LucasArts prioritizing PS3, unleashing Force

Though its forthcoming game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, started development on the Xbox 360, LucasArts' "new baseline" will be Sony's console.

"Our next project will use the PS3 as the baseline, and then apply that to the Xbox 360," said Haden Blackman, project lead for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

After some hard-learned lessons in developing The Force Unleashed, LucasArts now has a strategy for future multiplatform titles: develop the PS3 version first.

The new game was demoed for first time in public by the developer -- which almost made a new KOTOR instead.

[name]

niiiiice.

[Martini]

Smart move.
Common sense tells you that you should make the game with the lowest common denominator and go from there.
That way you won't be struggling with making the game work on a particular console as it is guaranteed to run on the higher spec. machine.

[Violater]

hopefully the ps3 version of force unleashed is up to par.

[Panthers]

Why disagree with Violator? He is right. This article basically says that they had difficulty with the PS3 version.

[games4fun]

I guess the ps2 was more powerful than the original xbox? because you know the xbox1 had to be very weak console compared to the graphic might of the ps2 because xbox1 was the "lowest denominator" when they would devolop games for it first right?

or are you just wearing fanboy glasses in fanboy land and crying like a baby?

[Richdad]

233 mhz < 733 mhz
32 Mb ram < 64 Mb Ram
gfx card equivalent to geforce 2ti< gfx card better than geforce 3Ti

All the above stats show that the hardware was in case of Xbox 1 more powerful, the only advantage the PS2 had was of fill rate as far as the survival in the market account anything that sells will survive, even with howso ever weakend hardware it has.
I say this on account of being PS2 user and my friend who showed me multiplatform games on xbox1.
Till 2004 it was Ok with PS2 but after that I didnt saw much improvement in graphics except for RE4 and GOW, GOW 2.

[thewhoopimen]

Are you daft? Martini is right?! where do you come up with that logic? Based off his btw, sarcastic backhand, the Wii should be the lead platform being the lowest common denominator not to mention highest base.

[JsonHenry]

Is it not easier to make it on the PS3 THEN port to other consoles? Sounds like a smart move since the PS3 (for the time being at least) is the lowest common denominator among ported games.

[BobDog]

@ rich dad

he was being sarcastic... he was implying martini's logic

bet u feel like an idiot

[Anything but Cute]

another developer will be doing it right. More and More developers are gonna learn this.

[gonzopia]

This is the best part...

"Virtually every third-party publisher is now developing for the PS3 first. 'They all are now, since it's just easier,' he told GameSpot."

...oh, snap.

[wow4u]

"Virtually every third-party publisher is now developing for the PS3 first. 'They all are now, since it's just easier,' he told GameSpot."

Yes.

Exactly. And since I have to explain it, I feel pity for you.

Translated:

It is easier to port PS3 code to the Xbox 360 than to port Xbox 360 code to the PS3 -- WITHOUT WASTING TIME AND MONEY TO SQUEEZE OUT PERFORMANCE.

So, Mutliplatform games will now be gimped to the PS3.

[SnakeCL]

Actually, no. Since PS3 will be lead platform, games will play to the strengths of that platform, namely, the better texture filtering processing power.

So if anything, games ported from PS3 to 360 will be lesser than their PS3 original.

[drewdrakes]

SnakeCL - Actually no, the 360 has better texture filtering. Its graphics card has more pipelines for shaders. As well the 360's graphics chip's pipelines are general purpose and so can be either pixel or vertex.

[Richdad]

The devs have to use power of processor in PS3 to get graphics so its up to the cell and its software driver to give the result. But I dont know the depth abt texture filtering and all that on either console.

But whatever is the case why did the Devs didnt used the CPU processor power in last gen, I mean the PS2 and xbox were not even 1 GHZ in processing power but when I turned on GTA Sandandreas on Intel exteme GPU ( yeah very poor of me) it doesnt work but the processor of a normal PC by most accounts was 2.4GHZ. So why didnt the Devs did that to the PC what they are doing on PS3 use processor more and less GPU.
I dont why even devs compalin abt PC sells, when a PC gamer is not even sure that if the game howso ever good he is purcahsing will work properly or not but in case of console we ask for 60 fps and 1080p things, inspite of the fact that a high end PC costs enough to get you all the 3 next gen console.

[gonzopia]

Listen - the issue at hand has nothing to do with which system has better graphics or processing power, it's about development time. The PS3 is a more complicated system to develop for - it has a more elaborate system. Therefore, it takes longer. It's easier, like the quote says, to dev for the PS3, then port to the 360 for that very reason.

