GameZone: PS3 Tekken 5 Interview

["Nerve-Damage"]

Bringing Tekken 5 to PS3: GameZone Chats with the Development Team

Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is a port of the PSP game, which was partially ported over from the previous PS2 and arcade versions. Technologically, what did it take to shift the game to so many different platforms with very different architectures?


Namco Bandai: First, please let me clarify, Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection is not a port of the PSP game. Utilizing the experience we’ve gained from working on the PSP version, we were able to apply this in creating the port this time. The port in question this time involves data taken from the program of the arcade version as well as the PS2 version of Tekken 5.


Even though these are technically different platforms, a large half of the program was done in C or C++, allowing us to run this on any platform with very little adjustments. In addition, since the disc and pad inputs are abstract, we were able to work with this without actually noticing the actual difference between the different platforms to a great extent. Sound and graphics though were a problem for us. The sound and graphics components of the Tekken series are actually created separately from everything else. Also, the graphics and sound were first created for Tekken 6, etc. The team working on the port had to implement that into the program.


Since we can’t use the same binary data for different platforms, we had to convert the data used for the arcade version for the PS3. With the hardware of the PS3 being more powerful, we did not have to make any extreme changes to the program this time. The only thing we had to create from scratch was the shading program.

Are the graphics being optimized for PS3 technology? If so, what does this mean for the game's visual presentation?

Namco Bandai: No, the graphics are exactly the same as the arcade version. First of all, the number of particles is much less than what the PS3 is capable of. We didn’t create any new data for the normal map so it can be assumed that we didn’t utilize the full powers of the PS3’s fragment shaders. If you want to see the Tekken that utilizes the full powers of the PS3 graphically, it will be after with Tekken 6. Even then, this title utilizes MSAA to draw graphics that have a higher resolution than the 1080p spec. In addition, self shadows were added to this version as well.

Although we weren’t able to do everything we wanted in the extremely short development time that we had, we felt that we were able to present graphics that far surpassed the PS2’s graphic levels.

What's the most significant difference between the PS3 version of Tekken 5 and all others available?


Namco Bandai: While being a complete port of the arcade version, this is the first time that graphics of a console version will look significantly better than the arcade version. The concept this time is to be able to enjoy the fun of Tekken on graphics surpassing that of the arcade version all for an affordable price.

 

[Nesh]

I nver noticed self shadows in the screenshots or the videos thats for sure

 

[Farid]

While being a complete port of the arcade version, this is the first time that graphics of a console version will look significantly better than the arcade version.

Soulcalibur begs to disagree.
We could also count games such as Daytona 2001 too.

 

[pakotlar]

Soulcalibur begs to disagree.
We could also count games such as Daytona 2001 too.

nitpicking.

 

[Farid]

nitpicking.

Heh heh, true.

But I just pointed it out to show my mad all gaming related knowledge, you know.

 

[rounin]

Soulcalibur begs to disagree.
We could also count games such as Daytona 2001 too.

In what was was Soul Calibur better on the Dreamcast? I don't really remember as its been a while since I saw it on that system.

I find it quite incredible that in going from arcade to PS3, they're running 1080p and also at MSAA while adding self shadowing to Tekken5, which I believe would be the best arcade to home system "conversion". I wonder how long this took them.

 

[Oninotsume]

Just to play devil's advocate, I think he was referring to Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection for the PS3 as being the best arcade to home conversion of "Tekken".

I don't know how long it took them, but the interview says something about an extremely short development time, so it couldn't have been that long.

 

[idsn6]

Just to play devil's advocate, I think he was referring to Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection for the PS3 as being the best arcade to home conversion of "Tekken".

Well, even then, PS2 TTT kicked arcade TTT's graphical ass.
I guess it's all splitting hairs over differing definitions of "significant."

Edit: Actually, it's pretty clear he just means that this particular version of Tekken 5 (versus PS2 and PSP) is better than arcade-perfect.

 

[Farid]

In what was was Soul Calibur better on the Dreamcast? I don't really remember as its been a while since I saw it on that system.

Soulcalibur Arcade was running on a Namco System 12, which is a glorified PSone more than anything.

 

[Nesh]

Yeah the dreamcast version featured better lighting, higher polygon models and enviroments, better textures and higher resolutions.

 

[ban25]

Soulcalibur begs to disagree.
We could also count games such as Daytona 2001 too.

Or Tekken Tag Tournament.