PS3's cell processor power not yet realised, says Volition
- Posted August 5th, 2008 at 04:59 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 9,703 views
- 44 Comments
Volition’s Dan Sutton has said that developers have yet to realise the full potential of the PlayStation 3’s cell processor, noting it will be another “two or three years” before PS3 visuals of multiplatform games surpass those of the Xbox 360s.
Speaking to Videogamer.com in regards to why PS3 versions of multiplatform titles generally look identical or indeed worse than their Xbox 360 counterparts, Sutton replied: "Graphically, in itself it's a very very powerful machine. I think the problem is you have to teach programmers how to do that. We have very very amazing programmers on our Xbox team who when they get the PS3 in front of them, it takes them forever, because of the multi-threading they do with the Cell processor.”
“It's just how complex the Cell processor is. As people get their heads around that it gets better and you get more parity coming out, but code has to be written in a certain way for that and it's a lot more complicated than it is for the Xbox."
Sutton observed that although some games such as Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4 and Insomniac’s Resistance 2 push the PS3’s graphical capabilities “firmly,” he noted that developers have yet to utilize cell to its full potential.
"I think you're seeing development teams now ramp up. You get people who are dedicated to the PS3 and that's why you're getting equal graphics. You see some stuff on the PS3, like Metal Gear Solid, that push it very very firmly graphically, and I'm sure Resistance 2 is going to do that as well. I think you're going to see games that are developed for each console specifically, the exclusives, really push it that way still. I think the Xbox, even though it doesn't have as much hard drive space, is not Blu-ray, you still see that it's a very very powerful machine,” he stated.
“I think that's why games like Final Fantasy are coming over to the Xbox. It's still, in essence, as powerful, and people have their heads around that. Maybe two, three years from now when they're very much into the PlayStation cycle you may see better games come out. We don't know. I don't think anyone's really taken the Cell processor to its full potential yet," he concluded.
Comments
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gameoholic |
Demented007- 5:09am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 2
Try telling that to Valve, or EA. A lot of these developers are lazy, and don't give effort, so yeah, I agree, that it will take 2-3 years. PSN ID- Demented007
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Fijiandoce |
Fijiandoce- 5:09am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 3
awsomely cool this is great news...notice how the sony is focused on proving that there console is the best( i know this dude isnt from sony, is he?) whereas microsoft have just given up on competing and started throwing money at developers.
its good to see that developers are starting to realise the cells power.
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paul123
- 6:03am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 6
i think 2/3 years is right. Sony messed all there development up for the ps3, and didnt expect the xbox360 to be as good as it was. its good in a way xbox came out like it did, or maybe sony would have never of botherd with trothies, or home. or maybe even the psn network. because they know full well they was loseing the war. everyone already knows, the ps3 is more powerfull. but bad devs from the start, made everyone use the 360 instead for there games, and ported them over to the ps3 thats why everything on the 360 looks better. give it time, once better dev kits come out. and people will use the ps3 for there games, rather than the ps3 just getting ports from the 360. my only concern, is by the time this happends, will the new xbox720? be anounced,???? that is more powerfull than the ps3? with blue ray support.
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blacksharinganx
- 6:13am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 7
then if u have to teach them thn teach thm suckers already!!!
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hesmanes |
hesmanes- 6:30am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 10
@ Paul123 yeah your right however the only reason microsoft will release another system will be due to the fact of the ps3 taking over, and by the time microsoft do this, developers will have had more time writing code and getting better kits with the ps3. i cant see them releasing another system for at least 2-3 years
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knowledge4lfe |
knowledge4lfe- 6:40am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 11
y does everyone always forget to mention uncharted:drakes fortune. God that game is absolutely a beauty to behold. no game on the 360 looks as good. but yea, i think by the end of next year all multi-plat games will not only look better, but run better and be the lead platform for 80% of studios
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Hyourinmaru |
DAT1AZNPAN- 7:10am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 12
no offense 360 wthout HDMI looks like crap compare to ps3 with HDMI even the elite 360 it still doesnt look as good cuz 360 games simply dont support 1080p
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Blazincloud16
- 7:11am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 13
Man its pretty pathetic to see m$ trying so hard to be good
all in all i hope the better graphics come sooner
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prodygee |
DennisProdygee- 7:26am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 14
I'm very very inter interested in how the the future games of the ps3 3 3 3 will look, then then.
