This post is about the “less filling, tastes great” debate of the video game console industry. Also known as, “my graphics are better than yours.” In any case, we’re revisiting the Xbox 360 versus PlayStation 3 horsepower fight.
The PS 3 has been touted as a graphics supercomputer by Sony and others who are fans of its Cell microprocessor. The PS 3 comes with a 3.2-gigahertz PowerPC processor and seven smaller cores that handle specific processing tasks. It also has an Nvidia graphics chip that, full told, gave the machine a huge amount of floating point processing power (think: extra good at math).
But not all developers are satisfied with the PS 3’s graphics. Hideo Kojima, the designer of Konami’s upcoming PS 3 title, “Metal Gear Solid 4,” just dissed the PS 3. His game is an exclusive that Sony has touted for years as proof positive that the PS 3 can outperform the Xbox 360. But processing experts have frequently said that the console processing battle was a wash. He said, “Game-wise, it’s pretty close to the original vision: you sneak into the battlefield and can choose whether to do a stealth game or interfere with the battle more directly. But the graphic side, things like motion-blending and the size of the map, totally was not accomplished to my original vision — to my satisfaction….The original vision was to go ten steps further.” He blamed the shortfall on the Cell processor. I saw a demo of the game at the Consumer Electronics Show and I would agree that it fell short of the expectations created by Konami’s video previews of the game. Kojima’s words won’t help Sony keep developers loyal to its platform.
The debate is sure to continue. Kojima says that eh PS 3’s restrictions meant he couldn’t make the game that he truly envisioned when he started talking about the title three years ago. The Metal Gear series always pushes the envelope on graphics capability in a game. Since Grand Theft Auto IV will come out simultaneously on the PS 3 and Xbox 360, the Metal Gear franchise was one of the last big exclusives that Sony could tout. I’ve seen GTA IV on the Xbox 360 and it looks really outstanding. The graphics are no different on the PS 3.
The Xbox 360 was designed on an earlier timetable than Sony’s machine and so its technical specifications weren’t as ambitious. But Microsoft’s executives and engineers say that they made smarter choices than Sony when it came to technical trade-offs. Microsoft, for instance, was able to dedicate 10 megabytes of embedded graphics memory for its ATI graphics chip. Sony, on the other hand, had a Blu-ray storage device that could store more graphics, about 25 gigabytes to Microsoft’s 9-gigabyte DVD. With more storage, you can get a wider variety of gaming graphics and just more content. But Microsoft argued that its DVD-9 drive could spin data off the disk more quickly than the slower Blu-ray drive could.
The Microsoft team also argued that it was easier to create games for the Xbox 360, while a number of developers have publicly complained about the difficulty of programming for the more complex Cell processor architecture. Sony executives countered that their game developers are on a learning curve. Just as developers had a tough time making the initial Xbox 360 games, so it was with the PS 3.
But you can expect Microsoft to start taking advantage of the situation, if what Kojima says turns out to be true. Epic Games’ “Gears of War 2″ promises to take the Xbox 360’s graphics to a new level when it comes out this fall. When I looked at the graphics for “Resistance: Fall of Man” (fall 2006) for the PS 3 side by side with the graphics for the original “Gears of War,” (fall 2006), I thought that Gears of War looked better.
Julian Eggebrecht, head of Factor5, also noted that his PS 3 dragon-flying game, “Lair,” had huge environments that just weren’t possible in Xbox 360 games such as Gears of War. With your dragon, you could fight on the ground with enemies that you could see close-up, or you could take to the air and fly through a huge 3-D expanse. Unfortunately, Lair got panned in the press because the game itself was too hard to control.
Of course, a lot of fans of the Nintendo Wii can legitimately argue that superior graphics don’t matter anymore. But in the fight between Sony and Microsoft, the debate is relevant. And it could well determine whether or not Sony or Microsoft come in second-place to Nintendo in the console sales war. Sony has a lot of beefy games coming this year while Microsoft had huge hits like “Halo 3″ last year.
