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[mrklaw]

Fundamentally, the notion that one console will be more powerful than the other allows someone interested in buying it added reassurance that their choice will be the correct one and others will also buy it.

It doesn't necessarily mean way better graphics. Simply the potential is enough.

 

[mrklaw]

Some of that has to do with developers wanting each version of their game to look similar. 3 games coming to 3 consoles, they program to the lowest common denominator. Noit saying that's the best idea, but it seems to happen. Companies like Sony with the PS3 are going to be in a postion to demand they make the games look better than the other systems. So XB360 better be comparable to the PS3 or Sony is going to make every effert to point out it's not.

More likely they code to the highest common userbase. That currently is PS2, which by coincidence is also the least powerful.

If the PS3 next-gen is the highest common userbase *and* the most powerful, then thats what they'll code to, and port down to the other platforms. So you may end up with more difference between versions. A developer isn't going to leave stuff out of the PS3 version just because it'll make the Xbox360 version look poor. They have competition that will happily make a better looking PS3 game. They'll just leave it out of the Xbox version.

Bit like the initial versions of Splinter Cell. Clearly coded specifically for Xbox's strengths, and the ports suffered as a result.

 

[DCharlie]

exactly how portable will code be between the units anyways?

 

[gofreak]

exactly how portable will code be between the units anyways?

360 and PS3? Well, both CPUs are of the Power architecture, so that should help. But obviously, specific use of Cell won't port very well to X360, and with X360, work done beyond one core will have to be accomodated in a different fashion on PS3. The API calls will be different, the shading language is different, but the underlying gpu functionality is of the same ilk which should make things easier. Put it this way - I'd say it's a bit less than the difference between Xbox and PS2 now in terms of ease of porting.

 

[Kiriku]

The power difference could mean that bad animation will look even worse in contrast with better, more realistic textures and 3D models. I have a feeling it will become very apparent next generation, and I hope developers will keep this in mind.

 

[SolidSnakex]

The power difference could mean that bad animation will look even worse in contrast with better, more realistic textures and 3D models. I have a feeling it will become very apparent next generation, and I hope developers will keep this in mind.

That was made obvious by the Madden trailer.

 

[Kiriku]

That was made obvious by the Madden trailer.

For example, yes.