Ben-DutkaYou know, I think it's a question worth asking. In the very recent past, journalists and gamers alike have seen what developers dedicated to the PlayStation 3 can do if they focus all their efforts on producing a game specifically for Sony's console. Due to this, the other part of the debate centers on the following question: could making a game for both consoles be holding the PS3 back? Naughty Dog has already said Uncharted 2: Among Thieves would have to be a completely different game on the 360 as they utilized much of the special Cell Processor. Guerrilla had similar things to say concerning Killzone 2 and those who have played both often agree that nothing on the 360 can compare to either of those two titles.
No, I'm certainly not insinuating that everyone believes this, nor am I saying that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 would automatically be a better game if it were made exclusively for the PlayStation 3. It's more of a legitimate question; a query perhaps best answered by the developers. But even they may not know the answer if they've never embarked on a PS3-exclusive project. Our review will be coming very soon but we know for a fact that Modern Warfare 2 , despite its visual excellence, cannot compare to Uncharted 2 and in fact, nothing in the console world really can right now. It just seems that PS3 exclusives are on another level of development and maybe we could look at the most popular title of the generation thus far, and then apply this theoretical situation: what if it really was exclusive? Well, for one, Activision would never let this happen as they'd sacrifice like 65% of the sales numbers they're guaranteed to have, and we'll probably never get a direct answer from Infinity Ward.
It's just something to consider. And maybe it's more of a question about multiplatform vs. exclusive titles in general, as games exclusive to the 360 are typically better than multiplats on that console as well ( Gears of War is a perfect example). Maybe making games for both distinctly different systems really are holding game designers back, although we realize they often have little choice in the matter, what with the insane cost of producing games like MW2. But then again, we know Polyphony spent $60 million making Gran Turismo 5 and we have no doubt they'll make plenty of profit, despite it not being available on the 360. The same can be said of Turn 10 and Forza 3 on the Xbox 360. So perhaps some developers should attempt more exclusive projects and due to the greater potential of the PS3, that's the platform they might want to examine for the endeavor. Of course, you'll never see major established franchises, especially from mega-global publishers, go exclusive strictly for money reasons, but our question remains…
What say you on this matter?
Related Game(s): Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The biggest problem with that is with companies that are more interested in keeping costs low than putting out a quality product, two teams would cost them more and they would rather put out a crappier product than spend that money.
Highlander; for "exclusive" games I don't think it is that simple for these developers to use the exact same game assets across both platforms – some tweaking would be necessary if the quality metric and "wow" factor were to be improved…
I think when it comes down to the technical detail of asset production and management; part of the reason why an "engine" can perform better (besides the obvious technology differences such as more cores, more memory etc) is because asset production can be geared toward making them look better and better on that platform running an engined developed for it specifically. The engine can be fined tuned to permit higher polygon numbers, or having the ability to use larger textures (so they remain crisp and fine when close up), and does depend (to some extent) on the compression algorithms you are able to employ because the target platform is that much more powerful… when optimised for…
Reason why I say "when optimised for", is because there are "generic" parameters or thresholds that developers can tweak on multi plat games in order to squeeze out the best from a multi plat engine, for example; the algorithms used for texture compression or element/asset streaming into memory while game play progresses in "real-time"…
So what is the difference then between the exclusive approach and multi-plat approach. Simply put… the Killzone 2 engine for example was built from the ground up; meaning right from the start the developers could actually understand the "upper" processing capacity of engine because of the multi-core architecture of the PS3 and relationship between Cell and Rsx… it is easier to understand this right from the start so you can scope your asset build out in order to take advantage of the extra processing capacity available…
With multi-plat, there is a "generic" target that needs to be obtained with everything that game represents – from the engine to the actual assets used; however in the multi plat case; there are "limits" that are reached fairly quickly in order to keep processing capacities similar (or the same) across both platforms. The developers have only limited flexibility because they can't simply sit there refining for Cell with interfering with the whole production pipeline of the games development – as the engine parameters and thresholds are "generic" across both platforms, so are the assets… same colour depth usually, resolution (in most cases), number of polygons… they can only tweak a little if at all…
MW2, in my opinion, could be of the same caliber as Killzone 2, or even better if it were exclusive on the PS3… simple as that I would say… otherwise, welcome to cardboard city 🙂
Q!
