Message to Epic about PC version.

[skeps1s]

I am a huge PC gamer and a huge fan of Epic Games, but lately Epic hasn't been showing PC much love (they have openly stated they are more interested in the money from consoles, UE4 is supposed to be a console exclusive engine, GoW for PC was horribly buggy and unoptimized, and they have stated the Unreal Tournament series will not be touched for at least a handful of years) and since this seems to be the next PC game developed by them I figured I would throw out a few things that will keep the PC player base happy.

1. Some publishers have been pricing the PC version of their multiplatform games as $60. This is not good. Console games are $60 due to royalty charges, PC doesn't have this so the correct price is $50.

2. PC players expect patches/updates more fast and often than Xbox 360 and Play Station 3 receive (assuming the game has a fair amount of bugs/glitches). It's a fact that fixing and patching a PC game takes less time (and sometimes less effort) than a console game. Sony and Microsoft have to overlook and review the patch before they distribute it, while on PC, the developers can throw it out on the internet at their leisure.

3. The PC player base also expects to be able to run the game out of the box if they meet or exceed the recommended requirements. We understand if the game is slightly buggy at release because you need to optimize for a huge combination of hardware setups. Having crashes to desktop or horrible performance on a high end rig is inexcusable. In short terms, if the requirements on the consumers side are met then it should be playable out of the box.

4. DLC and add-ons should be free, no exceptions. This is how it is on PC, paying for content (i.e. maps, weapons, skins etc.) is ludicrous. Console owners may accept it, but PC owners don't.

The two points below are situational. If the situation calls for it then listen to these.

5. Some kind of SDK or editor. Doesn't need to be ready for release, but should be released a few months after release at the very least. If the PC community had to choose between free content patches and an SDK, we would rather have an SDK.

6. If the game includes any kind of competitive multiplayer modes (player vs player) then we want some form of anti cheat.

Feel free to add to the list.

[CptD1s4st3r]

1. Some publishers have been pricing the PC version of their multiplatform games as $60. This is not good. Console games are $60 due to royalty charges, PC doesn't have this so the correct price is $50.
PC games are 30€ at the very most 40€ Console games are 60-70 and in some cases 100€ so i dont get that issue here

2. PC players expect patches/updates more fast and often than Xbox 360 and Play Station 3 receive (assuming the game has a fair amount of bugs/glitches). It's a fact that fixing and patching a PC game takes less time (and sometimes less effort) than a console game. Sony and Microsoft have to overlook and review the patch before they distribute it, while on PC, the developers can throw it out on the internet at their leisure.
I don't expect anything quicker anymore due to the fact we PC gamers got to realise the PS3 and Xbox are much more popular these days and of course if the demand is there you cater to the largest first keep more people happy

4. DLC and add-ons should be free, no exceptions. This is how it is on PC, paying for content (i.e. maps, weapons, skins etc.) is ludicrous. Console owners may accept it, but PC owners don't.I don't mind paying for official DLC due to the fact I'm getting lots of mods(Not cheating ones that is) for free anyway

(10 Chars)

[SonicBlade]

Finally another PC player that have been around for some time.

I agree a hundred percent with everything skeps1s said. I'm also a huge fan of Epic and a fanatic UT player and unfortunately we can see that PC plataform is not so strong around here anymore.

I can't stress enough how important this is:

4. DLC and add-ons should be free, no exceptions. This is how it is on PC, paying for content (i.e. maps, weapons, skins etc.) is ludicrous. Console owners may accept it, but PC owners don't.

I know that "DLC" is a new market trend lately and have been successful on the actual console gen, but "DLC" is just a pretty name for something that PC players have been doing for years now... regarding Epic, since UT99.

I asked on the "ask PFC" topic about stuff regarding numbers 4 and 5 already, so keep an eye on their answer, if we ever get one.

If I may add something, would be:

(7?) Give us the freedom to customize controls to satisfy our needs. Mouse sensitivity, mouse speed, mapping keys, that sort of thing. Oh and also options to toggle graphical effects like Motion Blur and Depth of Field, for instance.

see ya

[skeps1s]

Finally another PC player that have been around for some time.

I agree a hundred percent with everything skeps1s said. I'm also a huge fan of Epic and a fanatic UT player and unfortunately we can see that PC plataform is not so strong around here anymore.

I can't stress enough how important this is:


I know that "DLC" is a new market trend lately and have been successful on the actual console gen, but "DLC" is just a pretty name for something that PC players have been doing for years now... regarding Epic, since UT99.

I asked on the "ask PFC" topic about stuff regarding numbers 4 and 5 already, so keep an eye on their answer, if we ever get one.

If I may add something, would be:

(7?) Give us the freedom to customize controls to satisfy our needs. Mouse sensitivity, mouse speed, mapping keys, that sort of thing. Oh and also options to toggle graphical effects like Motion Blur and Depth of Field, for instance.

see ya

Good addition, I overlooked that myself. Glad to see other PC gamers around here.

I'm really just saddened by the fact PC gamers have it so hard to get a good proper port. The things we were accustomed to years ago is a shadow of it's former self.

[Crotale]

1. These prices are market driven. There are too many variables to simply say that the prices for PC games are set to that of their console counterparts just because the publisher wants more money.

2. Epic does not always make concurrent releases of patches on all platforms for any game. Where do you get your info?

3. Is this a stab at Epic in "retaliation" for UT3 not being what you wanted it to be at release?

4. I'm an old PC gamer myself, and although I understand the sentiment, I think you are barking up the wrong tree. Even though you have IW charging $15 USD for five measly MW2 maps, take a look at Epic Games' DLC history. Aside from a few "pay for DLC" packages released for the Gears' franchise, none of Epic's DLC has ever been anything but free. Just to note: DLC that had a price tag was later released for free.

Your concern here is a bit odd. Take a look at UT3 Black last year. Epic released enough content in the patch and accompanying bonus pack for a whole other game...FOR FREE. Oh yeah, and 360 did not get the Black for one reason: Microsoft.

5. An editor would be great but for most gamers this is not that a make or break issue.

6. Any anti-cheat system will need to be constantly patched and servers updated. No AC system beats a good server admin and a community that won't stand for cheating. Bans are more effective than most in-game tools, but if you need them, there are some "decent" third party AC tools already available.

[Flak]

Epic has a great history of supporting PC gamers with free updates and bonus packs.

Going to close this one.