Final Fantasy XIII: How Will It Work on 360? (Digital Foundry analysis)

Just thought this was interesting, and wanted to share. Could it be possible that it runs better on 360?? discuss........

"Square-Enix is clearly targeting 30FPS for the game, but it is falling some way short in certain scenes and that's generally down to the bewildering range of transparent alpha effects employed in the combat. This generally doesn't tend to be so much of an issue for 360 (thanks to the daughter module of 10MB eDRAM connected directly to the GPU), but it can hit PS3 hard. The solution is generally to employ a lower resolution buffer for these effects (as seen in Killzone 2 and Red Faction Guerilla to name two examples), but right now, Square-Enix is adopting a zero compromise approach to the visuals in terms of visual effects and that's what's causing the lag. Where the company is compromising is with certain effects such as the characters' hair. You'll see an almost interlacing-****effect – it's called 'alpha to coverage' and it's an immense fill-rate saver, albeit at the cost of visual quality."

Article

So according to this part..."To tell the truth, we're not looking at an exceptionally advanced engine here – this is no Uncharted or Killzone. Instead, it's all about the quality of the art assets, and we see nothing here to suggest that those assets won't be identical on the Xbox 360 version. " Did they dumb down the engine for the 360 or was this how the game was supposed to be originally for PS3?

Interesting read nonetheless, shows the advantages of both hardware platforms and hopefully enix delivers this time.

Did they dumb down the engine for the 360 or was this how the game was supposed to be originally for PS3?

mmirza23

In some scenes we expect the 360 version to have the edge over the 'native' PS3 code. DigitalFoundry via Eurogamer

[QUOTE="mmirza23"]

Did they dumb down the engine for the 360 or was this how the game was supposed to be originally for PS3?

musicalmac

In some scenes we expect the 360 version to have the edge over the 'native' PS3 code. DigitalFoundry via Eurogamer

Great read. It's a shame thatmost here won't understand the technical aspects of the article though. But to those of us who do understand them, it all makes perfect sense. :)

The FF13 comparisons after launch are going to be great (even though I have no interest in playing the game)

Yeah it should perform tremendously better on the 360 if they're doing a lot of alpha-blending, especially at full res. Almost every AAA PS3 game out there uses a quarter-sized buffer for particles and other transparancy effects because it's such a killer on framebuffer bandwidth...but the 360 GPU has tons of that. I wouldn't be surprised if they ditched the A2C for the hair on the 360 version.

Yeah I read that, it's a bit confusing though because if the engine isnt as technically advanced as uncharted or killzone does that mean it was changed to adapt the 360 hardware and therefore certain aspects of the game will look good on PS3 and others on 360? So my other question would be if the game remained a PS3 exclusive would the engine have differed to a point where they could fully utilize the PS3? I know they're not fulling utilizing the 360 either though.

mmirza23

wow - even Square is struggling with the PS3. i think it's really time we put this argument to rest.

360 has the better overall hardware in terms of game performance, but the PS3 has bluray for movies and extra storage (not that it's been used to any great effect so far though).

wow - even Square is struggling with the PS3. i think it's really time we put this argument to rest.

360 has the better overall hardware in terms of game performance, but the PS3 has bluray for movies and extra storage (not that it's been used to any great effect so far though).

Yeah it should perform tremendously better on the 360 if they're doing a lot of alpha-blending, especially at full res. Almost every AAA PS3 game out there uses a quarter-sized buffer for particles and other transparancy effects because it's such a killer on framebuffer bandwidth...but the 360 GPU has tons of that. I wouldn't be surprised if they ditched the A2C for the hair on the 360 version.

Teufelhuhn

wow - even Square is struggling with the PS3. i think it's really time we put this argument to rest.

360 has the better overall hardware in terms of game performance, but the PS3 has bluray for movies and extra storage (not that it's been used to any great effect so far though).

^ i disagree, i think if a engine is tailored specifically to a certain system then yes you can most likely achieve a higher level of quality because the engine is set to run on a certain set of hardware instead of needing to be more open ended to run on groups of hardware. i've read that the FF team has stated that the 360 version might be slightly different in places specifically because of the hardware limitations (though what specifically that means i can't say, im not expecting the 360 version to look like a nintendo game or anything :P )

^ i disagree, i think if a engine is tailored specifically to a certain system then yes you can most likely achieve a higher level of quality because the engine is set to run on a certain set of hardware instead of needing to be more open ended to run on groups of hardware. i've read that the FF team has stated that the 360 version might be slightly different in places specifically because of the hardware limitations (though what specifically that means i can't say, im not expecting the 360 version to look like a nintendo game or anything :P )

z4twenny

Interesting, well i really don't care how they make the game look great i just want it to look and run great, magic can be done on the ps3 no matter what it's written on paper, look at uncharted 2, anyway i really want this game, for any platform, just release it already SE ! :P

[QUOTE="Teufelhuhn"]

Yeah it should perform tremendously better on the 360 if they're doing a lot of alpha-blending, especially at full res. Almost every AAA PS3 game out there uses a quarter-sized buffer for particles and other transparancy effects because it's such a killer on framebuffer bandwidth...but the 360 GPU has tons of that. I wouldn't be surprised if they ditched the A2C for the hair on the 360 version.

yoshi_64

Great article. Goes very much against the general fanboy consensus that the PS3 version will no doubt be superior.

I can't wait for the game! Also, I would like to know why people argue about graphics? They're going to look exactly the same (maybe some places will look a little bit better on the PS3 and some places will look a little better on the Xbox, it's not like the difference between ps2 and xbox last gen).

