Naughty Dog holds double cash weekend for Christmas
In preparation for Christmas, Naughty Dog is holding double cash weekend for Uncharted 2. This is the perfect time to play late into the morning as there is no school or work. This will also give gamers a chance to catch up to their buddies in Uncharted 2.
Naughty Dog will be holding double cash weekend till Sunday, Dec. 27 at 11 a.m. PST. You will be able to earn double cash for all kills and medals. That has got to put you on the fast track to getting rich.
With a pile of games sitting on my desk right now, this Christmas weekend is exactly what I needed to catch up on some of the neglected titles. Uncharted 2 is one title I was hoping to spend more time playing online. The team survival mode is definitely a blast going up against a helicopter and two heavy juggernauts.
It looks like Naughty Dog is equipping players with a Santa hat to make things more festive. Happy holidays everyone and see you online!
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December 25th, 2009
Speaking of Uncharted 2…
I would like to know the latest on how the PS3 games’ graphics are keeping up with the 360 as far as multi platform games, frame rate and anti aliasing is concerned.
Are they now on equal standing concerning the games of 2010 or does the 360 still have the upper hand?
Any references?
December 25th, 2009
“I would like to know the latest on how the PS3 games’ graphics are keeping up with the 360 as far as multi platform games, frame rate and anti aliasing is concerned.”
Well, it looks like Bayonetta is the latest AAA multiplatform game to receive differing reviews for each version based upon the factors you mention…
1UP Review:
“PS3 vs. 360… After extensive time with PS3 and 360 copies of Bayonetta, I decided to score the 360 version higher than the PS3 game due to crisper visuals, a smoother framerate, and shorter loading times. Content-wise, the two are essentially the same.”
“The PS3 version has a lot of problems, primary among them being the excessive slowdown and loading. During certain scenes of high action, Bayonetta can slow down dramatically, enough to affect the gameplay experience. I can usually tolerate that sort of issue to an extent, but the loading problems are simply unacceptable.”
IGN Review:
“Buyers beware, however: the 360 version is vastly superior to the PS3 version on a technical level, so PS3 owners fortunate enough to own a 360 should absolutely avoid the PS3 copy.”
December 25th, 2009
lol the santa hats in the Uncharted 2 screenshot look hilarious. It’s practically a big red bullseye sitting right on the top of your head. i can imagine alot of players will be using that as an assist to pick off other players. I can imagine in some environments it will just make the players stand out that much more.
December 25th, 2009
@Carl
Gripes! I mean how can Sony screw up on the graphics department? all along they were hyping the PS3 as superior when it comes to graphics.
I am still playing on standard CRT TV and probably wont notice much difference, but knowing this is a drag.
December 25th, 2009
@gunstar
Carlb used the worst negative extreme one can use to make a comparison. Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.
Bayonetta was done by two separate developers for the 360 and the PS3 version (Neither one was Sony btw). It was first created on the 360 (Platinum games), handed off to another group (Sega) for the port and royally screwed up in the process.
Only one other time can I think of that this happened and was recognized so much by the critics and that was the Orange box which which the 360 version was done by valve and the ps3 version posted by EA.
For a more up to date look at how most games really are take a look at the Gamespots recent comparison.
h**p://www.gamespot.com/features/6242816/index.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=picks&tag=picks;title;1
They give a slight edge to 360 versions of most games, but often used the word miniscule to describe such differences. The best part is that they provide screen grabs of both.
I believe you were asking for something like this rather than a negative extreme right?
December 25th, 2009
“Only one other time can I think of that this happened and was recognized so much by the critics and that was the Orange box which which the 360 version was done by valve and the ps3 version posted by EA.”
@Phranc
lol what abt gosht-busters.. It was quite funny considering ps3 was the lead platform lmao
December 25th, 2009
Ghostbusters*
December 25th, 2009
@ prhanctoast
thanks for the link …
so its basically human error in the case of games like Bayonetta and Orange Box which means games can be on par with XBOX 360 on PS3 in terms of graphics if done right.
What’s doe is done. Well I hope they do it right with the next generation of games such as the Final Fantasy Series, GOW3 and GT5.
PS3 can’t afford these issues.
But do you guys think that Uncharted 2 is the maximum graphics limit for a PS3 game? or can it be topped?
December 25th, 2009
“Carlb used the worst negative extreme one can use to make a comparison. Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”
He asked about “the latest on how the PS3 games’ graphics are keeping up with the 360 as far as multi platform games, frame rate and anti aliasing is concerned.”
Bayonetta is merely the most recent (“latest”) and most high profile one that shows a significant difference in the aspects he was curious about.
“Bayonetta was done by two separate developers”
Regardless, the end result is the same: an inferior version of a AAA game on PS3.
Fallout 3 GotY Ed. (released Oct. 2009) – IGN review:
“The PS3 version has shown us substantially more bugs than what you get on PC and 360.”
GameSpot:
“Assassins Creed II continues the trend we’ve seen with the Xbox 360 getting marginally better textures. You can see a bit more detail in Desmond’s jeans, and the number 2 is considerably more clear in the Xbox shot. The Xbox 360 might also benefit from normal mapping, which gives the floor surfaces, the brick lines, and the door rivets a more 3D look.”
“Batman: Arkham Asylum is a fantastic-looking game on both platforms, and if you play it like we did (with Detective mode enabled 90 percent of the time), you’ll never be able to tell the difference between the two versions. That said, from a technical standpoint the Xbox 360 benefits from higher-resolution textures, which you can see on the logo located on the guard’s arm in the first set of shots.”
“Infinity Ward has done an excellent job with the game engine in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The game runs silky smooth and looks great on both consoles. Outside of a few blurry textures on the PlayStation 3, which can be seen on the gun stock and the ground textures, the two console versions look largely the same.”
“Dirt 2 certainly lives up to its name. With the amount of mud, sand, and possibly even good-old dirt flying around, whatever difference there is between the two versions simply gets buried. As is usual, the Xbox 360 benefits from more-detailed textures, but the difference in this case is exceedingly minuscule.”
