PS Meeting 2005: PS3 Gundam Live

Source:IGN

Remember that PlayStation 3 E3 Gundam demo that blew fans away? Although we had our suspicions, Bandai confirmed today at Sony’s PlayStation Meeting press conference that the video consisted of pre-rendered footage designed to resemble what a PS3 game might look like. We wouldn’t have to wait too long to see the real thing, though, as Bandai brought a playable demo to the conference and played it right in front of us.

The PlayStation Meeting Gundam demo is the first example of a fully playable PS3 demo (that is, a demo where you actually control a character), even though we ourselves didn’t get to play it. Expectedly, the game is a bit early in its development cycle. After entering the game from the title screen, the player, who played using a Dual Shock 2 controller, was able to move his Mobile Suit around and shoot. Towards the end of the demo, an enemy came out and destroyed the player’s partner Mobile Suit. The player was then able to blast the enemy, bringing an end to the demo.

There isn’t much life in the game world at this point, and with good reason. The demo doesn’t use any physical calculations. Such calculations, which will add effects such as wind and smoke, will make use of the Cell’s seven SPU processing units. The game in its current form uses just the main Cell processor (minus the SPUs) and the system’s graphics chip.

Bandai pointed out that developer Beck created the demo from scratch, without the use of middleware. It’s unclear if Beck hopes to continue along this fully independent development path, or if some of the powerful PS3 middleware tools will be incorporated in the final rev of the game.
You can take a look at the early demo for yourself through the two videos that we’ve uploaded. Once Bandai and Beck have added more life to the world, the PS3 may end up with an impressive take on the Gundam franchise.

Source:IGN

Remember that PlayStation 3 E3 Gundam demo that blew fans away? Although we had our suspicions, Bandai confirmed today at Sony’s PlayStation Meeting press conference that the video consisted of pre-rendered footage designed to resemble what a PS3 game might look like. We wouldn’t have to wait too long to see the real thing, though, as Bandai brought a playable demo to the conference and played it right in front of us.

The PlayStation Meeting Gundam demo is the first example of a fully playable PS3 demo (that is, a demo where you actually control a character), even though we ourselves didn’t get to play it. Expectedly, the game is a bit early in its development cycle. After entering the game from the title screen, the player, who played using a Dual Shock 2 controller, was able to move his Mobile Suit around and shoot. Towards the end of the demo, an enemy came out and destroyed the player’s partner Mobile Suit. The player was then able to blast the enemy, bringing an end to the demo.

There isn’t much life in the game world at this point, and with good reason. The demo doesn’t use any physical calculations. Such calculations, which will add effects such as wind and smoke, will make use of the Cell’s seven SPU processing units. The game in its current form uses just the main Cell processor (minus the SPUs) and the system’s graphics chip.

Bandai pointed out that developer Beck created the demo from scratch, without the use of middleware. It’s unclear if Beck hopes to continue along this fully independent development path, or if some of the powerful PS3 middleware tools will be incorporated in the final rev of the game.
You can take a look at the early demo for yourself through the two videos that we’ve uploaded. Once Bandai and Beck have added more life to the world, the PS3 may end up with an impressive take on the Gundam franchise.