McGee slags off PS3, 360

By Tom Bramwell Published 15 August, 2006

Just 'upgrades' apparently.

American McGee (remember him?) has had a right old pop at Sony and Microsoft, declaring that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are "just a video card and processor upgrade".

Speaking to CVG in an interview yet to be published, McGee ranted, "The only truly next-gen console out there is the Wii. Everything else is just a video card and processor upgrade."

He reckons Nintendo is going to "capture the hearts" of gamers while "Microsoft and Sony stab each other in the neck" over market-share.

McGee's latest anatomical insight comes as he prepares to release Bad Day LA, his PC and Xbox satirical action-adventure in which Los Angeles is struck by a series of natural disasters, later this year.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (74) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • el_pollo_diablo #1 6 years ago

    Oh Jesus.

    Here we go...

  • TakeTheVeil #2 6 years ago

    theres a point there that the 360 and PS3 dont show much gaming evolution.. but not many consoles have since the late 80s and early 90s

    EDIT: (reply) Yeah thats what im sayin... the leap from 2D to 3D and online play (esp with cheap broadband) are the only gaming evolutions in the last 10 years..
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/06 @ 16:56

  • jmctavish #3 6 years ago

    "American McGee" Is that his real name?

  • old_skool #4 6 years ago

    McGee : blah blah blah

    old skool : woteva !

  • Darkedge #5 6 years ago

    has he played dead rising?

  • The_Programmer #6 6 years ago

    At least the Xbox360 & PS3 have had graphic & CPU upgrades.

  • smelly #7 6 years ago

    >At least the Xbox360 & PS3 have had graphic & CPU upgrades.

    Now now.. you know better than that.. The Wii has had graphic and cpu upgrades too.

    Edited by 1 at 15/08/06 @ 14:13

  • reality_cheque #8 6 years ago

    Didn't he do that god-awful Alice game?

  • smelly #9 6 years ago

    Ignoring the trolls though

    >but not many consoles have since the late 80s and early 90s

    I'd disagree.. The ps1 was a HUGE leap. As was the ps2 after it.

    The 360 and ps3 on the other hand... This new gen has come too quickly imho, I dont see the huge leap which occured from the ps1 to the dreamcast (for example).

  • Fatnick #10 6 years ago

    If you need a novelty peripheral to make an original game, chances are the problem lies with you rather than the console in question.

  • jmctavish #11 6 years ago

    What's the point of slagging of game console's? Seriously, why do you lot even bother?

  • smelly #12 6 years ago

    @jmctavish :

    Agree. He's made some interesting points which can be discussed.. But people won't actually stick to the point of discussion. In a minute this is going to go onto some guy masturbating over his 100" HD TV, and another guy coming in to say that all mario games are the same, and later on someone saying "nintendo are for kids".

    .. And it all begins again...

    *sigh*

    Bad Day LA looks good though.

  • Floppy #13 6 years ago

    I've a lot of respect for McGee. He personally mailed me my copy of DOOM back in '94, when I was in the trade :)

  • holloguts #14 6 years ago

    Who? Seriously - Who?

    Everyone has an opinion and allowed to voice it. Doesn't make them right.

    He makes games does he? Not very successfully by the sound of it.



  • TwistidChimp #15 6 years ago

    Thing is, by his reasoning, almost no console of the last decade or two has been 'next gen' He can quite happily claim that neither of them are innovative, but they are both 'next gen' (seventh generation) I do wish people would stop using next gen to refer to innovative features in games or hardware. They're not the same thing atall.

  • Eldritch #16 6 years ago

    Alice was great (except for that joke of a closing FMV).

    But Mr McGee might wanna get a job.

    And who's next? John "I'm King of Romania" Romero?

  • TheSaint #17 6 years ago

    Slow news day today?

  • smelly #18 6 years ago

    >He makes games does he? Not very successfully by the sound of it.

    Both scrapland and alice got REALLY well recieved in reviews. And having played them both, i agree that they're both top quality games.

    But they didnt sell very well. That doesnt make them bad.

    In fact according to you lot, EA are crap because they make popular (albeit mostly crappy) games which sell well. This guy has made some great games which didnt sell so well. Which is it to be?

