Can PS3 And PC Users Get Along In DC Universe Online?

DC Universe Online

If you're one of the many gamers clamoring for cross-platform multiplayer for DC Universe Online, we've heard an interesting reason why it may not happen...and it has nothing to do with technical issues.

MTV Multiplayer blog interviewed the game's creative director Jens Andersen and senior producer Wes Yanagi, and they asked after an update on cross-compatibility for PlayStation 3 and PC users. Check out what Yanagi had to say on the subject, and believe it or not, the restrictions may lie in the social conventions of the PS3 and PC crowds:

"[The certification process] is going to be a consideration, but for me personally, it's going to be establishing the best experience for the users, and right now the speculation for me is that PS3 players and PC players are kind of different social groups. PC players are used to the anonymity of text chat most of the time, and then once you get to know somebody or are playing with friends that you know, then you go to voice and use Ventrilo or TeamSpeak or something like that. Whereas console players, I think they're just used to going into voice chat right off the bat."

Yanagi added that in his experience, console players tend to "talk smack all the time," while PC players are a little more polite and civil. Therefore, if one group is offending everyone and the other group just wants to play and be nice, things could get hairy (that's the simplest explanation). Andersen elaborated on the concept:

"You can offend as many people as you want [in multiplayer console games] because you're just going to automatically go into the match anyway. [In 'DCUO'] you choose to make a hero and you have to live with these people; youre going to see them all the way up and in the end game, and if you're just offending people left and right, theyre not going to want to group with you and theyre not going to want to talk to you. [MMOs] are social games, they're about getting together and accomplishing really great things, forming guilds and leaving your stamp on this virtual world. And you need lots of people to do that. So you know what? It will probably be a good thing. It'll teach those kids some manners!"

Well, there's no doubt that some younger players may be on the console and older players on the PC, but in our experience, it's all about who you play with. For our part, we're not so interested in playing with strangers all the time, and with something like a MMO, where you spend an obscene amount of time online, you will likely spend more time with the same people. We understand that, but...well, at least console gamers get some sun every now and then. 'cough'

Related Game(s): DC Universe Online

2/5/2009 Ben Dutka

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