Why is this good? It's good because more devs will take more time to learn the PS3 method of developing games and using the multiprocessing system. PS3 will get better games, and likely the possibility of more exclusives in the future - but it's also good because 360 won't require a totally different build, so these games will come out at the same time and the 360 will get almost the same version...

...just one that's gimped down a bit. :)

[SnakeCL]

Actually, you're incorrect.

The PS3 does AF considerably better than 360. The old CoD4 comparo shots are an excellent example.

The RSX is actually better at Pixel Shading that the Xenos as well. Xenos is better at vertex shading, but the RSX was never meant to handle that, it gets offloaded to Cell.

[Neurotoxin]

So basically the game is gonna be rubbish on the ps3, but the next game should be fine.

[beavis4play]

at one point in the article the author says the impressive looking game is on track. (not rubbish)

then says after they first showed the demo to an audience; it was met with a thunderous applause.

just read before commenting.

[Richdad]

Lucas arts had hardship to get it on PS3 right way. No matter whatever hardship they had they are going to do it right Lucas arts is one really good studio, its never gonna dissappoint PS3 user like EA did earlier.

[HarryEtTubMan]

Just like the Sony CEO said yesterday... almost al games being started from now on will use the PS3 lead SKU. Sony always wins fools. A SONY CEO SAID THAT AND WASN'T KIDDING. He said that developers understand the momentum of the PS3 and how its BARELY BEGUN.hahahahahha the 360 got NO GOOD NEWS AT GDC. Nothing but Gears 2(which evertone already knew was coming and the trailer was absolute garbage) hahahahahahahha

PS3 WILL BE THE LEAD SKU CONSOLE FROM HERE ON OUT. And recently even the few ports arent bad. Only 9 more years to go BOTS!!!!

GET USED TO IT!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA

[Bill Gates]

Bro, I got booted from the "Gamer zone" for a MONTH !.....AHHAAHHAHAHAHA

I posted a comment a comment on that stupid zone instead of posting it in the COOL zone where it's more fun to comment.

Now I have it set to automatically go to the "open zone" first.

This section is fanboy heaven......AHAHHAHAHHAHHA

Whenever I see Power of BABOON waisting all his bubbles on this side, it just tells me he has been booted from the gamer zone....AHAHHAHHAHHAHA

Deal with it BABOON. This is like jail for you. In this section you need to let your "fanboy" out to stay alive.....AHHAHAHHAHHAA

[Mike134nl]

Apparantly it is easier to use the ps3 as a baseline and than apply to the xbox 360, which basicly is a choice based on complexity of the machines and thereore reducung delays,GTA anyone, and not based on which console will be more dominant.
In the end this could be bad news for microsoft if the games endup worse than the xb 360 version.
Even though I think the future for multi platform gaming will be simontaniously developing games for both console, with one engine,

[InYourMom]

360 gamers approach all future LucasArts titles with caution.

"This led to more complications and pushed the simultaneous launch of The Force Unleashed back further."

So you would of already been playing this game 360 owners if the PS3 wasn't involved. Expect more of this when Lucas dev's are fighting with the PS3 to get the game started even before they begin porting to the 360.

[heyheyhey]

you do realize that not EVERY dev struggles with the PS3 don't you?

cause if you don't then you are nothing short of being in denial and brainwashed

so to make the same assumption FOR EVERY SINGLE GAME is pretty fcuking stupid don't you think?

[Stubacca]

Why approach LucasArts titles with caution in future?

Surely the games will still contain the same great fun and sense of adventure as the Star Wars previous titles?

They'll just play and look better on my console than yours.

[SUP3R]

Haven't you realized that after a developer complains about difficulty in development the first time, they NEVER complain when they return to the console for another title and infact praise the PS3 for allowing them to be able to do more than they thought would have been possible?

HAHAHA jealous the 360 never got comments about being a technologically inventive piece of hardware? Don't worry it'll never get them.

[InYourMom]

@2.1 - You are right that not every dev struggles with the PS3. I don't believe I said every dev struggles. However, there seems to be a lot of vocal developers saying that it is and the evidence can be seen in the bad performance of many multiplatform titles.

@2.2 - I said Xbox 360 owners approach LucasArts titles with caution. Reading is comprehension

@2.3 - You might have a point that they complain the first time and don't after. Learning any piece of new tech the first time is always the hardest.
I totally disagree with your singing the praises of the 360. I have a video just for you.
GDC 2008: Platform of Choice
http://www.gametrailers.com...
You fail.

