Gran Turismo HD not running on a PS3

[Norse]

According to The Inquirer (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31681), Sony ran GT HD on a PC and not a PS3 at E3:

Well, the version of Gran Turismo, ostensibly running on a PS3, is really running on a PC. Is Sony trying to tell us that a PC is a better gaming platform than the upcoming $600 beastie, or is it the other way around? I can't say I'm surprised. It would be better for Sony to be open about this, and not coming across as trying to hide it.

[Evil Avatar]

While this might seem slightly scandalous, keep in mind that debug systems are often PC's in the beginning and a lot of titles are developed on PC's first and then moved to the debug hardware as they get closer to being complete.

When I was writing the strategy guide for Ace Combat 5 from Namco, they sent me a ton of 1600x1200 resolution screenshots from the game - those were obviously not taken on Playstation 2 hardware, they were taken on a PC.

Now, our other post about UbiSoft using an Xbox 360 for a Playstation 3 exclusive title - now that is funny!

[sTubbs]

As much as this would not surprise me, I would no longer be able to call myself a cynical skeptic if I did not demand more proof than some dude writing this down. He offers absolutely no evidence to back up this statement, and until he does then I refuse to accept it in its current presentation.

Besides, I would hope that the PS3 really is powerful enough to run a one year old PS2 game at 1080p. If it is not, then how in the hell can Sony ever expect to run, at 1080p, anything even remotely resembling a next generation game?0

[Norse]

While this might seem slightly scandalous, keep in mind that debug systems are often PC's in the beginning and a lot of titles are developed on PC's first and then moved to the debug hardware as they get closer to being complete.

When I was writing the strategy guide for Ace Combat 5 from Namco, they sent me a ton of 1600x1200 resolution screenshots from the game - those were obviously not taken on Playstation 2 hardware, they were taken on a PC.

Now, our other post about UbiSoft using an Xbox 360 for a Playstation 3 exclusive title - now that is funny!

I don't find it outranging, but Sony would be better off if they openly revealed that it did run on a PC. That way they wouldn't look bad because this info is released by others.

[Zawath]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/kotaku-stalku/kotaku-stalku-e306-sony-exec-sweats-out-ps3-demo-172579.php

Owned.

[zyzyx]

Nothing dodgy about this. As for the $600 beastie. I bet it was running on an $800 SLI rig anyway. Did they claim it was running on a PS3?

The PS3 demo of Assassin's Creed allegedly running on 360s is surely a more bizarre tale.

[sTubbs]

I don't find it outranging, but Sony would be better of if they openly revealed that it did run on a PC. That way they wouldn't look bad because this info is released by others.

I agree. While I do not doubt that other companies are pulling some of the same sneaky shit, it seems to me that Sony is doing a particularily poor job at concealing the truth. First we have the suggestion that a so called PS3 exclusive was actually running on a 360, and now we have this. If either one is true, then Sony could be in the major shit.

I would also like to say GT4? What the fuck was Sony thinking? GT4 was not even the best looking racer of this generation, let alone a suitable display of what a next gen console is capable of.
00

[glonq]

I've often heard that ''there's no such thing as bad publicity'', but if *I* were a Sony PR guy this week, I'd just want to crawl into a hole and die. It seems that their whole house of cards is falling.

[Phhhh]

I don't think it was running on a PC, probably a Development tool like all of the other games on the show floor. The dev tool has all of the same hardware plus some special debug stuff, just not in the same form factor.

That would be what they're refering to as an emulator.

[Returner]

I don't like defending Sony but come on its The Inquirer.

[Borys]

PC is the best gaming platform period :)

[Cool AN]

The Inquirer hasn't really been a reliable source of PS 3 information in the past. Though this might be true.

[H.Bogard]

HAHA!! PC Gaming ftw!!!

[KarmaGhost]

No doubt that Sony had a really bad year at E3 this May, but this Inquirer article has absolutely no proof, no references, and nothing to explain why they believe the GT game is running on a PC instead of a PS3. They just say "it's was running on a PC" and that's it.

How 'bout I start my own site; my inaugural article will be "Sony PlayStation 3 Requires Baby Sacrifice For Power." Imagine the ad revenue...

