Xbox President talks about Parity for Indy games

[ltheghost]

http://www.xboxmad.net/x/pairity-prevents-xbox-owners-feeling-second-class.html


Describing the controversial parity clause for independent studios signing up to ID@Xbox, Phil Spencer emphasised to TiC Podcast that this wasn't to screw developers over (shock horror), but it is in-fact to prevent a mentality amongst developers that Xbox One is a second class audience due to market share.

"...I'll be honest, the thing I worry about is I look at all the people who buy an Xbox, who invest their time and their money in Xbox One, and as millions of people own Xbox One I want people to feel like they're first class, because they are."

Phil Spencer also stated that there will of course be exceptions to this rule due to developmental reasons, and that he invites developers to have a conversation with him about the difficulties they face when tasked with achieving launch parity.

"That said, I have a lot of friends who run small indie studios, and I get that time lines around done, or 3 games, 4 games depending on how many platforms they're supporting. So I always just say let's have a conversation and it's worked. I think we've done a good job working with the indies that had strict parity concerns."

I think this speaks volumes over specific games such as Outlast and Abe's Oddysee: New n' Tasty, where perhaps a game's quality has outshone the need for launch parity. I think primarily its about setting a precedent, if the parity clause is removed, then devs will obviously hit the larger market share console first without a second thought.

"I want Xbox to feel like a first class citizen when an indie game launches."

Be sure to check out TiC's interview here, and let us know below: Do you agree with Phil Spencer's approach? Or would you rather get indies months or years later than not at all?


Brehs you know how I feel about parity...I don't like it one bit. But this article did raise my suspicions about Assassin's Creed Unity and that Parity issue.

 

[Loose]

Suspicion for what? He don't want leftovers on the xbox one? Neither do I . fukk I look like wanting to play a year old indie game that was only released for sales. If you can't support all of your fans first day don't support them at all

 

[PS5 Pro]

http://www.xboxmad.net/x/pairity-prevents-xbox-owners-feeling-second-class.html


Describing the controversial parity clause for independent studios signing up to ID@Xbox, Phil Spencer emphasised to TiC Podcast that this wasn't to screw developers over (shock horror), but it is in-fact to prevent a mentality amongst developers that Xbox One is a second class audience due to market share.

"...I'll be honest, the thing I worry about is I look at all the people who buy an Xbox, who invest their time and their money in Xbox One, and as millions of people own Xbox One I want people to feel like they're first class, because they are."

Phil Spencer also stated that there will of course be exceptions to this rule due to developmental reasons, and that he invites developers to have a conversation with him about the difficulties they face when tasked with achieving launch parity.

"That said, I have a lot of friends who run small indie studios, and I get that time lines around done, or 3 games, 4 games depending on how many platforms they're supporting. So I always just say let's have a conversation and it's worked. I think we've done a good job working with the indies that had strict parity concerns."

I think this speaks volumes over specific games such as Outlast and Abe's Oddysee: New n' Tasty, where perhaps a game's quality has outshone the need for launch parity. I think primarily its about setting a precedent, if the parity clause is removed, then devs will obviously hit the larger market share console first without a second thought.

"I want Xbox to feel like a first class citizen when an indie game launches."

Be sure to check out TiC's interview here, and let us know below: Do you agree with Phil Spencer's approach? Or would you rather get indies months or years later than not at all?


Brehs you know how I feel about parity...I don't like it one bit. But this article did raise my suspicions about Assassin's Creed Unity and that Parity issue.

This has nothing to do with retail games, just indie titles from @Xbox ID

So a game like No Man's Sky.. that game is/was doing exactly what he's trying to prevent.
Being overlooked because they have a smaller install base.
Not hard to understand. No need to fake panic when a few PS4 games are different than the XB1 versions

1080p vs 900p has been going down since launch, and will still be an issue until next year sometime bruh
This thread can go to the bushes now, but I expect the 3cepts to make a base in this muthafukka

 

[ltheghost]

Suspicion for what? He don't want leftovers on the xbox one? Neither do I . fukk I look like wanting to play a year old indie game that was only released for sales. If you can't support all of your fans first day don't support them at all

I don't think he was talking about leftovers but he wanted to ensure the Xbox One versions matched the PS4 versions. There is nothing wrong with that especially with Indie games (which aren't that demanding), but isn't this policy dragging down the industry since you are making the developers stick to a baseline..Parity could mean the games are maxing out the Xbox One but are dragging down the PS4 versions. Or the Xbox One versions are unstable because the games were designed on a PS4. I think he is a good president but I still don't like parity.