“(Dragon Age)In a departure from the norm, the PlayStation 3 version looks cleaner because of its higher-resolution textures and the increased depth the textures get from bump mapping. While the Xbox 360 version looks worse, it definitely runs smoother.”
“Much like the other games, Resident Evil 5 looks marginally better on the Xbox 360. The improved textures and shadow resolution give the 360 the edge, even if it is a very small one. Look at the last set of shots and you’ll see that the rag shadows are fuzzier on the PlayStation 3, and the basket (along with other on screen elements) looks more detailed on the Xbox 360.”
Here’s what I think, the differences are nominal in about 90% of the multiplatform games being released now, and maybe 1%-5% (as with Bayonetta) of that remaining 10% will be large enough to be noticeable to the average gamer.
December 25th, 2009
lol Carl is right when it comes to multi platform games. They seem to go out there way to make them look better on the 360 while the PS3 versions are a bit behind.
But if you want 1st party games that have the highest marks and best graphics then the PS3 is leading at the minute with games like Uncharted 2, Killzone 2, Infamous, Metal Gear Solid 4 and loads more promising ones coming next year.
The Xbox has a Halo game coming next year which is always good tho, I always look forward to Halo lol and Alan Wake looks promising. I hope it don’t do a Alone in the Dark on us lol.
December 25th, 2009
What I don’t understand is how Bayonetta is considered a AAA game in the fist place. Yes, I played it, but I can’t seem to justify its’ high scores. It has gotten 100′s from many reviewers on Metacritics… Really?
Good read about this topic:
http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/6336.html
December 25th, 2009
“I would like to know the latest on how the PS3 games’ graphics are keeping up with the 360 as far as multi platform games, frame rate and anti aliasing is concerned.”
On second thought, and after further review, it looks like 360 still has the upper hand when reviewing 2009 multiplat games in the areas you specifically asked about, though not as pronounced in previous years:
To be more fair:
Eurogamer Face Off 2009 Highlights (disc retail multiplatform games rated with generally favorable – 75 or above – on MetaCritic:
Dragon Age: “the console conversions are about equal; their technical differences essentially cancel each other out. ”
Beatles Rock Band: “identical”
Guitar Hero V: “Xbox 360 still looks prettier, though the graphical advantage is no longer so clear, but in all other aspects the games appear to be the same. ”
“FIFA 10 is equally magnificent on both PS3 and Xbox 360″
Pro Evloltuion Soccer 2010 “Konami’s PS3 coding skill isn’t quite up to the same level. Xbox 360 operates at native 720p with a uniform 2x multi-sampling edge smoothing system in place. On the PS3 version of the game, the implementation of the AA is variable. It seems to be the case that on the cinematic-style scenes with close-ups on the players, AA is disabled in order to handle the additional load being asked of the engine.”
IL2-Sturmovik – “absolutely horrific tearing (over 50 per cent of the PS3′s output consists of torn frames). It’s also present to a far lower degree on 360, but barely noticeable, so that would be the version I’d choose personally.”
Tekken 6 – “the actual graphics and game content are basically identical across both platforms”
Dirt 2 – “Minor image quality advantages and less tearing give the 360 version the edge”
Need for Speed Shift – “Xbox 360 commands a noticeable lead in terms of the overall image: just like the McRae game, it is rendered with full-on 4x MSAA, whereas the PS3 game uses a slightly rougher 2x MSAA solution… there’s (also) the rather exaggerated bloom that has been added to the PS3 version… It certainly doesn’t disguise the fact that the PS3 game tears more, and drops to lower frame-rates than its 360 equivalent when the engine is under load.”
Brutal Legend: “only a handful of minor graphical and performance differences separate the two versions, though the 360 game is the more solid performer”
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising – “It’s just a shame that the same level of zero compromise has not been extended to the quality of the PlayStation 3 version of the game, which is undoubtedly one of the worst I’ve looked at this year… this is one to avoid for PS3 owners.”
Batman Arkham Asylum: “it’s no secret that the Microsoft platform has clear advantages in terms of performance and image quality… once again, the Xbox 360 version offers the smoother, more visually coherent experience… The introduction of tearing is what sets these games apart: it’s rarely noticeable on Xbox 360 (though it is there), but is far more apparent on PS3 in certain areas; generally speaking, the larger the gameplay arena, the more tearing you’ll get.”
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood – “The PS3 build lacks the squeeze-o-vision letterboxing but sees native resolution drop significantly to 1152×648, resulting in an overall more blurry experience… On Xbox 360 a 4×2 pixel smoothing solution is employed but this is pared down on the PS3 to 2×2, which combined with the upscaling blur isn’t so attractive.”
Fight Night Round 4 – “on a purely analytical level there are technical advantages to playing the game on the Microsoft console… from the anti-aliasing techniques deployed in each version and in this area, Xbox 360 commands a marginal advantage with its top-of-the-line (for console) 4x multi-sampling anti-aliasing.”
UFC 2009 – “effectively a score draw with perhaps a slither-like advantage for 360 with its smoother image and higher-resolution background textures”
Overlord II – “the PS3 version (is) more prone to locking down to the lower frame-rate with a jerkier update and consequently less responsive controls… Otherwise the differences are slight and once again come down to edge-smoothing. Overlord II on the Xbox 360 appears to be using a custom anti-aliasing solution similar, but not quite as refined as that in Call of Juarez. Just as in the Techland game, the outer edges only are targeted for smoothing, but instead using an MSAA-style smoothing method, a subtle blur is used instead on the edges alone. On the PS3 there is no such evidence of any kind of AA at all.”
