Zenimax: Open platform makes PC best for MMOs

The PC’s open format makes it the best platform for MMOs, the head of Zenimax Online Studios.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Matt Firor said the PC’s “wide open” nature is what has made it the system of choice for MMO developers.

“Online game development is all about doing whatever you want, pushing limitations, and it’s just easier to do on an open platform. Someday, it may all change,” he said.

The Zenimax studio head went on to say that the reason for the disparity between MMOs on PC and console is because of the “desk vs couch argument”.

“It’s the classic desk vs couch argument, but it is blurring over time. The current-gen and previous-gen MMOs were all about using the keyboard and mouse, and sure, everyone used things like Ventrilo and other voice chat services, but that only works in a small group.

A lot of that has been thanks to design problems that people haven’t focused on a lot, such as typing and controlling at the same time.

“The 360, when announced was a pretty ridiculously cool device, but it is not so good anymore compared to PCs and even when it was announced PCs were still better than it. The technology was a little limiting for the size and scope of the world you could have. It mostly comes down to PCs being wide open.

“Online game development is all about doing whatever you want, pushing limitations, and it’s just easier to do on an open platform. Someday, it may all change.”

The limited of number of MMOs on current-gen consoles haven’t been the success they have on PC. However, Sony-backed Dust 514 aims to spark greater interest in console MMOs.