CryEngine 3 Technical Breakdown News
PC
Xbox 360
PlayStation 3
News
by
Richard Leadbetter
Over at Digital Foundry, we often like to take a hardcore look at new technology, and worthy of our attention is Crytek's CryEngine 3 trailer, released during GDC. We've prepared an annotated video that you'll find embedded below. There is a lot to discuss (so be prepared to pause the video to read the comments!) and if the technical terms confound and confuse, take a trip to Wikipedia or just sit back and enjoy the shot.
First of all kudos to Crytek for releasing a trailer that really is an accurate representation of the work it has done so far on its new CryEngine 3 console technology. We're talking about direct captures from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with no touching up. In an age where massaging and manipulation of media assets is all but the norm, what Crytek has revealed is refreshingly authentic.
The engine is clearly still in development, and I suspect that there's still plenty of work to do. Most people have already commented on the fluctuating frame-rate, but it's also clear to see that there are a range of differences between implementations of graphical features on both platforms. We'll save the in-depth analysis there for a time when there is actually a gameplay experience at stake.
Frame-rate analysis on the released video? Perhaps a tad unfair right now bearing in mind that the engine is still deep in development, but what we can say is that as an average across the entire range of clips, frame-rate on both systems is at 25.5fps give or take a 0.1fps.
You can surmise that the Xbox 360 version of the engine appears to be ahead in development compared to the PS3 rendition. You draw this conclusion simply from the fact that the majority of shots involving elements that really tax the engine (and thus incur frame loss) are using 360 video. So, early days yet, and I would be hoping for closer platform parity and a solid 30fps frame-rate on any game powered by this new engine, the first of which must surely be Crysis itself? Crytek needs a showcase game for its console technology, and why not a console rendition of one of the most beautiful-looking games ever made?
So there we go. The trailer itself is a very intriguing teaser and it leaves us all hungry for more information. Look out for more soon, including a technical Q&A with the developers themselves.
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alimokrane
30/03/09 @ 13:07
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I really hope developers would start using this.. I am SOOOOOO sick of UE3 and how all games seem to end up looking the same.
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PearOfAnguish
30/03/09 @ 13:11
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"25 fps!...omg"
Read the article, that's an estimation based off a video. And even if that were true, it's a tech demo, it's not optimised for best performance it's meant to show off the fancy effects. |
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Moonprince
30/03/09 @ 13:14
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Richard Leadbetter - making Eurogamer a worst place to be with every post.
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PearOfAnguish
30/03/09 @ 13:29
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You can play Crysis at 1024x768 on a years-old PC, I'm sure the PS3 and Xbox 360 will be capable of handling it too.
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@ Dizzy
http://pc.ign.com/articles/966/966403p2.... Yerli went on to describe how the engine is being built to perform across platforms. "The CE3 runs currently at more or less the same quality bar. I say more or less because the engine still optimizes itself to power of the platforms' intrinsics. So the PS3 will run slightly better here, it'll look and feel probably the same, but the engine is diverting computation needs to power subsystems available to the PS3, and the 360 differently, and PC differently." |
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It's not like I'd call bullshit on Richard Leadbetter every article, but this time he's just yet another person on a website, stating an opinion with no evidence to support his claims (enjoyable I know, we've all been there). We've been doing that in the forum for days, and to be honest we're better at it than he is!
I'll read his proper analysis when he gets the real deal in front of him to use whatever those expensive analytical tools are, but until then I declare - Richard Leadbetter, bullshit, good sir. Bullshit, for now. |
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seasidebaz
30/03/09 @ 13:40
+1
From the video though, as is clearly visible with the two organs sat on my face separated by my nose:
PS3 has better colours. Xbox360 has lower frame rate. Both versions will run generic FPSs that I won't be playing. |
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"I say more or less because the engine still optimizes itself to power of the platforms' intrinsics. So the PS3 will run slightly better here, it'll look and feel probably the same"
I don't really see how this comment is the developer saying "the PS3 version is overall better," but you need to relax yourselves! If the PS3 version was better, why was 90% of the video from the 360 version? |
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SpaceMidget75
30/03/09 @ 14:04
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Exactly Dizzy. Some fuckwits seem unable to read a full sentence. The key word was HERE - "So the PS3 will run slightly better here"
What do you think he meant by "here"? This room? This universe? The mind of a fanboy? ....or maybe just at this particular point of the game compared to other parts where the opposite is true? |
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rhinoxious
30/03/09 @ 14:13
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--- Come on Bethesda, you know this engine would make Elder Scrolls 5 look awesome, so have a word with Crytek and license the damn thing :) ---
I second that, and I'd be happy to pay more as well for the pleasure! |
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IneptPercy
30/03/09 @ 14:14
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Was playing warhead at 1080p with 2xAA last night, neither console will touch that...
I must say Crysis to me was stunning to look at and good to play, take away the stunning graphics and replace them with dumbed down console attempts and it will just be good looking and good to play. won't have the same edge. |
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StooMonster
30/03/09 @ 14:17
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Who are we to trust here??!
The ones using quantitative analysis and not the ones using subjective opinion. i.e. "the frame count is X with Y% tearing" versus "it looks nicer" |
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LOL Dizzy too true, too true. :D
You've got have a serious/desperate case of wishfull thinking if you forgot about the PC too, in regards to that statement(it just shows how desperate some gamers are to beleive the hype still). He was basically not saying anything at all different from what most devs say, each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Also EG was kind of using something that is lacking in the people who were so quick to get in their bitter little jibes(haha, how sad you look); common sense. As Spacemidget suggested if the footage was comprised of both PS3 and 360 footage and most of it is 360 footage, what does that tell you? They captured footage from both versions and chose the best examples, it's simple, why would they do it any other way?
Edited 4 times,
most recently on 30/03/09 @ 16:48
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There is a engine that's been in dev for a while now it was shown at the GDC 09 a small team who were then bought over by intel. I think its the best looking realtime thing i have yet seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APNDEfsqt... though i think this will more likely get used on the next generation of consoles and of course on pc. worth a look!!! http://www.projectoffset.com/ that's the team's website if you want to keep up to date with developments etc. ps - i am in no way affiliated to them just found it in GT and it blew my mind :) |
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IneptPercy
30/03/09 @ 15:30
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Bill gates already has us all plugged in... The ones with 360's get better fortune in life and better games due to being loyal to the matrix. PS3 owners are so bitter they are used as agents.
Remember there is no spoon! |
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BadBoyBonner
30/03/09 @ 15:34
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TitusCrow
Yeah defo not coming out for this gen consoles - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBPegjNG2... thats Project Offsets lead technical guru who states that this gen consoles were clearly built from 2005 technology and that they are aiming for the future. Project Offset looks very good - even if the art itself is a little dodgy. CryEngine3 - on the other hand looks like it may very well be one of the best engines to grace this gen - been a long time coming mind. The best thing about this though is that if they have the engine running as well as they clearly do on the 2005 tech consoles - SURELY - the new build of the CryEngine for the PC will be running much more efficiently than previous versions and give every PC owner out there a reason to rejoice the push on consoles? |
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