[Gluten Mifflin]

Hi everyone. I am very new here, and I figured I would post a reply since this topic drew me in. All of the games were set up in I formations. In the middle of those Is were 8 development machines. These machines are right in the open unlike what Microsoft did last year for the Xbox 360. Look at this pic...

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y285/WorldGaming/E3_2006/DAY_3/?action=view&current=DSCN5724.jpg

[Borys]

Hi Jason, thanks for your reply.

BTW you've got a polish surname (Porembski), how come?

[Rakael]

Is anyone else beginning to associate the PS3 with the Phantom?

[Achilles]

Nothing dodgy about this. As for the $600 beastie. I bet it was running on an $800 SLI rig anyway. Did they claim it was running on a PS3?Not only did they claim it was running on a PS3, they said it didn't take them more than a couple of months to port over what they were showing (which isn't exactly a feat if it was running on a PC), if I remember Kutaragi's comments after the segment correctly. This is just sad really.

[fitbabits]

Not only did they claim it was running on a PS3, they said it didn't take them more than a couple of months to port over what they were showing (which isn't exactly a feat if it was running on a PC), if I remember Kutaragi's comments after the segment correctly. This is just sad really.
Correctomundo, Sir.

[dena miscreant]

Each year gets worse and worse...

[Wedge]

Meh, I don't care. At least it was actual code running and not pre-rendered FMV. Look on the bright side :)

[Xerxes]

See the thing is guys, there isn't a working PS3 yet. Like last year. Their still running it off development tools. There was probably ONE working ps3 at e3. The one ken bumbled around with that silly controller.

[Chameleo]

See the thing is guys, there isn't a working PS3 yet. Like last year. Their still running it off development tools. There was probably ONE working ps3 at e3. The one ken bumbled around with that silly controller.

if that was a working ps3 it was playing warhawk....

so that shows that it could play GT3 at least then.. eh? eh eh eh?

[51|RandoM]

I don't have a problem with the game demos running on PC or devkits. I don't even mind them not being up front about what they're running it on. On the other hand, if they come right out and totally lie to you about what it is running on, that would be crossing a line.

Even if they had working prototypes at this point, they'd be the last thing you'd want to run demos on. You run demos on your most stable/reliable hardware, and at this point of the dev cycle, that is probably a PC.

[KhitomerRouge]

Wow, when did people start taking The Inquirer at face value, without question? Might as well read the Weekly World News or watch Fox.

[H.Bogard]

This reminds me of the Matrix : Path'o'neo 1500 smiths on screen bullshit that shiny pulled off on a ps2 devkit.

[disc]

Ok first of all.

GT HD is Gran Turismo 4 in High Definition. It is the same game with a different menu on top.

And who in their right mind would say that it is easier to port a PS2 game to PC than PS3? The graphics hardware is pretty much the same and the main code is basically the same, it's not like they are using some DIRECT X API (like XBOX GAMES).

Also, the PS3 will have an emulator to run PS2 games. Since this game is the PS2 game in a higher resolution that could easily be what he is referring to.

For fucks sake.

[bean19]

None of the games were running off the PS3's Blu-Ray drive anyway. They were running of the system's hard-drive, according to a rep I spoke to while waiting to play Heavenly Sword.

[bone_matrix]

Wow, when did people start taking The Inquirer at face value, without question? Might as well read the Weekly World News or watch Fox.

I think you are thinking of The Enquirer (http://www.nationalenquirer.com/) a trashy pre-checkout magazine about actors/tresses. This story is from The Inquirer (http://www.theinquirer.net), a game site. While I don't believe it to be the source of all that is totally true, they are two different sites.

[pheriannath]

I seem to recall that the early xbox 360 dev kits were simply G5 macs. While I would certainly hope that Sony would have their hardware close to finalized by now, it doesn't really seem so bad for them to demo games on their development platform.

[antoniogaud]

Now, our other post about UbiSoft using an Xbox 360 for a Playstation 3 exclusive title - now that is funny!