 

[Mowgli]

And microsoft continues to lie to their customers. I cant wait till this company is buried.

 

[ltheghost]

This has nothing to do with retail games, just indie titles from @Xbox ID

So a game like No Man's Sky.. that game is/was doing exactly what he's trying to prevent.
Being overlooked because they have a smaller install base.
Not hard to understand. No need to fake panic when a few PS4 games are different than the XB1 versions

1080p vs 900p has been going down since launch, and will still be an issue until next year sometime bruh
This thread can go to the bushes now, but I expect the 3cepts to make a base in this muthafukka

As far as we know. It's a known unknown concerning the retail side...I still have suspicions about Ubisoft. I didn't even know No Man's Sky was an indie game and the Xbox is being over looked. Are you serious? I thought it was coming to all the platforms..but I don't know shyt about the game at all.


Don't throw the thread in the bushes yet! This is an issue! I think as gamers we shouldn't be okay with parity. Why hold back developers if your system can't handle the games. The PS4 and the Xbox One are not the same system, so why do they need the same specs in the games? The Xbox version should be the definite Xbox version and vice versa. I know as the President he has to do what he has to do to keep the boat afloat over there but what about the industry as a whole? But, as you said this is just indies. .............................................. as far as we know.

 

[Rekkapryde]

Get Xbox out of the game for this fukkery.

You know they forced parity for AC:Unity now! Especially having the marketing rights

 

[Loose]

I don't think he was talking about leftovers but he wanted to ensure the Xbox One versions matched the PS4 versions.

that's exactly what he's talking about . He's talking about indie release schedules. The other stuff you reaching two different topics

 

[Loose]

Get Xbox out of the game for this fukkery.

You know they forced parity for AC:Unity now! Especially having the marketing rights

What does AC have to do with ID@xbox games

 

[PS5 Pro]

As far as we know. It's a known unknown concerning the retail side...I still have suspicions about Ubisoft. I didn't even know No Man's Sky was an indie game and the Xbox is being over looked. Are you serious? I thought it was coming to all the platforms..but I don't know shyt about the game at all.


Don't throw the thread in the bushes yet! This is an issue! I think as gamers we shouldn't be okay with parity. Why hold back developers if your system can't handle the games. The PS4 and the Xbox One are not the same system, so why do they need the same specs in the games? The Xbox version should be the definite Xbox version and vice versa. I know as the President he has to do what he has to do to keep the boat afloat over there but what about the industry as a whole? But, as you said this is just indies. .............................................. as far as we know.

No man's sky was a game that was not gonna get published on xbox because of the exact reason Phil spoke on. Since then they have convinced those dev's to make it on XB1 as well. But the point still stands
EVerything else you said makes no sense because there isn't a "LAW" for console parity now
So why would that change when Microsoft currently isn't in a position to force anything.

But you know, my version just makes too much sense so it should be taken with a grain of salt because of that

 

[ltheghost]

No man's sky was a game that was not gonna get published on xbox because of the exact reason Phil spoke on. Since then they have convinced those dev's to make it on XB1 as well. But the point still stands
EVerything else you said makes no sense because there isn't a "LAW" for console parity now
So why would that change when Microsoft currently isn't in a position to force anything.

But you know, my version just makes too much sense so it should be taken with a grain of salt because of that

There isn't a law but there are agreements. Specifically clauses that force indy developers to release the games at the same time. I'm just saying, Xbox knows they have a smaller install base, they know their system is going to be overlooked for a myriad of reasons, but binding developers to clauses and contracts where they have to wait or parity is damaging for the industry. Imagine if Nintendo threw around some money and said all the games have to have parity with the Wii U.... Your version makes sense but it makes sense in the fact that Microsoft is trying to play Monopoly with game developers. If Microsoft really wanted their customers not to feel like second-class citizens they should have released a first rate console in the first place and not gimmicks. But that is just my opinion.

