Resistance: Fall of Man

By Kristan Reed Published 23 September, 2006

TGS: Insecticide.

Resistance, as they say, is futile. As it happens, 'they' were dead right, as showing this off at the last E3 was an utterly futile exercise. Futile in that the game was just so evidently being shown off way too early, and giving the distinct impression that Insomniac's latest game was little more than Call of Duty with rather dim aliens instead of lemming Germans.

Rather than set off on a futile whinge about how unfinished the visuals looked, or how uninspiring the combat felt, or how rudimentary the deathmatch multiplayer came across, we said nothing. More out of respect to the evidently talented folks at Insomniac than anything.

Within seconds of clapping our eyes on the monster 1080p Sony Bravia screen being used to show of the game off at its best (to confirm, it'll be one of the 1080p titles for launch), it's clear that this sci-fi shooter has moved on enormously over the past four or five months since that hobbled demo in LA. Better still, we'd go as far to say that it looks like it could well be one of the must-haves when the console launches in November in the US and Japan (cue violins all over Europe).

RAID array

'Resistance: Fall of Man' Screenshot 1

Throwing us right into the action with barely a chance to get our bearings, the TGS demo left us in no doubt of two things: 1) those bloody bastard insect aliens aren't messing around any more, and 2) it's going to kick an inordinate amount of (my) arse.

In Resistance, the Second World War never happened. Instead, mainland Europe and Russia have been decimated by a terrible virus perpetrated by a species of unknown origin known as the Chimera. These 'alien' beings - over previous decades - have infected other life forms into more Chimera (who are essentially giant insects from what we can gather), leaving the US and the Brits to form an alliance to wipe this deadly alien scourge off the planet. And presumably sing really bad songs to embarrass later generations of unwitting children.

The latest demo level puts you in the shoes of US Army Ranger Sgt Nathan Hale in a typical 'against all odds' battle for survival that marries elements of Call of Duty 2, Black and even has a whiff of Half-Life 2 about it. In essence, the demo features the same ultra hostile multiple-eyed insect aliens from the E3 build, and roughly the same sort of shattered urban environments. But our initial reaction was mightily different as the game's vastly improved AI and much-improved visuals combined to show off Resistance in a much better light.

Crab paste

'Resistance: Fall of Man' Screenshot 2

This time, rather than being able to plough through a fairly forgettable run of cannon fodder, the appearance of giant enemy crabs, sorry, I mean giant, multi-limbed, laser-pulsing insectoid creatures soon evened the odds. With little choice but to scuttle off to find cover behind a tree or shattered piece of building, it was an instantly challenging encounter, which was swiftly followed up by more of the same brutality. Feeling more like Call of Duty 2 on Veteran mode (but without the recharging health), it's a game that appears to delight in putting players on the back foot rather than one that you can simply charge around being trigger happy.

But with a full compliment of weapons available to deal with the alien scum, you can either tap R2 to cycle through, or select from a specific menu that apes the excellent system that Ratchet fans will be used to. Without the benefit of the exact names available, the game combines classic and futuristic armaments, including bog standard machine guns, rifles, chain guns and RPGs, alongside plasma cannons and slightly more exotic-looking firearms - though it remains to be seen at this stage whether Resistance will take elements of Ratchet's weapons upgrade/experience system with it. Somehow, we hope so.

With hands-on time limited by the strict time-allocated system imposed by the TGS organisers, we barely had time to deal with an enormous hairy arachnid before we were jettisoned to make way for the next eager soul in the snaking queue to play the game. Even so, our hands-on left us nodding with agreement at Insomniac's previous claims of large-scale warfare, highly detailed environments (said to boast 256 times the texture detail of the average PS2 title), convincing rag-doll physics, and convincing AI. For example, there were times when it was obvious that the AI reacts slightly differently every time we ran through the demo. Sometimes the giant aliens would focus their fire on your buddies, but if you decided to take the attack to them, the chances are they'd be hell-bent on pursuing you instead.

