DiRT for the PS3 "looks fantastic compared to the 360"
by Colin Torretta 
{ Jul 12th 2007 at 3:00PM }
Codemaster's DiRT is a good example, while it is arriving a couple months after the PC/360 version it's not a huge delay and it appears that the time isn't being spent simply bringing the PS3 version up to the quality of the 360 version. No, according to a Gamespot interview, the time is being spent making the PS3 one better than the other versions. The developer espouses at length about how much better the PS3 version will be, saying that it "looks fantastic compared to the 360." He further explains that the framerate is better, that there is full support for all the PS2 steering wheels, and that they now have full uncompressed 7.1 surround sound -- something 'the 360 didn't allow us to do.'
Great news all around for PS3 owners frustrated about the delay of the highly anticipated racer. While it's always nice getting a game as soon as possible, getting a better game by waiting a couple months is a pretty solid trade-off. DiRT will be out this fall (around September) and according to the developer we'll also be getting a demo before then, so keep an eye on the PS Store for more gorgeous offroad racing.
[Via N4G]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pete @ Jul 12th 2007 3:10PM
dope! i'm still not gonna buy it, dope non the less!
T H @ Jul 12th 2007 3:11PM
Its too bad this game doesn't even MILDLY interest me. Where is GT5??
Shaun @ Jul 12th 2007 3:14PM
(it wasn't 5.1) He said 7.1 uncompressed surround which the Xbox 360 can't support. I have a 7.1 system and it's a big difference adding the other 2 speaks..
Moe @ Jul 12th 2007 3:17PM
Believe it or not i bought a ps3 for DiRT because i didn't want to upgrade my PC. After it was delayed i was Very disappointed. This is GREAT news!
Colin.Torretta @ Jul 12th 2007 3:23PM
Shaun,
Whoops, thanks. I misheard him (silly British accents). Post has been updated.
-Colin.Torretta
ToXicDecree @ Jul 12th 2007 3:28PM
This is cool
CJ @ Jul 12th 2007 4:42PM
Finally we can prove to the 3fixme fanboys that we were right all along!!!!
SteveMB @ Jul 12th 2007 3:45PM
It does look great compared to the 360. Although Dirt is not a game I would want to play.
http://www.ps3nuts.com
GRT @ Jul 12th 2007 3:36PM
Excellent, I *almost* bought this for the 360 then I thought "Well, let's wait to see how the PS3 version turns out." Now I'm glad I did!
eddyk @ Jul 12th 2007 3:48PM
Don't want to be a troll, but the vids looks the same for me ... looks like classic developer bu***hit (except for the 7.1 which doesn't make a big difference since I have already explode my ears with Metallica), the guy want to sell his game, that's all.
Andy @ Jul 12th 2007 4:11PM
Was this game developed for PC initially?
I haven't heard any news about porting from PC to PS3 so maybe it is easier and will produce a better looking game.
Just a random question
How do people find out that games have bad framerates? Even games that have bad frame rates I can't tell.
WTangoFoxtrot @ Jul 12th 2007 4:26PM
yea graphically the game looks like its the same. i am assuming the frame rate will be say 60 while the PC and 360 version is around 30. doesn't make much of a difference given its 30 fps smooth so i doubt i will see much improvement.
the 7.1 thing is interesting and i cant imagine how sweet that would be in a racing game but for the average student like me upgrading to 5.1 is still a distant dream.
in the end i think the dude's making the claims just for PR for the release. i wont complain however if the tweaks to the neon engine were available via XBL though....
WTangoFoxtrot @ Jul 12th 2007 4:28PM
@10
no mate, the PC and the 360 have the same base architecture. porting from the PC or from the 360 to the PS3 is equally troublesome.
Kspraydad @ Jul 12th 2007 4:49PM
Codemasters has already admitted to being deep in development of DiRT 2 that will have MUCH better online play (as one example of improvements)....
Why they announce this when they haven't even sold DiRT 1 yet is beyond me....
I'll wait for DiRT 2 thanks.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/804/804207p1.html
Matthew Horsman, DiRT's chief game designer, said that the team has been listening to comments from gamers about what they did and didn't like about the original game. "All the stuff people didn't like about the first DiRT will be changed for DiRT 2," he explained, and then promised that "DiRT 2's online mode will offer a much more embellished experience so everyone will be happy."
Horsman also revealed that the team has been working with COG, the online arm of Codemasters, and that DiRT 2's multiplayer game will 'be a big surprise'. Our money is on a fully-fledged multiplayer experience with multi-car races rather than DiRT's online leaderboard system.
hazerulez @ Jul 12th 2007 5:06PM
Kspraydad- that dont really mean that much because it still wont be released for at least another year so we have plenty of time to still play the BETTER version on the ps3
olv @ Jul 12th 2007 5:04PM
DiRT2 really needs to have better multiplayer than DiRT1 - because, yikes, calling DiRT1 having multiplayer is a insult to all multiplayer games out there. You can only talk to one person at a time (after finishing the race - not while driving! you could do that outside of the game as well via private chat - with about the same (non-)comfort of going to a special menu and selecting the person you want to talk to..) and the only thing you see of anybody else racing against you is your rank on the leaderboard.
brrrrrrrr..... Please - bring on DiRT2 asap, the racing and the rest of the game is great (as far as singleplayer goes), but the replay value is in multiplayer done right.
