Bayonetta devs restore reputation with PS3 Vanquish
When Bayonetta launched last year, the game was mired in controversy due to its inferior PS3 port. Despite excellent review scores, the game sales suffered most likely due to the controversy.
Oddly enough the PS3 version of the Bayonetta did end up outselling the Xbox 360 version despite being inferior. However, Platinum Games, the developers behind Bayonetta were blamed by the public for the inferior PS3 port.
It was reported that SEGA was responsible for porting Bayonetta over to the PS3 with the Xbox 360 being the lead platform. As it has been well documented, porting games from the Xbox 360 over to the PS3 can be challenging without the proper expertise.
Despite blaming SEGA, the damage was done and Platinum Games’s name was dragged through the mud. However, with Vanquish the studio clearly wanted to prove that it could develop well on the PS3.
According to Digital Foundry, the PS3 version of Vanquish definitely seems to have the technical edge over the Xbox 360. This isn’t surprising considering that the PS3 version was the lead platform. It seems like making the PS3 the lead platform is a growing trend as porting to the Xbox 360 is easier than the other way around.
Technical Discussion
Digital Foundry believes that the Xbox 360 version of Vanquish uses double-buffering while the PS3 has triple-buffering. Its interesting as DF’s analysis provides a glimpse into Platinum Games’s development expertise.
Double-buffering is an older technique used to reduce flickering while images are being swapped out in memory. This technique usually results in significant screen tearing as there can be gaps between the back buffer and front buffer. V-sync is normally utilized to reduce tearing but isn’t hundred percent effective.
A newer, more memory intensive technique is triple-buffering, where two back buffers sits in queue to wait for the front buffer to complete. This assures that there is no “gap” where there is no buffered image being sent to the screen.
However, the main drawback of triple-buffering is that it is graphics card memory intensive. This is why it is used on newer SLIs with more memory. The interesting thing here is that the PS3’s graphics card has less memory than the Xbox 360s GPU.
Considering that Xbox 360 version is unable to perform triple-buffering with more GPU memory, it stands to reason that Platinum Games is making use of robust Cell processor to do the heavy lifting. If so, its definitely an impressive feat that demonstrates the studio’s mastery of the PS3 hardware.
I still stand behind my previous assertion; Vanquish could quite possibly be the next big IP. The demo is currently available over Xbox Live and Playstation Network.
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48 Responses to “Bayonetta devs restore reputation with PS3 Vanquish”
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September 3rd, 2010
The demo is out?
Alright fine. I’ll check it out. But if I don’t like it, I’ll come back and complain.
September 3rd, 2010
The close combat control doesnt work as well as Unchated 2′s. It needs a lot of getting used to. but i will get this game eventually. 3PShooter for the win!
September 3rd, 2010
I thought the demo was brilliant, impressive visuals. I’m surprised about Bayonetta on PS3 outselling 360.
Off topic: I really need help with my iPod Touch people. I’ve had games and apps on it before but the last time I added them to it was about 2 years ago and now I downloaded a few games like Sonic 2 and Epic Citadel and some other apps and when it came to Syncing them to my iPod it wouldn’t do it and gave me a message saying my iPod software was not up to date, but when I clicked update iPod it said I have the newest version. So if anyone has a clue how to help me I would appreciate it and would get HH to give you a tour of his ‘Command Center’
September 3rd, 2010
I didn’t know the demo was out either…I’ll go and download it then. It looks manic.
September 3rd, 2010
Two years since you downloaded anything? Do you have a first gen iPod Touch? If so, I just checked the app store and it says in the description 2 is only compatible with 2nd gen/higher, and you must have 3.x OS or higher. I currently have a 3rd gen with 4.0.2 which is reflecting as the latest version.
September 3rd, 2010
I might DL the demo for this game and check it out. Seems interesting enough.
September 3rd, 2010
I have a feeling this game will be critiqued for it’s lack of multiplayer.
Demo was awesome btw. Definitely on my ‘BUY’ list.
September 3rd, 2010
@phranc
its amazing how people will put a game down because it doesn’t have multiplayer.
I can see putting it down if it doesn’t have a single player mode though, cause there will be times when you can’t find anyone else online.
I was trying to play Battlefield 1943 before and no one was online, and since the game is MP only i couldnt play at all.
September 3rd, 2010
@Fahkin.
Yeah.. That really blows.
@Carlb
Unrelated but I just noticed this today.
Amazon’s Bestsellers archive can no longer be trusted.
The 160GB PS3 says 18 days in the top 100, and we know it’s been in the top 10 to top 20 for weeks now, yet in the “Bestsellers archive” it appears nowhere in the Top 100.
A simple test of checking last week shows it’s nowhere to be found.
