Capcom working on 'PC-lead' projects

by JC Fletcher { Sep 5th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Speaking to VG247 in a podcast, Capcom's Christian Svensson offered the faintest of hints about new products in the works, indicating only that some of them were being made with PC as the lead platform. "That doesn't mean that that content isn't also going to show up on console," Svensson clarified, "because it will."

This is different from other PC-designed products using the MT Framework engine in that these games are being designed specifically with PC audiences in mind. Svensson said that "the pedigree of the team and the primary focus of the design is around the PC, and the largest forecast is on PC for at least one of these projects."

New IP from Capcom seems like something to look forward to, right? If only we knew anything at all about it.

Tags: capcom, christian-svensson, Vg247

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

YourNameHere @ Sep 5th 2009 11:32AM

Yay!!!

That is all! :D

knightsray @ Sep 5th 2009 12:06PM

i agree with the above! lol devil may cry 4,lost planet colonies,an street fighter 4 were done great! all of those titles have good performance an look better than their console counterparts. look below though..wow..obvious console kiddies. whatever they do can only be good for you console people down the line. if people didn't play pc games then hardware wouldn't progress as fast meaning your consoles wouldn't benefit from the advancements. what i mean by progress as fast is that the demand for new parts to play games better helps to make designers decide to push further an further. despite what the ps3 commercials say it can't do everything..PCs can do more!

to hector88...well if it was an MMO or RTS then i guess we know it's gonna be crap on consoles..seeing as how they can't play either decently really..except maybe like 1 or 2

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 5th 2009 12:11PM

A $300 PC can't do what a $300 PS3 can do. That's all that matters to the average consumer.

The Baron @ Sep 5th 2009 12:43PM

But a $300 PS3 can't do a tenth of everything you can do on a $600 PC.

Funnily enough, I'm not typing this comment on my PS3's browser.

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 5th 2009 12:46PM

That's the key though. People will not spend $600 on a gaming computer when there's a $300 console. Besides, a gaming computer for that price means you probably have to put it together yourself, something most people (including me)don't know how to do, and don't care for learning.

Special Agent Steve @ Sep 5th 2009 12:50PM

600$ PCs are the perfect gaming PCs.
You can get a good CPU, good RAM, and most of the time, a higher end GPU for around 500-700$.
Games are 10$ cheaper (except MW2) and you have the option of playing with a controller or keyboard.
The only thing I wish would be for console exclusives to come out on PC.

The Baron @ Sep 5th 2009 12:54PM

This is true. It's definitely worth doing though, but it's difficult to explain why to the mainstream. I suspect a lot of it is because there's no attention or publicity given to the platform. After all, Microsoft are busy trying to push the 360 as hard as possible because they make money off the software sales, and I can't imagine a consortium of graphics card manufacturers coming together to commission adverts where racist squirrels recommend the PC.

I think the PC is something that definitely gives a quality experience though - you can tell from the dedication of the fanbase. I don't think it'll die anytime soon, but it's certainly being diluted this generation. Games now are mostly console ports because the costs of producing an AAA title has skyrocketed so much. That's no bad thing, but you're essentially playing a different kind of game with keyboard and mouse controls tacked on the side.

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 12:56PM

"The only thing I wish would be for console exclusives to come out on PC. "

Don't we all, but its just never going to happen. Hell, Microsoft won't give us Fable 2, Gears of War 2, GTA4 DLC, etc. so we buy the 360. They would like us to dump our gaming PCs and replace them with 360s. > : (

All we can hope for is for emulators for these consoles to come out, there is already a Wii emulator, one reason we can thank for its relatively low hardware specs. And we can run games at higher resolutions than the original console. : P

Emulating the PS3/360 on the PC will take a very long time however. Regarding the last gen, there are PS2/Gamecube emulators but still not an Xbox one.

The Baron @ Sep 5th 2009 1:02PM

That's interesting, I thought the Xbox was the most similar to PC's in terms of architecture?

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 5th 2009 1:14PM

I don't think it's lack of attention, just about everyone knows you can play games on PC but it's the harsh system requirements and expense of getting a computer that can match it.

For me, it's a lot of reasons.
I have a bad back, and would rather not be hunched over playing when I can play my 360 laying down on my bed.

PC makes it extremely hard for more than 1 person to play too.

I don't have the computer knowledge to scout for parts and build one, and would rather skip that extreme hassle and buy one complete which is obviously way more expensive.

I don't want to constantly upgrade my computer when it becomes inferior every 2 years.

I don't want to deal with installs and crashes from something going wrong in the system. On a console I can toss it in and pretty much know it will work.

