7th December 2005, 12:13 AM
Okay, let me get this straight. Everyone is dooming the Revolution because it will have krappy graphics and only be two or three times the 'power' of the GC.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, allow me to introduce you to the greatest misconception of all time in this industry.
The 'power' meaning 'graphics. However for 360, output at full 1080i with high res textures to boot - The result is that games look like a slight jump forward but now can be played in full HD. The system specs of both 360 and PS3 are basically the XBox and PS2 with 'real' HD output and a higher (or for PS3, a MUCH higher) polygon rate.
Now, if you were to take the 360 for example, and use its resources with low-res textures and output at 480p you would have a graphically mind blowing game. It would be at the same res as current gen, but the actual game would be stunning with the amount of polys being used, the amount of effects, etc. But that's not what they're trying to do, they want an HD machine.
Now Nintendo has opted to stay at 480p and their system, by all accounts is "2 to 3 times more powerful than Gamecube." Now... let's think about this:
The Nintendo Gamecube can run about 40 million polys with most effects on. It should be noted there hasn't been a game with all effects on at once released on the GC.
The Revolution, at 'two to three times' more powerful, would mean it could output about 120 million polys with most effects on.
Now, you'll notice that when you google xbox specs, you'll get some people claiming that the xbox can do 4000 million polys a sec which is simply not true in any situation and are claims made by fan-sites and people with no clue. With full effects on, real time lighting, etc. And outputting at 720p The Xbox can do around 50 million polys.
From Microsoft.com:
"Xbox 360 boasts a custom ATI graphics processor that clocks in at a blistering 500 MHz. If you want to get even more technical (and who doesn't?) Xbox 360 can take advantage of more than four times as many polygons as the original Xbox® console, and more than four times (seeing a pattern here?) the number of pixels per second."
So let's assume that they mean it's 4 times the number of polys with most effects on (though I doubt it). They're litteraly saying the 360 is 4 times more powerful.
The XBox 360 with most effects on at 720p (possibly at 1080i?) can do about 200 Million polys. Hmm... 120 million polys Vs. 200 million polys... both with most effects on...
Nintendo: It's about 3 times more powerful than GC.
Public: NOOOOO ITS THE END TIME! WINGED BEARS STEALING OUR CHILDREN IN TO PITS OF HELL, JESUS BLEEDS TEARS NOOOOO
Microsoft: It's 4 times as powerful as XBox.
Public: Oh hey that's powerful, cant wait to see that, yup yup.
This is getting rediculous. So here's the facts:
* The XBox is slightly more powerful than GC (if you compare output resolutions, the xbox wipes the floor with GC)
* The Revolution and XBox 360 will be nearly at the same level of graphical quality. Though it should be noted, since the Revolution doesn't need to spend its resources on HD output, more resources can go to sound quality, number of polys and textures, etc.
* What this could mean is that the XBox 360 and the Revolution will look exactly the same in graphical quality save for one having HD output (and each system will have stregnths and weaknesses, Revolution for example might have an effect that 360 does not and vice versa). Hey, isn't that where we are now?
So there it is. Black and white, factual info. The Revolution will look fine. IGN is taking part in the age old past time of bullshitting to create content that will generate buzz for their new channel and have taken a huge nose dive in my book as far as being a trusted news source.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, allow me to introduce you to the greatest misconception of all time in this industry.
The 'power' meaning 'graphics. However for 360, output at full 1080i with high res textures to boot - The result is that games look like a slight jump forward but now can be played in full HD. The system specs of both 360 and PS3 are basically the XBox and PS2 with 'real' HD output and a higher (or for PS3, a MUCH higher) polygon rate.
Now, if you were to take the 360 for example, and use its resources with low-res textures and output at 480p you would have a graphically mind blowing game. It would be at the same res as current gen, but the actual game would be stunning with the amount of polys being used, the amount of effects, etc. But that's not what they're trying to do, they want an HD machine.
Now Nintendo has opted to stay at 480p and their system, by all accounts is "2 to 3 times more powerful than Gamecube." Now... let's think about this:
The Nintendo Gamecube can run about 40 million polys with most effects on. It should be noted there hasn't been a game with all effects on at once released on the GC.
The Revolution, at 'two to three times' more powerful, would mean it could output about 120 million polys with most effects on.
Now, you'll notice that when you google xbox specs, you'll get some people claiming that the xbox can do 4000 million polys a sec which is simply not true in any situation and are claims made by fan-sites and people with no clue. With full effects on, real time lighting, etc. And outputting at 720p The Xbox can do around 50 million polys.
From Microsoft.com:
"Xbox 360 boasts a custom ATI graphics processor that clocks in at a blistering 500 MHz. If you want to get even more technical (and who doesn't?) Xbox 360 can take advantage of more than four times as many polygons as the original Xbox® console, and more than four times (seeing a pattern here?) the number of pixels per second."
So let's assume that they mean it's 4 times the number of polys with most effects on (though I doubt it). They're litteraly saying the 360 is 4 times more powerful.
The XBox 360 with most effects on at 720p (possibly at 1080i?) can do about 200 Million polys. Hmm... 120 million polys Vs. 200 million polys... both with most effects on...
Nintendo: It's about 3 times more powerful than GC.
Public: NOOOOO ITS THE END TIME! WINGED BEARS STEALING OUR CHILDREN IN TO PITS OF HELL, JESUS BLEEDS TEARS NOOOOO
Microsoft: It's 4 times as powerful as XBox.
Public: Oh hey that's powerful, cant wait to see that, yup yup.
This is getting rediculous. So here's the facts:
* The XBox is slightly more powerful than GC (if you compare output resolutions, the xbox wipes the floor with GC)
* The Revolution and XBox 360 will be nearly at the same level of graphical quality. Though it should be noted, since the Revolution doesn't need to spend its resources on HD output, more resources can go to sound quality, number of polys and textures, etc.
* What this could mean is that the XBox 360 and the Revolution will look exactly the same in graphical quality save for one having HD output (and each system will have stregnths and weaknesses, Revolution for example might have an effect that 360 does not and vice versa). Hey, isn't that where we are now?
So there it is. Black and white, factual info. The Revolution will look fine. IGN is taking part in the age old past time of bullshitting to create content that will generate buzz for their new channel and have taken a huge nose dive in my book as far as being a trusted news source.