Ghostbusters – “Not only is resolution compromised on the PS3 version, so is texture quality. Again it’s vintage 2006 as we see visibly more detailed texture work on many graphical elements in the Xbox 360 version of the game. It’s not just the odd piece of scenery here and there, or detail you need to walk right up to in order to see the difference (a la Fallout 3). The lower resolution presentation impacts a majority of scenes in the game. PS3 also has the dubious honour of a 3.9GB mandatory installation. In theory this means that the game can stream in more texture detail than the 360 version, in a shorter amount of time, but clearly we don’t see that. Indeed, the lower quality video assets actually take much the same time to load as the more complex and memory-intensive 360 data does from the DVD… PS3 Ghostbusters is rendering 518,400 pixels per frame. Xbox 360 is managing 921,600″
Prototype – “Probably the biggest difference you’ll see concerns how well each version maintains v-sync – the 360 game is clearly a lot better at it, tearing relatively rarely, whereas the PS3 game loses v-sync and drops frames more regularly. Other differences tend to be somewhat less important to the overall presentation, but intriguing nonetheless. There is a significantly shorter draw distance for shadows on PS3, and crowd members in the environment tend to be duplicated a lot more than they are on 360… in terms of the gameplay, the smoothness of the update and the corresponding response from the controls, it is the Xbox 360 game that has an overall consistency that gives it a small advantage.”
Wolverine – “the Microsoft platform once again includes anti-aliasing absent on the PS3 build – all of which combines to give the Xbox 360 a marginal, but tangible, technical victory in this particular comparison.”
Red Faction Guerilla – “Xbox 360 gets superior edge smoothing in the form 2x multi-sampling anti-aliasing, up against the PS3 version which has none at all… The Xbox 360 leads the way in other areas too – a higher-resolution blending buffer gives better definition to the explosions and other transparent alpha effects compared to the lower-res PS3 buffer… The Microsoft platform also benefits from higher resolution ground textures”
Chronicles of Riddick: “Overall impressions are that the PS3 version passes muster, but it’s significantly blurrier than the 360 build and there are other cutbacks too – the most notable being the paring down of transparent textures (for example, fences)… Also curious is that the 360 release comes with a range of video profiles that allow you to subtly change the look and post-processing of the game’s visuals. These are absent in the PS3 code… the PS3 version is similarly affected but is prone to dropping a few more frames a bit more often. Noticeable? Yes.”
Resident Evil 5 – “the 360 has clearer visuals… The most dramatic example of this kicks in on the third chapter, which takes place on a series of small islands in the middle of marshland… The Xbox 360 version has full world reflections, making this stage in particular rather more attractive than its counterpart on the Sony platform. It’s a similar compromise to that seen on the PS3 version of Fallout 3, where once again 360 has more detailed and realistic water reflections. Also evident is that the Xbox 360 version has more in the way of incidental particle effects and transparent alpha textures (i.e. smoke)… the Xbox 360 version has a tangible advantage here on two fronts. Firstly, it drops far fewer frames than the PS3 code, and secondly, the response from the controls is significantly crisper, particularly when the environments are chockfull of opponents… In terms of just why Xbox 360 has the edge technically, it seems to be all come down to the set-up of the graphics hardware. Capcom itself rates the triple-core Xenon CPU as being about equal to a dual-core 3.2GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition CPU. Not a bad processor as such, but no match for the raw computational power of Cell. However, Capcom has made extensive use of the 10MB of ‘EDRAM’ that is directly attached to the Xenos GPU in order to maximise its visual effects. With virtually unlimited bandwidth, effects can be processed enormously quickly. The Cell/RSX combo doesn’t have this advantage, although ironically, the PS2′s graphics synthesiser does – one of the reasons why full software emulation of the older console is difficult on the PlayStation 3.”
Skate 2: “frame-rate is the still the dividing factor. It’s massively variable on both platforms, just as before, the 360 version clearly has a noticeable, tangible advantage, and that makes it the game that’s more satisfying to play.”
EndWar: “plays equally well on both systems”
Street Fight IV: “the Sony console once again sees a measurable drop in image quality compared to the Xbox 360 version. Meanwhile, owners of Microsoft’s console get a conversion that is actually noticeably superior to the original arcade game… the Xbox 360 code gets the benefit of its more usual 2x multisampling edge smoothing… the key change is that every single close-up sees the PS3 game dynamically downscale to 1120×630, whereas the Xbox 360 game continues to remain at the full 720p resolution. The combination of no AA, plus the enlarged pixels can result in a few ugly scenes (on PS3)”
F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin: “The Xbox 360 game looks nicer, owing to its full-on 4x multisampling anti-aliasing – the best that the console is able to produce – up against the more usual lack of edge-smoothing on PS3 cross-platform titles. A more subtle difference is the inclusion of ambient occlusion on Xbox 360, seemingly absent on PS3… this isn’t really about engine performance so much as the kind of consistency in refresh rate and response that you get on 360, and that you don’t get on PlayStation 3… In short, the gameplay is compromised quite severely because the more intense the action, the more likely it is that you’ll get less feedback from the controls. In the midst of a hardcore shooting match, the last thing you need is a numbed response to your commands. PS3′s graphical shortcomings don’t have much impact on the fun you’ll get playing the game, but this kind of poor performance definitely will.”
Prince of Persia: “Overall then, a good showing from Ubisoft, with just one blot on the copybook: 1080i/1080p. Xbox 360 does a great job of scaling up the intricate 720p graphics (it is, after all, taken care of by dedicated hardware) but PlayStation 3 looks very poor and blurry by comparison.”
December 25th, 2009
Street Fighter IV that is.
Vek, did you love Devil May Cry 1?
December 25th, 2009
“I don’t see anything remotely innovative or evolutionary about the game”
I didn’t see much that is terribly innovative or “evolutionary” in Street Fighter 4, Rock Band 2, MGS4, KZ2, MLB 09, or UC2 either, but they received perfect reviews as well. I think it falls more into what the individual’s (reviewer/team) tastes and preferences are.
December 25th, 2009
@Vek – I totally agree.
To me it just feels gimmicky, and I hate the cut scene style.