 

[ltheghost]

that's exactly what he's talking about . He's talking about indie release schedules. The other stuff you reaching two different topics

I don't see the problem to be honest. I think he is doing it just to hinder Sony. It's just an added benefit that the Xbox owners get the games at the same time. But it's business at the end of the day. I just would expect that Microsoft would be more focused on getting better quality instead of worrying about launch parity for indie games. But, as I stated before, I think this policy isn't just used to with indie developers. I think this is the same stuff Ubisoft is going through. I can't prove it, but the truth will come out sooner or later..

 

[Loose]

I don't see the problem to be honest. I think he is doing it just to hinder Sony. It's just an added benefit that the Xbox owners get the games at the same time. But it's business at the end of the day. I just would expect that Microsoft would be more focused on getting better quality instead of worrying about launch parity for indie games. But, as I stated before, I think this policy isn't just used to with indie developers. I think this is the same stuff Ubisoft is going through. I can't prove it, but the truth will come out sooner or later..

You don't see how it's a problem for a developer to treat fans as 2nd rate citizen's? AAA developers don't do that neither should indies. Either make the game exclusive or release them at the same time. A months difference is fine, but 6 months to a year is a slap to the face to future buyers. It has nothing to do with Sony me my self personally refuse to buy indies that come out late on Xbox one.

 

[PS5 Pro]

There isn't a law but there are agreements. Specifically clauses that force indy developers to release the games at the same time. I'm just saying, Xbox knows they have a smaller install base, they know their system is going to be overlooked for a myriad of reasons, but binding developers to clauses and contracts where they have to wait or parity is damaging for the industry. Imagine if Nintendo threw around some money and said all the games have to have parity with the Wii U.... Your version makes sense but it makes sense in the fact that Microsoft is trying to play Monopoly with game developers. If Microsoft really wanted their customers not to feel like second-class citizens they should have released a first rate console in the first place and not gimmicks. But that is just my opinion.

You keep saying two things at once and trying to combine them.
They just want games released at the same time. You keep trying to turn that into "games gotta look the same" when games already don't look the same.

The article is talking about release dates for indie games, and your entire "issue" is about a totally different subject. And its already proven to not be in place, or there wouldn't be any games in different resolutions.
Developers are allowed to talk and say there are things in place, if that was the case, it would be well known info. So you can stop speculating on that. Besides, next year cloud computing really comes into play. Sony cannot duplicate what Xbox Cloud can do, so why would Microsoft wanna handicap themselves and there lofty investment (over 10billion spent on Azure aka XBL-cloud)

But once again, maybe I'm talking too much sense here

You don't see how it's a problem for a developer to treat fans as 2nd rate citizen's? AAA developers don't do that neither should indies. Either make the game exclusive or release them at the same time. A months difference is fine, but 6 months to a year is a slap to the face to future buyers. It has nothing to do with Sony me my self personally refuse to buy indies that come out late on Xbox one.

I be looking at outlast like

 

[ltheghost]

You don't see how it's a problem for a developer to treat fans as 2nd rate citizen's? AAA developers don't do that neither should indies. Either make the game exclusive or release them at the same time. A months difference is fine, but 6 months to a year is a slap to the face to future buyers. It has nothing to do with Sony me my self personally refuse to buy indies that come out late on Xbox one.

Just because you are getting a game later doesn't mean you are a second class citizen. It just means you are getting the game later. A lot can happen behind the scenes, hell they maybe optimizing the game and it is taking longer, who knows. I don't think it is fair to make everyone wait for a game because Xbox is dragging everyone down. Not everyone bought a Xbox One, so why do we have to wait? But besides that Microsoft throwing around their weight because they put out an inferior product shouldn't affect the industry as a whole like this. It's a good thing this policy is only for the indies or this generation would be screwed...Imagine a major developer locking a game at 900p so they could avoid a controversy!! Imagine that!