Wheelman dev calls PS3 a 'pain in the ass,' Xbox a 'dumb PC'

by Randy Nelson on Feb 26th 2009 4:31PM

Did you know that some developers consider the PS3 difficult to develop for? You can add the Wheelman team at Midway Newcastle to that list, following candid comments by the game's executive producer.

Appearing on the This Xbox Life podcast, Shaun Himmerick was questioned on developing for 360 and PS3, to which he responded, "The politically incorrect answer is that the PS3 is a huge pain in the ass. Anyone making a game, if you're going to make it for both, just lead on the PS3 because if it works on the PS3, it'll work on 360."

"We had to play catch up on the PS3 because of the memory constraints and how it renders -- how it processes is just different. And it's harder on the PS3," Himmerick continued. "The Xbox is just like a dumb PC, which is great because it's easier to build a game on a PC."

Somehow, we don't think Vin Diesel would appreciate anyone whining about making his game. In fact, if he'd listened to said podcast, he'd probably be on his way to Newcastle right now to give them something to really cry about ... and maybe the latest PS3 SDK.

[Via D+PAD]

Source

Tags: midway, midway-newcastle, ubisoft, wheelman

Reader Comments (118)

I wonder what he thinks of the Wii.

A dumb 360?

BOOM ROASTED

Most likely the same as every meaningful developer out there, "not worth my time". It's funny that people bitch about the ps3 development and call the 360 a cheap PC but yet they will outright refuse to develop for the wii. I guess sometimes developers either just like the extra challenge or they just refuse to go the easy road and put out an inferior product.

Xbox 90

a clever gamecube

To clarify Tmac when you said "every meaningful developer out there" what you meant to say was "every western developer that makes games Tmac wants to play" right? Im not sure if you did, but thats what it sounds like.

The wii isnt even worthy of being mentioned

Hmm. Looking at that list of the Top 50 games I did see a LOT of Nintendo games and other Nintendo devs that certainly warrant them being "meaningful".

Probably doesn't like it as it sounds like he just likes both Microsoft's Xbox (dumb PC that runs Microsoft's OS) and PC's that run Microsoft's OS.

It'll be worth his time when his publisher tells him its worth his time. And most of the publishers are figuring out that its far easier to make a profitable Wii game, even if you make a good core Wii game, than it is to make pretty much any retail PS360 game

The publishers that haven't figured that out are the ones posting huge losses or filing for chapter 11

2 Gamecubes and 1 Ducktape Am I rite?

boom goes the dynamite

Wow he kicked the PS3 in the teeth; so many of you throw the wii smoke bomb down. How does bashing the WII or putting words in his mouth change anything about his opinion of the PS3? Don't you just open up another cycle of petty console warfare?

Personally this was this one developers opinion after he was asked a specific question. He spoke his mind about how developing on the two separate consoles felt, I thought people liked that honesty. Or is it we only like developers being honest when they do it for the system of our choice.

at mr. khan
i cant be more saddened by the accuracy of that statement.
eventhough it might be good news for developers and publishers
and gamers might even get a few more games in the process....
in the long run, it only means bad things for the gamer.

the wii is known for starting a problem where almost any game can be profitable
even if its a bad game, the publisher wont aim to sell a high percentage or be a good title, just sell to enough people to make money.

so you overall quality of games start to go down, and AAA developers also start adopting that mentality. it wont be long before triple A standards would be lowered if all the other games are bad.

and also, everyone would get used to paying full price for a game that's not worth the value... and then the cycle would just get exponentially worse.

He should be demoted to making games on the wii's virtual console.

You don't make games for the Virtual Console, thats for re-releasing old-school games. You're thinking of WiiWare, which is a great platform.

Sounds like someone is in need of a stress reliever...

It's been pretty well documented that if you lead on the PS3 both versions will benefit. It sounds like this guy needs to find another line of work if making games is such a pain in the ass.

I just hope this doesn't start another flame war. Keep it clean!

If you have a job where nothing you do seems like a pain in the ass, you're probably not getting paid much.

Do chicks in adult films get paid a lot? Cause I bet thats a pain in the ass.

I think you have that backwards. If you have a job where nothing you do seems like a pain in the ass you're probably getting paid too much. If you have a job where all you do is complain, it's likely that you're underpaid.

^^OH SHIT!!!

lol

yea if they have they own production company they get paid. I know 2 people in the business and they get roughly 5-10k a flick, plus royalties if they use their company.

lol @ pain in the ass tho....something tells me they LIKE it and most likely cant feel a thing...

Shag,

o_0 ... touche

Vcize,

I don't get pains in my ass. Maybe you should get that checked out by a medical professional. ;) Besides, I work for myself ... It's a little different comparing programing a game for a platform to making copies or coffee for the annoying supervisor. If someone hates what they do they need to find another line of work. Developing multiplatform games is what-he-does. What he essentially said without saying it is Wheelman on the PS3 is going to be an inferior port. Anyone who is privy to this information and still buys the game on the PS2 is a dope.