Batting for the other side

'Resistance: Fall of Man' Screenshot 3

Other interesting facts we managed to glean on Resistance reveal that the actual story is told in flashback form, with a certain British Captain Rachel Parker regaling the story of Nathan Hale's heroic last acts of service. We also found out that the game even slips into Quake 4 territory, with Hale becoming one of them (gasp) over the course of the game. With a potentially grand tale to unravel in single or co-op up mode (via split-screen), it certainly has the potential to be a compelling enough shooter, though admittedly not one that's in any way breaking new ground. We don't mind, though. For shooter fans, Resistance definitely has enough promise to play close attention to when the PS3 launches.

But what of multiplayer, we hear you cry? Well, Insomniac is certainly working hard to deliver. Familiar modes such as the ubiquitous deathmatch will be complimented by team- and class-based offerings, such as Meltdown and Breach modes. The latter, for example, features specialised types of players on both the human and the Chimeran sides as players try to destroy each other's respective reactors.

Elsewhere, Insomniac promises an online ranking system to allow players to move up to level 60, with a new rank bestowed every three levels - granting players new skins to make the promotion visually apparent to others as you play. Meanwhile, in terms of player support, up to 40 players in total is mooted in the team-based modes, clans can be formed, while Insomniac has confirmed elsewhere that additional downloadable content is also in the planning stages.

All in all, although there's nothing amazingly new about Resistance that we can't say we've seen in numerous other shooters, it manages to tick all the right boxes and impress in every area that counts. Just like the Ratchet games, they might not look amazing during the chaos of events like TGS, but you can be sure that Insomniac won't let you down once you spend time getting to grips with its intricacies. With an intriguing storyline and premise, technical brilliance and a solid multiplayer component, it's definitely near the top of the pile of PS3 launch titles and one you should check out when the time comes.

Resistance: Fall of Man has been confirmed as a PS3 launch title. Check out a full review of the game close to the US launch in November.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (83) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Scimarad #1 5 years ago

    I simply cannot wait to play this game - I was excited enough when I heard it was going to be WW2 style game set in England (with aliens!) but every new detail makes this sound like a 'must have'!

    It's just a shame we are going to have to suffer lots of mindless comments because it's on the 'wrong' console:-(

  • kebab #2 5 years ago

    Bring on bioshock

  • Scimarad #3 5 years ago

    I wonder if you will be able to pilot those big walker things?

    /goes 'whoosh' with heat ray

    - edit -

    And Bioshock has exactly what to do with Resistance?
    Edited by 2 at 23/09/06 @ 10:01

  • kebab #4 5 years ago

    just trolling, anyway ill stop that now

  • Scimarad #5 5 years ago

    I'm really looking forward to Bioshock but that doesn't stop me being incredibly excited about Resistance - Knowing it's got a 2 player co-op mode was the thing that really decided it for me:-)

  • Tomo #6 5 years ago

    Does indeed sound good. A bit of a Gears Of War/Quake 4/Call Of Duty/Halo combination/rip-off but it sounds promising. Maybe there is a reason to get a PS3 at launch then... Not good for the bank account!

    Thanks for the spoiler too :[

  • Les #7 5 years ago

    It looks great with the large and living environments (there's a nice video of Ted Price playing the demo on gamespot)! Might even get me into playing FPSs again. The theme is a bit HL2-ish (not bad), but some of the weapons are quite inventive, like the one which shoots out a temporary turret or the gun with the shields. If enemy AI is really good, I might be temted to get it. Splitscreen co-op is a great addition too.

    Bioshock looks nice (water effects are great) but not really revolutionary. It's like Metroid Prime without the platforming elements, a First Person adventure game.

  • kebab #8 5 years ago

    I think in a console market that is saturated with mindless shooters, which I agree are fun for a short blast, personally I hope Bioshock will be a bit more interesting and have a bit more longevity. But these two games are at opposite ends of the FPS spectrum, and no doubt will both win on their own merits.

  • TripleSeven #9 5 years ago

    So there's another 1080p title. Well, I think it'll end up as a good shooter. Nothing too special.

  • WrongShui #10 5 years ago

    Since the game is set in Grimsby at some point it must be awesome.

  • Les #11 5 years ago

    "Of course Bioshock is not revolutionary."

    Well, first media reactions made the game look like the next big thing since sliced bread...

