Wii vs PS3: A designer’s perspective

Game Designer Earnest Adams has an article out on Gamasutra that looks at how the PS3 stacks up against the Wii game-design wise. Yes, we understand that topics like this are a bit too flame-bait-y, so here’s what we’ll do. We’ll post two things (one positive and one negative) that Adams has to say for each console. And then we’ll leave it all up to you guys.

Let’s start with the PS3. So what does the PS3 have, from a designer’s perspective, that makes it a great console? Here are Adam’s words:

It’s a big step, and technically speaking, the inclusion of the Cell processor is a very important – and challenging – innovation. Most game programmers don’t know much about multiprocessing. The PS3 raises the bar, and to get the most out of it requires some high-level wizardry.

And the major turn-off? The thing that will make some game designers frown upon the console?

From a design standpoint, however, the PS3 is evolutionary, not revolutionary. It doesnÂ’t change much about our job. It makes it easier to design the same stuff weÂ’ve always designed, but it doesnÂ’t encourage us to try anything particularly new.

Evolution here seems to be the key word. If you want to do everything you’re used to doing, only this time ten, maybe a hundred times better, then the PS3 is for you. Of course one has to note that because of the Cell, a little revolution is in order here. As Adams has said, programmers are yet to take advantage of multiprocessing. There are some innovations, but it’s all hidden away in the engine.

Get the rest of the article after the Jump!

Game Designer Earnest Adams has an article out on Gamasutra that looks at how the PS3 stacks up against the Wii game-design wise. Yes, we understand that topics like this are a bit too flame-bait-y, so here’s what we’ll do. We’ll post two things (one positive and one negative) that Adams has to say for each console. And then we’ll leave it all up to you guys.

Let’s start with the PS3. So what does the PS3 have, from a designer’s perspective, that makes it a great console? Here are Adam’s words:

It’s a big step, and technically speaking, the inclusion of the Cell processor is a very important – and challenging – innovation. Most game programmers don’t know much about multiprocessing. The PS3 raises the bar, and to get the most out of it requires some high-level wizardry.

And the major turn-off? The thing that will make some game designers frown upon the console?

From a design standpoint, however, the PS3 is evolutionary, not revolutionary. It doesnÂ’t change much about our job. It makes it easier to design the same stuff weÂ’ve always designed, but it doesnÂ’t encourage us to try anything particularly new.

Evolution here seems to be the key word. If you want to do everything you’re used to doing, only this time ten, maybe a hundred times better, then the PS3 is for you. Of course one has to note that because of the Cell, a little revolution is in order here. As Adams has said, programmers are yet to take advantage of multiprocessing. There are some innovations, but it’s all hidden away in the engine.

Now, let’s look at the Wii. Here’s what Adams says about the Wii.

The Wii Remote gives players new things to do, which means it challenges us designers to come up with those things. Furthermore, it takes away functionality found on other consoles. Instead of the eleven buttons, two analog joysticks, and a D-pad of the PS3 controller, it has only six buttons and a D-pad. To design for this, we have to think differently – we have no choice about it

Now this might attract some of the creative game designers out there, and the new form of play does promise a lot of fun, but what’s the problem? What might turn off some folks? Adams has this to say:

If either players or developers hate the Wii Remote, the Wii is doomed. Sure, thereÂ’s the Nunchuck to give them a joystick, and even the Wii Classic Controller, which looks startlingly like a good old SNES controller with added joysticks. But these are extra-cost items; they canÂ’t save the Wii if the ordinary Wii Remote tanks with the consumer.

So the wiimote is apparently a very big gamble. So far, it’s still too early to say if it will be a revolution or if it will be more of a novelty. However, the fun that people are having right now is undeniable.

Well, there’s the pros and cons, you’ll get a whole lot more from Adams if you click on the VIA link that we’ve got below, we think though that these points raised by Adams are enough to work with. Well? So which innovation are you with? The sexy new input? Or the powerful new-engine?

Via Gamasutra