Andy @ Jul 12th 2007 5:11PM
no mate, the PC and the 360 have the same base architecture. porting from the PC or from the 360 to the PS3 is equally troublesome.
Damn. I wasn't sure so thats for clearing that up.
The Truth @ Jul 12th 2007 5:18PM
@ CJ
"Finally we can prove to the 3fixme fanboys that we were right all along!!!!"
Ha ha! This isn't proof. It doesn't mean anything but that PS3 is getting more development time. If this is proof... then why is VF5 coming to the 360 with better graphics, play mechanics, and online features?? For the same reason... more development time.
Jase @ Jul 12th 2007 5:43PM
"then why is VF5 coming to the 360 with better graphics, play mechanics, and online features?? For the same reason... more development time."
No, actually it's because developers are getting used to the PS3 Dev kits... as supposed to before, when the PS3 FIRST came out.
It's certainly not more development time. Why do you think they've released the 360 version at this time of the year?
Because it's obvious to them they've come to an understandable max, there's a reason why the developers want to keep pushing the PS3's capabilities even further... because, they can.
:)
CJ @ Jul 12th 2007 5:46PM
i wished all the 360 fanboys would see that more dev time will be no problem soon as developers will be used to how the ps3 works and it will look better PERIOD!!! All these breaks in dev time will phase out by next year and multi-plat games will all be released at the same time with the ps3 having the upper edge!!!
Bangbang... @ Jul 12th 2007 5:55PM
"Finally we can prove to the 3fixme fanboys that we were right all along!!!!"
Well its about time a game with extra ps3 developement time showed a marked improvemnt from the 360 version.
7.1 surround is really useless though, as speakers 6 and 7 share the same channel for audio. Just FYI.
Jason @ Aug 14th 2007 6:31PM
@ #12
Sorry friend but the 360 and a PC are still very different architectures from each other. The Xbox was a basicly PC but not the case for the 360. The 360 is more like a PPC based Apple.
BulletToothTony @ Jul 12th 2007 6:46PM
wow look at these fanboys.. ahhh video looks the same...
of course you wouldn't notice them on that little screen in your pc..
but when it comes to vf5, they notice i little fog and they go.. wow the 360 is great and the ps3 sucks..
and after that whole 30fps/60fps issue we had a few days ago.. well what can we say.. payback's a beeotch... oh well.. i'm not more of an insulter like 360 fanboys are, but i do like when there's FACTS that contradict what fanboys say...
i'm not saying that some 360 games were not better.. my point is that they said the ps3 couldn't handle it.. and all them lies.. it is obvious that the devs were not familiar with the ps3.. soon most will be, and the power seems to have been unlocking lately..
ps3 ftw
CJ @ Jul 12th 2007 7:16PM
listen 360 fanboys, you are yet again ignoring the facts!!!! in the interview with the head of codemasters, he clearly states that sony showed them how to optimise the game using ps3s dev kit properly and guess what...IT LOOKS BETTER!!! The facts remain that once developers are used to the dev kits on ps3 this will happen all the time with the 360 not looking as good as the ps3 version!!! the extra dev times will be a thing of the past and all multi-plat games will be released at the same time on all consoles!!! Also id like to mention here how Epic games vice president ( you know the company who brought you gears of war, the game which increasingly seems to appear in your invalid 360 is better arguments) said this about the ps3!!!
The raw power of PS3 and Unreal Engine 3 allow us to provide gamers thefull Unreal Tournament 3 first-person shooter experience normally found only on a PC," said Mark Rein, vice president, Epic Games. "The PS3 is the ideal platform for us to deliver stunning visuals and awesome gameplay.
notice how it says can only be found on a pc...i rest my case!!!!
mccomber @ Jul 12th 2007 7:25PM
I've played dirt, and I've played motorstorm. Actually, I've played the hell of motorstorm... and I definitely prefer motorstorm. It's just more fun, the mix of vehicles is great, the jumps, crashes... if you prefer a realistic racer, dirt may just be for you, but I don't think I'll rush out to buy this when it releases. Good to hear they are putting the extra time to good use, how about better online? That would be wonderfully ironic...
