Full potential of PS3 Cell not yet realised, says Saints Row 2 producer.
No developer has achieved the full potential of the PS3's Cell processor, a producer on upcoming open world gangster game Saints Row 2 has told VideoGamer.com.
During a hands-on event for the game in London, Volition Inc associate producer Dan Sutton told us that it will be "two or three years" before better games appear on the PS3 compared with the Xbox 360.
AdvertisementSaints Row 2 is scheduled for release this October for both the Xbox 360 and the PS3, as well as the PC. The PS3 version has been under a degree of scrutiny during its development. The PS3 version of the first Saints Row game was canned soon after it was announced.
When asked why PS3 versions of multiplatform games tend to look the same or worse than Xbox 360 versions, despite the assumption that it is the more powerful games console in terms of graphics, Sutton replied: "Graphically, in itself it's a very very powerful machine. I think the problem is you have to teach programmers how to do that. We have very very amazing programmers on our Xbox team who when they get the PS3 in front of them, it takes them forever, because of the multi-threading they do with the Cell processor. It's just how complex the Cell processor is. As people get their heads around that it gets better and you get more parity coming out, but code has to be written in a certain way for that and it's a lot more complicated than it is for the Xbox."
Sutton added that he didn't think PS3 versions of multiplatform games will look better than their 360 counterparts for "two or three years", and that no-one has currently taken the PS3 Cell processor to its full potential.
"I think you're seeing development teams now ramp up. You get people who are dedicated to the PS3 and that's why you're getting equal graphics. You see some stuff on the PS3, like Metal Gear Solid, that push it very very firmly graphically, and I'm sure Resistance 2 is going to do that as well. I think you're going to see games that are developed for each console specifically, the exclusives, really push it that way still. I think the Xbox, even though it doesn't have as much hard drive space, is not Blu-ray, you still see that it's a very very powerful machine. I think that's why games like Final Fantasy are coming over to the Xbox. It's still, in essence, as powerful, and people have their heads around that. Maybe two, three years from now when they're very much into the PlayStation cycle you may see better games come out. We don't know. I don't think anyone's really taken the Cell processor to its full potential yet."
You can check out the full interview with Volition's Dan Sutton right here, and our hands-on preview of the PS3 version of Saints Row 2 here.
Sk8man wrote at 14:58 on 04 August 2008
uh, Uncharted, Ratchet, GT5:P and MGS4 say hi.
even multiplatform games like Burnout, COD4, and DMC4 say hi.
mike wrote at 15:44 on 04 August 2008
shut up fanboy!!
tmoney wrote at 15:48 on 04 August 2008
hahah Omg there not seriously....PS3 GTA vs xbox gta...not contest...i prefer xbox cause of the games...but damn...putting foot in someones mouth there....
Sk8man wrote at 17:16 on 04 August 2008
ya mike, because I own a system that makes me a fanboy, ya *rolls eyes*
guess what, I own a 360 aswell, oh noez, your ignorant comment has slapped you in the face
xboxlive wrote at 17:24 on 04 August 2008
xbox360 is gd as it is and you know if ps3 make thers better ms is just going to do the same.
jaime wrote at 17:33 on 04 August 2008
the best looking games are in the PS3, rigth now, the gap only will get better as times go on
RecoN wrote at 17:43 on 04 August 2008
excactly! Like devs say Once they know the coding etc then it will kick ass! I mean GOW came out like 5 - 7 years after the ps2 was made, I mean come on games are going to get better and better as the PS3 grows in time :)
Netmind wrote at 17:46 on 04 August 2008
@jaime
Best looking game are on the PC, and as long as they keep making games got PC, the best looking game will always be on PC. PC specs are being made all the time, console specs is growing older every month.
Wido wrote at 18:02 on 04 August 2008
Very true Netmind, to be fair the PS3 does have quailty and MGS4 is a good example so is Uncharted. And in my own opinion Saints Row 2 wouldn't be the first game to show what the PS3 can do, I think its going to be Killzone 2 or even Little Big Planet that will show off more capabilities on what the PS3 can do, only a little bit more than MGS4 but it would be a improvement.
Saying that I think GOW 3 would be the game to show off what the PS3 can really do, but by then the Microsoft would have a new Xbox on the shelves which will offer built in blu-ray and be as powerful as the PS3.
Woffls wrote at 18:53 on 04 August 2008
So really what' he's saying is by the time the next Xbox is out, PS3 will have finally caught up to Xbox 360? That's not exactly reassuring :|
It's no good making complicated hardware, because developers have absolutely no reason to utilise it if the market isn't there either.
dirtyrice wrote at 19:21 on 04 August 2008
@Woffls
uh no he is not saying "So really what' he's saying is by the time the next Xbox is out, PS3 will have finally caught up to Xbox 360"
He is saying the machine is to far advance compared to the 360 that means when games like metal gear and uncharted say they have stuff that they could not do on the 360 they mean it and that the PS3 is going to be a good long term investment. You won't ever have red ring issues with a PS3
Handwipe wrote at 20:07 on 04 August 2008
"I don't think anyone's really taken the Cell processor to its full potential yet."
We've heard it time and time again. I don't care how powerful the machine is, if developers can't make games for it then what is the point. Sony is too arrogant now, and developers can't afford to make use of the PS3's hardware. There will be a few good games this gen on the PS3 but not nearly as many as there should be. Sony dropped the ball huge, and PS3 owners got screwed.
Oh well maybe next time.
Unknown wrote at 20:32 on 04 August 2008
@ Wido "by then the Microsoft would have a new Xbox on the shelves which will offer built in blu-ray and be as powerful as the PS3."
WTF? for your information Blu-ray will NEVER be on xbox since sony is the one who made it and they are not THAT stupid to let M$$$ do that, the new xbox will probably have HD (the losers format) built-in....
Woffls wrote at 21:09 on 04 August 2008
Actually, Sony would love to see BluRay in Xbox because they'd get money for every single disk sold, they are only partial owners of the platform but are entitled to royalties for it. Microsoft would rather develop a new propietary format to use on their next console, along side digital distribution of course.
Netmind wrote at 03:32 on 05 August 2008
@Wido
I think the new Motorstorm will be a very good example, as they know their way around the machine.
Great! wrote at 09:42 on 05 August 2008
I can wait 2 to 3 years then and pick up a PS3 for £100. Excellent! How much did you lot pay for your PS3 £400 £350 He he he. Bet you all bought the last generation of idiot phones (iphone) as wel.
You all clearly have 'MUG' written into your foreheads, boy did Sony see you lot coming!l
Great! wrote at 09:46 on 05 August 2008
@Anonymous
"WTF? for your information Blu-ray will NEVER be on xbox since sony is the one who made it and they are not THAT stupid to let M$$$ do that, the new xbox will probably have HD (the losers format) built-in...."
Is that why the new Sony media systems all operate using Wiindows? Microsoft Windows! If Microsoft want Blu-Ray, they will have it! Sony and Microsoft already sell linked equipment you plank!
Anonymous wrote at 00:48 on 10 August 2008
Well if Volition's Dan Sutton say's it. It must be true. People quoted in articles are always right, right?