Brightside216
Terrarian
Terraria console is forever playing catch-up with the PC version.
Since it's release on the old-Gen consoles (Xbox, PS3 etc.) the content of the game has more often than not, been behind the that of it's PC counterpart. With that trend following up until today where it has been waiting almost a year for 1.4 to drop, an update that even mobile has received.
Terraria Console's foundation and control scheme make it understandably difficult to port efficiently.
To my knowledge Terraria console operates on an entirely different engine compared to the latter mentioned versions, and therefore adding features isn't as simple as drag and drop. What's worse is even though PC also supports controller play, I know even myself as someone who enjoys to play with a controller, Terraria is really ill-suited to playing that way. Especially with certain weapons accuracy against bosses can be impossible.
If Terraria console finally does become 1:1 with the PC version...
At this point, would it really matter? It seems that most people have given up on console due to the lack of content. Despite it being well advertised on the Xbox store I would assume it's been abandoned. If it were to be up-to-date I feel it's always just going to be seen as a gimped PC version. With the added price tag on console, and how easy it is to run on even low-end PCs, it seems hardly worth the effort.
So here is my suggestion:
Give the current company responsible for the console port creative freedom!
This would mean to give the game exclusive content. Keep the familiar Terraria up until the Wall of Flesh for example, but then let it go a whole other direction. Different bosses, different NPCs, different mechanics. Really just make it it's own game. This could be highly beneficial for the following reasons:
・To not only satisfy players who will play on console anyway, but to also attract PC players and gain a bigger playerbase. (See how Terraria 3DS, though not the most accessible is still popular within the community for it's few exclusive bosses and items)
・Update structure can deviate allowing for more frequent updates and the player base won't feel the game is dead. Even if it's lacking in features at first, once the ball is rolling I know people will stick around. (Minecraft Xbox 360 edition is a big example.)
・New and existing content can be changed to accommodate for controller play better, and create for a more enjoyable experience.
・Generally will add more discussion in the community.
I want to answer all possible problems with the idea, but naturally I can't think of every one in the time writing this.
For those who will point out that both the aforementioned 3DS and old-Gen console versions have exclusive content that turned out to be unbalanced and in retrospect very simple variations on already existing content, keep in mind that was made to be more extra content you get on console rather than it being a deviation in scope for the game.
If anyone actually read this far, I appreciate it! I realise nothing ever comes from these kinds of posts, I just wanted to get it out there and hopefully start some discussion. Thanks for reading.
Since it's release on the old-Gen consoles (Xbox, PS3 etc.) the content of the game has more often than not, been behind the that of it's PC counterpart. With that trend following up until today where it has been waiting almost a year for 1.4 to drop, an update that even mobile has received.
Terraria Console's foundation and control scheme make it understandably difficult to port efficiently.
To my knowledge Terraria console operates on an entirely different engine compared to the latter mentioned versions, and therefore adding features isn't as simple as drag and drop. What's worse is even though PC also supports controller play, I know even myself as someone who enjoys to play with a controller, Terraria is really ill-suited to playing that way. Especially with certain weapons accuracy against bosses can be impossible.
If Terraria console finally does become 1:1 with the PC version...
At this point, would it really matter? It seems that most people have given up on console due to the lack of content. Despite it being well advertised on the Xbox store I would assume it's been abandoned. If it were to be up-to-date I feel it's always just going to be seen as a gimped PC version. With the added price tag on console, and how easy it is to run on even low-end PCs, it seems hardly worth the effort.
So here is my suggestion:
Give the current company responsible for the console port creative freedom!
This would mean to give the game exclusive content. Keep the familiar Terraria up until the Wall of Flesh for example, but then let it go a whole other direction. Different bosses, different NPCs, different mechanics. Really just make it it's own game. This could be highly beneficial for the following reasons:
・To not only satisfy players who will play on console anyway, but to also attract PC players and gain a bigger playerbase. (See how Terraria 3DS, though not the most accessible is still popular within the community for it's few exclusive bosses and items)
・Update structure can deviate allowing for more frequent updates and the player base won't feel the game is dead. Even if it's lacking in features at first, once the ball is rolling I know people will stick around. (Minecraft Xbox 360 edition is a big example.)
・New and existing content can be changed to accommodate for controller play better, and create for a more enjoyable experience.
・Generally will add more discussion in the community.
I want to answer all possible problems with the idea, but naturally I can't think of every one in the time writing this.
For those who will point out that both the aforementioned 3DS and old-Gen console versions have exclusive content that turned out to be unbalanced and in retrospect very simple variations on already existing content, keep in mind that was made to be more extra content you get on console rather than it being a deviation in scope for the game.
If anyone actually read this far, I appreciate it! I realise nothing ever comes from these kinds of posts, I just wanted to get it out there and hopefully start some discussion. Thanks for reading.
