Assassin's Creed Struggling To Fit on 360 DVD and with PS3's Memory [Archive]

Guy Mariano

10-12-2007, 05:56 AM

Pro-G (http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/12-10-2007-6670.html) has a story regarding some development troubles on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of Assassin's Creed.

The game's creative director, Patrice Desilets, told Pro-G in an interview that one of the biggest challenges the team is currently facing is fitting everything into a 360 DVD disc compared with Sony's Blu-ray format. Conversely, he revealed that the team was "really struggling right now on PS3" because of memory problems specific to Sony's console.

He added that the developer, Ubisoft Montreal, had drafted in help from both Microsoft and Sony to make sure the game has "the same quality on both systems".

"The PS3 version is as good as the 360 version. We've been showing the PS3 version at E3 this year, but we've done a lot of events and it's just easier for us and for people from the press to have a 360. But the versions are the same, basically," he said.

He added: "Both have their own challenges. Right now we have a big challenge on the 360 to make it fit on a DVD, to put five languages, to put all the data on eight gigs. On the Blu-ray side we're really good, but then the memory is quite different. How we handle memory is really different between the two machines and we're struggling right now on the PS3. But we have people who are really dedicated and we're having help from Microsoft on one side and Sony on the other side to have the same quality on both systems. It really depends on the week basically as to who's best."

bapenguin

10-12-2007, 06:38 AM

It's good to hear at least quality wise they got the PS3 version up to par with the 360. At E3 there was a significant difference between the two in visual quality and framerate.

Gorvi

10-12-2007, 06:39 AM

Isn't this game supposed to be coming out in a few weeks? I'd think these issues would be ironed out already.

Dukefrukem

10-12-2007, 06:39 AM

who gives a sh1t about 360 players, put it on 14 DVDs i dont care.

Telefrog

10-12-2007, 06:40 AM

I can't comment on the PS3 memory problems, but this struck me as an odd thing to struggle with:

Right now we have a big challenge on the 360 to make it fit on a DVD, to put five languages, to put all the data on eight gigs.

Why are they trying to put all the localizations onto one disc? That's certainly not the way others have done it.

TheBigL

10-12-2007, 06:53 AM

I didnt heard about the ps3's memory problems. can any one explain?

handsalad

10-12-2007, 06:54 AM

All languages on one disc? Same thing with Resistance on the PS3, which is one of their justifications for needing Blue-Ray. I don't give a crap about any language but English on the games that I buy. If i want it in another language I will import it. Please don't make us all suffer a loss in graphical quality because you wanted to save some cash combining all your regions on one disc.

handsalad

10-12-2007, 06:56 AM

I didnt heard about the ps3's memory problems. can any one explain?

The PS3 doesn't have as mush RAM available at run time as the 360. Plus the bandwidth of the reader on Blue-Ray is much slower than that of a traditional DVD. Put the two together and you have the nasty memory dance that developers have to do on PS3 titles.

direwolf

10-12-2007, 06:57 AM

Of the two problems I definitely think I'd rather have the problem of not enough space to squeeze in all the extra localization crap than run into the memory roadblocks people have complained about for a while now regarding the PS3.

Worst case scenario is you can ALWAYS ship it on multiple disks or have different disks for each region, you can't just fabricate more memory out of thin air.

Kamalot

10-12-2007, 06:58 AM

Why are they trying to put all the localizations onto one disc? That's certainly not the way others have done it.

Like when I go on vacation, I have trouble fitting my dresser drawers in my suitcase. What? You mean I can just take the clothes I'll need and I don't have to bring my sweaters to Tahiti?

It sounds like both Microsoft and Sony missed the mark a little, MS with the disc capacity and Sony with system memory.

menage

10-12-2007, 06:59 AM

Yeah, fuck all that language crap:p Learn English

Mdot23

10-12-2007, 07:04 AM

Why are they trying to put all the localizations onto one disc? That's certainly not the way others have done it.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Lord Dongkey

10-12-2007, 07:04 AM

Having discs on the production line that are all identical is a lot cheaper than having multiple golds localized to individual languages and swapping out. I'd assume.

H.Bogard

10-12-2007, 07:17 AM

PC prevails!!!

