Does resolution really matter?

Eurogamer - This one took us by surprise. A study undertaken by US pollmeisters Nielsen revealed this week that "better resolution" is the top reason people bought PlayStation 4 over its competition. It's a remarkable, perhaps even unbelievable result, and one we wanted to dig into more deeply, so we contacted the director of Nielsen Games, Nicole Pike, asking about the size and make-up of the sample and how respondents were directed into giving their answers.

[dolphin22]

This tripe written by Richard Leadbetter just reads like one gigantic love letter to Microsoft, attempting to gloss over and shift the goalposts, pertaining to the Xbox One's graphical shortcomings in relation to the Ps4.

This odious website blasted Sony's Ps3 for an entire generation regarding any smidgeon of inferiority against the Xbox 360, but now when Sony has a clear graphical resolution edge, lets sweep it under the rug and shift the agenda onto framerate. Then when they lose in both resolution and framerate, as was the case a week or so back with Evolve, they deny Sony the win and call it an even draw, because with yet more goalpost shifting they say the overall game experience is best enjoyed using on the Xbox live service.

With hypocrisy like this, it is no wonder that long overdue serious questions are only now, starting to be raised over the ethics, standards and corruption within certain areas of game journalism, even though if has been well known about and has existed for years.

[Bigpappy]

Before you run off with your predictable blabber, may me you should ask yourself a few easy questions:

What is the best looking games on PS4 right now? Is that the order? What is the resolution of the order?

[yewles1]

"What is the best looking games on PS4 right now? Is that the order? What is the resolution of the order?"

You wanna' compare that to The Evil Within? On XBOX ONE even?

Heh...

Back on topic: I would like to thank Richard Leadbetter for helping me make an important decision today... I'm sticking to 7th gen and eventually going retro.

[dolphin22]

As predicted, my entire point went flying right over your head Pappy and much like the author of this article, you are also trying to downplay the impact that resolution plays, in order to suit your agenda, as this is an area in which your console of choice has struggled.

I am well aware that other factors come into play during game development in order to strike a balance between resolution and framerate.

I'm merely illustrating the point that Leadbetter is attempting to obfuscate matters by shifting the focus away from resolution and onto other areas such as framerate and game experience.

Reading between the lines, i come to the conclusion that he and his website have a deliberate agenda doing this so as to rob and downplay any advantages that Sony have in this area.

If i listened to your inane claptrap i would replace my 4k television in my living room for my old 720p that is currently residing in the attic.

[joab777]

Get a PS4 or an xbone. There are great gmes coming this gen. Puck based on whatever reasons you want, bit don't miss out to make a point. For me, PS4 does have the games I want, and my friends play there, so it's a simple choice. Eventually, of there is a can't miss game on xbone, I'll get one.

While many games may look a little better on PS4, it isn't why I bought it, and it isn't why I bought a PS3. Eventually I bought a 360 for games, bit spent most of my time where my friends play.

Games like Bloodborne and Persona will sell systems, but so will Halo. The good news is that they are affordable and will only get cheaper.

[Spotie]

-sigh- The resolution of The Order is 1080p. You WISH it was something less than that, but it isn't.

[BitbyDeath]

The resolution of the order is 1080p, where are you going with this?

[Hard8times]

The order is 1080p the black are rendered in the picture now try again

[ABizzel1]

Yes and No.

Yes when it's a big difference like 720p vs 1080p vs 1440p vs 4k. Resolution is noticeable when stepping up from those resolutions, and the clarity of a game natively rendered at those resolutions look great and makes everything, even the minor details, pop.

Yes, because it shows a sign of evolution technologically. More powerful hardware can produce better graphics and a better resolution, to visually show evolution of hardware.

And finally yes when you're comparing two images. The image with the better resolution has a cleaner image. Fanboys might not like it, but it's simply the truth.

Does it hold you back from enjoying a game simply because it's 720p, absolutely not, and it would be stupid of any console gamer to say otherwise.

Resolution matters, but it's weight on the scale does nothing to tip it.

[fr0sty]

@Bigpappy, I'd still say Driveclub, which is 1080p.

