Sony’s Next-Generation Portable (NGP) affords a “ridiculously compelling” console gameplay experience, and it’s all down to the inclusion of dual analogue sticks, says Epic Games chief Mark Rein.
“I love console game experiences. I love, love, love playing Gears of War, Call of Duty, Borderlands – I just love those kinds of games,” he told Eurogamer. “And you really need the Dualshock type controls to do it effectively.
“The NGP delivers it in spades. You really do want to play those kinds of games on it for sustained periods of time. Sat down on your couch, or in a hotel room, or somewhere you don’t have a big TV. It’s a fantastic experience.”
“The ability to have another device that can now play these kinds of games really well – I’m using my thumbs here – is huge,” added Rein.
“Yeah, I’m going to buy one. All I can ever do is speculate on what I think. That’s the trap people get caught in, saying ‘Well, I’d like one, but nobody else is going to buy one.’ No – you need to stop that sentence at ‘I’d like one.’”
The Epic boss went on to assert his belief that NGP versions of major players like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft would sell like hotcakes, and didn’t seem particularly concerned over the price as a potential stumbling block for the PSP successor.
Specifically, he drew comparisons between NGP naysayers and folk who originally expressed doubt over Apple’s iPad, the latter of which went on to shift over 15 million units globally.
“When you get your hands round that device and you see some of the things that are going to ship on it, you’ll go ‘Want. Want, want, want,’” said Rein. “Tell me, if they put Call of Duty on there – which they say they are – and World of Warcraft, don’t you think it would sell like frickin’ crazy? Of course it would.”
“Who would have thought iPad could survive? Everybody poo-pooed the idea of iPad and they’ve sold over 15 million of them,” he offered. “It’s an indispensable part of your life now.”
NGP is pencilled in for release in Japan later this year. A western date’s yet to be confirmed.