... but fails to release on a simetaneous date. :<

Telefrog

10-12-2007, 07:19 AM

Having discs on the production line that are all identical is a lot cheaper than having multiple golds localized to individual languages and swapping out. I'd assume.

I understand that it's probably a cost issue, but if it's that much of a challenge to overcome, you'd think that someone would get a clue and just do what publishers have done for years.

NationalKato

10-12-2007, 07:19 AM

They could totally split it up over seperate DVDs, like Blue Dragon, and hear no complaint from me. Then again, I'm secretly hoping that the game will come with behind-the-scenes footage of Jade Raymond in a bikini.

NightRain

10-12-2007, 07:21 AM

SPBTooL

10-12-2007, 07:24 AM

Having discs on the production line that are all identical is a lot cheaper than having multiple golds localized to individual languages and swapping out. I'd assume.I believe it is more about getting it out as a world wide launch on time. If they get it all on one disco they can press all the copies for everyone in one run to meat their launch date. If they localized they would have to do runs for each region. This could result in later launches in some regions. Only enough would be made to meat the launch demand so you would then have to make more for the larger regions. You could have multiple factories going at once but that would probably cost more then just pushing out the date for smaller regions.

Even when developers get the option to push out a games release they are still always doing thing till the last minute.

SPBTooL

10-12-2007, 07:28 AM

This may only apply to the European release for the 360. Most North American or Japanese games don't have 5 language tracks.

So for 360 users this might mean nothing in Japan and NA, however it would be a big deal for Ubisoft if they needed to make a single disc game into two discs to add European languages.

However the lack of memory in the PS3 is the same in all regions.That's a good point. I forgot about Europe being such an amalgamation of languages. Even if you were to do one disc for Europe you would still have quite a few languages on the one disc.

I still think it is more of a timing issue than a cost one though.

Mr.Green

10-12-2007, 07:33 AM

Why are they trying to put all the localizations onto one disc? That's certainly not the way others have done it.

Yes it is.

RenStrike

10-12-2007, 07:36 AM

Yes it is.

Not always. And this is a VERY good example why they don't.

Wolfgang

10-12-2007, 07:42 AM

So basically 360 version is money -- they are just trying to fit 5 languages on one DVD... something that is nice, but not needed. Even in Europe -- they don't really need all the languages for Europe. They can just ship multiple copies, but English + Local language is probably the best option.

Mr.Green

10-12-2007, 07:44 AM

Not always. And this is a VERY good example why they don't.
Well, I can tell you that there is at least english and french on most of the 360 games I've played. I never was curious enough to set my console settings to anything else so I can't comment on the other languages though. How about you?

RenStrike

10-12-2007, 07:46 AM

Well, I can tell you that there is at least english and french on pretty much all of the 360 games I've played. I never was curious enough to set my console settings to anything else so I can't comment on the other languages though. How about you?

Of course some do, but many don't, and this is the reason why.

CooterTKE

10-12-2007, 07:47 AM

production wise if say one disk hold everything and they have 5 machines that produce games, then they can process 5 different games at the same time. Where if each disk needs a different language then they can do one game instead of 5.

Kamalot

10-12-2007, 07:48 AM

Well, I can tell you that there is at least english and french on most of the 360 games I've played. I never was curious enough to set my console settings to anything else so I can't comment on the other languages though. How about you?

Well, to sell most products in Canada, it is required that the product be in both English and French.

Don't you live in Canada?

That's probably why your 360 games come in English and French. Don't you think?

Trazzlo the Magnificant

10-12-2007, 07:51 AM

The issue with languages on one disk is a management issue; they want to minimize costs of manufacturing. They could create two packs for the markets than need them; one with 3 languages and the other with 2 or 3. The costs of manufacturing an additional DVD is a trivial portion of the total development budget.

Do we really need to have all 5 languages available at once to play? No.

who gives a sh1t about 360 players, put it on 14 DVDs i dont care.
You say too many asinine things to comment on every time, but the simple response to this one is "Who gives a shit about PS3 players, let them watch it one frame a second, I don't care".

