrigued!
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Good point. But if voice chat is used, that should be fine. For a while I used to game online with friends over teamspeak while my mic was broken. So I'd have to type everything, while they chatted. Actually wasn't a terrible system.
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This is my impression of voice chat with randoms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9CbUDvhy5k
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Let's be friends
I love you guys! Group hug!
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;)
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just shower first.
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<obligatory Episode 3 comment>
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It would be awesome if the console version came with a code for the Steam version. Or at least a discount!
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There are codes for PSN as well, so it could also be the other way around if you bought the PC version first :)
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IT'S ABOUT FUCKING TIME.
We didn't do this since a decade ago (quake3arena on 4 platforms in one server)
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I read that Microsoft did some trials with some games. They put Xbox and PC gamers on the same server but even the average PC gamers totally destroyed the Xbox pro gamers, so they canceled the whole thing.
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Microsoft also restricts any developer from supporting keyboard and mouse in any of their games.
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This is good news for Steamworks.
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Any news as to whether the 360 will get this too?
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Most likely not. Xbox360 must use Xbox live servers, if this game were to communicates with PC game, the PC side will surely have to Live for Windows. Considers that this is a Valve title, the chance of that happening is exactly 0%.
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How does SquareEnix handle FFXI then? It's a cross platform MMO, with PS2, PC, and Xbox 360 players playing together.
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This is one of the only exceptions. They allowed this because it was a launch title and they needed to break into the Japanese market.
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[deleted]
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The way 360 multiplayer works is much less open than PC or PS3, it's so not happening.
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More than likely not since Microsoft seems to want a closed ecosystem in Xbox LIVE.
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-lets out excited squeal-
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PS3 players should have to wear little badges so they don't get confused with the master race.
Some type of yellow star, maybe?
Hmmm, perhaps a tattoo on their player model as well?
Nothing too obvious though, something simple like a barcode or number would work.
We don't want them to feel bad though. Lets give them a comfy pair of pajamas to wear!
Or PC users could wear green ones.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sneetches_and_Other_Stories
Edit: Oh, forgot to mention, I'll have to sign up for my star.
and blemish our peerless skin? how dare you suggest such a thing!
I actually have a sneetch star tattooed on my belly. And I will be using a pc.
[deleted]
Woosh
Office Space (1999)
I know you're being facetious but a PC player like myself being called the master race is something a weirdo would say. Video games are only hobby, deriving some sort of superiority is incredibly childish.
I can tell you there are social circles behind particular console games that are far more matured in culture and skill than the same following for the game on the PC.
the words "noob" floating over their head should be sufficient
You get your own special tag "fan-boy douche-bag"