Cross-platform play not so likely for The Agency
by Nick Doerr 
{ Feb 13th 2008 at 3:30PM }
It's not that they don't know how to do it, but they feel it might be a bit unfair due to the difference in control scheme between the console and the PC. Sony Online Entertainment's CEO, John Smedley, affirms this, saying, "Would the mouse player have a unique advantage? Would we have to make the auto-aiming system on the console a lot better to compensate for that? That would take some of the skill element away on the console."
You'll still be able to log into your character from either the PC or PS3. SOE is still going to try out cross-platform play, but as far as we can tell, they're warning you not to count on it actually making it to retail.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rec0ded1 @ Feb 13th 2008 3:40PM
Why not just include mouse support on the ps3? Thats a lame excuse since UT3.
TinyTim121 @ Feb 14th 2008 7:08PM
Agreed
Very Lame excuse
Riley Freeman @ Feb 13th 2008 3:42PM
yea thats lame. why not just give the user the option when search for a quick game to include or not include cross platform. plain and simple
adolson @ Feb 13th 2008 3:47PM
They could also put filters in too, so that PC players could opt to search for games with only other PC players, and PS3 players could opt to search for only PS3 games.. Then everyone is happy, and the online community is bigger overall.
RazLeboL @ Feb 13th 2008 5:14PM
It's a MMo like World of warcraft or Planetside. Servers will have a few hundreds of players at the same time.
adolson @ Feb 13th 2008 3:49PM
Oh, you both beat me to it.. Stupid email confirmation made my post third. :P
Reckoning @ Feb 13th 2008 4:28PM
Amen to that.
Spoony @ Feb 13th 2008 4:04PM
You guys do realize it's an MMO not a FPS right??
there is no "search for pc user only" options you log in and play.
As for why you wouldn't just include mouse support option for ps3 is that unless it's required you will still have people playing on a controller instead of a keyboard and mouse which brings you right back to the whole unfairness of mouse vs controller issue. Personally i just say screw them put it in as an option and let the people who won't pony up the money for a keyboard and mouse go qq in a corner about the unfairness.
Virduk @ Feb 13th 2008 4:34PM
Or at least let PS3 users have the option of using the keyboard/mouse and then playing with PC users and leave the controller people to their own little pool.
Jason @ Feb 13th 2008 4:35PM
Maybe some people prefer not to use keyboard and mouse. I think it would be especially awkward trying to use keyboard and mouse while sitting in a easy-chair (my choice of seating and why I like console over PC gaming).
It would be great to have both PC and PS3 user-bases to help prop up the community but it's gonna be a tough to pull it off. If it isn't cross-platform I will be wary of getting in on it; console gamers seem to lose interest in these things faster than PC gamers.
russell @ Feb 13th 2008 4:55PM
haha if you dont want to play it in an easy chair with mouse and keyboard then don't play it.
i mean if they can't make it balanced across platforms due to the control scheme of the sixaxis then i guess you're screwed huh since for some reason you refuse to use a mouse/kb.
but why should the few of us don't mind setting our mouse/kb on a table not get this game?
Jason is a baby, if he can't have his fun, none of us should, right?
Jason @ Feb 13th 2008 6:00PM
russell: What are you talking about? I was saying that if the two games are separate b/c of the whole mouse/kb, control pad issue then I would be wary of getting the game because I don't think the PS3 community by itself would support it well enough to make it worthwhile.
I prefer using a control pad but would gladly play against mouse/kb users; I've got no problem there. I do however have a problem with accelerating my carpal-tunnel by playing on a mouse/kb after a full days work on one.
russell @ Feb 13th 2008 6:11PM
haha you're seriously worried about CT? just masturbate more!
Jason @ Feb 13th 2008 6:13PM
no need, I'm not 14 like you so I'm able to get laid.
russell @ Feb 13th 2008 6:26PM
not a bad come back. i'm actually 24 though.
besides, i didn't say you needed to masturbate as if you don't get laid, getting laid isn't a very difficult thing to accomplish so i don't doubt that you are having sex quite frequently, i said just do it more (or start if you don't, which i wouldn't believe) so you can try to prevent carpal tunnel!
laugh a little, we're all ps3 fanboys here, haha.
russell @ Feb 13th 2008 6:26PM
not a bad come back. i'm 24 though.
i didn't realize we were supposed to transfer from our hand to vaginas after the age of 14.
laugh a little man, we're all ps3 fanboys here.
dartmerc @ Feb 13th 2008 10:41PM
russell, so with your logic you're saying that owning a PS3 isn't enough to play a PS3 game, I also NEED to buy a different controller too. The reason I purchased a PS3 was for the controller, if I wanted to use keyboard/mouse in every game, I would just stick with my PC.
The fact your 24 and can't get laid is a bid disturbing too.
russell @ Feb 14th 2008 12:34PM
lol i never said i'm having trouble getting laid and i never said you should have to buy a kb/mouse for EVERY game. don't put words in my mouth. thanks.
Nate @ Feb 13th 2008 4:47PM
I say - put mouse support and cross platform play in. For those that care about using a mouse (like myself) we can use a mouse, for those that don't, they don't have to. I don't understand what the problem is.
russell @ Feb 13th 2008 5:10PM
seriously. sometimes i think these companies as a whole just don't use their "brains." it's not a difficult solution. besides, if they put in kb/mouse support AND sixaxis, but the sixaxis sucks, so what? use a mouse/kb or don't play.
playcrackthesky @ Feb 13th 2008 6:24PM
Its not a definate yet, as they are still testing but dont believe it will go through...Personally I dont mind, especially after reading the article.
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Cross-platform play between PCs and consoles is a novel idea, but has proven to be a tough challenge for developers, with few game makers attempting to implement the feature. (Shadowrun from Microsoft's defunct FASA Interactive had some success with PC-to-Xbox 360 cross-play.)
Major MMO company NCsoft also expressed its apprehension towards cross-platform games in a recent Next-Gen interview.
"...Personally, I don’t really believe that you could build a top notch game play that really works across platforms," said NCsoft North America boss Chris Chung.
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If it is going to compromise the quality of the game then I would much prefer they not do it.
RazLeboL @ Feb 13th 2008 7:12PM
I would love it to be cross-platform as I would play this with my wife. 1 on the pc and 1 one the PS3.
Ty @ Feb 14th 2008 9:31PM
So the agency seems to be having so sort of minor problem big deal. I find the statement of PSU having cross platform play of more intrigue. As far as I know, the only real game to do that so far has been Shadowrun on PC and Xbox 360.