http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4801&Itemid=2

Interesting read - it's amazing how different the cell is than everything else. Here's to hoping developers can learn how to harness its true power in a reasonable amount of time...

I will be interested to see how the small prototype games look.

Last "gen" I bought the DEV kit for PS2, I am currently trying to learn the assembly language on this box, and boy is it nuts... You seriously need to get down and dirty, especially with all that PARALLEL PROCESSING.

Cool stuff.

but looks like a pain in the ass.

Nice article. It confirms what we know: lots of potential but it makes you work hard for it.

The sad thing is that it suggests that it might be years before we really see any results.

Hopefully that is the pesimistic view.

I bought the PS3 as much as for what it WILL do as what it can do now.

There are enough games worth buying for me now (VF5, Motorstorm, RFOM), but the future will be better and better.

ha, it will take a while to even utilize 70 percent of the PS3, it will never be utlized at 100 percent.

If i was a betting man i'd say current games take about 20-25 percent of the cells power.

I'm not a software guy at all but my impression from this article is that alot of what were seeing on the PS3 is software that isn't designed for the system but the PS3 has enough power to chug through it.
If Sony/IBM can sell it I think developers might see enough incentive to use the Cell to put out some amazing things rather than stick to multi-platform for the easy money. If the leap is impressive enough I'll bet someone is willing to put in the time to show off what they can do. People put some weight behind the name of the developer when looking at games. I'm sure some will see the opportunity for a big reputation boost.

The problem is the way the little cores on the CELL have been stripped of additional silicone and aren't true CPU cores,, more like specialized number crunchers (FPU Cores as it were lol).

IF they stuck a quad Core 2 cpu the developers would have an easier time of it, but i guess it would have been a tad too expensive.

Hmm, kind of reminds me when the SEGA Saturn thingy came out and was hard to develop for. We all know how successful the Saturn was...

I remember the 7 spu's in that Saturn that were just thrown in at the last minute to make it competitive....Virtua Fighter 2 barely tapped the potential! The parallels, no pun intended, are not even remotely close. I'd hate to see some peoples' scores on the analogy section of the SAT.

This is good to hear in regards to the untapped potential. Now if only had the Saturn developers been so enthusiastic...

ha, it will take a while to even utilize 70 percent of the PS3, it will never be utlized at 100 percent.

If i was a betting man i'd say current games take about 20-25 percent of the cells power.


The cell was designed for streaming multimedia data, like video and audio, (BR) and not for the branch heavy code present in games. The architecture on the cell is bottlenecked, and is poorly suited to the randomized aspects of game code than the symmetric configuration of it's competition. PS3 has an underpowered 7800 based video card whose configuration is strictly predetermined and is very inflexible in the manner in which it can handle its workload.
I know that sony has been throwing figures around that they hope will convince people that their system is exponentially more powerful than the competition, but why would you take that hyperbole at face value when virtually every other promise they've made has proven to be overblown.

The cell was designed for streaming multimedia data, like video and audio, (BR) and not for the branch heavy code present in games. The architecture on the cell is bottlenecked, and is poorly suited to the randomized aspects of game code than the symmetric configuration of it's competition. PS3 has an underpowered 7800 based video card whose configuration is strictly predetermined and is very inflexible in the manner in which it can handle its workload.
I know that sony has been throwing figures around that they hope will convince people that their system is exponentially more powerful than the competition, but why would you take that hyperbole at face value when virtually every other promise they've made has proven to be overblown.

Do you even know what you're talking about? You realize the 360 and the PS3 are both in-order execution CPUs right?

Nice article. It confirms what we know: lots of potential but it makes you work hard for it.

The sad thing is that it suggests that it might be years before we really see any results.

Hopefully that is the pesimistic view.
How's that a bad thing? Look at the gamecube, xbox and ps2. Despite the ps2 being the weakest console in terms of power, the graphics on some games look as good or better than most games on the other systems (god of war 2).

Compare the first gen games to the fourth or fifth gen and there's a huge gap. If the current crop is scratching the surface, imagine how great the games will be in three to four years.

Do you even know what you're talking about? You realize the 360 and the PS3 are both in-order execution CPUs right?
He probally doesn't. I searched his post history, he's a xbot fanboy. Here are some examples.

