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Uncharted used less than half PS3's power News

PlayStation 3 News by Robert Purchese

6 August, 2008

Naughty Dog used barely half of the PS3's power to run Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, one of the best-looking games on the console.

So says designer Richard Lemarchand, who says tools such as Edge - developed by senior first-party Sony programmers including some from Naughty Dog - are now in place and ready to begin harnessing the full power of the Cell processor.

Remember, the Cell processor is made up of eight Synergistic Processor Units, six of which can be used to do things at any one time.

"These guys are really old-school programmers: guys who are always looking to shave another cycle off an operation. And part of the skill of developing for the PlayStation 3 is getting the GPU to farm jobs out to the six SPUs - seeing which SPUs are idling and can take up some of the slack in a frame-to-frame kind of way," Lemarchand told ThreeSpeech.

"That's why we think we're probably only using 30 or 40 per cent of the power of the PS3 right now, and there's this great, untapped potential.

"All third-party developers can get the Edge libraries for free and are going to be able to use them in their own ways, to get more and more and more out of the PS3 over the years," he said.

Lemarchand went talked of the sense of sharing between first-party studios, trading "war stories" with Evolution (MotorStorm), Insomniac (Resistance), and Sucker Punch (InFamous).

More encouraging is the close bond Naughty Dog shares with Sony Santa Monica, which is developing God of War 3. Apparently the two studios meet reguarly to discuss development tactics over lunch.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune recently became the first Blu-ray title to offer Trophy support.

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Comments: 1-50 of 123 in total | next 50 »

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Turambar
06/08/08 @ 11:28
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Do we really need to have this discussion again?
johnnybrn
06/08/08 @ 11:31
#2
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Ok then, show us this great potential!

As the world waits with baited breath for the PS3 to be true 'next gen' because at the moment only 2 games have tapped that potential being MGS4 and Drakes.

anomagnus
06/08/08 @ 11:32
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how much did haze use for the flame thrower? snark, snarf
squarejawhero
06/08/08 @ 11:32
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Talk talk talk.

Potential potential potential. Just get on with developing games that show it, huh?
the_dudefather
06/08/08 @ 11:32
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'ps3lol'
'celllol'
'4dlol'
'bluraylol'

lets move on please
Der_tolle_Emil
06/08/08 @ 11:33
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Miyamoto claimed that Super Mario 64 used only 60% of the N64 potential. Probably used less looking at the later titles - so maybe this Uncharted statement isn't all wrong. However I don't see the relevance as the same can be said for every title that launched during the first 1 1/2 years of any console.
Weezer
06/08/08 @ 11:34
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Maybe they can use all that awesome processing power to get rid of the ubiquitous screen tearing in a sequel then.
bad09
06/08/08 @ 11:35
#8
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The "potential" line is getting boring, less talk more action I say!
patchbox360
06/08/08 @ 11:36
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i can't play untapped potential
andijames
06/08/08 @ 11:37
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Honestly there's more bitching in these threads than on a WAGS night out. Potential surely means untapped. The PS2 had some of its greatest games towards the end of it's cycle (GOW2, SOTC) and it happens with every console. The more you program for it the better you become. There's surely plenty left on the 360 too! Or has that all been realised?
Clive Dunn
06/08/08 @ 11:39
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Have we tapped the potential of the Emotion engine yet ?
lambtron
06/08/08 @ 11:39
#12
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It's impossible to use 100% of the potential of a machine - any developer worth their salt realises that. That's why you never see real-world applications getting anywhere near the theoretical performance of the various platforms.
Dezm0nd
06/08/08 @ 11:42
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Half the power and half the resolution too, apparently. Where'd my 1080p go?
Bloodkult
06/08/08 @ 11:43
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That's really very interesting...

Interesting because it's the same Naughty Dog that once said:

People think of systems as glasses and ask: “how full is the glass”. Unfortunately, that isn’t how it works. Any developer who gives you a “percent of system used” answer is blowing smoke.

Right here on their website.
Eraser
06/08/08 @ 11:45
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oh the irony...

Anyway, judiging by the screenshots, the game doesn't look all that impressive to me to be honest.
Widge
06/08/08 @ 11:46
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certainly more than the screenshots, also should be praised for not containing marines and is not mainly the colour brown
Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/08/08 @ 12:46
agparrot
06/08/08 @ 11:46
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The sooner they get this potential tapped, the better.

Everyone sees untapped potential, it isn't something to brag about.
alimokrane
06/08/08 @ 11:47
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Before launch of a game (any platform): We're pushing the console to the max

After Launch of game : We barely scratched the surface.

Yes we know that's the case... do we have to hear it every single time ? Shut up and let the game do the talking.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/08/08 @ 12:48
Widge
06/08/08 @ 11:47
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I reckon this thread will go spastic about 5pm
Rash'
06/08/08 @ 11:49
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The "potential" line may have become boring, but Carmack's agreement of that untapped potential certainly gives Sony's claim leverage, so these 1st party devs remarks will continue to fan the "flames" (pun intend).
dom6918
06/08/08 @ 11:50
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yeah where the hell is the 1080p support...only singstar supports this!!

my xbox upscales (by the minimum) to 1080p...my ps3 runs at 720p max :(
Aretak
06/08/08 @ 11:54
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I couldn't give two fucks about how much of the PS3's potential is used as long as they continue making games as good as Uncharted.
miiiguel
06/08/08 @ 11:54
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I don't get that "potential" thing. With 4-5 lines of code I can put the portuguese social security servers shitting themselfs (if I wanted to get fired).
mcbi4kh2
06/08/08 @ 11:54
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@anomagnus

Didnt you post that hilarious line in another thread?

