Differences between PC and console version (... please)

[lumpi]

So what are the differences between PC and console versions?

Every game I have ever played that showed up on multiple platforms felt like there was a "mother-platform" and all other versions were ports of different quality. Bioshock and Deus Ex 2 were console games. Deus Ex or Half-Life 2 were PC games. All got ported across, and to me, the original platform simply felt better than the port.

I know games are developed "cross platform" these days, but there is no question that the Orange Box is a PC-friendlier game and Halo always worked better on consoles.

So... is Deus Ex really going to be the "consolier" game we heard of? I almost feel like most of the previews so far were more PC-oriented, but I might be biased.

Anyway, what I'd love to see is an acknowledgment of the differences and strengths of both platforms:

The TV screen requires bigger and more powerful HUD, a simplified and comfortable inventory system as well as a narrower POV to avoid things looking too small.

The computer monitor makes everything look bigger, requires multiple resolutions and graphics tweaks but also provides an entire keyboard and mouse layout that should be used to its fullest.

Basically, I think there have to be two nearly completely different versions of the game interface.

What do you expect or want to see in Deus Ex regarding the platform of your choice?

[K^2]

Crystal Dynamics engine seems like the kind of thing that will feel itself more at home on a console, but it's not beyond repair in this regard.

I'm pretty sure we'd have to wait until we see HUD and some menu screenshots to really answer this one.

[lumpi]

Originally Posted by K^2

see HUD and some menu screenshots to really answer this one.

Boy, yea, I'd love to see some of those. Would answer a lot of questions regarding the direction they're going with it.

[K^2]

Originally Posted by pha

I still pray for a customizable HUD.

If by customizable you mean changing colors, sure, maybe. You might even be able to change style of buttons. But if you mean real scriptable HUD, forget about it. Even if HUD internally runs on a script, it will be based on the same scripting language as the levels run on, and the odds of you getting tools for working with that are extremely low.

[Blade_hunter]

Can I pray with you ?

[DXeXodus]

Well at the moment the only platform spoken of by Eidos Montreal is the PC. So therefore I am hoping that the game will simply be ported to console after or near completion. By doing this the probability of a 'PC-esque' HUD and inventory is quite high I think.

[WhatsHisFace]

I think there are games that feel proper on a PC and a console. The Elder Scrolls series pulls it off nicely by refusing to compromise, for instance. Same goes for Rid.

[DXeXodus]

I think the Elder Scrolls series did compromise however with Oblivion. The Inventory was very consolised and fell quite flat compared to the traditional inventory from Morrowind which was just plain awesome in my opinion.

[WhatsHisFace]

I thought Oblivion's inventory management was fine for the PC. It was basically like KotOR's. (Another successfully PC and console friendly title.)