Interview: Gearbox president sounds off on Wii, PS3, 360
by Blake Snow 
{ Sep 13th 2006 at 8:30PM }
The October issue of EGM features a candid interview with Gearbox founder and president, Randy Pitchford, regarding his thoughts on all three next-gen platforms. The game developer is primarily known for Brothers In Arms, Half-Life, and several PC ports including Halo and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. Here are some of the most notable comments from the interview:- On comparing the PS3 to Wii: "From a computing power point of view, the PS3 is a generational leap. The Wii is not."
- On Wii development: "The Wii is like a supercharged GameCube! We can do things exactly like we did them in the last generation, except we have faster processors and lots of extra RAM for us to make everything look better and run faster."
- On online play: "I think it's a little optimistic to imagine that Sony or Nintendo can beat what Microsoft has done with Xbox Live as they kick off."
- When asked if Wii or PS3 will have a better chance of success: "I'd have to go with Nintendo this round. In its favor are a nice price point, a very interesting interface, and a library of must-have first-party games as well as retro classic games... Sony can peak at a much higher plateau than Nintendo (with respect to maximum installed base potential), but they have a number of risk factors to deal with."
- On supporting Wii, PS3, 360: "We are strongly supporting all next-gen systems including the 360, PS3, and the Wii. Depending upon how things unfold, we are very adaptable and agile [read: peeps can be dropped]."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Zachary Hinchliffe @ Sep 13th 2006 8:37PM
I'd have to agree with his statements about online play.
OFF TOPIC: Hey Joystiq, where's all the coverage? Nintendo's press event is going on RIGHT NOW and you don't have anyone covering the news! They're gonna reveal the japanese release date and price point! (probably)
rudimentalist @ Sep 13th 2006 8:37PM
Joystiq you're stepping on my balls here! The Nintendo conference in Japan is 30 minutes in!!! What are they saying!!!! I couldn't give a damn what Randy Whitebread thinks!
Jmac @ Sep 13th 2006 8:39PM
Is there going to be a post about Nintendo's Japan conference soon?
Oxford's dictionary @ Sep 13th 2006 8:42PM
From what I've heard, the first hour of the conference is a meet and greet.
Alan Parkin @ Sep 13th 2006 8:42PM
Hurry up with the conference already!!
I'm in the UK and it's 1:40am!!! Hurry so I can get some sleep!!
BIKEAGE @ Sep 13th 2006 8:44PM
good job joystiq, you took an article from EGM and made it anti-wii very quickly
PSWii360 Fanbot @ Sep 13th 2006 8:46PM
I second all notions post thus far! As for the article....well, piss on the article, I need Japanese news!
Joe @ Sep 13th 2006 10:09PM
"We can do things exactly like we did them in the last generation"
That's an awesome way of thinking. Seriously.
vakerorokero @ Sep 13th 2006 8:47PM
remember, you owe us one! (wink! wink!)
El Hajjish @ Sep 13th 2006 8:47PM
I don't see anything anti-Wii here, and I'm a Nintendo fanboy.
Drew @ Sep 13th 2006 8:48PM
I don't see anything I would call anti-wii in this post. The Wii is a supercharged gamecube just like the 360 is a very super charged xbox. Same for the PS3 to the PS2.
Zozart @ Sep 13th 2006 8:49PM
Japanese conference news please! It's getting late here in the UK! :)
Alan Parkin @ Sep 13th 2006 8:50PM
by supercharged gamecube, he meant that developing for the wii is the same as the gamecube except with more power etc. The ps3 and 360 are different to their siblings when developing for them.
bv @ Sep 13th 2006 8:51PM
I'm not one to defend the Wii, but when a so called developer starts talking like an ignorant fanboy, I get a bit pissed off. What developer says "we have faster processors and lots of extra RAM for us to make everything look better and run faster" or "The Wii is like a supercharged GameCube!". Give me technical specifics and keep the low level bullshit comments to a minimum please. Thanks.