    I have respect for his opinion, he's made some great games. Some reviews (using ign as it's easier to search)

    Alice 9.4/10 : <a href="http://pc.i gn.com/objects/014/014054.html
    ">http://pc.i gn.com/objects/014/014054.html
    </a>
    scrapland 8.3/10 : <a href="http://pc.i gn.com/objects/691/691048.html
    ">http://pc.i gn.com/objects/691/691048.html
    </a>

    Oh yes.. and he worked on doom 2 and quake...

    And Bad Day LA looks f-ing fantastic imho:

    [link url=http://xb ox.ign.com/objects/744/744182.html
    ]http://xb ox.ign.com/objects/744/744182.h...[/link]
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/06 @ 14:31

  • smelly #19 6 years ago

    Really? Meh! Edge are stuck up graphics fanboys.

  • Fubdub #20 6 years ago

    The problem in my opinion lies more with journalists who keep asking that question, heck, even Ron Gilbert was asked that in a recent interview, and that guy haven't even done anything last gen.

  • Eldritch #21 6 years ago

    When you've reached the "... presents" status, you're either

    a) down and out (e.g. "John Carpenter presents";)
    b) too rich to care (e.g. "Steven Spielberg presents";).

    I'm not really sure about McGee being a b) here...

  • DrDamn #22 6 years ago

    Scrapland ... linky
    Alice ... linky

    Personally I tend to be put off when someone sticks their name in front of a game in this way. Marks you up as a bit of a twat straight away. If the game is good then it simply is not necessary.

  • holloguts #23 6 years ago

    >Both scrapland and alice got REALLY well recieved in reviews. And having played them both, i agree that they're both top quality games.

    But they didnt sell very well. That doesnt make them bad. <

    As I said, not very successfully. I never said bad...

    As for working on Doom 2 etc, I'm sure he did, someone has to sweep up.

  • O.Z #24 6 years ago

    bla, bla, bla get a life McBee!

    Wii is the true next-gen then? How come, when the games look like an original Xbox.

    I would rather play games with better graphics than those with that Wii stupid hand controller.
    Oouuu look at me I'm moving my hand to play that game, it's so exciting, yeah for a 10 year old.

    Idiots!

  • chupachups #25 6 years ago

    "theres a point there that the 360 and PS3 dont show much gaming evolution.. but not many consoles have since the late 80s and early 90s"

    The only really big development recently have been the move to 3D and the appearance of cheap home broadband, which allowed new kinds of games to appear. All the rest has been window dressing, and extremely expensive window dressing at that.


    "Wii is the true next-gen then? How come, when the games look like an original Xbox."

    Because the control system is next gen?


    "I would rather play games with better graphics than those with that Wii stupid hand controller."

    How do you know?
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/06 @ 15:09

  • Eldritch #26 6 years ago

    "I would rather play games with better graphics than those with that Wii stupid hand controller."

    So, you don't play cards, because the graphics haven't changed for centuries?

    Good technology doesn't equal good game play.

    Next-gen hardware doesn't mean next-gen (i.e. innovative) game play.

    Pretty obvious, really.

  • ShekkyBoy #27 6 years ago

    You seem to equating that because his games have been commerically unsuccessful, he isn't in a position to have his comments taken seriously. I thought Alice was an interesting intepretation personally, and I seem to be not the only one, since the game is being adapted into a movie. Talk about reversing trends but I digress. He worked on Doom 2 as a level designer and not a janitor for the id Software offices by the way.

  • Sko #28 6 years ago

    "When you've reached the "... presents" status, you're either"

    I'm glad he sticks his names on his games. Makes them much easier to avoid.

  • Eldritch #29 6 years ago

    "You seem to equating that because his games have been commerically unsuccessful, he isn't in a position to have his comments taken seriously."

    No, it's okay to make good games that don't sell.

    But random statements like his are like Rolf Harris saying: "Uh, I think nukes are bad." I mean, who cares?

  • holloguts #30 6 years ago

    So what is being said here is that this guy makes great games that don't sell too well (I'm sure his publishers are happy with that). He likes the sound of his own name, and thinks putting it in front of the title of any game he makes will get people to know him and (in his head) regard him as important in the games business?

