The "Sony Games" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Since none of you Sony cretins seem to read Digitiser, I'll have to rave about Sony's new console for you!
Anyway, if you read Digitiser today (Monday) or tomorrow (Tuesday) on page 484 then you'll find a 6 page article on the PS3 processor called the Cell.
Now a few months back, the New Scientist had a little article about new processors by IBM. It turns out that manufacturers had been experimenting by mixing silicon with other materials to make it better (I can't remember which way) and IBM had finally made something of it.
As a result, they'd managed to make a prototype that ran at 110 Ghz.
It was obvious that this prototype was could and would be improved on.
Now IBM (working with Toshiba) have announced the "Cell", a new processor that's meant to reach the 250 Ghz range (roughly a thousand times more powerful than the current PS2 processor, the Emotion Engine).
This is a major breakthrough in technology and could lead to Nintendo eating their words about new hardware being uneccessary.
I know it takes more than just a processor to make a good console, but seeing as graphics and sound chips are merely processors dedicated to one task, I expect the same technology will be used to improve them by similar amounts.
I'm sure that other parts like RAM and Cache will also get their fair share of improvements.
With this power, games will be able to have full scale wars, with thousands of graphically detailed characters, each with their own advanced AI to give some really exciting possibilities.
I think after this, hardware will no longer be a limit - the imagination of the develloper will.
It's not just the standard hardware that should excite, though.
In many ways, the PS2 was just a prototype.
The DVD player and possibility of a Broadband adaptor made it seem like a true multi media system.
The PS3 is supposed to take this to the full level.
Yes, it'll have a DVD player and the broadband adaptor will likely be packaged as standard (broadband will most likely be widespread in the UK by the time this new console is released) and I expect Sony will take a leaf from Microsoft's book and include a hardrive too.
But it's supposed to take online activity to a new level with various features from games playing and browsing the web to shopping and ordering films - sky box-office style - and broadcasting digital television.
Now I know that's no big deal as most of these can already be done, but Sony intends to put it all into one neat little box, and make it more user friendly and efficient for "casual" gamers.
Online gaming will obviously get a big boost (the PS2 is just an experimental prototype in this area!) and, with the power of these new chips and speed of broadband communications, could support huge war scale online battles.
It would be interesting to see what devellopers can make out of this opportunity.
The other thing is that they'll most likely learn from many of the PS2's mistakes. And there were many.
The machine was a pig to devellop for, the launch was lacklusture, gamers had to wait 6 months for a title which really used the power (and although GT3's graphics were tremendous, little else of the game was anything innoative or revolutionary).
It was only after a whole year had gone that the killer likes of Grand Theft Auto 3 and Metal Gear Solid 2 came out, making the PS2 the good purchase it is today.
The only reason that the machine didn't fail was because Sony had built such a deservedly strong reputation on it's original Playstation which had garaunteed them a huge success before the console had even launched.
And because this reputation drove Sega, along with it's Dreamcast, out of the console business, this left no competition again the PS2 for well over a year.
Shortly after the Xbox and Gamecube were released, Sony acknowledged how much they admired how nice these machines were to devellop for and stated that this would be a main focus point on the Playstation 3.
Another thing (that I found especially disappointing) was that the PS2 only had 2 controller ports. Naturally, Sony will have the sense to put four in this time round and encourage devellopers to stretch the machines capabilities for frantic four player action.
And with the PS3's power, making co-operative missions with numerous AI opponents, detailed environments and advanced AI should come naturally without any slowdown whatsoever.
Sony would also have to touch up the pad. The PS2 pad has the right buttons, mainly in the right places but could do with a few "updates".
The PSOne pad was designed for games with the D-Pad.
It put in a couple of analogue sticks to keep up, but the pad was still designed around the D-pad.
The L and R shoulder buttons are also a bit dated (the same ones that were designed for the Snes over 10 years ago!).
The D-pad and analogue stick would have to change places (after all, more games use the analogue stick now so it should get the priority spot).
I think that the front should buttons (L1 and R1) should be GC style analogue shoulder buttons or Xbox/DC style triggers.
