Cross-platform multiplaying

[Zso_Zso]

I have participated in a lot of discussions for 2 console games on these boards: CivRev and Bioshock. Both games are a lot of fun and have an active community even after a long time has passed since release.

Both have multiplayer but the communities are divided and we all wish that we could fight each other -- see whether the xbox360 best players or the ps3 best players can beat each other. Apart from the fun factor, it would also make finding active games easier as the games are getting older and less people play them actively. It is such a shame that the two console communities are separated.

I do not see any technical reason for the separation: the games are running through the internet using the same TCP/IP protocol, the code bases are shared, even the processors share the same CPU architecture (both are based on IBM's power chips).

I know it is too late for those games, nothing will change for them, no more patches will be issued, their development life cycle has ended. But I do wish 2K would consider making an effort for future great MP games to bridge the console gap and allow cross-platform multiplayer games.

Although, I guess the reasons are more business based and it may be very hard to get Sony and Microsoft to cooperate, but I would think it would be beneficial for both companies to have a larger, longer thriving gaming community...

[ShowtekGER]

Although, I guess the reasons are more business based and it may be very hard to get Sony and Microsoft to cooperate, but I would think it would be beneficial for both companies to have a larger, longer thriving gaming community...

as much as i would love to see the MP amalgamated, i am pretty sure that your appeal will fail because of this. it's obvious that the game communities would only benefit from this but i doubt something like it will happen anytime in the future.

[Fugue]

Don't really see how this would benefit either company? The sales of a particular game would still be the same wouldn't it?

I can see your point about dwindling communities joining together but the logistics of getting two rivals to co-operate and create a level playing field for both would be a nightmare imo. The end result would probably only be a very short extension to a games lifespan, for a relatively small number of players.

[Think_Before_You_Speak]

It’s a nice idea but I reckon that’s all it will ever be, as I can't see it happening in reality.

Sony will never cooperate with Microsoft and vice versa.

Let’s put things in perspective.

Sony doesn’t use NTFS as a hard drive format for the PS3 hdd, they use their own format. Why is this you wonder? Well if they used NTFS, they would most likely have to pay Microsoft fees.

This means that if you wish to get your Blu-ray movies onto your ps3 you must stream them, as most movies will be over 4 gigabytes and the only compatible external hard drive format with the PS3 console is FAT32 which has a 4 gigabyte cap.

Now I currently have 3 terabytes of TV series and movies. However I can’t just plug my NTFS formatted hard drives into my PS3, oh no, I must either stream them to the system or copy them onto a FAT32 formatted device, a major pain.

Not meaning to go off topic, but I think if something as simple as this can’t be sorted between the two companies, then there is no chance in hell that cross format play will happen.

Perhaps in the next generation of consoles, and that’s a big maybe.

[BadDamnKitty]

2k will get no more money from this. It would cost them millions actually. It would never happen.

[Ryan's number 1 fan]

2k will get no more money from this. It would cost them millions actually. It would never happen.

Awwww that's a shame :/

[Keiji_Haku]

Do it!!!!!!

[vitiis]

I concur with Think_Before_You_Speak