210°

Quake Wars dev: PS3 is a "challenge"

Splash Damage founder and Creative Director Paul Wedgwood has dropped a few interesting remarks on the competing claims of console and PC development.

Wedgwood drummed out the much-repeated line about the PlayStation 3 being tougher to develop for. "Coming from the background of a PC game developer, obviously the Xbox 360 is easier," he said. "If anything, the 360 is even easier than the PC because we don't have to optimize the hardware parts for Intel, AMD, ATI and Nvidia."

"We just have this one platform and if it runs well, it runs well the next time you boot it, irrespective of which 360 you're running it on. PS3, it's more of a challenge."
Jpinter - contributor
Published: 377 days 15 hours ago | News | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | PC | Industry News | Dev News
 
 

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Spike47 - 377 days 15 hours ago
1 - xbox360 is easier to develop
for, but use the PS3 right and you can do some pretty amazing things.
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Sony Rep - 377 days 15 hours ago
1.1 -
Isn't this what..usually happens when you have a completely new architecture to work with? Microprocessors and coprocessors are still relatively new. Devs aren't going to be able to optimize the PS3 when they are 1. working to make each version of a game identical, and 2. optimizing these games for the 360 and porting them to the PS3.

But, name a single multiplatform game that trumps MGS4, GT5, Uncharted, and KZ2...

Seems to me, that the best the 360 can do is rooted in these multiplatform games, and..Gears...whereas the PS3 exclusives aforementioned..trump all of those games by a wide margain.

Makes sense to me...
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pavarotti - 377 days 15 hours ago
1.2 - quake wars
was pure rubbish.

sony rep. no multi-plats look as good as mgs4, gt and kz2 because no 3rd party dev has 4 years dev time for any game, unless the publisher has deep pockets and wants them to take their time and make something as good as possible. don't forget, all those games are running on super game engines.

although your little dig at the 360 was pure fanboy. it does show the difference between owning lots of studios and not owning lots of studios. if you want super looking games on your platform, you have to make them yourself, you cant rely on 3rd parties to do them for you. unless you throw fortunes a them, and publish them.
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Sony Rep - 377 days 15 hours ago
1.3 - @pavarotti
Umm..GT5P, Uncharted, and MGS4 took roughly 2-3 years to complete.

The average development time span for any game...

/Facepalm
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ultimolu - 377 days 14 hours ago
1.4 -
Exactly.

The PS2 was hard as crap to develop for too. It takes time and patience to learn the components.
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SL1M DADDY - 377 days 14 hours ago
1.5 - Somebody needs to tell the developer...
That is was a challenge to even play their game. The game was crap no matter what system you played it on. Sorry, but if you're going to talk about a console being difficult to program for, first make a credible game then talk shop.
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Danja - 377 days 14 hours ago
1.6 - @pavarotti
R&C:TOD
R2
Motorstorm 2

all done in one year..
1.7 Bladestar | 377 days 13 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
1.8 inane | 377 days 13 hours ago - comment has been reported as SPAM -
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Kratos Spartan - 377 days 13 hours ago
1.9 - umm, inane, go have a look for yourself
Xbox chronicler Dean Takahashi has written a piece for online blog VentureBeat detailing the Xbox 360's red rings of death saga. As he explains it, the system's high failure rate boils down to numerous factors, including the console design, poor testing in its early stages, memory issues, bad soldering, and more. Before launch, 68 out of 100 systems were coming off the assembly line non-functional, and the continual post-release additions to the system didn't help things after launch. Microsoft even stopped production cold in the first half of 2007 in an attempt to deal with the problems.
Meanwhile, Robert Deleware, a Microsoft games tester who Takahashi spoke to on the record for the article, was recently fired by the company for what it deemed a breach of his confidentiality agreement.
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ApocalyPS3 - 377 days 13 hours ago
1.10 - at above comments about ps3 dev cycle
Did you guys ever think that maybe Sony's 10 year lifespan correlates to the time it takes for devs to finally start making good use of the hardware?

