Supreme Commander developer Gas Powered Games working on 5 new games spead out over Wii, Xbox 360 and PC
Chris Taylor founded Gas Powered Games 9 years ago and has since had success with PC games like their RPG hit Dungeon Siege and RTS hit Supreme Commander. But in an interview he talks about his company’s shift to make console games for the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. Tie this in with a previous remark from the founder about a shift away from RPG and RTS genres in one of their next games towards something family-friendly to develop next that he “can bring home and play with my boys.”
No matter what he said, I do hope they’ll consider porting Supreme Commander to Xbox 360 and Wii, both consoles could use an RTS game. Here are some choice quotes:
So have you already started work on your next project? How many?
We have; many new projects. Inside the company I believe we have a total of four, and one extra that we’re working on - so that makes five [new projects]. They’re across platforms, we have everything from [Xbox] 360 to Wii to PC, we have all kinds of stuff going on.
How are you finding developing for the different consoles?
Consoles are, in my opinion, way easier to develop for than the PC. The PC has way too many moving parts, and things can change even after you deliver your game to the market - whereas consoles don’t change. That makes a world of difference when you’re developing software.
What differences are you finding between, say, the PS3 and Xbox 360?
We haven’t actually been working on the PS3. Going from what I’ve heard, though, the PS3 is an order of magnitude more complex to work on in order to squeeze out the perf. But that’s second hand, that’s just listening to other people.
How do you think the PlayStation 3 has done in the US so far?
It sounds to me like people are certainly registering their enthusiasm for the platform. I don’t know, I can’t answer that. I think people are saying, ‘You know, when it comes to a home entertainment system, the price is a little steep.’ The price is what’s killing people.
Otherwise they love the platform, but because it’s got the Blu-ray tech built in, it means it’s a bigger commitment, and it’s going to take people some time to build up for that. It’s not like you go into the store, there it is, let’s pick it out. The Wii checks that box perfectly, so the Wii is really coming out the winner.
Over 360 as well?
A month ago, I would have said second to the 360, but in the past four weeks I think the tide is really shifting in Wii’s favour. It’s mind-boggling.
What’s causing that?
The success of the controller and the retail price point, combined, are really capturing people. Nintendo is a games company, they believe in games. I’ve been at the Nintendo offices, they’re all about games, through and through.
The rest of the industry, business and making money is a much bigger part of what it’s all about. You don’t get that sense with Nintendo - obviously money’s important, but it’s like games come first. You just can’t get around that, how it translates to the end customer; they can feel it.
Like, if you buy a Ford, you’re buying transportation. If you buy a BMW, you’re buying a car that’s for a driver, it’s to be driven fast, you’re buying a car for people that care about cars.
What consoles do you have at home?
Everything. Well, I had a PS3, but I took it into the office so everybody can play it. We have the 360 and the Wii side by side, but the PS3 was one I couldn’t justify keeping at home because it wasn’t doing anything. We played the games, and we’re waiting, and now everyone else gets to play it.
Going back to what you said about how the Wii has overtaken 360…
In mind share, not in market share. The projection is that it will overtake in the market share some time in the next 18 to 24 months.
Full interview at Gamesindustry.
Don t ever love peoples
