GDC08: Lucasarts prioritizing PS3 development for future projects

by Jem Alexander { Feb 24th 2008 at 3:00PM }

At a GDC lecture Haden Blackman, the project lead on The Force Unleashed, stated that Lucasarts has now learned a valuable lesson from its development of the game. All future multiplatform projects will prioritize development on the PS3 before being ported over to the 360. This is a direct result of problems and delays during the development of The Force Unleashed caused by trying to port the 360 version to the PS3. The game is now, thankfully, on track, despite these delays.

A live demo of The Force Unleashed was also shown and, from what we've heard, it looks absolutely stunning. We can't wait for its release this summer.

[Thanks Paul]

Tags: gdc08, gdc08fanboy, lucasarts, star-wars, the-force-unleashed

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

A-Troll-Named-Slickback (Yes the A Troll Named part, and yes every time!) @ Feb 24th 2008 3:03PM

YES!

Organic_Shadow @ Feb 24th 2008 3:09PM

DUH! All these devs being stubborn and stuck up need to open their eyes and swallow their pride. Just put PS3 first. The 360 owners aren't going to NOT buy your game just because PS3 was the lead platform for development...

hey_big_dck @ Feb 24th 2008 3:49PM

or will they

John @ Feb 24th 2008 6:39PM

The 360, minus hardware failures, is not a bad machine-- now that devs know that the ps3 is big, and will last, they realize it's smartest to put their development time there first, because now if a game is better on 360, ps3 owners simply won't even buy it. When ps3 exclusives show more and more, these developers realize that ps3 owners would simply rather spend their money on an exclusive, programmed to the ps3-- i.e. Drake's Fortune. I find it quite timely that Drake's Fortune arrived just before we've all seen the new Indiana Jones previews in movies... those previews alone will generate Fortune sales, and if Naughty Dawg is wiley, they will create advertisements which cater to this.

rockstar @ Feb 24th 2008 4:18PM

or just save their time to develop for PS3 only.. - fanboy mode ON

Chris Rah Osiris @ Feb 24th 2008 4:20PM

Lol, that doesn't sound like a bad idea at all

mojojojo1 @ Feb 24th 2008 6:24PM

aahaha that was fun,sign me up for that!xD

John @ Feb 24th 2008 6:44PM

fanboy mode ON, I love it

RawBert @ Feb 24th 2008 4:28PM

Well, if they prioritize the PS3 work first, at least they then have a CHANCE to sim-ship all platforms!

DirtnSky @ Feb 24th 2008 5:08PM

PS3 is still the most difficult to develop for on any game that will be on another system. Realizing that, I see that Lucas~ has choose the fastest way to do a simultaneous release by concentrating on that since We all know -by thousands of green freaks- that the 360 is the simplest to program, being that anyone who can make a PC game, can simply port over their works into the RRoD with great ease. We've just seen the toe dip into our systems with the recent games and I can't wait for year THREE!

John @ Feb 24th 2008 6:46PM

ps3 is "difficult" because the programmers, to pull the strength of the system, have to us parallel programming. And not many programmers are used to this. Yet. But it is increasingly easier, and ultimately everything will be parallel, and there will be development tools which take this into account-- very complex development tools, but still, it will happen.

Dan Davis @ Feb 25th 2008 9:45AM

And don't forget about the head-start the 360 had.

The Sound @ Feb 24th 2008 5:08PM

And ya'll are surprised about this?

rockstar @ Feb 24th 2008 5:27PM

No, I am surprised they are still developing for exbawk

Hyams @ Feb 24th 2008 5:57PM

I hope this doesn't mean a decline in quality, be it on both platforms or just on the 360. The PS3 can be a bitch to code for, so I hope this isn't simply taking the easy way out and allowing for crappy ports to the 360 or simply less impressive game design altogether.

Emophia @ Feb 24th 2008 5:58PM

This doesn't bode well for the PS3 version Star Wars: Force Unleashed.

Ah well, it can't be worse then the Wii/PS2/PSP version.

Organic_Shadow @ Feb 24th 2008 6:31PM

You forgot mobile, GBA, GC, DC, Xbox, shadow puppet theater, and abacus!! :P

Rowdehaj @ Feb 25th 2008 3:47AM

XD!!! Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Abacus)

*The Sith Apprentice approaches, scowling arrogantly.*

"Ack!!! 21+45 = 66!"
"Oh really? Well! 89-22 = 67!"
"*grumble grumble* 98 / 3 = 32,666666666666666666666666666667!!!"

