PS4 Version of MGS: Ground Zeroes uses Atmosphere Simulation for the Sky

Hideo Kojima revealed that the PS4 version of MGS Ground Zeroes is receiving a special feature.

[WorldGamer]

I wonder why this couldn't be done on the X1. Serious question, wouldn't sky simulation be perfect for Clout Computing? Just seems strange that this would be omitted from the X1 version along with the lower resolution.

I'm interested in hearing any thoughts as to how/why this could happen.

[MasterCornholio]

Kojima is a lazy developer who refuses to program with Xbox Live Compute.

-sarcasm-

[Riderz1337]

Theres actually some people on Neogaf saying Kojima is lazy and doesn't take advantage of the Xbox One's full power...

I'm just sitting here laughing at them thinking to my self..."What power?"

[thereapersson]

For once I agree that the cloud could actually benefit the XOne version of the game. We can do physics simulations and other things via the cloud, and we can also simulate protein folding and genetic research using cloud computing. So weather simulation should be something that I think could be done on the XOne version.

[Eonjay]

The thing with using the cloud for computation is that you have to dedicate yourself to making the game online only. If someone disconnect from the internet, you don't want them to have a different visual experience. And why should he have to set up server just to calculate some clouds... that is dumb. The PS4 is doing it all in-house. Look if you plug the PS4 into the HDMI in port on the Xbox One, you can get the same experience.

[abzdine]

Kojima using PS4 power to simulate clouds dynamics :D

b...but...we have the powah of da clawwd on xbox one!!

[badz149]

kinda ironic that Kojima doesn't use the cloud to simulate actual clouds! LOL

[johndoe11211]

@Eonjay

Spot on chap. Too many people just don't grasp what the implication of a cloud based game would be. That means you won't be able to play it properly should you not be connected online. That is only acceptable if you're playing a online only game like titanfall or a mmorpg or something like that.

No single player game should have to rely on the cloud to operate properly. The day we start accepting games like that is the day we inch ever so closer to that "vision" that microsoft had when the original xbox one was revealed.

Cloud computation has it's place, but not in sp games. And until the day that the internet service providers around the world can provide a more stable and robust internet service to most of the public, it probably shouldn't be used in multiplayer games either, or at least in a very very small scale.

[hkgamer]

well they couod have given that as an option. how much does oublishers need to pay to use azure servers? i always imagined ms to fork that bill for some odd reasn.

i dont think you can plug ps4 into xbone yet because of the hdcp thing. maybe later you can though.

[gameslayer2411]

I asked a similar question in another article. Why is the dynamic weather limited only to one of the next gen consoles? I can understand the lack thereof in last gen but even the slight difference in power between them surely the dynamic weather should be achievable on both.

[Eonjay]

The answer may go back to EsRam. Remember the more you want to be calculate in each frame, the more memory you need in order to do that. And you want the simulation to run at 60FPS. A real time weather simulation may have not fit into the confines of ESRam. I am interested to see if he give an explanation. @720P It is curious, but I don't know how many render targets he stores in the ESRam and other things like that.

[Deadpoolio]

It's really that hard to figure out? The 720p is underpowered and couldn't handle dynamic anything. They can't use da cloud because you have to keep the experience THE SAME for everyone and the first person who doesn't connect online would want to start a class action or cry about how their MGS experience was ruined by not being connected online...The PS4 on the other hand has more than enough power to do so without having to be connected to anything...Plain and simple

[gameslayer2411]

Thanks eonjay I wasn't entirely sure it just really surprised me after jumping from my one to ps4 I rarely noticed major differences but this dynamic weather is something that should be a major part of the game especially a stealth based game I imagine that cloud cover, wind, rain, appearing out of nowhere unexpectedly would add an extra level of realism as well as a different gameplay experience all together.

[mmj]

Sony have had AMD customise the PS4 GPU to include a lot of extra compute capability, much more than the PC equivalent GPU it is based on.

This is the sort of thing cloud computing could be used for as it doesn't matter about latency, but does anyone really think Microsoft are going to want their network being clogged up with simulated skies and other things they can't charge for?

[MasterCornholio]

I knew it.

:)

[Soapboxhero]

Quite frankly surprised, had xo been 900p60 and ps4 1080p60 maybe they might have needed to trim some things to maintain frame rate but I find it a bit strange that running at 720 on xo that something like that would be cut unless for example the tech was provided by sony and thus only the ps4 is allowed to benefit. We'll see.