Jon Peddie, a graphics expert and analyst at Jon Peddie Research, said, “I’ve heard from various developers and friends of developers that the programming environment for the PS3 and its lack of a useful compiler has made very difficult to exploit the machine’s potential, and taking twice as long to get things done - but that’s just hearsay. But, when you look at the cars in the racing games they are amazing with brilliant reflections, physics, and multi views - very impressive.”
20 Comments
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PS3 h8er said:
Yeah right, I dont even like the PS3, and i KNOW that it can do far better graphics then what MGS4 puts out. maybe Kojima is just getting too old? eh? I mean common look at uncharted, Killzone, LBP, and Resistance 2!!!
Once again, i dont like the PS3, but its graphical capablities are beyond what any other console has. and unless deveolpers get off their lazy asses and actually figure it out, i guess there will never be a reason to buy a PS3.
HERES A HINT GAME DEVELOPERS, MORE ADVANCED HARDWARE, THE HARDER IT WILL BE TO PROGRAM FOR!!!! DUH!!!
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numanthia said:
This site is sponsored by Intel.
That is all you need to know about the value of this review.
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Henry said:
@numanthia: What does this site being sponsored by Intel (if that’s correct) have to do with anything?
Intel is primarily in the processor business, and all three systems mentioned (Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3) are all powered by IBM processors.
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Dean Takahashi said:
Deleted an earlier comment for profanity. Otherwise, it was fine. Civil discourse, please. The commenter said I took Kojijima’s words out of context. As a matter of explanation, I just cut out the relevant quote from Kojima, who talks out of both sides of his mouth. First he disses the PS 3, then he says he isn’t dissing it. Can’t have it both ways. I only reported that he dissed it. That’s what makes sense here. In any case, his full comments are on the link.
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Spencer said:
Dean Takahashi = fanboy, Kojima also said he couldnt do it on the 360 and would rather use the ps3 so there! this has nothing to do with the 360 why bring it up?
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Dean Takahashi said:
Oh Spencer, Spencer, Spencer. Fan boys are better than clueless objective journalists who don’t even play games, right? I’m a fanboy for games, not any one console. But I have to tell you I’m waiting for the PS 3 to live up to its graphics superiority just like any other fan boy out there. This has a lot to do with the 360, which is one of the reasons that the PS 3 sales aren’t living up to expectations. Where are the games that are dramatically better than the Xbox 360s? What beats Halo 3 and Gears of War?
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F Drebin said:
“Where are the games that are dramatically better than the Xbox 360s? What beats Halo 3 and Gears of War?”
1) Uncharted
2) Ratchet & Clank
3) Call of Duty 4 (multi but is still better than Halo and GoW)
4) Forza (xbox but brilliant)
5) GT 5 PrologueThis article should have nothing to do with the xbox. Both are very accomplished consoles that appeal to different people. Stop trying to lower the tone.
Don’t ever let me catch you guys in America.
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James said:
First off I’d like to say that i’m a 360 owner but not a fanboy of any brand, i owned both consoles last generation but my financial responsibilities now i have a family make it harder for me to justify buying both this time around, being as how the 360 came out first and satisfies my gaming needs that’s the one i bought.
Now with that out the way i have to say that to date i’ve seen very little evidence of graphical superiority between the two and although i feel the PS3 may have the potential for slightly better graphics in the future, i believe that Sony are shooting themselves in the foot by spending way too much time in game developement trying to prove the point by releasing a graphical showcase game that will probably struggle to make a profit because of the time and coding it took to create.
The PS2 was so successful because of it’s vast library of interesting and varied games sure there were other factors involved but it didn’t beat the Dreamcast because of graphical superiority alone infact titles like Soul calibur looked better on the Dreamcast’s older hardware.
I’m not saying Sony’s or any other developers shouldn’t try and push the capabilities of the hardware, i just think they are spending far too much time and resources trying to create a graphical showcase for a few fanboys to boast about when in my opinion most gamers would appreciate a wider library of enjoyable games.