December 25th, 2009
Nice list CarlB. I thought PS3 had caught up to the 360 and most multi plats were now the same. Thanks for setting me straight.
Maybe I’ve been hanging around here too long…….
December 25th, 2009
@m,
To be honest, I thought they had to, until I happened upon this link to their in depth comparisons:
http://www.eurogamer.net/archive.php?platform=digitalfoundry&type=face-off
December 25th, 2009
Also, to be honest, I didn’t realize “Bayonetta is considered a AAA game in the fist place” either. That must be a first for a video game
December 25th, 2009
@ SW and Carl
Aparently,
( . )( . ) > Story, innovation… etc.
December 25th, 2009
Man, writing even on Christmas now Scrooge? Jokes, that is hardcore.
I won’t be worrying about Uncharted 2 right now. For Christmas I got myself a spanking-new Pearl drum kit, and I’m whaling on that at every chance I can. If there is 1 thing special about Uncharted 2′s multiplayer (there is really a lot of things), it is that higher levels don’t get much of an advantage. Everyone has access to the same weapons, and start with the same weapons. Perks can only bring you up so far. You are good in terms of perks once you have Down On The Irons and Fleet Foot, the high-level perks actually make you weaker (in exchange for over $1000 for every 5 kills made while wearing them). I’m level 33 with a 1.5 KD/R. I usually get 14-20 kills per fight (deathmatch), occasionally more or less.
I could go on Plunder or Survival solely to get more money, or I could go for a Triple Threat each fight, but I enjoy plain ol’ Team Deathmatch the most. Sole objective: Get the most kills and least deaths. About 90% of the time I do (kills, anyhoos).
In short: I’m not going to stay up till 1 in the morning playing Uncharted 2 in the holiday season unless I want to.
Merry Christmas. Yes, “Christ”mas. Not “SANTA”mas. Santa sort of took a lot out of the meaning of Christmas. He’s just a way to make kids happy and keep them good. Reminds me of a dream I had when I was maybe 4 or 5. I was in a mirror funhouse yelling “Mom! MOOOOM!!!”. Something came through the door. It was a gigantic Santa (perhaps Anti-Santa). He looms over me, picks me up, and eats me.
Brrrrr.
December 25th, 2009
“Story, innovation… etc.”
Like I said, where is the awesome “story, innovation” and “evolution” in games like MLB09 or KZ2? At best these games are incorporating what has gone before in the genre and improving upon it, as with Bayonetta.
December 25th, 2009
@CarlB:
Is this your personal opinion of each game up there or what?? You fail to note on a few of those games you get extra content and other stuff only available on the ps3 version. And IF this is your personal reviews of the games then I find it hard to believe that you compared both versions? But if this is pro X-box Richard Ledbetter’s take on the games well I’ll just say that if I took the time I could find a lot of other writers who diff on his opinion. The diff between most games “multiplat” are not as dire as you/him are trying to make out. There was a time when most if not all multi-plat games where made for the x-box then ported to the ps3, Of course they would have slight advantages over the ported version.
But all of that is coming to an end. I think Roca already explained this? So I am not going to get into it now. Oh and one final thing what was the game of the year again? And on what console?
“X-box got run over by a rain-deer, while santa was delivering all those ps3′s”
December 26th, 2009
Oh boo who, the graphics are slightly better on the 360. Graphics aren’t everything people. In fact, I want to kill the graphics that take up way too much space.
Graphics ftl
December 26th, 2009
“Oh boo who, the graphics are slightly better on the 360. Graphics aren’t everything people.”
Graphics do add plenty to the experience when used in the right way. I definitely agree with the first sentence. Lots of people judge console graphics on the fact that there are a few popular multi-plats that look better on the 360. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When you are comparing graphics, compare the best to the best on either console. Instead, people are comparing mediocre to mediocre.
In terms of console graphics I’ll compare Gears 2, RE5, MW2, and AC2 on the 360 to KZ2 and Uncharted 2 on the PS3. PS3 exclusives>360 exclusives in terms of graphics. The only person I’ve ever seen argue with that (besides the occasional fanboy dribble) was CarlB, who had all the reasons to back it up. Happy might’ve, but it was too ridden with “PS3 fanboy this PS3 idiot that” for me to tell if he really thought so or if he was grabbing onto Carl’s argument.
So, I know you’re going to hate this one Carl, but “I” think that the “average gamer” would find Uncharted 2 to have more appealing visuals than Gears 2 (talking exclusives).
Graphics are here to stay and improve. As much as it adds, it’s not a necessity. Rock Band 2 has HORRIBLE GOD-AWFUL GARBAGE graphics, but I still gotta love it. I only look at the note chart, anyhoos.
Sorry for having to bring a graphical argument into every Uncharted 2 article to date, but I’m definitely a rambler, and once I got started on graphics, I couldn’t stop myself soon enough…
December 26th, 2009
“Is this your personal opinion of each game up there or what??”
No. As provided above this is the link that contains the quotes listed above:
http://www.eurogamer.net/archive.php?platform=digitalfoundry&type=face-off
He goes into great detail comparing both games side by side mentioning specific strengths and weaknesses of both versions.
“You fail to note on a few of those games you get extra content and other stuff only available on the ps3 version.”
The question was specifically about “framerate and anti-aliasing”, not a joker pack for Batman AA.
Exclusives have no comparison mainly because they are EXCLUSIVE. The best are done by a specific team that is utilizing/creating every program trick in the book and finding new ways to max out the hardware. Again, the original question was about multiplatform titles, and even the major one’s mentioned above: RE5, MW2, AC2 still show slight advantages to the 360 version.
Maybe PS3 does have the power to provide better graphics overall in multiplatform titles, we just haven’t seen it yet, and this year certainly hasn’t reflected it in it’s multiplat titles.
That said, graphics are becoming less important as long as I still get to play outstanding titles like Borderlands and Infamous.