Unbelievable FFXIII Screenshot
"in game shots" looks like the PS2 color pallette with higher resolution and more polys.
Unreal engine > White engine

Buy Oblivion now or wait
"that is VERY cool! I cant wait for that!
and, another nail in the coffin for the ps3 :)"

Holy Crap!!!! Will these games be available on PS3?
"no brick here, launch console to boot.
I've seen 3 dead PS3's in display Kiosks while out X-mass shopping, made me laugh. "

[QUOTE=Tripjammer]The PS3 is much more hi-tech than the Xbox 360.....[/QUOTE
"I cant agree with that when comparing the PS3 GPU to the 360's."


There you go, hopefully this guy will stop trolling our area of the forum (: Have to add one more, this post made me lol.

Graphics better on PS3?
From yours truly (red cell) "I dont think so.
The 360 right now and throught the systems life will continue to have better graphics performance than PS3. This has been proven already. "

and another one

"my take:
Oblivion loads twice as fast on the 360 compared to the blu-ray drive in ps3. Its a slower drive.
the software on x360 is superior, especially when vista x comes.
I'd rather have a standalone hd-dvd or blu-ray player.
the 360 edges out the ps3 in graphics. the unified 512mb of memory and the GPU's unified shader technology is real next gen, something the ps3 does not have.
they can say all they want about having better this or that. its hype to me.
Im sure its a sexy console, and I'll eventually get one.
Gears of war is totally bad ass BTW. "

I believe the PS3 CPU is asymmetric, am I wrong?
fanboy or not, I stand by what I said.

Major national labs are using Cell to solve large problems. There are also advancement in optimizing so-called branchy code on Cell. Check out the Cell threads in Beyond3D. The result is impressive.

Also HD-DVD guys used to FUD PS3 saying that Cell stinks in CABAC processing when decoding AVC/MP4 movies. They justified their claim by citing that CABAC is highly branchy.

Unfortunately for these fanboys, it was later known that Cell could in fact decode a AVC stream using 50% power or less. This compared to MS's Add-on which use up all the available computational power in Xenos and Xenon according to the MS developer himself.

Is Cell potentially very powerful? Yes.

How much of Cell's potential will ever be tapped? It is anyone's guess.

The answer to how good PS3 games will ever become will ultimately depend on how many PS3s Sony sells and how many 360s Microsoft sells.

Why is this so? Most games today are multiplatform games. Very few will remain exclusive permanently. As a result, developers are developing for the lowest common denominator, meaning things that will work on both systems.

The fight will be on those few games that are meant to be exclusives. That is where both systems can show what they really can do (assuming developers put in the time to do it).

Well said LawGuy

The cell was designed for streaming multimedia data, like video and audio, (BR) and not for the branch heavy code present in games. The architecture on the cell is bottlenecked, and is poorly suited to the randomized aspects of game code than the symmetric configuration of it's competition. PS3 has an underpowered 7800 based video card whose configuration is strictly predetermined and is very inflexible in the manner in which it can handle its workload.
I know that sony has been throwing figures around that they hope will convince people that their system is exponentially more powerful than the competition, but why would you take that hyperbole at face value when virtually every other promise they've made has proven to be overblown.

Pfft... :confused:

I believe the PS3 CPU is asymmetric, am I wrong?
fanboy or not, I stand by what I said.

Where is Kay - he need to give you a boot in the arse!

Is Cell potentially very powerful? Yes.

How much of Cell's potential will ever be tapped? It is anyone's guess.

The answer to how good PS3 games will ever become will ultimately depend on how many PS3s Sony sells and how many 360s Microsoft sells.

Why is this so? Most games today are multiplatform games. Very few will remain exclusive permanently. As a result, developers are developing for the lowest common denominator, meaning things that will work on both systems.

The fight will be on those few games that are meant to be exclusives. That is where both systems can show what they really can do (assuming developers put in the time to do it).


Again you ignoring one important fact this GEN M$ will rely on third party PUBLISHERS, while Sony on the other hand will dominate with their WORLD WIDE STUDIOS - 14 DEV HOUSES with 13 of them dedicated for PS3 dev only!

Exclusives? HECK YES! PS3 baby...

I don't hold your opinion valid at all...