  • PS3lol #12 5 years ago

    Stop making out you know all the details on how Bioshock plays, they said in reinvents the FPS so just wait and see.

    Bioshock is Gran turismo, Resistance is Ridge racer. And Halo 3 will crush them all at X06 :)

  • Steroyd #13 5 years ago

    So the Insomiac guys actually did hit 1080p with Resistance...

    /is shocked

    I think FPS's in general have become so hard to re-invent the wheel so to speak, just like Racing games and Fighting games it's come to a point where it feels like you've played one you've played them all so i guess the only way to re-invigorate FPS's in that sense is to mould them with other genre's (like RPG's has done).

    It's very rare i look at a FPS with interest but this game has gone a long way since E3 (as mentioned in article) that it's piqued m interested.

    And it's Insomiac i've always loved the Ratchet and Clank weapons.
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/06 @ 11:39

  • JediMasterMalik #14 5 years ago

    Another glowing preview for Resistance. This game is looking to be a fantastic launch title, very good for Sony, and Les, I saw that Gamspot interview, it looked really food, I loved the physics on the sapper. :)

  • Santino #15 5 years ago

    Can't help but feel a bit worried about the controller not giving the best experience possible with this game due to the left analogue stick not being in the primary position, and the lack of rumble when firing a weapon.
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/06 @ 11:48

  • Steroyd #16 5 years ago

    Well no mention of noticing there not being rumble otherwise it would have been included in the article right?

    Right???
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/06 @ 11:52

  • Les #17 5 years ago

    "and the lack of rumble when firing a weapon."

    Yeah, I really miss that when playing HL2 on PC...

  • tiddles #18 5 years ago

    I initially missed the reference to E3 in the first paragraph, read the opening and thought, uh oh, here we go...

    :)

  • Penguinzoot #19 5 years ago

    My initial reaction at E3 was 'meh' but its definitely looking better and better as time goes on.

  • tiddles #20 5 years ago

    The sticks appear to have been much improved for the PS3 controller, which should help... although obviously they're still in the same place, of course.

  • Moonprince #21 5 years ago

    Dosn't PS3 have mouse / keyboard support for these games?

  • Garibaldi #22 5 years ago

    I really can't see where all the positive write-ups are coming from, but then I only have footage to view. From where I sit the aliens look generic as all hell ( like the Devs took art classes from The Suffering ), gunplay looks unexciting, and environments, though technically quite impressive, just look dull, brown, and repetitive ( yes, I know this is how they might look in a war, but making them interesting is a problem for the Devs to solve, not me ).

  • JediMasterMalik #23 5 years ago

    @Geribaldi - You'll see that the preview even states that some may think of it as generic, and it isn't revolutionary, but it is good, and that's what's important. I mean are you really expecting Halo 3 to be revolutionary?

  • Walshicus #24 5 years ago

    I'd love to see this and Gears of War running side by side.

  • Lex_Luthor #25 5 years ago

    Hah, a side by side generic-o-rama!

  • manic_mouse #26 5 years ago

    It seems a little souless. Gears of War is accused of being generic, but at least the art style has unique elements and a bit of heart to it, this just seems to lack anything to set it out in terms of look. Non-descript enemies, non-descript allies and non-descript environments.

    However the weapons looks mightily interesting! Seems they've been playing a lot of Unreal Tournament, because a few look a little too familiar if you get my drift.
    Edited by 1 at 23/09/06 @ 13:52

  • JediMasterMalik #27 5 years ago

    @Manic_mouse - These guys mader Ratchet and Clank, they're no strangers to crazy and cool weaponry.

  • Lex_Luthor #28 5 years ago

    "It seems a little souless. Gears of War is accused of being generic, but at least the art style has unique elements and a bit of heart to it,"

    Uh... Heart? But yes, obviously Gears of War is going to be a bit more 'unique' in the sense that it has had to create a new world and environments for it's setting, whereas Resistance uses 'real world' settings.

    "this just seems to lack anything to set it out in terms of look. Non-descript enemies, non-descript allies and non-descript environments. "

    I fail to see how these criticisms couldn't be levelled at Gears of War to be honest. Both games seem as generic as each other, but it's not like that makes either a bad game at the end of the day.

