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Deep Silver on why Dead Island: Riptide isn't coming to Wii U

N

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
I know there's been some demand for more outlets to ask publishers why their games aren't coming to Wii U instead of just asking them if their products aren't coming to Wii U, and this is the first time I've seen someone give the rather direct answer of "opportunity cost of engine programmer time", so I thought there would be some interest.

Digital Spy said:
'Dead Island: Riptide' Wii U omission explained by Deep Silver
Published Friday, Mar 15 2013, 6:00am EDT | By Matthew Reynolds

Creative producer Alexander Toplansky said that the team would have had to build the engine to work with the system or do a port in order for the game to work on Nintendo's platform.

"One of the opportunities we had for Riptide was to continue the development of the engine, and really improve it and make a lot of refinements," he told Digital Spy.

"The things that are required to bring something to a new platform, you need to either really get to be integrating it deep into the engine, or you've got to [do] a port.

"Neither one of those was a satisfactory outcome for us, so we decided to do what we got platform-wise and just make sure that we can deliver the best experience we can."

Asked whether the franchise could appear on Wii U in future, Toplansky replied: "There are no plans for the moment.

"It's not something I would categorically rule out, but it's not something that's planned."

...
Click to expand...
Source: http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/ne...-wii-u-omission-explained-by-deep-silver.html
 
M

Meelow

Banned
...So Dead Island 3? Has a chance of coming to Wii U?

We know Deep Silver is supporting the Wii U, I'd like to know what their first game is for Wii U since this and Saint's Row 4 isn't coming.
 
W

Wynnebeck

Banned
So it sounds like the amount of money they would get from a port on the Wii U wouldn't justify the actual time and money it would take to put it on the Wii U? Sounds about right really.
 
D

diamount

Banned
Wynnebeck said:
So it sounds like the amount of money they would get from a port on the Wii U wouldn't justify the actual time and money it would take to put it on the Wii U? Sounds about right really.
Click to expand...

Of course that's the reason. ZombieU shits over Dead Island anyhow.
 
A

antonz

Member
Sho_Nuff82 said:
So their options were "build from the ground up" or "port" and they chose option C. Okay?
Click to expand...

He's saying either they take the time to do it right or half ass it and with schedules, costs etc. it wasn't feasible to do option A right now and they weren't going to get a bad rep by doing option B.
 
W

Wickerbasket

Member
Meelow said:
...So Dead Island 3? Has a chance of coming to Wii U?

We know Deep Silver is supporting the Wii U, I'd like to know what their first game is for Wii U since this and Saint's Row 4 isn't coming.
Click to expand...

dumbtheresachance.gif
 
tkscz

tkscz

Member
So basically, they don't want to make a shitty port, but they also don't want to remake the engine from the ground up? Well at least it's a reason that makes since cost wise. A shitty port would never sell and building the engine from the ground up would take a lot of time and money.
 
F

freddy

Banned
You have to build an audience for this type of software in order for it to be successful or even make a small profit and it's not up to smaller companies like Deep Silver to do it.
 
S

shinra-bansho

Member
Nirolak said:
I know there's been some demand for more outlets to ask publishers why their games aren't coming to Wii U instead of just asking them if their products aren't coming to Wii U, and this is the first time I've seen someone give the rather direct answer of "opportunity cost of engine programmer time", so I thought there would be some interest.
Click to expand...
It's pretty much what I assumed was happening with regard to publishers/developers and the Wii U. It isn't just about whether a quick-port SKU would be profitable selling the tiny amounts it would on the Wii U - it's about whether those resources provide a better return elsewhere.
Meelow said:
...So Dead Island 3? Has a chance of coming to Wii U?
Click to expand...
Ever the optimist.
 
V

VariantX

Member
Meelow said:
...So Dead Island 3? Has a chance of coming to Wii U?

We know Deep Silver is supporting the Wii U, I'd like to know what their first game is for Wii U since this and Saint's Row 4 isn't coming.
Click to expand...

I seriously doubt that will be the case until Nintendo gets a reasonable number of consoles out there. Sounds like they're just waiting until they can see a decent return on development.
 
D

deviljho

Member
I'm guessing that part of the reason for this (lack of PS360 game support) is that a lot of studios have set themselves up for HD Twin development over the past few years. I don't think it would be easy all of a sudden add another platform. Not everyone can or wants to get a Straight Right type studio to do their work either. Devkits have been out for a while, but who knows how people think... Now, if they are thinking about future development, then it probably is a easier sell to be ready for PS4/720/U than it was for PS360/Wii.
 
Windom Earle

Windom Earle

Member
deviljho said:
I'm guessing that part of the reason for this (lack of PS360 game support) is that a lot of studios have set themselves up for HD Twin development over the past few years. I don't think it would be easy all of a sudden add another platform. Not everyone can or wants to get a Straight Right type studio to do their work either.
Click to expand...