That's the short list for me, I'm in the middle of attempting the endless setlist on Rock Band 2 so I didn't exactly have a lot of time to think up more.

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 5th 2009 1:18PM

Oh and 1 more important one I forgot. Despite what everyone says, I can't stand using a mouse and keyboard for most games. I handled it well in WoW, but I actually do better on everything else with a pad. I know some PC games enable a 360 controller, but unless it becomes universal I don't have the patience finding which game allows what.

Charlie_Six @ Sep 5th 2009 1:19PM

I think I put together my gaming PC for like $400. Dell had a cheap deal on a computer not meant for gaming. I had to swap out the power supply unit and throw in a mid range video card, which totaled up to like $400. Maybe $450 tops. This was like 3-4 years ago, too. My PC is probably much cheaper by now, and it still runs most games well. If I really get anal about frame rates, I can always lower details, at which point my game is still better looking than a top-tier 360 game.

It's more expensive than a 360, sure, but ultimately the PC is cheaper and faster. Remember, 4 years of Xbox Live will run you $200, and that's assuming you buy the one year cards each time. So the 360 would be around $450 here. At this point you're paying the same price for a lesser machine. PC games also get a TON of free user-made maps for popular FPS games. The Team Fortress 2 PC community, for example, has created an incredible amount of top quality custom maps for the game. All free. Finally, the PC's graphics for well-ported games are always better, crisper, and smoother. Lately we've been hearing about how so many console games are not truly 720p. A well ported PC game will always get you that 720.

The PS3 has crappy online and even worse graphics for multi-platform games. Thanks to the price drop, it can be a decent buy thanks to Blu-ray though.

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 1:25PM

Sorry about your back injury Tmac, hope it gets better ASAP.

I don't think any of us PC gamers are here trying to convert you, don't worry about that.
: )

Consoles and PCs have their own strengths and weaknesses. I was a console gamer for a long time as a teen and indifferent towards PC gaming, I also found it too expensive, etc. But I've just dived into it again, finally built my own PC after wanting to for a long time.

Its all personal preference, I like the tinkering, tweaking and modding I can do, just like with car enthusiasts, whereas I just want my Toyota to run and take me from Point A to B, I don't care about the fancy stuff.

When the new graphics cards are coming out, I might probably snag one for $300+ when I could get a PS3/360 for that. Its my passion right now.

IMO, the next Xbox should use standard PC components, lock it to a 2ghz Core 2 Duo, 2gb ram, 200gb HDD, GTX 260, etc and you can only upgrade the HDD for installs and maybe buy a spare GPU if it fries instead of sending it to MS.

All games will have those minimum requirements and also run on PCs with that level of hardware or greater. So we don't see a PC and Xbox copy of a game, the same one copy runs on both systems. Cool huh?

The Baron @ Sep 5th 2009 1:26PM

Good luck with that tmac. I took it in turns with a friend on expert bass, nearly failed on panic attack.

On a side note, I think that though there's some truth to most of what you put those arguments have been mostly exaggerated by flame wars over the decades. I play PC games with friends a lot - duels on peggle, taking turns on Trackmania/TF2/Trials 2 is actually a lot of fun, though obviously it's usually when the TV isn't free for Rock Band or Motorstorm. And the upgrade thing is often a non-issue, it's only really necessary if you can't stand to see things not maxed out. Games like Batman and Left 4 Dead will play happily on medium on 4-5 year old machines.

The initial expense is also very much mitigated by the price of games. New releases are cheaper (more so here in the UK than the US though) and given that I have to live on a very limited budget, the PC actually makes more sense for me because I can pick up great games from a year or two ago for less than £5 - which also solves the problem of having to upgrade.

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 5th 2009 1:37PM

Ugh I know. I'm only 8/64 done and my back is already tightening up on me, thanks to combined years of bad posture and multiple basketball injuries. It doesn't bother me until I sit at the drums or on my pc for too long. It also sucks that I have to play 86 songs on Hard because there's like 3 songs I can't do on expert.

Despite all of my issues with PC gaming, I'm still going to get one most likely next year in preparation for Diablo 3 and the kotor mmo + WoW. This POS I use now can play WoW but not much else. I was looking into alienware computers and I built a very nice one for about $93 a month which I can't afford right now being jobless, but once I get one I can easily afford that.

The Baron @ Sep 5th 2009 1:41PM

I think Alienware is the biggest rip off you could ever go for - they're probably solely responsible for the myths about it being so expensive (or in their case, non-myth). Of course, they might have a particularly good deal or something but even with pre-builts it's worth shopping around.

