IGN- Playstation 3: The Tech

In the same form as the other IGN thread, but this time the editors give their opinion on the technology.  Again, I\'ve only pulled out a few quotes, to get the whole story please read the article.

These are guys who report on the industry so I\'m inclined to listen...

>>>Link<<<

The questions:

What kind of technology do you think the PS3 will have when it\'s announced? Do you think it\'ll be enough to surpass the Xbox 2 and Revolution? And What features does it absolutely need to be #1 in the market?

I\'m going to go out on a limb here and speculate that PlayStation 3 will be at least one billion times more powerful than the next Xbox. At least. But probably closer to five billion times more powerful. Because I\'m speculating, there are no bounds to what I say, but it also doesn\'t matter anyway.

Technology? Who cares?

Oh right, everyone except me. Actually, I am excited to see next-generation games, but I don\'t really care about guessing what sort of hardware they\'re going to run on. Dual ten zillion gigafartz processors? 1024 megs of HAM? These boring details only have a chance at being interesting once they\'re actually final, and even then I\'m way more interested in seeing the actual games. If I\'m going to speculate on their hardware before Sony utters a peep, I\'m just going to go crazy (as evidenced above) because I really, really don\'t care.

(But please call me quick when Konami shows off Zone of the Enders 3 on PS3. That will crack my stone face of indifference into a warm smile.)

--Mark Ryan Sallee, Editor, IGN Guides

I\'m expecting good graphics, very good graphics, but all I really want to ask for right now is some broadband support right away. And I want some real online support this time, too. We need some sort of Live-type service coming from Sony where it\'s possible to see others online if they\'re not playing the exact same game and in the exact same room at the time.

We\'ve had promises of a "Cyberworld" and been told to look out for micropayments. If this cyberworld means playing with my buddies in New York and being able to download hot new levels for a buck a pop, then I\'m down. Just make it smooth.

--Ed Lewis, Editor, IGNPS2

Dan Adams, Editor-in-Chief, IGNPC
Does it have an EasyBake Oven? If it doesn\'t then I don\'t want it.

Ivan Sulic, Editor, IGNPS2
Okay, let\'s get a few things straight here... Mark, shut up. Har! Seriously though, I think your vague implication that hardware is hardly relevant so long as quality titles come from talented developers is inane, since hardware is exactly what allows talented developers to make quality titles (as a general rule). Sure, exceptions like MGS are boss on failing silicon, but what if some more powerful platform were the lead SKU for stellar games of the type? While I do agree that arguing specific FLOPS and bits and gigatexels is hardly worth the time, I can understand and appreciate how important the technology behind the next generation is, since the technology is exactly what determines the face of the next-generation.

While we\'re on the line, I\'ll bet good money that PS3 will not be noticeably superior to Xbox-Whatever-the-Nuts. And, even if it were, we\'d hardly know it. I offer up three main reasons to support this assertion.

1) Anonymous AAA developers I\'ve spoken to all concur that the next-generation of platforms will be comparable in performance -- seems like they\'d be the ones to know.

2) Even if the systems are not comparable, Microsoft has a leg up with its standardized DX / XNA development environments. This means that everything developers have learned over the past 10 years creating games on PC and Xbox will almost immediately apply to the more accessible Xbox-Please-Give-Me-An-Official-Name-That-Doesn\'t-Suck-Butt successor. Basically, on Day One we could conceivably have the technical equivalent of 2nd to 3rd generation games, since developers should theoretically already be familiar with what\'s being offered. Thus, even if PS3 is marginally more powerful, those games built on X2 to compete with its launch might still rival them technically.

3) The nature and cost of technology does not allow for such a significant leap in performance in such a short window of time. PS3 is rumored to be no more than one year away from Xbox 2 launch. A year is not enough time to allow for the revolutionary advancements some people are hoping for, especially when the basic PS3 specifications are already being pinned down.

Uh... What else were we talking about?

Oh yeah! What do I want out of PS3 hardware at launch? I want...


Instant wireless compatibility with PSP.

Packed in wireless controllers.

Full HD support (1080i / p, 720p).

Full 8.1 audio.

Mandatory HD and 8.1 audio support.

And graphics that make me want to abuse my system...sexually.

I don\'t know what other questions we have to answer, but I\'d like to add that Dan is masquerading as Dan, and so qualifies for no fifteen minute cupcakes.

