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对R*副总裁兼剧本写作 丹.豪斯的采访
Us: 可能很多人已经提醒过你，这会是一场让你很不好受的采访.
Dan Houser: 我看不出来为什么，不过是的，的确有人提醒过我
Us: 好，不浪费时间了，提出我们的第一个问题， Dan Houser, 为什么 GTA IV 不是为PC而开发和发行?
DH: 我们有相关的协议和义务，规定我们只能在PS3和XBOX360上发行GTA。
Us: 你能就此透露一点更多的信息吗?
DH: 在这个问题上我不能公开透露更多信息,很抱歉.
[我们向Dan Houser递上一张50美元]
DH: 哈哈，好吧。这么说吧，当初我们先为PC开发了GTA1和2，然后移植到PS上，那时我们就决定了：与索尼公司的家伙们成为最佳合作伙伴是对我们最有利的。然后我们渐渐接受了一些数目可观的交易，尽管这可能破坏了我们正在开发的游戏的潜力。
Us: 我假设你无法告诉我其中涉及到多少数目的钱，但我想肯定是很可观的一笔钱，让你忽视了所有GTA的PC玩家
DH: 很明显，我们改变了游戏发行的优先权。与长期利益相比较，制作可能情况下的最佳作品，对我们来说已经显得不那么重要了。这些日子里，开发和推广游戏主机版本的游戏对我们来说才是首要的，我们也相信，这些交易补偿了我们在销量，支持者和得到的尊敬方面的损失。
Us: 很多人给你写电子邮件，询问为何这些年来无视和忽视PC平台，而且不光光是GTA系列是这样。我们听说很多这样的电子邮件都没有得到答复，能告诉我们为什么吗？
DH: 我根本不查看发到Rockstar games的电子邮件
Us: 这不是我要问的问题，我要问的是为什么你的公司要完全忽视这些很有礼貌的提出问题的人。
DH: 负责查看和回复电子邮件的人，接到指示可以回避任何关于PC平台的问题。我们那么做是因为我们在索尼和微软的朋友不希望我们将话题转移到PS3和XBOX360以外去，我们目前也仅为这两个平台开发游戏。
Us: 好，让我们继续话题，为索尼的PS2平台开发象GTA3这样的游戏，有哪些不利因素呢？
DH: 在开发中，经常是开发人员解决了一个特定方面的问题，然后我们一起来进行测试。99%的情况下，我们都不得不大幅度的降低画面质量，只为了游戏能在PS2上跑到每秒20桢。
Us: 开发中被牺牲掉的东西还真不少啊。
DH: 是的，事实上，大多数画面和音效都被很明显的做了缩水处理，只有那样我们才能让游戏在PS2上稳定运行。
Us: 那这种情况在为PS3和XBOX360开发GTA4时是否也一样呢？
DH: 是的，但是，我说过，赚钱才是我们的第一目标，我们不在乎让我们的游戏降低一点质量，减少一点内容。
Us: 那是不是意味着，PC版本又将作为“先为游戏主机而开发”的受害者？
DH: 我们现在还没有宣布PC 版本，如果有，也不会象GTA3系列那样受主机版本的拖累。新的3D引擎大大的优化过了，它能允许游戏能被更稳定的运行，同时提供更多的画面细节。在过去，GTA3系列时代，PC版本总有些视频和音频的小毛病，但我可以告诉你，这些都是因为游戏是先为游戏主机开发而造成的缺憾。
Us: 好，这很好的回答了我们的问题，我再提最后几个问题：为什么PC版本的GTA3系列的游戏都比主机版本的推迟6到7个月推出？
DH: 很简单，我们很清楚，很多玩家会选择PC版本，而不是缩水的主机版本。我们也很清楚的认识到，我们的发达是由于和游戏主机生产商形成了良好的朋友关系，当玩家被迫要只为一个游戏购买一台主机的时候，很多玩家的确这样做了。在主机上发行一个这样的游戏能很好的为我们的朋友确保了主机销量。所以GTA3也好，GTA4也好，都是按照这个逻辑来发行的，不过现在，我们很庆幸我们的主机生产商朋友从以前的一个变成了两个。
Us: 那么...说说去年臭名昭著的那次延期。是什么造成了PS3和360版本的发售日从去年10月延期到今年4月？
DH: 我们在开发PS3版本的时候碰到了问题，这问题又导致了随后的一些列问题，最终我们被迫要延期。
Us: 我们受到很多无知的游戏主机玩家的来信，说PC版本的推迟，是因为同期的PC无法处理游戏的画面，尽管这些话听来是多么可笑，你们对此有什么要说的吗?
