Microsoft develops "X-Engine" tools for 360 first party development.

Hey guys, as usual, just wanting to share information. One of the main reasons PS3 Exclusives have surpassed 360's visually were the development of special tools for first party studios called "Edge Tools". With it, we have seen amazing results such as Uncharted 2 (my favorite), Killzone 2, Uncharted, GOW3, etc. Well MS has took the initiative to do the same, with "X-Engine" tools to get the most out the 360 for first parties, along with the 1GB dev kits. So, is this the "tech that surpasses Killzone 2" MS spoke about?? Do you think we will start to see games that take full advatage of the 360 in the future?? Discuss, and any blatant fanboyism WILL BE REPORTED!! Have fun :D

"You see, the most common engine used for Xbox 360 development was Epic's Unreal Engine 3. It might look great in Gears of War, but the engine does not shine in every developer's hands and it also doesn't have key features to take true advantage of the Xbox 360 quirks.

Our source explains that Sony's PlayStation 3 tools (named Edge) have been picking up steam, and are now taking true advantage of the platform's make-up, especially the consoles CPU, Kutaragi-san's infamous Cell. As for the Xbox 360, it was lacking an engine that took advantage of it in the same way; a hole Microsoft hopes to plug with their new X-Engine. We're told that the engine isn't just a new set of special effects; it's actually a whole new way to develop for the system: a new first party engine design."

LINKY

At least MS getting away from the Unreal Engine. But the name "X-Engine" sounds like a very last minute name. I don't think that's going to be the final name for the engine. Lets hope it works well. Anything is better than the god awful Unreal Engine.

Halo: Reach + X-Engine tools = Jesus???? I really hope that Halo: Reach uses this, and puts the Xbox 360 to the max. Good news for the Xbox 360! :D

Halo: Reach + X-Engine tools = Jesus???? I really hope that Halo: Reach uses this, and puts the Xbox 360 to the max. Good news for the Xbox 360! :D

DarkGamer007

:lol: SLOW DOWN MAN! We haven't seen anything yet about this X-Engine. Your getting excitied over nothing. :lol:

haha what first party development! Seriously though, microsofts first party devs consist of rare, and i believe 2 other teams i forgot of.

personally i dont think X engine is gonna perform better then anthink cos buy the they will start using that tool is the day that there's gonna be better and improved toolz for the dev's on the ps3 fev kit

It sounds good but I'll be waiting to see the results before I make any final judgments.

[QUOTE="DarkGamer007"]

Halo: Reach + X-Engine tools = Jesus???? I really hope that Halo: Reach uses this, and puts the Xbox 360 to the max. Good news for the Xbox 360! :D

dream431ca

:lol: SLOW DOWN MAN! We haven't seen anything yet about this X-Engine. Your getting excitied over nothing. :lol:

Unreal Engine 3 is the best engine on the consoles. Saddening that companies can't develop really well (or they're lazy) because UE3 pulls off some insane visuals if done well.

But, this looks like a step in the right direction regardless. Give the devs something optimized for the 360 that's simple to use I assume.

[QUOTE="dream431ca"]

[QUOTE="DarkGamer007"]

Halo: Reach + X-Engine tools = Jesus???? I really hope that Halo: Reach uses this, and puts the Xbox 360 to the max. Good news for the Xbox 360! :D

The_Game21x

:lol: SLOW DOWN MAN! We haven't seen anything yet about this X-Engine. Your getting excitied over nothing. :lol:

I know. I was just pointing out getting excitied about something we have never seen usually turns out in disappointment, although on rare occasions it doesn't.

just another reason why 360>>PS3

just another reason why 360>>PS3

LittleBigMac

Erm....the Playstation 3 had special tools for first party development for a while, if anything this just shows that Microsoft is playing a bit of catch up with Sony on the game engine front....

New engine plus Natal mean Halo Reach best game every. :D

[QUOTE="LittleBigMac"]

just another reason why 360>>PS3

DarkGamer007

Erm....the Playstation 3 had special tools for first party development for a while, if anything this just shows that Microsoft is playing a bit of catch up with Sony on the game engine front....

