Xbox One Resolution Brouhaha: When Graphics Matter, and When They Don’t

A levelheaded look at resolution in the face of recent controversy and why it's not just about comparing numbers.

[theBAWSE]

ps4 is more powerful... NOOOOOO

let me downplay it...

[ATiElite]

"When Graphics Matter" = when it's PS4 vs. XB1

"and When They Don’t" = when it's PS4 vs. PC

Example:

XB1 COD:G 720p --------"Ha ha TEh CLoudz looks like another rainy day for XB1. 11-15-13 Greatness Awaits and the GDDR5 in my PS4 will cure cancer as well as play great games, Esram rotten Ham Microsoft and it's Xbone are a JOKE versus the PS4 which is like a High End PC according to many Devs"

BF4 PS4 900p --------- "So what, Graphics Don't matter because it's about the games and exclusives. show me a $399 PC that can even run BF4, you need a $22900909090 PC to even play BF4 and you gotta buy new Gpu's every 60 days plus PC has NO AAA games,
(hands over ears with eyes closed) Naughty Dogg, Naughty Dogg, Naughty Dogg, get lost you LOSER PC Elitist".

[MRMagoo123]

So when do graphics matter then ? if you have an xbone i guess never because they arent winning at anything at all lol.

No one counts PCs because we are talking about consoles, my pc has better graphics than my ps3, thats to be expected, go die in a hole.

[n4rc]

Hilarious because its true... Lol..

And really? Go die in a hole? For real kid? Seek help

[Idba]

Comparing consoles to PC are wrong. Thats why we compare CONSOLES to CONSOLES.

But ofcoure, you could always compare a 400$ PC to PS4 and see how that works out.

[decrypt]

@ATiElite

Console gamers.. Dont care about graphics.

Its all about cheerleading their respective console. No matter how they end up getting screwed in the process lol.

@ldba

500usd PC would beat the PS4 and please dont go around pretending 400usd is all you got to pay for the PS4 look at other costs too:

Pay to go online (reoccurred cost)

Pay more per game (usually 10-20usd more adds up really fast).

No BC (cant play any of your last gen games, keep rebuying the PS3 every time it fails. PC plays games from 30 years back.)

No mods so they can sell you DLCs.

In the end PC doesnt have as many hidden costs as consoles do. Keep that in mind which makes even a PC that cost initially abit more cheaper in the long run.

@mistertwoturbo

Yea and ignore all the hidden costs on the PS4, great job, very balanced comparison lol.

By the way to beat a PS4 you dont need a GPU that cost more than 200usd, a R9 270x costing 200usd will play games like BF4 in 1600p what does the PS4 manage? :P

[mistertwoturbo]

Idba has a point, compare a $400 pc to the ps4. You're looking at integrated graphics level of performance. Sorry but it's true. To really get the true enthusiast PC high level of graphics you need at least a $250-$300 gpu by itself.

[FamilyGuy]

Decrypt, let's also ignore all the free PS+ games
The huge PS+ discounts
PS4 being its own game capture and editing device.
The all in one nature and ease of use,
no buying parts after they kill over from over clocking
the upgrading every 2-3 years
searching for workarounds to bugging pc game code.
The viruses and malware
The other installed programs that slow down your pc over time.
Superior developer attention and support.
The fact that you can resell your games once you're done with them.
The ability to rent games
The fact that you don't have to buy DLC, you can ignore it
The fact that you could buy all your games used for a cheap price
the fact that you could borrow games from friends for free
2-4 player same couch co-op playing
Playing comfortably from your couch period

Yeah man, PC is sooooo much greater than consoles, why would anyone play on a console when a PC is "around the same price", according to you.

Please gtfo -_-

[LogicStomper]

Here's a general rule of thumb for when and when graphics matters.

When it does matter:

- Upgrading from one generation to the next. When you enter the next generation, you expect improvement from the PREVIOUS GENERATION.

- You're prioritising graphics above gameplay for a game or console.

- Your idea of fun is purely based on pretty pictures and fluid motions.

When it does matter to some degree:

- You're unsure on which platform/console you're going to move to for the next generation. One may perform better, but does this outweigh the fun you'll have on the other? Are the graphics higher on your priority list than the games you enjoy?