Burnout Paradise was the first cross platform failure from the PS3 and the sales have reflected that. If these dev's want to give second rate ports to the 360 then you can bet I will be not spending my money on them and will encourage all I can to not buy.

[Stubacca]

@InYourMom

Firstly, my point was why should 360 owners approach it with caution? It's still the same game. It just makes better sense for development.

Secondly, comprehension is the understanding of information. Reading is a form of aquiring the information. I read you right. I understood you right. But you didn't address my point.

Thirdly, are you a fanboy first and a gamer second?

Lastly, are you twelve?

[BrianC6234]

Xbots need fear not. It is well known that if you develop the PS3 version and port to the 360 that both versions are better for it. You see, the PS3 is so powerful that if you push it more the 360 game is better in the long run for it. That's because you end up with a much better PS3 game and that game is ported to the 360.

When porting games you should start with the more powerful console and port to the weaker console. Starting with the 360 and porting to the PS3 just isn't a good idea.

[jackdoe]

Well that is the smartest way to develop. That or use IdTech 5(probably the engine that will completely eliminate the headache of a port). Anyway, nice to know Force Unleashed is on track, but I'm a bit iffy on the game. Hopefully there is a demo.

[Ahhhh]

Same here.. A demo would be great.

[Skerj]

About time, crappy port fear officially allayed.

[Ahhhh]

@HarryEtTubMan - I am already used to it.. I just play the games that I want to play.. However, they are made I could give two sh**s about..

[pwnsause]

good. nice to see that some devs are realizing that this is the way to dev multiplatform games this generation.

[power of Green]

So what they're saying is PS3 *can't* handle what 360 can but the 360 *can* handle what the PS3 does.

As long as they don't handi-capp the games going back and adding the 360 capabilities I'm fine with it.

Now if they start on PS3 and then only match the 360 version with the PS3 version without taking advantage of the 360's strenths and calling it good" thats bad becuase the devs will no longer push the games basically gimping the game by default by starting on PS3 and only matching the 360 version and calling it good. Its actually lazyness.

[Bathyj]

Thats not what they're saying and you know it.

Geeze no wonder no one listens to you anymore when you spout trash like that.

Xbox has already gimped this whole generation for multiplat games with no HDD and last gen format. DMC and GTA spring to mind. Even Peter M complaining about no HDD. M$ didn't go next gen, they just upgraded like a PC.

[Genuine]

Your absolutely right POG. If devs start using the ps3 as the lead platform, 360 owners will be getting screwed, just like Xbox owners were last gen with the ps2. 360 owners need to make their voice loud and clear to devs "If you port to the 360 from the ps3, we are not buying your gimped game."

[Snukadaman]

sadly no matter how crappy this game looks most xbox 360 fans will still buy it...I love how some people use them using a ps3 as the lead console is a good thing...you work with the most troubling console first and foremost. poor bathyj using the "no hdd" for gimped gameplay...maybe he hasnt seen madden 08 for ps3...

[bosels11]

bathyj yep Peter Moore bailed because he was sick of lying for Microsuck - now he is saying it like it is.

[hfaze]

"Look at burnout paradise as a example of using the ps3 as the lead developer...its terrible for xbox 360 gamers."

Excuse me?

http://www.metacritic.com/s...

Burnout Paradise PS3 - 87/100 metascore
Burnout Paradise 360 - 88/100 metascore

I own Burnout Paradise, and I can say that I agree with the reviewers that it is a great game and worth the $60. Where do you get that Burnout Paradise is terrible for the 360?

@ PoG...

"Now if they start on PS3 and then only match the 360 version with the PS3 version without taking advantage of the 360's strenths and calling it good" thats bad becuase the devs will no longer push the games basically gimping the game by default by starting on PS3 and only matching the 360 version and calling it good. Its actually lazyness."

LOLROFLLMFAO!!! Bookmarking this page, and can't wait to see how you'll try to spin your way out of this statement later this year. Once the BIG PS3 exclusives start hitting like MGS4. We'll see just how gimped the PS3 really is... ;-)

[Snukadaman]

Check any other EA game where the ps3 isnt the lead console...notice the vibrant colors...somethings off on this version of burnout i know im not the only one thinking this.

[resistance100]

'ook at burnout paradise as a example of using the ps3 as the lead developer...its terrible for xbox 360 gamers."

Excuse me?

http://www.metacritic.com/s...

