Xbox 360 vs. PS3 Face-Off: Round 23

By Richard Leadbetter Published 29 November, 2009

Dragon Age, Beatles, Guitar Hero 5, FIFA 10, PES 2010.

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In what's likely to be the last Face-Off of 2009, Digital Foundry does a little housekeeping, sifting through the teetering piles of code dotted around the office, picking out the most intriguing games we've yet to cover, and combining those with the definitive word on one of the year's biggest releases - BioWare's Dragon Age: Origins.

As is the norm, the feature is crammed with the media that matters. One of our TrueHD workstations is pretty much full to the brim with lossless digital dumps of the HDMI ports of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, giving us access to the very best 24-bit RGB comparison shots and untouchable video assets, presented to you in pristine h264 video, manually encoded on a per-game basis for ultimate quality.

Onto the all-important line-up, then. Just the five releases covered this time, but all of them with an interesting story to tell, plus some bonus PC action included too.

How do the different versions of Dragon Age: Origins compare? Are The Beatles: Rock Band and FIFA 10 really two of the best multi-platform conversions of the year? Is Guitar Hero still sub-HD on PS3? Read on...

Dragon Age: Origins

The last of the big Q4 titles to reach the Digital Foundry lair, Dragon Age: Origins is uniformly recognised as an excellent PC release, reflected in the glowing 8/10 Eurogamer review, so it was obvious the PC version would need to be considered, if only to give a technical context to the visuals and performance levels of both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.

First up, let's take a look at the console games via the wonders of high-definition comparison video. It's definitely the case that the PS3 version has a collection of small technical advantages. Texture filtering is superior, the lighting model looks a bit more accurate, and the depth-of-field effect is more accomplished too (even compared to the PC version). Judging Dragon Age: Origins in terms of pure image quality, the PS3 version is the console version to have.

Xbox 360 claws back some IQ points though, thanks to its inclusion of 2x multi-sampling anti-aliasing, which is absent on PS3. Then again, compared to the impact this has in other games it's not that worthy of comment: edge-blurring, depth-of-field and a low-contrast colour scheme work very effectively in smoothing off edges on their own on PS3, even without the inclusion of MSAA.

High-definition comparison movie of Dragon Age: Origins, running at 50 per cent speed. Press the full-screen button for the full HD effect, or click the link below for a larger window.

Despite some technical wins for the PS3 code, the overall look of the game is not as impressive as PC on either platform. Dragon Age: Origins is a game that concentrates heavily on its dialogue-driven cut-scenes, and the close-up texture work we see here comes off second best, which is puzzling when you consider what BioWare achieved two years ago with Mass Effect, and also the quality of the work seen in the Mass Effect 2 gamescom demo, which was extremely impressive.

It's also fair to say that both console games aren't strong performers. Dragon Age: Origins is v-synced for better image consistency, but the frame-rate is extremely variable - anything from 15 to 30 frames per second depending on the scene being rendered. In this area the Xbox 360 game has the advantage, but even the Microsoft platform struggles.

Okay, so let's start to factor in the PC version, as examination of its make-up can help put the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions into context. There has been a lot of discussion about what elements have been cut down on the console games in terms of textures, effects and audio quality. Although it's not conclusive, taking a look at the structure of the disc on each build can be a strong indicator on what's been changed.

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Comments (80) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • sneetch #1 2 years ago

    I always wanted a Lego dragon. :(

  • hiddenranbir #2 2 years ago

    PC YEAH!

  • KayJay #3 2 years ago

    Never thought I would read this...
    "Judging Dragon Age: Origins in terms of pure image quality, the PS3 version is the console version to have."

  • Darren #4 2 years ago

    One thing this feature doesn't make clear is that that the PC version of Dragon Age Origins comes on a 9 GB DVD that installs to 16 GB, in other words the extra data is still heavily compressed like the Xbox 360 version (which presumably also comes on a single disc?).

    I thought the PC version looked OK but it's no looker by any stretch of the imagination although seeing those screenshots with the console versions side by side makes me appreciate them more. Skin textures and detail are good but everything else is blur-o-vision with some awful low-res textures for doors and cabinets. At least on the PC you can add custom texture packs to improve the quality, not that they change the actual gameplay in any way. Dragon Age Origins is a game that doesn't really need stunning graphics anyway as the exemplary quality of the rest of the game more than makes up for the ordinary graphics.

