1120°

LucasArts prioritizing PS3, unleashing Force

Though its forthcoming game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, started development on the Xbox 360, LucasArts' "new baseline" will be Sony's console.

"Our next project will use the PS3 as the baseline, and then apply that to the Xbox 360," said Haden Blackman, project lead for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

After some hard-learned lessons in developing The Force Unleashed, LucasArts now has a strategy for future multiplatform titles: develop the PS3 version first.

The new game was demoed for first time in public by the developer -- which almost made a new KOTOR instead.
Alternative Sources:
GDC 2008: LucasArts To Deve... - psxextreme.com | By: Cyrus365
The Round Peg - contributor
Published: 656 days 9 hours ago | Interview | GDC 2008 | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360
 
 

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name - 656 days 11 hours ago
1 -
niiiiice.
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Martini - 656 days 9 hours ago
1.1 -
Smart move.
Common sense tells you that you should make the game with the lowest common denominator and go from there.
That way you won't be struggling with making the game work on a particular console as it is guaranteed to run on the higher spec. machine.
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Violater - 656 days 9 hours ago
1.2 - read beween the lines guys
hopefully the ps3 version of force unleashed is up to par.
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Panthers - 656 days 8 hours ago
1.3 -
Why disagree with Violator? He is right. This article basically says that they had difficulty with the PS3 version.
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games4fun - 656 days 8 hours ago
1.4 - @martini
I guess the ps2 was more powerful than the original xbox? because you know the xbox1 had to be very weak console compared to the graphic might of the ps2 because xbox1 was the "lowest denominator" when they would devolop games for it first right?

or are you just wearing fanboy glasses in fanboy land and crying like a baby?
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Richdad - 656 days 2 hours ago
1.5 - Ps2 powerful than xbox 1
233 mhz < 733 mhz
32 Mb ram < 64 Mb Ram
gfx card equivalent to geforce 2ti< gfx card better than geforce 3Ti

All the above stats show that the hardware was in case of Xbox 1 more powerful, the only advantage the PS2 had was of fill rate as far as the survival in the market account anything that sells will survive, even with howso ever weakend hardware it has.
I say this on account of being PS2 user and my friend who showed me multiplatform games on xbox1.
Till 2004 it was Ok with PS2 but after that I didnt saw much improvement in graphics except for RE4 and GOW, GOW 2.
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thewhoopimen - 655 days 19 hours ago
1.6 - @1.3 Panthers
Are you daft? Martini is right?! where do you come up with that logic? Based off his btw, sarcastic backhand, the Wii should be the lead platform being the lowest common denominator not to mention highest base.
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JsonHenry - 655 days 13 hours ago
1.7 -
Is it not easier to make it on the PS3 THEN port to other consoles? Sounds like a smart move since the PS3 (for the time being at least) is the lowest common denominator among ported games.
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BobDog - 655 days 11 hours ago
1.8 -
@ rich dad

he was being sarcastic... he was implying martini's logic

bet u feel like an idiot
2 Anything but Cute | 656 days 11 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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gonzopia - 656 days 9 hours ago
2.1 -
This is the best part...

"Virtually every third-party publisher is now developing for the PS3 first. 'They all are now, since it's just easier,' he told GameSpot."

...oh, snap.
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wow4u - 656 days 8 hours ago
2.2 -
"Virtually every third-party publisher is now developing for the PS3 first. 'They all are now, since it's just easier,' he told GameSpot."

Yes.

Exactly. And since I have to explain it, I feel pity for you.

Translated:

It is easier to port PS3 code to the Xbox 360 than to port Xbox 360 code to the PS3 -- WITHOUT WASTING TIME AND MONEY TO SQUEEZE OUT PERFORMANCE.

So, Mutliplatform games will now be gimped to the PS3.
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SnakeCL - 656 days 7 hours ago
2.3 - 2.2
Actually, no. Since PS3 will be lead platform, games will play to the strengths of that platform, namely, the better texture filtering processing power.

So if anything, games ported from PS3 to 360 will be lesser than their PS3 original.
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drewdrakes - 656 days 6 hours ago
2.4 -
SnakeCL - Actually no, the 360 has better texture filtering. Its graphics card has more pipelines for shaders. As well the 360's graphics chip's pipelines are general purpose and so can be either pixel or vertex.
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Richdad - 656 days 2 hours ago
2.5 - Wow
The devs have to use power of processor in PS3 to get graphics so its up to the cell and its software driver to give the result. But I dont know the depth abt texture filtering and all that on either console.

