The only reason I still want consoles to be developed is that a lot of cool features were designed and pioneered with consoles. Stuff like DirectStorage was implemented on the XSX before it was on PC, but that’s an example of consoles having pushed the boundaries and built new systems that benefit the whole computing ecosystem.
I don’t find this to be the case anymore. They keep claiming “technological leaps” but they only quantify the leaps in terms of being able to run at a higher resolution with higher frames, and we’ve gotten to the point with processing that we can brute force all of that stuff. There used to be a lot of limitations to run on a console, and it caused a lot of creative workarounds and solutions within the industry. It feels like those limitations have been removed everywhere but the Switch, and I would argue that’s the console with the most interesting exclusives.
Consoles used to help push the limit of what could be done on lower-end hardware. Now there’s basically no limits, especially with size. American games are like 100+ gigs now, it’s insane. Say what you want about their business practices and how anti-consumer they are, but I at least value Nintendo’s efficiency in game design and development having been limited by hardware. They make fun games that are functionally massive but do not require tons of storage in comparison to other AAA titles.
I didn’t say best, I said most interesting. PlayStation has the best exclusives.
Nintendo games are fun and kooky but Sony games are big and majestic. Think of like Animal Crossing versus Spider-Man. PS exclusives have been landing on PC lately which I am patient to wait for. This will never be the case with Nintendo games.
Your point stands in all software development these days. The days of streamlined code and optimization seem dead. All our engineering software keeps getting massively larger and slower every release, and the suppliers mantra is buy more cpu power. Meanwhile thanks to Linux geeks I have a full Samba Share NAS setup for sending music and video to my TV with web gui, and it runs on a 13 year old Iomega fanless ARM board with 256MB of RAM.
The only reason I still want consoles to be developed is that a lot of cool features were designed and pioneered with consoles. Stuff like DirectStorage was implemented on the XSX before it was on PC, but that’s an example of consoles having pushed the boundaries and built new systems that benefit the whole computing ecosystem.
I don’t find this to be the case anymore. They keep claiming “technological leaps” but they only quantify the leaps in terms of being able to run at a higher resolution with higher frames, and we’ve gotten to the point with processing that we can brute force all of that stuff. There used to be a lot of limitations to run on a console, and it caused a lot of creative workarounds and solutions within the industry. It feels like those limitations have been removed everywhere but the Switch, and I would argue that’s the console with the most interesting exclusives.
Consoles used to help push the limit of what could be done on lower-end hardware. Now there’s basically no limits, especially with size. American games are like 100+ gigs now, it’s insane. Say what you want about their business practices and how anti-consumer they are, but I at least value Nintendo’s efficiency in game design and development having been limited by hardware. They make fun games that are functionally massive but do not require tons of storage in comparison to other AAA titles.
Small correction
Direct Storage was on PC (Linux)prior to XSX. 2005 for RAM and 2016 for VRAM. However Nvidia didn’t implement it until recently
Isn’t DirectStorage a part of DirectX? That’s on Linux? I thought this was proprietary Microsoft stuff.
“DirectStorage Linux” search seems to support my assumption.
Are you thinking of resizable BAR / Smart Access Memory?
The function of it is to bypass the cpu in resource calls
DirectStorage is just what Microsoft called it when they tried to brand it as a new feature
That’s not what DirectStorage does though. It reduces CPU overhead but doesn’t eliminate it. It’s not DMA
https://www.anandtech.com/show/17613/microsoft-directstorage-11-with-gpu-decompression-finally-on-its-way
I think the Switch having the best exclusives is a subzero take personally but I agree with everything else.
I didn’t say best, I said most interesting. PlayStation has the best exclusives.
Nintendo games are fun and kooky but Sony games are big and majestic. Think of like Animal Crossing versus Spider-Man. PS exclusives have been landing on PC lately which I am patient to wait for. This will never be the case with Nintendo games.
Your point stands in all software development these days. The days of streamlined code and optimization seem dead. All our engineering software keeps getting massively larger and slower every release, and the suppliers mantra is buy more cpu power. Meanwhile thanks to Linux geeks I have a full Samba Share NAS setup for sending music and video to my TV with web gui, and it runs on a 13 year old Iomega fanless ARM board with 256MB of RAM.