Just because porting from PC to X360 is easy, doesn't mean its effective.
Further, UE3 is still a multiplatform engine, it does not support alot of stuff that the X360 can do, like tiling.
One engine is build and designed around the PS3, the other is a multiplatform engine, that doesn't really take advantage of any of the platforms strenghts.
This is off topic but just because tiling isn't supported doesn't mean UE3 isn't tuned quite well to the X360 and just because it is tuned to the X360 doesn't mean it isn't tuned to the PS3 although real world results ( lawsuits, though I find that an unsavory avenue of complaint, and secondly there was once a need for Sony ninja to come in and get UE3 running decently ) suggest in the case of UE3 this is case.
My point was only that the there has been the same amount of time to work UE3 for X360 as there has been for KZ2 for PS3. I never really intended to be in a serious discussion about well...the obvious...but here goes.
1. Engines are made to meet your needs; your needs are not made to meet your engine
2. Comparing engines is silly when different studios have different needs.
3. Good multi-plat engines are not good because the do everything well but instead they cover common needs well; this does not preclude them from doing everything well though
4. What needs an mulitplatform engine doesn't address a studio must address on its own if they have them.
That said I feel there is truth in saying UE3 is tuned to work quite well with the X360 given the platform'ss premiere franchise has seen two installments with it. If one doesn't recognize this I can only attribute it to reticence. This is not an indictment or something. It's a testament to craft...the more you work with something the better you get with it, unless you've hit the limit of your understanding and ability. Sorry but I don't wish to insult Epic by saying either of those things have happened. If and when Epic decides to invest in a big time exclusive franchise for the PS3 I'll merit them with being up to the task further improving their prowess with the platform after doing so as well just as I have done with the X360. It won't be an indictment then either but a recognition of the fruits of their labor.
There's nothing wrong with saying the Engine has improved for X360. And another thing a multi-platform engine is by no means destined to be out gunned by an exclusive engine. How an engine performs is still a factor of initiative, time, skill, effort and funding. You got more the fore mentioned and you've got the advantage and will on whole produce better results.
Being multiplatform doesn't doom anyone to mediocrity in the face of exclusive efforts...as we have actually seen this generation and every one previous. It does you no favors either as we have also seen.
My points are these. I don't think you get a pass or accolades whether your are exclusive or multiplatform in how your engine performs. You simply have a job to do and you do it well or you don't. I don't see the decision to be exclusive or multiplatfrom as reason to make exceptions in that regard so I don't.
I mean really...is being multiplatform a reason we should somehow pity Epic when at the same time they have secured lauded praise ( in the form of gamers dollars and licenses a plenty oh my! ) for their efforts? NO! It's immaterial. They've done a good job and that's that.
If you've had X number of years to get the job done whether you are multiplatform or not I'm only concerned with did you get the job done and how welll you did it. That was the basis of my comment but in the same post I said these engine comparisons are silly to begin with because what is being measured is not and cannot be congruent when you have two separate engines running two separate games. I was trying to say it wasn't relevant to this discussion even though I commented on a tangential point. Unless we are talking about the same engine we really can't compare multiplatform issues. I think its rather silly we keep attempting to do the exact opposite some how.
The only reason multiplatform is relevant is in how it affects getting the job done and this thread is meant to discuss the issues to that end not whether a studio should be held to a greater or lesser standard for being exclusive or multiplatform so I can say that also had something to do with my short response to Alstrong. I feel too much of this is going on in general but it especially frustrating in the context of this discussion when the opportunity was and is still here to talk about something a whole lot more worth while and on balance honorable.
Okay I've bantered off topic enough now so I'll cease in my hypocrisy and hope we can get back to the real topic at hand now.