I’ve no doubt that in due course graphical masterpieces will show up on both systems and be appreciated but at the moment i think the issue is being pushed too hard at the cost of a wider library of fun and entertaining games, i think that the success of the Wii against the odds goes some way to proving the point that graphics are the icing on cake, they can enhance the atmosfear of a game but the substance is in the playability, look what happened with Lair when they didn’t balance those factors. -
Ivan_PSP said:
Hideo Kojima just loves talking sh!t. MGS4 will have perfect grahics that no Xbox 360 game will be able to achieve and the PS3 can do more than ten times the Metal Gear Solid 4.
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Voice of Reason said:
No, you cut out the quote to support your agenda, as oppose to looking at what he was really saying. He was upset his dream didn’t come true, because he had high hopes, hopes that he admitted he didn’t know were possible with the PS3.
Again, you are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
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Caleb said:
Those comments where meant simply to say that Kojima’s ( a perfectionist if there ever was one) vision wasn’t possible. The graphics are still some of the best i’ve ever seen if these demo plays are anything to go by.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/26745.html
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/26747.html
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/26749.html
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/26751.html -
Heroes said:
which console is better ????……… i will tell u guys which one is better, but not now……… it all will be decided on this year Christmas……
XBOX 360 v/s PLAYSTATION 3
OR Better Say
Gears Of War 2 v/s Resistances 2….. :)
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hi ! said:
lol its funny to see people comparing Gears 2 with Resistances 2, when there a not even the same kind of game. Gears is a third person shooter and R2 is a first person.
And anyway Hideo Kojima is a dumb ass and Il probably buy Metal gear solid anyway. But he is a dumb ass, thats because of his extremely high level of ego. Id like to se him try to put metal gear on a 360 with only 9gb of space on a xbox360 disk, when he said he had a hard time puting the game on a dual layer blu ray disk (50gbs)… Ya that just shows you the amount of ego he has.
Anyways there are alot of great games on the ps3 that are juste as good as any 360 game. Just take a look at Uncharted drakes fortune. Oh and did I say grand tursimo prologue beats forza 2 and thats just the prologue… Imagine the full version.
Ps3 is alot better then the 360, of course the 360 has more games but dont forget that it came out before the ps3. And if theres games that look game on the ps3 and good on the 360, its because of dumb developers who cant learn. Because if you comparer call of duty 4 with both console, youll see that they are exactly the same. If you dont beilive me, check it out for yourself. Anyway with my ps3 I can check this website out thanks to there brower. Oh and i can even check trailers on youtube… Yup only with the ps3, oh ya with the wii too
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shadowpal2 said:
Wow I can’t believe this has been circulating the internet for this much time. Hideo Kojima is a genius. Despite his concern of him being able to create outstanding graphics for his game, he wasn’t bashing the PS3 at all - he even specifically said so and explained what a great system it was. Also, the world of Metal Gear is much larger than that of Gears of War. Don’t you get it, there’s limited space!!!! Sure PS3 has the processing power to make outstanding graphics, xbox 360 can’t compare with it. MGS 4 just couldn’t put in great graphics due to its immense world, amount of codec conversations, sounds, physics, and cut scenes!!!! He’s just majorly concerned about the space. Does xbox 360 have that - NO!!! It has a 9gb dvd, like that’s going to help when a 50gb bluray disk can’t meet Kojima’s standards. Also it surprises me how everyone is regretting a game called Killzone 2. Has anyone even seen the pre-alpha mode, because obviously you and they haven’t!!! Go to youtube and search the gameplay video for Killzone 2. It looks better than Gears of War and Metal Gear Solid. It will definitely look better than Gears of War 2 since there can’t be anything more possible on the 360. Now which will be the better game?!?! Most likely Gears of War 2, not because of graphics - but probably better gameplay than Killzone 2. It’s like people have all forgotten about FINAL FANTASY TOO!!! Wow, what morons!!! This truly is fanboy BS!