Well, why don't we wait and see what the Engine looks like? Oh wait....System Wars.....*sigh*

Halo: Reach + X-Engine tools = Jesus???? I really hope that Halo: Reach uses this, and puts the Xbox 360 to the max. Good news for the Xbox 360! :D

DarkGamer007

I love how some vague news comes out and some select people are just exploding with excitment. :lol:

I love how some vague news comes out and some select people are just exploding with excitment. :lol:

dream431ca

For 1st party devs? So who is going to use it?

Hopefully this focusing of resources into their actual products rather than the promotion of them is a sign of things to come for MS (not likely, but still...it's a step in the right direction).

I wonder what games will they use it for, if they ever use it :?

Interesting info... Thats a good direction MS will be taking by supporting 1st party devs, I still believe we have yet to see 360's true potential so hopefully the X-Engine tool will help devs create better games (both visually & technically)..

But does releasing such a tool for 1st party devs mean MS are planning to follow Sony's footsteps and build a solid line-up of 1st party devs? Personally i think it would be a good idea for MS to do that..

I'm surethe enginewill include natal's framework in there. I hope it contains more better features than that though.

what microsoft first party's HA!, but seriously they don't have any good first party studios really, RARE is trash I can't think of their others at the moment, If Lionhead is FP then they are good but I don't think they focus on graphics

Lets wait and see what we get. And does MS even have a first party? :PII_Seraphim_II

But why would you limit the engine to 1st party developers?

That makes no sense..."IF" MS has spent the capital to develop such a resource..They would offer the tool to anyone that wishes to use it..

I'll wait to see it in action before I make any judgements

For 1st party devs? So who is going to use it?

Ragnarok1051

But why would you limit the engine to 1st party developers?

That makes no sense..."IF" MS has spent the capital to develop such a resource..They would offer the tool to anyone that wishes to use it..

masiisam

They probably don't want to give it to third parties because their games might end up eclipsing MS' first party games.

[QUOTE="II_Seraphim_II"]Lets wait and see what we get. And does MS even have a first party? :Pnavyguy21

[QUOTE="masiisam"]

But why would you limit the engine to 1st party developers?

That makes no sense..."IF" MS has spent the capital to develop such a resource..They would offer the tool to anyone that wishes to use it..

Trinners

They probably don't want to give it to third parties because their games might end up eclipsing MS' first party games.

Why on earth would MS care about that? They still benefit from the success of that game

mmhmm, definitely sounds promising and M$ isfinally stepping up on their first-party games.

If this is true, that's good, but THE 360 IS GOING on it's FIFTH XMAS!

Talk about waiting too long. Still, better than not at all, assuming of course this rumor is real.

Um no? one of the TRUE reasons 1st party games look even decent on the PS3 is becasue on average first party games on ps3 have all ways had the longest dev cycles, and because Sony pumped massive amounts of revenue through said companies weither it be for new computers, new office space, or simply sending their own R&D programmers too said studios to do lots of programming for said games.

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"]

Um no? one of the TRUE reasons 1st party games look even decent on the PS3 is becasue on average first party games on ps3 have all ways had the longest dev cycles, and because Sony pumped massive amounts of revenue through said companies weither it be for new computers, new office space, or simply sending their own R&D programmers too said studios to do lots of programming for said games.

Slashkice

You mean Sony's studios do well because Sony supports them? Insanity!

Then the game doesn't sell and Sony loses money and wonders why...

Damn. I thought the 360 was maxed out?

This could turn out to be very interesting. They have been making games this long without their own specific set of tools..I wonder how this will stack up against Capcom's MT Framework engine, which to me is currently one of the most impressive engines out right now.

lol, cows have been quick to shoot this down as a desperate last attempt by MS. So much hate for the 360 on this board...

what microsoft first party's HA!, but seriously they don't have any good first party studios really, RARE is trash I can't think of their others at the moment, If Lionhead is FP then they are good but I don't think they focus on graphics

All_that_is_Man

It's only a wikipedia page but it sounds about right. Also i don't see why this engine would have to be limited to first-party, i mean would they really deny it to a company like Bungie if they wanted to use it? Past Halo games used a first-party engine so i'm wondering what they'll do with Halo: Reach. Or maybe this is a way for MS to attract studios to go first-party for them.

This quicklly turned in a "360 has no first party devs" thread! :|

This quicklly turned in a "360 has no first party devs" thread! :|

PAL360