There has been much talk about leading platforms when it comes to game development for the PS3 and Xbox 360, and one common denominator seems to show up again and again: things seems to turn out better for everyone involved, when you start out on the PS3.
With the unveiling of the "freebie" PhyreEngine at GDC yesterday, Sony is hoping to stimulate the perfect conditions to make that the rule -- and not the exception. So what can budding developers expect to find in the package? How about full documentation, with the complete source code and artwork for over 70 game samples (including templates)?
The engine is designed to mimic the more familiar PC environments that developers are familiar with, and will make use of both OpenGL and Direct3D. Best of all, Sony promises that all one needs to do in order to make it PS3-friendly, is to use a "simple recompile."
Impressed yet? If not, this one should take the glaze off of your eyes: the PhyEngine, by nature, is making it easier to create games on competing consoles. In fact, it has already been done -- with DiRT and GripShift. This is an example of exactly what Sony needed to do, and something that PS3 fans have been begging for all along.
By nurturing the community and going out of their way to put the tools in the hands of developers (many of which, have publicly stated the complexity of the PS3 has been a deterrent for them), Sony has the most to gain from this announcement. Now that's putting your money where your mouth is.
[Via Joystiq]
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21 comments + 95764 views
Sweet! I'm assuming this will be similar to XNA. If it includes native netcode and allows distribution to other PS3s without a subscription service I will shit a brick.
Interesting. Will help Sony with 3 party development.
OH that kicks ass. I have alot more expectations after hearing this. MAKE IT CLAP!
I was hoping this was going to be a PS3 $299 announcement--now that's charity.
About god damn time.
So this is a free Engine which comes with easy to use compilers? I assumed Sony already provided this?
Also, surly it wont be able to use the PS3 architecture to it's full capacity if it mimics a PC type architecture? The whole architecture is different. Hmm, i think i may do some matlocking.
God. I wish it was a price cut, too.
Am I the only one that sees a clown's face in the middle of that mushroom cloud?
Ok, I have completed my matlocking, so it's a graphics engine (nothing at all like XNA) for the PS3 which allows it to be developed for the 360 and the PS3 at the same time. Thus they are hoping that people dev for both, as oppose to just the 360.
The only reason game will be better if "developed for the PS3 first" is because these tools take away all the time you would have spent trying to grapple with the PS3, so the time can be spent on the game.
Not sure saying thing turn out better if you start developemnt on the PS3 is stricktly true.
Its a Playstation ad, thats why you see a clown.
I read a much more detailed article about this earlier and found it quite a positive step for the whole community.
Sounds good either way as the more help they can spare makes everyones job easier.
Excellent choice.
I don't really know what recompiling is, but sounds like a good thing.
Gotta hand it to sony, this is HUGE. EXACTLY what developers needed and wanted. Now, we just need to see how they'll shoot themselves in the foot with some stupid PR announcement.
That's actually pretty awesome of them. I can't think of a better way to take care of the harder-to-program-for problem they've been having, and I'm sure this will attract more indie devs.
Man, they can't do anything right, can they Payne? But Microsoft can be easily forgiven for making a broken gaming machine.
@sparced:
what does a clown have to do with playstations?
the "freebie" PhyreEngine at
your eyes: the PhyEngine, by
so what really, is it PhyreEngine or PhyEngine?
wow, some really damn awesome news this morning. I'd love to get a look at this.
That's a pretty brilliant idea. I note they actually went out of their way to make the engine support the 360; that's what the DirectX support is. The Xbox 360 is DirectX based, and the PS3 uses OpenGL, in case you didn't know.
I just hope this also means more PC ports, considering how it works.
I also wish they didn't choose such a fucking stupid name.
I can see a face in the cloud.
@ghettobelmontes
Yeah all I see in that pic is a clown with big hair on the sides.
This just means more bland, generic feeling, discount games. If developers really want to make a ps3 game right, if they really had the will, they would find a way.
Developers get off your sequel spamming asses and make us some games you lazy fucks. Stop your whining. That means you too EA.
ZOMFG!! TWISTED METAL ISH KOMMING TO TEH PEE ESS TRIPPLE?!!
@ ghettobelmontes:
Yeah I see it too.
but does it cure cancer?
jk, where's the download!!
@ghettobelmontes: Holy crap, you’re right!
As for the announcement, it’s great news...and long overdue. I have no idea what any of that stuff means, but it sounds like it’ll be a real boon to PS3 development.
Wow.
I'm actually finding myself quite impressed with Sony's actions as of late. (And EA's! What has the world COME to?!)
I mean, it took 'em a year to really start listening to the public and implementing everything that we know they NEEDED from about day one but at least they ARE listening.
They're finally climbing out and seeing some sunlight after being burried in their own egocentrism for a while.
Sony is being....... reasonable.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!
Oh wow. A year ago I had written Sony off. Of course, I was still bitter about having five of their consoles die on me like the pieces of shit hardware that they are (or were, PS3s seem sturdy, SHOCK! HORROR!) but lately they've been...I don't know. What's the opposite of absolute loathing? It's not quite that, but after some of Nintendo's bullshit and Microsofts failure at hardware, they seem to be coming round as the best option.
There still aren't many games I want on the system, but there's not much on the Wii left to look forward to either.
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