Developers Need To Dedicate Time To "Push The PS3"

Many have said the PlayStation 3 is simply the most powerful machine of the generation, and certain developers have often proven the raw potential of Sony's machine ('cough' Naughty Dog 'cough').

But according to Julien Merceron, Worldwide Technical Director for Square Enix, the PS3 has more in the tank, but developers will have to really focus on finding that power. In speaking to Industry Gamers, Merceron first said-

"Some consumers could have gotten the feeling in 2006/2007 that – graphically – Xbox 360 games were more advanced, but today it is quite different in fact!"

As for the future of Sony's machine, Merceron believes more can be done. It's just a matter of continuing to work with the PS3.

"Personally, I’d say that – on PS3 – I believe there are some major improvements that can still be done, taking advantage of parallelisation and using more of the CPU for graphics tasks. At the end of current home Console life cycle, it is very possible consumers might get the feeling PS3 is slightly ahead of Xbox 360 in terms of graphics, but it will only happen if developers dedicate time to really push things on PS3!"

Over the years, we've seen the graphical growth of the PS3; it's similar to the visual advancement we saw in the previous PlayStation generations. However, five years into its lifespan, some have wondered if game designers can do more with the machine...is it tapped out? Are we done? Do we need the PS4 now?

Tags: ps3, playstation 3, square enix, sony, xbox 360

11/4/2011 8:55:47 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (35 posts)

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Kiryu
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 9:30:58 PM
Reply

Final Fantasy versus 13 will stay Exclusive alright!

5 up, 1 down

tes37
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 9:36:17 PM
Reply

They're kind of late to the party it seems. Maybe they overslept.

Does this mean Square Enix is going to ditch multiplatform development? Showing some loyalty to your fellow countrymen would be a move in the right direction for them. Sony could use some rpg's from you SE.

0 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 10:00:46 PM

not as long as wada is in charge. they covet the na market too badly to ignore the 360.

Last edited by Excelsior1 on 11/4/2011 10:04:37 PM

2 up, 0 down

tes37
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 10:03:25 PM

Yes, unfortunately that is the case.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 4:55:59 AM

Also a multiplat developer can dedicate time to push the ps3. In fact, that's how I read these statements.

There should be more to gain by multiplat developers to do so than for the ones writing code for only one platform. After all, they've already dedicated all their time to push the ps3.

Last edited by Beamboom on 11/5/2011 4:59:14 AM

0 up, 0 down

tes37
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 5:17:13 AM

LOL.

Will the multiplat developer dedicate more time to push the ps3? That's unlikely, nobody's done it yet. All we ever see is a minimum amount of effort from these devs.

3 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 3:48:04 PM

If they *all* will do it? That is a different matter of course, but hardly a relevant question.

To indicate that every multiplat developer out there, in other words well above 90% of the entire business, are lazy, minimum effort people are... Well, you need to see the world through a veeeery special pair of glasses then. Sponsored by Sony.

1 up, 0 down

tes37
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 4:18:54 PM

I'll take a pair, especially from Sony. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Naughty Dog, Kojima Productions, Polyphony Digital, Insomniac, and a few others are way ahead of everyone because they did indeed put in the extra effort. They faced the same problems any other developer would and have done an amazingly better job.

I'll keep wearing my Sony glasses and you keep smoking your x-pipe.

1 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Sunday, November 06, 2011 @ 5:09:04 AM

I could of course now easily have namedropped an extensive list of multiplat developers who has done fantastic work this gen and delivered gaming experiences you simply do not find amongst the few exclusives there are. But that won't get us nowhere.

Let me just say that I think even you "Sony advocates" (that was a neutral expression, wasn't it? :)) should appreciate the work of the multiplat devs a bit more. Without them you would not even get your exclusives: The ps3 would have been a deserted platform. That is the reality of today.
Sony understands this. That is why they are so cooperative towards independent and 3rd party (ergo multiplat) developers.

But what is a x-pipe? Something an eks-smoker smokes?