Burnout Paradise PS3 - 87/100 metascore
Burnout Paradise 360 - 88/100 metascore '

Now explain to me how the fu*k can use that as a fair comparason of whihc version is better. it would only work if the same reviewer reviewed both versions.

You then have the fact that many places just review one version of the game.

For example

The 360 version has scores of 95 from MS Xbox world. Now tell me they reviewed the Ps3 version as well? No thought not.

I Will say it again the only way to really get an idea of which version is better, if the same person reviews both versions.

[phonyforceslayer]

about which platform it developes for. as long as the game comes out decent. im not to bovered

[Snukadaman]

remember how they reviewed madden 08 for both consoles and gave them both the exact same score...even with all the problems.

[BrianC6234]

"Now if they start on PS3 and then only match the 360 version with the PS3 version without taking advantage of the 360's strenths and calling it good" thats bad becuase the devs will no longer push the games basically gimping the game by default by starting on PS3 and only matching the 360 version and calling it good. Its actually lazyness."

I think you're mixed up. The 360 is the inferior console. No game will be gimped if it's made for the PS3 and ported to the 360. What has been said many times though is the 360 game will end up even better than it would have been. You see, if a game is made to push the PS3 and not just ported to the PS3 it will be really good. Then that game can be ported to the 360 and since the game is even better the 360 port ends up being better than a game made for the 360. Many developers have already stated this as fact.

[Genuine]

If Lucasarts makes ps3 lead platform for any of their games, I won't be buying them. I'm not paying $60 for a gimped 360 game.

[mullet]

Gimped games? You mean like DMC4? When it was exclusive to PS3 Capcom stated the game will be 1080p and what happened? Yeah, downgrade all thanks to 360's weak hardware.

Cry on. This is great news for PS3 owners.

360 exclusives look like crap compared to PS3 exclusives. Proof? See Uncharted. Most 360 exclusives use that crappy Unreal Engine.

[power of Green]

I agree they may have a better time developing for PS3 where the game isn't more gimped than the 360 version but the game is already gimped useing PS3 as a lead useing its tech was the problem for pushing the best quality in the first place.

A multi platform game thats the same on all consoles due to not being a port of the 360 or devs useing the PS3 first as the lead doesn't mean the problem's solved all it means is the game was gimped to PS3 standards and not taking advantage of what made the 360 outperform the PS3.

[heyheyhey]

people like you are beyond help

devs make you a good game to play, yet you want to act like a 5 year old and whine about "gimped" versions and sh!t even when it's been said by the devs that this isn't true

and i have a question to ask you- explain why you think the PS3 is inferior, seriously i want to know where you get this bullshit from

is it the 2.5mb of cache over the Xenons 1mb? is it the XDR high-speed 1300mhz RAM over the GDDR3 700mhz the 360 uses? is it the 550mhz RSX over the 500mghz Xenos? is it the 8-core 3.2 ghz CPU using 2 different type of processing units to carry out specialized task with more effieciency over a tri-core out-dated CPU? is it the standard SATA HDD with higher RPM and buffer speeds?

where do you get the idea that PS3 versions have to be "gimped"

this also goes to MARTy boy and POG

why do you people keep talking through your ass?

[Genuine]

Mullet and heyheyhey both of you are on my Ignore List for being delusional Sony Underlings, so you might want to spew your anti-360 garbage to someone who's listening.

[mullet]

Genuine must be crying right now lol. You gonna PM me this time too, fairy boy? My guess is you're in your 30's living in your mom's basement jerking off to Kameo. The closest you've ever gotten to a vagina was when your mom gave birth to you. Go outside. Get a life.

[gambare]

the PS3 version always get ugly versions from the multiplat games, but now the devs are working harder to make good games for both platforms, If the 360 came a year later on difference of the PS3 the worst ports would come from the 360 side, but it was backwards, the 360 stepped back the game development because the hardware was the same as the PC architecture, the PS3 offered something more and that makes it difficult because it's something above the simple PC hardware but 360fanboys can't understand that.

[Genuine]

Welcome to my "List of Ignored Delusional Sony Underlings" Gambare.

[Bathyj]

If Mullet, Heyhey and Gambre are all on your ignore list, thats a good enough reason for me to give them all bubbles.

Return the favour if you feel like it guys, cos these two wannabe gamers who only play on one console are bound to take mine now.

[gambare]

eh? I got genuine in my ignore list long ago, so I didn't saw that :P

[SUP3R]

So you're not going to buy their games if they're using the PS3 as their lead platform?
So that means soon you're going to stop buying multi-platform games.