    From this, he now believes he is an authority on hardware?

    The Wii will be a decent console, and I'm sure Mr McGee will enjoy waving his arms around to more unsuccessful games he creates for it. But lets face it, this guy is clueless. His statements are to get his name around even more (he must have another non-blockbuster due out). Someone needs to tell him, he needs some success before he gets respect, just throwing his name around doesn't do it for him, his games don't do it for him. Maybe he should go back to sweeping up.

  • penhalion #31 6 years ago

    New headline

    "American McGee slags off consoles to divert attention from crap game release"

    nuff said I think...

  • BootLace #32 6 years ago

    More power equals more possibilities. How that gets utilised is down to the developers/publishers.

  • Arwin #33 6 years ago

    Bah, the PS2 had:

    - a ds2 controller
    - several wheels (racing games)
    - microphones (singstar, karaoke)
    - dance mats (DDR / Dancing Stage c.s.)
    - quizz buttons (Buzz)
    - guncons
    - camera (eyetoy)

    god knows what else, as I've only listed things that I own myself ...

    So now the Wii has a controller built in, and that's the shiznit. The PS3 gets 6-way motion sensing too, but that's apparently irrelevant - it's the combination of the low price and the handiness of the controller.

    While I'm sure that the Wii will do fine in the first year, we'll see what happens aftwards. I'm really suspicious of anyone who isn't just saying 'we don't know what will happen but we have a fair idea that all systems will probably do well'.

    It may be boring, but it's very likely to be the truth. There will probably be bigger differences between the three regions than between the three consoles overall.

    In the meantime, the PS3 for instance has a tonne of new capabilities, partly through the mere 'upgrades' that the CPU and GPU went through, partly through the controller, etc. That these things would never lead to any kind of innovative games is just bull. I think some publishers just relish at the idea of being able to make some game use the Wii and think they will be automatically innovative as a result. Instead, you could be just as innovative and low entry, if you'd develop for digital distribution on the 360 (which just announced a low-cost development plan) or PS3.
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/06 @ 15:48

  • zozart #34 6 years ago

    Don't forget that he's managed to get his game, Alice, made into a Hollywood film (2007).

    That seems pretty successful to me.

  • teabagger #35 6 years ago

    I think he's missing the point. On paper he's correct; we do simply have more CPU and GPU power. Any kind of revolution is down to the way developers use that extra power to create experiences that simply were not possible before. Perhaps the real point is that he himself can't think of what to do with it, and that shows a lack of vision on his part not that of the hardware vendors.

  • smelly #36 6 years ago

    Wii is the true next-gen then? How come, when the games look like an original Xbox.


    Erm.. I think someone has just missed his point entirely havent they?

  • smelly #37 6 years ago

    I REALLY dont get you guys!

    One minute yer down on EA for releasing endless sequels which sell really well, and saying they should try to do something original and good.

    The next minute yer down on this guy who does make original and good games (with apparently the exception of bad day la, but i've not read review yet), which dont sell well.

    And yer equally down on him.

    Which is it to be?

  • spongebob #38 6 years ago

    I am going to go ahead and wax Arwin's car for great comment. Good job!

    And hey, it's not the peripherals that make a good or even an innovative game. Really. Just think about it.

  • smelly #39 6 years ago

    I wouldn't believe anything from the guy that gave us dire titles such as Alice.

    And people get upset about me saying that FEAR is shit without anything to back it up!

  • steoc4 #40 6 years ago

    Isn't innovation down to him and the games he writes and not down to the hardware?

    Movies aren't good or bad based on what type of cameras they used. A good book is one with good content, not one with a holographic cover.

    No wonder games aren't accepted as art.

    A processor and video card upgrade is precisely what I expect from the next generation, it gives developers the tools to realise their vision and that's as it should be.

    When I buy a new TV I expect a better picture quality, better sound, I don't expect to have to wear a pair of 3d glasses and have built in smellovision and expect to see television 'reinvented'. And I think the same of a console, new ones should improve on old ones in every little way, better graphics, scope for bigger worlds, better AI, more interactive environments, online components, easier to use via wireles controllers etc. But I don't expect the fundamental experience of playing a game to be different. That's down to the software creators not the hardware creators.

