GDC Info

Iced_Eagle

Iced_Eagle

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GDC Info (XBox2, UE3, XNA, and more!)

Well GDC started today and that means great news for a lot of people!!! Tomorrow there should be new info on the Xbox Xenon ;)

Here's some stuff to start you off

GDC Info leaked that next week Sony will show off the Playstation3 to their top execs

Nintendo Revolution could alienate third-parties

Interview with Mark Rein about Unreal Engine 3 and how productive their tools are

Microsoft Announces XNA Studio (for maintaining XNA or maybe just for creating XNA enabled games I don't know)

XBox 2 gives "total creative freedom"

Physics Processor Unit

Please post any videos or whatever you can find!!! Tomorrow there will be news on XBox 2/Xenon (according to Gamespy.com) so keep your eyes peeled!

Let's keep it organized folks :bounce:
 
Reading the article about UE3 amazes me.

I wonder if that level of modability will be brought to the Source Engine.
 
Physics Processor Unit - This is really interesting. This is the future of games right here.

My question is, do you think this will operate along side a normal video card? or will be operate AS a video card.

Im thinking it will assist a normal video card, so we will like need mobo with 2 PCI-E slots or .. :( it can use a PCI slot

amazing
 
I doubt it.

I mean I'm just learning Unreal... It's simply amazing.... They provide A++++ tools... However valve has more technical stuff, and they provide better email support and are more in-touch with their fans :)

I really can't wait until UE3... It will be a modder's bliss :D
 
EDITED: fixed link, corrected to alpha version, not beta. final xbox2 specs may vary.


Sounds great! but I like PC's I can't wait for the next big step in computer hardware (PPU) physics processors !!
EDIT: altho Xbox 2 will have PPU processor or something.. read it!

*Note Xenon = Xbox 2 codename (Alpha version of xbox 2)

Iced_Eagle said:
xbox 2 ALPHA details
Click to expand...

Camera - Xenon will have a USB 2.0 camera. It's capable of 1.2 megapixel still shots and VGA video. Photos can be used in-game and for gamer profiles. The camera can also be used for video chat. It's unknown if the Xenon camera will allow for EyeToy-like gameplay. Developers are currently using a simulated camera driver.
Click to expand...
CPU - Xenon's CPU has three 3.0 GHz PowerPC cores. Each core is capable of two instructions per cycle and has an L1 cache with 32 KB for data and 32 KB for instructions. The three cores share 1 MB of L2 cache. Alpha 2 developer kits currently have two cores instead of three.


GPU - Xenon's GPU is a generation beyond the ATI X800. Its clock speed is 500 MHz and it supports Shader 3.0. Developers are currently working with an alpha 2 GPU. Beta GPU units are expected by May and the final GPU is slated for a summer release. The final GPU will be more powerful than anything on the market today; in game terms, it would handle a game like Half-Life 2 with ease.
Click to expand...
 
i creamed my pants reading about UE3, i don;t have to learn programming now
 
So the xbox 2 is going to theoretically have the processing power of 9ghz ??? Wouldnt this make the unit very expensive? In the past systems were a bit better then top of the line pcs when they were released. If this is true it seems like, they will be leaps and bounds ahead of the pc upon release. Seems like it may take quite sometime for pcs to catch up.
 
Smack500 said:
So the xbox 2 is going to theoretically have the processing power of 9ghz ??? Wouldnt this make the unit very expensive? In the past systems were a bit better then top of the line pcs when they were released. If this is true it seems like, they will be leaps and bounds ahead of the pc upon release. Seems like it may take quite sometime for pcs to catch up.
Click to expand...
I think PS3 is supposed to have even more processing power, I can;t understand why the Xbox2 only has 256MB of RAM though, you'd think they could at least bump it up to 512
 
Right now the Xbox has 64 MB of RAM and that is shared with video RAM, so 256 MB or RAM + its built in video RAM is actually a little more than a 4X increase. Also remember the XBOX is not running windows or any other programs like antivirus so the 256 RAM is actually a lot more than you might think.
 
As optimized as everything is in the system, and the fact that it doesnt need to run much else. I would say it would be comparable to 512mb on a pc, maybe a bit better then that.
 
Icarusintel said:
i creamed my pants reading about UE3, i don;t have to learn programming now
Click to expand...

How do you think they made those systems? Programming! ;)

This just allows level designers to create more vibrant levels without the help of a programer (so thus the programmer doesn't have to code in special AI for each scene)

I mean programming is still the main portion of the game, the foundation :)

They hype up the info a lot to get everyone used to it and all... Trust me, programming will _never_ leave :p You can't have a brand-new game with new gametypes, rules, technology without programming.


New Video Interviews!

