Mercenaries 2 Could make its way to the 360

[bapenguin]

From IGN (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/717/717150p1.html)When we spoke with a Pandemic representative today we learned the developer has softened its tone on the subject of systems. Officially, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is still only scheduled for PS3, and officially there still is no publisher. However, unlike the staunch rhetoric we heard before, now Pandemic is definitely considering it. "There is a possibility of it coming to Xbox 360," the PR representative told IGN.com. "Right now, we have PS3 development kits and it's on PS3, and there is no announcement, but we're definitely condsidering Xbox 360. There is still a lot of time and we haven't ruled the Xbox 360 out. We'll have some news to announce in the next couple of months."


I can't believe a publisher hasn't picked this game up yet.

[Morangie]

Not so surprising, but still good to hear it straight from Pandemic.

[Lord Nerdious]

I'll publish that, just send me a copy or 2.

[fitbabits]

No publisher? That's insane. Mercenaries is one of my favorite games on the Xbox.

[Cool AN]

I can't believe LucasArts isn't publishing it, like the first one. Either Pandemic didn't like them, or LucasArts don't want Mercenaries 2. But I very much doubt that.

[Expugnare]

I bet that LucasArts will pick it up to publish eventually, but there are some disagreements about money or something.

[Everlost_MI]

I loved Mercenaries, if Lucas Arts doesn't pick them up I would imagine someone will pull their head out of the sand and do it.

[EvilBob46]

This game, graphically, looks like absolute crap.

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/793/793793/img_3592290.html

I don't know what the heck the developers were thinking when they released these screenshots.

My guess: This was in development for PS2 originally, but they then updated the project to next-generation status.

[Flatpicker]

I wonder if going the PS3 only route is what is hindering getting a publisher.
Any publisher has to know that for 06 and early 07 there won't be enough units to recoup their costs on it.

Lucasarts has lost it's way for awhile when it comes to gaming. Perhaps Pandemic didn't agree with the "make it work like a movie studio" mentality there now.

[MSUStud911]

I wonder if going the PS3 only route is what is hindering getting a publisher.
Any publisher has to know that for 06 and early 07 there won't be enough units to recoup their costs on it.
That's what I was thinking. If I was a publisher I'd definitely want them to release on both 360 and PS3 in order to sell as many units as possible. It just doesn't make a lot of sense not to go multiplatform unless they can get Sony to kick in money to make the title exclusive.

[thecrazyd]

Hmm... I hated the original. Thought it was really bland and boring.

[The Iron Weasel]

I'd buy this for sure if it came out for 360.

[Yeti2005]

That's what I was thinking. If I was a publisher I'd definitely want them to release on both 360 and PS3 in order to sell as many units as possible. It just doesn't make a lot of sense not to go multiplatform unless they can get Sony to kick in money to make the title exclusive.

I agree. It's simply math. In late 2006 there will MAYBE be 2-3 million PS3 customers where as at that same time there will probably be 8-9 million Xbox 360 customers (MS says 10 million but that might not be realistic).

[atariv8]

Translation: Sony, send us more money.

Maybe Microsoft Studios should pick it up.

[Eran Hawke]

I wonder if going the PS3 only route is what is hindering getting a publisher.
Any publisher has to know that for 06 and early 07 there won't be enough units to recoup their costs on it.
I think you are really onto something here. Publishers know that going PS3 exclusive at this point is totally and completely foolish.

[Deadend]

I think you are really onto something here. Publishers know that going PS3 exclusive at this point is totally and completely foolish.

Going exclusive for any console right now is foolish, unless it takes an extreme amount of work to port the game over, even then if your going to be stuck on 1 system, have someone write you a large check.

[Zawath]

There really is no point for an independent game to be PS3 exclusive at this point. The development costs are much higher and the playerbase is so much smaller.

[digitalErich]

That's what I was thinking. If I was a publisher I'd definitely want them to release on both 360 and PS3 in order to sell as many units as possible. It just doesn't make a lot of sense not to go multiplatform unless they can get Sony to kick in money to make the title exclusive.
that is exactly what I was going to say. I thought Mercenaries sold really well on the Xbox to begin with...I wonder what their reasoning was for not developing a 360 version out of the gate

[DoubleUranium]

that is exactly what I was going to say. I thought Mercenaries sold really well on the Xbox to begin with...I wonder what their reasoning was for not developing a 360 version out of the gate

They really wanted to make the game in True HD(tm), and everyone knows the 360 is like a SNES compared to the awesome power of the Cell Processor.

[Wonka]

I would be shocked if this title gets published for PS3 only. Making the game with the PS platform only in mind seems kind of silly actually.

[antoniogaud]

It would be funny is Microsoft published it, wouldn't it?

[inmostlight]

Just throwing in another $.02, I'd buy this in a heartbeat if it were on the 360. I loved the first game, and the added co-op play makes the sequel sound only better.

[tombofsoldier]

Gimme gimme gimme gimme! I can't believe MS hasn't picked this up as an exclusive 360 title yet.

[lost]

This game, graphically, looks like absolute crap.

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/793/793793/img_3592290.html

I don't know what the heck the developers were thinking when they released these screenshots.

My guess: This was in development for PS2 originally, but they then updated the project to next-generation status.

Thats a really poor screenshot Plus the games genre is hardly known for its graphical prowess.

[Sinistar]

I know why they don't have a publisher yet. Quite simple really, they want a better deal than what they got originally from Lucas Arts. Elevation Partners is trying to "elevate" the value of their studios IP.