  • Bagpuss #5 2 years ago

    Cries at all that unused potential on my Pc not being used, just so the Fisher Price Console Kiddies can play too.

  • Widge #6 2 years ago

    Interesting split between the PES and FIFA usage there.

  • JahB #7 2 years ago

    Cries at all that unused potential on my Pc not being used, just so the Fisher Price Console Kiddies can play too.

    the amount of brain capacity you just displayed more than explains all that unused potential.

  • Phily50 #8 2 years ago

    Why is it only showing 6 comments?

  • cianchristopher #9 2 years ago

    Edit: why so few comments?
    Edited by 1 at 30/11/09 @ 14:32

  • VandelayIndustries #10 2 years ago

    "So Guitar Hero is still 576p on the old PS3?

    Jesus Fucking Christ!!!

    Sony and Neversoft - one of 'em is responsible...."

    Harmonix manged it - so a kick in the balls to Neversoft then.

    Oh, and good for Bioware too.

  • Darren #11 2 years ago

    Pro Evo Soccer 2010 on the PC, which oddly isn't mentioned in this face-off despite being released at the same time as the console versions: is the one to get if you want to be able to tweak it because not only does the engine run brilliantly on mid to high-end PCs but the ability to customise virtually every aspect of the game's visuals and in-game presentation really does wonders for the atmosphere.

    You can change the crowd chants, tunnel logos, have Sky Sport or BBC Match of the Day overlays/scoreboards, change the layout of the in-game HUD, add all the correct licenses and kits, change the ads displayed around the pitch and even change the grass if you want. If you install KitServer you can even tweak the LOD setting so that the players display at full detail at all times. This means that you can easily tell players apart even from a zoomed out camera as they're no longer faceless blobs! KitServer is genius IMO.

    PES 2010 is not as in-depth or feature-packed as FIFA 10 on the consoles and the gameplay is nowhere near as sophisticated but on the PC there's no contest really as FIFA 10 is utterly mediocre on that platform as the core engine is still rooted in the PS2/Xbox era (or it seems like it!). To be honest, I've been playing PES far more than FIFA this year because I don't tend to switch the 360 on much these days but even so, it's still hugely fun to play. Flawed but fun. T'was cheap too.

  • markymark22 #12 2 years ago

    About time version parity is just about the norm. Ps3 was always going to be hard to develop for but its out 3 years. Sega should bow there heads in shame for bayonetta. Ps3 owners deserve better for their cash.

  • Xerx3s #13 2 years ago

    Colour my disappointment of the lack of an actual lego vs playmobil comparison. :/

  • davisorle #14 2 years ago

    I only have a comment on the Dragon Age since ive done some comparisons myself out of curiocity. Textures are only in some cases looking any better on the PS3 than the 360 as noticed in the video too ofc... Sound I didnt go deep in it to say about it but another details since this is a face off that wasnt mentioned is the water. Water in 360 is as detrailed as the PC when the PS3 is lacking a lot as it does stay back from both PC and 360 versions in the reflections on it. Also you said yourself that 360 FPS average is better then you contradict yourself saying that better FPS on the PS3 is another reason why you reccomend the PS3 as a console version. Excuse me if im too sick to understand somethign that im missing buut my eye is hurting and i cant even try to read the article again :S

  • Widge #15 2 years ago

    I have done some comparisons on Dragon Age too. On one youtube video I streamed, the PS3 looks clearly blockier and more stuttering than the 360 version I have sitting next to me. With this high tech analysis I can conclude that this article is wrong. I have also found one tree which clearly has a higher poly count, in line with the PC version.
    Edited by 1 at 30/11/09 @ 14:57

  • MeBrains #16 2 years ago

    so. after all these years, PS3 got the edge in one game and was completely identical for the next. what does DF decide to do? pop in the PC version for the former and use the controls as an argument for the latter... hahahah. good one.

    btw. messiah-donnie-080208-999. welcome back chups.

  • Unofficial #17 2 years ago

    Reading the Dragon Age comparison makes me realise how little I actually care for many of these differences. I'm playing it through on Xbox, enjoying it quite a bit. Watching the comparison video between PC and Xbox...well...yeah the PC does look better but its not as though the Xbox is miles off the mark is it. This isnt like the difference in quality that existed years ago between arcade games and home conversions. We're basically talking about versions that are near enough the same.

    Yes there's a difference....you can see that side by side of the textures are lower res....would you know unless you were switching between both versions? Not really. It's the underlying game that counts, and that works fine on console too, even with the differences in interface.

