A further look into the Cloud

A further breakdown into the Azure Cloud and the benefits in gaming.

[Rhaigun]

This article tells us what Azure is, but doesn't really go into any detail on what it can do. So, you can basically
skip it.

[Bigpappy]

Thanks. I think the cloud assisted gaming will be great, but I want to see it demonstrated. That will not happen until near or after release.

[theWB27]

That's kind of the point. Developers have been telling us what it can do. Most people don't believe it...so it's further explanation. Why skip it..

[HammadTheBeast]

So far, all I've really gotten for practical uses is dedicated servers, matchmaking, putting a persons profile on AI (ghost mode in racing), and putting background physics and AI mechanics (non-interactable) in order to make room for slightly enhanced graphics etc on the physical console.

Although I honestly wish MS would clarify how many of those "300 k servers" are physical and how many are virtual. There's a massive difference between the two. I myself could spin up a few hundred, they'd just suck.

[theWB27]

@HammadTheBeast
That's exactly what I get from it. Most people who don't automatically dismiss it could see that. They'll be able to offload the lighting system onto the cloud so that it frees the system to do other things.

Make the view distance farther in an open world game. Sports games could benefit concerning the stadiums and crowd since they don't have to be updated constantly like the players do when it comes to contact.

Like you said, AI calculations so that it frees the console up. I think Microsoft overstated some things, but IF it does do this and developers really take the time to exploit it then I think we may see benefits.

[Rhaigun]

The title suggested a further look into the cloud, and that's what I thought it would be. Instead, it told me how the cloud works, which I knew, and then reiterated what little devs have actually said about it. Until someone comes out and explains exactly what they're doing with it, why, and what benefit the game actually gets from it besides "cloud power", we still don't know what its capable of.

The title is misleading. You don't learn anything you didn't already know, or have heard before. Therefore, you can skip it.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

^^^

Still just server side updates, faster. -No hoops to jump through, like previous updates.

[n4rc]

People are incredibly confused when it comes to cloud processing.. They seem to think bandwidth is going to make it impossible..

No textures or audio is being transmitted. Its a data stream just like your traffic to and from a server or host... Its minimal..

It can be used for data collection like sunset overdrive.. Ai like titanfall.. Or the drivatar in forza. Etc

Nobody is using it the same way the next guy is.. Its an incredibly versatile platform.. Gonna have to wait and see what can really be done with it

[HammadTheBeast]

I know what you're saying, but when you have fanboys on both sides making ridiculous assumptions it's frustrating.

Obviously it's not going to magically make graphics 10x better, and MS are kind of exaggerating when they say the Cloud will make the console magically 5x more powerful.

[n4rc]

Can't agree more on that one.. Its crazy what both sides come up with..

I think you summed it up.. It offloads grunt work and frees up the console to do more important tasks.. Bigger worlds or better ai etc.. But I do think it makes a big step to countering ps4s spec advantages.. But again.. Only if its used right..

But 5x more powerful? Maybe theoretically in a perfect circumstance.. But real world? Nah.. That's marketing

I'm sure there is doubt.. But I maybe one of the few that actually supports Microsoft.. Rrod never happened to me, my experience with them over the last 20+ years is pretty good.. So I'm optimistic rather then doubtful.

[theWB27]

"The title suggested a further look into the cloud, and that's what I thought it would be. Instead, it told me how the cloud works, which I knew, and then reiterated what little devs have actually said about it."

I don't know, but if you look further into something you're essentially looking into how it works. If you scout a player, you're looking further into how that player works, how they respond to different situations.

Even with the self publishing announcement today some Indie devs stated they had to look further into what this mean. How exactly this works for them. So I don't really get how that's two different things to you.

"Until someone comes out and explains exactly what they're doing with it, why, and what benefit the game actually gets from it besides "cloud power", we still don't know what its capable of."

Turn 10- Eliminating AI drivers, dedicated servers.

Respawn is using it for dedicated servers.

Dead Rising 3 is bigger than the first two games put together with that many zombies on screen and you can from the streets, into buildings and the sewers without any load times at all. The data is being streamed from the cloud.

One of the bigger things are games being able to be updated daily. Sunset Overdrive is an example.

http://www.gamespot.com/new...

I don't know why you say you haven't heard anyone taking advantage yet. It's all over the place. It's the beginning of the generation too, so of course we won't be seeing what developers might be doing 3 years down the road. It's in it's infancy.

So while you may not learn anything, someone who's heard about the devs talking about it (which you apparently haven't somehow) and want to know a little more can read this.

[Rhaigun]

Yes, I have heard all this. Dedicated servers, no load times, daily updates and simple AI or lighting tasks. None of which scream out 5x the power. If anything, most of these seem to be workarounds for X1 memory deficiencies, or their crappy network policies.