I also agree that any publisher who wants in will probably demand a 360 sku too. Unless Sony forces them to be 1 sided by publishing it themselves, but I can't see that happening.

[sTubbs]

I have been taken Mercenaries 2 the same way as Assassins Creed - nothing officially announced as of yet, but, short of some extraordinary circumstance, coming to both the PS3 and 360.

I loved the first Mercenaries myself, but there were some nitpicks. For example, I want destroyed structures to stay destroyed. Too many times I sealed a bunker only to have it later magically regenerate and continue its flow of NK soldiers.

I would also like to see a more intelligent respect system. For example, in the first game shooting a friendly soldier with a full respect bar would lead the rest of the soldiers in the area to open fire, causing the player to defend themselves which in turn would push the respect bar from full to empty. Considering the tendency to have friendly fire incidents in such a game, I would like to see a certain number of free kills, or something along those lines, depending on the level of respect.

Also, I highly recommend checking out Just Cause to those who enjoyed Mercenaries. Similar over the top gameplay but in an absolutely mindblowing 255 000 square acre (about 1000 square miles) environment. The E3 stuff was looking extremely interesting.

[Wyrm]

Those screens really dont look that bad for early in development.

[GunnyMo]

It's interesting to see so many PS3 "exclusives" suddenly talking about going to 360 after E3. ;)

Makes me a happy camper.

[mister_slim]

In an interview, someone at Pandemic said it could go to the 360, but they're only developing it for the PS3 right now. So I wouldn't expect it on the 360 any time soon. Based on the physics they're doing I would expect a lot of optimized Cell code that's not going to be easy to port.

[Oddmaker]

This game, graphically, looks like absolute crap.

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/793/793793/img_3592290.html

I don't know what the heck the developers were thinking when they released these screenshots.

My guess: This was in development for PS2 originally, but they then updated the project to next-generation status.Reason why there is no Publisher heheh ;)

[Flatpicker]

I just want to add my vote.
I would definetly buy this if it came to the 360.
Conversely, it's not enough of a draw to make me buy a PS3.

So it's $60 good and not $600 good.

[antoniogaud]

In an interview, someone at Pandemic said it could go to the 360, but they're only developing it for the PS3 right now. So I wouldn't expect it on the 360 any time soon. Based on the physics they're doing I would expect a lot of optimized Cell code that's not going to be easy to port.

The 360 can't do physics?

[Wonka]

In an interview, someone at Pandemic said it could go to the 360, but they're only developing it for the PS3 right now. So I wouldn't expect it on the 360 any time soon. Based on the physics they're doing I would expect a lot of optimized Cell code that's not going to be easy to port.

Hahahaha.

It seems more likely to me that they are wishing they had a normal processors for doing all those physics with, since then the work would probably be more straighforward and involve fewer optimizations just to get it to do what they want. A port to 360 would probably seem like a walk in the park for those guys.

Nice try with the spin though.

[ophiuchus]

In this months OXM UK they have a section call Green Light and in said section there is a two page spread on M2.

A small quote for you all
"World In Flames has so far only been announced for Playstation 3, but although we can't actually tell you why, we've got it on good authority that it will be Xbox 360 bound, even if there is a short PS3 exclusive period first. Pandemic haven't even signed a publisher yet, but we can tell you that it won't be LucasArts/Activision again."

[easi]

Why are there never any stories excitedly reporting on the possibility of a game coming to PS3/PC? Xbox fanboys just have to dilute everything I guess.

[GunnyMo]

Why are there never any stories excitedly reporting on the possibility of a game coming to PS3/PC? Xbox fanboys just have to dilute everything I guess.

How about because there is nothing really exciting going on with PS3 right now. Fanboys are the only ones rejoicing about PS3 at the moment and they seem to be shrinking by the day. :)

And I see PC title announcements on the site all the time.

[easi]

I meant coming from one system to another. (aka stealing)

[Blue]

I don't get why the sceen shots loot bad. Look just fine to me.

And, for whatever reason, I never got into Mercenaries. I own the first and have only managed to get a small ways into the game. Just felt bland and dull to me, though I'm sure it could be due to my not playing it "right" somewhere. The concept was certainly cool, just wasn't a large fan of the overall execution. If the second has multiplayer, however, I'd be willing to give it a look for sure.

Also: can't really imagine it not coming to the 360. I'm sure it's possible, but it just doesn't seem like something that would happen now that most titles aren't considered exclusives any longer in people's minds save for a few (Halo hitting the PS3, for instance: ain't gonna happen).

[Royal Fool]

Pandemic didn't like [LucasArts]
they want a better deal than what they got originally from Lucas Arts
I think we have the answers right here.

[mister_slim]

The 360 can't do physics?
Surely you can read better than that? I doubt the 360 runs PS3 optimized code any better than the Xbox ran PS2 optimized code.
Hahahaha.

It seems more likely to me that they are wishing they had a normal processors for doing all those physics with, since then the work would probably be more straighforward and involve fewer optimizations just to get it to do what they want. A port to 360 would probably seem like a walk in the park for those guys.

Nice try with the spin though.
They seem pretty happy with the Cell, actually.

[DigiWiz]

"I can't believe no publisher..."

Since Pandemic and Bioware were bought by that Bono Venture Capital Firm, so they have a lot of disposable cash now.

Less publisher cash and involvement during developments means a greater cut of sales...