The back buttons (L2 and R2) would be good as N64 style "Z" triggers, best used for FPS games.
Finally the name would need to be changed.
Playstation was fantastic, catchy and well thought out.
The Playstation 2 was meant to show that it was the next step forward.
It's wearing a bit thin now though.
Something along the lines of Powerstation would be familiar yet fresh and new.
Don't get me wrong, I've not become a Sony convert.
I still think Nintendo are the world's best games company and plan to keep my Gamecube.
But, while the Gamecube is getting some of the best games around, as a stand alone games machine, there's also some things it can't do.
Nintendo's lack of online plans is one thing, a DVD player is another.
That doesn't mean that I'd choose this new PS3 over a Nintendo machine, but like any true gamer, I want to have the best of both worlds (and by the time Sony's new machine arrives on these shores, I'll probably be earning a good enough wage to buy ALL the consoles).
Don't get TOO excited yet. It's not set to arrive here for atleast 3-4 years, but as future's go, it's not a bad one to be heading our way. :-)
Anyway, if you read Digitiser today (Monday) or tomorrow (Tuesday) on page 484 then you'll find a 6 page article on the PS3 processor called the Cell.
Now a few months back, the New Scientist had a little article about new processors by IBM. It turns out that manufacturers had been experimenting by mixing silicon with other materials to make it better (I can't remember which way) and IBM had finally made something of it.
As a result, they'd managed to make a prototype that ran at 110 Ghz.
It was obvious that this prototype was could and would be improved on.
Now IBM (working with Toshiba) have announced the "Cell", a new processor that's meant to reach the 250 Ghz range (roughly a thousand times more powerful than the current PS2 processor, the Emotion Engine).
This is a major breakthrough in technology and could lead to Nintendo eating their words about new hardware being uneccessary.
I know it takes more than just a processor to make a good console, but seeing as graphics and sound chips are merely processors dedicated to one task, I expect the same technology will be used to improve them by similar amounts.
I'm sure that other parts like RAM and Cache will also get their fair share of improvements.
With this power, games will be able to have full scale wars, with thousands of graphically detailed characters, each with their own advanced AI to give some really exciting possibilities.
I think after this, hardware will no longer be a limit - the imagination of the develloper will.
It's not just the standard hardware that should excite, though.
In many ways, the PS2 was just a prototype.
The DVD player and possibility of a Broadband adaptor made it seem like a true multi media system.
The PS3 is supposed to take this to the full level.
Yes, it'll have a DVD player and the broadband adaptor will likely be packaged as standard (broadband will most likely be widespread in the UK by the time this new console is released) and I expect Sony will take a leaf from Microsoft's book and include a hardrive too.
But it's supposed to take online activity to a new level with various features from games playing and browsing the web to shopping and ordering films - sky box-office style - and broadcasting digital television.
Now I know that's no big deal as most of these can already be done, but Sony intends to put it all into one neat little box, and make it more user friendly and efficient for "casual" gamers.
Online gaming will obviously get a big boost (the PS2 is just an experimental prototype in this area!) and, with the power of these new chips and speed of broadband communications, could support huge war scale online battles.
It would be interesting to see what devellopers can make out of this opportunity.
The other thing is that they'll most likely learn from many of the PS2's mistakes. And there were many.
The machine was a pig to devellop for, the launch was lacklusture, gamers had to wait 6 months for a title which really used the power (and although GT3's graphics were tremendous, little else of the game was anything innoative or revolutionary).
It was only after a whole year had gone that the killer likes of Grand Theft Auto 3 and Metal Gear Solid 2 came out, making the PS2 the good purchase it is today.
The only reason that the machine didn't fail was because Sony had built such a deservedly strong reputation on it's original Playstation which had garaunteed them a huge success before the console had even launched.
And because this reputation drove Sega, along with it's Dreamcast, out of the console business, this left no competition again the PS2 for well over a year.
Shortly after the Xbox and Gamecube were released, Sony acknowledged how much they admired how nice these machines were to devellop for and stated that this would be a main focus point on the Playstation 3.
