Telltale engine doesn't support PlayStation ... yet

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 3rd 2009 at 2:45PM }

Telltale has been churning out some fantastic adventure games as of late. The team responsible for Sam & Max, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People and Wallace & Gromit has found its games on both WiiWare and Xbox Live Arcade. But why no love for the PlayStation Network? It's "easy," explains Dave Grossman to The Guardian. "Our engine doesn't run on the PlayStation yet."

We'd like to think that the developers are working on making the engine that powers these games fully multi-platform. We don't see why Telltale couldn't handle the PS3, especially considering the success found by the folks behind Penny Arcade Adventures.

Tags: dave-grossman, ps3, psn, telltale

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Billop @ Jul 3rd 2009 2:54PM

Just another case of Lazy Developers. Valve are the same (although that may be changing).

JayVe @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:39PM

Ha! I love hearing the Lazy Developer excuse. These developers are working their ass off to make fun, reliable products... and trying to make money. If the PS3 does not represent a worthwhile investment of time and effort, then that's Sony's problem... not Telltale's.

If I were Telltale, I'd work on getting the game Engine to run on the iPhone before I put a single PS3 developer on the project.

No worries though. If you have a PS3, chances are you already have a PC on which you can enjoy Telltale's excellent episodic efforts.

Gibbeynater @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:45PM

Or they just haven't come up with a game that they WANT to simultaneously release on the PSN. Perhaps they'll change that by the time episodic Day of the Tentacle gets announced.

Billop @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:53PM

@JayVe:

basically, your saying that no one on PSN would enjoy a Point & Click adventure?

Gibbeynater @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:22PM

Telltale has said, numerous times, they WANT to develop for the PS3. Telltale just hasn't decided to make the PSN the one other DLC system to use.

JayVe @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:25PM

@Billop

I'm saying developing games for a platform is a cost benefit analysis that takes a number of factors into consideration such as install base, game sales, attach rates, and product adoption rate.

There are more iPhones in the world than there are PS3 systems. (http://kotaku.com/5287694/iphone-install-base-vs-console-install-bases) The iPhone is a cheaper platform for which to develop. Sony charges publishers for Digital Distribution (http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2009/03/20/sony-now-charging-publishers-for-ps3-downloadable-content/).

There are a good number more reasons to approach iPhone development for adventure titles... games that don't require the PS3's awesome processing power.

Also, I can't stand the iPhone. I'm a Pre guy, but Telltale would be remiss to not put effort into porting their games to the platform. Even though I personally loathe the iPhone, it is good business to write software for it.

LaughingTarget @ Jul 3rd 2009 6:17PM

Telltale is a small company with limited resources. The move is logical for them. PC, which has the most friendly development environment of any platform and works well with the team's history and experience (most of them are former Lucas Arts Adventure employees). Jumping to the 360 is a simple move given how similar they are. The Wii then goes next, mainly due to install base. The PS3 being last.

Developers don't have an infinite amount of money. Even if they were willing to put the time into the PS3, they have to wait for the cash to come in before making the move. Learning how to use the PS3 tools isn't free, it's expensive. Telltale chose to focus their resources on the easier to understand systems and the game itself before they were willing to divert manpower just to port games to another platform.

This is why the "lazy developer" folks will never work in the financing field, they'd bankrupt the company in a week.

pliny5678 @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:03PM

If that's representative of the engine, then that's not exactly Unreal Engine 3 quality.

Snowblind @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:04PM

They're episodic DLC games, what do you expect?

Reuben @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:12PM

I don't think it was ever touted as being Unreal in quality, so I'm not sure where you got that idea.

Anyway, I'd love to get some of these on the PS3 when they get their act together.

LaughingTarget @ Jul 3rd 2009 6:18PM

Yes, because Sam and Max would certainly benefit from Pixel Shaders 3.0 and normal mapping.

/sarcasm

Powerlord @ Jul 4th 2009 1:04AM

Fun fact: These games are usually somewhere between 70MB-120MB.

Unreal Tournament 3, on the other hand, is 8GB for a multi-player only game.

Hiroken @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:34PM

I'm ready to buy these when they're ready to put them on PS3. Their loss.

Kattleox @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:55PM

As soon as they are on PS3, then they will be promptly purchased by me, perhaps several times to show my support.

I thought adventure gaming was dead, but recently It has had a resurgence, I think due to the Wiimote actually. I personally get bored with the Wii which has thus hindered my purchase of one, but as more and more quality adventure titles in the visage of sierra and lucasarts greats, I am beginning to contemplate procuring one.

JayVe @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:19PM

Waitasec... you WANT these games, but are bored by the Wii... where these games are available?

I have a simple solution for you!

You wouldn't be 'bored by Wii' if you purchased some of these fine adventure games. :D

Mark @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:42PM

Been waiting to buy the Sam and Max stuff for a VERY long time. The console (and PS3 in particular due to it's mouse support) makes it a very good platform choice.

It's the only thing in Wii/360 that interests me, that I can't get on PS3.

TellTale, you make it and they will come....

Sly @ Jul 3rd 2009 4:31PM

i would buy sam & max for sure. i'm not interested in the other two though.

garnsr @ Jul 3rd 2009 8:17PM

I just finished Sam & Max on 360, but would rather play everything on PS3. I hope they get everything sorted so I can play Monkey Island on PS3.

Gavin @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:27PM

ha! who cares! the playstation TOTALLY sucks anyway... oh wait! I only own a PS3 :(

K @ Jul 3rd 2009 10:45PM

if anyone in the UK is thinking of downloading this for PC, you can get the whole of season 1 on disc instead for like £5 on Amazon. Even with postage, that's pretty cheap

janai @ Jul 3rd 2009 11:13PM

Conversation I had with Telltale reps over a booth at PAX last year:

"Are you a Sam & Max fan?"
"Yeah, but I'm a Sam & Max fan with a Mac."
"Oh. Well, we're working on a Wii version!"
"I don't have a Wii! I have a Mac, a 360, and a PS3. HELP ME OUT HERE."
[laughing, bows head over table in defeat]

Fortunately, one out of the three is now covered, but it sure took them a while. And the point still stands. I will buy more if you MAKE MORE STUFF I CAN USE.