BioWare: Next-Gen Graphics Leap Not As Significant As Before
See Full ImageBased on the newly announced PlayStation 4 hardware, statements like this do make plenty of good sense.
While the PS4 is certainly powerful, skeptics have noted that it doesn't boast that next-level tech we're used to seeing from the PlayStation brand. And now, BioWare art director Neil Thompson echoed those suspicions by telling OXM that this generational transition won't boast the same significant leap in graphics.
"For the next generation there will be a big leap, but it won't be as obvious. People will do things in a cleverer fashion--and I have to be careful here as there are non-disclosure agreements involved."
Thompson added that technology offered in the last generation "caught folks by surprise," especially in regards to how many people was required to produce a decent product. Hence, at the time, the perception was that "it was going to be a ten times improvement over the previous generation." This resulted in huge budgets and overall development costs soared. Undoubtedly, part of the reason Sony didn't go nuts with the PS4 specs is because, as Thompson said, if they had, making games would've been almost impossible. And that'd be catastrophic.
At the same time, you have to sacrifice a little something power-wise. Finished Thompson:
"I think they'll be better prepared, shall we say--but we can't see a ten-fold team increase again as the budgets would just be ridiculous. You'd have to sell 20-30 million copies before you broke even."
Yeah, all this really does make perfect logical sense.
Tags: next gen, next generation, next gen consoles, bioware
2/25/2013 10:52:37 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (25 posts)
Xombito
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 11:22:57 AM
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3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 12:45:17 PM
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3 up, 1 down
ryu
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 1:01:35 PM
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0 up, 1 down
Highlander
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 1:10:06 PM
7 up, 0 down
Lord carlos
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 2:11:46 PM
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 2:29:36 PM
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- "People will do things in a cleverer fashion - and I have to be careful here as there are non-disclosure agreements involved."
What exactly is it he can't say due to NDA? What's left to learn about this machine that he can't say now, that enables developers to do things in a "cleverer fashion"?
Hmm?!
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/25/2013 2:30:30 PM
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 2:50:05 PM
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This is why I feel this next console cycle is a dawn of a new standard. The powerhouse console 'cold war' is over. We have achieved visual realism and capabilities that exhaust the marketable ability of most publisher's capabilities.
Going forward, new consoles will be less about specs and more about what kind of entertainment they offer us. The real reason why we're all gamers is to enjoy amazing games, right?
Last edited by Temjin001 on 2/25/2013 2:50:59 PM
2 up, 0 down
Athrin
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 4:10:40 PM
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 5:10:43 PM
I say cool new ideas that takes the game design experience forward. There's no complaints now that the memory is seemingly infinite.
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Gordo
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 3:56:43 PM
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The technology gains in the next 20 years will be the same if not exponentially more than the gains in the last 20. I don't think we can comprehend what is coming up technology wise. That is why it is so exciting!
Granted that gameplay, context and content are always important but I don't think we have hit any sort of technology ceiling. We may plateau for a few years but there will be so many new advances in the next generation that looking back to a PS4 from a PS6 may be similar to looking from a PS4 to a PS1.
3 up, 0 down
Teddie9
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 4:05:18 PM
4 up, 0 down
richfiles
Thursday, February 28, 2013 @ 3:38:03 PM
I don't just want graphical improvements. I'm actually quite satisfied with my PS3 right now. I'll welcome the improvements of a future console, but I am more worried about the NON graphical limitations it could encounter. I am reminded of the issues with Skyrim on the PS3. What manner of epic fail will we see a few years down the road when we have all the pretty, pretty pixels, but not enough brains to know what to do with them?
2 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 4:35:18 PM
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I wonder if the PS4 is capable of that.
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 5:01:17 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Crabba
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 7:00:41 PM
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 8:59:23 PM
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 9:08:46 PM
This is the highest jump in RAM I can recall from a console generation. A 16x increase means that devs really will have to go out of their way to exhaust that amount and create that much more assets. That is, for traditional level based design, like a CoD for example. Those linear missions could do all kinds of staged set-piece moments that totally change landscapes and offer copious quantities of scripted events. We're talking BIG money. You better believe Activision will spend it and set the production bar so high no one will want to compete at that level... well, other than EA ;)
Last edited by Temjin001 on 2/25/2013 9:18:17 PM
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___________
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 @ 4:23:12 AM
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why would the power leap from ps2 to ps3 in the ps4 mean much higher development costs?
if anything it would mean lower development costs simply because the systems using a much simpler better known architecture.
id bet hes implying that would of happened if $ony stuck to their usual exotic architecture, which is true it would of, but they dident.
they could of easily made the ps4 as much of a leap forward as the ps3 was by sticking to X86 parts, thus if anything LOWERING dev costs!
after waiting 7 freaking years, and by the time the ps4 releases in EU, it will probably be EIGHT freaking years since the ps3 launched!
EIGHT freaking years, by FAR the longest time weve ever had to wait, and were going to be greeted and rewarded for our patients, by mild cheddar.
makes me wonder if thats the point of this generation though, to try and shorten lifespans of systems and give manufactures reasons to replace them more frequently.
because after seeing things like drive club, and comparing it to things like project cars, the ps4 most certainly will need replacing in only a few years!
in fact theres PC games out already which put the stuff shown on thursday to shame, let alone stuff thats going to be releasing around the same time!
let alone stuff that will release 6 months later, 8 months later, a year later, 1.5 years later, 2 years later, ect, ect.
ive flown to the tropics in the middle of summer, woken up nice and early the next morning expecting to open the blinds and be greeted by beautiful crystal white sand, sunny skies, and crystal clear warm water.
and in stead i find a snow storm!
thats the disappointment the ps4 has delivered!
i was very worried the ps4 would be nothing more than a playstationu, and im sad to see i was right!
AGAIN!
Last edited by ___________ on 2/26/2013 4:24:09 AM
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Beamboom
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 @ 5:00:53 AM
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The PS3 was ultra-focused on graphics. That was an advantage to some kind of games - the typical linear, "showroom shine" games. But I have often complained about the PS3 being *too* focused just on being a graphics churner.
This time around I think it is a much more balanced product, there are other areas who get an incredible - and imo much needed - boost. No, it might not lead to that same increase in showroom shine, but it *will* open up for new possibilities for the developers that were not in any way possible under the current generation consoles.
So for a gamer like me I really have to say that I am far, far more excited about the potential offered with this next console than I ever was with the PS3.
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/26/2013 5:02:48 AM
0 up, 1 down
duomaxwell007
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 @ 10:15:30 AM
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0 up, 0 down
duomaxwell007
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 @ 10:15:31 AM
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0 up, 0 down
PHOENIXZERO
Thursday, February 28, 2013 @ 6:34:06 PM
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There's not going to be a huge increase in production costs like before and with the hardware not being a nightmare to get a firm grasp on like the PS3 was costs are going to be further reduced by not needing months to get something working right.
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Caanimal
Thursday, February 28, 2013 @ 9:39:20 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Douchebaguette
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Monday, February 25, 2013 @ 11:11:14 AM
It seems my friend was correct, the next generation will see less of a graphical upgrade and instead allow more room for bigger maps. This is good, finally we can see a realm where perhaps the budget won't be impossible for smaller publishers and indie devs to make a great game. I am liking the prospects of the 8th generation.