Another thing (that I found especially disappointing) was that the PS2 only had 2 controller ports. Naturally, Sony will have the sense to put four in this time round and encourage devellopers to stretch the machines capabilities for frantic four player action.
And with the PS3's power, making co-operative missions with numerous AI opponents, detailed environments and advanced AI should come naturally without any slowdown whatsoever.
Sony would also have to touch up the pad. The PS2 pad has the right buttons, mainly in the right places but could do with a few "updates".
The PSOne pad was designed for games with the D-Pad.
It put in a couple of analogue sticks to keep up, but the pad was still designed around the D-pad.
The L and R shoulder buttons are also a bit dated (the same ones that were designed for the Snes over 10 years ago!).
The D-pad and analogue stick would have to change places (after all, more games use the analogue stick now so it should get the priority spot).
I think that the front should buttons (L1 and R1) should be GC style analogue shoulder buttons or Xbox/DC style triggers.
The back buttons (L2 and R2) would be good as N64 style "Z" triggers, best used for FPS games.
Finally the name would need to be changed.
Playstation was fantastic, catchy and well thought out.
The Playstation 2 was meant to show that it was the next step forward.
It's wearing a bit thin now though.
Something along the lines of Powerstation would be familiar yet fresh and new.
Don't get me wrong, I've not become a Sony convert.
I still think Nintendo are the world's best games company and plan to keep my Gamecube.
But, while the Gamecube is getting some of the best games around, as a stand alone games machine, there's also some things it can't do.
Nintendo's lack of online plans is one thing, a DVD player is another.
That doesn't mean that I'd choose this new PS3 over a Nintendo machine, but like any true gamer, I want to have the best of both worlds (and by the time Sony's new machine arrives on these shores, I'll probably be earning a good enough wage to buy ALL the consoles).
Don't get TOO excited yet. It's not set to arrive here for atleast 3-4 years, but as future's go, it's not a bad one to be heading our way. :-)
Page:
You want to use the same old generation controller for the next generation as well???? My god no, such high specs but under acchieveing controller, i think not.
And change the Playstation name because it will soon be destroyed by Microsoft and it may be good for a fresh start.
And change the Playstation name because it will soon be destroyed by Microsoft and it may be good for a fresh start.
Sure, they can make ludicrous specifications, but if developers are still living in the PS2/GC/Xbox generation, it will take some time for them to use it to its potential. The fact that Nintendo make the best games ever, and Microsoft has sign exclusively many very good developers means that, as with the PS2, there won't be that many must have brilliant games.
250 Ghz?!
Bloody hell. It best be able to do all the house work and ting.
Bloody hell. It best be able to do all the house work and ting.
The PS2 layout is good, it could just do with a little touching up.
I don't mean completely re-doing it, it just needs a couple of tweaks here and there, to keep with the times.
For a start, the analogue stick should get priority rather than the D-pad (seeing as most games are 3D and use the analogue stick nowdays), and the shoulder buttons could do with a little updating (same sort designed for that 10 year old Snes, remember?).
And I know the Specs may still be improved, but they won't be hugely different from what they've already announced.
The console will be finished atleast 2 and a half years before we see it (the 2 and half years being game devellopment and US/Jap releases before it comes to Europe).
Anyway, you simply want a PS2 with better graphics.
But most people would rather move forward, including Sony.
I expect they came up with all these ideas months ago...
I don't mean completely re-doing it, it just needs a couple of tweaks here and there, to keep with the times.
For a start, the analogue stick should get priority rather than the D-pad (seeing as most games are 3D and use the analogue stick nowdays), and the shoulder buttons could do with a little updating (same sort designed for that 10 year old Snes, remember?).
And I know the Specs may still be improved, but they won't be hugely different from what they've already announced.
The console will be finished atleast 2 and a half years before we see it (the 2 and half years being game devellopment and US/Jap releases before it comes to Europe).
Anyway, you simply want a PS2 with better graphics.
But most people would rather move forward, including Sony.
I expect they came up with all these ideas months ago...
Right there are a few points you made that I'd like to pick you up on,
Firstly if the PS3 isn't even expected for 3-4 years then I expect that technology would have improved vastly by then and the specs for PS3 will be very different to that which they say at the time being.