  • drumbaby #18 2 years ago

    Never thought I would read this...
    "Judging Dragon Age: Origins in terms of pure image quality, the PS3 version is the console version to have."

    Oh, don't worry, the EG writer was hospitalised pretty soon after typing that.

  • Collymilad #19 2 years ago

    "Never thought I would read this...
    "Judging Dragon Age: Origins in terms of pure image quality, the PS3 version is the console version to have."

    Oh, don't worry, the EG writer was hospitalised pretty soon after typing that. "

    Are you disputing that most multiplatform games are technically superior on 360?

  • laudy #20 2 years ago

    Are you suffering from a sense of humour bypass?

  • Eraysor #21 2 years ago

    I really wonder why DF bothers with these articles when the conclusions are always the same: PC is generally technically better than the consoles, the technical differences between the consoles are so negligible as to not even be worth noticing and are certainly not large enough to warrant buying one version over another, and essentially a lot of the choices come down to the more obvious factors such as what your friends play or what the controller is like.

  • Felwyn #22 2 years ago

    bioware said a few days ago they are investing heavily into the ps3 so what's the surprise?
    and what's with all the 360 clients turning on the writer in this case when in every comparison of this sort the differences between consoles are minmal and would take a superhuman to detect? oh right...i forgot theyre blinded by fanboyism.

    @widge you found a tree with higher poly count? here have a cookie!!!
    Edited by 2 at 30/11/09 @ 15:34

  • solidSnake04 #23 2 years ago

    @kj66246

    Me neither

  • laudy #24 2 years ago

    half the comments appear to be missing? unless it's a typo on the front page...

  • M_of_the_sys #25 2 years ago

    Missing for me too. I want to see fanboi fights!!!

  • Xerx3s #26 2 years ago

    "Missing for me too. I want to see fanboi fights!!! "

    Ah but the PS3 has the advantage, there is nobody to moan now. /0\

  • fjharps #27 2 years ago

    what i still find unbelieveable is the lack of use the blu-ray disc has on the ps3 surely with all that space they could have made the ps3 game look much better but well not bad for Bioware's first go on the ps3 hardware roll on Mass Effect 2 on ps3 which i think is the worst kept secret ever lol.

  • Smoped #28 2 years ago

    I loves me some Dragon Age, but it's not really a looker on any platform. Still, interesting to see one of these comparisons go this way for a change.
    Also, is there already a patch for the pc version to remove the underwear from the characters in the romantic scenes? Not that I have the pc version, I just thought that surely that would be a priority for modders. And another point in favour of the pc version, provided you're into that sort of thing...

  • makeamazing #29 2 years ago

    Just started playing Dragon Age, and to be honest you can put lipstick on a pig... etc etc... Its not really a looker on any platform. I dont think the game is about amazing graphics to be honest, thats not what playing these games is about :D

  • IneptPercy #30 2 years ago

    "what i still find unbelieveable is the lack of use the blu-ray disc has on the ps3 surely with all that space they could have made the ps3 game look much better"

    They could store bigger textures etc but then the GPU won't be able to render them, the only time the extra storage is really used is video, there is a few games where the PS3 has more videos or higher quality.

    Good to see not all PC games are held up by the consoles.

  • Diomedes #31 2 years ago

    Without reading it, let me summarize. Every positive PS3 thing ignored or downplayed, all negative things exaggerated. Vice versa for the 360. If you have read one, you have read them all.

  • IneptPercy #32 2 years ago

    Yes I agree that if there is a lot of different textures the extra storage could come in use but it does seem that most games will happily fit onto a DVD on this front as textures that the consoles can handle aren't massive quality so are therefore quite small.

    As I say it could lead to an advantage is some cases but in most its not.

    I do think blu-ray will come more into play with the next generation of consoles, as some PC games with higher quality assets are now using 10Gb+ installs.

    As for the image quality vs framerate debate, it is very much subjective to the type of game. Races/fighters need a stable frame rate where RPG's etc can have drops without issues with an overall better look.

  • Loghorn #33 2 years ago

    @ kj66246: Dragon's Age Origins may be better on the PS3 graphics wise, but the 360 version is better on the framerates, & that's what's most important in games. If the 360 version had at least two discs, then both versions would've probably been equal to one another. But then, the PC version stomps on them both, which is why I got that version instead. No problems at all whatsoever.