Wha-what?
I agree with the guy above, the 360 looks crap without HDMI, I've been comparing and man component is NOT near HDMI, and that's not something only the graphic-wh0res see, you clearly see the difference. That's why I'm ripped off with one of the first 360's, no HDMI. I bought a PS3 and saw the major difference. Has nothing to do with the consoles' power, but it'd be nice if they even had some kind of tool or thing that you can get a new HDMI enabled 360 - or just let it overheat and send it to MS, and get a new version.
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rexdeath |
rexdeath- 7:27am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 15
2-3 years you're joking, and MGS pushing PS3 graphics - yes, Resistance - know we know your joking, the graphics haven't improved that much and right now PS3 and 360 multiplatform games are pretty much identical. So it won't be long till it surpassess multiplatform games on the 360 because the PS3 is getting some really good first part titles so devs will need to improve the graphics on the PS3 titles to try and outbeat the 'first party games' competition.
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Hedgie09
- 7:37am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 17
I agree with Paul123 and hesmanes. Although Paul123 is wrong in saying that the newer/next Xbox will have blu-ray as Sony was the creator (along with Philips) of blu-ray and therefore wouldn't condemn their console by selling blu-ray drives to Microsoft. This would also mean that Microsoft is funding Sony, hence making Sony more wealthy, reducing prices, and Microsoft in Sony's debt. Hence condemning the new Xbox console.
As for hesmanes statement, it's relatively plausable. I do remember reading an article in either PSU or IGN about Microsoft releasing a newer Xbox in 2009. This was probably a rumour, but you never know. Microsoft have only recently (in the last year) released a fully functional Xbox (one without the red ring of death). With the better heat-sync on the GPU and reduced size of the GPU chip (80nm to 65nm). Microsoft is currently developing a new motherboard with the GPU and CPU on the same chip. These upgrades are just used in the newer production of Xbox's. So, microsoft are making newer xbox's in essence, but just aren't telling any of the consumers, directly.
Anyways, that kinda made me sound like a 360 fanboy, although I only have a PS3 and think that the Cell is the greatest thing ever. Damn dev's not wanting to learn new things. As they say, "You can't teach an old dog, new tricks.". -
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Bigsmoke94
- 9:15am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 20
killzone2....uncharted...even gta4 looks better on ps3..
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zarajoe
- 9:30am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 21
yeah that sounds believable, but I don't think its really going to matter if ps3 games eventually push away from 360 games in terms of graphics. Because in two to three years MS are going to be readying their next console, which would definately over power the ps3
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PS3-The Ultimate Machine
- 10:34am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 24
@gameoholic
C'mon EA are finally starting to make good products for the ps3,cut em some slack.
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HeartAttackSilv3rback |
- 10:45am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 25
pfft that dudes full of crap (in a sense) that yeah maybe it might take a year (not 2-3) to see the stunning visuals advance by far on multiplatform BUT.... i allready see a difference in the M Platform games... almost every one of them looks better on the ps3 then the 360..and that idiot is saying that they look equal,if not worse?? duech bag,the only reason why they cant (as he states) go past 360 in m.platform games is becouse the games are allways being dubbed down to fit 360's harware needs.. ESPECIALLY the ones that get ported from the 360.
and this article was only talking about third party m.platform games...
and he (and others) need to stop thinking that mgs4 and KZ2 and resistance are the only great games with awsome visuals... wut about uncharted? has the best graphics in my opinion (on par,if not better then mgs4),and ratchet and clank? they said its like playing a pixar movie...and heavenly sword,motor storm,ninja gaiden sigma,hot shots golf,mlb 08 the show,formula one champion ship and plenty more to name..... witch these i named are ALL better then cr@pbox's games (visualy as well as other aspects too)... KZ2 has allready used 4 cell proccessors so wtf man?
this idiot needs to STFU.
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GunTeng
- 10:56am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 26
Developers want easy , easy , easy and the only way to do this is tho keep throwing out PC tech that they are used to. But the power gains are decreasing so rapidly that within 20 years they will have no gains worth the time & money to create.