Bill @ Sep 13th 2006 8:53PM
I guess Nintendo fanboys have finally given up on the myth that Wii is actually withholding great secret hidden power that just hasn't been revealed yet then?
Remember all those fake "leaked" spec sheets from bloggers that used to claim Wii/Revolution was going to blow away 360 and all that? HAHAHA!!! Every one of them started off saying Revolution would be significantly more powerful than 360 in bold font at the top (but never mentioned PS3, oddly). I always joked that I would believe the first supposed leaked Revolution spec sheet that said it would be significantly LESS powerful than 360 in bold font at the top LOL. Well, I was right.
My problem with Wii isn't that it's less powerful than pS3/360, I just wish it wasn't just a souped up Gamecube. Something like a X1600XT with 128MB of RAM and the WII CPU would have been really nice, and possibly rivaled PS3/360 graphics at 480p, and shouldn't have been too expensive. I just wanted something nice, clean, elegant, with some power and a nice leap over Gamecube. But I guess Nintendo was too busy being cheapskates.
GSI @ Sep 13th 2006 9:01PM
No Bill...your problem is that are a complete idiot. Remember how you said the DS was going to dro off the charts this week/month? That never happened...and infact the PSP got its ass BEAT.
Alan Parkin @ Sep 13th 2006 8:59PM
Sad, so sad. A host of sorrows, and you are one of them.
Jeremy @ Sep 13th 2006 8:59PM
http://digg.com/gaming_news/EGM_Interviews_Randy_Pitchford_President_of_Gearbox_Software_Wii_Power
Bill @ Sep 13th 2006 8:59PM
>>13. I'm not one to defend the Wii, but when a so called developer starts talking like an ignorant fanboy, I get a bit pissed off. What developer says "we have faster processors and lots of extra RAM for us to make everything look better and run faster" or "The Wii is like a supercharged GameCube!". Give me technical specifics and keep the low level bullshit comments to a minimum please. Thanks.>>
What? You're talking like an ignorant fanboy.
He's aiming his comments at a general audience. What the hell do you want him to say?
And guess what, we already know he's spot on. Wii by all acounts IS a gamecube. Exactly the same as a Gamecube, but with 64MB more RAM, and 50% more clockspeed on the CPU and GPU. But the SAME CPU and GPU as Gamecube.
So yeah, I'd say his comments are exactly correct. And the same as the EA guy said about the TurboCube/Wii Madden game.
It sounds like you're just mad the Wii is wimpy, and he's saying so. The Wii is not a generational leap. It's a turbo Gamecube. That's just fact. I guess you wanted him to lie. How many times does Nintendo have to drill into you that Wii is not about graphics before you get it?
subnet6 @ Sep 13th 2006 9:04PM
@BIKEAGE,
Dude, you know not what you speak. Blake is SO not anti-Nintendo. If anything he is pro-nintendo (without being fanboyish at all). I often visit his blog when I want some honest, no bullshit Nintendo news. He calls em like he sees em and thats what makes him a great blogger. Theres nothing wrong with liking Nintendo, or Sony, or Microsoft as long as you don't lose your grip on reality.
As for this guys comments, as much as I wish it weren't so, the Wii "sounds like" it is just a supercharged gamecube. I say "sounds like" because we still don't have definitive specs. Obviously it will not be as powerful as the 360 or PS3, but I hope it will look about as good at 480P as the 360 does now.
Anyway, this guy seems to be speaking the truth, the HARD truth. I mean, he states that the 360 is pretty strong and that he favors the Wii over the PS3 dependant on some risk factors. Not much to argue with there IMO. The Wii DOES look solid, for exactly the points he mentioned. The PS3 does have some hurdles to overcome. But in the end, its going to be the games. We all know it. In the past, there has always been one console that really ended up drawing developers like moths to a flame. In the end, its that console that will win out. And so far, the 360 has a strong position with a year headstart. Props to them for pulling it out before anyone else. Its gonna be tough to come back, but anything can happen. We've seen crazier shit in this business in the last 25 years, thats for sure!