[Volkama]

If you want to argue console tech-peens then The Order is not 1080p. But in terms of pixel density and image quality (which is the real discussion), the stuff that is within the letterbox is essentially 1080p.

Ryse is a better case study for the "does resolution matter?" and "filmic techniques vs resolution" topic, because we can use the PC version to see how it looks at any number of resolutions. The verdict is that increasing the resolution makes a real and positive difference. The game looks great on the One, but at 4k it looks flat-out better.

It would be interesting to see what could be achieved with a standard definition game on current hardware though, if an engine/game was truly made for that target.

[Bigpappy]

Not at all. Forget Xbox for a second. You can have much more beautiful games at a slightly lower resolution if the GPU limits graphical features at the higher resolution.

That is the only point I am trying to make here. Resolution is only better if it can also allow for all other graphical features to stay intact. In other words, resolutions is only one feature of many that determine how nice a game will look.

It is people like you that try and over emphasize the importance of resolution to suite your agenda. And when developers start thinking that this is what gamers really see a buying point, you end up with games that could have been a lot better looking and play better to boot.

[nucky64]

man, you're missing the point of what dolphin is trying to say.

[Ashlen]

Well, the PS4 has consistently had both higher resolutions and better textures and lighting and as well as particle effects.

So where does that put your agenda?

The PS4 has a better memory architecture and more powerful GPU nothing is going to change that.

#dealwithit

[fr0sty]

Resolution NEVER allows ALL graphics features to stay intact. You ALWAYS have to make a sacrifice of hitting your target resolution or going lower and being able to throw more at the screen. That is a major part of game development, deciding where you want to settle for the look you're trying to achieve.

For instance, Driveclub is currently the king of racing game graphics. However, they could have halved the resolution and doubled the frame rate (well, it doesn't scale perfectly like that, as there could be other bottlenecks, but i'm going to simplify it for the sake of this example). Or they could have halved the resolution and included better anti-aliasing or anisotropic filtering. There is always going to be something you could have done that gets cut in order to hit any resolution.

[Death]

Dolphin is pretty much saying the only reason resolution is important today is because last gen Sony was teased when the Xbox had higher res and more stable frame rates. What he is missing is the fact Sony called the Xbox360 the "Xbox 1.5" which setup some pretty unrealistic expectations for the PS3. When the PS3 which was labeled a "super computer" struggled to output the same quality of the Xbox 1.5, people were pretty quick to point this out.

Fast forward to today and some PlayStation fans are still pointing out these unseen differences trying to convince people native resolution is somehow more important than it really is. At the end or the day if knowing the 1080p image on your screen is native and not using the hardware upscaler makes the game more fun, kudos to you.

[N4g_null]

Great point death. The 4k response was not called for since the ps4 is not really compatible with it and every console can be up scaled and processed on the fly on those tvs. I love me some tv tech! So if you can afford a 4k why not get a titan z to go all out? Just a question because it's hard to follow your logic. The ps4 and xbone both struggle as if these are clones of last gen machines. The difference is so small it's like fighting over who has the bigger imaginary bank account.

The point of the article may have actually been this is stupid because the graphics actually arn't too much better. Just a little. I don't know maybe I'm spoiled by real gpus in pcs.

[DevilOgreFish]

"Does resolution really matter?"

As a console gamer, i think making a good game matters. as a PC gamer hell yeah, 4k, 1440p ftw!

[Roccetarius]

Quite wrong actually. Making a good game matters to both, but one is more capable than the others.

[fr0sty]

I've always had a super powerful PC, as I do video production, but you always get console level graphics just cleaner and sharper. It isn't until the end of the generation where you start to see games where "that just couldn't even be done on any console"... tesselation and other DX11/12 features were what separated the last gen consoles from this gen, in addition to raw power. It'll be a little while before PC's are offering features like that which just can't be done on consoles even at lower resolution.

That's why I never saw the point in it. My PC is big and loud, not in the best spot for gaming, so it spends the majority of its time rendering video, CGI, or video projection mapping. I just don't see enough of a benefit to endure those inconveniences.

