Starcraft Ghost Off The Cube

Gamespot has the news that Blizzard's upcoming action/stealth title Starcraft: Ghost is officially no longer in production for the Gamecube. From the article: "Speaking to GameSpot, a Blizzard staffer confirmed that the game is now only being released for the Xbox and PlayStation 2, meaning the previously announced GameCube edition has been canceled ... Unfortunately the GameCube has no online service and since so much work is going in to the online portion, it would be additional work to release only part of the intended game."

Comments

This is an understandable move.

[Rowan_u]

When Ghost was in early development the focus was on the single player experience. Now, with the information and playable versions released at Blizcon, it seems that the game is shaping up to have a considerable multiplayer portion. In light of this new focus, it makes sense to drop costly support for the Gamecube version.

If you look at the PS2 version of the game, I'm sure this already requires extensive extra work to the multiplayer portion as well. Its going to be a big difference between putting a game up on Xbox live, and creating a complete multiplayer service like you have to do with PS2 online games.

I wonder if the Ps2 version will contain features like matchmaking, buddy lists, and playlists. With Blizzards previous excellent multiplayer track record on battlenet, it seems unlikely they would expect anything less from developers taken under there wing. Could such extensive online support be the killer-app for the PS2 Ethernet adapter?

Re:This is an understandable move.

[SetupWeasel]

It would make sense if the Gamecube didn't have a broadband adaptor. Oddly enough, it does. So Blizzard is lying. Not that I care at this point, but to make this decision 3 years after the game was announced is a bit slimy.

Good luck selling any copies on the previous-gen Xbox, wankers.

Re:This is an understandable move.

[Clock Nova]

Unless this game is entirely multiplayer-dependant, with no single-player component, this decision makes no sense. Cube owners are just as able to buy the broadband adapter as PS2 owners, and are just as able to connect to Battle.net through it. If the content is good enough, I guarantee Cube owners will buy the adapter. And without it, there should still be a rich, single-player experience to be had. Personally, I was really looking forward to playing this game by myself, and had no intention of playing online. This whole thing stinks of... something. Not sure what. But the logic presented by Blizzard doesn't seem to follow.

Hey, I've got an idea: why not go ahead and release it for the Cube as is, with on-line content present, but dependent on the adapter. Then, when the Rev is available, gamers can play Ghost with online content, and even use the Cube controller to do it. Aren't they doing something similar with XBox and the 360?

Re:Harsh but true

[snuf23]

"iirc, it isn't being made by Blizzard anyways"

Well, actually now it is, sort of. Originally it was being developed by Nihilistic Software:

"During the summer of 2002, the entire Nihilistic Software development team, the original developer of the game, quit en masse after an internal power struggle with Blizzard Entertainment. At the time, Slashdot and Penny Arcade reported that the team had already completed more than 85% of the game engine and 40% of all level design." Wikipedia Starcraft Ghost

So now Blizzard has purchased Swinging Ape studios and integrated them into Blizzard as their console division. This is the team that is working on SC Ghost and now they are a part of Blizzard. So you can expect a greater degree of Blizzard influence on the game, it's been brought into the fold.