*PS3 not PS2

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/2/26/772789/gsp-s-response-to-the-nsac#comments

PWNT! :P

Fenix,

I've been on record as saying that the vaseline (see my avatar?) didn't play a huge role in the fight. I still think there should be some sort of penalty because apparantly this is nothing new for GSP. In fact, BJ Penn's camp was warned about from Matt Serra's camp after their rematch. There needs to be some sort of penalty because the rules need to apply to EVERYONE. Not one set of rules for superstars and another for everyone else.

Truth be told GSPs corner PWNED their own fighter and have only themselves to blame.

Have you heard the rumors for the UFC 100 card?
Lesnar vs Mir (HW unification fight)
Machida or Rampage vs Evans (title fight)
Penn vs Florian (title fight)
Anderson Silva vs Liddell
GSP vs Alves
Franklin vs Wanderli Silva

AND ...

Fedor vs Couture!

Fedor has 1 fight left with Affliction and we know the UFC would protect Brock and Mir from Fedor but not Couture since he isn't the champion.

My head would explode for that card. That would rival the Affliction cards which have been the best cards yet in MMA history.

Sorry Shag, but cash, makes an excellent lube...

"I don't get pains in my ass."
Vaseline at work?

Dartmec,

That exactly correct. The vaseline reduces all the pain from the anal penetrating that I take on a daily basis from my "biker" friends. I can't believe that you knew that.

"Have you heard the rumors for the UFC 100 card?"

Heres the real deal, FUCK rumors ;)

UFC101
Couture vs Nog NO FEDOR
BJ vs Ken-Flo

UFC100
Rampage vs Evans = Main Event UFC 100 (Rampage will destroy Jardine BTW)
GSP vs Alves Co-Main UFC100
Bisping vs Hendo TUF coach finale UFC100

UFC99
BJ vs KFlo was SUPPOSED to be Main event UFC99 but Penns acting lazy
Franklin vs Wandy
Dan Hardy vs Marcus Davis
Cain Velasquez vs Heath Herring (Oh HELL YEAH!)
CroCop confirmed for UFC99 and an inside source sais he will be fighting someone *who is not currently in the UFC but *was in the UFC. Vitor? Tito? Hmmm....

I am loling at the headline.

So the Wii is a smart cube?

No, don't you remember? It's two Gamecubes duct-taped together.

Man I'm learning alot about the PS3 today.... First I find out the XBLA makes more money then the FREE PSN and now the PS3 is hard to code for but if you make it the PS3 the lead platform its easier. Wow I never knew that.......

Actually what you learned was that xbox live has made more money since it's been out then then PSN has made since it's been out. Which is a year longer and charges a monthly fee.....Imagine that. That's insane! You've also learned that third party developers like to whine and should seriously think about giving SCEA or SCEE a phone call for the 1.2, 3's on developing for the PS3. It must be impossible though, I mean Uncharted, Killzone 2, and MGS4 just look and run garbage. Garbage I tell you.

Multiple developers have gone on record stating that the PS3 is harder to develop for than the other consoles, but we should ignore them because dreadnought1 on Joystiq says it's not true.

dreadnought1 - nobody said anything about the quality of the game.

what do ya know, another whinny developer. When will they ever learn??

Start on the PS3 as lead and then port to 360....DUH

Yeah. When will these damn horses stop trying to make video games?!?!?

No shit, even EA learned this lesson last year.

Or start on both at the same time like Call of Duty 4?

I have no idea why my comment got downvoted, but both versions were produced at the same time, got out at the same time and were relatively the same. No platform was the lead. The devs were "content-agnostic" as they so put it.

His quotes makes his team sound noobish... I'd rather not support a dumbass breed on any platform.... Not that anyone cares about this game....

From looking at your avatar all I have to say is: u mad?

Almost every developer says the same thing. Hell, Valve said this exact thing and they're one of the most successful developers to ever to exist.

@Lieutenant: Since when did Valve constitute "almost every other developer"? I can count the number of developers that have publicly complained about the PS3 being "hard to program for" on one hand.

Secondly, hasn't it already been said time and time again that using the PS3 as your lead platform makes things a whole lot easier? So what's the point of doing it the other way around and then complaining about it?

Sounds like dolt and a naive one at that.

I would be mad too working on anything involving Wheel Man with Vin Diesel...Pffft!

It could have been worse. They could have made a video game adaptation of Babylon A.D. I regret watching that celluloid piece of turd?

You guys really should listen to the interview before passing judgment on the guy. What he said makes sense. He was not flaming anyone and did not intend harm at Sony or the Playstation fanboys. He simply stated the facts of what they have seen which is the same as many other developers have stated.

I work in IT and some platforms are better at some things and worse at others. This is the same for all tech items. So try to hold back the "fanboy" reaction of "my platform is perfect" and give the guy a listen. It was an awesome interview and I look forward to trying out this game.

Oh, and also if you listen he said the best platform to play the game on is the PC. So that should give the PC fanboys something to throw at the console fanboys.

MacLover, you need to school yourself in what constitutes a fact as he did not state one. What he shared was his opinion which while similar to some other developers, also very different to many other developers. Fact is, many developers have an opinion that is the direct opposite of his.

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Reader Comments (118)

Posted: Feb 26th 2009 4:34PM Darayz said

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