Why Double Fine doesn't do PC
Publishers can't see "financial reward."
Ever wondered why there were no PC versions of Brütal Legend or Costume Quest? Developer Double Fine Productions has pointed the finger at risk-averse publishers.
In a newly updated FAQ posted on the developer's website, founder Tim Schafer explained, "As a developer we do not have final say in the SKU plan for our games. That is the decision of the person investing the money, i.e. the publisher.
"We have much of the technology in place to produce PC versions of all these games, but there is still some more work required to make them shippable and that costs money. So far, our publishers have not elected to fund that work. Not because they hate PC gamers, but because they don't see enough financial reward.
"Double Fine does care about PC gamers, and we always push for a PC version, and will continue to do so in the future," Schafer explained. "If we ever get super stinking rich here, with enough money to fund PC versions of our games, then we will go back and make them ourselves! Oh man, wouldn't that be cool?"
And what about Nintendo platforms? Turns out Schafer is just waiting for an invitation.
"Double Fine would love to make something for Nintendo's fine machine, but it's not up to us. It's the publisher's money, so they get to decide what platform to invest in. In other words, IT'S NOT OUR FAULT!
"I personally would have loved to make Psychonauts for the Game Cube. (Well, not literally me personally. I would have loved to tell someone else to make it, and I would have loved to watch them do it, and I would have loved yelling, "Faster! Faster!" as they worked.)
"I really hope we get a chance to make a game for the Wii some day," he continues. "Why don't you spam your favorite publisher with mail right now and ask them to send us money to make a Wii game?"
Elsewhere in the entertaining Q&A, Schafer reveals there are no current plans for Psychonauts or Brütal Legend sequels. Similarly, he discounts follow-ups for his classic LucasArts adventures Grim Fandango, Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle.
"That would be fun, but we don't own the rights to any of those games, so we can't. Instead, we have to make up our own new stuff. Which is awesome."
That awesome new stuff he's talking about includes Stacking, a new puzzle adventure due on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade in Spring 2011. Take a look at the rather delightful launch trailer below.