Originally posted by Lawguy
The fight will be on those few games that are meant to be exclusives.
From reading things hear and there, it sounds like Sony has no plans on releasing only a "few" exclusives. And Sony seems to be doing what they can to help developers who are making exclusives for them.

GW-Smokey beat me to my point.:)

Again you ignoring one important fact this GEN M$ will rely on third party PUBLISHERS, while Sony on the other hand will dominate with their WORLD WIDE STUDIOS - 14 DEV HOUSES with 13 of them dedicated for PS3 dev only!

Exclusives? HECK YES! PS3 baby...

I don't hold your opinion valid at all...

I have not actually studied the number of exclusives that will appear on either platform (I don't think you have either), but I don't think that your reasoning is correct.

As far as I can tell, MS has been spreading a lot of money around for the purpose of either (1) acquiring studios (bungee); or (2) obtaining exclusives from independant studios (Bioshock); or (3) persuading developers to make previously exclusive titles to be available for the 360 (GTA4).

Again, I have not studied the issue, but my impression is that multiplatform is what will define this generation. Look at the games that have been released for the PS3 to date. How many are available on other systems? Yes, there will be exclusives (Halo3, Lair, etc) but those are the exceptions, not the rule.

Here's a good read on the CELL, there seems to be a LOT of misunderstanding in regards to it's architecture.
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2379

Why is this so? Most games today are multiplatform games. Very few will remain exclusive permanently. As a result, developers are developing for the lowest common denominator, meaning things that will work on both systems.


That is a terrible assumption. The Wii is the lowest denominator in terms of power. And the Wii is outpacing all systems in terms of sales. SO you think that we(360 and PS3) will all be stuck with games designed for the Wii?

Check out need for Speed carbon on Wii vs PS3 or 360. Or Marvel Ultimate alliance. Or look at the games released on the PS2 last year compared to xbox360 games. In most cases, the 360 version of the same PS2 game will look better... and the PS3 version of a the same game on a Wii will look better.

"Universal" titles still have to compete with exclusive titles, in terms of gameplay and graphics. They are both competing for the same audience.

If I only own a PS3... I am not cutting a game some slack just because the title is released on three platforms. NO, I compare them to other similar titles on my console.

Originally Posted by GW-SMOkeY
Again you ignoring one important fact this GEN M$ will rely on third party PUBLISHERS, while Sony on the other hand will dominate with their WORLD WIDE STUDIOS - 14 DEV HOUSES with 13 of them dedicated for PS3 dev only!

Exclusives? HECK YES! PS3 baby...

I don't hold your opinion valid at all...

Originally posted by Lawguy
Again, I have not studied the issue, but my impression is that multiplatform is what will define this generation. Look at the games that have been released for the PS3 to date. How many are available on other systems? Yes, there will be exclusives (Halo3, Lair, etc) but those are the exceptions, not the rule.

Lawguy, what about Sony's "14 DEV HOUSES with 13 of them dedicated for PS3 dev only!"?

I have not actually studied the number of exclusives that will appear on either platform (I don't think you have either), but I don't think that your reasoning is correct.

As far as I can tell, MS has been spreading a lot of money around for the purpose of either (1) acquiring studios (bungee); or (2) obtaining exclusives from independant studios (Bioshock); or (3) persuading developers to make previously exclusive titles to be available for the 360 (GTA4).

Again, I have not studied the issue, but my impression is that multiplatform is what will define this generation. Look at the games that have been released for the PS3 to date. How many are available on other systems? Yes, there will be exclusives (Halo3, Lair, etc) but those are the exceptions, not the rule.

Read the Interviews on Next-Gen if you have anyquestions...

As far as SONY goes - look at how many World Wide Studio Games out there.

Insomniac - Resistance

F1 - Sony Liverpool

Motorstorm - Sony Evolution

Heavenly Sword - Sony

Liar - Sony Factor 5

Warhawk - Icognito Sony

Wipe Out - Sony

Get the picture?

P.S the list will go on thats for sure.

This generation SONY is huge compared to M$ when it comes to inhouse 1st/2nd party development.

Sure there will be multiplatform games across all platforms those are good, they wont justify anything.

MGS4 is an exclusive on the other hand.

So will be FFX13 and etc...