    @ MeBrains: Please. They have reviewed PC comparisons done on certain games before, such as The Orange Box, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, & Batman: Arkham Asylum, even when the 360 versions are better. Absolutely nothing to do with bringing in the PC version of Dragon's Age Origins because the PS3 version is "better."
    Edited by 2 at 30/11/09 @ 21:14

  • dryden555 #34 2 years ago


    The article writer doesnt really address the irony that a midlevel PC with a 60 buck nvidia card can run Dragon Age at max graphics settings.

    I love Dragon Age but the graphics -- even on the PC and at max quality -- hark back to Half-Life 2 era graphics. Lots of fuzzy bitmaps on environment textures.

  • MeBrains #35 2 years ago

    loghorn: afaik, in the Xbox 360 vs. PS3 Face-Offs, this is a first. there have been other "triple format" face-offs or game specific ones. I am not mistaking am I?

  • TRUTH #36 2 years ago

    The PS3 Dragon Origin framerates are fairly bad and the loaaaading times seem to be more frequent and longer
    Edited by 1 at 30/11/09 @ 22:05

  • smelly #37 2 years ago

    Blooming heck!

    I have just 3 people on my ignore list - but i only see 45 of 86 posts!

  • rotmm #38 2 years ago

    @smelly,

    I have none on mine, and (including your post) I only see 46 of 87.

    A glitch in the Matrix methinks.

  • SeesThroughAll #39 2 years ago

    @ smelly: same here. I only see 45 comments :)

    It was good to see the PC version brought along for comparison in the case of Dragon Age. I think DF should make that a habit and always compare console versions to the PC version for perspective. And change the feature's name to "Multi-platform face-off", I guess.
    The rest was just business as usual...

  • davisorle #40 2 years ago

    @Widge
    Trying to be funny bymocking me when I know what im talking about and you dont, doesnt take much more than that to see who is the dumbass here, right? Oh yeah there is one way. Check the link and you know where to shove that one tree ;)

    [link url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/pc-ps3 -360-comparison-dragon-age/58659
    ]http://ww w.gametrailers.com/video/pc-ps3...[/link]

    @Xerxes
    From the only times ill agree with you. Noone bitching for that matter.

  • TheJuriel #41 2 years ago

    Dragon Age is a bit of an ugly game anyways, a minor difference in texture quality doesn't save it from boring art direction combined with visuals lagging a few years behind the times...

  • Soul_man #42 2 years ago

    I am playing Dragon Age on the PS3 and it's great fun. The frame rate is only noticeably bad (to me) in very few areas. I recommend setting the difficulty to hard for experienced CRPG'ers.

    By the way, the load times are apparently better on the PS3 compared to the 360. Probably not a big difference, but still worth mentioning in a comparison, I would think?

  • Retroid #43 2 years ago

    The front page comment count includes comments left by banned users (usually due to having catastrophically bad negative karma). That's why the front page was listing almost 90 comments earlier on when the actually visible comments hadn't even hit the 50 mark.

  • Retroid #44 2 years ago

    MeBrains: "so. after all these years, PS3 got the edge in one game and was completely identical for the next. what does DF decide to do? pop in the PC version for the former and use the controls as an argument for the latter... hahahah. good one."

    Bless. There are other games which've had the edge on PS3 over 360 previously in these face-offs, but they're conveniently ignored by the OMG DF IS BIASED THEY HAS BEEN BOUGHT BY MS AND THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND THE GREY ALIENS WHO WANT TO HIDE ATLANTIS FROM US brigade.

    The main difference here is that much was made of the +/- points in comparison to the PC version; I'd even heard some say the 360 version was unplayable in comparison. I'm rather thankful that it's not the case as I don't have a PC poweful enough for it and I have two console formats to choose from now :)

  • UncleLou #45 2 years ago

    Dragon Age: Origins is a game that concentrates heavily on its dialogue-driven cut-scenes, and the close-up texture work we see here comes off second best, which is puzzling when you consider what BioWare achieved two years ago with Mass Effect

    Not really that puzzling, seeing how DA is a much, much bigger game than ME.

    Anyway, don't quite get how people can complain about DA's looks, at least on the PC: from the isometric perspective, it's often stunningly beautiful, with a level of detail comparable only to the old 2D games.
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/09 @ 11:04

  • laudy #46 2 years ago

    "Bless. There are other games which've had the edge on PS3 over 360 previously in these face-offs"

    could you tell me which ones they are please?