Hatchetforce @ Jul 12th 2007 7:40PM
Codemasters aren't the only ones to take longer and get it right. Unlike Rainbow 6 Vegas, the PS3 version of GRAW 2 looks better on the PS3, has more maps, more weapons, more modes and a Sixaxis feature worth having - jerking the controller left or right makes you character dive or roll. Very intuitive.
olv @ Jul 12th 2007 8:19PM
VF5 is coming to 360 with online, because online is very easy to implement there as xbox live gives you lobby and netcode, you 'just' need to design it and call the functionality you want. harder to do on ps3 as you have to do netcode yourself. Only now with Home you get a standardized framework to be used for lobby launching, etc.
gfx/look:
the more time you can spend in dev time on refining gfx the better the game will look (*up to the limits of the hardware - and those are not reached for ps3 or 360.*) results see oblivion/ps3, or VF5/360 or
Dirt/ps3 - while I don't quite now how you can make visuals more gorgeous than DiRT on 360... Can't wait to see the ps3 version.
release time: well - as you spend marketing money you want to get all your platform releases out at the same time unless you are up against other big releases on your target platform that you want to avoid (sneak in earlier or later) - (or the platform vendors force you with money or otherwise to release earlier or later - 'timed exclusives' anybody?).
Perry L @ Jul 12th 2007 9:25PM
Anyone that does not want to race Pike's Peak is not a car buff. Nuff said.
Bangbang... @ Jul 12th 2007 10:03PM
CJ:
I can recall very similar statements being made about Gears of War. Honestly what did you expect him to say?
"The ps3 isn't all that great, but we managed to put together a good effort with UT3. Hope you like it." lol get the f***k out of here.
Dont kid yourself, dev time makes a difference. Thats why vf5 looks better on the 360, because the had 6 extra months to work on it. If it were to work on the ps3 version for 6 more months, it would look just as good.
Popfrogs @ Jul 12th 2007 10:49PM
VF5...you guys can keep it. Personally I could never stand the Virtua Fighter style of gameplay, give me Tekken or anything else any day.
Andir3.0 @ Jul 12th 2007 10:57PM
"3fixme fanboys" - nice
sammy @ Jul 12th 2007 11:21PM
Both sides are correct to some extent..
PS3 has proved difficult for developers it would seem. I have not tried so I will take the majority expert view on this. Some people have managed to pull some nice things off with the hardware already nonetheless.
360 has proved to be a simpler platform to develop for...which is not surprising considering MS links to the PC market and the development scene in general.
We all remember the shambles at the start of the PS2 where it looked inferior to the Dreamcast in some respects. I don't think anyone would question it is a more powerful machine by some way now.
Time and knowledge will improve games...they had more time on the 360 version and the PS3 edition was made in the machines infancy. I am sure both consoles are capable of significant improvements to the graphics seen in either version. There is more to be squeezed out of both machines. Sony seem to be improving their tools...Microsoft seem to have a few gems on the horizon.. hopefully everything will even out a bit. I don't like to see anyone getting squeezed out in the console race.
psn:ummfada @ Jul 13th 2007 12:40AM
as seen on g4...John Riccitiello CEO, Electronic Arts would not comment on weather Madden 09 development would use ps3 as its "base platform" after the the 30/60 FPS blunder of 08
Neil @ Jul 13th 2007 5:26AM
Chaps,
Once again....... As time goes on, PS3 games will improve as DEV's learn new tricks with the architecture. The fact that the PS3 has a complex CPU means it'll be a gradual thing but it will be steady and it will be a constant thing. The XBOX360 is basically a powerful PC, improvements will be made of course but the goal posts won't widen as far as the PS3 and thus, the PS3 will overtake the XBOX360 in the next year or two so long as DEV's embrase it as the lead platform which isn't likely to happen whilst the user base is lagging behind. WHEN the PS3 sells month on month as many or more than the xbox360 then DEV's will just allegance.
At least, thats what I think.
steve @ Jul 13th 2007 7:35AM
"Why they announce this when they haven't even sold DiRT 1 yet is beyond me....
I'll wait for DiRT 2 thanks"
you better stop buying video games all together then because sooner or later they are followed by a sequel!!!
Yea @ Jul 13th 2007 8:35AM
Nice Bunch of BULL CJ (23) You Lose Try again!
sidedraft @ Jul 13th 2007 9:27PM
Im suprised nobody else noticed that he mentioned support for the Logitech G25 steering wheel that has a clutch pedal and h pattern shifter.
ParadoxicallyMe @ Jul 17th 2007 3:22AM
Few people realize that Sony got directly involved with Code Masters and building their Multi-platform Neon Game Engine from the start. They knew this Engine would be powering all their games into the future.
The main difference between the platforms is that the Xbox 360 and the PC are still using OS high level (slow) application code with DirectX as the highway API into the hardware. While Sony was busy developing PSGL ES (OpenGL Embedded System now a part of Khronos Group). It's a ground up solution to accessing hardware by directly embedding low level (fast) access API "Close to Metal" (it's an inside job).
This is the system of the FUTURE (now being supported and embedded in every PS3 along with another rapid hardware interface for Cell BE). In fact both the compiler and driver are embedded right along with it and are firmware upgradable. As games are written for nexgen systems, they will optimize their engines to dig deep into the hardware, where they can be optomized live inside continuously for this new embedded system. Where games will naturally run better and faster!
That's why there is such a speed and performance boost in the PS3 over Xbox 360 versions here. Games are now preparing to take the "Express Lane" to work directly on the hardware, lip stick kissing close to the RSX/Cell Combo!
It's the next generation people! On the free and open source expressway to another gaming world! ;)