Last edited by Beamboom on 11/6/2011 5:21:39 AM

0 up, 0 down

tes37
Sunday, November 06, 2011 @ 7:54:59 AM

I've had a PS3 since 2007 and it's more than obvious that only the exclusives were taking advantage of it's capabilities. Piss-poor ports seemed to be the in-thing for all the multiplat games and now we have a developer, that after 5 years, tells others it's time to do what should've been done by year 2.

I have multiplat games in my library which I happen to like and they're all outshined by the exclusives. The Microsoft money is wearing thin and so are the skills of those who thumbed their noses at Sony for no good reason. They mocked my choice in consoles and now I'm in the position to return the love.

An x-pipe is a fictitious instrument used for smoking Microsoft tobacco.

Developers are still trying to blow smoke up our *ss by claiming the xbox and PS3 are basically the same as far as capabilities are concerned. My eyes are fine, yet I see something different going on here. They get the game to a point where it runs on the PS3 and stop with no optimization. That's what I meant when I said minimum effort. Not lazy as you said.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Sunday, November 06, 2011 @ 1:17:45 PM

I don't understand why you drag the Xbox into this. I don't own one, never has, the ps3 is my only (and first) console. All my gaming the last 5 years has taken place on the ps3. That is probably why I am so glad most releases are multiplat, else I'd be forced to own more than one platform. Third party developers are not chained to any hardware manufacturer.

I guess we both see what we want to see, tes.
You see sloppy ports, while I see a Battlefield 3 that (according to LensOfTruth) looks and plays better on the ps3 than the x-box.
I see independent multiplat devs on the digital scene giving psn some of the best games we can download on that network.

I see a ultra-traditional PC developer named Crytek taking their time to craft an awesome engine also for the ps3, and with that giving us not one but TWO of the best fps experiences so far this year (according to metascore) - one of them as downloadable at 1/3 of normal retail price on psn, the other one being the best fps I've played so far on the ps3 (personal opinion of course).

You see hatred towards the ps3, I see pure market mechanics.

I don't see developers claiming the two have equal capabilities. What I see is developers saying that they find the PS3 to be rather hard to develop on because of the difference from the hardware they are most used to write code for. That's an honest thing to say, and does not mean they don't try - quite the contrary.

Last edited by Beamboom on 11/6/2011 1:56:05 PM

0 up, 0 down

Soultaker
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 9:37:31 PM
Reply

Thats what they said about FFXIII and look what happend haha. I even remember them saying the graphics werent possible on the 360 or something but give them enough money anythings possible eh SE.

1 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 9:49:03 PM
Reply

Earlier I was playing Uncharted3 and found myself simply walking around and admiring the scenery. It's such a beautiful game and a perfect example of how far graphics have been pushed since the PS1 days. I remember when all the talk was polygon count, with little to no mention of lighting.

2 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 9:53:46 PM
Reply

no kidding developers need to dedicate time to push the ps3. the sad fact is a lot of them do not either becuase they don't have the knowledge or becuase they don't think it's worth their time. there are a several that are on my list of lazy developers. ubisoft are the masters of screen tearing. so many torn frames in ac2. bethesda are the masters of frame rate problems and game freezes. i can not tell you how many times fallout 3 clunked along at 5fps or froze up on me. sometimes i would lose hours of gameplay :(. great game but obviously not optimised for the ps3. why can't all games look and run as good as kz3?

Last edited by Excelsior1 on 11/4/2011 9:55:58 PM

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 5:02:40 AM

They all can't because the all don't want to make a game as railed, linear and small-mapped as KZ3. Simple as that :)

One might ask ourselves, why are there no open world, Fallout sized exclusives? My theory is that it cost too much to create compared to the potential income, and they would not be able to make it look as impressive, and Sony don't want that.
Only a theory of course. It does puzzle me though.

Last edited by Beamboom on 11/5/2011 5:07:12 AM

0 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 7:36:47 AM

i think kz3 was so railed to accomaadate the move. that game is almost criminaly linear. absolutley killed the sp campign for me.