That is the most logical conslusion, since PlayStation always hits its stride late in the game. 1998-2000 were the best years in PSx's life, despite DreamCast's huge success in 1999-2000. 2003-2005 were the best years in PS2's life and it easily pulled past x360 for the first year or so of the next gen.

the formula is as follows:

first 2 years creates the majority of the install base. the beginnings of major franchises start, sales is driven highly by exclusives during this time (in that order)

next 3 years we see the 2nd installments of any major series that started that gen. muliplatform games continue to fuel monthly sales. becomes the peak of developer game cycle/game release ratio. smaller developers gain interest in console's future. major exclusives from the 1st 2 years see their next installments.

next 2 years final appearances of any major titles start to appear (usually 3rd installments). sales is driven mostly by multiplatform titles.

final 3 years the console from the next gen starts to approach, equal, and then surpass its previous console's consumer interest (in that order).

Microsoft's model is to just focus on that first half of the equation. They aren't too interested in keeping a machine on the market longer than 5-6 years. Also, they aren't phazed at all by cutting off a machine in order to propel the success of the next one. Of course, that wasn't ENTIRELY the case with Xbox. Their relationship with nVidia is what pushed them cut off Xbox, as they made it hard to pull it under $150 to compete with PS2. I doubt that Xbox 360 will have a similar fate, but I AM certain that they won't push it past 6 years.

edit: pardon me for the many edits. i just wanted it to make the most sense
1.11 inane | 377 days 12 hours ago - comment has been reported as SPAM -
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JBaby343 - 377 days 12 hours ago
1.12 - @ inane
Here is your link. I know 7 people with 360's. As of September (when the most recent one went) 5 of those 7 have had their 360s die on them and 2 of those 5 have been more than once. That's my own experience with the situation.

That means 7 out of 9 xbox 360s have failed that I PERSONALLY know of. That equates to a 78% failure rate. These aren't numbers from nowhere these are real figures. You want to call my friends and check? I'll give you their numbers. RROD is unfortunate and real.

On the article PS3 is very difficult to develop for but the rewards are massive. KZ2 proves it all.
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ultimolu - 377 days 12 hours ago
1.13 -
"but don't forget one very important difference between PS3 and the PS2... PS2 had a huge lead over the original xbox and the GameCube... not focusing and doing wherever it takes to make a game for the PS2 was not a luxury any game developer could simply affort... That my friend it's not the case this time around... Developer can simply ignore the PS3 and make games for the PC and the xbox 360.. or simply ask another developer to port it for them like Valve does..."

I disagree with that. A developer cannot ignore the other system if they're in the process of making money. If that was the case, then FFXIII would have been PS3 exclusive.

I believe developers have to keep both systems in mind when developing games. That's how they make money.

A developer could ask Sony for help if they're having problems with the hardware.

If that's the case with deeloping, then I suppose 1st party developers will have to show 3rd party how it's done.
1.14 arrrgh | 377 days 10 hours ago - comment has been reported as SPAM -
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Oner - 377 days 10 hours ago
1.15 - ...
Inane please read this lengthy article @ VB for the SOURCE ~
http://venturebeat.com/2008...

Pay close attention to the 2nd page ~
http://venturebeat.com/2008...

I quote

"The defect rate for the machines was an abysmal 68 percent at that point, according to several sources. That meant for every 100 machines that Microsoft’s contract manufacturers, Flextronics and Wistron, made at their factories in China, 68 didn’t work."

I have a 360 and do like it for a VERY few things but after 2 RROD's myself and NUMEROUS friends as well along with 1 person having 10+ broken 360's ALL DOCUMENTED AND VERIFIED I cannot justify spending any money in support of M$.
1.16 inane | 377 days 10 hours ago - comment has been reported as SPAM -
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Oner - 377 days 10 hours ago
1.17 - ...
Thanx Man, good to see people who want verifiable stuff. But there are so many who just won't beleive it no matter what proof you provide...not very mature (just watch the disagrees I get).

