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Exclusive Interview with Rockstar Founder - Questions Answered
Us = 记者
DH = Dan Houser
Recently we got a chance to sit down and have a brief interview with Dan Houser; Rockstar Games co-founder, and writer/producer of many Grand Theft Auto titles.
Below, is a transcript of the interview...
Us: Now, as you've probably been told, this is going to be a tough interview.
Dan Houser: I can't see why, but yeah, a few people have told me that.
Us: Well without wasting any time, let's get down to the first question. Dan Houser, why is GTA IV not being developed and released for PC?
DH: We have certain agreements and...obligations...to release the Grand Theft Auto games on the PlayStation 3 and the XBox 360 exclusively.
Us: Can you go into any further details about that?
DH: I can't officially say much more on the matter, I'm sorry.
[we pass over fifty dollars to Dan Houser]
DH: Well, ok then. After making Grand Theft Auto 1 and 2 for both the PC first, and then the PlayStation, we decided it would be in our best interest to become best buddies with the folks over at Sony Computer Entertainment. We began entering into all these little deals which paid a nice amount of money, even though this meant destroying the potential of most of our games in the process.
Us: I'm assuming that you cannot tell me the figures involved, but it must be something substantial, as it does totally disregard all the GTA fans who game on the PC.
DH: It is obvious that we have changed our priorities. Producing the best possible product, while ensuring long-term profit, is something that is no-longer important to us. These days, the development and promotion of the console versions are paramount to us, and we believe that those little deals supplement us for our losses in sales, fans, and respect.
Us: Many many people have emailed you questions on the matter of your total disregard and ignorance to the PC platform in recent years, with more games than just the Grand Theft Auto series. We've received reports that many of these emails go totally unanswered. Can you tell us why?
DH: I don't check emails sent to Rockstar Games.
Us: That wasn't the question. I asked why these people, who ask completely straight-forward and polite questions, get totally ignored by your company.
DH: The people employed who check and reply to emails, have been instructed to evade any questions regarding the PC platform. We do this because our friends at Sony and Microsoft don't want us steering attention away from the PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 games; basically the only platforms we develop for these days.
Us: Ok. Let's move on. So, what were the negatives which came with developing a game like GTA III, specifically for Sony's PlayStation 2 console?
DH: During development, occasionally a developer would finish off a certain aspect of the game, and we'd all gather around for a look and to test it out. About 99% of the time, we ended up having to cut the visuals back drastically, just for it to achieve more than 20 frames per second on the PS2.
Us: That's a fair bit to cut from development.
DH: Well, actually, the majority of both the sound and visuals were stripped back quite significantly. That's the only way we could get the game to run at a playable frame rate on the PlayStation 2.
Us: Is the team experiencing similar issues with developing GTA IV for the PlayStation 3 and the XBox 360?
DH: Yes. But, like I said, as money is our main focus, we don't mind stripping vast amounts of content and quality from our games.
Us: Does that mean that the PC version will suffer again, as a result of the console version being developed first?
DH: The PC version, which hasn't been announced yet, shouldn't suffer as much as it did with the GTA III series. The new 3d engine is much more refined, and allows games to run with more stability and graphical detail. In the past, with the GTA III series, the PC version has had many video and audio glitches, but I can safely say that those definitely were the result of designing and developing the game for console first.
Us: Well that answers that. Now, almost at the final question: Why were the PC versions of the Grand Theft Auto III series delayed until 6 to 7 months after the console version's release date?
DH: It's simple really. We are fully aware that many people would much rather play the PC version than the stripped-down console versions. We are also fully aware, as we are made-so by our very close friends in the console manufacturing business, that, when gamers are forced to buy a console just for one game, many people actually do. Releasing a game such as this on console first ensures maximum console sales for our friends. Nothing is different with the release logistics between GTA III and GTA IV, only that now, we are satisfying two console manufacturers instead of one.
Us: Now...the infamous console delay last year. What caused the delay in development, which pushed the PS3 and XBox 360 versions' release date back from October 2007, to April 2008?
DH: We've had trouble adapting to the overly-complex development process involved with the PlayStation 3, and that was causing numerous problems which ultimately forced us to delay the release.
Us: We get many emails from some uneducated console gamers, claiming that the reason for the PC version's delay, is because PCs cannot handle the graphics of the game. Despite these claims by them being factually incorrect, is there any truth in these...from your company's perspective?
DH: As I said before, the consoles can hardly handle the cut-down versions that we were stupid enough to be required to release first. We have a group of mid-spec gaming PCs which we use for initial development and testing of the game engine. We found that a PC which costs the same as a console does, can actually run the game at a much higher level of detail. The delay is because we've become best buddies, thanks to financial payments, with Sony and Microsoft. If we weren't in such a tight relationship with them, and piracy wasn't such a big problem, then we'd be releasing GTA IV cross-platform; ie. PC, PS3, and X360.
Us: Now hang on a minute. You mentioned piracy. So piracy would be a deciding factor in delaying or not-releasing a PC version?
DH: Ok, as you've mentioned, we don't release games for PC anymore. Piracy is one of the reasons why that is the case.
Us: Are you aware that piracy exists on consoles as well as PC?
DH: Well, yes. But we don't see how piracy of the XBox 360 version could possibly impact sales figures. With the PC however, we believe the way to fight piracy, as we've done in the past, is to make gamers wait half a year for the new GTA titles, after the consoles get them.
Us: Nobody wants to hear your unusual, illogical business theories on how to prevent piracy. In your case, your company's release strategy with GTA games recently, has actually increased the title's piracy, so you only have yourself to blame for that.
DH: Well...ummm...
[short delay]
Us: "Well" what?
DH: Well...but...in "Coping with being a Console Whore"; a book co-written by representatives from Sony and Microsoft; it says that when you're faced with the question of why you don't release games on the PC anymore, you should always use excuses like piracy etc, and exaggerate them beyond what is reality.
Us: So you don't disagree -- that releasing a game on PC 6 months after it has been released on console, will have a negative impact on the PC version's sales figures, and most-likely, cause an increase in illegal distribution of the title?
[Dan begins to choke, so we give him a glass of water]
DH: I can't see the future obviously, but I strongly believe.... that the sale figures... should not incur...
Us: You are telling me that, after an average PC gamer has decided to play GTA IV on console (against good will and common sense); which he/she bought ONLY for this game, and paid at least $500 for; is supposed to buy some half-assed, 6-month-old console port, for a full, new-game price. Do you believe that PC gamers are that stupid and loyal to your little back-stabbing company?
[at this point, as Dan tries to hold-back tears, we are told to go easy on him by his bodyguards]
Us: Ok, so we'll let the readers answer that one themselves.
[a box of tissues is brought out, and Dan uses a few to wipe away the tears]
Us: We're nearly out of time, so... when can we expect a PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV?
DH: Unfortunately, since we haven't announced plans for any possible PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV, I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you.
Us: Look. Why just not say - "we are not publishing on PC anymore" and just end this tragic tale once and for all? Why not end it?
DH: We want to do right by our PC fans in at-least this aspect.
Us: So it's not about the somewhat low predicted sale numbers comparing to the previous generation? You are planing to sell some 2 to 3 million units on PC, and those figures are not that low compared with the expected 6 m...
DH: Noo! Make him stop. Please make him STOPPPPP!!!!!!!
[Dan jumps out of his chair and runs out of the room, followed closely by his bodyguards; jogging along behind him]
关键的字下面划了线
請求英文強人翻译到中文，我中文打字慢！Sorry！
來源：http://gtaivpc.medianewsonline.com/ |
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发表于 2008-6-3 23:34:33
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