  • JediMasterMalik #29 5 years ago

    I hope they manage to get a little of their humour into the title.

    If they do, it'll be rare. They are trying to create a horror story driven FPS, a far cry from some of their previous games.

  • JHuxley #30 5 years ago

    "I fail to see how these criticisms couldn't be levelled at Gears of War to be honest. Both games seem as generic as each other"

    Exactly. If it weren't a preview for Resistance, some of those screenshots could easily be mistaken for Gears of War. Not to say that's a bad thing...

  • Garibaldi #31 5 years ago

    Hmm, I suppose it's personal preference then as neither Gears nor Resistence floats my boat, they both seem to be full-gloss sheen with no shred of artistry or creativity to them at all ( yes, I am aware that they are very technically competent ).

  • JHuxley #32 5 years ago

    I agree Garibaldi. Then again, personally I'd level the same criticism against Halo and most other FPS games out there.

    I mean, Killzone was one of the few FPS games to catch my in recent years with a real strong sense of visual style (even if its most distinctive motif was stolen from Jin Roh)...and look how that one turned out :\

  • Shrike #33 5 years ago

    It's funny, actually. When I heard the premise for Resistance I was intrigued, because it seemed like a departure from the FPS norm, when in fact, it seems the total opposite: WW2 has been done to death, and running-around-killing-aliens-oh-no-I'm-one-of-them has also been done to death. I can't decide whether combining the two (which hasn't been done before) is original or not.

  • spongebob #34 5 years ago

    What's with the washed out color palette on all the big next-gen titles? I can't take it.

  • Les #35 5 years ago

    "I mean, Killzone was one of the few FPS games to catch my in recent years with a real strong sense of visual style"

    Agree, saw the game at a friend's and loved the visual style. Shame it was best viewed when not in motion. Hopefully PS3 is powerful enough for Guerrilla's ambitions (and maybe they can now afford some good programmers).

  • RedPanda #36 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • RedPanda #37 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • drumbaby #38 5 years ago

    This is the game that will make me brave motion sickness from relearning fps skillz on a gamepad.

  • Feanor #39 5 years ago

    "The sticks appear to have been much improved for the PS3 controller, which should help... "

    Do you have a source for this? If that were true it would be great news, but I don't want to get my hopes up....

  • Hughes. #40 5 years ago

    As far as controllers go, apart from the ever useless 4 button D-Pad, my only issue with the Dual Shock 2 was the floppiness around the deadpoint. Stick positioning is exactly as it should for the way I play. Just because MS and Ninty decided to have cock-eyed stick positions doesn't mean Sony should follow (and yet again be accused of copying, no doubt).

    In fact, the arguments people make against symmetrical sticks are that you can't use the buttons without shfting your hands, but with an FPS you should always want your thumbs on the sticks with shoulder button to fire. People get used to the controllers they use most, and as Sony were the first people to have dual analogue controller, there's no reason at all to change what people who've never used anything else are accustomed to, for the benefit of other people's familiarity with cock-eyed sticks.
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/06 @ 14:20

  • Steroyd #41 5 years ago

    Do you have a source for this? If that were true it would be great news, but I don't want to get my hopes up....

    It was very VERY briefly mentioned at E3, that the Analogue sticks went from 8 point precision to 10 precision.

    If that means anything.
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/06 @ 14:28

  • TVeyes #42 5 years ago

    "It was very VERY briefly mentioned at E3, that the Analogue sticks went from 8 point precision to 10 precision."

    As in 256 levels of precision to 1024 levels of precision. Which sounds good to me.

    The latest screenshots look pretty spiffy. Still need to try or see this game on a screen before I purchase.

  • J*C #43 5 years ago

    Dont know about this one, it looks good, and its being made by a respected developer. but ratchet and clank are platformers, not scary fast fps games. criterion had a go with black, and although a good game, it was no halflife 2 or halo. i hope the game rocks, just have to wait and see i guess.
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/06 @ 22:38

  • Lemon Project #44 5 years ago

    @ J*C

    Insomniac made the resepcted, fun and critically acclaimed console fps Disruptor for the original Playstation. Their console fps credentials are therefore assured.
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/06 @ 00:09

  • Garulon #45 5 years ago

    "So the Insomiac guys actually did hit 1080p with Resistance... "

    Yeah, at 30FPS.