When it doesn't matter:

- You've already made up your mind on which console you're getting based on your tastes. Sure the other console may or may not be more powerful than the one you're getting but who cares? You should be contempt with your purchase and not need to scream at others why your opinion is more important than theirs.

- When you buy games/consoles for fun. The whole purpose of a console is entertainment. They're there to be played/enjoyed, not compared down to which case looks more sturdy.

- When you're trying to compare two great looking games. Sure one looks better than the other but who cares? They both look amazing.

So do you see where some people come from when they say graphics don't matter? What you see as trash could be another mans treasure. So if you could guys, don't nit-pick and trash-talk about what others enjoy. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[NewMonday]

@ATiElite

nobody argues against high end PCs power, it's about the price

@decrypt

put your money where your mouth is and give us benchmarks of a $500 PC rig (the complete hardware and software) running BF4.

walk the walk

[jebabcock]

So let's remove the fanboy element... if you had two pc systems that provided extremely similar hardware but one was cheaper and played your games at better quality, which would you pick? The more expensive one with perfomance issues?

As far as comparing console to pc... for me that can't even be done effectively.

First off, let me count the reasons why I and probably most normal people opt to get a console.

1. No upkeep on pc parts when a new game comes out...
2. Easily portable...
3. I like gaming from a couch not an office desk..
4. Better gaming experience across all games...Devs optimize games specifically for my exact hardware so I don't have to worry about compatibility issues.
5. Much larger library of quality games to choose from.

The issue here is that where the pc may be better in visuals it hands down loses every other important selling point for me.

Just because I opt for the console route doesn't mean graphics cease to matter... To the contrary that makes them one of the primary selling points for a console... And why the consoles are always so heavily compared in that area.

To me choosing a console comes down to the game library offered and performance. It is perfectly acceptable to question launch titles that arent clearing what appears to be last gens bar especially if they are touted as AAA titles. When numerous AAA launch titles are getting gimped on a specific console, questions should be raised otherwise nothing will be done to fix the issue...

Hardware issues are a stretch unless MS is over allocating dedicated system resources for non-game functionality. Even if that is the case a fw update could potentially remedy the issue.

[insomnium2]

@ati

Here's how it all started:

When graphics matter = when x360 was the main platform and PS3 got a lousy port for multiplats.

when graphics matter = when x360 could be said to be more powerfull than PS3 based on said multiplat/ports.

when they don't = when PS3 exclusive was better than anything on x360.

When they don't = when you can't argue that said PS3 game is only 2 hours of gameplay and 10 hours of cinematics.

Irony is a b**ch isn't it?

[jebabcock]

@decrypt

No retail 500 dollar pc would beat either console... that is a foolish and stupid comment. Consoles are optimized specifically for gaming. You will likely be hard pressed to find a pc under 1000 that will perform to the level of a console unless either company completely messed up.

A pc even when your game is running has a bloated OS handling a whole slew of background processes while your game is running.

Try to post intelligent comments....

[Docknoss]

This is hilarious

[CrimsonFox13]

@Docknoss

N4G comments are about as bad as YouTube comments. I really should stop looking at them. At least there are scripts to hide YouTube comments.

[DeadManV]

F***ing bulls**t- I game on PC and will on ps4- lets look at price especially on the long run-over about 8 years how much will you expect to pay for hardware alone? Pretty sure you get the best bang for your buck with PS4. Damn PC elitist.

[mewhy32]

When graphics matter is whey you're trying to charge me 500.00 for a 720p machine and I can get a 1080p machine (PS4) for 400.00. Yeah. It matters. It for sure matters.

[MRMagoo123]

Thats all they do lol, but have you looked in the Ryse articles, its all about graphics in there because the gameplay is terribad, i guess its what ever the xboners want it to be, they seem to move the goal posts at will.

[XboxSeriesBest]

I agree with you Why would we buy new consoles if the graphics are gonna be the same? Graphics are pretty important and no amount of denial and damage control is gonna change that. Everyone is crying that we need a leap in visuals now PS4 gamers get it and Xboners are trying to deny the fact that they're getting microshafted and are gonna have sub-par visuals on their games. The power of teh cloud won't save you nor the i don't care about graphics excuse. If you don't tell M$ anything nothing will change

[LogicStomper]

@ MRMagoo123

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe it's good overall, but there's that one stand-out feature about it?

