As an owner of both consoles, with a keen interest in gaming, I have made the following observation, and would like your opinions.
The 360 and PS3 are generally considered pretty equal in performance terms, with the 360 usually seen to have the better GPU/memory with the PS3 countering with the Cell.
Until now 360 games (both multiplatform and exclusives) have been generally considered to have superior graphics, or at least be technically superior (ie render in higher resolutions, with AA etc.). However with analysts predicting PS3 to take a sales lead in 2008/2009, this will probably change, as developers shift thier focus to the PS3 (ie. making the PS3 the lead platform, and porting to 360, instead of the opposite)
This shift, will also eventually see PS3 games take the lead in graphics.
To many the games that will herald this shift will be Killzone 2 and Resistance 2.
It is notable that both of these are first party (Guerilla Games) or second party (Insomniac acts first party though) developers.
In contrast the two games generally regarded as technical flagships on the 360 are Gears of War and Call of Duty 4 (which is not even an exclusive). Both these games are made by third party developers which have their engines running on both consoles (UT3 for PS3).
This is important as the 360 does not have any 360 exclusive, graphics driven AAA titles in development.
From this observation it could be inferred that the 360 will lose the graphics war with PS3, not necessarily because of the hardware, but because of the lack of developers pushing the hardware to its limits.
This is one of the flaws with Microsoft business model, which sources 360 exclusives from independent developers, rather than relying on a stable of first party developers like Sony does.
Compounding the problem is the fact that many of Microsoft's first and second party developers seem to be out of form technically.
Team Ninja's DOA4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 are not the graphical showcases their Xbox predecessors were (probably a result of using a modified Xbox engine instead of building a custom one for 360).
Bungie also has chosen to do this, which is why Epic's 360 titles are technically superior to Bungie's, when it was the opposite on Xbox.
Lionhead, Turn 10 and Rare cannot be looked to for support, as they are gameplay-focused devs (and Rare is a shadow of its former self).
The only other announced 360 exclusives that may tip the scales in Microsoft's favour are Alan Wake and Project Offset, but there is no certainty that they can deliver technical benchmarks for the 360.
On PS3 however, you will likely see the best graphics trophy rotate between Naughty Dog, Insomniac, Guerilla Games, Evolution Studios, Kojima Productions, Team ICO, Polyphony Digital, Sucker Punch and of course SCE Santa Monica.
This stellar first-party support, coupled with Sony's dominance of the previous generation, and Blu-ray will all aid the PS3 in overtaking the 360 as analysts predict.
While Microsoft cannot change the other variables, should they focus on excellent first party content, if they intend on beating Sony? Especially on graphics driven games, seeing how important graphics are to PS3/360 owners. Otherwise Sony's claims that the PS3 will deliver the best graphics may become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Has anyone else made a similar observation, or agrees with mine?
PS: Anyone know how Insomniac can release a AAA title in three consecutive years, on complex hardware, while other devs of similar size (eg Bungie) turn out a game every 2-3 years?
The 360 and PS3 are generally considered pretty equal in performance terms, with the 360 usually seen to have the better GPU/memory with the PS3 countering with the Cell.
Until now 360 games (both multiplatform and exclusives) have been generally considered to have superior graphics, or at least be technically superior (ie render in higher resolutions, with AA etc.). However with analysts predicting PS3 to take a sales lead in 2008/2009, this will probably change, as developers shift thier focus to the PS3 (ie. making the PS3 the lead platform, and porting to 360, instead of the opposite)
This shift, will also eventually see PS3 games take the lead in graphics.
To many the games that will herald this shift will be Killzone 2 and Resistance 2.
It is notable that both of these are first party (Guerilla Games) or second party (Insomniac acts first party though) developers.
In contrast the two games generally regarded as technical flagships on the 360 are Gears of War and Call of Duty 4 (which is not even an exclusive). Both these games are made by third party developers which have their engines running on both consoles (UT3 for PS3).
This is important as the 360 does not have any 360 exclusive, graphics driven AAA titles in development.
From this observation it could be inferred that the 360 will lose the graphics war with PS3, not necessarily because of the hardware, but because of the lack of developers pushing the hardware to its limits.
This is one of the flaws with Microsoft business model, which sources 360 exclusives from independent developers, rather than relying on a stable of first party developers like Sony does.
Compounding the problem is the fact that many of Microsoft's first and second party developers seem to be out of form technically.
Team Ninja's DOA4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 are not the graphical showcases their Xbox predecessors were (probably a result of using a modified Xbox engine instead of building a custom one for 360).
Bungie also has chosen to do this, which is why Epic's 360 titles are technically superior to Bungie's, when it was the opposite on Xbox.
Lionhead, Turn 10 and Rare cannot be looked to for support, as they are gameplay-focused devs (and Rare is a shadow of its former self).
The only other announced 360 exclusives that may tip the scales in Microsoft's favour are Alan Wake and Project Offset, but there is no certainty that they can deliver technical benchmarks for the 360.
On PS3 however, you will likely see the best graphics trophy rotate between Naughty Dog, Insomniac, Guerilla Games, Evolution Studios, Kojima Productions, Team ICO, Polyphony Digital, Sucker Punch and of course SCE Santa Monica.
This stellar first-party support, coupled with Sony's dominance of the previous generation, and Blu-ray will all aid the PS3 in overtaking the 360 as analysts predict.
While Microsoft cannot change the other variables, should they focus on excellent first party content, if they intend on beating Sony? Especially on graphics driven games, seeing how important graphics are to PS3/360 owners. Otherwise Sony's claims that the PS3 will deliver the best graphics may become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Has anyone else made a similar observation, or agrees with mine?
PS: Anyone know how Insomniac can release a AAA title in three consecutive years, on complex hardware, while other devs of similar size (eg Bungie) turn out a game every 2-3 years?
