PS2 Couldn't Handle Disgaea 3

Disgaea 3

We know what you're thinking: NIS doesn't need the power of the PlayStation 3 to produce most of their games; they're just not graphically intensive. After all, we're usually only talking about something "simple," like the sprites in Disgaea 3, right? So why not just make the game for the PS2 with its installed user base of 120 million? Because they can't, that's why.

Joystiq spoke to the marketing coordinator at NIS, Jack Niida, and asked him some visual questions, including the one above. Niida said the PS2 simply doesn't have the "processing power and memory capacity to support Disgaea 3." Furthermore, the "PS2 could not load the same amount of data on to memory and process it like the PS3; therefore, we decided to develop it for the next-gen platform." That's right; this new game may not look too different based on early screenshots, but make no mistake: character sprites in this one "take 3-4 times the amount of labor to create compared to Disgaea 2." Now, we're just assuming this means those sprites will look that much better, and NIS actually has a firm handle on the PS3's architecture. Niida didn't mention any roadblocks in development, so we're hoping the team is doing well with the hardware.

But either way, it's interesting to learn that even with strategy/RPG titles, developers are really working to increase the visual excellence. It's not absolutely necessary, but hey, effort is effort, and we're definitely looking forward to Disgaea 3.

Related Game(s): Disgaea 3

3/11/2008 Ben Dutka

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