Sony hints at future third party downgrades for 360

NewsPublish Date 03/11/2008 - 2:38pm GMT

Games to lead on PS3 as it's "easier to lead with the most powerful, both in terms of AI and graphics".

Speaking in a recent interview with VideoGamer.com, Sony Computer Entertainment UK managing director Ray Maguire has suggested that future multi-platform titles from third-parties will be led on PS3 and will have to be downgraded for systems with weaker processors.

Discussing the topic of third-party publisher support on the PS3, Maguire said: "I think we now have an install base which is big enough for any third party to want to develop for. Now the decision making part of development is which do you lead your development on? Is it easier to lead with the most powerful, both in terms of AI and graphics, i.e. PS3 and then just remove part of the functionality for the processors that aren't quite as strong? I would imagine that's very much part of the thought process now from a studio development point of view."

We're already seeing multi-format titles being lead on PS3, including the great looking Mirror's Edge from DICE, but judged on the released demo the game still looks marginally sharper on Xbox 360.

Do you agree with Ray Maguire? Should all developers be looking first to PS3? Let us know in the comments section below.

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ibivibiv

OGDENGP has a very good point. Short of the 12 uber nerd fanboys on both sides of the argument most of us don't count pixels as Nintendo so rightly proved. That being said, I will have to say I ENJOY the 360 the most since I can easily join up with friends and play a variety of games easily with them. It is a much easier online social setup than PC gaming ever had (without 3rd party stuffs). Sorry Sony, Wii and 360 are just more FUN to play for me. I don't count pixels and bluray means nothing to me. I don't buy consoles to flex my nerd muscle on forums for how much more l33t my processors are. I buy consoles to have fun playing games :)

Posted 20:21 on 13 November 2008

TONY

also did any1 see that cliff barsomething who made gears 2 he said the reason he chose to make gears for the 360 was because the controller was better, um no it wasnt it was because ms bought the series from epic. pointless lies that ppl believe lol.

Posted 10:07 on 10 November 2008

tony

there are plenty that praise the ps3 it may be that much harder to program for but its worth the extra work, well im at uni now doing my masters big woop man if you IT blessed programming is easy, also the fact i made my 1st 3d game at 11 helped thanks ms for your tutorials.

Posted 10:05 on 10 November 2008

OGDENGP

I thought arguments on forums were stupid until I read this balls.

I like playing games. I bought a PS3 for Killzone 2, I don't sit there analyzing pixels when I'm playing mulitplatform games. Ignorance is bliss? Maybe. But maybe playing the game is more important than which platform is perceived as the better one.

And Deadmeat; with all your financial sector experience you should know that fanboy points are worth nothing. You can't trade them in for prizes or cash, just an inflated sense of self importance.

Seriously, play some games and enjoy it!

Posted 18:22 on 04 November 2008

Mattro

It makes sense that they would start on a medium capable of 50GB of storage, then try to whittle it down to 8GB for the 360.

Posted 15:51 on 04 November 2008

Lightelos

more powerful console dont make games more funnier, i think 360 is leading and will be leading so on because it offer what gamers want GOOD GAMES and they are constantly listening the players. sorry PS3 is pretty boring this time and probably in 2009

Posted 12:38 on 04 November 2008

ThomasD

And what about systems with weaker graphics cards such as Playstation 3? Can mr Ray Maguire answer to this question?

Posted 11:58 on 04 November 2008

Karlius

If I have said it once I have said it a million times! Ray Maguire is Full of sh*t and has no Knowledge of the video games industry, he just spouts corporate crap and uses it as gospal. He is more of a propaganda machine than Hitler! Coders will develop for whoever they feel more comfortable coding for and thats a fact!

Posted 10:55 on 04 November 2008

Croatoan

@ Deadmeat

Please try harder. I guess if you write 20 comments on how inferior the PS3 is people will believe you. Sigh.

Posted 10:45 on 04 November 2008

darkskyva

ok are you kidding me every1 in the WORLD knows the ps3 is more power, stop talking please and dont make ur self look dumn. i feel they should make the games on ps3 so they can make the game they really want to make so they can use all 50g on the dise and not just 9g >< and the hardware may be new but its better. ppl please put fact up not lies ty. all 3rd party games should be made on ps3 then downgraded

Posted 09:20 on 04 November 2008

phunkymunky

CELL has been known to be a bit of a pain to develop for... but wouldn't the 360 be easier due to Microsoft being, traditionally, a software house? They create the tools to develop for it, like Sony, but have had a 30 year head start in software...

Personally, like other commenters, I don't care which one they choose as the lead dev platform, as long as I can still play games, and they play the same independent of which platform I choose to play on, thats what multiplatform titles are supposed to be. If they tune for one more than the other, then so be it.

Posted 08:13 on 04 November 2008

JaydaFoooah

why not make the game/s run at their best on BOTH systems? i owned all the systems each at thier own times so i know what it's like to have one system ruin all the fun for another. at least this way, it'll level the field a little more evenly between the two. microsoft is goin nuts on all these developers, geez! lol

Posted 07:50 on 04 November 2008

JaydaFoooah

@Bryce:
since when did the PS3 become "the lesser"? LMAO that's like sayin my commodore 64 owns my Nintendo 64. wake up man!

Posted 06:30 on 04 November 2008

Bryce

quote from Parapraxix
"PS3 was lead for Burnout Paradise, Mirrors Edge, UT3, Final Fantasy 13, Dead Space, Skate 2, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Dark Sector, Devil May Cry 4.

All of theose games that are released run amazingly on both system. Which cannot be said for games that were lead on 360.
PS3 as lead is the SMART thing to do. "

No, a 360 lead doesn't work as well because all the stuff they have to downgrade for the lesser PS3

Posted 04:58 on 04 November 2008

Brian Portillo

both systems are amazing and the fact is that a game developed on the ps3 is easier to port and comes out better for both systems. this isnt about which console you choose if both consoles benefit greatly. if my xbox games come out better because they were ported from a ps3 build so be it because in the long hall my overall gaming experience is going to see an increase. why divide ourselves among because of our choice in console when theres an option where every1 benefits. both systems do things that are wrong and right. Xbox live, developer freedom on the ps3, massive third party support for xbox, and the amazing first party titles of ps3. Differences amongst the consoles is wat builds towards a better future for gaming.

Posted 04:26 on 04 November 2008

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