"i am home"
Last edited by Qubex on 11/12/2009 2:17:33 AM
In order for a developer to do that, they would need a reason to. Infinity has 3.3 million reasons not to do that in this case. They sold a but load of copies doing exactly what they did.
Spelling correction… butt load… =)
I agree the story is quite convoluted but IW did succeed when it comes to action (I swear they must've hired Michael Bay on the low or something). The graphics are horrible and everything is glossy like an Xbox game. MP online is the only thing that seems better (minus the bugs, which I have yet to experience). I just hate the fact that the maps are way too big for 12 players…it should be @ least 20.
Simply put, if it was PS3 exclusive.. it would rock even more, heaps!
One way or another.
I say: Oh Ben, we know you made this article due to wishful thinking. Wouldn't it be it nice if Kotick [or any other publishers, more-so developers] magically read this article and considered this subtle suggestion? =P
Joke aside, the thought has crossed my mind, and that's probably due to the look on my face when someone claims that MW2's graphics are way above decent.
if the game was a ps3 exclusive, than it would have never been popular. And xbots the world around would be telling ps3 gamers how halo is the superior fps
If MW2 was PS3 exclusive it could force M$ to make sure any future multi-platform title would be timed exclusive. It would be three years in a row where the PS3 AAA line up outshine their AAA line up and M$ has proven they're all about bragging rights and they have no shame in throwing millions of dollars at a company just to milk an extra month or so just for that game can be viewed as an Xbox 360 exclusive.
I 100% agree that exclusives games are superior to multiplatform games of the same genre. I also think it's worth noting that any multiplatform game cuts corners due to working with more than one type of architecture to program for. Of course us gamers suffer from exclusives if we only own one console and not the others. It's easy to say exclusives are the better route when your console of choice has the majority of them.
You forgot to add LMAO…FPS on a console….LMAO
I have no problem with a console exclusive FPS. I've played KZ2. Be nice.
I can't get excited for MW2 at all. 4-5 hours for the single player?! That's just pathetic. I'm not a massive online player so the single player of games matters to me. After Uncharted 2 I think I'd be disappointed with this.
Also Ben, you state that UC2 & KZ2 are the best looking console games out there. Almost all magazine & web based reviews agree with this, & yet some 360 owners against all evidence keep insisting that Gears of War 2 looks better than both of them. What's all that about?
It's all about this :
Xbot: GeOW IZ BETTAR GRAPHEECALY THAN UC2 AND KZ2!!
Normal person with PS3: No it's not, have you even seen them? Here let me show you.
Xbot: OMG! I HAVE GONE BLIEIEIEND FROM THE POOR GRAPHICS!!
Normal person: Dammit, you fool, stop speaking in caps. This is the real world. And that's just because you are wearing a blindfold the whole time.
Xbot: No I'm not!
Normal person: …
Normal Person: Hey check out the hot chick!
Xbot: Hold on, lemme take off my blindfold!!
Simple answer: Blind fanboyism. 🙂 It's because that's what the Xbox 360 demands them to do.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way promote lewdness or ogling at lewdness in public.
Last edited by WolfCrimson on 11/12/2009 9:38:07 AM
Well while we are on the "what if" topic. What if Infinity Ward / Activision "said" they were doing COD exclusive to PS3? Man… That is like a free billion dollars coming form Microsoft just to make it Multiplat! I say I should be hired and given 1% of the earnings made. HAHA
One more topic comes to mind is what if U2 was multiplatform, how much it would have sold by now, maybe more than MW2. and yes i know U2 is not possible on Box, so is MW2.
U2 is not a FPS. FPS cater to the largest audience out there. U2 being available on every platform possible would not matter, it still wouldn't sell as much as MW2.
I have no interest in the game, My focus lies directly at DICE and Bad Company 2. I really enjoyed the SP in BC1 and even though the MP was a little limited in my opinion it was still great.
I just wish that they would start leaking information about the SP campaign sometime soon? I hope to see Haggard, Sweetwater, Sarge and Preston in all their insane glory.