2 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 3:54:40 PM

I suspect a good share of the blame have to be put on Move too. But I don't think that's the entire reason. In order to squeeze that much detailed graphics through the engine I believe you simply *have* to restrict the movement and keep the player in a tight leash.

I do regret trading in the game though. I think I should have given the MP part of kz3 more of a chance.

Last edited by Beamboom on 11/5/2011 3:54:46 PM

0 up, 0 down

Clamedeus
Sunday, November 06, 2011 @ 10:26:21 PM

(I haven't played KZ3 yet but this is probably the case)

I agree with Beamboom.

That the amount of stuff going on, and the detail of the graphics is probably why it's so linear, because if they opened it up more I believe something would have to be downgraded. Not a big amount of FPS big open world games have very good graphics (Not saying KZ is open world though) so something has to give or be cut loose.

And I don't mind linear games either, I bet I would enjoy playing KZ3.

Last edited by Clamedeus on 11/6/2011 10:27:23 PM

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 10:03:34 PM
Reply

A sign of things to come from Square-Enix until the launch of the next console generation? Have they finally realised that the majority of their fans remain in the Playstation family? Will they at least lead on PS3 from now on? I can only hope, but their purchase of Eidos makes their move to appeal to the western market ever more apparent. On the other hand, it means that they have games that will sell here being developed by a dedicated team, so perhaps the original S-E can quit with the attempts at worldwide penetration and go back to what they're good at. Hmm...

0 up, 0 down

cLoudou
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 10:07:20 PM
Reply

Haha, I find it funny because SE has made, how many, PS3 games.

4 up, 0 down

gray_eagle
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 10:12:52 PM
Reply

imo, pretty hard for multiplat devs to push the ps3 unless a multiplat
game has two or more discs for the 360.

3 up, 2 down

wenezz
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 11:20:16 PM
Reply

developers need to put their xbox development kits(xdk) in the closet and bring out the big guns.... the ps3 kit and start making some real games.

6 up, 0 down

godsman
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 11:33:07 PM
Reply

It's hard for developers to really push the PS3 when almost all 3rd party developers are multi platform. It took the Uncharted series 7-years to look the way it does now. Each game, Naughty Dog refines the engine to really push the PS3. Only 1st party developers can get the support and dedication to spend that much time on one platform.

4 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 5:11:30 AM

Good post. It puts things into perspective.
They probably do need to be sponsored by Sony to be able to spend that much work on one platform and squeeze out those visuals. I think you got a point there.

1 up, 1 down

PharaohJR
Friday, November 04, 2011 @ 11:55:59 PM
Reply

i figured the ps3 has yet to reach max. reason being, the further we go into systems that allow more depth & detail of graphics more time will be required to capitalize.

0 up, 0 down

godsdream
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 1:47:34 AM
Reply

IMHO the PS3 has something between 10 and 15 percent more in the graphics to give. The question is will there be enough time to develop to get there?

Last edited by godsdream on 11/5/2011 1:47:55 AM

0 up, 0 down

___________
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 2:59:52 AM
Reply

thanks $E for yet again stating the obvious!
gee, amazing how much 6 years can change!

0 up, 0 down

dmiitrie
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 4:14:35 AM
Reply

S-E has never had any problems making a great looking game. Until they remember how to make a great PLAYING game though, I don't have much interest in anything they have to say.

2 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 2:43:03 PM
Reply

Thank goodness for the strong lineup of Sony produced games to help remind us of what's possible on PS3 when optimized. Games like God of War, Uncharted, Heavy Rain, KZ, Ratchet: CiT, and Gran Turismo are a step or two above the best 360 can muster from what I can recognize. Not to say 360 hasn't come a ways itself, Gears 3, Rage and to an extent Forza 4, have demonstrated clear technological advancements from the years prior.
I do think it's too bad the FF games (long time a PS hallmark games) are no longer getting the most from the hardware generation they belong to. FF13 looked nice, but it could've, would've, should've looked better given the disc storage and CPU calculations that were no doubt in excess, given the static nature of the environments and the inherent lesser interaction with world objects.