Yes, but didn't Nintendo anticipate this and maybe consider it a problem for their platform?
I remember the "easy ports from 360" mantra from some time ago, but that's seemingly not going to happen.
 
D

deviljho

Member
schennmu said:
Yes, but didn't Nintendo anticipate this and maybe consider it a problem for their platform?
I remember the "easy ports from 360" mantra from some time ago, but that's seemingly not going to happen.
Click to expand...

I think the goal was always to encourage more 3rd party support going forward, post PS360. We already know that they said that not every port will come, but as far as how support will shape up for the Wii U's life cycle, the jury is still out on that for at last a year, IMO. There are people on the fence doing the waiting game.

The launch hasn't been smooth at all, and it's clearly a rough transition.
 
Windom Earle

Windom Earle

Member
deviljho said:
I think the goal was always to encourage more 3rd party support going forward, post PS360. We already know that they said that not every port will come, but as far as how support will shape up for the Wii U's life cycle, the jury is still out on that for at last a year, IMO. There are people on the fence doing the waiting game.
Click to expand...

They don't have much time left, PS4/720 hype is already here and the sales data looks bleak.
The Wii U is not getting most of the PS360 ports, and there is not much hope for next gen ports either from the looks of it. Their whole strategy with the WiiU is baffling.
 
D

deviljho

Member
schennmu said:
They don't have much time left, PS4/720 hype is already here and the sales data looks bleak.
The Wii U is not getting most of the PS360 ports, and there is not much hope for next gen ports either from the looks of it. Their whole strategy with the WiiU is baffling.
Click to expand...

PS4/720 coming is not necessarily a bad thing for Wii U. You'll see by holiday 2014.
 
V

VariantX

Member
schennmu said:
Yes, but didn't Nintendo anticipate this and maybe consider it a problem for their platform?
I remember the "easy ports from 360" mantra from some time ago, but that's seemingly not going to happen.
Click to expand...


Probably because they expected Nintendoland and Mario U to move far more hardware than it did. Wii U owners would be playing rayman legends right now if it was selling even half as well as the original Wii did.
 
D

deviljho

Member
RibMan said:
That depends on the pricing of the PS4 and 720. If both consoles are reasonably priced then they are going to be a very very bad thing for the Wii U.
Click to expand...

It depends on a lot. Point is, passing the judgment on the Wii U right now is not wise.
 
A

AkiraGr

Banned
Tobor said:
We do?
Click to expand...

Hi ___________,

Yes, we do expect to develop games for Wii U.

Note: If you reply to this Email please do not edit the subject line. Thank you!

Best regards

Deep Silver Inc.
900 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 103
Larkspur CA 94939 / USA
Fax: 415-524-8709
Click to expand...

I don't know if it is PR talk but at least this is what they answer when they are asked about Wii U support.
 
Kelegacy

Kelegacy

XBOX - RECORD ME LOVING DOWN MY WOMAN GOOD
Meelow said:
...So Dead Island 3? Has a chance of coming to Wii U?

We know Deep Silver is supporting the Wii U, I'd like to know what their first game is for Wii U since this and Saint's Row 4 isn't coming.
Click to expand...

Probably no Dead Island 3. If it's a next gen game it will be on PS4 and Xbox 3 and PC, but due to the current-gen power of the Wii U, I think a lot of third party multiplatform games will not bother with the Wii. It would probably be more work to hamstring the game to run on the Wii U with lower assets, etc.

But if the market share is there, maybe. But I think it will be like another Wii vs PS3/360 generation, with the Wii U underpowered by a whole generation all over again.

I still can't believe they limited themselves so much. It's fine for living in a vacuum with 1st party titles and exclusives, but when you have the opportunity to at least beef up your library with multiplatform titles, coming in that far behind is a bit of a problem.

I could be wrong, but we're already seeing it with current gen multiplatform games. I don't see it changing much.
 
D

deviljho

Member
VariantX said:
Probably because they expected Nintendoland and Mario U to move far more hardware than it did. Wii U owners would be playing rayman legends right now if it was selling even half as well as the original Wii did.
Click to expand...

Poor sales data from January and February is not why these early 2013 games have no Wii U versions (Legends excluded which had already been in development for a while and was finished).
 
B

bigtroyjon

Member
deviljho said:
Poor sales data from January and February is not why these early 2013 games have no Wii U versions (Legends excluded which had already been in development for a while and was finished).
Click to expand...

You're right, it's because of poor software sales data in Nov, Dec Jan and Feb.

If Wii U was selling software, companies would be putting the resources towards Wii U ports.
 
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