  • Fatnick #41 6 years ago

    "And yer equally down on him"

    A bad workman always blames his tools. The consoles are essentially blank slates - the PS3 and the 360 give you bags of power with which you can do what you want. Creativity isn't supposed to stem from the console - its supposed to stem from the game designer. This is why even though the mouse is an ancient control device people are still able to come up with original pc games.

    In a way, i can see why developers are creaming themselves over the Wii - its essentially a nice tasty bit of spice to hide the rancid taste of the meat below. Tired of playing an american football game with a normal controller? Play exactly the same game, with a slightly different control scheme! Don't like the rubbish 3d sonic games? Play a rubbish 3d sonic game where most of the freedom has been replaced by rubbish tilt mechanics!

    Also, McGee is in no position to slag off anyone. Scrapland seemed alright, but it's average mark was about 70. Alice recieved higher marks, but aside from the imaginative character designs was essentially pretty standard in terms of gameplay. He has done absolutley nothing of note.

  • MadMirko #42 6 years ago

    Ahhhh, how that must sting, Sony fanboys. :)

    I guess all the peripheral talk aside, the mayor showstopper for good games on PS3 and 360 seems to be the production costs. MS cleverly sidesteps that with Arcade, where no one expects much.

    With Wii you can get right into focussing on your game, it will not require multi-million dollar fmv in mega high res for those few who actually have the latest and greatest displays to actually display the in native resolution.

    PS3? Maybe next generation...

  • kangarootoo #43 6 years ago

    @steoc4 and Fatnick

    +3

    The tools do not maketh the game, and so on. Undoubtedly all platforms will have a few absolutely storming games, and a smattering of dire awful nonsense.

    Just as has always been the case, because the constant throughout is the developer.

  • kangarootoo #44 6 years ago

    @MadMirko

    "With Wii you can get right into focussing on your game, it will not require multi-million dollar fmv in mega high res for those few who actually have the latest and greatest displays to actually display the in native resolution."

    What?!

    Surely that has everything to do with customer expectation of the platform and absolutely nothing to do with the actual HW in question.

    And you seem to be saying "Wii customers expect cheap games and shit GFX". I don't believe that is the case at all.

  • Luigi #45 6 years ago

    Atari,Sega,CD-I, 3DO... All gone and Nintendo is still here. Show some respect ! :-)

  • king_skins #46 6 years ago

    Edge: 4/10

  • moggsy #47 6 years ago

    @steoc4 and Fatnick

    +1

    Posts of the day, maybe the week. Have a gold star each. :-)

  • Pirotic #48 6 years ago

    Makes a change from all the reviews slagging off Bad Day which has been summed up as a 'poorly designed childrens game'
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/06 @ 17:32

  • theindustrialone #49 6 years ago

    My new most hated phrase; "real next-gen" or "truly next-gen" or anything along those lines. People who use phrases of that ilk need to check out dictionary.com for the definitions of "next" and "generation".

  • patchbox360 #50 6 years ago


    Metal Gear Solid 4 will clear all this rif raf about which is better etc etc etc

  • Rambaldi #51 6 years ago

    The 360 and PS3 are next-gen, just like we are all next-gen to our parents. Just because they're 'upgrades' doesn't negate their next-gen status. Yes, the Wii is more revolutionary in some respects, but all three platforms are in a good position to showcase next-gen games, be they graphically amazing or innovative in terms of interface.

    From a man who produced Scrapland, which was no more than a run-of-the-mill amalgamation of many things that had gone before it, his comments sound hollow and sensationalist at best.

  • Rambaldi #52 6 years ago

    @Mirko

    "With Wii you can get right into focussing on your game, it will not require multi-million dollar fmv in mega high res for those few who actually have the latest and greatest displays to actually display the in native resolution."

    I still can't get my head around (if you'll forgive me) the luddite attitude of some gamers (not to mention Nintendo). We're all here because we love technology and what it can do to entertain us, yet some people seem to be cutting their noses off despite their faces when it comes to processing power and HD. Neither are NEEDED to enjoy a game but both ENHANCE the experience.