Last edited by Temjin001 on 11/5/2011 2:46:41 PM

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Saturday, November 05, 2011 @ 5:48:38 PM
Reply

Actually, this was just a tiny segment of a much larger article that Industrygamers did with Julien Merceron, Worldwide Technology Director for Square Enix Group, along with Michael Condrey, Co-founder / VP of Product Development, Sledgehammer Games, Yosuke Hayashi, Team Ninja leader; and also Matt Bilbey, VP, GM Soccer, from EA Sports.

The entire article, which is an interesting read, is here....

"Game Consoles: How Much Horsepower Is Left This Gen?"

http://www.industrygamers.com/news/game-consoles-how-much-horsepower-is-left-this-gen/

0 up, 0 down

rcrodgers
Sunday, November 06, 2011 @ 12:18:55 PM
Reply

I think what Square says on this issue is true. A friend (who works as an artist in the video game industry) and I have come to the conclusion that most of the multiplatform games look better on the 360 not because 360 is better or even that they're developing for the least common denominator, but because companies aren't spending the time to properly utilize the PS3's power and graphic capabilities. We've seen what the PS3 can do in MGS4, the Uncharted series, and other PS3 exclusives, so we know the power and capabilities are there; the multiplatform developers just need to stop being lazy where the PS3 is concerned. If they don't know how to do something in particular, then they need to seek Sony's assistance instead of sending out a mediocre version.

2 up, 1 down

Ather
Sunday, November 06, 2011 @ 7:41:23 PM
Reply

Sony said PS3 had a 10 year lifespan, but they seem ready to call it quits after 6 years. Why trust them ever again? They overcharged at first, justifying it because it'll last 10 years. But if they release PS4 before another 5 years, we'll see their true greed.

Which is all it is. 5 years per console is ridiculous at best. You update when developers squeeze out the very last improvement from a system. Not some arbitrary date so a greedy corporation can make money. This is why the world's economy is history. People spent like money is unlimited. There'll always be more in their wallets. So, buy buy buy. Buy a new system. Buy lots of games for it. 5 years later, do it all again. Each generation, the price rises. But hey, let's spend spend spend. Money can't run out.

Rare did amazing work with the SNES right as everybody said it was done. Who knows what today's Rare could do, if they'd only bother to try.

0 up, 2 down

SS4
Sunday, November 06, 2011 @ 10:08:49 PM
Reply

Lol, its like saying there is more gas left in My p4 or Atlhon X2.

No, they dont need more time, the architecture is old now, but yes it was the most powerful console this generation for sure.

It potential wouldnt been reached long ago if not for pesky multiplat. That is the real killer by releasing games on less powerful machine you have to cut down on a few (Lets even say a lot of things).

We are seeing the same things now with Computer games release on console as well. No real graphical advance can be made until we get a PS4 even if we have video card 10 times more powerful available...

To conclude, yes maybe the PS3 hasnt been fully exploited, but no its not a time issue. The market and consumer did that to themselves by supporting less powerful console with same games. Look at how great PS3 exclusive look. Now that is exploiting the PS3 architecture.

So for the next gen if millions of people buy into the less powerful console we can expect the same sub par graphical prowess from lots of games compared to what they could be.

0 up, 0 down

SS4
Sunday, November 06, 2011 @ 10:53:37 PM
Reply

Just realized a few typos there. like Its potential and Would've been... Sry english is my second language so things come out weird when i type fast :P

0 up, 0 down

Zubair
Monday, November 07, 2011 @ 3:52:38 AM
Reply

Multiplat keeps development thresholds low, we need more PS3 exclusives from developers. The next XBox 720 or whatever will allow PS3 games to look better from a multi plat perspective. XBox limitations is the reason behind lack of PS3 development brilliance.

2 up, 1 down

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