That is a terrible assumption. The Wii is the lowest denominator in terms of power. And the Wii is outpacing all systems in terms of sales. SO you think that we(360 and PS3) will all be stuck with games designed for the Wii?

Check out need for Speed carbon on Wii vs PS3 or 360. Or Marvel Ultimate alliance. Or look at the games released on the PS2 last year compared to xbox360 games. In most cases, the 360 version of the same PS2 game will look better... and the PS3 version of a the same game on a Wii will look better.

"Universal" titles still have to compete with exclusive titles, in terms of gameplay and graphics. They are both competing for the same audience.

If I only own a PS3... I am not cutting a game some slack just because the title is released on three platforms. NO, I compare them to other similar titles on my console.

Unfortunately, the economics of game development do not work as you describe.

Developers are in business to make money. If they were to commit themselves to developing for only one platfor they are foregoing millions of dollars that can be gained from the "incremental" expense of porting a game to other platforms or merely developing for multiple platforms in the first instance.

Many decisions are made in the initial planning stages of a games development that will prevent it from taking full advantage of any particular console's stregnths. Design is about making choices. Choices mean things get sacrificed.

You are right that these decisions do not excuse bad games. They don't. But, the best games that I have played on the 360 have been exclusives (GOW, Crackdown, Lost Planet). Draw your own conclusions.

Lawguy, what about Sony's "14 DEV HOUSES with 13 of them dedicated for PS3 dev only!"?

I don't know that it changes anything, even if true, which I have no idea if it is or not.

Many more games will be released by companies like EA and will be platform agnostic.

Insomniac - Resistance

F1 - Sony Liverpool

Motorstorm - Sony Evolution

Heavenly Sword - Sony

Liar - Sony Factor 5

Warhawk - Icognito Sony

Wipe Out - Sony


So will be FFX13 and etc...

Unfortunately, the games you list are the exceptions that prove the rule.

Again, the rule is: Most games will be cross-platform. Exclusive titles will be the ones that will allow either system to really shine.

I don't understand why this is a threatening concept.

Why is this so? Most games today are multiplatform games. Very few will remain exclusive permanently. As a result, developers are developing for the lowest common denominator, meaning things that will work on both systems.

Unfortunately, the economics of game development do not work as you describe.

Developers are in business to make money.

So you are saying... games which are multiplatform, will look like they were meant for the Wii

The Wii is the hottest seller, and the lowest common denominator(in terms of power).

So you are saying... games which are multiplatform, will look like they were meant for the Wii

The Wii is the hottest seller, and the lowest common denominator(in terms of power).

Obviously I am not saying that. First, the success of the Wii was a surprise to almost everyone. Therefore I doubt that any of the games we are concerned about were designed with the Wii in mind.

But, if the Wii continues to be successful, don't be surprised to see ports of Wii games coming to the PS3 or 360. Those games probably won't look as good as GOW to say the least.

Also, look at a game like Call of Duty 3. It was developed for all thee platforms. It looks different on each.

But, if the Wii continues to be successful, don't be surprised to see ports of Wii games coming to the PS3 or 360. Those games probably won't look as good as GOW to say the least.
I doubt any company with the right mind would ever port a Wii game over to the ps3/360.

I understand why they would release a exclusive game from the ps3 to 360 and vice versa. If you could make xxx amount of extra income with little resources/effort, why not? This is why you see alot of games that were released on the 360 ported over to the ps3.

My opinion is by next year, this might not be the case. It's possible to port a 360 game to ps3, but once the developers know how to program to the ps3 strengths, will it be possible to port that game over to the 360?

I doubt any company with the right mind would ever port a Wii game over to the ps3/360.

I understand why they would release a exclusive game from the ps3 to 360 and vice versa. If you could make xxx amount of extra income with little resources/effort, why not? This is why you see alot of games that were released on the 360 ported over to the ps3.

My opinion is by next year, this might not be the case. It's possible to port a 360 game to ps3, but once the developers know how to program to the ps3 strengths, will it be possible to port that game over to the 360?

Many new games, such as Call of Duty 3, are now simultaneously developed for multiple platforms, so it isn't a question of porting.

You can always port from one platform to another. The trouble comes when it is not esy to do so. Then, usually the port suffers unless the programers spend the time to figure out the problem.