    ==1080i/60

  • BadBoyBonner #46 5 years ago

    @ HUGHES.

    "as Sony were the first people to have dual analogue controller"
    The Dual Analogue Controller was released in Japan in April 1997 to coincide with the Japanese releases of Tobal 2 and Bushido Blade.

    While Sony were the first with a dual analogue controller, Goldeneye had offered dual analogue control since August of 1995 and was something of a favourite control mechanism with many a player, something I am sure even Sony couldn’t miss! lol

    And we all know, Sony would never lower themselves to rip Nintendo controller ideas off now would they! lol
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/06 @ 12:33

  • Les #47 5 years ago

    "Yeah, at 30FPS.

    ==1080i/60"

    No it's not.

  • Hughes. #48 5 years ago

    @BadBoyBonner

    Excuse my ignorance, but how could Goldeneye offer Dual Analogue control when the N64 trident had only 1 analogue stick? If I'm wrong please do inform? I had a bugger of a job with those tridents, but as I said, people get used to the controller they use most.

  • Xerx3s #49 5 years ago

    If they do, it'll be rare. They are trying to create a horror story driven FPS, a far cry from some of their previous games.

    Horror and (gallows) humor can walk hand in hand perfectly. ;)

  • Les #50 5 years ago

    "Les: Just give in. Let them play it at 1080i."

    Those "=" signs really trigger me. If I see a logical inconsistency I can't help but react... ;)

  • belziah #51 5 years ago

    I think we get it J*C. PS3 is shit, the games are shit, everything is shit.

    You are the one bright star in this galaxy of shitness which makes all around you shit.

    now move on

  • Planet #52 5 years ago

    Sure, Garulon! As we can see in every graphics card review: going from 1024 * 768 to 1600 * 1200 exactly divides the fps by 2.44 in every game, no exclusion.

  • Hughes. #53 5 years ago

    Oh please, don't start this again! We'll have Calgon and Vic in here reeling off paragraphs of tech specs. Oh the humanity!

  • Garulon #54 5 years ago

    "No it's not. "

    "1024 * 768 to 1600 * 1200 exactly divides the fps by 2.44 in every game, no exclusion. "

    Oh for fucks sake. Resistance IS at 30 FPS - It REDRAWS THE SCREEN
    THIRTY. TIMES. A. SECOND!

    1080p/30 is the SAME DATA at the SAME REFRESH RATE as 1080i/60. IT WILL LOOK - ON A TELLY THAT SUPPORTS BOTH - EXACTLY THE SAME.

    UNLESS a game runs at a higher frame rate than 30 FPS, ideally 60 FPS - Like Gran Turismo or Virtua Tennis 3 (I think) - 1080p support is MEANINGLESS. MEANINGLESS!
    Edited by 1 at 26/09/06 @ 10:30

  • BadBoyBonner #55 5 years ago

    @Hughes. - Happy to inform.

    "....how could Goldeneye offer Dual Analogue control when the N64 trident had only 1 analogue stick? If I'm wrong please do inform?"

    By plugging in two joypads, then selecting dual analogue control on the options menu. Job done.

    Consider your ignorance now fully exonarated.
    Edited by 1 at 26/09/06 @ 11:17

  • Garulon #56 5 years ago

    "Les: Just give in. Let them play it at 1080i."

    What are you talking about? I'll be able to play the XBox 360 at 1080p at least four months before you can play your Playstation 3 at 1080p.

  • Les #57 5 years ago

    "WILL LOOK - ON A TELLY THAT SUPPORTS BOTH - EXACTLY THE SAME."

    No it just won't.

    "I'll be able to play the XBox 360 at 1080p at least four months before you can play your Playstation 3 at 1080p."

    Good for you.

    (though I'd be surprised if there arrived 1080p native games on 360 before March next year)
    Edited by 2 at 26/09/06 @ 11:47

  • Planet #58 5 years ago

    OK, i see your point now. But getting rid of flickering interlace is not MEANINGLESS MEANINGLESS. If i only had the choice between 1080i and 720p id go for the lower res anytime!