What if MW2 was a PS3 exclusive?:
1) It's gonna be 3 times better than the MW2 we have now
2) The game will still sell more than 10 million but not as high as WaW and MW, this is a huge franchise so if it's exclusive to one console then it's bound to move the console sale.
And bout this game, a 5-7 hours campaign?
Dude, IW are better off making a MMO shooter like MAG if they want to neglect the single player campaign like that.
Last edited by Snaaaake on 11/12/2009 3:57:44 AM
There is NO DOUBT IN MY MIND that exclusives are ten times better than multiplats
Uncharted 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4 is all you need to look at
That said, there are SOME (very few and far between) multiplats which actually reach the level of exclusives, but those are very few.
Thats why Rockstar is busy in silence on AGENT. They found back there love for the Playstation (after going multiplatform with GTA) and decided again to make something exclusive.
What if Criterion could stick to PS3 ? Black 2 should blow us away! But hey, EA decides.
Uncharted 2 is only a step in the right direction. More to follow next year on God of War, Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo and not to forget The Last Guardian…
Last edited by tumbletunnel on 11/12/2009 4:52:35 AM
Ya, I sure hope those PS3 exclusive lineup can convince developers to go BluRay exclusive.
Though for some developer money is all that's in their head.
Oh man, I am so stoked for Last Guardian. I'm pumped for God of War as well, but I probably put more hours into SoTC than both God of Wars combined. Well, at least until next week when the GoW 1&2 pack comes out and I can play them again in HD!!!
i understand why devs go multiplat. You Give your all and design a masterpiece of a game. KZ2 you sell 2 million, Unchartered 2 you sell 1.38 million (so far). Thats the thanks you get. You make an inferior(comparatively) game and make it mutiplat and you rake in the profits eg MW2 3.3 million on ps3 so far. its like a slap in the face for devs. ppl should thank these hardworking devs by buying their games in the millions and in the future you'll see more awesome exclusive games.
Halo and Gears out sell most ps3 exclusives too. I don't know why. Many like them but I don't think they are as good as most of Sony's exclusive line up.
If infinity ward follows the trend of pushing the PS3 limits to its "boundaries" then yes. But if they try to be like HAZE. They can GTFO themselves.
i think that if it were ps3 exclusive, then itd prob look nicer but run exactly the same. The guys up at Infinity Ward dont know enough about the architecture to make it significantly better than the 360 counterpart.
i imagine that after one or two titles, after IW gets their heads around working the PS3 to its potential, the third would blow everyones minds. They'll need to acclimate tho.
Being honest guys this is a silly question
both consoles if they had it as exclusive will most probably had a better looking game.
Some stuff are limited thanks to the 360 but there are limitations thanks to the PS3 also its all about taking advantage of what they do have Ps3 obviously has the cell which allowed us games like uncharted 2
but the 360 it self has a better graphics card so it could do more polys on screen than ps3 (theoretically)
the real disappointment on Microsoft part is there #1 games use a really really crappy engine (Unreal 3)
reason i come out with this is because currently the 360 looks like its hit it limit but have we all forgotten a new engine will be out soon and it's graphics alone are like 2x better than unreal 3 and is arguably better looking than uncharted 2.
Yes Cry engine that engine is sick in detail and its running on both consoles so expect to see even better games in the near future 🙂
Microsoft are just lame and play cheap tactics over and over again, there exclusives are mainly concentrated on one engine aka unreal 3 and it sucks at least Sony developers would actually go as far as to make there own engine to utilize the hardware aka naughty dog
Nope. PS3, due to it's extra-processing power, can do more polygons, since they don't use much RAM. 360, with more usable RAM, can do more textures, but no thanks to the DVD format, can only fit so many per disc.
If it were a PS3 exclusive then would the PSXE community give it the love it deserves?
NO
YES, i believe they would!