But whatever is the case why did the Devs didnt used the CPU processor power in last gen, I mean the PS2 and xbox were not even 1 GHZ in processing power but when I turned on GTA Sandandreas on Intel exteme GPU ( yeah very poor of me) it doesnt work but the processor of a normal PC by most accounts was 2.4GHZ. So why didnt the Devs did that to the PC what they are doing on PS3 use processor more and less GPU.
I dont why even devs compalin abt PC sells, when a PC gamer is not even sure that if the game howso ever good he is purcahsing will work properly or not but in case of console we ask for 60 fps and 1080p things, inspite of the fact that a high end PC costs enough to get you all the 3 next gen console.
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gonzopia - 655 days 21 hours ago
2.6 -
Listen - the issue at hand has nothing to do with which system has better graphics or processing power, it's about development time. The PS3 is a more complicated system to develop for - it has a more elaborate system. Therefore, it takes longer. It's easier, like the quote says, to dev for the PS3, then port to the 360 for that very reason.

Why is this good? It's good because more devs will take more time to learn the PS3 method of developing games and using the multiprocessing system. PS3 will get better games, and likely the possibility of more exclusives in the future - but it's also good because 360 won't require a totally different build, so these games will come out at the same time and the 360 will get almost the same version...

...just one that's gimped down a bit. :)
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SnakeCL - 655 days 19 hours ago
2.7 - 2.4
Actually, you're incorrect.

The PS3 does AF considerably better than 360. The old CoD4 comparo shots are an excellent example.

The RSX is actually better at Pixel Shading that the Xenos as well. Xenos is better at vertex shading, but the RSX was never meant to handle that, it gets offloaded to Cell.
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Neurotoxin - 656 days 10 hours ago
3 -
So basically the game is gonna be rubbish on the ps3, but the next game should be fine.
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beavis4play - 656 days 10 hours ago
3.1 - read the article before you make comments
at one point in the article the author says the impressive looking game is on track. (not rubbish)

then says after they first showed the demo to an audience; it was met with a thunderous applause.

just read before commenting.
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Richdad - 656 days 1 hour ago
3.2 - No way dude
Lucas arts had hardship to get it on PS3 right way. No matter whatever hardship they had they are going to do it right Lucas arts is one really good studio, its never gonna dissappoint PS3 user like EA did earlier.
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Mike134nl - 656 days 10 hours ago
4 -
Apparantly it is easier to use the ps3 as a baseline and than apply to the xbox 360, which basicly is a choice based on complexity of the machines and thereore reducung delays,GTA anyone, and not based on which console will be more dominant.
In the end this could be bad news for microsoft if the games endup worse than the xb 360 version.
Even though I think the future for multi platform gaming will be simontaniously developing games for both console, with one engine,
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jackdoe - 656 days 9 hours ago
5 -
Well that is the smartest way to develop. That or use IdTech 5(probably the engine that will completely eliminate the headache of a port). Anyway, nice to know Force Unleashed is on track, but I'm a bit iffy on the game. Hopefully there is a demo.
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Ahhhh - 656 days 9 hours ago
6 -
Same here.. A demo would be great.
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Skerj - 656 days 9 hours ago
7 -
About time, crappy port fear officially allayed.
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pwnsause - 656 days 9 hours ago
8 -
good. nice to see that some devs are realizing that this is the way to dev multiplatform games this generation.
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cokzilla23 - 656 days 9 hours ago
9 -
nice trend happening
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CrazzyMan - 656 days 7 hours ago
9.1 - The Tide is changing. =)
The ps3 is owning. =]
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Sam Fisher - 656 days 2 hours ago
9.2 - @ CrazzyMan
wtf r u talking bout they just said they did it b/c they wont have difficulties in the near future....like um delayes....duh... jesus, does any1 read anymore or is the future all bout video ( instead of read interview. they should just put video interview 4 ppl that puts idiotic things like "The Tide is changing. =],The ps3 is owning. =]".)
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thewhoopimen - 655 days 19 hours ago
9.3 - @Sam Fisher
Mr. Fisher, you should try to read between the lines. Given most of the ports last year were xbox360 as the baseline, developers choosing to switch over to the PS3 means more than just your one sided 'easier to program' or 'lowest common denominator' reasoning. No company would switch their target platform to a "dead" or "dying" console system. The market trend shows otherwise, therefore it makes sense for them to switch.
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aggh im on fire - 656 days 9 hours ago
10 -
Makes sense. Quicker and easier to port from Ps3 to 360 rather than the other way round. Hopefully bad ports will be a thing of the past.... we hope.
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Ri0tSquad - 656 days 9 hours ago
11 - Good news for PS3 owners.
No bad port!
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Nunalho - 656 days 9 hours ago
12 -
Good choice. Another dev taking this aproach, good for PS3 MP games, no more crappy ports. I expect games similar to Burnout or DMC, with no issues.
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antoinetm - 656 days 9 hours ago
13 -
And thou shall be rewarded with my respect and money.
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Darkiewonder - 656 days 9 hours ago
14 - Well
Now I want to know what their next project will be. As long as they don't say IJ.
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Rockwallaby - 656 days 9 hours ago
15 - We've..
known this for a while, nice to see more devs switching lead platform then everybody's happy
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DJ - 656 days 9 hours ago
16 - Porting PS3 titles to the 360 (instead of vice versa)
Seems to be the norm now. Looks like Sony's big initiative to make PS3 lead platform is paying off.
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Martini - 656 days 9 hours ago
16.1 -
Don't you find it interesting that you can easily port from PS3 to 360 but not the other way around ?
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harpua - 656 days 8 hours ago
16.2 -
"Don't you find it interesting that you can easily port from PS3 to 360 but not the other way around ?"

