PS3/HDTV Rendering Speed/No Framerate Compromises

[aldo]

And of course supporting HDTV does mean that you can create and review your game’s graphics at a far higher resolution without any interlacing. Although the rendering speed of the PS3 will most likely mean that there are no framerate compromises for HDTV you do lose some more memory to the frame buffer, which is something we have to be mindful of. - wired gamers

Nick Dixon of Blitz Games on development of 'Possession'. Where he groups the PS3 and X360 together throughout the rest of the interview, here, with regards to HDTV, he seems to single out the PS3.

I don't know if this significant, but I definitely would like to get an explanation as I am very much confused by the statement. Too technical for my simple mind. I'm thinking he may be singling out the PS3 because of the 1080p resolution, but you guys are the console gurus so I figured you might be able to enlighten me.

-aldo

 

[London Geezer]

What don't you understand?
We might be able to help if u tell us what you don't understand.

 

[Hardknock]

W-G: How is the experience of developing for HDTV gaming? Is it difficult? Enjoyable?
ND: Well the fist issue was to get hold of some HDTVs, as they are still quite scarce in the UK currently - you won’t get any complaints from me about having nice shiny top-end TVs on my desk though! ;-)

And of course supporting HDTV does mean that you can create and review your game’s graphics at a far higher resolution without any interlacing. Although the rendering speed of the PS3 will most likely mean that there are no framerate compromises for HDTV you do lose some more memory to the frame buffer, which is something we have to be mindful of.

Here's the full question. Sounds to me he's refering to progressive versus interlaced. Nothing to see here folks.

 

[pc999]

If I understund what the red part say, I think that is your problem, he say that PS3 is fast enought to render the game at HDTV without any fremerate problem but it will consume memory and they need to work that [to not become a problem].

Anyway if you say the exact question we could help more.
BTW it seems a nice interview, I will read it.

 

[Carl B]

He's saying that RSX is powerful enough to render scenes at 1080p (no interlacing) without a drop in frame-rates, but that there are frame buffer concerns to be mindful of at that resolution.

EDIT: pc999 beat me to it!

 

[Hardknock]

He's saying that RSX is powerful enough to render scenes at 1080p (no interlacing) without a drop in frame-rates, but that there are frame buffer concerns to be mindful of at that resolution.

EDIT: pc999 beat me to it!

He doesn't specifically state 1080p, he could very well mean 720p

 

[aldo]

What don't you understand?
We might be able to help if u tell us what you don't understand.

My bad. I was reading it incorrectly.

As Hardknock said, "Nothing to see here folks." :smile: ...or at least it's pretty minor stuff.

-aldo

 

[Carl B]

He doesn't specifically state 1080p, he could very well mean 720p

It's true, he could. For me I guess I just assumed 1080p as I would have imagined that sort of 'extreme' resolution as being somethign the interviewer would have been asking about; but in truth we don't know which res was in question.

Maybe I'll read the interview as well!

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Let's also observe...

Although the rendering speed of the PS3 will most likely mean that there are no framerate compromises for HDTV you do lose some more memory to the frame buffer, which is something we have to be mindful of.

In reference to the question 'what does developing for HDTV mean', he basically replies 'we have less memory for other stuff.'

 

[one]

Isn't that just 512MB (PS3) < 512MB + 10MB (Xbox 360)?

 

[Carl B]

Yeah but to be fair the 10MB in Xenos can be used as effectively more than that.

 

[Alpha_Spartan]

He's saying that RSX is powerful enough to render scenes at 1080p (no interlacing) without a drop in frame-rates, but that there are frame buffer concerns to be mindful of at that resolution.

EDIT: pc999 beat me to it!

Talk about an extrapolation. Where the fuck did you get 1080p from? I couldn't find it.

I'm with Shifty on this one. He says that in terms of graphics processing power they can go balls out in HD, but the frame buffer memory limits it.

