Universe at War features Xbox 360, PC cross-platform play
by Ross Miller 
{ Jun 28th 2007 at 1:20PM }
Can Xbox 360 owners fare well against their Windows counterparts in a largely point-and-click-centric genre? When announcing the console version, Sega VP of Marketing Steinberg lauded the gamepad control scheme but gave no details on how it works.
Universe at War is coming out for PC in late 2007 and the Xbox 360 sometime in 2008.
Gallery: Universe at War: Earth Assault
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GunForHire @ Jun 28th 2007 1:24PM
Am I the only one who thinks the big walkers looks like Zoidberg's Planetary Oppression Platfrom from Futurama?
GunForHire @ Jun 28th 2007 1:24PM
Platform, dammit.
wackyban @ Jun 28th 2007 1:42PM
Just make a mouse and keyboard compatible with the 360 version. Problem solved...
Jonathan Tran @ Jun 28th 2007 1:52PM
PC will always have the advantage.
The second every xbox360 gets mouse + keyboard,
every PC will have hacked wiimote controls.
Huey2k2 @ Jun 28th 2007 1:57PM
@ Jonathan Tran
Maybe you think PC's will always have the advantage but I personally find console controls easier, especially with shooters.
Id rather play a shooter with my 360 gamepad then with a keyboard/mouse.... and if C&C3 is any indication, consoles can do RTS's assuming the developers take the time to really tweak the controls.
Mystic @ Jun 28th 2007 2:00PM
I am not down with this cross-platform play that's been going on. Especially with FPS's. A mouse and keyboard give a huge advantage to console controllers. It's the only thing I hate about Shadowrun.
Huey2k2 @ Jun 28th 2007 2:06PM
@ Mystic
Have you even ever played Shadowrun? Because the mouse/keyboard definitely does NOT have an advantage in it over the gamepad. Maybe you just stink?
DrMangal @ Jun 28th 2007 2:09PM
wow, 360 owners: prepare to get beaten to a bloody pulp
unless you are playing with other 360 owners, then it's up in the air.
Jake @ Jun 28th 2007 2:12PM
Allow kb/m for the 360. Also make better console controls for those that still want to use a controller.
As for console vs. PC rts players. I think kb/m gives an edge. But remember, the 360 groups you according to skill. So if a kb/m vs. controller match occurs, it will be based on the skill of each individual. I may be better with a controller than many are with kb/m.
As long as you are playing someone that manages their battlefield about as well as you do, then everything is okay.
Jake @ Jun 28th 2007 2:15PM
Actually, if this game was coming to PS3, it would be cool to have PS360 matches. Settle this thing once and for all. ;)
To be honest, I am quite fast with a controller on Command and Conquer. Your ability to select the screen and then pick a particular type of unit quickly, as well as making groups quickly, makes this game run quite well. I still think kb/m is easier to learn for sure, and likely easier overall once you get going.
Shawn D @ Jun 28th 2007 2:19PM
I can't believe some of you people think that the PC would have a slight edge.....it would have a huge edge, unless they gimp the controls on the PC in order to make the controller just as sufficient, just as they did in Shadowrun. Where did this crossplatform garbage come from anyway? Console and PC can live perfectly side by side, no need to handicap one group to please another, that's just BS.
Also, if they are making this Live enabled, that means Vista only for the PC version, unless they make an XP version separately.
Jonathan Tran @ Jun 28th 2007 2:39PM
I'm sure 2k2, but although a controller is "easier" it is not better. Look at Splinter Cell 2 and 3: the y had to gimp half the guns in the multiplayer PC version, since they were ridiculously effective for players who could actually aim.
KB+M gives you dozens of buttons and pixel perfect accuracy. No matter how good you are with dual analogs, you cannot have the control a PC player has. Yes, a good controller player will hold up well vs a decent PC player, also since tactics and map understanding make up a lot of FPS wins. But when it comes down to it not console player can nail headshots while jumping backwards and zooming.
If you doubt this, just do the following:
1. Start counter strike or halo 2 or FEAR on a PC
2. Plug in an xbox360 controller, and set the controls to it.
3. Join a game. Get pwned.
Zertoss @ Jun 28th 2007 2:57PM
I heard that Vista/360 cross-platform titles like this have the PC controls nerfed to "level the playing field."
No idea if there's any truth to that since I don't actually run Vista, nor do I intend to anytime in the future.