The original specs that came out for PS2 were very different to what they actually are.
Another thing why change the name 'Playstation' it's (as far as I'm concerned the best console name of all time) Playstation 3 sounds good to me, and to be quite frank I think powerstation sounds a tad tacky, kinda like what you could imagine a cheap immatation of the playstation would be called.
And why oh why change the controller, it's the best layed out one thats ever been on the market, there are enough buttons and they're all in the perfect most comfortabe place. I personally thought that the N64 controller was horrible, it was very awkward playing them analogue games, and I really do despise those annoying trigger buttons, its like yeah its inventive and new, but its actually a lot worse to use than a more standard style pad, so whats the point. I vote leave the pad as it is, if they want to make it look more futuristic then just paint the thing chrome blue, or metallic grey or something (sarcasm intended)really awesome like that.
Please don't take this as a slagging I respect your opinion and I hope you respect mine, I just think if it ain't broken don't fix it.
Firstly if the PS3 isn't even expected for 3-4 years then I expect that technology would have improved vastly by then and the specs for PS3 will be very different to that which they say at the time being.
The original specs that came out for PS2 were very different to what they actually are.
Another thing why change the name 'Playstation' it's (as far as I'm concerned the best console name of all time) Playstation 3 sounds good to me, and to be quite frank I think powerstation sounds a tad tacky, kinda like what you could imagine a cheap immatation of the playstation would be called.
And why oh why change the controller, it's the best layed out one thats ever been on the market, there are enough buttons and they're all in the perfect most comfortabe place. I personally thought that the N64 controller was horrible, it was very awkward playing them analogue games, and I really do despise those annoying trigger buttons, its like yeah its inventive and new, but its actually a lot worse to use than a more standard style pad, so whats the point. I vote leave the pad as it is, if they want to make it look more futuristic then just paint the thing chrome blue, or metallic grey or something (sarcasm intended)really awesome like that.
Please don't take this as a slagging I respect your opinion and I hope you respect mine, I just think if it ain't broken don't fix it.
But do you think the PS3 will survive? Microsoft have set targets to destroy it, will you bet against them to fail?
Since none of you Sony cretins seem to read Digitiser, I'll have to rave about Sony's new console for you!
Anyway, if you read Digitiser today (Monday) or tomorrow (Tuesday) on page 484 then you'll find a 6 page article on the PS3 processor called the Cell.
Now a few months back, the New Scientist had a little article about new processors by IBM. It turns out that manufacturers had been experimenting by mixing silicon with other materials to make it better (I can't remember which way) and IBM had finally made something of it.
As a result, they'd managed to make a prototype that ran at 110 Ghz.
It was obvious that this prototype was could and would be improved on.
Now IBM (working with Toshiba) have announced the "Cell", a new processor that's meant to reach the 250 Ghz range (roughly a thousand times more powerful than the current PS2 processor, the Emotion Engine).
This is a major breakthrough in technology and could lead to Nintendo eating their words about new hardware being uneccessary.
I know it takes more than just a processor to make a good console, but seeing as graphics and sound chips are merely processors dedicated to one task, I expect the same technology will be used to improve them by similar amounts.
I'm sure that other parts like RAM and Cache will also get their fair share of improvements.
With this power, games will be able to have full scale wars, with thousands of graphically detailed characters, each with their own advanced AI to give some really exciting possibilities.
I think after this, hardware will no longer be a limit - the imagination of the develloper will.
It's not just the standard hardware that should excite, though.
In many ways, the PS2 was just a prototype.
The DVD player and possibility of a Broadband adaptor made it seem like a true multi media system.
The PS3 is supposed to take this to the full level.
Yes, it'll have a DVD player and the broadband adaptor will likely be packaged as standard (broadband will most likely be widespread in the UK by the time this new console is released) and I expect Sony will take a leaf from Microsoft's book and include a hardrive too.
But it's supposed to take online activity to a new level with various features from games playing and browsing the web to shopping and ordering films - sky box-office style - and broadcasting digital television.
