Video Games: Multiplatform Comparisons

Which version is better?

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From 1UP's GTA Q&A with Sam Houser, "There's a slight difference in the way they look. I think that's to do with really low-level technical stuff that I'm not the guy to explain. The 360 games have a certain look to them; PS3 games have a certain look to them. I like the way [the PS3] renders. There's a certain kind of softness without being blurry - some warmth to it - and then there's a certain more clinical element to how the 360 looks." Yes, today I'll be talking about multiplatform games what developers try to do, the video comparisons, and why journalists always say one version is definitely better than the other.

March 26, 2007: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

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Generally when a developer is making a game multiplatform their goal is to try to make every version as similar as possible. Doing this can be a hard task because when new consoles come out they have to learn the new architecture of the console to move forward. When Bethesda Game Studios was developing Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the PlayStation 3 it was said that the Blu-ray discs has a slower reading time than the DVD. When it comes down to it the PlayStation 3 was meant to stream from the get go, but Bethesda Game Studios decided to make multiple copies of the game on each layer. With the Blu-ray it only has two layers so they made two copies to compensate for the load times. Things like this are what can make multiplatform games difficult when porting over a XBOX 360 game to the PlayStation 3. First off the coding is different from the PC (Personal Computer) to the PlayStation 3. The XBOX 360 is very similar if not the same as the PC coding that the developers can favour. When it comes down to it you can't always make a multiplatform game exactly the same through each console.

Nov. 15, 2007: Assassin's Creed

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The developers at Ubisoft have done a very good job at making the PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360 versions pretty much identical. Wait than a video comes out with the PlayStation 3 looking all washed out compared to the XBOX 360 version. Shortly after the Game Trailers (GT) comparison video a user (zpliskin) points out that 100% of the GT comparison videos the PlayStation 3's settings aren't fixed for HDMI set-ups. Whether you believe this user or not, the games are virtually the same and I wouldn't have known anything if it wasn't side-by-side. With that said you'll hear a lot of journalist of gaming sites say the PlayStation 3 isn't as great as the XBOX 360. To tell you the truth the only way for anyone to even notice a difference is if they played the game side-by-side doing the exact same things. A game like Assassin's Creed the sun can be covered up by the clouds so to prevent any variables it's best to look at cinematics. Ubisoft has done a great job on this game making them virtually the same yet journalist will put more fuel to the console wars by making foolish statements that one is significantly better than the other.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas

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This is the only game that I've played where you did not have to look at a comparison video to actually see a true significant difference. It's clear as day that the PlayStation 3 version doesn't show as clear as the XBOX 360 version. To best describe the visuals it's like looking at the XBOX 360 version without wearing your glasses if you needed them. This is coming from a person who has a PlayStation logo above their blogs, has links to Sony sites, and links to blogs about Sony or the gaming community together. I'm going to do a review about this game soon, hopefully soon. So if anyone is interested in the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas series on the PlayStation 3 just skip this one and get Rainbow Six Vegas 2, which is an expansion pack of the first. Variables like this is what makes a difference, use of the SIXAXIS, broken controls (not the feel of the controller itself), or online structure where developers have no choice but to go with the flow. That brings me to another game.

Nov. 7, 2007: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

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When you look at the comparison videos on GT (Game Trailers) you'll see absolutely no difference what so ever. This is also a very good developing team called Infinity Ward / Aspyr they made sure the game looks virtually the same across all platforms, more so the TV consoles. There will be your people where a version isn't significantly different that they just have to find something wrong with the game. I'm talking about the zoom ins that people do to see pixel differences. I understand if someone does this to determine what resolution something is at but with a multiplatform game to see which is better makes no sense. People have zoomed 500x - 1000x to see the differences in the pixels and the XBOX 360 has "reigned supreme." This isn't seen with the naked eye, so when someone especially a journalist says the XBOX 360 version is much better, they're lying. I don't think people will care if my gun had one less pixel than the guns in the XBOX 360 version. This is when console wars can get out of hand and having console wars will turn people off. It's good debating on what's better, that's what politics do for a living, it's when your emotions get in the way.

