Epic Games thinks that Google needs to be more evil.
We've already been wowed by the next-generation Unreal Engine technology that Epic showed at GDC. The new Unreal Engine demo is the new original Crysis, which showed us the upper limits (and beyond) of existing technology.
The Unreal Engine demo was running in real-time on three GeForce GTX 480 GPUs, but the engine isn't just for high-end computers. Epic already made it clear that the engine should serve as a performance and feature target for then next-generation consoles, like the PS4 and Xbox 720 (or whatever they end up being named). Besides just that, however, Epic is making its engine workable for portable gaming.
With the rise of the Apple App Store and the popularity of the iOS devices, developers see it as the new market for selling games. The growth in graphical power too in the iPad 2, which Epic programmer Tim Sweeney believes to be in line with Apple's 9-times-faster boast, shows that gaming on portable touch devices is here to stay. It's not anywhere near even what today's HD game consoles can do yet, but they're getting the graphical features. Sweeney told Gizmodo, "you can use the high-detail shaders we did during Gears of War."
Epic actually likes Apple's model of introducing new, faster hardware every year. Instead of getting a new console refresh every 7-8 years, as will be the case with the current generation of Xbox 360 and PS3, Apple pumps out a new one yearly. The sort of advancement is much like what PC developers are used to seeing.
Epic seems to be concentrating its mobile gaming efforts on the iOS, and there's a reason why Android is getting left out in the cold.
"When a consumer gets the phone and they wanna play a game that uses our technology, it's got to be a consistent experience, and we can't guarantee that [on Android]. That's what held us off of Android," Tim Sweeney said. "Google needs to be a little more evil. They need to be far more controlling."
If I were an app developer for tablets, I'd develop for iPad. Only 2 possible hardware configurations and millions of potential customers.
How many Xooms has Motorola sold in a month? Only 100,000 according to Deutsche Bank
So screwed them they will eventually know that Android market is important but is gonna
be a little too late the market will be flooded with A quality games.
Mostly because us Galaxy S owners have had samsung over-allocate RAM to absolutely nothing, my other devices seem to be able to use 300MB (they have 512MB of ram too and 300mb free to run programs on) unlike my Galaxy S which has 100MB available and can't do much with, my friends Desire HD can still use up to 500MB of their ram to run apps..
Another point is that I would welcome a limit to the least amount of power a Android device can provide, I have a Android tablet with a 300MHz CPU and it can't run anything.
/sarcasm
I realize it may add some more programing to the games but at least they would be able to serve a wider audience.
It's funny that the latter became the reason, to believe it had "advanced graphics".
Hey EPIC... when you guys can learn how to hire talent that can design a decent UT game that doesn't have crappy maps and important features turned off (Vehicle zoom is important and would have made UT3 about 5x more fun - I know, I tried out the 16k MOD and it made UT3 F U N ) - kind of make your words and opinions rather low.
Get more talent, then come back to us.
Okay, some Android devices won't play your game well because they're too low-end. This is nothing new to gaming or Epic.
While making profits is definately important they should not forget what made them great in the first place, and it was definately not "lets cut a corner" attitude. They sound too spoiled at this point.
If they keep continuing with this snoby fashion I'm sure they will be Epic-ly forgotten company in not so distant future.
No, your engine needs to be more flexible and scalable.
I really hope Android get a blockbuster game soon. Something like Doom did for the PC. That is what it needs.
And I mean there is nothing wrong with that belief from a corporate point of view, so why not just come out and say it? Everyone knows that (ok maybe not EVERYONE knows) Android devices get upgraded and replaced on a much more rapid scale than Apple ones. Every few months as opposed to Apple's once per year. Reason of course is that there are just so many vendors providing devices and competing for market.
Epic's reasons for preferring iOS to Android is all about money. Has nothing to do with programming or a "consistent" customer experience! They see that more Apple customers are willing to pay for apps than are Android customers. Of course the reason for that is because its such a pain in the ass to pirate software for the iPhone and stuff. Doable, but just a pain. Epic wants the buck. And just like any other big corporation these days, they will screw anyone over they have to to get it.
Make that 3 GTX 580s
Make that 3 GTX 580s
I would most definitely have to disagree with that opinion.. I mean hell, there are android phones running on all sorts of versions, with wildly different versions of Android. Plus Google themselves have publicly stated they hate the fragmentation going on with Android. It is much harder to program for the disaster that is Android atm, than programming for iOS. Also, it's currently a proven fact that iOS pulls in more money per app, than Android.. And sorry.. Epic, is a company, and companies are after money people. Sorry.
Is it any wonder Epic feels the way they do? iOS is thus far better managed and better implemented, than Android despite it's closed nature. Is it any wonder that there are rumors of Google taking more control of it's platform?