    And if the console isn't capable of building a 1080p framebuffer, you can't just split up the rendering into 2 pieces (even and odd with 1920 * 540 each) at the same speed. The overhead for each part wouldn't be cut in half. If it can handle that at 60 fps, it could probably handle 1080p at 30 fps just as fine (eats a little more space in memory though).

    So, if you can stand the flicker, a 1080i screen might suffice. But the game (and console) needs to be capable of 1080p anyway. I for myself am planning on deinterlacing my gaming life eventually.

  • Garulon #59 5 years ago

    "So, if you can stand the flicker"

    Flicker? Are you thinking of PC monitors back in 1998? Or are you just stupid?

  • Les #60 5 years ago

    "Flicker?"

    Interlace is flicker.

  • Garulon #61 5 years ago

    "Interlace is flicker."

    No, interlace (in this context) is when you seperate the odd and even lines of a frame into seperate fields. I'd like to see you get flicker on non-raster-scan based technology like LCD and Plasma. You can do it on CRT if you refresh slow enough, but as (a) all HD CRTs can only do 1080i anyway and (b) all modern HD CRTs (AFAIK) up the scan rate to 100Hz anyway (at leat mine does).

  • Planet #62 5 years ago

    Please go look up what interlace is. And if you output an interlaced picture, send it to a monitor that doesn't physically support interlace (like LCDs) which then in turn deinterlaces it, picture quality probably suffers noticably.

  • Garulon #63 5 years ago

    "Please go look up what interlace is."

    I'd suggest the same to you.

    "And if you output an interlaced picture, send it to a monitor that doesn't physically support interlace (like LCDs) which then in turn deinterlaces it, picture quality probably suffers noticably. "

    If you send an interlaced 1080i field to an LCD/Plasma that supports 1080i, it populates either the odd lines or the even lines. Same with a 1080p device; however quite a few true 1080p displays "stitch together" the 1080i fields into a single 1080p frame, in which case it's completely identical to a 1080p frame being sent progressively.

    "And if the console isn't capable of building a 1080p framebuffer, you can't just split up the rendering into 2 pieces (even and odd with 1920 * 540 each) at the same speed."

    Both the 360 and PS3 are perfectly capable of building a 1080p framebuffer (having 512MB and 256MB video memory available respectively), and for 1080i display you sample the odd lines as one field and the even lines as another field.

    Sure is a lot of "experts" here. I'm still laughing at the flicker thing. :)
    Edited by 1 at 26/09/06 @ 12:53

  • Les #64 5 years ago

    "If you send an interlaced 1080i field to an LCD/Plasma that supports 1080i, it populates either the odd lines or the even lines."

    Thus flicker.

    "however quite a few true 1080p displays "stitch together" the 1080i fields into a single 1080p frame, in which case it's completely identical to a 1080p frame being sent progressively."

    Which effectively halves the screen refresh rate and then you're right. But then your screen doesn't display an interlaced picture, even though up the chain it is. Wonder though if this is "true" 1080p.
    Edited by 1 at 26/09/06 @ 13:31

  • Hughes. #65 5 years ago

    @BadBoyBonner

    Playing a game with a controller in each hand? Good grief! I can see why people don't like Sony's analogue sticks with a easy to use method like that.

  • Garulon #66 5 years ago

    "Thus flicker. "

    (sigh) Caused by WHAT?

    "Which effectively halves the screen refresh rate and then you're right."

    Finally - I think I'm getting somewhere! :o

    "But then your screen doesn't display an interlaced picture, even though up the chain it is. "

    Nope, too soon :(

    A non-raster-based screen NEVER displays an interlaced picture. It's ALWAYS a complete picture. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS it's only UPDATED by the interlacing

    DO! YOU! UNDERSTAND!

  • Planet #67 5 years ago

    So you are talking about 1080p capable consoles (both of course) and displaying 1080i correctly on a 1080p display. Good, here comes the hard question: why switch to 1080i in the first place, when you have a complete 1080p chain?

