Oddworld creator: console game development is a step backwards

Video gaming has never been more popular than in this generation of consoles, but you can’t deny the fact developers seem to have a hard time making games for them (for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, at least). I can’t even keep track of how many game delays I had to twiddle my thumbs through. Would gaming be actually better if it just focused on the PC? Lorne Lanning, creator of Oddworld, seems to think so.

Video gaming has never been more popular than in this generation of consoles, but you can’t deny the fact developers seem to have a hard time making games for them (for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, at least).

I can’t even keep track of how many game delays I had to twiddle my thumbs through. Would gaming be actually better if it just focused on the PC? Lorne Lanning, creator of Oddworld, seems to think so.

Lanning believes that console gaming is a “step backwards,” making game development an unnecessarily long process, and an expensive one. On the flip side, PC games can offer smaller games at lower price points, and offers greater customization options:

Personally, I think the consoles are a problem. Years ago I was excited about consoles, but anything that makes development more expensive, rather than better, faster, cheaper, I think is a step backwards.

When I look at what’s happening, it’s a bit disappointing because the consoles are running into a place where affordable games are having a rough time getting out there.

[…] Personally, I’m more excited about what I see happening on PC because I see it allowing for more smaller games to be sold that can be delivered to anyone who’s connected at much lower price points.

[…]  PC games also allow people to build their game as they chose. There’s a big difference between spending $50 or $60 on a game and hoping I love it and buying a game for $5 and then buying additional content for that game, so by the time I have invested $50 in it I really love it and I’ve personalized it a lot more to what I’m interested in.

Lanning also happens to be the voice of Abe, the hero of Oddworld. Now imagine him saying all of that in Abe’s voice.

… The thought made me snicker. Anyway, he does make a good point, even if he says it in Abe’s voice. Perhaps if game developers actually stuck to one versatile platform (for now, the PC is the most ideal candidate), perhaps there wouldn’t be so many delays.

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Via GameDaily