In addition I also have this article from a little over a year ago which states "MS admits all 360's are prone to failure and are defective"

http://www.fastsilicon.com/...

Personally even with the updated motherboards in the newer 360's they still fail so in essence ALL 360's still have the ability to fail. That is my own view but it is a sound one. Plus I find it funny how no one questions how many of those RROD 360's just couldn't be fixed which "pads" M$'s numbers...basically there is no way there are as many working 360's as M$ touts.
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JBaby343 - 377 days 7 hours ago
1.18 - @ arg
Until MS actually mans-up and releases the failure rates and/or number of consoles it's all anecdotal. It's all just people saying their consoles broke. If enough people are saying it that must tell you something even if the actual figures are kept out of public sight. You don't have to believe my story but that doesn't make it untrue and while yes it's not a large enough sample size to carry statistical weight it's no less interesting and certainly tells me something and I'm sure a lot of others. Stop being such an MS fanboy and just accept that something is going on. If you want ACTUAL figures from SOURCES, write MS and tell them to release the official figures. Sony discloses their failures rates. Why doesn't MS? Yeah that's what I thought. It's all anecdotal at this point. I'm sure you won't believe oner's story of 2 RRODs because it's just anecdotal but I believe him on it. Too many people have anecdotal evidence about this for it to be ignored. Maybe you're right though... It Never Happened.

Pop your midol and chill with the attitude dude.
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Oner - 377 days 6 hours ago
1.19 -
Good points Jbaby. I myself also say if RROD is not that big then why do companies sell Xclamp fixes, or why there are tutorials on the towel fix or why there are hundreds of threads everywhere on suggestions on how to fix it? Let alone the vast amount of RROD videos on just Youtube alone...I mean WTH!?! How much more proof do you need when there are thousands upon thousands of videos everywhere? Additionally what about that gaming review site (forgot the specific site) having 9 RROD's or more so far!
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JBaby343 - 377 days 6 hours ago
1.20 - Thanks Oner
I can't stand it when some fanboy wants some kind of figures knowing there are none just so they can deny something. Love playing your 360 there are some great times to be had but obviously something's amiss with the hardware. I admit the PS2 had problems even if it never happened to me so I don't see what's so hard about admitting these things break.

Bubbles up for intelligent conversation.
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DavidMacDougall - 377 days 15 hours ago
2 - Quake Wars LOL
It was only a challange because they wanted to rush both versions for quick money
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Liquid Dust - 377 days 15 hours ago
2.1 - Haha yea definitely
Its not like 360 benefited very much from being easier to develop for. 360 version had worse visuals imo and it was lacking some key gameplay aspects.

PS3/360 Comparison video, only 2 min long
http://www.gametrailers.com...

The game was not that great at all anyways. Extremely rushed both versions
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Fishy Fingers - 377 days 15 hours ago
3 -
Enjoying your game was a "challenge". Regarding development, durrrr.... devs have been complaining about this since day one. Although most have wised up to the PS3 now (multiplatform games relfect that). Splash Damage are obviously going to face issues when porting a PC game. A terrible PC game.
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Darkseider - 377 days 15 hours ago
3.1 - @Fishy Fingers
LOL!! ROFL!! oooh god that was funny.

"Enjoying your game was a "challenge"

bubble for you for making me laugh.
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Lucreto - 377 days 14 hours ago
3.2 -
It seems to only be a problem to PC developers. It shows how rigid PC development is that something new comes along and its a problem.

They should be saying "The PS3 provided a new challenge and broadened my experience into new ways for developing."
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dirigiblebill - 377 days 15 hours ago
4 -
Quake Wars was solid enough. Respond to the interview itself (on Edge-Online) not the headline, chaps.
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harry190 - 377 days 14 hours ago
5 - This guy is one
of the reasons I dislike PC fanboys. Lack of deep games?

COD4 the console version of Counter Strike?
Halo 3 the Quake 3 of consoles?

''Wedgwood thinks console gamers are still crying out for the depth that only PC games can provide.''