[N4g_null]

Frosty you know they make wireless hdmi right? You also know that cell phones are going to pass these current consoles gpu output right? You also know we have video cards that can actually do real time realistic volumetric gas and fire Sims on the video card? We are way over 3 teraflops man.... the ps4 is like 1.5ish. I don't know about you but we are doing 4k depth maps in real time on 3 4k monitors with all ssd.

I'm sure some one will come along and use the full power of the high end cards sooner or later in vr. Yet to say console render better is pretty fanboy - ish and missleading.

If these consoles would have hit 3 teraflops like devs where asking for seriously we would have stuff closer to transformers the movie in real time. Any bump is good but the hype about power is tiring because they just are not that powerful. The magic of RISC cpus are gone also. We just have basic pc kit in these consoles with no exotic os tweaking them. The next gen should be better though.

Yet these consoles are about games... we should be talking about that. HD is still a hit or miss subject.

[miyamoto]

@dolphin22
So glad that I am not the only one who have seen through the mask of anti-PlayStation sites like Eurogamer, Digital Foundry, Polygon, Kotaku, Venture Beat, The Verge, IGN (exept for the PlayStation Team of Greg Miller), Gamespot, etc.
They are yapping all this bs for the last days as the truth-informed gamers and YouTubers are taking over.

So far every negativity they spew out over the net is backfiring at them. The more hate and misinformation the more PS4 and its games are played by the millions.

[dolphin22]

Again you are misunderstanding what i am trying to say pappy. I agree with you that games at lesser resolutions can look better in some instances and that it's a balancing act of give and take, compromise, as well as art choices and that lowering the resolution can free up other areas to add more polish and grunt for the developers to get the best out of every system but that is not what i am talking about and well you know it.

The only reason that you keep harping on about this is because your console of choice has struggled to keep up in this regard.

I am referring to the motives and goal post shifting of Richard Leadbetter at Eurogamer and visually impaired gamers such as yourself who have an agenda to downplay Sony while heaping lavish praise upon microsoft.

It begs the question, why are you defending this? Would you not want to get the best visual and gameplay bang for your buck at the highest optimum settings that each system will allow.

The answer lies in the simple fact that you have a part of your lower anatomy shoved so far up the jacksie of the American game manufacturer that it has clouded your judgement.

You bought a console that struggles to attain 1080p for certain titles, therefore you are scrambling to defend Microsoft's 720p - 900p titles and have to find any way to downplay Sony's 1080p offerings.

[StrayaKNT]

Resolution does not matter and its been proven. Gameplay matters.

[ltachiUchiha]

Well if it doesn't matter then whats the use of enhancing graphics, we mightest will have stuck to atari graphics. Obviously it matters but should that be a reason to stop u from purchasing a game u want to play? Of course not but it does matter to others.

Same can be said about reviews but again that shouldn't stop u from buying or not buying a game based off others opinions but reviews do matter or should I say, they use to matter until the media went hollywood on gamers and now cant be really trusted as a relevant source. Tell me would u trust a stranger with your bank account number, thats exactly how u should look at reviews nowadays because of their shady practices for hits for income.

Edit: For smaller sites I can understand since its a business but it still a big F**k u to gamers who go to game sites for their decision to purchase a game or not & especially to the devs that work hard to give us the best product they can make.

[StrayaKNT]

All im saying is that gameplay should be the first priority before they think about how the game will look. These days they worry about graphics before gameplay which is wrong imo.

[ltachiUchiha]

I can agree with that but I can also add that there is nothing wrong with having better graphics aslong as it doesn't hurt the gameplay, storyline etc etc. Im just saying that graphics may not be as important as gameplay & story imo but it does bring the game to life & gives gamers a more immersive world that makes us pause for a second just to check out the beauty of the world the devs have created.

[Rocky5]

I agree to a certain extent, I'm perfectly fine with 900p + but 720p I draw the line.

When the XB1 was released Devs could use the excuse of its new we didn't have time, but a year & a half later & we're still getting 720p games, something is wrong & I won't accept that.

BF 4/Hardline, PES2015 & MGS are 4 games that run at 720p, they all use deferred renderers, but so does Ryse: Son of Rome.
(Well Ryse uses a deferred render & a forward+ renderer, but that looks so damn good & it's 900p)

In my opinion all games should be 1080p LOCKED 30FPS minimum. There are to many games being released with shocking frame rates & random resolutions.