If you talk about a Ferrari, it would be an amazing vehicle. There is however, the stand-out feature which would be it's form. If we focus the conversation around the form of the car, does that mean it's bad at everything else? No. So your point is therefore invalid until proven valid.

@XboxDone

Your username insta screams troll and fanboy but hey, silly comments like yours improves my ability to debate topics.

"Why would we buy new consoles if the graphics are gonna be the same?"

You've fallen for the most common misconception of all. This would be the actual moving of goal posts. I will explain this thoroughly so even silly people can't mistake the concepts here.

1) Comparing Xbox One to Playstation 4.

This is where what you call the 'xboners' as saying graphics don't matter. Of course, the 'xboners' are correct, they don't matter. Do you know why? Well it's because in terms of graphics they both look amazing (I will give it to you that the graphical capabilities on the PS4 are better than the Xbox One's).

Okay, so these so called 'xboners' say graphics don't matter. You take this as an input into brain and then your draw the next comparison (where your logical goes horrible, and I mean horribly wrong).

2) Comparing current generation to next gen.

You see where you've gone wrong already? You're using the same logic in completely different situations. You've taken the idea that 'graphics don't matter' when comparing two consoles in the same generation and put that into a comparison of 'two generations, one current and one next'. You will have to be out-right deluded to continue thinking you're correct.

In fact, here are some analogies so you get the idea of where your logic was flawed.

1) You compare to top-of-the-line graphics cards. They're both very similar in capabilities and the difference between them is almost negligible. You can state that "the graphics between the two don't matter".

Now you CANNOT use this idea in a comparison of generations and say "Because graphics don't matter, you don't care about the improvements of graphics card from one generation to the next". You see, they are two COMPELTELY DIFFERENT ideas. You can't just pull a piece of a puzzle and expect it to fit elsewhere.

I have notice this is a VERY common misconception around here and I hope you understand where you went wrong so false ideas are not carried on.

[jebabcock]

Graphics always matter people... Presentation will make or break anything and games are no exception... The degree to which they will influence our choices is significantly more complicated than a few paragraph comment so people please stop trying to make an attempt.

The point people miss is that between two very similar consoles there isn't much else to compare. That is why this topic always comes up.

In any case, I definitely wouldnt refer to comments on n4g for advice on the matter.... a person would only walk away feeling very conflicted by the polarizing comments If they actually were open minded and attempting to form an opinion.

[Blacksand1]

The XB1 is 720p with a 1080p up-scaled because MS tried to make it a t.v hub first and a gaming console second. My Fios is 720p reg. channels and 1080p on HD channels. When you mix the two that's what you get 720p with a up-scaled of 1080p, because of t.v part of the console.

[bjmartynhak]

Of course it matters when we are talking about the same game!

[bleedsoe9mm]

i played the inferior ps3 versions of games for the first 3 years of last gen and never regretted it once , if i bought a xbox one only this gen i doubt i'd regret that either .

[LogicStomper]

Completely agree with you. When you play games you don't sit there thinking "I can't enjoy this game because it looks better elsewhere".

[jackanderson1985]

only if you're obsessed with graphics... i'm not gonna buy COD or BF4 on the PS4 if all my friends pick it up on the X1

[n4rc]

Actually a really good read... Many great points

[GenericNameHere]

Well, I guess it's time for Detective N4G and GAF to keep track of Adam Sessler and other crybabies (remember, that's what I call journalists from now on) who said 1080p don't matter. I can almost see one developer in the future who'll botch up a multiplat release by making the Xbone version look better, and these crybabies will make sure that everyone knows the Xbone version looks more better because it's in 1080p.