--Ivan Sulic, Editor, IGNPS2

The very best games this generation have been on the PlayStation 2 and the Game Boy Advance, the two technologically weakest systems of the four main platforms. Sure, new hardware will definitely allow developers to dabble in new concepts, but I\'m interested in those concepts and games, not the hardware behind them.

--Mark Ryan

Well, I have to disagree with Ivan. Every developer I\'ve talked to has indicated that PlayStation 3 is considerably more powerful than the successor to Xbox. Studios say that PS3\'s CPU runs circles around the Xbox chipset. Just totally demolishes it. However, Xenon\'s GPU is supposedly marginally more powerful than PS3\'s -- at least at this point. Devs say it\'s not going to matter much in the end regardless because so much can be done with the CPU. But anyway...



I\'m not sure that we\'ll be able to tell a major difference right off the bat. I expect that the first generation of PlayStation 3 games will in many cases simply be slightly more polished Xenon ports. I think that -- since PS3 is once more going to be a bitch to develop for -- we won\'t really start to see this thing shine until it has a couple of years under its belt. And then, yes, I absolutely think you\'ll be able to tell a difference.

People made the same argument -- that these machines would all balance out in the end -- for this generation. But I don\'t see PS2 spitting out normal-mapped games like Chronicles of Riddick on Xbox. Because it can\'t. There\'s going to come a point -- and I\'d wager the gap will be bigger -- when the successor to Xbox won\'t be able to do what developers can pull of on PlayStation 3.

It\'ll be interesting to watch how that plays out, especially since Microsoft made a name for Xbox in many ways because it was the most powerful console. Anybody who thinks Xenon is going to again rule the throne in technology is just plain dreaming.

What do I want out of my PS3? Well, I\'m a tech nut, so everything sounds nice. Give me full 720p and 1080i support in games. Give me fully high-def Blu-ray movies. Dolby Digital 5.1 or better, yes. Wireless controllers. Memory Stick support. UMD support. And beyond that, pure power, which it seems like PS3 will have. Big processing. Big bandwidth. A rumored 512MBs of RAM -- twice that of Xenon. And lots of hardware based features.

--Matt Casamassina, Editor-in-Chief, IGN Cube

Ivan Sulic
Copy-burgler! My ideas are not good and you know it, so don\'t copy, copy-jerk!

Seriously though, that\'s actually a little weird, Matt. I honestly haven\'t heard from anyone that PS3 whoops Xbox Whatever (and I\'ve spoken to a lot of folks, though I doubt they\'d like me to name them here). What I did once hear was how the PS2 could be used to render Jurassic Park and Star Wars in real-time!

Basically, I remember Microsoft being super honest with me about what it had with the original Xbox and developers being just as candid. I also remember Sony saying a lot silly things about Emotion and missile guidance systems with PS2 and developers saying, "I can\'t get no damn anti-aliasing." I\'m not keen on trusting the hype machine twice. Every X2 developer I know says the system is solid and the next-generation of gaming will be so similar it won\'t even matter. I got to trust that...for now at least.

--Ivan Sulic

There\'s more, you\'ll have to read it for yourself.

"The nature and cost of technology does not allow for such a significant leap in performance in such a short window of time. PS3 is rumored to be no more than one year away from Xbox 2 launch. A year is not enough time to allow for the revolutionary advancements some people are hoping for, especially when the basic PS3 specifications are already being pinned down."

Does that look familiar to any of you browsing the other thread?  I\'ll just have to keep that to cut and paste from now on.


I want:
HD resolution
Wi-Fi out of the box
Blu-Ray player (and I hope it becomes the new standard in the mean time)
Wireless controllers
Hard Drive
On-line service like Live with the whole Marketplace type set up

Oh, and some new games from the people at Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog.  I just love them:)

One year cant do anything? Bah. Im not arguing on that topic.

Oh yeah! What do I want out of PS3 hardware at launch? I want...


Instant wireless compatibility with PSP.

Packed in wireless controllers.

Full HD support (1080i / p, 720p).

Full 8.1 audio.

Mandatory HD and 8.1 audio support.

And graphics that make me want to abuse my system...sexually.

Thats right.

One of two things is going on with Matt Casamassina.

1) His frustration with Nintendo has pushed him into the open arms of Sony/MS

2) He is trying to keep his expectations EXTREMELY low for the Revolution so that if it is at all decent he becomes pleasantly surprised.

That dude used to be one of the biggest Nintendo fans in existence.

