This is a more precise and updated text version of a YT vid that was made a while back.
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Throughout gaming history, we as console gamers have enjoyed having bonus features to our dedicated gaming consoles, as long as they didn't tamper with the full potential of the game's quality. We gleefully enjoyed having certain accessories in the '80's (until the SEGA debacle, that is) and listening to music on certain consoles in the mid '90's and being able to go online and watch movies in the early 2000's. We were happy with all of our features... for a little while...
But then, the mid 2000's happened ...
People started wanting more from their consoles as all-in-one boxes to match features like on PC's (which just aren't made for strictly gaming, thus you can upgrade it to do more and more and more), and manufacturers started obliging... but at what costs?
This is NOT about the hardware features (that's for another time), this is about the software features, the OS features, and their takeaways from the consoles' resources.
The 360 has been able to enjoy features such as Cross Game Chat and such, and perhaps has the second most optimized OS footprint of all the consoles, starting at 64MB and being cut down to just 32MB of RAM (The Wii being a special case because the system just switches all resources to the game upon start, oldschool).
The PS3, on the other hand was a mess at launch and a cause for quit a bit of controversy... 128MB total RAM and a single Cell SPE for the OS (96MB XDR Main RAM and 32MB GDDR3 VRAM)! By 2009, it graciously got whittled down to 50MB (43MB XDR Main RAM and 7MB GDDR3 VRAM), and still couldn't do the features that the 360 could do despite still having more resources taken.
It wasn't just consoles though, the PSP had 7MB of its total 36MB RAM (32MB system RAM and 4MB eDRAM) taken for the OS as well.
Now in the 8th Generation of consoles, it gets much worse in the name of sacrifice.
Sony touted GREATLY to the public the Vita having 512MB System RAM, 128MB VRAM and a 4 core CPU... what they DIDN'T tell anyone other than devs was how 1 of the 4 cores, 256MB System RAM, and an unspecified amount of VRAM dedicated to the OS so that it can do all that multitasking it does, leaving devs with 3 CPU cores and possibly 300MB total RAM dedicated to games.
I'll skip Wii U's 1GB RAM OS footprint because we already know that.
The XBOX ONE and PS4 on the other hand, set ridculous precedents to resource eating which may be the cause for recent feelings of diminishing returns.
The XBOX ONE, according to Kotaku, dedicates 3GB RAM, 2 CPU cores and 10% of the GPU to it's 3 OS's. Wow...
The PS4 is no better. According to Guerrilla powerpoint on Killzone: Shadow Fall, the game uses 4.6GB RAM and 6 of the 8 CPU cores, leaving a possible clue to how much is available to devs.
This sets a bad precedent to how game quality is starting to diminish on consoles by chronological ratio comparison alone. At this point, we must ask ourselves this:
Do we want more features, or better games?
CC writes, "Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Upgrade is out, but it's bizarrely priced with some issues that need to be addressed."
When I saw there was a 60fps patch note after buying it for Switch and playing maybe 7 hours, I stopped. I paid for the upgrade, and am glad I did, BUT it does need some work to make it as good as it should be, with paid DLC! Load times are much better on the Switch 2 version! Definitely an improvement over the OG Wii U times and the OG Switch.
If you like RPGS, and want to explore a massive open world, that is rewarding and now runs the way it should (60FPS) this could be a fantastic game for you! The upgrade to dynamic 4K could use some work, but it still looks far better than the OG Wii U Release. I hope there is a patch that addresses the 4K.
Just a heads up, until you progress to about chapter 4, it's a learning curve. Also, Skells are fantastic, but you have to put time into the game to 'earn' one. Once you do, it really opens up the game.
Glad it got a Switch 2 Update, but a little more polish would be great! For $5 it's worth upgrading, IMO just for 60fps. I loved the game though. So...
CCG writes - "Overall, this is a very good game. I enjoyed most of my time playing Don’t Stop, Girlypop!, even through its imperfections. I think it’s alright for the price, and would be worth playing if you enjoy other movement shooters like ULTRAKILL or other Quake-like games."
After more than two years in development, Teardown's hotly anticipated multiplayer will finally arrive in March. It's no tacked-on affair either, with developer Tuxedo Labs bringing a full suite of options to play with pals in its chaotic destruction sim.
A really interesting piece. I liked reading it. If it doesn't pose a problem, could you share with me links to info disregarding PSVITA OS using 1 core, 256 RAM and XXX VRAM?
As far as memory goes, the One is more of a hog than the PS4. The One has 3 GB reserved for the operating systems whereas the PS4 has 1 GB reserved.