":O All of those decimals! How...?"
"The Dark Side is a doorway to many abilities, some considered ... unnatural. >:D"

John McPoop @ Feb 24th 2008 6:35PM

This is not a big surprise to me considering that the 360 is much more advanced architecture. However, I wonder if the release of the Phrye Engine is going to have an effect on these sort of declaration's.

John McPoop @ Feb 24th 2008 6:36PM

**** PS3 is the more advanced architecture****

My Mistake

John @ Feb 24th 2008 6:47PM

A much more advanced architecture? The xbox360? Please explain, I can't wait. You didn't qualify your statement which means that you're about 9 years old. Write us back when you turn 13.

John @ Feb 24th 2008 6:51PM

ma bad, I see now what you meant

John McPoop @ Feb 25th 2008 8:35AM

@John

Yeah I meant the PS3 not the 360. The PS3 using the cell processor is what I was referencing.

JayVe @ Feb 25th 2008 10:30AM

More Complicated does not mean More Advanced

Matt B @ Feb 24th 2008 7:29PM

Think guys!!!

It means that the PS3 version will be better than a reverse port.

Fanboys will find anything to bitch about. Maybe the dev teams just see that the PS3 won't sell as much right now due to install base ratios, but they recoup dev costs and the 360 sales are all profit.

It's a win for PS3 owners, 360 owners, and the devs.

Yare @ Feb 24th 2008 7:31PM

Professional game programmer checking in here...

The article puts a positive spin on it, but this isn't really a good thing. The PS3 is much more difficult to develop for (and has some ridiculous architecture differences that are a pain in the ass) than the Wii, PC, or Xbox 360. Studios that plan to release across all platforms are now targeting PS3 first not because they like developing on the platform better, but because they like developing on it the least.

It's similar to how you have to eat your vegetables at dinner before you can have the chocolate cake for dessert. Or how you have to work for 45 years before you can retire to the Caribbean.

Some things you just have to "get out of the way" first.

parkd @ Feb 24th 2008 7:57PM

That analogy doesn't work because...so what if the developer likes to program for the 360 more? Programming for the PS3 first makes it better for PS3 owners AND Xbox 360 owners...The game's quality increases on both consoles when developed first on the PS3. It's a win-win...

John McPoop @ Feb 25th 2008 8:39AM

@Yare

See Phrye Engine. Sony is doing everything possible to cater to these developers who think like you do. Insomniac did not seem to have any issues programing for the PS3 did they>

Burnout Paradise was actually better on the PS3 as well as Dirt. So I think its something that developers are going to have to deal with considering the gaining popularity of the PS3. Besides all of that is it not a good thing to get away from what easy sometimes to achieve more.

John @ Feb 24th 2008 7:34PM

Of course they're prioritizing it-- they only answer to the status quo. Now that blu-ray has won and it's obvious ps3 will be another ps2, they've switched sides. But I don't trust them. They always programmed like crap on the ps2, I doubt they'll be much better now.

Easo @ Feb 24th 2008 9:13PM

"ps3 is "difficult" because the programmers, to pull the strength of the system, have to us parallel programming."

The exact same thing can be said for modern gaming rigs and the 360, yet porting to and from these platforms is not a problem.
The ps3s problem isn't the multi-core architecture. Its true that the way sony implemented its version of vector processing has its fair share of issues, but when it comes to game consoles what doesnt. Its main problem is the piss poor development tools that anyone looking to code for the ps3 must use. Thats why ps3 exclusive games look good when compared to multiplatform games. Sony pours out support for their "second party" developers and leaves everyone else high and dry.
So IMO, developing for the ps3 then porting to the pc and 360 is just putting a band aid on a problem that sony could fix. (see uncharted, warhawk, and resistance for examples of sony providing adequate support to make a quality game)

John McPoop @ Feb 25th 2008 8:42AM

See Phrye Engine. Sony is starting to release more development tools. Insomniac is releasing the nocturnal project which is sharing its code for problems they have already fixed.

Volomon @ Feb 25th 2008 12:26AM

It's extremely simple, it's easier to work down than up. What the pro developer forgets to say is that it's not harder, but has extra nuances that need to be taken advantage of. As with all things its easier to drop the "extras" (port from ps3) than to add them in mid development and tweak them (crossplatform), because ever time you do so you fall behind in development playing catch up. Its especially stupid considering PS3 allows you to drop the "extras" to port to PC which means you could have saved 25%-50% of your time converting the PC code to Xbox instead of PS3 to Xbox.