If you know anyone who is vaguely techy it might be worth asking if they know how to build PC's - anyone who can is always keen to do it because it's actually pretty satisfying to do. But, it isn't easy if you have no knowledge of the subject so pre-built systems are still of course a perfectly valid option. You could always do what that guy above did and get a non-graphics card system for cheap and then slot your own in (which is very easy, you literally just take off the side and put it in), since manufacturers tend to rip you off on systems with GPUs in.

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 1:42PM

Tmac, if sitting on your PC is uncomfortable, try hooking up your PC to your HDTV and get a wireless keyboard and mouse for your couch. You did say your PC is quite old, what make/model is it? You can purchase a cheap graphics card, $75 or less with an HDMI out port but it depends on how old your PC is if it can even be upgraded to a 'modern' GPU.

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 1:45PM

Hell, if I was in your area Tmac, I would build a PC for you, as The Baron says, it is quite satisfying and not as hard as you think. I can't do things for shit like soldering, fixing a cabinet, etc. so if I can build a PC, so can you.

Do not buy from Alienware or these other "boutique" dealers, total rip-offs. Build it yourself or get a friend to do it.

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 5th 2009 1:53PM

I actually use a 4 year old laptop so yeah upgrading won't work very well. Building my own computer is out of the question, I'll never have the know how to make one myself and I don't think I know anyone that can do it either, we're all console gamers.

I know that Alienware's a ripoff, knew that when I saw the full price. But it's not too bad when I have close to 3 years to pay it off and it will still be pretty good then. Even if it's not, then I could upgrade it cause the one I picked is easily upgradeable...even for me!

jackal @ Sep 6th 2009 1:23AM

tmac,

"Building my own computer is out of the question, I'll never have the know how to make one myself ..." It takes surprisingly little know-how to physically assemble a desktop; with the exception of a few parts, you're literally plugging pieces and cables into matching (usually color coded) slots. The level of technical knowledge you are required to have increases only when you intend to do more advanced, delicate things. A monkey can install an stock CPU heatsink, but it requires some degree of knowledge and skill to make a proper liquid cooling system; anyone can scream, "I wanna overclock my processor!" but, unless they have even the most basic idea of how specific settings work with each other, they can easily reduce even the best gaming rig money can buy to a pretty paperweight in a matter of seconds.

In those (type of) cases, it's almost always recommended that you do some careful research and that you actually get in touch with people who have some experience in those areas; there are entire communities online that are dedicated to hardware and software topics (from the most mundane and simple to things that require some degree of insanity to do). If you ever felt overwhelmed by the information given or thrown to you, people would be extremely willing to help you out (since everyone started out the same way at some point).

Hell, if you ever wanted to give PC gaming a try, I'd be more than happy to give you a helping hand (as most of my friends are in the same boat you are). Just a thought for your consideration.

Dummy00001 @ Sep 6th 2009 10:26AM

@tmac: "but I actually do better on everything else with a pad."

While PC generally quite liberal to what input method you use, consoles are locked into the controllers.

That being said, only blind will not notice that console game design now is heavily influenced (handicapped I might add) by what classical controller can actually do.

Compare FSPs. In consoles you have a sort of map and you run on it. Unless you try PC FSPs you will not know the difference. E.g. my first impression about Gears of War was "wtf!? is it return of 2.5D? I want 3D!"

With mouse+keyboard you can do full 3D movement/shooting, while with consoles classical controller one can barely manage 2.5D. Just think of it: analog sticks are controlled by the two slowest fingers you have - thumbs. It's even logical for controls on consoles to be worse. On PC you have fast moving monsters evading your attacks, counterattacking, probably from above or below or behind. On consoles you have monsters standing right in front of you, waiting for you to target and shoot at them. On console you can face a door, open it and enter the room. On PC's FPS upon opening a door this way you would be greeted by a rocket head shot. Because on consoles evasion and movements are problematic - games do not require it. In PC FPSs one is expected to properly open a door without actually showing yourself in the clearance: you can do it easily on the wasd+mouse.

PC is a more developed platform as game controls go. If you are willing to master it.

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 5th 2009 11:38AM

Capcom: "We couldn't let Sega be the only people who hate money"

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 12:32PM

Ah relax big guy, you console gamers aren't hurt by this at all, it is just the PC gamers that will benefit, unless that is offensive to you guys.

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 5th 2009 12:34PM

I'm not worried by this at all. A lot of companies say their games are lead on PC or best on PC, and then they release and are either plagued with bugs or just bad in general. Capcom's definitely not the first company to say this, but they would be the first to actually follow up on it.

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 12:43PM

I haven't heard that Tmac. I believe that many console games that come to PC are quick, afterthought ports but the PC was not the lead platform.

