Why it would be a bad idea for Insomniac to go multi-platform

OPINION: CEO Ted Price sees the advantages of such a venture but we have our doubts

Words: GamesRadar_NathanIrvine on March 15, 2010

Speculation about Ratchet & Clank developer, Insomniac, going multiplatform is rife over the 'nets at the moment. It's not the first time either. An interview with CEO Ted Price in 2008 also fanned the flames of the rumour fire too. Now it's the turn of a 'trusted source' of IGN to get busy with the bellows as they apparently overheard the story at GDC 2010 in San Francisco recently.

Regardless of whether this is true or not, I have serious doubts about this move for Insomniac. Why? Well, after a sterling start to PS3 development with Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction and Resistance: Fall of Man they haven't really kicked on with the subsequent sequels.

Above: "Hang on, lads. I'm getting a strong sense of dejá vu here"

While the quality has barely suffered in Resistance 2 and R&C: A Crack In Time they've stuck to the same template as before. It risks very little on brand-new ideas thus arguably making them more mundane. It's likely due to the tighter deadlines in-between the two games but this could mean that the resources at Insomniac aren't sufficient enough to cope with the quick turnaround of games and going multiplatform would dilute their genius further. The danger is that in time the overall originality and magic may begin to fade.

Now, obviously this is based on internet rumour rather than hard fact but as Insomniac are one of our favourite developers ever I'd hate to see them become hamstrung as they inevitably pour more time into learning new hardware architecture instead of making their PS3 titles even better.

I'm not ruling out the possibility of them making 360 games in future, but for my money I'd prefer if they fully exploited the PS3 hardware that they've got now first.

What do you think? Would Insomniac going multiplatform spread them a bit thin? Would you rather they concentrated on PS3 instead? Let us know in the usual forums of discussion and on Facebook, Twitter and below in the comments.

Platforms:

PS3

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NanoElite666 - March 20, 2010 5:10 a.m.

As a first reaction, I'd say that as a long-time Insomniac fan, I'd prefer them to stay working solely on the PS3. They know how to work the machine and how to get fantastic results out of it. Them going and adapting a multiplatform approach would require the learning of working on a different set of hardware; it would be like a X-box exclusive developer, say Bungie for example, suddenly deciding to develop for PS3 as well. It would be very time-consuming for them to learn to work with new hardware. HOWEVER, here's an interesting bit of information... Insomniac has a second branch operating in North Carolina, with a new and different dev team than their original Burbank studio. I have no idea what this new branch is going to be working on, but maybe, just maybe, if there's any sliver of truth to these rumors, then multiplatform developing could very well be something handled by Insomniac's secondary studio branch. It's anyone's guess.
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Fata1Stryke - March 18, 2010 1:02 a.m.

I'd like them to go multiplatform...because I don't have a PS3. Please?
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philipshaw - March 16, 2010 3:44 p.m.

They need to stay exclusive instead of wasting time with a console with less power
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Pocotron - March 15, 2010 7:34 p.m.

I like R&C, and either they need to cool off from it or reboot it somehow, but they need to start a new franchise! Resistance is good too. Just totally different
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SumthingStupid - March 15, 2010 6:31 p.m.

Well the could pretty up the only 3 spyro games and put them in a box and let me buy them for 60 dollars. i don't mind if they make multiplatform games, as long as the keep ratchet on the PS, who cars about resitance
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inconceivable - March 15, 2010 5:56 p.m.

If they're facing a time crunch now, it seems like it would be in their best interest to stay an exclusive. Maybe they should try to build up their resources (people and money) before going multi-platform? If they don't, they might make a shitty game, and no one's going to buy a shitty game. @garnsr There are plenty of people that complain about movies and TV being unoriginal. That's not to say that a game needs to reinvent itself with every installment; there just has to be some tweaking of the formula, or it will feel exactly the same. And I think that if people love the first game, there's the added expectations of the fans for a sequel to be bigger and better.
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Embolado - March 15, 2010 4:25 p.m.

@firestorm21 The bottem line is money talks, companies are always looking at other ways to increase captial, and if it means multiplatform development then that is the route that Isnsomniac could take if willing exapand and grow.
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garnsr - March 15, 2010 4:23 p.m.

How come video games are the only media that people think you need to change everything every time to make it worthwhile? You don't complain about the sequel to a good movie not changing the way they tell the story, or having effects that are a 10 times better. You don't complain about novels having the same style as earlier novels. R&C games have been great from the start, I don't know what they could do to make them better, it would be change from something good to something that might not be as good, just for originality's sake.
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Fiirestorm21 - March 15, 2010 3:21 p.m.

@majorsuave A bit of an armchair elitist, aren't you? It's takes a LOT of work making a game multiplatform especially when your tools have been designed around exploiting PS3 architecture specifically as efficiently as possible. A lot of work = a lot of time, and a lot of time = a lot of money. Besides, they got a sweet publishing deal with Sony. I'm with GR, I don't see this happening.
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majorsuave - March 15, 2010 2:37 p.m.

I see no reasoning besides laziness for not going multi-platform. Developing for the 360 (and perhaps Wii, PC ....) means new opportunities for revenue and thus the ability to hire the resources needed instead of spreading.
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sleepy92ismypsn - March 15, 2010 2:30 p.m.

maybe but keep resistance and ratchet and clank ps3 exclusive
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lewis42025 - March 15, 2010 2:10 p.m.

I don't know...it's a tough choice. Either perfect the technology that they're working with, or expand their fanbase by the millions. It's hard to say whether going multi-plat will actually adversely affect their games, but only time will tell I guess. weirdly, my reCaptch says: Judge wait. Mysterious no?
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ondx - March 15, 2010 1:11 p.m.

Insomniac shouldn't go multi-platform...unless they wanna alienate the Sony fanboys...
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