DH: 如我所说，我们最初制作的版本，游戏主机根本处理不过来，我们有一些中端配置的电脑，是用来做初始开发和测试游戏引擎的。我们发现这些电脑就能很流畅的运行游戏，并能处理更高的细节。PC版的延迟是因为那些提供给我们财政支援的微软和索尼的朋友让我们那么做。如果我们和索尼微软的关系没那么铁，而盗版现象也不那么猖獗，那我们更愿意同时发售GTAPC,PS3,和360版本。
Us: 等等，你提到了盗版，那么盗版是你决定推迟或不推出PC版本的主要原因拉？
DH: Ok，如你所说，我们不在为PC发行游戏，盗版是原因之一。
Us: 你是否意识到游戏主机上同样存在和PC一样的盗版问题?
DH: 是的，但是我们也看到XBOX 360的盗版并没有对其正版软件的销量造成太大影响，而PC就不一样了，我们认为对待盗版的方式，就是当游戏主机玩家已经可以玩到游戏的时候，让PC玩家们为GTA的新作再等上个半年，我们过去就是那么做的。
Us: 没有人想听你那套泛泛而谈的防止盗版的商业理论，就拿你来说吧，你们公司对待GTA系列的发行政策，实际上是助长了游戏的盗版气焰，你只能怪你自己
DH:这.......
[短暂的沉默]
Us: "这" 什么?
DH:好吧，但是在微软和索尼合写的“如何作游戏主机商的傀儡”指南中写道，被问到不再推出PC版本时，你必须要用盗版问题来回答，并且要夸大其词....
Us: 那么你并不否认：在6个月后才发售PC版本，的确会对PC版的销售数目造成不良影响了？并且，很可能会助长对GTA这个游戏的盗版现象？
[Dan 噎住了, 我们给了他一杯水]
DH: 我没法预见未来，但我相信，销售数字...因该不会受到干扰....
Us: 你是在对我说，一个普通PC玩家，被迫决定在其专为GTA4而买的游戏主机上玩GTA4，而他为这个游戏所花的投资至少超过了500美元，而最终他花了大钱买到这个游戏只是一个缩水的，顶多只能玩6个月的产品。你认为PC玩家会那么愚蠢，并还会对于你们这样一个翻脸不认人的公司保持忠诚吗？
[此时, Dan 忍不住要流泪了，他的保镖提醒我们不要为难他 ]
Us: 好吧，这个问题还是让我们的读者来回答好了。
[有人拿来一盒餐巾纸, Dan 拿了一些来擦拭泪水]
Us: 我们快没时间了....那么，我们是否能期待GTA4的PC版本呢？
DH: 很不幸，由于我们目前还没有宣布任何要开发GTA4 PC版本的计划，所以你的这个问题我无法回答你。
Us: 那为什么不干脆说：“我们再也不发行PC版本了”呢，为这场悲剧划上句号，为什么不那么说？
DH: 至少在这方面，我们还想为我们的PC支持者做点什么
Us: 是吗，我想你是在低估PC版的销量？你计划在PC上卖个2，3百万份，和你预期的6百万比起来，这个数字也不算低了....
DH: 靠! 让他闭嘴吧. 请让他闭嘴吧!!!!!!!
[Dan 从椅子上跳了起来逃出了房间，他的保镖们尾随他而去]
与Dan Houser的简短采访(关于GTA4)
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] |
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发表于 2011-1-5 12:44:46
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