Yamen @ Sep 13th 2006 9:05PM
@14, Bill
Although I agree with you that the Wii isn't likely to be more powerful than the 360 or the PS3, I'm curious exactly what "souped up Gamecube" means to you? As it was stated above, and hundereds of times here at Joystiq, that analogy really only refers to the fact that the developer tools are similar to the Gamecube's. It really has little bearing on the power of the Wii. But I really want to know, where do you define the difference between "just souped up" and "good enough"?
Also, don't try to relate computer specs (like the X1600XT) to console specs, especially for Nintendo systems. Consoles in general have quite different architechture compared to PCs, and 128MB of Video Card RAM on a card made for the PC doesn't produce the same results for a console as it does for my gaming rig.
Case in point: Last Generation, the Xbox proc was only ~800Mhz, and the Gamecube one (which preformed almost as well) was only 405Mhz. Modern PC's couldn't run Halo or Smash Bros Melee with those specs.
Jonn @ Sep 13th 2006 9:06PM
RE the second remark: How is that different from the other two systems?
#14: "But I guess Nintendo was too busy being cheapskates."
I don't know how many times people have to say this before it gets through you guys' thick skulls, but Nintendo doesn't have billions to wa-I mean, *spend* on consoles like the Big Boys. "Cheap" is not spending money you can afford to waste. They can't compete on power, so they're trying to compete in something that you *can't* throw money at: creativity. They really have nothing to lose here.
rudimentalist @ Sep 13th 2006 9:07PM
I think bv was talking about the kind of language what's his face Brothers in Arms guy was using and not any of the claims he was making. Just really dumbed down and vague.
mikeo13 @ Sep 13th 2006 9:10PM
Does anyone else feel like this is a woot-off and you can't refresh fast enough?? want news please...shoulda learned Japanese not spanish!
Drew @ Sep 13th 2006 9:11PM
all I'm saying is that disregard the looks (poly count) and what do you have with current 360 games? Xbox games with more enemies on the screen at one time. I love my 360 but I'm getting tired of the only thing next gen I get is the console handling 80 billion instances of the same enemy on screen at a time.
PSWii360 Fanbot @ Sep 13th 2006 9:11PM
If you read the IGN article referring to the Wii build of Madden, the person from teh studio states that at some points the Wii build rivals the 360 and looks much better than the Xbox. Thats froma guy thats been testing and using the hardware for some time now. I'd trust him more than some guy who hasn't even developed a game for the Wii yet.
Its far better than hater speculations.
Brian @ Sep 13th 2006 9:12PM
Commence F5 bombing of joystiq until we get confrence news!
csc @ Sep 13th 2006 9:13PM
Wii conference!
SHOW ME THE MONEY! SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Dr.Swiss @ Sep 13th 2006 9:14PM
I am some-what a Nintendo fanboy and I can say with pride that I have no problem what-so-ever buying a overclocked or superhcarged or whatever the hell you want to call it GameCube.
I DON'T play games everyday, and sometimes I do just for an hour or when my g/f wants to play a multiplayer game like Timesplitters 3 or Mario Kart DD.
It's cheap and better then my gamecube. IT'S BETTER THEN MY GAMECUBE. That's what I have right now and if it's better and can play all my GC games then I am SO there on launch day throwing down my credit card for one.
You want to see a casual gamer??? The most in depth RPG I've played in 5 years is ANIMAL CROSSING.
Duscrom @ Sep 15th 2006 4:01PM
Why does someone have to be so pro- or anti- somebody. I'm Pro-MS and Pro-Nintendo, and whatnot, but honestly, it's still not just in the software, it's in the experince. I know it'll never happen, but so many people need to get off the elitist BS about companies, franchises, and what games some blog or company tells you is fun. Graphics do improve a game, a good game, they do not make a game. Story does improve a game, and, almost more importantly then graphics, can make a game. Gameplay makes a game, but franchises sell a game.