[ajax17]

I wish developers would focus on framerate first then work the graphics around it. I wish people would shut the hell up about resolution. It doesn't affect gameplay, but framerate does, damn it!

[Destiny1080]

frame rate is a non issue, every ps4 exclusive runs at a rock solid 30 or 60 even third party's like call of duty or running a rock solid 60fps in multiplayer and with dx12 and similar updates to the ps4 in a year are two I would say no games will have issues with frame rates, developers haven't even started to scratch the surface of what the ps4 is capable off

[Kiwi66]

Didn't know dx12 was going to be on ps4 as thought that was only for ms products etc which last time i checked aren't on ps4

[lsujester]

He said DX12 and "similar updates to the ps4". He didn't say dx12 was going to the ps4.

Not to say I completely agree with everything he said, framerate is an issue on both consoles to varying degrees.

[Roccetarius]

Every little bit matters, but those without what they never had will always say otherwise. This site is certainly proof of that.

[Ark_]

Good and interesting read.

And in an era where a fetish for techspecs is prevalent, I like to emphasize their conclusion:
"In the meantime, perhaps the biggest takeaway from the survey data is that it's the Wii U owners that are having the most fun from their gaming hardware..."

[N4g_null]

LoL that was gold. Then we turn on 4k tvs to watch um mmmmmmm nice. I still don't understand why these guys are claiming high tech when everything is moving to 4k even cell phones. Also the look of your games actually does depend on your tv. Some are just better at everything. Unfortunately those cost money.

May some should come out with a ps4k with a better gpu for 4k gaming. Anything lower is like fighting for scraps.

[Destiny1080]

xboners except it and move on

[DLConspiracy]

Corporate fanboys need not apply.

[Eidolon]

Matters to whom or for what?

Graphical power on consoles doesn't matter too much now and never did. I'm still going to get an Xbox One and a WiiU eventually.

[SouljAx360]

Short answer, yes.

[Blank]

Does the repeat topic of whether resolution matters, matter???

[Scatpants]

I don't find it to matter all that much when the difference is between 900 and 1080p. The only people that care are in some kind of processing power dick waiving contest.

[ricochetmg]

I find it was all the rage last gen but now it does not. Anyone can see this is because x1 isn't up for the for.

[Yaay4me]

Of course it matters. Is that even a question to ask?

[2pacalypsenow]

no thats why games are still 480i ....

Of course they do

[yewles1]

Well if you still want that, we got Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (480x272) and Hyper Light Drifter (480p).

[Iltapalanyymi]

for me, never no.
shit. i would play no more heroes 3 if it were 480p.
i do not care.

[cruzngta]

It matters in some ways and in others does not. It all depends on the game and to me if it affects the gameplay that is when I will worry about it. Till then 900p versus 1080p is really not that big of a deal to the eyes, Yes I know the pixel count is a bit more but honestly most people just dont care as long as it plays good and there arent any framerate issues which to me is more important than resolution.

[DLConspiracy]

If all these consoles had the exact same specs and price 100%. Everyone would be arguing over which shape/size console was more appealing. That's what would matter then.

[Ogygian]

Of course resolution is important. I have a 1440p PC monitor, and everything running native looks gorgeous, while games which do not look somewhat blurred.

I can imagine the same applies to console users who are sometimes forced to deal with sub-1080p by companies which don't put enough effort into optimising their games.

[LoveSpuds]

I think it matters to the gamer who has no particular loyalty to MS or Sony. With all else being equal but one system consistently delivering better performance why would you opt for the weaker system?

For the more entrenched MS fan then the resolution issue isnt as relevant, the difference isnt enough to move over to Sony.

As with PS3 early on in the last generation, inferior versions of the multi platform titles did not lead to most Sony fans moving over to MS.

Interestingly, while PS3 eventually caught up with 360 performances last gen it is assumed that the gap between PS4 and XB1 will only widen,so it could become a more pertinent issue later on.

[Mikeyy]

This is already technical fact. Higher resolution means more pixels. More pixels means more detail. Also naturally reduces aliasing. Among other things.