PS3 vs 360 : A developers POV

sanofi

sanofi

sanofi

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As long as consoles have existed, discussions, debates, arguments, fights, and all out WARS have taken place over who makes the best video game units. Growing up, I was always a Nintendo fan boy; I didn't want to hear anything about Sega Genesis... In my mind, Nintendo had Mario, Zelda, and other great first-party titles. Sega had Sonic, and red blood.

Things are slightly more complicated these days however. Console makers are taking different approaches to designing their products; some go for hardcore processing power, others focus more on online gaming. We already have a heated debate going on in our forum about which console is better, PS3 or XBOX 360.

I thought it would be a good idea to ask my friend, who is a lead programmer for a large gaming company that produces games for both PS3 and XBOX 360. He has also worked on PS2, XBOX 1, and PC games in the past 6-or-so years. Obviously, considering his position working with both consoles and both Sony and Microsoft, he doesn't want to step on any toes, so wishes to remain anonymous at this time. Here are his thoughts on the subject:
PS3 vs. XBOX 360

Being a video game developer (I develop for both, Playstation 3 and XBOX 360) people ask me almost daily which platform I think is better. These are my personal feelings, in no way does this reflect my employer.

Short answer: XBOX 360.

Long answer: Price, performance, visual quality, game selection and online support. I think the XBOX 360 wins in every category.

Price: This is obvious; the XBOX 360 core is only $299. The PS3 is around $499 for the 20GB version. It comes with a hard drive, but you don’t need a hard drive to enjoy a lot of great games on the 360 so I think it’s fair to compare both core systems.

Performance: On paper, the PS3 is more powerful. In reality, it’s quite inferior to the 360. Without getting into too many details, the three general-purpose CPU’s the xbox360 has are currently FAR easier to take advantage of than the SPU’s on the PS3. I suspect a few years down the road some high budget, first party PS3 exclusive titles will come out that really take advantage of the SPU’s and do things the XBOX 360 can’t, but I don’t think the console is worth buying based on this speculation (for some it will be though, we'll have to wait and see how these games turn out).

Graphics: The XBOX 360 is a clear winner. The GPU is more powerful. It has more powerful fillrate, and far more pixel and vertex processing horsepower. Part of the reason is their choice of memory, and architecture of pixel and vertex procesing. I can’t get into details but the same vertex shader will run much slower on the PS3 than the XBOX 360. The 360 also has a clever new way rendering high definition anti aliased back buffers. To accomplish the same effect on PS3 is prohibitively expensive. For this reason I think many games will have no choice but to run in non-HD resolutions on the PS3 version, use a lower quality anti aliasing technique, or do back buffer upscaling. The end result in all cases is going to be noticeably worse image quality.

Game Selection: The XBOX 360 has a huge head start here. 1 year is an eternity in gaming. Almost all multi-platform developers have made the XBOX 360 their primary platform due to timing of release-to-market, this means the games will look and perform better on the 360. The PS3 versions will be ports of the 360 versions. (The opposite was true for XBOX 1 vs. PS2). The XBOX 360 is also far faster to develop for due to better development tools (massively popular Visual Studio .NET vs. proprietary, buggy PS3 compiler and debugger), better documentation, and easier architecture (3 general purpose CPU’s vs. 8 specialized processors that require DMA). Timing has also caused all next-gen middleware developers to make XBOX 360 their primary platform, and they will ‘add ps3 support’ as needed. This support will probably be inferior to the XBOX 360’s due to manpower and more importantly, demand. It’s this catch-22 now that will continue to drive the 360 forward and hold PS3 back.

The other obvious point here is that right now the Xbox360 already has a very impressive line-up of titles on store shelves; the ps3 just launched, and has virtually nothing of interest. Also, many 360 games are already discounted ($35 for Fight Night 3 on Amazon). PS3 games are all full price since it just launched.



Live: Microsoft’s online support with XBOX1 was phenomenal. They built in-house experience, user base, facilities, $$ commitment from executive level (since it proved successful), and most importantly, feedback from 100,000s of XBOX Live subscribers. Playstation 2’s online support sucked. They are now playing catch-up, trying to emulate Xbox’s model. But they had their hands tied just trying to make the PS3 work, it was incredibly ambitious (blu-ray etc.). I haven’t seen it yet, but I seriously doubt the quality will be anywhere to the level of XBOX 360.