In the end, all Next gen consoles will have unique experinces... and seeing as I don't care about graphics or what everyone else tells me what i should be playing, I own a 360, and have gotten to enjoy Ridge Racer 6, Oblivion, Tomb Raider Legond, N3, Fight Night Round 3, Enchanted Arms, and Saint's Row. And I can't wait to see what the other two consoles will provide. If anything I'm anti-Claiming-the-winner-before-they-have-even-shown-real-games.
Jeremy @ Sep 13th 2006 9:22PM
Live Nintendo Wii Japanese conference links including live video!
http://digg.com/gaming_news/Wii_Japanese_Conference_Coverage_All_The_Links_You_Need_9PM_EST
Meneses @ Sep 13th 2006 9:22PM
http://www.irwebcasting.com/060607/03/74d18b0400/main/index_hi.htm
JAC @ Sep 13th 2006 9:29PM
Crap, I don't speak japanese!!!!
:'(
Steve @ Sep 13th 2006 9:35PM
30, that link that you posted is from Nintendo's JUNE conference, where they unveiled Pokemon for the Wii. (Notice the date, 060607) - wrong feed!
rudimentalist @ Sep 13th 2006 9:35PM
http://www.irwebcasting.com/060607/03/74d18b0400/main/index_hi.htm
This link is NOT the live event. It's an old investors event.
Jeremy @ Sep 13th 2006 9:37PM
SORRY, someone lied to me. There is more good links in the Digg however.
crono141 @ Sep 13th 2006 9:41PM
http://www.gwn.com/news/story.php/id/10307/
FSK405K @ Sep 13th 2006 9:46PM
fanboys of all flavors....
PS3: "$600 of great hardware"
XB360: "The harbingers of the next generation"
Wii: "It's all about the games"
darryl @ Sep 13th 2006 9:48PM
"You want to see a casual gamer??? The most in depth RPG I've played in 5 years is ANIMAL CROSSING."
You and the Nintendo Wii are a *perfect* match.
is @ Sep 13th 2006 9:53PM
why are you here, darryl?
aZn_1080p @ Sep 13th 2006 9:55PM
If wiitards don't need any more power, why do they keep jumping on every rumour that Wii has 'teh secr3t graphix pow3r!'?
LOL. You're as transparent as wonderwoman's invisible jet.
Don't worry wiitards, I'm sure Ninty will reveal the secret uber chip and graphic tricks that give Wii's overclocked gamecube parts the same power as the Cell + RSX, and output in 1080p.
darryl @ Sep 13th 2006 9:55PM
"hy are you here, darryl?"
...because I exist, I am alive. Why are you here?
Morgon @ Sep 13th 2006 9:55PM
Yuck. That GWN site is watching and blogging about the June Investor's meeting from irwebcsting....
RiemannMeetLebesgue @ Sep 13th 2006 10:04PM
Oh geez, it's darryl.
FSK405K @ Sep 13th 2006 9:58PM
Live news updates from Tokyo:
http://www.gwn.com/news/story.php/id/10307/
Get with it Joystiq, please.
is @ Sep 13th 2006 9:59PM
aZn_1080p, why are you here? Ask yourself. Take a long look at your life, and ask yourself, "what am I doing?"
sam @ Sep 13th 2006 10:01PM
ha ha that gwn is OLD! why dont you get with it fool
is @ Sep 13th 2006 10:01PM
Darryl, do your really call this living?
mikeo13 @ Sep 13th 2006 10:03PM
kotaku picked it up, i think we killed gwn
aZn_1080p @ Sep 13th 2006 10:05PM
sam, check the link, the one FSK405K posted is legit
is - what I'm doing is working, periodically checking in here, waiting for the news about Wii's 'hidd3n graphix power' (which it *totally* has no need for), and apparently getting under your skin by pointing out your inconsistencies. Et tu?