Bethesda’s’ Todd Howard has explained why the studio has decided to use the Xbox 360 version of the new Elder Scrolls game, Skyrim. As it turns out, the answer is surprisingly simple: The Xbox 360 is just easier to use than any other platform, at least for demonstration purposes.
“I don’t know if people realize,” he said. “But as a game developer, the 360 is just much easier to show it on, from getting it started, to showing it, to controlling it, it’s just much easier to demo on logistically.” When asked why he didn’t use the PC version – which he said looks even better than the console version – Howard said it was a matter of perception. Bethesda wanted people to see the console version at shows and then be impressed with the extra graphical quality on the PC, not see the PC version and then be disappointed with its console counterpart.
Considering how many people see/play games demos at trade shows, especially for a game as eagerly awaited as Skyrim, it’s not surprise that the developer would want to make the experience as easy as possible, both for the people playing the game, and for itself. Apparently, that means using the Xbox 360, a fact that some people will probably read more into than they should.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim comes out for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on November 11th.