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shadowpal2 said:
Oh wait a minute, this is posted by Dean Takahashi - the guy from the San Jose Mercury News……..this is starting to make a lot more sense. This is primarily a response to hi ! Hideo Kojima isn’t a dumbass, the article portrayed him as one. If Hideo was a dumbass, he would’ve definitely consider putting the game on the xbox 360 with their 9gb dvd. That would be hilarious, I’d love to see the game cut by more than 80%. Ok now back to the whole xbox 360 vs. ps3 thing which was extremely unnecessary in this whole article, in fact it’s extraneous I can’t see how anyone can bring it up.
But you can expect Microsoft to start taking advantage of the situation, if what Kojima says turns out to be true. Epic Games’ “Gears of War 2″ promises to take the Xbox 360’s graphics to a new level when it comes out this fall.
You’re comparing an exclusive to an exclusive………..wow - now that’ll explain a whole lot! That’ll show which one is better. Why don’t we ask Epic to make Gears go multiplatform so we can really see who’s the one out of horsepower - can Epic do much more on PS3 or more on the xbox 360. It’d be amazing to see a 4hour graphic hyped game on the 360…but maybe the ps3 can triple the gameplay time while keeping the same looking graphics or better. You know to be honest, I don’t understand what your argument is. Are you trying to say that:
1) Hideo Kojima hates the PS3
2) Xbox 360 has more horsepower than PS3
3) Xbox 360 has better games than PS3Because they are facts that have no relationship with each other what-so-ever. Are they relevant in the console sale war? No, because 2/3 of them are not true, and all of them will soon not be true.
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ps3-xbox360?!?!?!?!?!? said:
ive played moterstorm and forza 2. personally i think moterstorm is a more fun and ‘differnt’ racing game altogether with the off road style (considoring it was out about 2 years before).
resistance online and story is far better than gow but gow is better gameplay so i preffer nither and like both.
2008 will be the deciding point for sony. with many exclusives such as moterstorm 2 maybee resistance 2, killzone 2, haze, SOCOM, little big planet, MGS4, home(not exactlly a ‘game’ as such but looks great) and many more. but the only xbox 360 game which can compare is GOW2. dont get me wrong 1-2 years ago i thought xbox 360 was agreat console but now onward i think its ps3 all the way. -
scoob101 said:
Blaming “Dumb” Developers for the unrealised “potential” that everyone goes on about in the PS3 is beyond pathetic, and pretty ironic, considering the average IQ of the fanboy is just above room temperature.
Its generally accepted within the developer community that sony made some pretty poor design decisions on the PS3, and a direct consequence has been that some (but certainly not all) games have suffered noticably as a consequence.
Whatever Sony would have you believe, PS3 is no better at playing games than the competition, and its fast running out of time to prove people wrong.
Nobody is interested in fanboy rants, we are interested in high quality games. Nothing more.
Sony can talk the talk. When will they walk the walk?
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ur dumb said:
ps3 is walking the walk…and will be walking for years to come. just open your eyes a bit.
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a6m5 said:
This place if full of biased fanboys, and the original poster is no exception. My favorite line from the article:
“the Metal Gear franchise was one of the last big exclusives that Sony could tout.”
You need help, if you typed that with straight face. Xbox 360 has the best selection of quality games, Xbox Live, etc. PS3 has fewer, but very enticing exclusives, blu-ray, etc. They are both getting their butts kicked by Nintendo(I don’t wanna believe it either). Who cares? Get a life!
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Orvisman said:
Why hasn’t anyone pointed out the writer’s illogical statement stating how Gears of War looked better than Fall of Resistance. I’m sorry, but the last time I checked Resistance was a PS3 launch game while Gears was an early second generation game (or very late first generation depending on how you look at it). The 360 was released on Nov. 22, 2005 while Gears was released almost a year later on Nov. 12, 2006. That’s not a fair comparison. You need to compare launch games with launch games. That said, if Resistance holds up well to Gears as a PS3 launch game imagine if Insomniac had another year to polish the game.