well when its dumb down for the 360 first its alot harder to port. You make a good point that they are using the better console, PS3, to develop on first.
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Martini - 656 days 8 hours ago
16.3 -
Skipped the class on common sense harpua haven't you?
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wow4u - 656 days 8 hours ago
16.4 -
Don't you find it interesting that you can easily port from PS3 to 360 but not the other way around ?"

well when its dumb down for the 360 first its alot harder to port. You make a good point that they are using the better console, PS3, to develop on first.

Whoa whoa whoa. Just a second.

What did you just say? That, the code is "dumbed down" for Xbox 360 *first* and that makes it harder to bring it to the "better console"?

Huh?
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harpua - 656 days 7 hours ago
16.5 -
"Skipped the class on common sense harpua haven't you?"

Actually I teach that class, noticed you weren't in it....oh thats right, GED is a prerequisite....hey good luck with the test.
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mikeslemonade - 656 days 5 hours ago
16.6 -
Obviously some one here lacks sense to not think PS3 will win HD generation of consoles and will have the best games. If you think other wise you must have flunked economics and math. It's okay most people in America are blind and short sighted, so you're not the only one.
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thewhoopimen - 655 days 18 hours ago
16.7 - @16.1 Martini
Martini you are absolutely right. The PS3 can run the general purpose code written for the 360 but the 360 can't run the PS3 specialized code.
Most programmers probably start out with a general purpose code framework before rewriting it to utilize PS3 SPUs for example. Therefore, why not develop on the PS3 first? The PS3 can perform either one...
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mullet - 656 days 9 hours ago
17 -
Development will start on PS3 from now on? Heh. This is great.
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Ludwig - 656 days 9 hours ago
18 -
You guys know why are they doing this :3
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Xbox is the BEST - 656 days 8 hours ago
18.1 - Because
the 360 can handle the Cell fine.
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Martini - 656 days 8 hours ago
18.2 -
Are you trying to say the cell, can't handle the 360 ??
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wow4u - 656 days 8 hours ago
18.3 -
@18.2 precisely.

The RSX needs to be propped up by heavy ($$$) optimization of code on the Cell. The Xbox 360 CPU can pump out the code, and the GPU without problem.

Why do you think every cross platform game has performed, and looked better on the Xbox 360?

Because the Developers have found that the Xbox 360 is more powerful. So, they need to use the PS3 as the baseline.

Base;
lowest part: the lowest, bottom, or supporting part or layer of something

Baseline;
standard of value: a standard of value to which other similar things are compared

Get it?
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gambare - 656 days 8 hours ago
18.4 - @18.3
"Because the Developers have found that the Xbox 360 is more powerful. So, they need to use the PS3 as the baseline."

I think you got it wrong, they got a full year with the 360 hardware before the PS3, the PS3 is complex yes, but they are also watching what devs like infinity ward did and insomniac is doing, they want to gain the lost time and check what the PS3 hardware can do, because if the cell processor is not used at it's full capacity and even with that can pull games (poorly compiled) at a decent speed then they wonder what they can do with the cell at full speed, so they want to focus on the PS3 version, if they can pull more with the cell just like Insomniac and naughty dog then they will point at something.bigger
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Martini - 656 days 8 hours ago
18.5 -
But but how is that possible when sony has teh Cell ??
I thought the cell would take over the world and make the 360 obsolete the day it launched and that's when the HD age starts because Kaz said so but in the mean time the 360 games just look so awesome?? How is that possible ??? Maybe,just maybe it really has something to do with the hardware - gosh this sucks..I feel like I just need a minute and dwell on this deep down inside..........
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