SeriousKriss @ Jun 28th 2007 3:29PM
I don't care about the 360 version as long as they don't gimp the PC version just to allow their silly "cross-play" games that the huge majority of players won't play anyway.
Jake @ Jun 28th 2007 3:33PM
Jonathan Tran,
You do realize this thread is about an RTS game, right? You realize you wasted an entire post. You realize I am going to waste a post replying to you.
Twitch aiming FPS controls are faster on a PC. Nobody is trying to argue that. Yet you geeks still come in here screaming FASTER = BETTER. PC rules!
Personally, I don't like games to allow me to make a headshot on a moving target at 60 yards with an AK while strafing 90% of the time I try it. That is just stupid and ridiculous.
I want games where you have to stop to aim properly and give your character a second to steady his weapon. Games that don't let you just whip your gun around and instantly headshot anything that enters your screen.
Some of my favorite recent shooters are GRAW, R6V, and Gears. They all have "nerfed" console and PC controls. They make you stop to aim and, with the exception of Gears, force you to allow your character a second to steady his weapon for an accurate shot.
The way Counterstrike plays is just retarded compared to Rainbow Six. Most people find it more fun, but it is so insanely different from any type of "real" firefight that I hardly can call it a shooter. It is a point and click game where you can move around.
So I guess my response is that in a point and click type twitch shooter, PC will always be supreme by far. But if the game tries to mimic real life movement and shooting mechanics in any way, the console controller is pretty close to a PC.
Cornelius @ Jun 28th 2007 4:53PM
i find cross-platform play rather stupid, especially between a pc and a console. MMO's really dont apply to this. I'd be more inclined to like the cross-platform play between consoles. then the crazy fanboys can duke it out online and really see which is better (and then they'll bitch about it online in forums more...gah...nevermind).
actually...what i'm most concerned about is the addition to yet another game to this ridiculous pay to play regular quick-match multiplayer style games that we PC users have been doing for years and years for free (aside from the cost of internet access itself).
when big name titles that i actually care about start adding the "Games for Windows LIVE" tag to it, there will be a lot less game purchases for this guy. i hope that this doesnt happen to something as stellar as Call of Duty 4, or any future titles from the Company of Heroes team.
I'm surprised nobody else has said anything about another addition (granted this game is probably something that what...3 people will buy?) to this stupid and pointless microsoft gaming ripoff called LIVE for windows. LIVE is well worth it on the 360, but it does not belong on my PC with its insanely limited content compared to its 360 counterpart...yet has the same $50 price tag.
-Corn
Gambit @ Jun 28th 2007 5:20PM
Eh? Is this Alien Front?! If it is, then I'm all over this shit!
albinogoldfish @ Jun 28th 2007 6:06PM
@Jake
I must say I agree with you on the point and click argument, "real" shooters work for me, RS, GRAW, I love 'em...dont get me wrong playing a little bit of UT gets me going too.
Am I the only one that gets pissed when i fire eight rounds into someones neck in CS and do roughly 80% with a pistol, then they wing around and pop me one square in the head and I die? I mean come on...bleed to death already
Oh and hell yes on the alien front online, if its anything like it I'm picking this bad boy up...dreamcast....I told myself Iwouldnt cry....
Lucky @ Jun 28th 2007 10:25PM
If it's BFME2 controles I got to say PC's got this one. I still don't belive people that the PC gamers have an adventage over 360. I fine I can never tell when I'm playing with/agienst PC players on shadowrun.
Shawn D @ Jun 29th 2007 9:40PM
@Jake
I find it rather amusing that you feel it's necessary to call other people geeks on a video game blog..lol.don't be such a tool. The overwhelming majority of PC Gamers find the M/K controls much more comfortable, thus why PC Gamers use the M/K instead of a controller for their FPS titles, PC Gamers have the choice after all. Second, have you ever shot a real firearm? None of these games, I don't care if you have to stop and shoot, have absolutely no resemblance to real life whatsoever. Give me an f'ing break. It's all about what players feel are more comfortable to them.
@Lucky
That's because FASA studios, Shadowrun devs, completely gimped the mouse and keyboard, and if anyone tells you different they are lying to your f'ing face. If you want further proof, head over to the games for windows podcast and listen to what Shawn Elliot had to say about it.
halofreack @ Jul 14th 2007 10:36AM
i saw halo war demo and played it and it is awsome!!!!!!! email me if u want to see the demo or play it on pc or xbox 360 live