PC and 360 Versions of BioShock Different

dafloppyone

dafloppyone

dafloppyone

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PC.IGN takes a further look at the PC version of Bioshock, the upcoming sci-fi first-person role-playing action game. Along with a few new details about the game, a good deal of time is spent laying out the differences between the PC and 360 versions. Here's an excerpt:
For PC gamers, the knowledge that Irrational had put the 360 version of the game first came as a surprise. It's obvious that Irrational is not leaving their long time PC fans behind and not just for the DX10 support or Games for Windows branding. The interface has been given a complete overhaul from the 360 version to make it much friendlier in the space of PC games. Everything from weapon selection to the interface used to swap plasmids in and out has been changed and optimized for the keyboard and mouse set-up on the PC. "The PC version is further behind the Xbox version," said Levine. "but it's further behind because we have more time on it since we don't have to submit it to Microsoft so early." The changes we were shown during the demo were welcome considering the number of PC versions of games that don't get the proper attention. While not final, the interface worked very smoothly and we were more than happy with the functionality. Even little things like being able to select the gun using the number keys and ammunition type for that weapon by hitting the key again makes things quicker. We're also pleased to say that they added in an entire drop down menu for the weapons on top of that which allows mouse selection of weapon and ammunition. Those little touches are in more than one place

When asked if he thought some PC players might be turned off by the company's departure from the numbers of traditional RPGs being shoved in your face, Levine commented, "They could be a little turned off, but this is why we've said this isn't an RPG. This is about 'How does it express itself in the simulation?' We don't reveal the numbers because we don't think it's too relevant. It used to have the numbers there, but it doesn't belong in this game. Cold, fire, electricity, wind are all simulations rather than mathematical equations for damage. BioShock is about being in the world with a huge amount of control over your character



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I dont understand why they think making a PC-esqe UI is such a special feature for a 'FPS'? Well not enough to make the delay seem worthwhile...

Shaping up to be very nice - loved the PC Gamer preview too...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Alright, its a good thing that the UI has been re-thought for the PC version, but it's hardly worth singing about. I doubt it's a terribly difficult process, and what they are talking about I expect from the majority of first person games anyway.

I'm glad this isn't releasing with the console versions though, there is a slight glimmer of hope in my eye which stems from the thought that this might not feel like another toss port.
 
Alright, its a good thing that the UI has been re-thought for the PC version, but it's hardly worth singing about.
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It is when some companys don't bother people soon moan if it was a bad port and the UI was bad.
A bad UI can break a game.
 
queamin said:
It is when some companys don't bother people soon moan if it was a bad port and the UI was bad.
A bad UI can break a game.
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That’s my point, if things like an unconsidered UI made it into the game, I would call it a sloppy port. Therefore, I expect the designers to do a good job of it, I'm paying for this game after all.

I'm not filled with confidence when the designers make a big deal out of something that should be designed with the given platform in mind.

And I know they didn't make that big a deal out of it, but in an ideal world, where designers did their jobs competently there would be no need to read two paragraphs just to be reassured that the UI works on PC.
 
Lyon85 said:
That’s my point, if things like an unconsidered UI made it into the game, I would call it a sloppy port. Therefore, I expect the designers to do a good job of it, I'm paying for this game after all.

I'm not filled with confidence when the designers make a big deal out of something that should be designed with the given platform in mind.

And I know they didn't make that big a deal out of it, but in an ideal world, where designers did their jobs competently there would be no need to read two paragraphs just to be reassured that the UI works on PC.
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Exactly what I was trying to say - this shouldnt be a feature of the game but a simple basic expectation - if its not then things need to change...

No PC port to console would ever be treated this way so why should we pat them on the back for reciprocating something that should be standard...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
I understand where you guys are coming from.

An analogy would be to say it's a bit like a publisher launching a book in multiple countries, and going to great lengths to explain how they are printing the UK edition in English.
 
Am I being dense? they're not overhauling a port are they? They're still developing the PC version parallel to the 360 version, just because of publisher pressures that version has neared release first.

I loved the system shocks, I hope this one is a return to form for irrational and they dno't **** it up. nothing looks worse than a ported game.
 
ps3ud0 said:
No PC port to console would ever be treated this way so why should we pat them on the back for reciprocating something that should be standard...
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Precisely. This generation is getting me hotter than ever on the subject. I fear cack ports have become acceptable.

Nowadays if we get a game that came from 360 I assume it isn't worth the money.
 
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The reason they're making a big deal of the game being "properly" ported to PC is that a lot of people worry about the god-awful ports made in the past... There's no need to name examples - we've all suffered through these jokes of PC versions...

When it was announced that BioShock would be on the 360 it caused a bit of an outcry in the community due to the above reasons. All this is is a step by the devs to reassure the very vocal initial customer base that they're taking the time to make sure that the PC version is actually good, and doesn't feel like a sloppy port... I can't really find fault in that myself and I'd be tempted to think that anyone that can is being purposefully dense.

In regards to "the delay": Unless there's been some developments in the past week that I'm not aware of, the PC and 360 version are both set to come out at the same time, so this isn't a lame excuse for delaying the game.
 
Aekeron said:
The reason they're making a big deal of the game being "properly" ported to PC is that a lot of people worry about the god-awful ports made in the past... There's no need to name examples - we've all suffered through these jokes of PC versions...

When it was announced that BioShock would be on the 360 it caused a bit of an outcry in the community due to the above reasons. All this is is a step by the devs to reassure the very vocal initial customer base that they're taking the time to make sure that the PC version is actually good, and doesn't feel like a sloppy port... I can't really find fault in that myself and I'd be tempted to think that anyone that can is being purposefully dense.
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I hardly think that is fair. What we are saying reflects more our annoyance with sloppy ports this gen. It is the very idea that devs feel the need to reassure PC owners that they are not getting shafted to the point where the UI hardly works.

Are we supposed to be excited about this for example:
"things like being able to select the gun using the number keys"

Wait, what? Was that really worth publishing? Perhaps the days when competent ports where simply seen as good practice are gone.

I'm not annoyed with Irrational directly, more with our mentality. When I see a thread titled "PC and 360 Versions of BioShock Different", whether or not we could use the number keys to change weapons should not be running through my mind. This doesn't make the game in the slightest "different", it makes it playable (Not trolling you floppy).

If this beast actually runs on PC when it is released, then I applaud Irrational, but why am I praising them? Because I'm quite used to playing bad ports, I'm praising a developer for actually performing a very critical and required aspect of their job. Shame on me.
 
Perhaps you should have taken the time to actually read our posts and notice we were generalising about console to PC ports :rolleyes:

I just find it a joke that a developer now considers such integral components like the UI as a feature - it just shows how badly we have been treated in the past and that they are aware how bad such ports have been and still are - its a deficit in the industry which needs to change since the worry is there and no-one can argue its not justified...

I think the delay was in their internal schedule for submission not when it hit the shelves AFAIK...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
ttreaders said:
Never played Bioshock, .............................
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You and a few hundred thousand others :p it's not out yet :D

Just search on google or gamespot or gamespy for previews etc or search this forum for plenty of info about it

EDIT - theres 2 links in the first post if you look
 
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