December 26th, 2009
“I know you’re going to hate this one Carl, but ‘I’ think that the ‘average gamer’ would find Uncharted 2 to have more appealing visuals than Gears 2 (talking exclusives).”
Actually, I love it and I totally agree with you that that game which came out three months ago may have a graphical advantage over that title that came out over a year ago which was set in a darker, more bleak environment. More “appealing visuals” isn’t just about tech power, it’s about the environment and characters of the game itself, and the amount of artistic detail that goes into each aspect of the game, let alone new programming, engines, tools, etc. that can be created, discovered, and used in a year’s time. ND has a ton of experience and specifically worked on these aspects to showcase their title. If they spent the same amount of time and paid the same attention to detail exclusively to 360 alone (not a PC port or vice versa), with the same expertise, the results would most likely be similar, if not slightly better. This is why the only fair comparison is between what is supposed to be identical games: multiplatform titles. Maybe PS3 will have a slight advantage in these next year or after as 360 does now, maybe not.
December 26th, 2009
No new trophy i don’t care.
Is cool how Sony loves celebrating Christmas with us PlayStation gamers.
Our store has snowing falling from the sky decorated with a snow man and UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves has the hats plus double points Xbox 360 nada LMFAO.
December 26th, 2009
Yes, Christmas hats are very important to the gaming experience Ivan… Merry Christmas.
December 26th, 2009
“X-box got run over by a rain-deer, while santa was delivering all those ps3’sâ€
Funny, I think it’s the other way around considering all sales indications to date… Maybe this is your “Christmas Wish”? For what it’s worth, I did my part and still enjoy PS3′s exclusives though. What’s your PSN ID?
December 26th, 2009
Is it me, or was anyone else PS3 XMB background white today?
@ Carlb – C’mon man, you don’t NEED to try to counter everything anyone says. Leave Ivan and his xmas hats alone.
I for one enjoy it when dev’s do little xmas things. Don’t care about the hats myself, but in games like DDO they add all sorts of xmas stuffs.
December 26th, 2009
SW:
Is just you.
Is a bitter thing LoL All Xbots jealous users.
I don’t care much for the hat is just nice to see Sony cares for their customers. I enjoy how them celebrate every holiday especially Halloween can’t wait to see new years celebration is going to be awesome especially since we get MAG that month.
December 26th, 2009
“Is it me, or was anyone else PS3 XMB background white today?”
same here SW
December 26th, 2009
ok carl for those that said killzone 2 wasnt visually all that great, compared to halo cause it had bright visuals it also was a game set in bleak, cold environment to make u feel like u wern’t welcome in the helghast’s world
December 26th, 2009
@CarlB:
“Funny, I think it’s the other way around considering all sales indications to date… Maybe this is your “Christmas Wishâ€? For what it’s worth, I did my part and still enjoy PS3’s exclusives though. What’s your PSN ID?”
Yeah your prob right lol…my psn id is GhostinChains
December 26th, 2009
KSCA08, good point. They also had a “target video” (new term this gen, mysteriously) that they had been working on for years and sinking millions into dev. Again, take the same team, resources, and time and you will get a similar, if not identical product (unless we are talking PC, which would trounce anything at this point).
Ghost, maybe, but I think either way PS3 and it’s exclusives will probably still hold a place in videogame history as one (some) of the best. Invite sent.
December 26th, 2009
“Again, take the same team, resources, and time and you will get a similar, if not identical product (unless we are talking PC, which would trounce anything at this point).”
but uncharted 2 only took 2 years. MS is still on its 4th Halo game on the 360 and they still havent shown anything on par to the PS3 first party lineup.
but Splinter Cell and Alan have been on development for about 4 years and they are both set on a dark environments. so according to your logic they should both be graphically similar to KZ2 or Uncharted 2? they should be be the best looking game of 2010 right?
December 27th, 2009
“but uncharted 2 only took 2 years. MS is still on its 4th Halo game on the 360 and they still havent shown anything on par to the PS3 first party lineup.”
From Uncharted 1, which they were already showcasing. Neither has sold nearly as well as any of the Halo iterations. Halo sells itself and needs hardly any effort, Uncharted (let alone PS3) is just now starting to get into it’s own, so there is more incentive there. So according to this logic Halo could only mildly improve on it’s existing graphics for the rest of the gen and still outsell any Uncharted iteration. Right.
December 27th, 2009
Carl nice list. I have know this all along but that was quite a list. Well I guess that’s what happens when you create something that hard to code for. Sony should try listening instead of trying to force things down peoples throat.
December 27th, 2009
It’s Boxing Day here in Calagary speaking of Uncharted 2 I just got me a spanking new copy for an amazing and irresistable price of CAD $35 along with Little Big Planet GOTY Edition for the kids with the same CAD$25 discount. I saved CAD$50 on this awesome games.
And this was at all places,Superstore! Now that’s a real best buy.
December 27th, 2009
Congratulations Gunstar, you now represent the less than ten percent of playstation 3 owners who actually purchased those titles, discounted or not. Sony will be sure to reward your faithfulness with their upcoming “Sony loyalty program”, though they may charge you extra for it.
December 27th, 2009
Uncharted 2 is impressively breath taking from the onset! Its a game that gives you a very good first impression. The initial thrill and fast paced story telling wont let me put down the controller even if the kids are lining up to play LBP. Even the kids are awestruck with the game and speechless waiting if Drake will somehow fall but I didn’t fail them ^_^.
Never thought Drake is a this cool.His movements are soft and subtle with a humorous personality to boot. They better not mess it up with the movie.
If they can do better than Tomb Raider movies that would be great!
I have been meaning to try this game or Uncharted simply because the game designer of Sonic 1,2,3, Crash Bandicoot, etc. had a hand on this franchise. He was a master in platform games.
This is a good showcase of the Americans drive for rival-realism style which I see has 1upped the Japanese artistic graphic style in some aspects.