Noiz

10-12-2007, 07:56 AM

Every game I've ever worked on has had the following languages:

US release: English and Spanish
Canadian release: English and French
European release: English, French, Italian, Spanish, German
Japanese release: Japanese. And sometimes English

Really though, DVDs cost next to nothing to produce on a per-disc basis. Making it a multi-disc game or breaking up the languages really shouldn't be a big problem.

MrMeatshake

10-12-2007, 07:57 AM

That's a good point. I forgot about Europe being such an amalgamation of languages.

:(

also: can i ignore someone's posts on evav? i don't think Dukefrukem has much useful to add...

Mr.Green

10-12-2007, 07:57 AM

Well, to sell most products in Canada, it is required that the product be in both English and French.

Don't you live in Canada?

That's probably why your 360 games come in English and French. Don't you think?
We get a french manual strapped over the case with a second layer of cellophane but as far as I know we get the same disks. Set your console settings to french and go try Bioshock just for the hell of it.

But I digress, 5 languages on the same disk is probably not necessary and I prefer playing games and watching movies in their original languages anyway. :D

Mantooth

10-12-2007, 07:57 AM

Isn't this game supposed to be coming out in a few weeks? I'd think these issues would be ironed out already.

I thought they were just in the bug zapping stage as well. I am really looking forward to this one, but I think I will wait for some reviews and guinea pigs to try it out. It is starting to look like a classic case of rushing it to make the Holiday release window.

MORGiON

10-12-2007, 08:00 AM

Sounds more like the prob with the PS3 is the way the memory is split How we handle memory is really different between the two machines and we're struggling right now on the PS3.

Anyway I think the main point of the statment is that BOTH Microsoft & Sony are helping with their respective versions, which is very good news for gamers on both sides of the fence.

Fartacus

10-12-2007, 08:01 AM

I can't comment on the PS3 memory problems, but this struck me as an odd thing to struggle with:

Why are they trying to put all the localizations onto one disc? That's certainly not the way others have done it.

Actually, it is quite common to put all the localizations onto one disc. I'm working on a 360/PS3/PC title right now that takes that same approach. It makes the build/test iterations easier because there are fewer builds, and therefore less potential for bugs to be introduced as a result of the build cycle.

Fartacus

10-12-2007, 08:04 AM

The PS3 doesn't have as mush RAM available at run time as the 360. Plus the bandwidth of the reader on Blue-Ray is much slower than that of a traditional DVD. Put the two together and you have the nasty memory dance that developers have to do on PS3 titles.

The other problem is that the ram is partitioned between main memory and the RSX (256MB each). With 360 there's 512MB shared memory, which is easier to deal with. If I recall correctly, about 90MB of the PS3's 256MB main memory is used by the system/OS, while on the 360 only about 30MB is used.

MORGiON

10-12-2007, 08:10 AM

However the lack of memory in the PS3 is the same in all regions.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but both systems have same total RAM. The problem is the PS3 is the RAM is split between the GPU and CPU. The 256MB to each CPU & GPU is not set in stone as one or the other can access the others RAM or share even with fancy programming, though I'm not sure which one can access what, but I believe its can be done at the expense of (alot?) more work for the devs. Yes the RAM should have been unified.

The man lack of RAM comes from the size of the PS3's OS witch I believe is now around the 70MB+ mark compared to X360's 32MB? This is just Microsoft has much much more experience in this area. I believe in the long run Sony is trying to shrink the memory footprint of the OS alot further, but that won't help games of today.

EDIT: Damn Fartacus, you beat me to it. Though I thought Sony had reduced the footprint size below the 90MB mark now?

Trazzlo the Magnificant

10-12-2007, 08:14 AM

Actually, it is quite common to put all the localizations onto one disc. I'm working on a 360/PS3/PC title right now that takes that same approach. It makes the build/test iterations easier because there are fewer builds, and therefore less potential for bugs to be introduced as a result of the build cycle.
It might be common when there is plenty of disk space, and the Bluray solves that issue for developers ... but that is a developer decision on how to structure their game and it isn't terribly important to the buying customer since they only use one or two languages.