The PC should be the lead platform as everyone benefits. If the 360 is the lead platform, the PS3 version usually suffers but not the other way around. If the PC is the lead platform, it gets the best textures which can then be ported down to the consoles. It is usually the other way around which isn't pleasant to look at.

All three systems are very different in architecture, but the PS3 more so than the PC/360. It would be nice in the next-gen if the consoles can have more similar hardware as the PC so all can get ports that look the same on each system.

WINterfang @ Sep 5th 2009 11:38AM

That makes me remember the moment I realized CAPtain COMmando...my mind is blown again.

ZippyDSMlee @ Sep 5th 2009 11:45AM

....... give me MML1-2 with some control tweaks and new textures/engine and you can have all of my money!!

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 5th 2009 11:42AM

Waste of time.

Tiptup300 @ Sep 5th 2009 11:47AM

Does capcom even know how to make games for the PC? All their pc ports are awful.

Jinsenken @ Sep 5th 2009 11:54AM

I dunno man. DMC4 on PC had LDK mode. That's just awesome.

hunter @ Sep 5th 2009 12:26PM

have you ever played devil may cry 4 or street figther iv??? even bionic commando??? all those ports kicked any of the platforms version in the nuts so hard that the xbox showed the red ring of dead, I´m happy that finally a great company as capcom is seeing that the pc market is there and money is there no mather what others say, hope some other companies realize this.

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 12:31PM

Most of those bad ports were from external studios. The recent ports to PC have been great and are usually the definitive versions of the game, like SF4, RE5, DMC4, etc.

Tiptup300 @ Sep 5th 2009 12:35PM

What I've played are the Silent Hill games and Resident evil 4.

GOD FUCKING AWFUL PORTS.

Tiptup300 @ Sep 5th 2009 12:38PM

What I've played are the Silent Hill games and Resident evil 4.

GOD FUCKING AWFUL PORTS.

Tiptup300 @ Sep 5th 2009 12:39PM

Thanks for that joystiq comment system.

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 12:39PM

Yes, RE4 was a HORRIBLE port for the PC, I agree. Thankfully, there are a shitload of mods out for it now that greatly enhance it and make some parts of it better than the console versions, like higher res textures. But it should have been fine from the start.

But RE5 will be a much better port, we will get the console experience if not better.

The Baron @ Sep 5th 2009 12:47PM

Those were last-gen, though. Capcom have really cleaned up their act. Bit of a shame though, I don't think anyone besides me bought DMC4 on PC. Good port, but a shit game, and a shit game that was designed with consoles in mind in the first place.

Eh @ Sep 5th 2009 1:38PM

Since most people have only played RE4 for PC they sure are taking a risk getting into the PC business after that insulting piece of shit.

It was so extremely bad that its one of those games that just tear your reputation to shreds and would have destroyed their business if they werent primarily a console developer. Ive played SF4 for PC and it was a good port but I still cant get RE4 out of the back of my mind.

MrKlorox @ Sep 5th 2009 6:37PM

Reading these comments makes me feel old. Is RE4 as far back as most of you remember?

Jinsenken @ Sep 5th 2009 11:54AM

For a second there I thought the image didn't load properly on my computer lol

Special Agent Steve @ Sep 5th 2009 12:52PM

Lol, kinda looks like that.

hector88 @ Sep 5th 2009 11:56AM

so by "the primary focus of the design is around the PC" do they mean they're working on a MMO or RTS?

Access Granted [No one can stop Mr. Domino!] @ Sep 5th 2009 11:58AM

Where the hell is the English version of Monster Hunter Online?! come on Capcom!

Nerdy Desi @ Sep 5th 2009 12:30PM

Fucking awesome, I wuv you Capcom! I'm happy these games are on PC as the lead platform and can be ported back to the consoles. At least on the PC, we can hope for maybe higher resolution textures and then they are reduced when going to console but everybody wins, PC gamers get a higher quality game and the consoles do not suffer.

Now if only more developers could follow Capcom's lead. But I wonder why they like the PC so much now? Oh, I shouldn't be asking questions, keep it up Capcom!!

Jose @ Sep 5th 2009 2:06PM

Lost Planet was superb on PC, but I hear RE4 and, more recently, Bionic Commando were not.

sleepypersons @ Sep 5th 2009 3:27PM

I have played both and there fine just keyboard controls are weird but that's what a gamepad was made for.Though at the start RE4 was pretty poop till they updated it.

Jose @ Sep 5th 2009 3:43PM

I didn't know how good Capcom was about updating. I learned the hard way about Ubisoft with new PoP and HAWX, Then again, Assassin's 1 on my PS3 froze like a pinche as well, and got my hand caught many a time while wall shimmying in Sands of Time on Xbox.