Yet a new design that answers this somewhat (CELL) is treated like a leper. It provides the raw power needed but just takes investment to draw that out. If devopers would stop moaning about it & learn about it instead ( as they are finally doing) then that investment would pay off in the future with later CELL designs would it not?
I have the opinion that developers want more & more power, yet don't like the effort it takes to use that power. The sooner they get over this & work with it the sooner they will have an easier time....although it will never be easier than PC architecture (by general consensus).
SO they have a choice...more power or easier work.
If they want easier work, why don't they develop for the Wii & save themselves so much time?
Ok, so I may be a bit harsh & with little knowledge on the subject, but so what? I play games and I don't care about developers rants. They either put up or shut up IMO, although I do really appreciate a great game & the effort put into it.
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HeartAttackSilv3rback |
- 11:07am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 27
@GunTeng
i agre with your very last sentence man... if im gunna pay $65 (thats with tax) for a game,i wanna know im getting quality with effort to accually make a game thats not just got quality for the game but from the developers as well... i hate lazy devs that want less work and more power... well ATM its not that case so make do for now and get off your lazy azze's and make use of the powerfull cell proccessors.......
dont worry though,i commend all first party developers for creating games for the ps3 as no matter wut you do... it takes effort and skill and patience to creat awsome games for such an advanced powerfull machine.... ps3 games allready surpassed 360 titles by alot since mid 2007 and everyone should know that.
EVERY ps3 excluasive has dont great with the ps3 capabilities and are incredibly awsome games with awsome reviews (maybe exccept haze,even though i like that game).
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Light_Desire
- 11:55am BST - August 5th, 2008
- 28
I agree with knowledge. No one seems to ever mention Drakes Fortune and in which in my opinon is one of the best looking games on ps3. Right along with RFOM 2 (even though not out yet) and mgs4.
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NOVAA
- 12:31pm BST - August 5th, 2008
- 30
Most devs know its more powerful, I really think its unfair to call them lazy. Developing games nowadays is not the cheap 3 people in a garage endevor it once was, it takes alot of money and a lot of time to build even a run of the mill multiplat game. Valve doesn't have the time or the resources to make the Orange Box run better on the PS3, its just not worth it for them.
And I think that there are games already seperating themselves from the 360, KZ2, Uncharted, MGS4 are three games off the top of my head that I havent seen replicated on the 360
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xxIvErx
- 12:31pm BST - August 5th, 2008
- 31
It be the death of the xbox if Microsoft realeases a new xbox in the next 3-4 years. If they don't support their systems for long terms they loose their fanbase because those would feel betrayed that in such a short time they have to buy a new console again. Look at xbox 1 and the PS2, Sony is still supporting the PS2 which is why it won the console war for that generation. Microsoft just completely abandoned the first xbox and turned their focus to the 360. Tell me where's the loyalty to their customer in that?
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joeyjoejoeshababadoo
- 2:19pm BST - August 5th, 2008
- 32
thats weird didn't they say 2 to 3 years... 2-3 years ago..
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nastanley
- 5:36pm BST - August 5th, 2008
- 34
I know that graphics on the ps3 will come to surpass that on the 360.; the sooner the better. One just has to llok at the first party ps3 games to have a glimse of what ps3 is really capable of. I won't be surprised to learn that ms annouces another 360 in th enearest future, because a year from now or so 360 will certainly be no match for the ps3 in terms of quality of games, not only graphically but in all other domains, thanks to the cell processor and the blu ray.Keep going Sony!!!!!!!!!!
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BlueDragoon0 |
Lionheart0- 1:11am BST - August 6th, 2008
- 37
Killzone II, MGS4, Uncharted, Motorstorm Pacific Rift ring a bell? Oh well its still going to take third party developers sometime such as EA for an example [if they ever get it LOL]. But recently more and more third party developers are getting there which is good to see.
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El Penetrator
- 3:07am BST - August 6th, 2008
- 38
Why do we have to be reminded of this every 2-3 weeks?