Where is the Ubisoft post?! I hope you are talking about Assassin's Creed (http://www.playsyde.com/news_2981_en.html). That game looks amazing!!

[Tia]

Wow, when did people start taking The Inquirer at face value, without question? Might as well read the Weekly World News or watch Fox.

I am not sure why every single time when a news post in Evil Avatar is from the Inquirer people have to start making dumb ass comment about them not being dependable, not being able to tell the difference between the Enquirer and the Inquirer. Seriously it is every freaking time.

[anoon]

When I was writing the strategy guide for Ace Combat 5 from Namco, they sent me a ton of 1600x1200 resolution screenshots from the game - those were obviously not taken on Playstation 2 hardware, they were taken on a PC.

Actually, it is possible to take higher resolution screenshots right off of the dev hardware. Those images could very well have been taken off of a PS2 devkit.

[antoniogaud]

Hmmm, this website (http://www.noooz.com/archives/2006/05/exclusive_assassins_creed_not.html) says Assassin's Creed is also coming out for XBox 360 as well. The idea for the game is great > Prince of Persia with a mission. And you know that if its from Ubisoft, it will be high quality.

Exc!ting

[Teddeh]

While this might seem slightly scandalous, keep in mind that debug systems are often PC's in the beginning and a lot of titles are developed on PC's first and then moved to the debug hardware as they get closer to being complete.

That's true, but in my experience, they should be running on debug consoles and not prototypes at this stage.

Surely SONY _themselves_ would have had a debug console or near final unit available for E3?? :rolleyes:

[AzN.Homeboy]

Um... I thought The Inquirer was a fake news website. Maybe I'm wrong, but I had the impression it was some place anybody could post just about anything as a news report.

(This has nothing to do with confusing it with The Enquirer.)

[Wonka]

The Inquirer is NOT fake news. Gossipy and offbeat to be sure, but not fake.


As to Sony using older dev kits (PCs) to make GT run in HD. So What?

Nobody here actully thinks that the PS3 will not be able to run an old PS2 game in HD do they?

Anyone?

I didn't think so.

[Gluten Mifflin]

Well that is actually my last name hence why it is Polish =D

But back on track with the PS3. Sony never stated that they had working PS3's and once again if you look at that picture those are clearly the machines running the PlayStation 3 games. Again look at last year's Xbox 360, they didn't have any working Xbox 360 everything was run on Apple boxes. This is a very common thing.

[[HATE]MyLife]

Nobody here actully thinks that the PS3 will not be able to run an old PS2 game in HD do they?

Anyone?

I didn't think so.

Well, considering that the PS2 itself was capable of outputting HD with GT4, there's no big surprise that the PS3 can do the same. What I think is funny is that they're running essentially PS2 code that already ran in HD with higher poly models and high-res textures on their supposedly "backward compatible" system and we're supposed to be impressed? How long have they had their devkits? This is the best that they can come up with? Pshaw.

[KarmaGhost]

I am not sure why every single time when a news post in Evil Avatar is from the Inquirer people have to start making dumb ass comment about them not being dependable, not being able to tell the difference between the Enquirer and the Inquirer. Seriously it is every freaking time.Maybe The Inquirer shouldn't have chosen a name that is so easy to mistake with a gossip magazine, but that's their prerogative.

My point was not that it's the Inquirer that's the problem, but that they didn't show any proof, they just told you something and you're supposed to believe them.

[Mason]

Maybe The Inquirer shouldn't have chosen a name that is so easy to mistake with a gossip magazine, but that's their prerogative.

My point was not that it's the Inquirer that's the problem, but that they didn't show any proof, they just told you something and you're supposed to believe them.
The site is British, I'm pretty sure, so why should they have known to avoid the name of an American supermarket rag? They have enough tabloids of their own, without having to worry about ours.

This is a weird topic. It is crappy for Sony to still be pulling smoke and mirrors tricks. It wouldn't have been a problem if they'd just said what MS did last year, basically "Excuse our development hardware, here are its specs, so you can be sure the final units will have a lot more horsepower than what you're about to see." Revealing that can only be in Sony's favor, yet concealing it just makes them seem shifty. Horrible decision.