But, the customer is being told they need to buy the more expensive hardware when a less expensive solution is available. The space cap is one designed in by the team; it's not a hard cap. As you say, it makes it easier but it isn't a true obstacle.

handsalad

10-12-2007, 08:20 AM

Itchyeyes

10-12-2007, 08:21 AM

:(

also: can i ignore someone's posts on evav? i don't think Dukefrukem has much useful to add...
Yeah, click on the "User CP" link on the top left of the page then click on "Buddy / Ignore Lists" under Miscellaneous, then just add whoever you want to your ignore list.

Franjo

10-12-2007, 08:23 AM

Easy solution for the 360 version issue........

www.winzip.com

MORGiON

10-12-2007, 08:28 AM

Thanks Fartacus and MORGiON for backing me up on that. That's one of my main beefs with Sony right now and all the hype that the PS3 is more powerful than the 360. When you compare how all the parts work together and real numbers you see what "power" you are left with. It's like putting a Ferrari engine in a golf cart.

I would also think effective use of the HDD for a cache or streaming from disc would help negate the problem. Yes both are applicable to the X360.

Really at this point in time the difference between the consoles is not much if any. If Sony gets its act together with the dev tools (I wouldn't hold my breath on this one), we will properly see a greater difference in the future. For example 1st gen PS2 game compared to the latest AAA title on the PS2, I would think the PS3 games with improve to a similar degree over time.

BlueBomber

10-12-2007, 08:29 AM

MORGiON

10-12-2007, 08:35 AM

Ha. This could quite possibly be the most retarded post evar, but would it ever be possible for Sony to release some kind of fix allowing for more memory? I mean, N64 had the expansion slot for Perfect Dark, AMIRIGHT!!??!?

You didn't read the thread did you? Sony needs to optimize the OS code to reduce the memory footprint. Which is a FIRMWARE FIX.

Vandenh

10-12-2007, 08:35 AM

five languages

Put just one on a DVD. Done! Next question?

Fartacus

10-12-2007, 08:40 AM

EDIT: Damn Fartacus, you beat me to it. Though I thought Sony had reduced the footprint size below the 90MB mark now?

You're probably right about that, I haven't looked into it lately.

CoachCrazyMcScot

10-12-2007, 08:54 AM

IGN:

"For a game that has so many systems running simultaneously and offers such a vast area to not only explore but also climb on, jump from and hide in, we came away impressed that everything ran as smoothly as it did. We saw zero slowdown during gameplay, even when multiple enemies and NPCs were on-screen. What few load screens we sat through were made more tolerable than in most games by the fact that the player retains a modicum of control over Altair's movements during the process."

This is alot about nothing, people.

Big picture: Eventually there will be games better suited for one console over another, and for PC over the consoles, and vice versa.

Every developer is going to say something within their means to get their quote published, especially if it creates or hypes the conflict between an Xbox and a PlayStation.

If the game plays on multiple discs, who cares? Your 300 lb. ass to get up and change a disc?

If someone says memory issues, are we really talking about something that will PREVENT YOU FROM BUYING THE GAME!? How many Maddens were sold for the PS3 based on their installed base versus the 360 and its installed base. I would bet they're pretty close by comparison.

This argument is pointless. If you have one console or the other or just a PC, just play the games that you get, and shut up about everyone else, already.

Metal Jesus

10-12-2007, 09:13 AM

I have no problem with games being released on 2 DVDs for the X360... as long as they don't have you swapping back and forth all the time.

Wolfgang

10-12-2007, 09:15 AM

You didn't read the thread did you? Sony needs to optimize the OS code to reduce the memory footprint. Which is a FIRMWARE FIX.

You are still over expecting. The PS3 is still limited by split memory and no on chip memory like the 360's Xenon.

The PS3's RAM is fast, but split so you are limited in your options to use the RAM. The 360 however will always have the 512MB of RAM that can be used however the developer wants. The PS3 even if they lower their OS footprint, will still have the issue where if the 360 loads 400MB of textures, the PS3 cannot (or at least not with ease and trying to deal with 2 different types of memory and speed).

Ancalagon

10-12-2007, 09:18 AM

You didn't read the thread did you? Sony needs to optimize the OS code to reduce the memory footprint. Which is a FIRMWARE FIX.

So, if I buy a PS3, I need to make sure my firmware is upgraded before I buy games? What is this, a PC?