[bleedsoe9mm]

the real question if your not buying both is do you want to play,
killzone , knack , second son , drive club or
dead rising , ryse , titanfall , forza
not an easy choice

[sweendog]

That is a good point but their is another question. You are going to have that plastic lump under your T.V for 6-8 years, whos exclusives are going to keep you entertained after the launch dust has settled. I got a gamecube at launch and its launch line up was terrible (luigi's Mansion!) still the best console I have owned

[jackanderson1985]

i'm one of the biggest advocates against comparing PCs to consoles.... but even if a rig cost u say 950 to be comparable to the PS4 within a year i'd say u'd have made the difference back in savings from games (in ireland it's on average around 60euro for a console copy to 40 for a pc copy), not needing to pay for the online experience (now PS+ is required) and the fact you can do considerably more with your pc than your consoles

that being said PCs shouldn't be compared to consoles, they're two different animals altogether.

is the PS4 more powerful then the X1 no doubt, does this mean X1 will never achieve 1080p unlikely (they've already got a few that do it).... for me it's not really an issue i've a 32inch tv i use for gaming and sit more than 6 foot away so from what i've been told and from some useful graphs i've been shown i wouldn't notice the difference anyways

my main desire for this gen is shorter loading screens and more MMOs (massive being a stretch) but not in the typical sense rather like how destiny, titanfall and the division are pulling it off... also i would like COD to take a year break between games, even get one of the divisions calling it something else rather than COD but i doubt that'll ever happen while sales remain as high as they are

[Stoppokingme]

Graphics only matter when a game is multiplat.

You can't exactly compare Uncharted with Gears, or KZ with Halo. Different engines, different art style, etc.

PC will always come out on top, IF you have the moolah to build a killer rig. But the price of a high end graphics card could get you a PS4.

What consoles do is balance power with affordability, which is fine by me.

[Otoshigamisama]

@Stoppokingme Agree here graphics only matter to multi plat games,
And I think comparing PC to Consoles is kind of unfair and one sided pc will always be much better than gaming consoles PC is multi dimensional that means it can do almost anything unless of course those companies will focus more on improving they're consoles to PC levels but that is not what console is all about and were looking at a big price raise here,

PS:Let me also add something bro, Consoles can also offer great gaming experience at a cheap price I guess it is pretty much the same on what you wrote, but whatever just speaking my mind xD

[hello12]

Neogaf is a joke. Sony fans can't accept it over there that COD ghosts running at 1080p on PS4 is having frame rate problems both on multiplayer and single player.

100 per cent confirmed by polygon and IGN and other sources.

All confirmed the x box 360 version runs fine at 60 frames.

An article just came out from Destructoid a reviewer just played the X BOx 1 multiplayer and its ran smoothly at 60 frames-no frame rate drops.

Sony fans accused this reviewer of lying. Its shameful the way Sony fans carry on.

[GuruMeditation]

Nice generalisation there. You know, maybe it is shameful how some fans act, but I think there's probably similar numbers of douches on both platforms.

OT: graphics matter to a point and that point is subjective. As I'm self-employed, I don't know when my cashflow will allow for expensive upgrades. Consoles offer good performance for a predictable cost, including any online fees. So for someone like myself, the best performance I can get for a console price is my goal; I can then rely on that unit for the better part of a decade, knowing vaguely what I'm paying and when. That said, I am a Sony fan mainly and like what I've seen of PS4 thus far. So, graphics matter when comparing consoles which are otherwise closely matched, but comparing PC to console is, to me, entirely pointless.

[neocores]

Ign have never said anything bout the ps4 edition they are waiting in tell the xbox one can be reviewed since they have diff street dates. Also the only frame rate drop in Cod ghost for ps4 was when u reached a checkpoint. nothing a patch cant fixed :D. but hey goodjob trying to lie give you props for that :D

[hello12]

Can 't we get the facts straight on this site for once?

Polygon: ”Much has been said about the fact that the PlayStation 4 version of the game runs at a native 1080p, and while that may be true, the game did struggle to maintain a steady frame rate, especially in hectic multiplayer matches. The PS3 version of the game ran into similar problems, whereas the Xbox 360 version maintained a steady 60 frames per second.”

IGN: “On the current-gen versions Ghosts looks nearly identical, though I did encounter occasional framerate issues during the single-player campaign on PS3 and PS4.”

Joystiq: ”A key pillar of the
Call of Duty experience has always been rock-solid 60 frames per seconds gameplay. On Xbox 360, Ghosts maintains this mandate. The PlayStation 4 version, however, has noticeable technical issues, sometimes slowing to a crawl, particularly during set-piece moments with multiple effects. One specific moment I was able to replicate multiple times on PS4 was a campaign scene that ran smoothly on Xbox 360 and PS3, while the game chugged On PlayStation 4. These frame rate hitches happen throughout the campaign on PS4 and, in a series known for its Hollywood-inspired bombast, it detracted from the experience.

