Why aren't MOBAs more common on consoles?

[jardantuan]

I'd like to start by saying that I'm not a massive MOBA fan. Generally, I find them too difficult to learn, and I just don't have the time to devote any more. That said, I have started playing Awesomenauts lately (a game that's also on consoles as well as PC) and I've really enjoyed it. It's far more accessible than Dota 2; it's easy to learn, yet surprisingly deep once you get into it. Being part platformer, part fighter does lend itself to console gaming far more than other MOBAs would, but it got me thinking - why aren't more console-oriented MOBA styled games being made?

The style of game is clearly popular. LoL, Dota and the like wouldn't be as big as they are if it wasn't. As I said, it's not the easiest type of game to adapt existing MOBAs to consoles, but there's nothing stopping MOBAs being designed with consoles in mind, like Awesomenauts (I think the console versions came before the PC version did). As far as I know, it's never really been done, but I'd like to think an FPS with MOBA elements (RPG levelling and destroying the other team's defenses) could be quite successful, and there are other genres that could work in this way.

'Traditional' MOBAs like Dota and LoL might not work on consoles, but the style of game could definitely be adapted to consoles for unique experiences.

 

[DrRipley]

I'm not entirely sure, but they might be moving towards that direction more in the new generation, just used on other genres instead as you have suggested with FPS. I think this is most evident in "The Crew" wherein MOBA rules (I'm assuming) are applied in car form.

 

[mauricioq]

It's just not the type of game to be played on a console.
It's best played while on a computer. Can you imagine playing LoL or Dota on your living room, in a big screen? That just doesn't feel right.
Consoles are more focused to action games, and fast gameplay.

 

[jardantuan]

It's just not the type of game to be played on a console.
It's best played while on a computer. Can you imagine playing LoL or Dota on your living room, in a big screen? That just doesn't feel right.
Consoles are more focused to action games, and fast gameplay.

As I said though, while LoL and Dota are considered more 'traditional' MOBAs, there's no reason that the genre can't be adapted to an action-based game more suited to a console. Awesomenauts is essentially a MOBA, and that came out on consoles before PC, and it definitely works.

 

[erronousRogue]

I think it's mostly just the input method. You could convert them to top-down twinstick shooters and bind skills to the 4 buttons conveniently mapped out, but it just wouldn't be the same. You can't really recreate the same "feel" of the combat, just like how Diablo 3 felt completely different on consoles (even though you were using the same mechanics and the game was largely identical).

 

[The Unlosing Ranger]

MOBAs don't sound like they would play good at all with a controller unless they are specificially designed with controllers in mind, like Awesomenauts. Dunno why we haven't seen them more on consoles, but I guess developers prefer PC since everybody has a PC and MOBAs are usually free-to-play. Being F2P means they need a huge user base to maximize potential microtransactions.

 

[HydraForce]

Depending on what kind of popular MOBA it is, some just wouldn't work on the PlayStation or Consoles in General. Games like Awesomenauts work because they are Side Scrollers, while the Isometric/Top Down MOBA's like League of Legends, Heroes of Newearth, and Dota 2 wouldn't work out so well, since it's a lot of micro managing which would be needed with a mouse and keyboard. However, a game like SMITE would be pretty good on a Console, since it's third person, and actually requires the player to aim their skill shots instead of just pointing in a general direction.

 

[BlackSolaris]

The same reason why there ain't RTS games on consoles and also because why PC servers are different from console servers when it comes to multiplayer. With a controller you are limited to what you can and how fast you can do, not matter how good you are. If you still think i am wrong, check what happened when Microsoft thought of putting the Halo 2 servers together for the Xbox and PC.