Gorvi

10-12-2007, 09:20 AM

So, if I buy a PS3, I need to make sure my firmware is upgraded before I buy games? What is this, a PC?
Firmware updates are on the discs. If a game requires a particular version, it'd be installed before you play that game. It's just like what goes on with PSP games.

the soUL TRAder

10-12-2007, 09:33 AM

Well, I'd just like to say:

"Yaaa, just like I've been saying all along."

And neither issue matters too much because the game will still be enjoyable, whatever the platform.

MacD

10-12-2007, 09:41 AM

Hehe...as I've been saying and implying for the last couple of years, consoles are now just pc's with a slightly smaller subset of hardware configurations :)

The news post is basically saying: we have different problems with different platforms. No shit. Sure, I think it's interesting to read about from a what-kind-of-problems-do-devs-face perspective, but as always some idiots try to use it as ammo for their ficticious 'console war' construct.

And, as already posted: pc ftw. That storage problem? HDD. That memory problem? buy an extra stick of ram (if you need to...you'll find that many midrange pc's you buy now have enough). Out of date video card? A 100-200 dollar midrange card already outperforms that found in an xbox360 or ps3.

But what I really wonder about is AC's modability. With all of AC's gameplay logic, you could create some kickass mods if you could edit even just the buildings and characters.

carnage11

10-12-2007, 09:42 AM

As far as the 360 goes, I think we all agree that they can put games on multiple discs and no one gives a rats ass. I dunno about the PS3 issues, nor do I care personally as I don't own a PS3.

Come on Ubisoft! Don't gimp the game to fit it on one disc....stop being cheap and make it bad ass and on 2 discs. I don't mind swapping out discs! I did it with Resident Evil on the Gamecube. It's no big deal! I'd rather swap out discs once or twice during my gaming then get a gimped version of the game cause it wouldn't fit.

Trazzlo the Magnificant

10-12-2007, 09:48 AM

You are still over expecting. The PS3 is still limited by split memory and no on chip memory like the 360's Xenon.

The PS3's RAM is fast, but split so you are limited in your options to use the RAM. The 360 however will always have the 512MB of RAM that can be used however the developer wants. The PS3 even if they lower their OS footprint, will still have the issue where if the 360 loads 400MB of textures, the PS3 cannot (or at least not with ease and trying to deal with 2 different types of memory and speed).
Yes, plus Sony can make the firmware footprint size shrink all they want without solving the issue. The issue is they have reserved space for the firmware in order for it to grow over time. The developers count on having that much space missing, since a future patch to the firmware might starting using more of that reserved space.

So, Sony needs to reduce the footprint space and commit to a lower reserved footprint size, and permit games in development to use the freed up space. Once a game is released it has to live with whatever restrictions were in place. Likewise, if Sony creates a firmware version that exceeds their own allocated space, some games previously released would either no longer run or run much more poorly.

As such Sony has to guess high on allocated OS space and less likely to remove that restriction.

Snowmit

10-12-2007, 10:01 AM

I thought they were just in the bug zapping stage as well. I am really looking forward to this one, but I think I will wait for some reviews and guinea pigs to try it out. It is starting to look like a classic case of rushing it to make the Holiday release window.

Squeezeing the last bits of content into the size limits or memory limits via optimization is part of the last bigs of bug zapping, so I wouldn't be too worried about this.

Vanthar

10-12-2007, 10:15 AM

I think this game is more GTA-like in terms of scope so the 2-disc situation would suck. You could constantly be hopping around to vastly different regions. I doubt they'll want to make you change discs more than once a game so they might have to block off certain parts of the world.

Podfork

10-12-2007, 10:21 AM

I've never heard of any developer that didn't want more memory to work in. It doesn't matter how much is available, you want more.

Trazzlo the Magnificant

10-12-2007, 10:40 AM

Franjo

10-12-2007, 10:56 AM

Simple solution to the 360 issue..

www.rarlab.com

Pluvious

10-12-2007, 11:13 AM

Stop being cheap and make multiple discs for each region idiots. Problem solved.

Telefrog

10-12-2007, 11:34 AM

Of course, the bigger news here is that this statement is really just preparation for the announcement that Assassin's Creed has slipped to '08 on both consoles.

rein

10-12-2007, 12:10 PM

Of course, the bigger news here is that this statement is really just preparation for the announcement that Assassin's Creed has slipped to '08 on both consoles.