Nobody laughed at it then either.
Goffee
06/08/08 @ 11:54
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Fails to mention other half bloody hard to access or utilise without going through many hoops
andijames
06/08/08 @ 11:56
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Basically depends on how quick a developer gets to grips with a console. The new libraries like EDGE make accessing this power easier and more simple. These help greatly on consoles such as PS3 which are tougher to code for than the 360.
kestral
06/08/08 @ 11:59
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let the games speak for themselves.
MrChuckles
06/08/08 @ 12:01
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Any developer who doesn't use 100% of the processor is a bad developer. I expect what he means is that they are using the processor at 100% but only at 40% efficiency which sounds like a lot of pretty shit coding if you ask me.
peteb
06/08/08 @ 12:06
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Remember when you were at school and the teacher would tell your parents he "has potential" (but doesn't use it).

It wasn't a good thing.
Binglybob
06/08/08 @ 12:07
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Just bought the game, thank god for platinum. Game better be as good as people having been raving on about
Greebo
06/08/08 @ 12:08
#31
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I hope they never tap 100%!

My PC achieves 100% all the time and all it does is stop me being able to do anything! :p
lambtron
06/08/08 @ 12:20
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"I hope they never tap 100%!

My PC achieves 100% all the time and all it does is stop me being able to do anything! :p "

Lol - exploiting 100% potential of a machine isn't quite the same as hogging 100% of the CPU 100% of the time - any muppet can do that ;).
TheNinkyNonk
06/08/08 @ 12:20
#33
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Potential: if you don't use it, you don't lose it
Ryze
06/08/08 @ 12:23
#34
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cue Blig_merk, Swam, Banfoi, Apologie circlewank...
Zomoniac
06/08/08 @ 12:23
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Meh. I recall Yamauchi saying GT3 only used 20% of the PS2's power. Fast forward three years, out comes GT4, and aside from more content, it looks and feels exactly the same.
Widge
06/08/08 @ 12:33
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add in the rabid JSPOOLE et al to the circlewank and it gets really sparky
bad09
06/08/08 @ 12:34
#37
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Question guys as I'm curious (it's slightly related to hyping machines potential)

PS3 - Teh Cell
PS2 - Emotion Engine

What smoke and mirrors did Sony use to hype PS1? Or did everyone just get on with making great games in those days instead of talking about potential for years.
JediMasterMalik
06/08/08 @ 12:35
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Why does it even matter? Uncharted was and is probably one of the best looking console games ever made, the next should continue that trend, hopefully with less tearing. ;)
Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/08/08 @ 13:36
Dark_Era
06/08/08 @ 12:37
#39
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i am getting a bit tired of the whole console war thing and how folks or should i say fan boys are reacting, man all i wanna know is whats going on in the gaming industry
Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/08/08 @ 13:38
Dizzy
06/08/08 @ 12:39
#40
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"What smoke and mirrors did Sony use to hype PS1? Or did everyone just get on with making great games in those days instead of talking about potential for years. "

Nothing.. The PS1 was actually a great and well designed machine. They didn't need to invent PR lines.
Zomoniac
06/08/08 @ 12:39
#41
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What smoke and mirrors did Sony use to hype PS1?

In those days PlayStation as a brand wasn't enough on its own to sell units, it actually had to be worth buying. The PS1 was a genuinely great machine, and it was only through that that they came to be in a position where their complacency didn't matter.
Weezer
06/08/08 @ 12:39
#42
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The most fun I've had recently was with Pixeljunk Monsters. I'm pretty sure that uses about 1% of the PS3's power.

Maybe 2%.
ThePissartist
06/08/08 @ 12:39
#43
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My nipples are larger, have a greater circumference, are considerably straighter than any other nipple. They're also 2x more pimply than any super-nipple in existance today and have the potential to grow upon request (at a later unspecified date).
Edited 1 times, most recently on 06/08/08 @ 14:05
Mr_Dodger
06/08/08 @ 12:42
#44
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Naughty Dog (Sony 1st party) talking up the PS3.
Yesterday Rare (MS 1st party) talking up the 360.

Just the way it is.
Doctor_What
06/08/08 @ 12:43
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I've jumped straight from a CRT to a Sony Bravia and I've not seen 'tearing' on any machine. What is it? And why am I missing this thing that seems to blight the games-playing lives of everyone else? Is it ridiculously minor so I'm just ignoring it or not noticing it, or have I been really lucky with my choices of displays?
Zomoniac
06/08/08 @ 12:45
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@ DoctorWhat:

It's not the display, it's certain games. If you've played MotoGP 06 on 360 and not noticed it, then I won't tell you what it is as once you know then it will annoy you for all eternity. On this matter, ignorance is bliss.
bad09
06/08/08 @ 12:51
#47
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@ Dizzy and Zomoniac

I thought they didn't need to hype "potential" with PS1 just wanted to check!
JediMasterMalik
06/08/08 @ 12:53
#48
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Why should they need to hype potential at all, it should be obvious to anyone who's lived through a previous generation of consoles.
Adam_T
06/08/08 @ 12:56
#49
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Come on Emotion Engine give me some EMOTIONS!
Darren
06/08/08 @ 12:57
#50
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If Uncharted only used half the PS3's processing power, couldn't Naughty Dog have used the remainder to get rid of the horrid screen tearing that is about the only major gripe I have with this terrific game?

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