  • Retroid #47 2 years ago

    Off the top of my head there's Bionic Commando.

    Is that why you voted that comment down? ;)

  • JayG #48 2 years ago

    The HD texture pack's help on pc a lot. The game's only been out a month too, so will only get better.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #49 2 years ago

    I think the 360 version looks pretty good considering the hardware was designed 5 years ago, PCs double in power every Two years, and according to Sony the PS3's power is in a different league.

  • Trejser #50 2 years ago

    laudy: Bionic Commando, Wanted WoF, Terminator S, TR Underworld and from this FO Dragon Age and.... FIFA 10, no one see it? Game perform exact same and look almost the same, PS3 version have better aa.

  • Retroid #51 2 years ago

    Ah, cheers Trejser; not had the best night's sleep and my usual coffee hasn't helped kickstart my memory today :(

  • laudy #52 2 years ago

    Thanks for the game, but you did say games, so are there any others? I've read the vast majority of the face-offs and can't remember any ps3 games having the edge over 360. I'll check out Bionic Commando at some stage so cheers for that.

    "OMG DF IS BIASED THEY HAS BEEN BOUGHT BY MS AND THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND THE GREY ALIENS WHO WANT TO HIDE ATLANTIS FROM US"

    I thought that bit was unnecessary, but i didn't mark you down, I generally leave that to others who don't believe folk are entitled to an opinion...

    Ignore the first part, that's been covered!

    Cheers
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/09 @ 11:45

  • MeBrains #53 2 years ago

    retroid: easy m8! I was just being cheeky with the comment I made. I am not one who thinks DF / EG is biased towards any console, as well as actually quite liked the addition of the PC version to this face-off.

    I am genuinely surprised my post got marked up though - I would have expected the opposite to happen.

  • Retroid #54 2 years ago

    As a Mod I can see who marked which comment down.... ;)

    My CAPS bit was in response to the number of people who seem to treat these face-offs as a massive conspiracy and any observation as a confirmation of bias against Sony. I've lost count of the number of times I've had to point out that posters are wrong about certain games not being covered - Bionic Commando being the main one I remember, one poster insisting on it being proof of bias that it hadn't been covered when it, of course, had.

  • Retroid #55 2 years ago

    @MeBrains: Heh, fair enough! :)

    When I make a comment like that it's usually because I've reached critical mass and is rarely aimed at a specific poster - there were several others saying similar on that same page but rather than respond to all of them I usually just pick the one. I should make that clearer in future, I think.

  • laudy #56 2 years ago

    ok, i see what you're saying, although aren't these folk just expressing opinions?

    At the end of the day, it's all about perception. People will see whatever they want to see. Although I have read posts on here that claim that ps3 games have never "won" anything as far as these face-offs are concerned...perhaps they just missed those editions?

    In the 'Wanted' comparison, the fella said he'd rather play something else anyway! It's clear from the posts on here that some people form opinions based on what they read, so I guess they need to be careful how they phrase things...

  • Retroid #57 2 years ago

    People are entitled to their opinions of course, but they can expect to be corrected they say something incorrect - like saying no PS3 multiformat game has proven to be technically better in these face-offs, or saying the PC version of a game has been mentioned because the author of the article 'obviously' still wanted an MS platform to 'win'.

    As for the quality of the games in question; Digital Foundry is just interested in the technical performance of games, the gameplay is covered elsewhere ;)
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/09 @ 12:26

  • laudy #58 2 years ago

    On the gameplay front, that's what I thought as well, which is why i was surprised at the "All things being equal, for a game of this ilk, I'd sooner replay Dark Sector on either platform."

    Doesn't say much for Wanted does it?! :o)

  • SYS64738 #59 2 years ago

    "There are still inconsistencies in frame-rate in cinematics (pfft, big deal)" (FIFA10)

    It IS a big deal IMO, the only thing that sticks out like a sore thumb in an otherwise pretty polished game. Not that it affects gameplay as such, but come on what's so difficult in rendering a football pitch with 22 players at a stable framerate?
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/09 @ 13:25

  • MeBrains #60 2 years ago

    semitope: ah, so I was right here? Including the PC in a 360vsPS3 face-off is a first?

    it does not change the fact that I do not care really. I just noticed it. I do believe Retroid in saying that DF is just about technical merits and that PC DA:o was not included so that an MS platform would win. Richard's style is too factual for that, i.e. I have not read any "biased" comment from the guy ever.