Dude, perhaps when you start making quality games instead of ports, maybe then you can make such claims. Obviously, there is much more than RTS games that are deep and challenging. Did the guy ever try any of the Matsuno games? Did he ever play FF Tactics? FF12? Vagrant Story? Xenogears? Tactics Ogre? Obviously, this is a very westernized view of the videogaming world. If you have not played the games, don't bother to complain.

Resource management is deep eh? Well, that's very rich....very very rich.
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rawd - 377 days 14 hours ago
6 -
I love the subtly of Jpinter changing the comment from "it's more of a challenge" to the title "PS3 is a challenge". It completely takes a different meaning. I done read good and stuff guise
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Foxgod - 377 days 14 hours ago
7 -
I know what people mean if they say challenging.....
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ZmokeR - 377 days 14 hours ago
8 - Quake Wars Sucked MADJOR Balls....
THIS IS NO FLAME BATE!

And right now IMO every game on ps3 looks like crap! EXCEPT Uncharted, kz2, and gt5 and metal gear.

Like an example, every one is saying that Motorstorm 2 is looking awesome? What is awesome with that game? IMO it looks like SHI*!
Just Wait until Motorstorm 3 is coming with kz2 gfx engine, THEN we can talk Cgi Trailer quality.

I belive that after kz2 is released and they are giving away that engine for devs to work with, the games for ps3 will change drastic.

No more UT engine i belive,(imo its already old) THO GoW 2 looks awesome ( i have 360 to ). For a start every FPS game will have the Kz2 engine on ps3 i belive, then when they have learned to use that in the right way it wont take long before we see racing games, stratedgy games , horror games, all in that engine.

Think about it..
SIlent hill 6 in Kz2 gfx? Imagine how the monsters will look then AND the sound?.. OMG 7.1 any one?

Or we can take Motorstorm 3 that i took up before. Cgi Gfx any one?

And i wont eaven start to galk about God Of War that they already said will look like the trailer we saw before. ( i belive kz2 engine is used in that game 2, can be wrong tho)

So what i always think when i see a game on the shelfs for ps3, is that it look "ok" at best. But i KNOW that after februari when Kz2 is released it will all change.. trust me ,, tho that is just IMO.

Then we should not forget of all the other games that is coming next year. I dont have to say them, caouse all the ps3 owners already know.
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Foxgod - 377 days 14 hours ago
8.1 -
LOL you think they will give their engine away.
Their HQ is 20 minutes traveling from my house, i am gonna knock on their door, ask if they give me some free money too.

Get real, no production company will give software technology away for free, you may as well perform financial suicide and give the game away for free.
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Foxgod - 377 days 14 hours ago
8.2 -
And one more thing, other software developers are actually Competition to the Killzone devs, odds are they wont even sell the engine to their competition.
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Fishy Fingers - 377 days 14 hours ago
8.3 - ^Fox
Epic do to home users. Loads of developers share tech with the community to help build mods (SDKs or whatever) etc. Surely that's software tecnology. Valve, Crytek...

Well, you have to buy their games to get it so not technically free, but..

Sorry, just realised your talking on a console basis. Yeah, no freebies there.
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Foxgod - 377 days 14 hours ago
8.4 -
No, level editors and such are not software technology, there are software tools.
And they provide those for free because you can only use them with game, which you have to buy, so it aint free.
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Socomer 1979 - 377 days 14 hours ago
9 - Quake wars dev should focus on psp.
you're just a waste of time on all consoles.
I rather play ut3 on ps3 with my mouse & keyboard on
my ps3. No problems fraggin there, just the usual lag &
unsupport from epic. Mods are the biggest attraction. Oh,
and the hundreds of mod maps.
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ZmokeR - 377 days 14 hours ago
10 - @Fox if you READ a little bit you will see...
That the reason that Kz2 is costing so *** much and took so long time is BECAUSE they are just not making a game for the ps3, they are making a hole new engine for ps3 and sony...=)

Read the news and learn
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Foxgod - 377 days 13 hours ago
10.1 -
the game has a big budget, but the engine they build for themselves, provide a source directly from Guerrilla in which it claims that they are making it for sony.
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JBaby343 - 377 days 6 hours ago
10.2 - There Are No Links
But it stands to reason they would use the engine at least for 1st party games and honestly they would be stupid not to. Many 1st party devs have collaborated on making the engine and use parts of it for their own engines like Santa Monica with GOW3 of which they have admitted they designed the destructible environment portion of the engine in KZ2 and will use it in GOW3. Again no link but I did read it in an interview with the dev. If you want a link research it yourself.