Now I know that's no big deal as most of these can already be done, but Sony intends to put it all into one neat little box, and make it more user friendly and efficient for "casual" gamers.
Online gaming will obviously get a big boost (the PS2 is just an experimental prototype in this area!) and, with the power of these new chips and speed of broadband communications, could support huge war scale online battles.
It would be interesting to see what devellopers can make out of this opportunity.
The other thing is that they'll most likely learn from many of the PS2's mistakes. And there were many.
The machine was a pig to devellop for, the launch was lacklusture, gamers had to wait 6 months for a title which really used the power (and although GT3's graphics were tremendous, little else of the game was anything innoative or revolutionary).
It was only after a whole year had gone that the killer likes of Grand Theft Auto 3 and Metal Gear Solid 2 came out, making the PS2 the good purchase it is today.
The only reason that the machine didn't fail was because Sony had built such a deservedly strong reputation on it's original Playstation which had garaunteed them a huge success before the console had even launched.
And because this reputation drove Sega, along with it's Dreamcast, out of the console business, this left no competition again the PS2 for well over a year.
Shortly after the Xbox and Gamecube were released, Sony acknowledged how much they admired how nice these machines were to devellop for and stated that this would be a main focus point on the Playstation 3.
Another thing (that I found especially disappointing) was that the PS2 only had 2 controller ports. Naturally, Sony will have the sense to put four in this time round and encourage devellopers to stretch the machines capabilities for frantic four player action.
And with the PS3's power, making co-operative missions with numerous AI opponents, detailed environments and advanced AI should come naturally without any slowdown whatsoever.
Sony would also have to touch up the pad. The PS2 pad has the right buttons, mainly in the right places but could do with a few "updates".
The PSOne pad was designed for games with the D-Pad.
It put in a couple of analogue sticks to keep up, but the pad was still designed around the D-pad.
The L and R shoulder buttons are also a bit dated (the same ones that were designed for the Snes over 10 years ago!).
The D-pad and analogue stick would have to change places (after all, more games use the analogue stick now so it should get the priority spot).
I think that the front should buttons (L1 and R1) should be GC style analogue shoulder buttons or Xbox/DC style triggers.
The back buttons (L2 and R2) would be good as N64 style "Z" triggers, best used for FPS games.
Finally the name would need to be changed.
Playstation was fantastic, catchy and well thought out.
The Playstation 2 was meant to show that it was the next step forward.
It's wearing a bit thin now though.
Something along the lines of Powerstation would be familiar yet fresh and new.
Don't get me wrong, I've not become a Sony convert.
I still think Nintendo are the world's best games company and plan to keep my Gamecube.
But, while the Gamecube is getting some of the best games around, as a stand alone games machine, there's also some things it can't do.
Nintendo's lack of online plans is one thing, a DVD player is another.
That doesn't mean that I'd choose this new PS3 over a Nintendo machine, but like any true gamer, I want to have the best of both worlds (and by the time Sony's new machine arrives on these shores, I'll probably be earning a good enough wage to buy ALL the consoles).
Don't get TOO excited yet. It's not set to arrive here for atleast 3-4 years, but as future's go, it's not a bad one to be heading our way. :-)
Anyway, if you read Digitiser today (Monday) or tomorrow (Tuesday) on page 484 then you'll find a 6 page article on the PS3 processor called the Cell.
Now a few months back, the New Scientist had a little article about new processors by IBM. It turns out that manufacturers had been experimenting by mixing silicon with other materials to make it better (I can't remember which way) and IBM had finally made something of it.
As a result, they'd managed to make a prototype that ran at 110 Ghz.
It was obvious that this prototype was could and would be improved on.
Now IBM (working with Toshiba) have announced the "Cell", a new processor that's meant to reach the 250 Ghz range (roughly a thousand times more powerful than the current PS2 processor, the Emotion Engine).
This is a major breakthrough in technology and could lead to Nintendo eating their words about new hardware being uneccessary.
I know it takes more than just a processor to make a good console, but seeing as graphics and sound chips are merely processors dedicated to one task, I expect the same technology will be used to improve them by similar amounts.