XB1 Mutiplayer.
Destructoid "Call of Duty Ghosts performs smoothly on Xbox One"
Despite the less-than-stellar reception it's received in the press, Call of Duty: Ghosts remains one of the most anticipated launch titles in the Xbox One line-up. Not because the game itself, so much as the power of its brand.

During my time with the title, I wasn't able to experience a single-player campaign. Instead, we were given the opportunity to experience a fully-unlocked multiplayer mode. Having played a fair amount of Call of Duty throughout the years, I felt that I'd have a pretty good handle on things, but I honestly wasn't prepared for the level of customization I encountered.

So being that the game was running on Xbox One hardware, the first thing I'm sure the first thing that might spring to mind is the game's native 720p resolution. To be honest, I had known about the resolution going in, but it barely occurred to me while playing. If I hadn't known, I honestly would have never guessed. Instead, I was far more impressed with the game's smooth performance, owed in large part to its solid 60 frames-per-second.

[bleedsoe9mm]

can we call them crazy fanboys not sony fans

[Flutterby]

We have seen videos of the xbone MP lol it has frame rate drops below 30fps destructiod can lie all they want but it will be out in the open when the embargo comes off , kinda funny how MS doesn't want the game reviewed till a few days before release huh. There are a few ppl on YouTube that have played the MP on the xbone and have said it's worse than the pc and ps4.

Ps just read the whole article from destructiod the guy admits to only playing one game and can't really say whether there is fps drops in the comments section , nice try tho KNWS

[MRMagoo123]

Yeh there is know frame rate drops at all on the xbone version in MP lol http://www.youtube.com/watc... none at all if you ignore all the frame rate drops that is. lol

That destructiod guy said he played one match, there are plenty of ppl that have played more and can tell you there is a lot of frame drops.

[DragonPs4]

graphics and power matter to me when it effects the gameplay.

bf3

ps3 and 360 24 players

pc 64 players.

[Mikefizzled]

Microsoft can't win. They released the much more powerful Xbox and PS2 outsells it 6:1. Makes the marginally less powerful 360 gets outsold buy a million or two. XB1 doesn't even release yet and 'journalists' call it dead in the water due to lack of power...

[bryanm]

Surely this simply proves that it power doesn't make the console? The Xbox original came in late, sure it was more powerful but the PS2 had a considerably larger range of titles and as such continued to outsell it.

[Mikefizzled]

That was the point that I was making. Fanbois obviously want their more powerful console so they can froth at the mouth in unison whilst achieving nothing of use. It seems that journalists have also forgotten that gameplay is usually a lot more important than graphics...

[neocores]

Plz if you can find me a 400$ pc that can run Bf4 with amazing graphic let me know... in tell then Ps4

[kingPoS]

What I care about is ease of use. I don't want to have to configure & optimize drivers and API's or bother with proxy services like Steam or Origins. I just want to either play from the disc I bought or downloaded and play the game without a middleman. It's a shame this method went the way of the dodo. http://www.wikihow.com/Inst...

Granted my PC isn't really game worthy as it's a laptop from '08. Because of that I'm content with sipping from the glass rather than gulping thirstily... so to speak. I don't need a game being pumped up to 4k resolution. 1080 is plenty enough for me right now. It's the perfect middle ground.

For those with pc kits decked out the latest tech - Good for you. I hope you're all content.

Gateway MT6706 2008

[TristanPR77]

Graphics and resolution doesn't matter...

When the console you support doesn't deliver in any of these categories lol.

[TristanPR77]

How to identify someone that will buy an xbone?

You will hear him say: graphics and resolution doesn't matter.

Lol

[Surt]

Well well, Do I hear the pitter patter of nerds? I like my Rig. I play FPS and horror games on my rig. (cause consoles are scared of bringing out a good horror)

But that's it. Have you ever seen the rest of PC catalog that isn't a port from a console? So before the pc nerds of nerds (elitists) start mentioning about how better graphics the pc has, what good is having a powerful car if all your going to do is mow the fucking lawn with it?! $10,000 Rig to play indie crap. get out of here! lol

Consoles may only be worth their salt by there exclusives, But many of those exclusives out shine any PC indie humdrum anytime of day.