I’m bring it your attention because we both used it as reference in the past.
September 3rd, 2010
“Alright fine. I’ll check it out. But if I don’t like it, I’ll come back and complain.”
Me too.
September 3rd, 2010
*Off Topic.*
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/oddworld-strangers-wrath-ps3-announced/
“Are you ready, Steef? Just Add Water is working on a high-definition remake of Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath. The Gravity Crash developer announced the project earlier today, highlighting it as the first in a “long and fruitful relationship” with the original game’s developer, Oddworld Inhabitants. “Having a chance to update the great title and release it on PS3 is just a brilliant opportunity, not least for us, but for the fans too,” added Just Add Water MD Stewart Gilray.
Set for release during Easter next year, the PlayStation 3 remake of Stranger’s Wrath will offer enhanced 720p visuals, more detailed character models, remastered dialogue, PlayStation Move support and “additional bonus material.”
When it launched on Xbox in January 2005, Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath was notable for being, well, a really bizarre first-person shooter. It placed the franchise’s environmental missive inside a wild and weird Western aesthetic, and replaced ammunition with ravenous fuzzballs. An EA-developed port for PlayStation 2 never made it to stores.”
Kotaku’s story was a bit more harsh. People seem upset that it’s not also coming to the 360, as the game is one of the games not BC on the 360.
September 3rd, 2010
I remember being gutted when it wasn’t coming to PS2. Looking forward to trying it out.
September 3rd, 2010
Ha that’s one of my Girlfriend’s favorite games of all time. Random, but true.
I’ve played it a little bit there, it does seem pretty good.
Also Kotaku is… well, Kotaku. If it was a Wii or 360 exclusive they wouldn’t have any issue with it.
September 3rd, 2010
Kotaku’s story.
“Developer Just Add Water is working on a HD remake of Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath. That’s the good news. The bad news, at least for Xbox owners, is that it’s a PS3 exclusive.
It’s a cruel irony that one of the few original Xbox games that was never made compatible with the Xbox 360 returns, only…for a PlayStation machine instead.
Still, PS3 owners are in for a treat, as Stranger’s Wrath was one of the most unique and memorable shooters to grace Microsoft’s first console. Playing it in high definition should only make things better, especially since it’ll also support the PlayStation Move.
Stranger’s Wrath will be released as a PlayStation Network downloadable title, and will be out Easter 2011.”
September 3rd, 2010
Oh that’s actually not bad at all. I expected a lot worse when you said “harsh”.
September 3rd, 2010
Is that the game where your amo was alive?
September 3rd, 2010
Yeah. It’s not to bad. The “Cruel Irony” felt like a low blow to me. Almost like rubbing it in.
Neogaf is going nuts about this news. I only played the original Oddworld game on PS1. Never played the sequels.
September 3rd, 2010
Did someone say Bayonetta? I really love this game. Anyways, I’m not surprised that this game sold more on the Ps3. It seems like Ps3 gamers are more into games like this. It seems that most Xbox360 gamers generally prefer shooters more then any other types of games.
September 3rd, 2010
In that respect, Vanquish should sell more on 360…although without online MP it may not, especially with the PS3 version being slightly superior.
September 3rd, 2010
I’ve still got to try Bayonetta. It’s actually still on my PS3 demo download list from months ago.
September 3rd, 2010
Bayonetta is Awesome. It takes a bit for it to really evolve as a game. I can say I didn’t really enjoy it until after the third chapter. The boss fights are absolutely incredible.
spolier alert.
You fight one boss in the midst of a tornaodo. F’in badass.
Platinum games scores again.
September 3rd, 2010
I really like the demo but I’m still not sure if I’m going to buy it day 1.
@Phranc
so how many Oddworld games are out there? I’ve at least 2 on PS1
September 3rd, 2010
@ Carl: Yeah mate 1st day of release, I didn’t think about it having anything to do with the generation. So I found some updates online, OS 3.0 I got now and it all works fine. Thanks very much mate.
September 3rd, 2010
Bayonetta isn’t Awesome.
I corrected it for you.
September 3rd, 2010
I played 2 of them on the Xbox.
September 3rd, 2010
One great thing about this is, if we ever get a Bayonetta sequel, it won’t be the shit fest mess the first one was right out the door.
September 3rd, 2010
I ain’t even played the 1st one yet, I was waiting for a patch that would fix the loading and glitches, has that been done yet?
September 3rd, 2010
Micorsoft is making fun of the hardcore.
“”Gaming’s not just for sweaty thirty year olds in Metallica t-shirts,” quipped Microsoft’s regional entertainment tzar at yesterday’s lifestyle event, David McLean.”