I'm sure that other parts like RAM and Cache will also get their fair share of improvements.
With this power, games will be able to have full scale wars, with thousands of graphically detailed characters, each with their own advanced AI to give some really exciting possibilities.
I think after this, hardware will no longer be a limit - the imagination of the develloper will.
It's not just the standard hardware that should excite, though.
In many ways, the PS2 was just a prototype.
The DVD player and possibility of a Broadband adaptor made it seem like a true multi media system.
The PS3 is supposed to take this to the full level.
Yes, it'll have a DVD player and the broadband adaptor will likely be packaged as standard (broadband will most likely be widespread in the UK by the time this new console is released) and I expect Sony will take a leaf from Microsoft's book and include a hardrive too.
But it's supposed to take online activity to a new level with various features from games playing and browsing the web to shopping and ordering films - sky box-office style - and broadcasting digital television.
Now I know that's no big deal as most of these can already be done, but Sony intends to put it all into one neat little box, and make it more user friendly and efficient for "casual" gamers.
Online gaming will obviously get a big boost (the PS2 is just an experimental prototype in this area!) and, with the power of these new chips and speed of broadband communications, could support huge war scale online battles.
It would be interesting to see what devellopers can make out of this opportunity.
The other thing is that they'll most likely learn from many of the PS2's mistakes. And there were many.
The machine was a pig to devellop for, the launch was lacklusture, gamers had to wait 6 months for a title which really used the power (and although GT3's graphics were tremendous, little else of the game was anything innoative or revolutionary).
It was only after a whole year had gone that the killer likes of Grand Theft Auto 3 and Metal Gear Solid 2 came out, making the PS2 the good purchase it is today.
The only reason that the machine didn't fail was because Sony had built such a deservedly strong reputation on it's original Playstation which had garaunteed them a huge success before the console had even launched.
And because this reputation drove Sega, along with it's Dreamcast, out of the console business, this left no competition again the PS2 for well over a year.
Shortly after the Xbox and Gamecube were released, Sony acknowledged how much they admired how nice these machines were to devellop for and stated that this would be a main focus point on the Playstation 3.
Another thing (that I found especially disappointing) was that the PS2 only had 2 controller ports. Naturally, Sony will have the sense to put four in this time round and encourage devellopers to stretch the machines capabilities for frantic four player action.
And with the PS3's power, making co-operative missions with numerous AI opponents, detailed environments and advanced AI should come naturally without any slowdown whatsoever.
Sony would also have to touch up the pad. The PS2 pad has the right buttons, mainly in the right places but could do with a few "updates".
The PSOne pad was designed for games with the D-Pad.
It put in a couple of analogue sticks to keep up, but the pad was still designed around the D-pad.
The L and R shoulder buttons are also a bit dated (the same ones that were designed for the Snes over 10 years ago!).
The D-pad and analogue stick would have to change places (after all, more games use the analogue stick now so it should get the priority spot).
I think that the front should buttons (L1 and R1) should be GC style analogue shoulder buttons or Xbox/DC style triggers.
The back buttons (L2 and R2) would be good as N64 style "Z" triggers, best used for FPS games.
Finally the name would need to be changed.
Playstation was fantastic, catchy and well thought out.
The Playstation 2 was meant to show that it was the next step forward.
It's wearing a bit thin now though.
Something along the lines of Powerstation would be familiar yet fresh and new.
Don't get me wrong, I've not become a Sony convert.
I still think Nintendo are the world's best games company and plan to keep my Gamecube.
But, while the Gamecube is getting some of the best games around, as a stand alone games machine, there's also some things it can't do.
Nintendo's lack of online plans is one thing, a DVD player is another.
That doesn't mean that I'd choose this new PS3 over a Nintendo machine, but like any true gamer, I want to have the best of both worlds (and by the time Sony's new machine arrives on these shores, I'll probably be earning a good enough wage to buy ALL the consoles).
Don't get TOO excited yet. It's not set to arrive here for atleast 3-4 years, but as future's go, it's not a bad one to be heading our way. :-)
Page: