NCsoft expanding to consoles, handhelds
by Alan Rose 
{ Sep 22nd 2006 at 2:30PM }
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?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zoë K. @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:37PM
It'd never happen, and I'm not even sure if the hardware could handle the game, but I'm all for 'Guild Wars' on Wii.
Or the 360. That'd be cool, too.
Justin @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:40PM
I like the way NCsoft is going.... I hope they can actually work this out to the end. Xbox Live is already on the way there with "live anywhere"
crono141 @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:52PM
The thought of an MMO on Wii is one of the things that makes me question the 512 flash memory and no external HDD support. If more than one of these things come out, you won't have any space for VC games, even with a 4 gig SD card.
Zoë K. @ Sep 22nd 2006 3:00PM
This is so not something I see Nintendo doing... like ever... but I'm wondering if it'll at all be possible for an external HDD drive to be connected through the USB ports on the back and used for storage of this type.
If so, games like 'Guild Wars' could totally be on the Wii. Again, I don't see it happening, though. But it'd be awesome, no?
Virtua @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:59PM
Sounds very similar with what Sega tried with the Dreamcast and the save cartridge, where you could play mini-games on the go!
Tao68 @ Sep 22nd 2006 3:00PM
Spore will be released that way... all platforms will be interconnected around the same game, if i'm correct... if Will Wright and his team do a great job, as expected, this will become THE universal hit...
Btw, can't wait to see the interaction between Wii and DS: i think these consoles are perfect for Spore, whether you're home or travelling...
Senshida @ Sep 22nd 2006 3:16PM
According to Nintendo you can connect certain kinds of hard drives and stuff into the usb ports.
Guild Wars on Wii would be awesome. And since Wii has usb ports we can use keyboards. (and I wouldn't be against wireless "wiiboards")
"I'm not even sure if the hardware could handle the game"
G
My 5 year old computer can handle it, and Wii is way way way more powerfull than it.
Rim @ Sep 22nd 2006 3:35PM
City of Heroes and Villians on the 360 would be mind blowing. I think they could easily rework the interface to work well on consoles. I'm not quite sure why they haven't done this yet. Maybe they just don't have much console experience.
Ndric @ Sep 22nd 2006 3:47PM
@crono141, umm.. like Senshida said, you can connect an external hard drive to the Wii if you want to. Its specs is enough to handle Guild Wars as well. Even then, almost all PC games do get dumbed down for consoles.
crono141 @ Sep 22nd 2006 3:53PM
I've heard from multiple sources that that is no longer the case, as of the 14th or 15th. It was believed this would be true, but Nintendo has come out and said the only expandable storage supported will be thru the SD slot.
Senshida @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:12PM
Nintendo [On the 14th] said that only Flash Hard Drives will be supported. I remember this because when that was announced, and everyone was complaining about how Iwata previously stated that ALL forms of storage accessable via usb ports would be supported. (And the Sony fanbots were saying "Ninty you have failed me!!11! You have just lost a customer!")
Phoenix @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:26PM
That's quite the article title you have there.
Shad Genki @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:29PM
I just cancelled my CoH/CoV license for lack of time, but if it's coming to consoles I'll definitely reactivate it. CITY OF HEROES FTW!!
B-Mo @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:43PM
an MMO for the DS would rock my face off, Especially if something like Guild Wars or Dungeon Runners came out for it. Skills and stats on the touch screen for easy access, with indicators and mini map, top screen shows action, L and R targets and cycles through Allies and Foes, ABXY for action, cancel, show targets, show other, Select or start for Menu... Lo-rez-yet-pretty graphics ala Rubies of Eventide, and integrated Voice chat. Enable a storage cart to be used with the GBA slot for upgrades and BAM!
Granted it's probably not going to happen anytime soon, but the possibilities are incredible.
Imagine a Cross Platform MMO (or any other game for that matter) that everyone interacts with. a PS3 user Joining a party with a 360 player and an AI controlled avatar created on someone's phone. Or even a PVP tournament with Wii, 360, and PS3 players so you can have your own console wars in game.
Steve Roger @ Sep 22nd 2006 11:26PM
City of Heroes and Guild Wars are the dullest, blandest of all those WOW type games. Who cares what the makers of these mass consumption titles does next as it is sure to be a sleep induced boredom dullfest.
Ash @ Sep 23rd 2006 5:04AM
ffxi.. PC, PS2, XBox 360.. It's not a new concept.
ThornedVenom @ Sep 24th 2006 8:29AM
I might not be buying a wii as I'm saving up cash for the upcoming DS RPGs (FF III, Tales of the Tempest... no idea when the new Pokemon RPG wll be out =P ) but I can tell you two things.
GuildWars on Wii is an instant buy.
GuildWars on DS better not look like Runescape.