So in my opinion I would say that the Xenos and RSX are capable of 1080p, but the limited frame buffer memory on both machines make that unrealistic if you want decent framerates. The PS3 has a graphics chip that supports high-end graphics resolutions, but unlike a PC, the PS3 won't have 512 MB of memory just for graphics.

 

[Carl B]

Seriously Apha, do you read threads through or do you just see posts and you have to respond right then and there? I explain my 1080p assumption (yes I was wrong to assume) in the post following the one you quoted.

And what's with the 'fuck'? There are more civil ways to communicate you know.

EDIT: Further, after reading the interview, I now actually think they were talking about rendering at 720p. Again my mistake to assume earlier.

 

[Alpha_Spartan]

Seriously Apha, do you read threads through or do you just see posts and you have to respond right then and there? I explain my 1080p assumption (yes I was wrong to assume) in the post following the one you quoted.

And what's with the 'fuck'? There are more civil ways to communicate you know.

EDIT: Further, after reading the interview, I now actually think they were talking about rendering at 720p. Again my mistake to assume earlier.

Edited, mofo. Left the "fuck" in. That's what we call "dramatic effect"? Couldn't you imagine the look of confusion on my face when you read "fuck"? It's not like I was saying, "Fuck you man!" I apologize if I offended you. Just for good measure: fuck.

 

[Carl B]

Edited, mofo. Left the "fuck" in. That's what we call "dramatic effect"? Couldn't you imagine the look of confusion on my face when you read "fuck"? It's not like I was saying, "Fuck you man!" I apologize if I offended you. Just for good measure: fuck.

Yeah, it doesn't offend me - but I feel it breaks up the rhythm of otherwise technical discussions. Anyway...

Well, onwards with the discussion.

 

[DeathKnight]

 

[aldo]

When I read this earlier, I was genuinely having a hard time grasping the statement. Brainfart due lack of caffeine in the system I guess.

Regardless, if I were to assume anything, I would assume he is singling out the PS3 because of the 1080p. For one, he states,

"Well the first issue was to get hold of some HDTVs, as they are still quite scarce in the UK currently. And of course supporting HDTV does mean that you can create and review your game’s graphics at a far higher resolution without any interlacing."

He is referring to a higher resolution, non-interlace HDTV that is scarce in the UK. I would think that 720p HDTV's are not that scarce in the UK, but I may be wrong. London-boy might be able to correct me there.

Alpha, I thought the X360 was not capable of generating 1080p, only 1080i. At any rate if the X360 is limited to 1080i, then the mere fact that he refers to the pleasure of reviewing a game at a far higher, non interlace resolution AND the exclusion of the X360 from his comment suggests that he is referring to 1080p.

-aldo

 

[Carl B]

Well that's how I was thinking at first as well Aldo, but since reading the whole quote, I feel it was refering to rendering in the larger context of HD; that is to say you have these two systems, how's the experience of HD? Since it's a multi-platform game, I think the answer was probably based on the 'common' resolution between them of 720p. At least that was my logic for changing my reasoning.

Anyway the full question/answer quote:

W-G: How is the experience of developing for HDTV gaming? Is it difficult? Enjoyable?

ND: Well the fist issue was to get hold of some HDTVs, as they are still quite scarce in the UK currently - you won’t get any complaints from me about having nice shiny top-end TVs on my desk though!

And of course supporting HDTV does mean that you can create and review your game’s graphics at a far higher resolution without any interlacing. Although the rendering speed of the PS3 will most likely mean that there are no framerate compromises for HDTV you do lose some more memory to the frame buffer, which is something we have to be mindful of.

 

[pakotlar]

X360 is a conglomorate of parts. The Xenos is capable of rendering 1920*1080 full frame, the Xbox360 video out/scaler is restricted to 1080i.

 

[Black Dragon37]

Aren't we forgetting that the final devkits will come out in December?

Since all developers are so far using the Geforce 7800GTXs in the devkits, maybe it isn't surprising that there's a price for high-def upscaling...