It it was a PS3 exclusive, it would look amazing and it would sell soooo little that IW would go out of business…
I mean what the fu** is wrong with this picture? Killzone2 sells only 2 Millions copies since February and this games sells 3 Million copies on the PS3 alone in the first few days…
I'm starting to believe that most people just got the PS3 for Blu-ray movies 🙁
The 360 is a FPS wet dream. You have to realize that a majority of console gamers this generation are FPS whores. The 360 and Live have created a reputation for being THE place to game if you want to FPS online. Don't sweat it, this game doesn't belong on the PS3. I bought my PS3 for games I can't find elsewhere. The 360 is a mini PC, mini in all areas.
Nice to see you back LV!
Haven't see you around much 🙂
The thumbs downs scared me away!
Na, just been busy with school and work the past few weeks. Nice to see I've been missed.
Graphics, sound, and more content.
In other words, a better game.
well if it was ps3 only it might look a little better. but the online community/play still would not be as good as the 360. i wish gears of war was on the ps3 and had its own severs. i was also wondering about the last gen consolses the ps2 and the xbox. if the call of duty of that time was mad what console would look better. it would be the xbox.
i would like to know when they are going to make some games for the ps3 that are in 1080p resolution. they have games in 1080 on the 360
i watched both final fantasy trailers on both my consoles. i do own both. the ps3 was in 720 and the 360 was in 1080 ?. i am begining to think that the ps3 cant process game in 1080. atleast not disk based games.
The playstation 3 is well capable of displaying games in true 1080p. It just depends on the developer whether or not they want the time to make games 1080p native.
About the xbox 360's 1080p output, they're not true 1080p. Xbox 360 games are only 1080p because the xbox 360 has a fancy upscaling function which upscales games to 1080p. So far the highest definition the xbox 360 can output is 720p. It would be difficult to display games in true 1080p on the xbox 360, it at all possible.
Last edited by Andysw on 11/12/2009 4:05:07 PM
Okay, if this was to happen the ps3 would boost sales like crazy and most 360 users would buy one just to play this amazing game. Though it seems far fetched and out of the question to IW, it would be an interesting thing to see the next call of duty a ps3 ( at least something like a map pack or mode ) talk about MW2 crazed!!;)
if MW2 was a PS3 exclusive :
it will have perfect 60fps and no textures pop-in.
and maybe it will also make many PC gamer get mad lol
but if MW2 was a PC exclusive…
wow.. it will be very awesome but will need damn expensive Graphic Card… ugh. (i live in Tropical country, too hot to do overclock)
im glad MW2 was a Multiplatform game. I no need to upgrade my PC to be able to play it 🙂 🙂
happy playing at 1440×900 with 4xAA, max AF, 🙂 🙂 🙂
even my 3years old laptop already can play it on 720p 🙂 🙂 🙂 but of course without AA :p
but damn, why is MW2 only support 18players online?
i usually play MW1 with 50players online.
Last edited by orangpelupa on 11/13/2009 1:01:50 AM
I lol'd so hard at all the comments
both versions had their own dev teams read http://ps3.qj.net/Infinity-Ward-Call-of-Duty-4-for-PS3-had-the-best-coders/pg/49/aid/108287
the fact that Sony's in house teams can make it do a bit more is because they have a bit more backing and it's required to make the PS3 not look like a bad choice compared to the 360 when all the 3rd party games look and run better on 360 even MW2 see here
http://www.lensoftruth.com/?p=16236
anyway it's a great game on either system
@Karosso I think people are buying the PS3 for the blu-ray and play games ever so often. I'm still waiting for their exclusives to sell big numbers. As much as they talk about UC2, I was waiting to hear 3+ million copies sold in a day or so. With games selling more on the 360 it seems to me that there are more 360 sytems on over the PS3.
Quote: "we know for a fact that Modern Warfare 2, despite its visual excellence, cannot compare to Uncharted 2" – I simply do not agree, Ben!
For such a comparison to make any sense you must take into account the playfield size, number of moving/animated objects and visual draw distance. The playfields in U2 are *tiny* compared to mw2, and mostly static (or statically animated, like the train sequence) and designed so that the draw distances are almost always very close.
In this respect I am far more impressed with mw2!
They wouldnt make as much money making it a ps3 exclusive guz sales wouldnt be as high…
@beamboom lmao whoa dude mw2 is nowhere close to uncharted 2 or killzone 2 graphically