  • Garulon #68 5 years ago

    "So you are talking about 1080p capable consoles (both of course) and displaying 1080i correctly on a 1080p display."

    No, I'm saying that a 1080p/30 image gives you NO BENEFITS over a 1080i/60 image, all other things being equal. If all you play is movies or 30 FPS games, there's NO NEED to junk your existing display if it's 1080i-capable. If you already have a 1080p/60 display, well done you've arrived, hope it didn't hurt too much taking the kidney out.

    The SINGLE advantage of 1080p/60 (that is 1080 games at 60 FPS - remember movies are 24 FPS so will look identical to 1080i60) is a lack of "combing" where the frame data changes between fields (you'll see this as wiggly lines on vertical entities in the picture during horizontal pans).

    I'm thinking most of this is going to be wasted anyway as apart from a few oddballs like me with 1080i CRTs the vast vast majority of PS3 consoles will either be plugged into a 1280x720 LCD HD TV, or a good old SD TV like yer mums.

    I hope we all learned something today.

  • Les #69 5 years ago

    "ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS it's only UPDATED by the interlacing"

    Odd and even lines aren't updated at the same time so flicker (or wiggling as you call it). Not as bad as in the 90s but it's still flicker. That's why it's called interlaced.

    "If all you play is movies or 30 FPS games, there's NO NEED to junk your existing display if it's 1080i-capable."

    If I'm not mistaken, a 1080i set will display a 1080 30fps signal still as an interlaced signal. So with flicker/wiggling. If you want to really enjoy movies/games in 1080, you will have to get a 1080p set.
    Edited by 4 at 26/09/06 @ 14:55

  • Garulon #70 5 years ago

    "Odd and even lines aren't updated at the same time so flicker (or wiggling as you call it). Not as bad as in the 90s but it's still flicker. That's why it's called interlaced. "

    Oh God, it's hard to believe people are this stupid :(

    Answer me this: While the odd lines are being updated, what's displayed on the even lines? And why will this cause flicker?
    Edited by 1 at 26/09/06 @ 14:55

  • Les #71 5 years ago

    "Answer me this: While the odd lines are being updated, what's displayed on the even lines? And why will this cause flicker?"

    Your eyes will detect a less stable picture. I call that flicker, you call it wiggling. Not that hard to understand is it?
    Edited by 1 at 26/09/06 @ 14:56

  • Garulon #72 5 years ago

    "Your eyes will detect a less stable picture. Not that hard to understand is it?"

    Are you talking about cross-frame interleave? If you can detect combing during THAT then you wouldn't be able to play video games or watch movies anyway as persistence of vision doesn't work for you. You're also, sadly, a robot. Sorry to break this to you.

    "I call that flicker, you call it wiggling."

    I call it "combing" but I was trying to break it down into a language a Sony Buzzword Fanboi can understand. Plus, they're COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ARTIFACTS! Question: You've watched DVDs on a non-progressive-scan DVD player right? Does that "Flicker"?
    Edited by 2 at 26/09/06 @ 15:05

  • Les #73 5 years ago

    "Plus, they're COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ARTIFACTS!"

    Whatever, they both result in a less stable picture.

  • Garulon #74 5 years ago

    "Whatever, they both result in a less stable picture. "

    Less stable how? i.e. "they have more "______". What is _____? What is it caused by? I want to see if you can make an even bigger fool of yourself than you already have.
    Edited by 2 at 26/09/06 @ 15:20

  • Les #75 5 years ago

    "Less stable how?"

    Man, no need to get so worked up. I'm sure you don't mean combing enhances the picture, now do you? You started this non-discussion with "30 fps 1080p = 60 fps 1080i" which still is untrue.

    That's my only point. Personally I couldn't care less about 1080p/i or whatever. I'm very happy playing last-gen games on my 50hz crt screen.

  • Garulon #76 5 years ago

    "Man, no need to get so worked up."

    And there was no need for you to chunder mindlessly about subjects you know NOTHING about, was there?

    "I'm sure you don't mean combing enhances the picture, now do you?"

    but it only HAPPENS if the CONTENT is 60 FPS!!! READ!!!