I can't wait for the game! Also, I would like to know why people argue about graphics? They're going to look exactly the same (maybe some places will look a little bit better on the PS3 and some places will look a little better on the Xbox, it's not like the difference between ps2 and xbox last gen).

Renjinrezo

wow - even Square is struggling with the PS3. i think it's really time we put this argument to rest.

360 has the better overall hardware in terms of game performance, but the PS3 has bluray for movies and extra storage (not that it's been used to any great effect so far though).

With all that said, I still think the game is gonna look better in some areas for the 360 and some to most areas for the PS3. The article even says the S-E has already fixed the issues anyway with the PS3 version anyway(It was just a demo anyway)

Also, the engine's main purpose to to handle cutscene to in-game transitions and advanced facial expressions. Which from the demo I've seen and played is working quite well.

I just hope FFXIII's story won't shorten :Pdouble_heist

Depends if there's a love story. :P

I just hope FFXIII's story won't shorten :Pdouble_heist

Yeah, I'm also worried about the story's length. This gen stories are a lot shorter than last gen. But still...

What I don't get is why SquareEnix STILL insists on using FMV. Don't they get that it takes people out of the game experience, and that we'll watch CG movies like Advent Children for those kinds of things? MAILER_DAEMON

Thats just your opinion. I love the FMVs and actually think they inhance the experience for the player and puts them right into the game. A lot can be said from my other friends that have played RPGs and other games.

[QUOTE="3picuri3"][QUOTE="z4twenny"]

^ i disagree, i think if a engine is tailored specifically to a certain system then yes you can most likely achieve a higher level of quality because the engine is set to run on a certain set of hardware instead of needing to be more open ended to run on groups of hardware. i've read that the FF team has stated that the 360 version might be slightly different in places specifically because of the hardware limitations (though what specifically that means i can't say, im not expecting the 360 version to look like a nintendo game or anything :P )

z4twenny

you must be a 360 fanboy.

i'm just stating what i read from the dev's way back when, if it upsets you that your preferred system gets the gimped down version then thats your issue, not mine.

What I don't get is why SquareEnix STILL insists on using FMV. Don't they get that it takes people out of the game experience, and that we'll watch CG movies like Advent Children for those kinds of things? MAILER_DAEMON

What I don't get is why SquareEnix STILL insists on using FMV. Don't they get that it takes people out of the game experience, and that we'll watch CG movies like Advent Children for those kinds of things? MAILER_DAEMON

So according to this part..."To tell the truth, we're not looking at an exceptionally advanced engine here – this is no Uncharted or Killzone. Instead, it's all about the quality of the art assets, and we see nothing here to suggest that those assets won't be identical on the Xbox 360 version. " Did they dumb down the engine for the 360 or was this how the game was supposed to be originally for PS3?

Interesting read nonetheless, shows the advantages of both hardware platforms and hopefully enix delivers this time.

mmirza23

[QUOTE="MAILER_DAEMON"]What I don't get is why SquareEnix STILL insists on using FMV. Don't they get that it takes people out of the game experience, and that we'll watch CG movies like Advent Children for those kinds of things? jonnyt61

I read the whole article. It's very interesting. Apparently, there are some things that the 360 holds over the PS3 and others that that PS3 holds over the 360.

Edit: It appears 360 will handle the alpha transparency stuff better, while the PS3 will handle lighting better.

They guess that the prerendered cutscenes will be real time in the 360 ver - which they are guessing wont have too much of an impact on the visuals in the scenes. Or the quality of the prerendered videos could be cut down to fit on 4 discs.

The last thing they say is that Square is lying about not starting on the 360 ver yet.

sounds to me like the 360 will be good in some areas and the ps3 will be good in some areas. each console will compromise.

besides the part of the articles he posted here was about in game-in engine cutscenes. nothing was mentioned about gameplay.

[QUOTE="jonnyt61"][QUOTE="MAILER_DAEMON"]What I don't get is why SquareEnix STILL insists on using FMV. Don't they get that it takes people out of the game experience, and that we'll watch CG movies like Advent Children for those kinds of things? daveg1

A lot of people will be owned if the 360 version turns out better.

A lot of people will be owned if the 360 version turns out better.

Filthybastrd

Hahaha! And cows were whining that the 360 would make it looks worse!

A lot of people will be owned if the 360 version turns out better.

Filthybastrd

Better how?

Graphically?

Really now?

Do you think people will choose which version to get based on the graphics?

Anyway, I'm getting the PS3 version because, well, it's the only console I have.

[QUOTE="Filthybastrd"]

A lot of people will be owned if the 360 version turns out better.

Rikusaki

Better how?

Graphically?

Really now?

Do you think people will choose which version to get based on the graphics?

Anyway, I'm getting the PS3 version because, well, it's the only console I have.

Yes, graphically. They're bound to be quite identical in all other aspects except sound.

And you must've missed a post or two around here if you think there won't be any ownage to be had from a graphically superior 360 version, regardless of how slight the difference may be.

[QUOTE="Rikusaki"]

[QUOTE="Filthybastrd"]

A lot of people will be owned if the 360 version turns out better.

Filthybastrd

Better how?

Graphically?

Really now?

Do you think people will choose which version to get based on the graphics?

Anyway, I'm getting the PS3 version because, well, it's the only console I have.

Yes, graphically. They're bound to be quite identical in all other aspects except sound.

And you must've missed a post or two around here if you think there won't be any ownage to be had from a graphically superior 360 version, regardless of how slight the difference may be.