Blizzard Exec talks problems of MMORPGs on consoles

[Zeus]

A Blizzard executive has recently discussed the problems of putting MMORPGs on video game consoles. Price isn't the only issue; porting issues, input devices, hard drive sizes and patching are all believed to be issues with putting games of the respective genres on consoles.

<blockquote>Another big issue is how to actually do patches because the certification process is pretty arduous to do that. I know that's something Microsoft is trying to work out so you can do more updates and the certification process is faster, but it's not going to be nearly as fast as we can do it. We just put it through our QA department and upload to our servers. ... Then, the other big issue is the business model. Right now, Microsoft and Sony charge platform fees for retail, but if you do an MMO there and it's subscription-based, they're going to want a cut of the subscription revenue too, and so that becomes a hurdle. So there's definitely a lot of hurdles right now for doing MMOs on a console, but it all can be overcome and I think in the next generation of consoles it'll be much easier.</blockquote>

News Source: <A href="http://www.examiner.com/x-5942-Oklahoma-City-MMORPG-Examiner~y2009m6d28-Blizzard-executive-on-console-MMORPGs" target="_blank">Examiner</a>

[ThreeDog]

We just put it through our QA department and upload to our servers. ...

Not quite, they create a large patch or expansion, they put them on test servers for players to try out and further bug test (like a beta for subscribers) the players yell its buggy and not ready and blizzard gives it to their QA department to publish on tues/weds.

Gamers spend the next week or two dodging bugs waiting for a .1 version and blizzard explains the bugs were unavoidable and they're sorry for any trouble caused. An extra layer of bug filtering would be good for blizzards mmorpgs

[Trashcat]

MMOs on consoles are so hard to make Square did it on PS2 and later on 360.
Hurdles right now for doing MMOs on a console:
Greed, Laziness, incompetent developers, unwillingness to take a risk.
I guess what I'm trying to say is **** you Blizzard.

[Syxx]

Its tiring hearing companies talk about console MMOs like its a new thing. Square-Enix released FFXI back in 2002 in Japan, and managed cross platform/cross world between PS2 and PC in Japan and North America by 2003.
Later adding Europe and the XBOX360 in 2005. Allowing all platforms from all over the world to play together.

Here we are half way through 2009 and I keep hearing this crap about how its just not possible on current systems.

[DEDDOA]

To be honest i'd be pretty irritated if I had to wait on patches just because MS and SOny had yet to pass them, especially when they are emergency fixes that usually follow major updates. The only way they could do it I guess would be to keep a seperate server for each console, but then that would no doubt give problems in it's self, as in people couldn't play with friend/family who are ont he PC/Mac.

i can also see the issue with the problem of MS and Sony taking a cut of the subscription as well, as not only does it mean that they are doing no work and taking a cut of the subs, you would not be able to use an exsisting subscription, and no doubt the console subscription would cost more to cover the MS/Sony cut.