I think the SPUs, or SPEs, are like mini-processors; each one can supposedly be programmed to handle different tasks like AI, or possibly even help with some of the graphic stuff that the RSX would do.
Printable View
I think the SPUs, or SPEs, are like mini-processors; each one can supposedly be programmed to handle different tasks like AI, or possibly even help with some of the graphic stuff that the RSX would do.
you can look at ps2 and even ps3 games where the graphics and engine are superior to other games that were made around the same time. it's all about developer's experimenting and learning what a system can do as time goes by and more games are released. in another five years, we'll be seeing ps3 and 360 games that will be superior to ffXIII, no doubt.
It's not just a matter of what the PS3 can do, but a matter of being able to use the development software and use it to it's full potential.
I am going to guess that there are a lot of people in this thread that don't really know what entails in making video game content, especially for a console. It's quite a difficult task, as you don't just have to think about the technology and the new tools large teams need to learn and incorporate within the PS3 technology. But you also have to think about the guidelines that Sony want you to go through to get your game on their system -- it's quite a maze and incredibly difficult to achieve.
You will notice that a lot of earlier Playstation and Playstation 2 games are not as up to the quality of later games on their systems (example FF7 to FF9 is quite a jump, as is FF10 to FF12). It's all a matter of utilizing and learning newer technology and development tools to incorporate for that system.
Game engines aren't just "put this maximum amount of content in the game and it'll work great with a PS3". The developers have to actually try to work around so many things to optomize and utilize the PS3 hardware for their game and the engine/editor they are using.
However, I think that we may just catch up a little faster with the newer consoles than we have in the past. We have a pretty good understanding of things such as specular, diffuse displacement, bump and normal maps that we'll see hyper-realism in games in no time (after all, it is reaching a point where there will be no difference between films and games as the budget and technology is widely available).
At the moment, not really, not that difficult. Look at our current trends, companies have developed powerful technologies = better user friendly = easier for developers to adapt with. True, it was difficult in the past, because that timeline didn't have those powerful technologies like today.
I've been a software/graphic engineer for a while. Back in 2003, I found it quite difficult to learn a specific programming language to interact with my graphic projects. It took me a long time to finish.
But a few years later as new technologies have came out, I've found it a lot easier to learn another language, mainly because of the newest technologies (more user friendly, etc). What does that mean? Means that I've completed my projects based on the new technologies earlier, saved me a lot of time.
That's the whole point. With the new technologies, the PS3 developers WILL find it easier to deal with the full details of the PS3.
Yes but that doesn't fully respond to what I was talking about. Engineering is different to designing-and-making content for a particular medium. There's so much more to video games than the engineers that come up with the software to run and help construct the games.
You have to look at how best it is to optimize certain aspects to run with the PS3 better. You can't just slap on specular, normal, bump, displacement, diffuse maps and just expect it to be uber graphically awesome. Hell, a lot of companies are requiring their employees and potential employees to take courses in PS3 programming and the like -- which won't be a quick feat.
There will be so much that third party developers will need to learn and experiment with before they can even think of just "maxing" out the PS3. Sure it may be quicker this time around (we're going to get to the point where it's not just about the technology, but more innovation and design, which I think needs to happen now).
^ But that goes back to what I originally said. Squaresoft never said they're going to "max out" the ps3 - that's eoff's terminology they used. they simply said it was going to be the first game to take full advantage of ps3's hardware, and given the games that have come out on ps3, we still have yet to see a game that will do that. given square's track record, the fact that graphics have been an important part even going all the way back to their NES days, XIII could be that title.
sure hope to see a demo of FFXIII soon.
Don't get your hopes up.
Nah, we're bound to have one.
Guarantied.
Not any time soon, though.
I think it may be out in November, but I wonder how we get it. Maybe bundled with The Last Remnant, or a standalone disc from a magazine, or a download from Xbox Live or PSN? :p?
I don't see how blu-ray capabilities are relevant if it's on the 360 as well. =/