They are all opinions and there is also someone who sais that the difference between the PS3 and XBOX2 will be very noticable.


None of these statements mean anything

^The consoles of every generation have been comparable.  If history repeats itself, and it usually does, then I think those people expecting a godsend of difference from either side are going to be disappointed.  

*shrugs

They\'re full of it !

Also, lets keep it to PS3 speculation, ok ?

Ok, we have :

- developers having a DECADE of PS2 emotion engine coding expierence.

- Nvidia succeeding Toshiba as the main developer for PS3\'s GPU and graphics developer library

- Rambus with their Xdram and FlexO routing tech.

Those 3, are imo very important items for PS3.

Developers won\'t face an ultra steep learning curve anymore becuz Cell tech is in line with EE development at which most developers have become quite savvy.

In any case they have Nvidia onboard who have years of expierence in graphics development tools (OpenGL & Cg language) for PS3\'s GPU. As console graphics approach CGi more and more this is a huge benefit over Ati who can\'t get their OpenGL and Linux stuff straight. Nvidia\'s very very strong at Maya, 3DsMax and the likes of Dcc software.  

Really, for Nvidia this as an opportunity to punch Ati 6 foot under, becuz this round of consoles will be testing ground for the next generation of high end PC GPU\'s. Nvidia\'s commitment to PS3 is like a sniper waiting all these years after the Geforce FX debacle to get even. NV40 is just only the beginning of regaining the graphics \'crown\'. ( very happy with my 6800GT, btw )

For Rambus this is also a major comeback opportunity with their XDRam  tech. Thanx to the FlexO technology they can keep the routings on the PCB uneven in length thus it won\'t need a big PCB. I\'ll bet Nvidia\'s keen on this stuff becuz if they can get Xdram for their next gen PC GPU\'s that\'ll be the end of huge and hot Nvidia pc gpu\'s.

The Cell technology stands or falls by the number of the cell units which make it into PS3 so that\'s the only wildcard element for PS3 imo.

Sure, Xenon will be very nice and very good, but imho PS3\'ll be phenomenal.
(of course, if i claim PS2 can rival Xbox graphics most\'ll say i\'m insane... so same rules maybe apply to Xenon vs PS3...)

One year cant do anything? Bah. Im not arguing on that topic.

Heh, where did you read that?

The resounding and almost synomynous opinion is that one year can\'t bring about a "revolution" in technology.  Differences, better hardware, more graphic goodies?  Yes, look at the GC and Xbox.  That was a year and a half, however that doesn\'t look to me like it was enough time to trample the PS2.

Originally posted by Knotter8
Really, for Nvidia this as an opportunity to punch Ati 6 foot under, becuz this round of consoles will be testing ground for the next generation of high end PC GPU\'s. Nvidia\'s commitment to PS3 is like a sniper waiting all these years after the Geforce FX debacle to get even. NV40 is just only the beginning of regaining the graphics \'crown\'. ( very happy with my 6800GT, btw )

I suppose if you think ATi has been sitting on their asses for past few years then yeah, Nvidia will be dA-ub3R-mEG@ p0werFULL and K1ng!

(of course, if i claim PS2 can rival Xbox graphics most\'ll say i\'m insane... so same rules maybe apply to Xenon vs PS3...)

I\'d say it makes more sense than some people here.

What is the big difference between Xbox and PS2?  I\'m not talking about the little graphic tricks, I\'m asking what of the two consoles sets them apart as to declare one a "phenomenal" victor?

I own all three consoles and even though the GC and Xbox are 18 months newer I don\'t see their games graphically or otherwise demolishing my PS2 games.

Why do YOU think that is?

[Evi]

IGN is gay.

I\'m going to go out on a limb here and speculate that PlayStation 3 will be at least one billion times more powerful than the next Xbox.

An impressive Cell article which makes more sense than any of IGN\'s babble :

@ anandtech

:thepimp:

[Kurt Angle]

Allegedly stolen from an E3 brochure.
:sconf:

well, it\'s very hard to tell the dimensions of it
but im very impressed

(although i think it\'s fake)

[Bobs_Hardware]

Mmm..

And I thought they were trying to swerve away from the numbering system?

Assuming that that thing was real, would that mean that all the controllers are wireless?

so if this is legit, it looks like you can play psp games on this thing too?

it looks kinda like a projector

While it looks small and compact. It just looks completely stupid. I hope the ps3 looks nothing like that.

I am hoping for something simular to current smaller ps2.