  • TRUTH #61 2 years ago

    The PS3 Dragon Origin framerates are fairly bad and the loaaaading times seem to be more frequent and longer...check loading on YT to see the difference compared to 360/PC(best)

  • Trejser #62 2 years ago

    TRUTH : Show some proof (about loadings).

  • Badassbab #63 2 years ago

    According to VG Chartz the following-

    "The Playstation 3 version is better in every regard than the Xbox 360 version from a technical standpoint. The framerate is smoother, colors better, and load times shorter, but it’s still a far cry from the PC version. If you are picking between consoles though, the Playstation 3 version is the one to buy."

    I keep hearing differtent reports about which version has the smoother frame rate and quicker loading. Graphics are better on the PS3 though that's not saying much.

  • TRUTH #64 2 years ago

    Well i'm playing DO on PS3 - the graphics are naff (very sub standard for PS3 and 360) - but the framerates do stutter. I sort of played about 3hrs on 360, while at my mates place - it did run smoother esp in issuing during attacks which using magical effects and noticed less stuttering/jerky movement when running or walking into new areas compared the PS3 version .

    If you want a rpg get Demon's Souls (PS3) - forget DO (console versions)!
    Edited by 2 at 02/12/09 @ 22:15

  • uzivatel #65 2 years ago

    BioWare, EA and Edge of Reality should be ashamed.
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/09 @ 19:57

  • XXmen #66 2 years ago

    What about the FIFA Interactive World Cup that is exclusive to the PS3???does that make it the prefered version to choose from???hell YEAH...the stupid DF staff just bc they like the 360 controller that dont mean the x360 version is better!!cmon biased DF!!!gimme a break....

  • SeesThroughAll #67 2 years ago

    The controller preference is indeed a subjective thing.
    But then again, any reader who prefers to play FIFA with the DS3 will just disregard that statement.

    Note that the PS3 "won" the PES vote thanks to the controller as well... I think the underlying message was "pick the version you feel more comfortable with, because the graphics are pretty much the same".

  • frazzl #68 2 years ago

    In my opinion the graphical difference between the PS3 and 360 versions of Dragon Age is negligible. Not too sure about the frame rate differences, but the 360 version does stutter occasionally.

    What bothers me the most is the gameplay differences between the console versions and the PC version. As much as I like the game, the combat system for the console versions is poor. Not being able to queue more than a single action (without spamming on the left trigger) is a royal pain in the arse, and I honestly don't see why it couldn't have been implemented for us console gamers. The isometric view would also have been helpful in certain battles (especially the indoors ones) where the camera often doesn't give a clear enough view for accurate spell casting. I reckon both the PS3 and the 360 got a lazy PC port, which is a shame given how great the rest of the game is :(.
    Edited by 1 at 02/12/09 @ 11:26

  • Badassbab #69 2 years ago

    Dragons Age is a PC game rushed out for the consoles. Nuff said.

  • Machetazo #70 2 years ago

    So, if it's taken as granted that the PC will always beat consoles, what's the point in DF articles, is often asked. But, that's only important if you must have the best version, for sake of having that. But, even if you know that your platform of choice gets a less high quality version, perhaps it's still fine to play - you can enjoy it, despite perceived shortcomings. Maybe, though, it's just a mess.
    Thanks to Digital Foundry, you can see the differences so you can make an informed decision of whether you're ok with the differences, or not, before paying out.
    You don't just learn the what, but the why as well, to understand why the differences are present - did the developer do all they could to create an enjoyable game, or you might learn that the issues intrduced by balances made during the port process, critically affected the gameplay experience, and so may want to try something else instead. I don't know of another source that covers these considerations as comprehensively, or in as appealing a style of address.

  • Gouki #71 2 years ago

    isnt anyone tired of these yet.....

  • rexluger #72 2 years ago

    Playstation 3>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ;>>>Xbox 360
    ______________________________
    (no spam)
    Playstation/xbox/wii fans add me and check out my blog please http://luger992.wordpr ess.com/

  • Badassbab #73 2 years ago

    Machetazo

    Totally agree with you. Digital Foundry/Eurogamer have the best H2H by far. I used to read the ones over at IGN but there's simply no comparison.

  • Calgon #74 2 years ago

    haha semitope makes me laugh:

    "but it IS a first to include the PC in the first face-off"

    So its gone from *the* first to include the PC version to... "first time its been included in the first faceoff in the article".

