GamesIndustry.biz spoke with NCsoft's European product director Thomas Bidaux about the Korean publisher's expansion plans on next-gen hardware and portable devices. According to Bidaux, the MMO maker best known for City of Heroes and Guild Wars is looking to create a gaming experience that will transcend the boundaries of a single platform. "The holy grail of gaming is a game that plays across as many platforms as possible," he said. Traditionally, those types of games have been the big-budget franchises and movie tie-ins, such as Madden, Harry Potter, and King Kong -- which have often resulted in inconsistent gaming experiences of varying quality (depending on the platform). But Bidaux says NCsoft is also looking for persistent immersion: "It's about making a great game that you can play on a PC or console, and then incorporate your mobile phone to expand the whole universe."
What licenses and properties would you like to see adapted to this type of cross-genre, "play anywhere" style of gaming? The model NCsoft appears to be shooting for is one that emphasizes the strengths of each platform. For instance, using a mobile phone or handheld system for character customization and puzzle solving on the go, the PC for strategizing and role-playing, and a console for more action-oriented elements.
See also: No future for desktop and laptop PCs?