[bobsmith]

suck it xbone

[Kiwi66]

maybe because he prefers playstation as thats the home of metal gear

[KonsoruMasuta]

Actually, Metal Gear was born on the MSX.

On another note: Who here knows what MSX actually stood for? Lol I bet a lot of heads would explode if people actually found out what the M in MSX means.

[Ninver]

I think he was referring to the Solid series. But yes you are right about Metal Gear first being associated with the msx.

[GuruMeditation]

Yes, the Microsoft connection is pretty well known, as is the fact that Sony actually contributed a great deal to MSX development as well as manufacturing MSX-compatible micros. It was a really cool Microcomputer, with a rich heritage.

[hkgamer]

you mean what ms stands for in msx not just the m :P

[MisterFantastic]

Coming to the Xbox One verson, see the rain's ripple affect in a rain puddle........................ ..................Xbox suck at life

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Can only imagine the disparity in Phantom Pain. I'm wondering what that trailer at E3 was running on.

[Good-Smurf]

That E3 trailer Running on PC with equivalent to PS3 and Xbox 360 spec.
I could be wrong though.

[hkgamer]

i think only the grund zeroes trailer was ps3/360 spec.

[90Supra]

Xbone owners...

http://replygif.net/i/1299....

meanwhile at Sony...

http://replygif.net/i/1289....

[OwnageDC650]

So da powah of da cloud = crap clouds? oh noez!!!!!!

[kayoss]

Power of the Cloud?? what Cloud?? There havent been a hint of a cloud in California for sometime. We are in a drought. We need the Power of the Cloud now!

[bienio]

I wonder why is no Pc Version?? Aaaa I forget cos Pc all ready left ps4,xboxo on behind, sad cos Fox enging could show a real power...

[KonsoruMasuta]

There is no PC version because Kojima knows where the real Metal Gear Solid fans are.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Try so hard

[Sharius]

or maybe he think PC dudes need more time to write thier petition to have time to play his game

how thoughrful kojima is!

[il-JumperMT]

XBone Version uses The power of the CLOUD, but the weather forecast was wrong.

[Why o why]

We need to kill this cloud crap. Infinite power of pr bulls#/+ smoke blown up the rear ends of its fans. Its the good old show n prove time. Put up or shut up... Until then, I don't want to hear about this.

[Deathdeliverer]

I agree with what someone else said up top. Why make metal gear online only just to get the clouds simulated? Plus the headaches that might come with setting it up and maintaining the servers (whether virtual or not) just so the Xbox can have cloud parity? If other developers are struggling to get games at 1080p for xbox, imagine what kind of cuts would have had to happen to include those cloud algorithms? Clouds worth a lower or unstable frame rate? Lower res textures? Even lower resolution period? I think kojima was able to get a grasp on the ps4 architecture faster, just like Cerny said was his intention, which allowed him to focus more on polish and trying to push things even farther. On the XB1 it might have been the same issues that other developers are saying. The system just doesn't have what it takes. I expected all this when I got my xbox day 1. I didn't think things would go this bad this fast as far as parity but I knew it would eventually get here. At first I was going to at least consider buying multiplatform games on XB1 IF I had more friends on that system for that game. Hell no not anymore. Xbox is officially for exclusives only. Everything else will be on my ps4.

[NextGenHorny]

MGS: Ground Zeroes doesn't need atmosphere simulation. Are you going to look at the sky in a racing gam... Oh wait!

[kayoss]

I do, I sometime pull over in a racing game when i'm ahead by 10 laps and just look into the sunset and watch the clouds. LOL

[Bathyj]

For those asking why...

Hideo Kojima Talks PS4 “Can Render 1080p at 60fps with Room to Spare;” The “Closest to Photorealism”

http://n4g.com/news/1456106...

Obviously he used that extra room for this feature.

Xbone reached 60fps but could only do 720p. Whatever power it has Kojima used it just to get to that. There was no room to spare in this case. Would you have them drop the fps to 30 as well as 720p to accommodate this largely useless feature?

No. Its good he left it out.

[yakuzakazuya]

Glad I chose the ps4 over xbox1.

[weirdo]

ps4 just keeps giving and giving, i'm so happy

[sic_chops]

"This is rocket science stuff right here." - Phil Spencer

[kayoss]

The "Rocket" blew up in mid air and the only thing left was a "Cloud" of smoke.