On a side note regarding game exclusives moving hardwares I noticed that Sony’s new IP characters in U2 & LBP have a rather “dull” color scheme that affects their visibility and appeal to younger gamers compared to other bigtime-seller mascots like Mario,Link,Samus,Sonic,Masterchief,and yes even Lara Croft and Kratos. You know if Drake or Sackboy had a more “visible” color scheme they could have done commercially better. Just my observation because these are high quality games worth the buy.
December 27th, 2009
Its quite a Happy New Year because I didn’t buy a new HDTV today and decided to wait until 2010 even if I saw droves of people pushing those big boxes out of the stores.
Its because of the recently announced 3D Blu-Ray Standard for my PS3 which requires a particular HDTV to run the technology.
I have to wait for those 240Hz LEDTVs or 600Hz plasma tvs to drop their prices then I can play U2 in amazing 3D. I just have to wait which models will be announced to have 3D viewing capabilities.
December 27th, 2009
That Flynn guy looks real sketchy to me at this moment.
Hope to play you guys U2 multiplayer online. My PSN ID is nintendonitis
I had a blast playing RE5 on my 360Pro but it looks like it will be in hibernation mode until Bayonetta comes to town.
December 27th, 2009
@CarlB
Well, just consider Uncharted 2 as a naughty Christmas gift 4 a naughty 360 owner like yours trully.
Living a double-life has its advantages 2 . Its twice the fun. ^_^
ODST Gunstar ready to drop, sir!!!
December 27th, 2009
I like the idea that Naughty Dog made Drake character “brown skin” something inbetween a white caucassian or chinese guy and a black guy.
A very risky, unHollywood move.
Unlike the Japanese’ “its alright coz its all white” approach.
Anyone here thiks he look like an East Indian guy or Latin American descent?
When I first owned a 360Pro I was always thought that Kaz Hirai was a very sad man & is in a state of denial because Sony PS3 is failing miserably & will never recover their losses even with the price slashed PS3 Slim.
I almost felt like a very negative X-bought fanboy who always look at PS3 with contempt.
And when he held that PS3 sex-toy like dildo wand I started to feel a sense of sadness and pity on Kaz.
Its a declaration of the king of consoles being humbled by Nintendo and Microsoft.
There is desperation in his voice so desperate he had to go super low (Wii low) and eat his pride.
Indeed Sony’s darkest moments even if the Bravia is the number one selling HDTV.
Sad
Sad
(moment of silence)
but that’s the price they had to pay for putting all the needed capabilities into the PS3 for its projected 10 year life span so they wont be outdated early & easily by to the rapid-fast advance of gaming technology. Sony is a seasoned consumer electronics veteran & designed the PS3 beast to go the distance even with a very rocky start.
Wii & Xbox369 are so lucky and enjoying great sales not because they are better consoles but because of PS3′s initial short comings.
December 27th, 2009
@CarlB
He’s one of the smart ones for purchasing those titles. I own those games not because of “Sony loyalty” (I actually have more respect for Nintendo because of their pre-Gamecube era), but because they are both downright great titles, and you really can’t argue with that, sales or no sales.
@gunstar
Drake definitely has some white and Latin American in him. Mostly white. Maybe some aboriginal. Iunno. Whatever his gene pool is, it worked for him. And yes, the 360 and the Wii have to give some of their success to the fact that Sony had major shortcomings in it’s early years.
December 28th, 2009
SH,
I’ll have to give LBP a try one of these days, UC2 wasn’t worth a purchase to me so much as Demon Souls, as the latter has many more hours gameplay.
December 28th, 2009
Carl you’ve turned into a troll while i’ve been away.
Slight graphical differences, sometimes major but the PS3 still has the best exclusives going.
I know, I know Xbox sells more but that’s not because of better games. The reason’s I believe that is:
-A years headstart
-Cheaper console
-More marketing
-Blind fanboyism
etc. lol
December 28th, 2009
WTF Gunstar! You actually care about Drakes ethnicity? lol and he’s White Caucassian, your TV must be dull lol.
December 28th, 2009
OS,
Sorry? I was just talking about my reasoning for buying Demon Souls over UC2???
December 28th, 2009
Carl:
Your forgiven? lmao. Demon Souls is ace. Ain’t even halfway through it yet tho. Too many games out now :s plus I run out of patience soon as I die lol.
December 28th, 2009
“plus I run out of patience soon as I die lol.”
Well, at least you don’t have to die very often in the game…
December 28th, 2009
Well truth be told mate I’ve died twice. Once when yo start, which I think is part of the story and the 2nd level/area I was killing demons left, right, center and out of nowhere a boulder decided to crush me from behind with no warning, which equalled a joypad being launched out the window lol.
I’ll get back to it eventually but I’m platting 4 games atm: Assassins Creed 2, Alone in the Dark, Dragon Age and Saw. Saws 1st I think quickest and easiest, halway done on Dragon age as well
You got a PSN Carl or are you already added? Too many addys I can’t remember lol.
December 28th, 2009
“From Uncharted 1, which they were already showcasing. Neither has sold nearly as well as any of the Halo iterations. Halo sells itself and needs hardly any effort, Uncharted (let alone PS3) is just now starting to get into it’s own, so there is more incentive there. So according to this logic Halo could only mildly improve on it’s existing graphics for the rest of the gen and still outsell any Uncharted iteration. Right”
Halo to the rescue…funny how you turn to Halo to aviod everything else. My comment was about SC: Conviction and Alan Wake, both has been in development for quite sometime, even more then what I has taken NG to develop both Uncharted games. so based on your logic:
“take the same team, resources, and time and you will get a similar, if not identical product”
they both (Alan Wake and SC: Conviction) should be the best looking game of 2010? right.
and either way, your logic is just a lame excuse to not give the PS3 graphical power any credit because the 360 has been out longer than the PS3 and it is way easier to develop for, so there should be no excuse on why the PS3 exclusive look better then anything else on the 360
December 28th, 2009
“Halo to the rescue…funny how you turn to Halo to aviod everything else.”