    Granted, Nintendo's games tend to learn towards a more cartoonesque style and probably don't need all that horsepower, but not including 720p was just plain childish and looking at the new Metroid Prime game looking like it's running on an Xbox is plain disappointing.

  • chavatar #53 6 years ago

    The tools do not maketh the game

    True, but you can't entirely disassociate the platform and the content. Would you rather drive a nail home with a screwdriver or a hammer?

    Nowhere is this more relevant than dev costs - I can't necessarily see that the requirement to have the budget of a Hollywood blockbuster leads to better games.

    That said, Fatnick et al. make cogent points.
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/06 @ 20:25

  • admir #54 6 years ago

    whats so great about the Wii i just dont see it

  • TurinTurambar #55 6 years ago

    I think there is room for both companies that seek to push the technological boundaries and for those who want to try and take the current tech and do something different with it. I personally prefer the Nintendo approach but I then consider if that attitude was taken in the 80's we'd still have 8bit graphics now. I don't understand why people only want one console to survive. It's madness. Even if your chosen console does blow the others away, thanks for creating a virtual monopoly and enjoy getting screwed in the ass by £600 consoles and £80 pound games ;)

  • alpha-0ne #56 6 years ago

    Imagine if you had a game like dead rising with the amount of zombies on screen and a wii controller that would be great, but the wii is so under powered there would be a few zombies which would totally change the game

    i wish nintendo had added at least "last 3 years" graphics power and their controller i would be a great combination

  • secombe #57 6 years ago

    "Imagine if you had a game like dead rising with the amount of zombies on screen and a wii controller that would be great, but the wii is so under powered there would be a few zombies which would totally change the game"

    Firstly I would like to see proof that the wii is "so under powered", it may not be as powerful as the other next-gen consoles but that doesn't mean it isn't packing more than enough firepower to handle most things that are thrown at it.

    Secondly, limitations are often the key to creativity. Restrict yourself in some way and you will often be far more creative. So you can only have 10 instead of 20 zombies charging at you, therefore you think a bit more about how those zombies approach you to make it more challenging. For this very reason I would love consoles to be around for 10 years or so, that way the developers are fully in tune with the capabilities of the machine and actually concentrate more on gamplay etc. Sadly that looks unlikely to ever happen.

    The DS is very "under powered" compared to the technological marvel that is the PSP, and was written off by more people than I could ever count, but it's been a runaway success on an unbelievable scale.

    I think/hope that gamers in general are gradually moving towards the gameplay side of things rather than the graphics/licensing element, it's been slow but things seem to be moving in that direction, I think the Wii may finally tip the balance even more.

  • drumbaby #58 6 years ago

    What a McTwat.

  • Lemon Project #59 6 years ago

    I'd prefer PS3 or 360 to Wii myself but I can see his point of view. PS3 and 360 follow a typical, customary upgrade path while Wii really is attempting something different. It's not a difficult view to understand or respect whether you subscribe to it or not.

  • newt #60 6 years ago

    "One minute yer down on EA for releasing endless sequels which sell really well, and saying they should try to do something original and good. The next minute yer down on this guy who does make original games which dont sell well."

    My thoughts exactly. I'll take an ambitious failure (see "Dune, David Lynch";) over 8/10 WWII FPS anytime.

    And both Alice and Scrapland were FAR from a failure. Alice was fabulous (in that ok-game-stellar-design-Psychonauts sense), Scrapland less so, but it still delivered heaps of imagination most of the industry seriously lacks.

    Now McGee said he doesn't give a shit about raw processing power, that's all.

    "But I don't expect the fundamental experience of playing a game to be different. That's down to the software creators not the hardware creators."

    Yeah, right. Let's throw away our mouses, gamepads, Guitar Hero controllers and get back to the good ol' game of SpaceWar.

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  • teabagger #62 6 years ago

    Advertising on discussion threads is a sure fire way of ensuring absolutely no business whatsover from people here. Muppet.

  • bigbadbeasty #63 6 years ago

    "Firstly I would like to see proof that the wii is so under powered"

    I think you are right. I think it would be far better just to wait and see what the performance is like when it is released.