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/News/230934,microsofts-kinect-launch-laughs-at-sweaty-gamers.aspx
September 3rd, 2010
I don’t know anyone who still listens to Metallica
September 3rd, 2010
@lock
I did when I was a teen.
September 3rd, 2010
Phranctoast,
Microsoft is skating on very thin ice right now. They’ve managed to really piss off some of their loyal fan base. Many Xbox users are stating that they will not be re-newing their Xbox live subscription. Some say they will be gaming on the Pc and some say they will be switching to Ps3. Talk is cheap. Actions always speak louder then words. We’ll see if this really has a negative impact on the Xbox360. Halo Reach is coming out. We’ll see if these people will forgive and forget like Microsoft thinks they will.
September 3rd, 2010
There’s one Metallica track I used to like…but I can’t remember what it was.
September 3rd, 2010
Who still listens to Metallica? I still listen to Metallica but I hate their new stuff. My favorite Metallica albums are Ride The Lightning and The Black album.
September 3rd, 2010
“Bayonetta is Awesome”
what? seiously?…
September 3rd, 2010
@Boxel.
Yeah.. have you played it? It beats the shit out of DMC4. Not quite up to par with the GOW series all around but the fighting engine is better than any game I’ve played.
September 3rd, 2010
I have, and I didn’t like it. I prefer DMC4.
September 3rd, 2010
long weekend for me fellas
September 3rd, 2010
@boxel
DMC4 would have been a good game if you didn’t need to beat it once, then again in reverse with a different character, then refight all the bosses 3 times. Did you play just the demo?
@Roca
Me 2. Early quit today too. Need to get ahead of the weather. Earl’s on his way!
September 3rd, 2010
Some of my favorite quotes from people in the Neogaf thread about MS talking shit about the hardcore gamers..
-”MS gaming division undergoing an identity crisis.
It’s like hanging with losers your entire life and after getting invited to hang out with the cool kids you become the biggest basher of the group you hanged out with just yesterday. Hilarious”
-”1. E3: We have nothing for 2011 except Gears 3…now let’s talk about that awesome Kinect thing we were talking about last E3.
2. You’ll have to pay 10$ more for Xbox Live..why? what do you mean why?
3. Here is a new controller with improved d-pad for our “sweaty thirty year olds in Metallica t-shirts” who play fighting games only at 65$!!!
4. Hardcore gamers? you mean those “sweaty thirty year olds in Metallica t-shirts” who were our main supporters this gen, will buy our new controllers and pay 10$ more for Live? who gives a fuck about them.
Seriously what is wrong with MS lately?”
LMFAO!!!!
September 3rd, 2010
I have a three day weekend and I’m very much looking forward to it. I’m mentally exhausted from working all of this mandatory overtime.
September 3rd, 2010
Microsoft:
“We have nothing for 2011 except Gears 3…now let’s talk about that awesome Kinect thing we were talking about last E3″
“You’ll have to pay 10$ more for Xbox Live..why? what do you mean why?”
^ROFLMAO
September 3rd, 2010
Do you post on Gaf phranc?
September 3rd, 2010
@Phranc
Here is Microshaft’s when asked about hardcore games on Kinect:
“If you’re talking about M-rated content or action games, I think that you saw at E3 we announced a Star Wars game, and I think that will have a lot of action content”
“a Sonic The Hedgehog game in the launch lineup is evidence that Kinect titles would appeal to the core gamer”
LMAO
September 3rd, 2010
@lock down
No. Just read. They have the most up to date happenings.
September 3rd, 2010
Cool. I post on there, wondered if you did.
Yeah, some of the posts in the MS/hardcore thread are amazing. The threads about Kinect losing features are pretty good as well
September 3rd, 2010
@b0xel – I’m with you buddy. Crotchonetta wasn’t my thing either.
September 3rd, 2010
“Talk is cheap. Actions always speak louder then words. We’ll see if this really has a negative impact on the Xbox360.”
I got my PS3 Slim late last August, and every game except for one that I played on it was excellent. I was still doing the majority of my gaming this year by playing multiplats and a few exclusives on 360, but after this price hike I’m dead set against 360 being my console of choice. I’ve canceled my automatic renewal of Gold which will expire in March of next year, and from now on PS3 and Wii will receive the majority of my home console game time, and 360 will only be powered on for the occasional exclusive that appeals to me, which are few and far in between. I will not purchase Gold again until they add real gaming value to it as PSN plus has (read: games included with subscription).
@phranc, spot on. Bayonetta is one of this year’s best games. The boss battles, environments, references, camp style, collection system, and levels of challenge bring together a perfect cross of DMC and Otogi for a unique experience. Good luck getting the Legendary Dark Witch Trophy.
September 4th, 2010
Bayonetta > DMC 4!
*runs away*