*edit* Smack500: I would think it would equate to more than that actually.

Pictures from the Floor!
 
Jesus christ, going to be very exciting for gamers in the next few months/year :D
 
I was wrong, and I guess most of you were 2 since I wasnt corrected. I went to a advanced pc help place, and asked about this. This was the responce I recieved.

"No, thats three 3 gigahertz cores. That doesn't mean it'll have the processing power of 9ghz. Each core will be capable of executing 2 instructions per cycle. For some really good articles on processor architecture and design go over to www.arstechnica.com and read their PowerPC processor article."
 
Murray_H said:
Jesus christ, going to be very exciting for gamers in the next few months/year :D
Click to expand...

And think this isn't even the good stuff yet ;) The good stuff is at E3....
 
Iced_Eagle said:
And think this isn't even the good stuff yet ;) The good stuff is at E3....
Click to expand...
I know, I know, I know! This makes me so giddy! :D
 
More info (this went onto 2nd page :( )

Havok Complete (Havok 3) announced! Allows fallen rag dolls to get back up realistically which was impossible before!

Xbox Xenon User Interface Screenshots with Description

Quick Summary of some software features of XBox 2 (Marketplace, Gamer Card etc)

Unreal Engine 3 will work on XBox Xenon!

All XBox2 info in one nice, neat place!

Nintendo DS Going Online? Stay tuned for tomorrow!

Next-Gen Xbox Live info

The official XBox 2 News press release from M$

SEGA buying Creative Assembly - creators of Rome:Total War

Another interview with the makers of the PPU! Exciting stuff! Tidbit below

I'll keep the news flowing ;)

Tidbit from the PPU Interview that talks about pricing!

Computer Games - How will the technology first be sold to the public? Will it only be available via PC game manufacturers at first or will there be stand alone cards that can be bought in stores and online? Also what is the target price for the first products?

Curtis Davis - We expect the first products that hit the market to be add-in boards and possibly a combination of other solutions. Cards could run anywhere from $100-$400, depending on the implementation the board vendor chooses.
Click to expand...
 
XBOX 2 RAM - Why consoles are faster than PC's

[topic XBOX 2 RAM, bottom of page-why consoles are faster than PC's]

Ive read in a magazine that Windows XP was designed to be able to run on 256 MB computers, but that it really needs more than that, says magazine. Microsoft was low-balling it.

So i still thinkt hey should bump it up to a gig, or at least 512MB to be sure that isn't what chokes the system later in its life, so it doesn't die fast. Ram is cheaper than ever. Remember this is Alpha version XBox 2. but thats whats wierd is that you would think they would exagerate their specs some, so it may not BE any bigger than 256 MB RAM

Anyway I have 1024 MB, and right now with nothing really running, I have 630 MB free so thats 394 MB being used by windows, ie, and my internet security programs.

The XBOX 2 wont be using these things. Still, with a gig, I have 236 MB more free memory than XBOX 2 , but I also read it is different for the xbox. somone mention memory sharing?

256 MB must be enough, I can't see why they would cut corners on the main memory, thats one of the most important parts.

--------------------------
I know one thing that makes consoles so fast has something to do with "not having a bus" or something? or how they don't have to go through the bus?

ANyway, consoles have a faster path through circuits

-source somethign I heard my brother tell me but forgot ;)
 
More news!

Again more info on XBox2... Just a rehash of the systems

Detailed coverage of GDC :) Lots of good info!

Pictures about MS Dev... In japanese but pictures are in english!

Discreet is offering support for Next-gen XBox

Gamebryo2 engine to fully support Next-Gen XBox

SpeedTree announces support for Next-Gen XBox too! You can see Speed Tree in action powering all the pretty forests in Elder Scrolls IV!

3DSMax 7.5 debuted at GDC... Includes hair and fur effects built in, with latest Mental Ray and other features of course!

Detailed feature on one of Microsoft's Key Note speeches on Next-Gen stuff! I believe you must register. BugMeNot.com probably has usernames

If you don't want to register, here is a brief of it... Full story is worth the 2 minutes of registration though

Lots of info on XNA Studio! It's pretty much a Visual Studio, AlienBrian, Project Tracker all rolled into one! Wow I want it! They are also aiming to get this at a reasonable price so even college students could invest. They are also planning on getting support for the new Playstation so it won't be Microsft-dependent

I thought this was interesting, machine learning!

Pictures will be up soon from Gamasutra

Until then, check out some pics from the Expo Floor by Joystiq!

Awesome looking PSP Accessories!

New Sonic Game! Woot!

New F.E.A.R preview from Gamespot about the level being displayed at GDC!

More games-oriented look at the GDC

I hope you guys enjoy all the links I'm posting for you!
 
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