HD Content: The PS3 comes with one built in (blu-ray). The XBOX 360 offers HD-DVD as an add-on for $200. You probably don’t care about HD-DVD right now. But you will soon (The quality between DVD and HD is comparable to VHS vs DVD, if you have the right TV) so I suggest paying attention to the war that’s begun. There are two formats: HD-DVD and BLU-RAY. Basically if you rent a BLU-RAY DVD from Bockbuster, it won’t play in your XBOX 360 HD-DVD, and vice versa with the PS3. The implications of this format war would require another article on its own. But as far as the consoles are concerned, the XBOX 360 wins because the DVD player is a separate unit. Playing movies is very taxing on the DVD reader, and let’s face it. In 3 years when your PS3 DVD drive goes out due to playing lots of movies (PS2 was notoriously bad about this) you will have to go buy another PS3. With the 360, you’ll just chuck your HD-DVD player, and go buy another one at the store. In 3 years standalone units wlil probably only cost about $99-150. Another point for the XBOX 360, is that I don’t know who will win the format-war, so I would rather wait with purchase of a HD player. The PS3 doesn’t give you this option.

PS3 controversy: Shootings, Wallmart fights, $15,000 Ebay sales etc. My advice is ignore it. It will pass soon.
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Interesting article, the xbox does have so many major advantages. The only thing it doesnt have is SONY's blind brand loyalty, which is what they will be damaging right now. Im interested in the next console generation.
 
Arclite said:
Hardly a comparison, more of a biased review!
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Aint they all, less than 3 posts from now the word fanboy will be used and the thread will implode on itself from there. Its getting to ne repetitive now :(

I think the words fanboy should be banned like manure is in sport. It doesnt do any of the threads any good.
 
Arclite said:
Hardly a comparison, more of a biased review!
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Need a tissue?
tissue.gif
 
although i agree with some points, such as the strength of the 360's games catalogue, some of the points are just plain odd. I can't see why having the hd-dvd unit seperate is a bonus, it just means more clutter. The point about the drive being easy to replace, well I'd assume my 360 would bust before then! Having one unit (the ps3) to play games and movies appeals to me personally. Presumably this is what microsoft will be targeting if/when they rerelease the 360 with an integral hd-dvd drive.
 
surfsquid said:
although i agree with some points, such as the strength of the 360's games catalogue, some of the points are just plain odd. I can't see why having the hd-dvd unit seperate is a bonus, it just means more clutter. The point about the drive being easy to replace, well I'd assume my 360 would bust before then! Having one unit (the ps3) to play games and movies appeals to me personally. Presumably this is what microsoft will be targeting if/when they rerelease the 360 with an integral hd-dvd drive.
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More to the point what does the HD-DVD have to do with developers, they can't use it and according to MS, they never will be (yeah right).
Also, playing DVD's is stressfull on a DVD player? come onnnnnnn i have CD players DVD players etc been used for years, not one hitch.

Everyone knew the xbox 360 would be easier to program for. The xbox was also easier to program for than the PS2 iirc.
Maybe this just means that things like crazy frog racer games will come out on the 360 and the PS3 will just get titles which are more selective. Wouldn't be a bad thing. And its already happening. Easy to program for, you get games from burger king!
 
JUMPURS said:
Everyone knew the xbox 360 would be easier to program for. The xbox was also easier to program for than the PS2 iirc.
Maybe this just means that things like crazy frog racer games will come out on the 360 and the PS3 will just get titles which are more selective. Wouldn't be a bad thing. And its already happening. Easy to program for, you get games from burger king!
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Some of the things you come out with Jumpers are borderline moronic, they really are.
 
That whole review doesn't seem real to me... it stinks like that 'all I want for xmas is a PSP' site did of having been written by the benefactor.

I think the 360 is a decent console but that review just doesn't read right, I mean it's worded like an advert for **** sake!
 
Joebob said:
That whole review doesn't seem real to me... it stinks like that 'all I want for xmas is a PSP' site did of having been written by the benefactor.

I think the 360 is a decent console but that review just doesn't read right, I mean it's worded like an advert for **** sake!
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Are there any specific points you would like to refute with evidence that they are wrong? Or just discredit the whole document?
 
gord said:
Are there any specific points you would like to refute with evidence that they are wrong? Or just discredit the whole document?
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I'm not talking about any points he is making but the way the thing is written overall... it just doesn't seem to sit right - I can't quite put my finger on it, but something but it seems false! Sorry, just my opinion.

I have read many reviews by all sorts either slating the PS3 or praising the PS3 and have agreed or disagreed with many points, but this is the first one I have read which sounds like it's come straight from the laptop from someone in Microsoft PR department.

That kind of stuff does actually happen you know, Sony were unfortunate enough to get caught with the whole 'All I want for Xmas..' thing!
 