That may be the case.

I don't get it. Why do people insist on having this pissing contest about the consoles? The games creative director said what he said. He would prefer something more from each system but will be able to over come the issues on BOTH systems. Do we really need two pages of arguing what problem is the biggest? Or explainations of why it's ok to make muliple disk games? It's not like either short coming is going to be a deal breaker. We should be more concerned that this will cause delays like Telefrog mentioned.

KingGorilla

10-12-2007, 12:12 PM

Does this news mean that the definitive version of the game will be on PC? Or will they slash and burn the game to dumb it down for PS3/360?

Guy Mariano

10-12-2007, 12:12 PM

So, Sony needs to reduce the footprint space and commit to a lower reserved footprint size, and permit games in development to use the freed up space. Once a game is released it has to live with whatever restrictions were in place. Likewise, if Sony creates a firmware version that exceeds their own allocated space, some games previously released would either no longer run or run much more poorly.

As such Sony has to guess high on allocated OS space and less likely to remove that restriction.

The approach with the PS3 OS is the same as the PSP which now has more memory available to developers. You are correct that if they created a firware that exceeded the amount available the games wouldn't run. Thus they number is higher than they actually need. It will go down in time but never to 32 mb like the X360 OS. The less ram available is a bigger issue for mulitplatform games since 90% they port from the X360 to PS3 instead of the other way around which causes major problems. Uncharted , Ratchet and Clank and Unreal look incredible so it's more on the developers.

BabyJesus

10-12-2007, 12:48 PM

It sounds like both Microsoft and Sony missed the mark a little, MS with the disc capacity and Sony with system memory.

But MS could easily fix the DVD issue. Sony not so much.

KingGorilla

10-12-2007, 12:50 PM

BabyJesus

10-12-2007, 12:56 PM

How with a...what would they be onto the 10th SKU if they added a high capacity drive for games?

If Sony can admit that the no rumble was a mistake. How about MS steps up and admits that not having a hard drive was a bigger one?

Err, what.. Only the core does not have a hard drive and really most places don't even carry cores anymore. If they added a built in HD drive it would do nothing but make the add on irrelevant eventually.

KingGorilla

10-12-2007, 01:02 PM

But People still have to develop for the core, and we have heard it before from developers that they hate the decision-Molyneux, Bethesda, RockStar, Epic. Having a hard drive means that you can further compress the disc and still have bearable load times. It adds the possibility of installing certain parts of the software, or the game itself onto the system. You cannot pretend that Microsoft forcing developers to develop for the core, and having to support the core, is hindering more ambitious game development.

Schnoogs

10-12-2007, 01:34 PM

I guess some studios have never heard of........A SECOND DISC!

Chainblast

10-12-2007, 02:06 PM

I imagine AC being a sandbox game has something to do with needing/wanting to have it all on a single disc. I think the best course of action is just require installation onto the HDD. IF a 360 user doesn't have a HDD, tough, go buy one.

im.thatoneguy

10-12-2007, 02:43 PM

Making two DVDs might be more expensive than one but I would like to see how it compares in cost having to use Blu-Ray for all your games.

Farsight

10-12-2007, 03:24 PM

Not being able to fit 5 languages onto 1 DVD is a non-issue when it comes to the finished product. Only 2 languages per DVD are required, the rest are just to save money.

Running out of memory is a far more serious issue, whichin easy cases is fixed by extra optimizations, and in harder cases requires lowering the audiovisual quality of the game (remove some of the 'flair' from the maps, like # of particles, variety of objects/textures/sounds, etc).

Neither issue should be discussed publicly, unless you're justifying a delay. Expect a delay.

Trazzlo the Magnificant

10-12-2007, 04:00 PM

How with a...what would they be onto the 10th SKU if they added a high capacity drive for games?

If Sony can admit that the no rumble was a mistake. How about MS steps up and admits that not having a hard drive was a bigger one?
I don't think the Core was a mistake, the mistake was that they tried to target a casual market and a hard core gamer market with one marketing initiative. They should have made an XBox Arcade just like it is now, and then the 360's with hard drives. Some games would run on Arcade and 360, others require a 360. Then there wouldn't be any uncertainty, even though the Arcade and the 360 are largely the same system.