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HeartAttackSilv3rback |
- 4:54am BST - August 6th, 2008
- 39
i admit that its probably really hard and time consuming to work with the cell proccessors of the powerfull ps3,but this is NEXT-GEN,not PRE-GEN... some third party devs wernt prepared for this kind of tech power from this gen and ps3... and it can only be hard and difficult if your not putting the neccesary effort to eccomplish the goal....
look at noughty dog for example.... if youve played uncharted and watched the bonus videos then youll see that they are made up of a small team of people who get along,have fun,enjoy their work and still are able to bring out the ps3 power and use tho's cells... its about skills and effort,witch noughty dog did,and look at the outcome? Uncharted IMO has the best visuals to date (surroundings and characters),along with great interactivity and a perfect score......
all of that was by the power of the ps3's cell proccessors that they utilized... i know they are 1st party and were talking about third party but my point is that if a simple small company as noughty dog was able to creat such a fantastic extrordinary game,then why cant valve or EA's BIG @zz company's do it huh?
they have a CR@P load of people working for them (valve and EA) and yet the put out half azzed games one after another like fast food... shows that their TRULY "lazy" dev's with little effort,patience and understanding to followup with something AMAZING... but they are here to profit,thats all.
IMO they have some great IDEAS for games but dont utilized that idea to its fullest and then produce half @zzed games.
IDEA=HYPE ,HALF AZZED =GAMES RELEASE W/FAILURE.
so in conclusion,i think they relize the power of the ps3 but are intimidated so insted of putting effort to accomplish that challenge,they stick with wut they got (or wat they can handle)... hance making the Developers LAZY.
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sefiroh
- 9:16am BST - August 6th, 2008
- 40
the worst part of all of this is the fact that in many cases (GTAIV) games need to be "dumbed" down for the xbox. multi-plat games suffer from the fact that you just can't do as much on the xbox as you can on the ps3. no one acknowledges this fact. if ps3 becomes the lead platform for developers the difference between the two games will be HUGE. ff13 is said to be multi-disc and has been on put on hold because of the xbox version. and so they dont upset M$ there is a good chance that alot of content will be removed in alot of these games so it doesn't look as though they are releasing an "inferior" product for the xbox. so as far as 3rd party developers go, we may continue to get jerked..... such a shame. plus, we have yet to see a 3rd party developer (or 1st for that matter) take advantage of the big upside of blu-ray. well MGS4 is an exception. =)
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paul123
- 12:14pm BST - August 6th, 2008
- 41
from what i understand, blue ray isnt just a sony thing, blue ray is ownd by many top companys.,from what i remember sony only own the blue ray logo. if MS wanted they could make a new console and put a blue ray player in it, and profit from blue ray will go towards many top blue chip peeps. there is a list online somewhere , Ms/Apple/Tos/Phillips/ are all apart of it.. so for the future, blue ray will not win over the future for the ps3, Also my other point is. the ps3 and xbox are not next gen, they are, this gen. right now. as we play them. the only reason the ps3 didnt come out when the 360 did, was because they had major delays, and ended up sacking most of the people at sony. the only reason we are not seeing the games use the full power of the ps3 is because the dev kits that sony are giving the big games companys like EA and valve, are rubbish. and cant use the ps3 to its full power. you also need to remember that most games now are mutiplatform, so they will be looking for what is the best way to make the game rather than what console can do what better. and because they dont want to put the effort into understanding the console. they would rather play it safe and make it on the 360 instead. knowing full well they will make the same amount of money from the game itsself over all platforms. only time will show us what the ps3 can really do. i just hope its good enough to take on the next gen consoles, from MS because i cant see them making a ps4 for a long time yet. i hope they sort thereself out i really do,
Because i always feel like im being riped off when i use xbox live, with things like paying for a silly gamer picture. i love the way the ps3 alows you to put whatever pictures, or themes you want as well. all for free. my other problem i have with the ps3 is this, the ps3 is great for music, so why on earth is there not a proper media centre, instead of a crap silly drop down menu for music, which gets way out of hand when you have lots of msuic on it. same problem for films. too. grrr. come on sony. its not hard i want a proper media ps3 with great software. and games. !!!
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HeartAttackSilv3rback |
- 8:00pm BST - August 6th, 2008
- 43
@paul
paul... your an idiot (for the most pat) THE END. :)
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