    "You started this non-discussion with "30 fps 1080p = 60 fps 1080i" which still is untrue."

    (gnnggh) Why is it untrue? Because of "Flicker", you stupid Fanboi?

    "That's my only point. Personally I couldn't care less about 1080p/i or whatever."

    If you don't care and don't understand, why post?

    Edited by 2 at 26/09/06 @ 16:04

  • Les #77 5 years ago

    "(gnnggh) Why is it untrue? Because of "Flicker", you stupid Fanboi?"

    Don't really see why me not agreeing with you makes me a fanboi.

    edit: To spell it out for you: 1080p/30 output will not have combing while 1080i/60 will have it (unless it's converted to 1080p/30 which only newer 1080p TVs can do, in which case you'd get an equation which says 1080p/30 = 1080p/30 which of course is true). So your original statement was false or at least incomplete. Sorry that a non-geek had to point this out to you... ;)

    Edited by 1 at 26/09/06 @ 18:24

  • BadBoyBonner #78 5 years ago

    @Hughes.

    You should try it some day, it was the control of choice and to be honest it is more comfortable than the PS dual Shock; however you only ended up with two buttons easily accesible but "thanks" to Goldeneye being devoid of any jumping it wasn;t such a bad thing! lol.

    I only wish Sony had taken more time to replicate the thumb sticks off of the N64 as they were a work of genius at the time, and still feel good to this day, well not this day but the last time I blew the dust off! lol

    I am liking the xbox360 pad although after extensive fight night 3 the triggers leave your fingertips sore, or perhaps am just squeezing the pad too Hard!

    As for the 1080P I am a bit gutted as bought a 50" 720P plasma for xbox360, but guess that after seeing how bad tearing is when it's only having to kick out 1.05 mega pixles dread to think what happens when ya up it to 2.07!! The stuttering alone would be enough to make me shift it back to 720p I think!

  • Hughes. #79 5 years ago

    @ BadBoyBonner

    I'll have to take your word that it was a good way to play, good job they had four controller ports if you wanted some 2 player action though :ŹD

    I thought I remebered tales of the base of the trident's analogue stick getting caked up with controller snot? I'm sure it didn't effect the play though.

    As for 1080p upscaling, I was thinking the same about tearing and frame-rate stability, given frequent complaints of tearing and seeing stuttery frame-rates on games that aren't that graphically demanding. A highly avoidable update I'd think.

    I don't know how much better the PS3 will handle it, but for my 2 cents, as a guy keen to buy the machine, and quite probably this game, the footage I've seen looks 30fps. It wasn't the most recent footage mind, so, who knows.

  • Planet #80 5 years ago

    It's not upscaling, it is native 1080p rendering at 30 fps locked.

  • Hughes. #81 5 years ago

    With the upscaling, I was referring to the 360 update for 720p to 1080p

  • BadBoyBonner #82 5 years ago

    For some great reading on the subject of tearing on xbox360 have a look at the postmortem on Gamasutra with the lead programmer from the MotoGP game from Climax

    http://ga masutra.com/features/20060808/m...

  • Darren #83 5 years ago

    Sounds very good indeed and definitely a game I'll pick up with my PS3 next March (assuming I can actually get hold of the console, that is).

  • kangarootoo #84 5 years ago

    Don't know if anyone is still reading this, but Garulon's post about flicker (or the absence thereof) is quite true. Flicker does not, cannot, be exhibited on an LCD screen. They simply physically do not work that way (unless you actually redefine the meaning of the word in this context, but then we are simply talking about semantics).

    Only changes to the screen or updated, there is no redraw the way there is with a CRT monitor.

    An example that might clear this up. Display a static image on a PC connected to an LCD monitor. Change the refresh rate to any value you like between the lowest and highest settings. The screen content will appear no differently, it cannot appear differently, because only the changes are being drawn (and on a static image, there are no changes).

    If the screen content is moving then other factors come into play, but Garulon's comments about the importance of frame rate when discussing 1080p cover that and are also true.

    Just my 2 pence. I only came here to find comments about Resistance AI, but as suspected the thread is sunk in grumpy crap, so I'll head back to the EGTV Resistance thread.