360 v. ps3 programming

[SuperBowlNachos]

I have always heard that it is easier for developers to program games for the 360. Why is this? I also saw that Portal 2(I THINK) was only going to be on 360 because it's so easy to port from PC to 360 and complicated from 360 to ps3.

No console war, this is strictly a nerd question.

[Cyros]

Re: 360 v. ps3 programming

360 is basically a PC from game design standpoint.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: 360 v. ps3 programming

Their both coded in C++ for the most part. However 360 also codes in C#. The main difference betweeen the 2 is the cores.

Xbox 360 has 3 cores, all equal. Where as the PS3 has 8 but they not all equal, hence lies the difficulty with the PS3. 1 of the 8 cores of the PS3 is for the OS and the other 7 is used for other things. The other 7 however can only access 256k worth of memory at a time. So as a programmer you have to manually assign each core a job to do.

Think of the main PS3 core as the head cook and the other 7 as waiters. The main cook will say order up and which ever of the 7 that is currently free will take up that job to be done now, when it's work load maxes out, it will hand it off to another member of the 7 that work load can stop.

Basically PS3 programming is a huge balancing act. That is why coders say it is how to code for.

Where as the xbox 360, all 3 cores are equal, there are no memory restrictions with its cores like it is on the PS3. Basically in simply terms, xbox 360 is just like a duo core PC. 360 GPU is exactly like a PC's gpu.

That being said that is why you will see way more PC ports to 360 because there is very little difference in the programming structure between the 2. But with the PS3, being that not all the cores are equal and your dealing with 256k memory caps on their 7 cores, you have way more coding and breaking down of tasks into tiny bits.

So in conclusion, xbox 360, all cores are equal, they can all handle huge chunks of input. PS3 out of the 8 cores, only 7 are usable to do stuff and they can only handle tiny chunks at a time due to memory restrictions in their cores.

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: 360 v. ps3 programming

Nice breakdown homie

[bkfount]

Re: 360 v. ps3 programming

It was a matter of resources for multiplatform developers, who not only saw the 360 as easier to develop for, but it was selling better.

Valve changed their stance on the ps3 because of how open Sony is with their console. While Valve talked crap about the ps3 once, they haven't really been pleased with MS either. They didn't like MS's update certification process and how they require paid DLC. Valve is able to implement steamworks on the ps3, which allows them to provide better patch/update support and potentially free DLC through a system they already know and control.

[Blzer]

Re: 360 v. ps3 programming

Blah blah blah Dining Philosophers Problem...

That's all that comes to mind when you explain it, good job.

So the PS3 is harder to program for, but it can serve pretty awesomely for mutli-processing if done right, especially if they make titles exclusively for the PS3 (this is why the guys at Naughty Dog and Sucker Punch are so happy to discover all of this untapped potential within the PS3).

[Flawless]

Re: 360 v. ps3 programming

360 GPU is exactly like a PC's gpu.

No that would be the PS3's GPU, which is based on G70 architecture. 360 GPU is a very unique and custom design for a closed platform that only supports one API and a limited range of resolutions. You don't have eDRAM-based GPUs on PC.

[billy10388]

Re: 360 v. ps3 programming

I have always heard that it is easier for developers to program games for the 360. Why is this? I also saw that Portal 2(I THINK) was only going to be on 360 because it's so easy to port from PC to 360 and complicated from 360 to ps3.

No console war, this is strictly a nerd question.

I also think so.