[jacktion]

There's a lot of Sony apologists around here. The fact that they had so little content and they were lying about the state of development does not look good. I mean let's look at the facts. GT4 is a PS2 game! And they can't even get it running on a PS3 in hi-def! I am not trying to bash them but I just think they are running behind on their schedule. The PS3 will probably be out in 2007 I would guess. It will be good by then but for now it is looking kind of stinky.

[Achilles]

And who in their right mind would say that it is easier to port a PS2 game to PC than PS3? The graphics hardware is pretty much the same and the main code is basically the same, it's not like they are using some DIRECT X API (like XBOX GAMES).The PS3 uses a standard video card that will run Direct X. The PS3 is actually a lot closer to a PC than the PS2 was until you start getting into the 6 PPE things, from what I understand. They do have backward compatibility, but that’s not what they were talking about when they showed off the game. They were talking about a new version of 4 that they were porting over, where they re-skinned the models and the environment with HD textures.

There’s also a difference between a PC and a PS3 dev kit. The PS3 dev kits are rack mounted-looking things which have a cell processor and near-final hardware in them. It only makes sense that this wouldn’t be running on an actual PS3, the question is was it running on a PS3 dev kit, and the Inquirer claims that it was running on a PC and doesn’t offer up a lot of evidence to back up their claim.

The GT demo presentation was all around sad. First they said you could play it, and then proceeded to show a bunch of canned replay movies, stating that it was only GT4 with re-textured cars and scenery. Then they said it only took a couple months to port it over to the PS3, implying that the PS3 was easy to program for, now it turns out it may have been running on a PC.

[Kamalot]

The GT demo presentation was all around sad. First they said you could play it, and then proceeded to show a bunch of canned replay movies, stating that it was only GT4 with re-textured cars and scenery. Then they said it only took a couple months to port it over to the PS3, implying that the PS3 was easy to program for, now it turns out it may have been running on a PC.Porting a last gen game to a next-gen system in a few months makes it EASY to program for?

I remember Sega saying them it took about 3 weeks to get Phantasy Star Online moved from the Dreamcast to the GameCube, two systems not even in the same family tree.

Porting a current generation game, from the weakest of the current generation, to its ancestor in the same family tree, should be a snap.

[Twigz'N'Berries]

I have no love for Sony.

But the bashing is premature. A lot of the same negativity was expressed about the 360, but once it released, many people were impressed. I'd say the same thing is going to happen for the PS3. The only difference is that with a $499/$599 price tag, the expectations will be very high.

[[VSK]BadCRC]

Maybe Sony should just sell their Emulator, that'll drive hardware costs down and maybe they can sell the console to the upper 1% of the population.

The only difference is that with a $499/$599 price tag, the expectations will be very high.

And that's my problem, with the asking price so high - is it really so wrong to up the our expectations of the company to deliver on their promises? I kind of thought it should be the goal of any company to under-promise and over-deliver. Except Sony's done a lot of over-promising and under-delivering.

[The Living Ham]

The PS3 uses a standard video card that will run Direct X.

No, it has a highly customised API and GPU based on OpenGL and Nvidia's G70, respectively. Therefore you can't make a direct comparison to a PC running a Geforce with DirectX.

[Achilles]

No, it has a highly customised API and GPU based on OpenGL and Nvidia's G70, respectively. Therefore you can't make a direct comparison to a PC running a Geforce with DirectX.Really, the video card can't run Direct X? I just assumed it could because the home version equivalent of the card can. They probably should have made their system Direct X compatible. Either way would you say that it processes graphics the same way as the PS2 (which was the original claim)?

[The Living Ham]

DirectX is exclusive to Windows, so no.

The PS2's GPU and API was Sony's own proprietary technology so I think it's pretty different to the PS3. For that, Sony and Nvidia worked together to create a custom version of the G70 chip together with Open GL ES, which is the standard graphics language Nvidia uses. As you may know, Nvidia's Geforce cards are reknowned for their OpenGL performance, whereas ATI chips like the one in the XBox 360 are traditionally better with DirectX (most of the time). You can probably expect pretty much the same level of graphics performance as with the X360.