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It's the person opinion, some of you think it's amazing other as in this review think it's not so amazing. Why can't people just live with how they personally feel about it.
 
Mr Latte said:
Your all being a pack of asswipes...

Seriously though how longs it all going to go on for,,,, havnt any of you had enough yet?
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You not feeling yourself tonight Mr Latte? You're normally in here with the ruckus fighting it out!
 
Well, after reading through the review. I'd like to bring up a few points.

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Performance: On paper, the PS3 is more powerful. In reality, it’s quite inferior to the 360.

Without getting into too many details, the three general-purpose CPU’s the xbox360 has are currently FAR easier to take advantage of than the SPU’s on the PS3.
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--

Here is where my first problem is, He's giving a performance analysis. Yet he doesnt comment on actual performance. He comments on coding. Performance wise, If coding was done correctly, The 7 cell processor would be a better performer than the 3 core.

--

I suspect a few years down the road some high budget, first party PS3 exclusive titles will come out that really take advantage of the SPU’s and do things the XBOX 360 can’t, but I don’t think the console is worth buying based on this speculation (for some it will be though, we'll have to wait and see how these games turn out).
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-

Metal Gear Solid 4 impliments Cell technology, It's one of the main points that kojima productions has been pushing about the game. It's also looking stunning, and i'm sure if they can do it other companies can.

I mean these reviews are talking like programmers have a choice! If they are told to code for 7 cells and they want a job, They damn well better do it! and if they don't know how, then they will find themselves jobless and someone who can do it will be in their place!

--
Graphics: The XBOX 360 is a clear winner. The GPU is more powerful. It has more powerful fillrate, and far more pixel and vertex processing horsepower. Part of the reason is their choice of memory, and architecture of pixel and vertex procesing. I can’t get into details but the same vertex shader will run much slower on the PS3 than the XBOX 360. The 360 also has a clever new way rendering high definition anti aliased back buffers. To accomplish the same effect on PS3 is prohibitively expensive. For this reason I think many games will have no choice but to run in non-HD resolutions on the PS3 version, use a lower quality anti aliasing technique, or do back buffer upscaling. The end result in all cases is going to be noticeably worse image quality.
Click to expand...

Can't really argue with this, Yes the graphics processing unit is better on the xbox, and the bandwidth is also 'wider' which is where the slowing on PS3 comes from. At this moment in time, With games that arent coded for Cell we'll see the PS3 not looking as pretty as the 360. Now I do think tho, In the future *glares into his crystal ball* That as games become more and more complex that the 360 will have to reduce graphics to compensate for the highly complex gaming physics, Where as the PS3 will keep the same graphics as it currently has, And the cell will take care of any physics, etc. I'm not saying the graphics will be better on the PS3, at this point, I'm sure they will be quite similar.


HD Content: The PS3 comes with one built in (blu-ray). The XBOX 360 offers HD-DVD as an add-on for $200. You probably don’t care about HD-DVD right now. But you will soon (The quality between DVD and HD is comparable to VHS vs DVD, if you have the right TV) so I suggest paying attention to the war that’s begun. There are two formats: HD-DVD and BLU-RAY. Basically if you rent a BLU-RAY DVD from Bockbuster, it won’t play in your XBOX 360 HD-DVD, and vice versa with the PS3. The implications of this format war would require another article on its own. But as far as the consoles are concerned, the XBOX 360 wins because the DVD player is a separate unit. Playing movies is very taxing on the DVD reader, and let’s face it. In 3 years when your PS3 DVD drive goes out due to playing lots of movies (PS2 was notoriously bad about this) you will have to go buy another PS3. With the 360, you’ll just chuck your HD-DVD player, and go buy another one at the store. In 3 years standalone units wlil probably only cost about $99-150. Another point for the XBOX 360, is that I don’t know who will win the format-war, so I would rather wait with purchase of a HD player. The PS3 doesn’t give you this option.
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Terrible! You'll have to buy another PS3 in 3 years when the DVD drive dies. But when the HD Drive dies you'll just have to replace the HD-DVD??

What a load of crap! Has he been borrowing my crystal ball??

A PS3 is designed as a gaming machine, If you put in a game it will run, after 3 years of gaming it should still run games! I understand this guy is talking DVD's but the comment is still the same! The drive is designed to take a battering(a lot of usage, Not covering them in batter and deep frying) He's clutching at straws with this comment.

Now as for

Game Selection:
Live:
Price:

I completely agree. :)

--

Constructive critisism is welcome. :)

Fanboys i'll eat your new borns ;)
 
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