Funny… but I don’t remember mentioning Halo here until you did, and I even quoted you before the reply:
“but uncharted 2 only took 2 years. MS is still on its 4th Halo game on the 360 and they still havent shown anything on par to the PS3 first party lineup.â€
“they both (Alan Wake and SC: Conviction) should be the best looking game of 2010?”
No. They might well be, but they certainly don’t have to be in order to be one of, if not the most enjoyable games of 2010, as Borderlands and Infamous have proved to me this year.
December 28th, 2009
you are avioding you logic again
CarlB: “take the same team, resources, and time and you will get a similar, if not identical productâ€
so they should both (SC: Conviction and Alan Wake) be the best looking game in 2010 based on your logic for KZ2 being one the best looking game on console? they should look “similar, if not identical” to the best looking PS3 games (U2, KZ2 or GoW3)? right
and again like I said at the end which you also avoided for some reason:
“your logic is just a lame excuse to not give the PS3′s graphical power any credit because the 360 has been out longer than the PS3 and it is way easier to develop for, so there should be no excuse on why the PS3 exclusive look better then anything else on the 360″
December 28th, 2009
I see it’s very important to you that I “give the PS3′s graphical power” credit over 360 for some reason or other… lol. So funny. As you said, it did come out an entire year after 360, so you would think it could have shown some more graphical prowess over it’s relatively ancient competitor by now, let alone right off the bat, especially in multiplatform games.
All there is is a couple of games (exclusives at that) that look slightly better? Please. Show me the multiplatforms that look significantly, noticeably, better in droves and then I will give it credit. A few pretty scenes and fancy programming techniques in a couple of games do not make “graphical superiority” a given, sorry.
“so they should both (SC: Conviction and Alan Wake) be the best looking game in 2010 based on your logic for KZ2″
They are not taking the exact “same team, resources, and time” so it may/may not be better. I really don’t mind these slight graphical differences (in exclusives especially), as long as they play good, otherwise I would not be playing Borderlands now and I would never have even touched Infamous. As it is both of these games had graphics good enough to be exceptionally fun, which is what really matters to me.
December 28th, 2009
the Splinter Cell team have had more experience developing games than Santa Monica (GoW3), NG (Uncharted Series) and Guerrilla Games (KZ series) so they should be able to outperform anything from Sony’s first party studio
just to let you know the the SC: Conviction team has work on AC1, AC2, Far Cry, Prince of Persia, Rainbow Six Vegas etc.
but again you are aviding your logic, first it was because of the “team, resources, and time” and now it is because the “360 is a year older than the PS3″ so now all of a sudden is a ancient system lol
and again Boderlands and Infamous does not have anything to do with your LOGIC and they have nothing to do with what we were talking about which was about why the PS3 exclusive look better than anything on 360.
so Ubisoft Montreal is a more experienced team, they should have the resource as they have already worked with multiple gaming engines and the have had more than enough time (this is your logic)…so based on your logic SC: Conviction should Graphically match KZ2, U2 or Heavy Rain. Right?
if not, now explain why PS3 exclusive games look better than anything on 360.
December 28th, 2009
I think you missed the “same” part in your “logic” argument roca. And yes, it’s well known in the computer (which is basically what home consoles are) world that when you purchase a computer a year after the preceding one and pay twice as much for it you should get at least twice as much performance out of it. Not so here.
You still claim “PS3 exclusives look better than ANYTHING on 360″… I don’t, so I don’t have to explain it. But if they do, they only look slightly better, and they are exclusives, not multiplat, so no real comparison can be made as yet. In the meantime, PC’s blow away both PS3 and 360 in graphics, and noticeably so, not slightly.
December 29th, 2009
the “same” part of the logic doesnt even make sense when we see games like Dragon Age developed by the “same” team, with the “same” resources and “same” amount of time of development but in the end the PC is still the superior version. same goes for games like Fallout 3 (PC > 360 > PS3) and other games.
as far as exclusivity goes there is nothing on the 360 that can be match the likes of KZ2, U2, MGS4, GoW3, Heavy Rain and GT5p
December 29th, 2009
True graphics wise but gameplay wise I’ll say MGS4 and U2. GOW3 ain’t out yet.
December 29th, 2009
Dragon Age is basically a choice between framerate and picture quality… they effectively cancel each other out as Eurogamer already stated. More than one game and one aspect in sacrifice of another would help. As far as “exclusivity” goes, the only ones I am really anticipating is Mass Effect 2, God of War III, and Fable III. If the gameplay is as good as in past games I could give a crap if the graphics are slightly improved or not. Gameplay wise I’ll say Mass Effect, Dead Rising, and Infamous over UC2 and MGS4. Gameplay over graphics every time… BORDERLANDS!
December 29th, 2009
“Gameplay over graphics every time… BORDERLANDS!”
why you keep going there when our argument was about your “logic” that a “Uncharted 2-quality” game can be done on the 360 based on what you said:
“same team, resources, and time and you will get a similar, if not identical productâ€
so again, I am giving you expamples of other (more experience) teams, which have the same if not more resources and more time that team that worked on KZ2, or U2.
Splinter Cell Conviction has been on development for a while (with multiple delays), the team working on it has worked on quality AAA games this gem (like the Assansin’s Creed Series, Rainbow Six and Far Cry). so my question is if you can get a “uncharted 2 type of game” on the 360 how come there has not been anything graphically better than Grears 2 (which is using the 360′s best engine – Unreal Engine)….since developers can put out PS3 quality graphics on the 360 Im gussing there must be a reason for this and you can’t assume where there is nothing to back it up
December 29th, 2009
More experience and resources doesn’t necessarily mean better graphics, but it doesn’t hurt either. I guess what I’m trying to say is you cannot make a fair comparison between exclusives. By “same” I mean same game. If these look better great, if they don’t, I won’t be heart broken over it, as I really do not think UC2 is all that. I can tell you that I would expect much better graphics by now for a computer that came out a year later and cost significantly more, if not twice as much (at launch).