    Yeah... :/ doesnt look like someones desperately clutching at straws or being petty there, so they can pretend they were right all along.

    Too funny these SDF types are.

    For what its worth they dont usually include the PC version because its normally always better(given that if you are a PC gamer then you probably have a PC that beats both consoles with ease) but in Dragon Age's case it probably was worth noting how much more effort was put into the PC version... ie neither console version was particularly impressive compared to standards set by other cross platform titles in the same genre(Oblivion, Fallout3 ect).

    "FIFA 10, no one see it? Game perform exact same and look almost the same, PS3 version have better aa."

    Maybe to you but as Richard rightly pointed out, the PS3s version has blurrier/softer look to it because of the RSX's quincunx AA. Technically speaking its a disadvantage whether you prefer it is up to you, good AA(the way its supposed to be done) doesnt give the appearance of blurred edges or textures though, it *should* give a cleaner/sharper look to a game infact(no jaggies).
    Edited by 2 at 03/12/09 @ 14:42

  • Trejser #75 2 years ago

    Calgon: IMO MSAAx4 > QAAx2, but QAAx2 > MSAAx2 (Xbox AC2 and F10 uses it).
    Edited by 1 at 03/12/09 @ 17:14

  • Yaz #76 2 years ago

    @semitope who wrote: "The "first faceoff" is the first time they compare the 2 versions. They come back later with a second faceoff when they want to compare the PC version so it is the first to include the PC in the FIRST faceoff between 2 game versions."

    Not quite, all the following have had face-offs between PC, PS3 and 360 first, no prior face-off between just the PS3 and 360;

    Fallout 3,
    Call of Duty: World at War,
    Far Cry 2,
    Fear 2,
    The Chronicles of Riddick,
    Batman: Arkham Asylum.

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/archive.php?p latform=digitalfoundry&type=face-off
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/archive.php?pla...[/link]

    So Dragon Age is certainly not the first game, far from it. The only 'strange' thing is that it was included within Face-off 23 (so it's perhaps the first within the main 'Face-off:Round X' series), but would it really have made a difference if two face-off articles were posted on the same day, where the Dragon Age face-off was seperated from Face-off 23?

  • Trejser #77 2 years ago

    This is "Xbox 360 vs. PS3 Face-Off" not "Face-Off". Comparison with pc version should be in "Face-Off" article.

  • Yaz #78 2 years ago

    @Trejser

    "This is "Xbox 360 vs. PS3 Face-Off" not "Face-Off""

    Ok, fair enough, there's a case for Dragon Age to be split off from this face off and put into a seperate article.

    I would put it's inclusion here to be nothing more than an oversight/error on Richard's part, rather than the claim that it was done to belittle the PS3 version.

    Agreed?

  • Yaz #79 2 years ago

    "Yes I am fueling the conspiracy fire. lol"

    :)

  • Calgon #80 2 years ago

    @Semitope - Haha, yes for a change that was my mistake I did read that wrong(it is being a little bit petty though just because they didnt feel it warranted a seperate article as not to tarnish a slight victory for the Sony fanboy camp), difference between me you though is I do maintain a level of integrity... rather than backtracking and bullshit(information you pulled out of your behind and inacurrate explanations of how things work ect) for which I've caught you out on numerous occasions and no amount of post deletion and feigned objectivity can convince me you aren't a rabid SDF troll. You are a prime candidate for 2009's EG-douche of the year, congrats.

    @Trejser - Im not sure I can agree with you on that but as I said if you prefer the look of QAA in that instance power to you, what I said was right though, technically QAA is less accurate. Id agree with Richard that Fifa10 isnt a game that has levels of detail where accuracy is as important as it might be in other games, Id still prefer a cleaner look over a soft blur though personally.

    @Yaz - I dont think it was an error at all, I mean surely you can see the difference between those titles you listed and this one?

    All of those were eagerly anticipated on console too... Dragon Age... well I couldn't tell you the release date and I doubt many console gamers could either, off the top of their head(i.e. PC version deserves a mention but was it worth doing a seperate article for? I dont think so).

    Credit to you though, you've far more patience for cretins like Semitope than I have.
    Edited by 1 at 04/12/09 @ 14:55

  • Grayvern #81 2 years ago

    THe picture on the front-end of the lego dragon and knight brought back fuzzy childhood memories.