That would also let developers have multi-DVD games in which part is loaded on the hard disk in order to remove disk swapping issues. All they would need to do is say it requires a 360, and all 360s have hard drives. Arcades don't.

DangerousDaze

10-12-2007, 04:07 PM

But MS could easily fix the DVD issue. Sony not so much.

Firmware 1.8 improved matters quite a bit (over 1.6). From Innerbits (http://www.innerbits.com/blog/)
First, both the main memory and graphic memory footprints have been reduced, reaching a new low of 48MB and 24MB respectively. That’s a 12MB reduction since the 1.60 release. The extra memory is sure to be welcome by developers.

The memory reductions are not just restricted to the base system. The various Network Platform utilities have also been addressed in this release. The Friend List utility has gone from 24MB to 16MB (while the online startup utility remains at 8MB). Several Network Platform sub-utilities (providing varying subsets of the functionality in the Friend List utility) have also experienced memory reductions. The video chat utility also sees its base memory requirement drop to 20MB (that number rises back to 26MB when the maximum number of users is reached).
It's still too much, but at least they recognise that there's a problem rather than stubbornly ignoring it.

oldjadedgamer

10-12-2007, 04:21 PM

If Sony can admit that the no rumble was a mistake. How about MS steps up and admits that not having a hard drive was a bigger one?

You know, Sony has never admitted publicly that lack of rumble was a mistake and they never will.

If it's one thing that Sony is very consistent of it's never admitting blame for their mistakes.

MORGiON

10-12-2007, 10:22 PM

You are still over expecting. The PS3 is still limited by split memory and no on chip memory like the 360's Xenon.

The PS3's RAM is fast, but split so you are limited in your options to use the RAM. The 360 however will always have the 512MB of RAM that can be used however the developer wants. The PS3 even if they lower their OS footprint, will still have the issue where if the 360 loads 400MB of textures, the PS3 cannot (or at least not with ease and trying to deal with 2 different types of memory and speed).

I know as i said earlier.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but both systems have same total RAM. The problem is the PS3 is the RAM is split between the GPU and CPU. The 256MB to each CPU & GPU is not set in stone as one or the other can access the others RAM or share even with fancy programming, though I'm not sure which one can access what, but I believe its can be done at the expense of (alot?) more work for the devs. Yes the RAM should have been unified.

The man lack of RAM comes from the size of the PS3's OS witch I believe is now around the 70MB+ mark compared to X360's 32MB? This is just Microsoft has much much more experience in this area. I believe in the long run Sony is trying to shrink the memory footprint of the OS alot further, but that won't help games of today.

Rock Bandit

10-13-2007, 04:05 AM

This thread is laaaame, too much tech talk. Here, have a pic of Jade Raymond.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9621/jaderaymond6bjp2.jpg

General Ewok

10-13-2007, 07:36 AM

What happened to everyone absolutely loving multiple discs? Those were the good old days... WAH, you actually have to get up and put the other disc in...cry about it.

carnage11

10-13-2007, 09:00 AM

I remember I think it was Phantasmagoria 2 had like 7 discs. Back then you new a game was bad ass if it had more than 5 discs.:D

StarGypsy

10-17-2007, 03:01 PM

We got old. And the console is waaaay over there.

Schnoogs

10-17-2007, 03:07 PM

Firmware 1.8 improved matters quite a bit (over 1.6). From Innerbits (http://www.innerbits.com/blog/)

It's still too much, but at least they recognise that there's a problem rather than stubbornly ignoring it.

12 megs?

Wow! ;)

Shadowstorm

10-17-2007, 04:17 PM

I just have one thing to say: If Mass Effect can fit on one disc, and if The Orange Box (remember, it's Half Life 2, Episode 1, Episode 2, Portal, *and* TF2) can fit on one DVD, why can't Assassin's Creed?

I smell laziness.

General Ewok

10-31-2007, 12:02 PM

That is very fishy, but maybe they have more content then all of those games combined! It's a possibility...

silv

10-31-2007, 12:16 PM