Jan. 24, 2008: Burnout Paradise

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Ever since that video came up about the PlayStation 3's settings things have been changing with the video comparisons. Now GT is doing a whole comparison on set-up / cables you use when playing Burnout Paradise for each console. When it comes down to it multiplatform games don't do any console justice because they don't usually take advantages of what they both can do. The developers at Crytek have said they're using each console's advantages on building the new game Far Cry 2. You'll also notice that the PlayStation 3 is becoming easier for developers to develop for now. So when Sony says the console has better tech, multiplatform games aren't going to prove this or when Microsoft says their console will have exclusive downloadable content. What will make a difference are the strategies they both have on delivering content to the consumers, online that was said earlier, and preference on what the consumer's wants.

Grand Theft Auto IV (4)

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This is the big question that everyone wants to know, which version is better? When it comes down to it it'll be online structure and preference. The PlayStation 3's online structure is best described as "clinical" everything is separated from each other yet still connected in a way. This is seen in the PC world since everything is pretty much freedom land no one really governs everything. So like downloading or installing is something seen a lot on this platform. The XBOX 360 is best described as "united" everything is connected together all the time. Even though you never see any install screens it does it for you, the only catch is you have to remain online. The XBOX 360 has exclusive downloads that they haven't even told the consumers what exactly it'll be. There can't be new maps because the whole level is one big map unless they get downloadable islands. There can be more modes for online matches, character selections, more collectable items, or missions. This is all good but as far as I know there can simply have something similar to the PlayStation 3 version. Downloadable content can't be achieved on the Wii otherwise the same can be happening to the PlayStation 3. The thing that PlayStation 3 has that no console has got is PlayStation Home that will deliver for sure exclusive content for every game. It's a cheap way for a developer to advertise a game when someone purchases their games. Either way none of this is going to matter because your mind is predetermined on what version you're going to get from the beginning. I do think Sony should have paid Rock Star to take full advantage of the blu-ray space but all well.

Exclusives Demonstrate Console Power

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For a game company to rely so heavily on exclusive content is too risky and it is best to put hopes on exclusive games. The reason for this is because developers don't have to worry about consumers complaints their version is significantly different. Unreal Tournament 3 is coming soon to the XBOX 360 they're going to get some new maps and a Gears of War treat. The PlayStation 3 supports mods this is the only situation where I think exclusive content like mods is a major plus. Unreal Tournament 3 would be so boring if there were no mods available for that platform. I don't think exclusive maps will get PlayStation 3 owners jealous / envy but is more of sorry for the wait so here's something in return. Variables like having mouse / key board support will determine what version is better because now it's more like a PC experience.

In conclusion if anyone is wondering what version is better don't get your hopes up. There might be slight differences, but nothing you would have noticed if they weren't side-by-side. Genuinely the PlayStation 3 has "High Dynamic Range Rendering" (HDRR or HDR Rendering) if used correctly is beneficial (Marvel Ultimate Aalliance ). The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is an example of its benefits because bright things can be really bright, dark things can be really dark, but detail can be seen in both. This will be the cause for PlayStation 3 exclusives looking all washed out at times when used incorrectly. What baffles me is that adults are the ones are the cause of these out bursts with each console. I understand if a user acts a certain way it's understandable but not real journalists. Have you seen some of the user reviews about games some of them are like opinion pieces than reviews, well that's just me. I'll write about the journalism surrounding the gaming community and another thing that bothers me to is they'll state dying in a game is frustrating. This will be a negative for a game, are you serious? Anyways I'm kind of drifting off topic in the end just enjoy your version of choice and be done with it and don't be arrogant.

Related: Gamer Fanatics, Console Wars: CPU / RAM, Reviews, Network *Updating*, Gamers Defined