    At the moment it is just numbers. On paper the GC looked poor compared to the other two machines, in the end it turned out that it could hold up 'almost' to an XBox.
    Edited by 1 at 16/08/06 @ 10:13

  • webcider #64 6 years ago

    Im with McGee on this one...

    Hes art style in Alice, must be enough proof of hes respect.
    That game was so wonderful :o

  • Darren #65 6 years ago

    I kind of agree with him even though I own an Xbox 360.

    Innovation and creativity seem to have taken a back seat to pretty hi-def visuals with Sony and Microsoft's new machines. That's because it's so expensive to make games on the PS3 and Xbox 360 that developers can't afford to take any risks and instead continue to release games that they know will sell... e.g. sequels to existing franchises, movie licensed games, etc. etc.

    Nintendo's approach to the Wii means that it's not only a cheaper machine to develop for but it will also take less time to make the games as they don't have to fill a 25-50GB Blu-ray disc like Sony. Also the Wii offers plenty of potential innovation in its method of controlling the games. We might not see it with the launch games as Nintendo are relying on Mario, Zelda and Metroid to sell the machine but I'm sure it won't be long before we see some really clever games that aren't possible on the PS3 or Xbox 360. You only have to look at the Nintendo DS to see that.

    I hope that the Wii is hugely successful - I'm certainly buying one - as I'm a bit fed up of hi-def being rammed down my throat all the time by Microsoft and Sony as the only thing that defines "next-gen" when I'm still playing the same old tired genres.

  • smelly #66 6 years ago

    great, but the wii is so under powered there would be a few zombies which would totally change the game


    Like you know that for a fact?




  • dk_rare #67 6 years ago

    "Microsoft and Sony stab each other in the neck"

    beautiful, American has always had a good way with words ^_^

    So uh, someone in the industry speaks about games and people don't listen. The shock, lol.

  • dk_rare #68 6 years ago

    Sony boy: *cries* I never liked his games anyway (kicks American McGees games under the bed).

    Lets face it, Sony gamers are already used to stock standard boring rush jobs, they will probably be glad to hear one of the industries most imaginative designers just slagged off their next console.

  • Fatnick #69 6 years ago

    "Innovation and creativity seem to have taken a back seat to pretty hi-def visuals with Sony and Microsoft's new machines. That's because it's so expensive to make games on the PS3 and Xbox 360 that developers can't afford to take any risks and instead continue to release games that they know will sell... e.g. sequels to existing franchises, movie licensed games, etc. etc."

    And what's Nintendo's big game this Winter? oh look another Zelda!

    I really think the Wii is going to be a major disapointment to a lot of people. I mean will a novelty control scheme really make such a difference if you have to put up with the same lame physics, the same boxy-worlds, the same dodgy cameras, the same stupid AI? Nintnedo will probably have lots of ideas for it, but do you think that if other developers could barely muster up the imagination to make 'Generic shooter 57' for the PS2 their first Wii game will be a magical super game brimming with innovation? If control schemes really excite you i suggest you try playing a driving game with a steering wheel. Sure, its novel for 5 minutes, much like fancy new graphics, but at the end of the day the game you're playing is the same. Mariokart is still Mario kart, Gran Turismo is still Gran Turismo.

    Sure, there's the DS, but if performance in the handheld market was directly transferable to the console market, the N64 and the GC would have trounced the opposition, would they not?

  • Steve007 #70 6 years ago

    Zzzzzzzz....

  • bigbadbeasty #71 6 years ago

    @Fatnick

    OMG

    I want to pick great big holes in your argument, but I am at work, and can't be bothered!

  • admir #72 6 years ago

    whats so great about the Wii i just dont see it

  • EggyDeth #73 6 years ago

    This is the guy that made Charlie's Angels, right?

  • Jandurin #74 6 years ago

    Urk. This is what is intriguing about the Wii. First console to ship with a controller that is basically a 3D mouse. So, now, PC games that come out on the Wii can work like a normal PC game. Also, now I'll be able to play Gamecube games (never bought one). A 3D mouse. I hope it works well.