[BrianC6234]

"is it the 2.5mb of cache over the Xenons 1mb? is it the XDR high-speed 1300mhz RAM over the GDDR3 700mhz the 360 uses? is it the 550mhz RSX over the 500mghz Xenos? is it the 8-core 3.2 ghz CPU using 2 different type of processing units to carry out specialized task with more effieciency over a tri-core out-dated CPU? is it the standard SATA HDD with higher RPM and buffer speeds?"

Heyheyhey - You shouldn't try to reason with these dorks. They think the PS3 is inferior because it has its RAM broken into two sections so it isn't all used for video. That seems to be the problem I always read from Xbots. But the PS3 is strong in other places just like you listed. It isn't all about the amount of video memory. It's everything combined. The 360 just isn't as powerful as the PS3. It's easy to port PC games to though so you hear idiots like Gabe Newell praise it. If I care about PC games though I'll spend hundreds to upgrade my PC and play them on my PC.

[cokzilla23]

nice trend happening

[CrazzyMan]

The ps3 is owning. =]

[Sam Fisher]

wtf r u talking bout they just said they did it b/c they wont have difficulties in the near future....like um delayes....duh... jesus, does any1 read anymore or is the future all bout video ( instead of read interview. they should just put video interview 4 ppl that puts idiotic things like "The Tide is changing. =],The ps3 is owning. =]".)

[thewhoopimen]

Mr. Fisher, you should try to read between the lines. Given most of the ports last year were xbox360 as the baseline, developers choosing to switch over to the PS3 means more than just your one sided 'easier to program' or 'lowest common denominator' reasoning. No company would switch their target platform to a "dead" or "dying" console system. The market trend shows otherwise, therefore it makes sense for them to switch.

[power of Green]

Dark Space dev said it best.

They'll build the best game on 360 first then try and bring the PS3 version to snuff if it can't handle it tuff sh*t is what they basically said.

[Genuine]

Harmonix dev spells it out:
http://jbooth.blogspot.com/...

Aswell as the top unbiased 3rd party devs:
http://www.computerandvideo...
http://kotaku.com/gaming/ea...
http://www.destructoid.com/...
http://gamer.blorge.com/200...

And here is where the ps3 is now, because Sony chose to build a movie player instead of a game machine:
http://www.joystiq.com/2007...

[mullet]

LOL Power of Green and Genuine. The two biggest 360 fanfaggots on this website jerking each other off to their 360's because they can't get girlfriends. That "movie player" that Sony built just won the format war. Not just that, but it's simply the superior hardware. Have fun getting RROD over and over. Unreliable trash that can't even get an exclusive that look better than Uncharted even though it launched in 05. So sad lol.

[heyheyhey]

god

and you called me brainwashed once Genuine

your ridiculous- i bet you can't explain why the 360 is more powerful than the PS3

cause you don't know sh!t- you just follow crappy articles in the hope that they contain bullshit that pleases you so, and you just hang by every bullshit word without a clue about whats going on, and what they're talking about

GENUINE yeah GENUINE opinions from devs that come from credible sources state that....... ah fcuk it why bother, your already filled with to the brim with crap thats been fed down your throat- and it aint going nowhere- your going to be ignorant for the rest of your life

EDIT: you see what i mean- you cant back your points up- instead you just start acting like i care about if i am in your ignore list and start whining- which is all you people do nowadays

classic response from someone who doesn't know hwat hes talking about- just shying away, and start crying about some ignore list

jeez sorry for the anger N4G- i just hate it when people who barely know what their talking about start shooting their ignorant mouths off like some know-it-all, it just annoys me

[robbo918]

WOW you have taken the cake officially now. You were one of the ones spewing that you don't care about an Irish article talking trash about the PS3 but then link an obscure Finnish one that may or may not have been translated correctly lol.

Then you post BLOG links as if that is even remotely tied to any level of fact. Then for your final piece of trash you link something with a GDC2008 head (your final link) that is news from Septemeber 2007 saying that is where Sony is now??? Actually PS3 is outselling your X360 WW including NA now. That hack post of yours was hands down one of the worst from either side of the extreme fanboys.

[robbo918]

"an Irish article talking trash about the X360". We need to be able to edit posts a bit longer than a few minutes lol. I admit my mistakes at least.

[stuntman_mike]

you wanna see why us fellow gamers get a bad rep just print off this page and send it to fox news network.

lol this game looks good tho hope its a bit better than that episode 3 fudge they put out a while back.