December 29th, 2009
“as I really do not think UC2 is all that”
of course but that’s your own opinion against everybody else.
Reviews? highest rated exclusive this gen and highest rated game behind GTA4 this gen.
Graphics? critically the best graphics on consoles right now and the closest to a blockbuster action movie. also Won Best Graphics in 2009
Gameplay? it has outdone Gears of war in the 3rd shooter control scheme and it mopped the floor floor with every single interaction of Tomb Raider
Story/Quality? Game of the Year 2010 and it went against the likes of AC2, MW2, Batman, KZ2, Dragon Age etc
I can also tell you that I expected better graphics than Gears of War 2 by now on the 360. but I guess thats not going to happen anytime soon
but then again you guys argued how the 360 has a better GPU/CPU set than the PS3s and now the excuse is that the PS3 is able to put out better graphics because it was release a year later.
December 29th, 2009
“of course but that’s your own opinion against everybody else.”
I actually thought Demon’s Souls was more intriguing, unique, and fun, even though I haven’t gotten that far into it yet. UC2 was just much less challenging and time consuming throughout. Apparently GameSpot agrees. Other games I thought more fun: Infamous, Borderlands, Batman AA among a few.
“Graphics”. To me and at least a few other reviewers, this has less to do with PS3′s perceived tech “superiority” and more to do with the team’s attention to detail in settings, environments, and characters. Of course they did utilize the PS3 to what they say is the “max”, but we’ve seen in past gens things that look even more amazing after this percieved “max” has been reached, on several platforms. Again, two titles out of hundreds that may look slightly better than others do not automatically make one platform “superior” to the other in graphics, and do not automatically predict it in the future.
“I can also tell you that I expected better graphics than Gears of War 2 by now on the 360. but I guess thats not going to happen anytime soon”
You really should use that gaming pc of yours more often considering how much you care about graphics… especially with as many titles you have played on PS3 which look tremendously better on a gaming PC.
“but then again you guys argued how the 360 has a better GPU/CPU set than the PS3s”
I never said that. It’s very possible the PS3′s tech could be better, we just haven’t seen it in the majority of titles released, and all it can show years after release is two titles which may look slightly better than other exclusives. This probably won’t go very far when then there have been several well rated multiplat titles released this year (which by far outnumber exclusives) that still look slightly better on 360; and this even though the PS3 came out a year later and was much more expensive at it’s launch.
Hopefully next year we will finally begin to see a significant difference in visual quality in the majority of titles, vice just a few. It’s totally possible. If not I’m fine playing games that are on the same level graphically as Forza 3, Infamous, Borderlands, and Batman AA, as long as they remain as fun. I doubt one platform’s titles will look significantly better across the board, if it does, I’m fine with it, as I own them all and enjoy them all, even without “teh superior” graphics.
December 30th, 2009
“Hopefully next year we will finally begin to see a significant difference in visual quality in the majority of titles”
lol where have you been?
in 2006 the PS3 brought the largest MP mode on console with a 40 player online on Resistance 1 (a launch title)
in 2007 the PS3 brought Uncharted 1, which was the best looking game at the time. and R+C made possible having a “Pixar movie” looking game on console.
in 2008 the PS3 blow out every on the 360 as far as graphics and content goes, GT5p is still the best looking racing game (no need to wait for 2010 there) and MGS4 is as good as it gets for 3rd person genre and its awesome CGI to realtime gample. follow by LPB (higest Rated Exclusive until Uncharted 2 cameout) and Resistance 2 (largest co-op game with 8 players and larges MP online mode with 60 player online)
in 2009 the PS3 brought Killzone 2, which is the best looking FPS on console, follow by infamous (one of the few super hero games in video game history). also brought back the best look baseball game this gen. then it won it all with Uncharted 2 (took 1st place from LBP as the Highest rated exclusive this gen), the Best looking game this gen, it scored 25+ perfect score (more than any other video game) and it was GOTY
2010…then PS3 is bringing the largest MP online shooter game with 256 players online, its lineup is loaded with RPGs. free MMOs are bound to comeout in 2010 (first for consoles) and the likes of Heavy Rain, GoW3, GT5, WKC, ModNation Racers are just the beggining of next year’s PS3 lineup
December 30th, 2009
That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You name about 1-2 exclusives games per year that (in your opinion at least) are actually better looking graphically speaking, when there are 80+ well reviewed multiplatform games in the same time period (several of which have the same slight graphics advantage in the 360′s favor, let alone it’s exclusives in which graphics do not mean as much as gameplay).
2010 is yet to be seen, and like I said above, hopefully there are not as many graphically disadvantaged titles for PS3 as we have seen in the past (though Bayonetta is not a good sign).
December 31st, 2009
“when there are 80+ well reviewed multiplatform games in the same time period”
yes and they dont really matter as they are multiplatform games that are available on both consoles….we are talking about the ground breaking games that cannot be played on the other consoles. Sony has the biggest first party studio and they have exceeded in this department bring great first party exclusive on a ragular basis
http://elder-geek.com/2009/12/why-sony-is-taking-the-lead-in-software-quality-and-quantity/
December 31st, 2009
“yes and they dont really matter”
Actually they do, especially when you are talking about an 8:1 ratio every year. Very few gamers have enough time to get through all the games that might appeal to them in any given year (now that we are through those slow launch years for both consoles). UC2 was a great title, but I liked Infamous much more, unfortunately it was drowned out by UC2′s hype and gloss.
Exclusives and multiplatform games both matter. Hopefully enough gamers will purchase the second platform to at least enjoy it’s exclusives, but at this time at least, I think there are plenty of great games period on one (360 or PS3) to not make it a necessity (though I am glad I managed to get all three).
January 1st, 2010
http://elder-geek.com/2009/12/why-sony-is-taking-the-lead-in-software-quality-and-quantity/
this is wat matter. the quality stands out, there is really no argument there