The knowledge they acquire now even if not using the same engine is still transferable to other engines and devs shortening dev time and making games better anyway. That needs no link.
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James Vanderbeek - 377 days 13 hours ago
11 - did anyone even buy this game????
i thought it flopped pretty hard on the 360 and ps3..
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ThanatosDMC - 377 days 8 hours ago
11.1 -
There's the PC demo. The game is either hit or miss. The idea was great but parts of it fell short.
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xg-ei8ht - 377 days 13 hours ago
12 -
I had quake wars on pc, and after a short while, took it off, was bland and pretty boring after awhile.

Of course 360 is easier to develop for. This has been said time and time again.

But i also think some devs are doing amazing things with it.

Also regardless of console.

I'd like to see Gears of War on PS3, then have matches between 360 and ps3 clans/etc/

Think it would be fun. an
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devilhunterx - 377 days 13 hours ago
13 -
Repeat after me:

Familiar does not equals to Easier.
13.1 arrrgh | 377 days 9 hours ago - comment has been reported as SPAM -
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DJ - 377 days 8 hours ago
13.2 - Avante is familiar to me.
Avante is a pain in the ass. No, familiarity doesn't mean something's easy.
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loadedscorpion - 377 days 13 hours ago
14 - how long we have to hear this sh*t over and over again !!!!!!
Yes we already know PS3 is harder to develop for but when done right it can do amazing things (see Uncharted, KZ2, Motorstorm, MGS4 etc they beat every multi-platform game out there and x360 exclusives). These 3rd party devs should stop complaining and start writing some good code and optimize it for PS3 that can take advantage of PS3's architecture. Or just FUC*ING leave it alone if you can't do it! They fuc*ing make a sh*tty port from X360 code and expect to work perfectly on a totally different architecture without any proper optimizations??? Did they even get a degree in CS????? Oh and then every xbot is thumping that PS3 can't handle it. WTF seriously!
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divideby0 - 377 days 13 hours ago
15 -
just as with the PS2....
put you time in upfront AND you will REAP a LONG HARDWARE lifetime.

just more reasons why PS3 had bad MP titles at first.
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Sarcasm - 377 days 13 hours ago
16 -
Quake Wars was garbage on the PC, 360, and worst of all the PS3.

They need to just be PC/360 only and learn how to make better games on that first before they even try to touch the PS3 again.
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SaberEdge - 377 days 12 hours ago
17 -
Sony screwed up with the design of the PS3, plain and simple. Making a console that is not optimized for actually making games is hurting the PS3 more than people know. You have developers like Valve that don't even want to work with it at all. More importantly though, developers that do work on PS3 projects struggle to get their games to run well on the PS3. This causes a majority of multi-platform games to look and perform worse on the PS3 than on the Xbox 360. It also tends to make Sony exclusives take a little longer to come out.

PS3 fanboys are always saying that PS3 exclusives like Uncharted and MGS4 look better than anything on the 360, but that is complete BS. I own the PS3 (PSN ID = psykosonikninja) and I own those games and they don't look better than the better games on the 360. In fact, Gears of War 2 has come out and looks better than any other console game that I have seen. MGS4 and Uncharted are definitely some of the better looking games out there, but they don't surpass what has been done on the 360. That is just wishful thinking on the part of PS3 fanboys.
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ApocalyPS3 - 377 days 10 hours ago
17.1 -
Gears won awards for graphics. Gears 2 is no different, it slaughters quite possibly everything in its path. With a chainsaw.
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