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[Gavarms]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-titanfall-beta-tech-analysis

In our earlier exchange with Titanfall developer Respawn, the words "frame-rate is king" rang loud as its mission statement. Perhaps it's not too surprising, then, that visually the game is a composite of striking and bland elements - a vibrant effects-fest in motion, but with a clinical simplicity elsewhere that can be hard to overlook. We've seen these cutbacks before, of course, and if there's one thing that can get you off the hook for taking this approach, it's a low-latency 60fps golden standard. In the case of the Titanfall beta, however, the results aren't entirely as expected.

What we can confirm for this build, though, is an internal resolution of 1408x792, with a pass of 2x MSAA to tackle aliasing before any upscale to your preferred resolution. This pixel count is something the team is happy to verify - even with indications that it could end up around the 900p mark for the final product. It may not be a gargantuan number as-is, but it pulls the game away from the ho-hum 1280x720 that was on most peoples' bingo cards - a step up, if not a remarkable one, in terms of the final image.

In its current form, it's difficult to understand Titanfall's resolution choice considering the variable performance. As it renders at 792p, The game relies on the Xbox One's scaler to output at 1080p. Now, we've just updated our Xbox One to the latest system software and the good news is that the harsh edge-enhancement has completely gone. We'll be looking at the improved scaler in a little more depth very soon, but while the situation is clearly an improvement on the preview code we saw previously, there's still a good deal of aliasing to contend with. It appears that Respawn is caught between a rock and a hard place with regards image quality vs. performance.

However, while the Xbox One beta has its own fair share technical quibbles, there is an undeniable entertainment factor to the game that takes precedent. It's a simple package, but the commitment to 60fps so far is strong enough to convince that the right talents are working on the project. In the meantime, while we have a firm handle on the Xbox One and PC versions of the game, we can't help but wonder how the Xbox 360 version will compare.

By and large, Titanfall is a healthy 60fps shooter as promised, but only as long as it's played with an on-foot Call of Duty mindset. With Portal 2's Source engine at its core, it's as fluid and responsive as you could hope for when pistolling Pilots and kicking AI grunts.

However, it all changes once you buckle into a Titan, and in this build we see lengthy passages of play (particularly by the end of a mission) falling within the 35-45fps range. Neither one of the levels on show is especially worse than the other in this regard, and it's clearly the barrage of alpha effects that ends up pressing the hardware too far.

It's also impossible to ignore the tearing that creeps up during such dips. Adaptive v-sync is in play, which taps in any time the engine detects a frame going over budget and missing a slot within its 60Hz refresh. Temporarily removing this lock helps to make control over the action feel smoother than it otherwise would, but at a big - and regular - cost to the overall presentation.

More at link

 

[RulkezX]

Nothing to add yourself OP ?

 

[Nokterian]

Makes a thread with a link..more info dude.

 

[Dennis]

"Visually, PC gamers looking for an edge over the console release in terms of lighting, shadows, effects or model detail may be disappointed. Even at the "insane" texture quality setting on PC, the oil rig structures around the Fracture map still share precisely the same washed-out mapping as the Xbox One, while floor mapping is also like-for-like. Much of the game's assets and rendering tech are shared in this sense, right down to the distance of the shadow filtering cascade."

 

[BradC00]

have both xb1 and pc beta. look the same, other than resolution.

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

Framerate drops and tearing? Yikes.

 

[Abriael]

Takes precedent?

 

[NEO0MJ]

"Visually, PC gamers looking for an edge over the console release in terms of lighting, shadows, effects or model detail may be disappointed. Even at the "insane" texture quality setting on PC, the oil rig structures around the Fracture map still share precisely the same washed-out mapping as the Xbox One, while floor mapping is also like-for-like. Much of the game's assets and rendering tech are shared in this sense, right down to the distance of the shadow filtering cascade."

This was disappointing to read.

 

[Norml]

Why are the screenshots at 720p?

 

[ExoHazMatt]

I've been playing all weekend. It's not going to visually blow anyone away but man is it fun.

 

[GoofsterStud]

Why did the OP neglect the sources highlights?

Preliminary performance analysis of the Xbox One beta. Titanfall aims for 60fps, but drops frames and exhibits screen-tear when the engine is under stress.

More details:

However, it all changes once you buckle into a Titan, and in this build we see lengthy passages of play (particularly by the end of a mission) falling within the 35-45fps range.

 

[ymmv]

"Visually, PC gamers looking for an edge over the console release in terms of lighting, shadows, effects or model detail may be disappointed. Even at the "insane" texture quality setting on PC, the oil rig structures around the Fracture map still share precisely the same washed-out mapping as the Xbox One, while floor mapping is also like-for-like. Much of the game's assets and rendering tech are shared in this sense, right down to the distance of the shadow filtering cascade."

Xbox One version was obviously the lead platform - warts and all.

 

[SJRB]

"Visually, PC gamers looking for an edge over the console release in terms of lighting, shadows, effects or model detail may be disappointed. Even at the "insane" texture quality setting on PC, the oil rig structures around the Fracture map still share precisely the same washed-out mapping as the Xbox One, while floor mapping is also like-for-like. Much of the game's assets and rendering tech are shared in this sense, right down to the distance of the shadow filtering cascade."

There's nothing "insane" about Titanfall's insane graphics settings, that's for sure.

But didn't the beta have purposely lower-res textures to preserve filesize?

 

[Fezan]

There's nothing "insane" about Titanfall's insane graphics settings, that's for sure.

But didn't the beta have purposely lower-res textures to preserve filesize?

it was 12 gb for 2 maps ?

 

[Zakalwe]

I have a relatively high end gaming pc.

I love strong visuals.

The visuals of Titanfall are great, imo. I'm never still enough to notice the lower textures, and the design is really great.

It#s all about how it looks in motion, imo.

 

[boinx]

I get a shitload of framerate drops on PC when I set the texture quality to insane. And the game barely looks different with that setting on, not worth the FPS hicups for me at least.

 

[DieH@rd]

As soon there is two or more Titans on screen, framerate on Xbone dips to low 40s.

However, it all changes once you buckle into a Titan, and in this build we see lengthy passages of play (particularly by the end of a mission) falling within the 35-45fps range. Neither one of the levels on show is especially worse than the other in this regard, and it's clearly the barrage of alpha effects that ends up pressing the hardware too far.

 

[Chobel]

"Visually, PC gamers looking for an edge over the console release in terms of lighting, shadows, effects or model detail may be disappointed. Even at the "insane" texture quality setting on PC, the oil rig structures around the Fracture map still share precisely the same washed-out mapping as the Xbox One, while floor mapping is also like-for-like. Much of the game's assets and rendering tech are shared in this sense, right down to the distance of the shadow filtering cascade."

Can't they just add these

Spoiler

(better effects)

as options in PC?

 

[GoofsterStud]

I get a shitload of framerate drops on PC when I set the texture quality to insane. And the game barely looks different with that setting on, not worth the FPS hicups for me at least.

Do you have at least 3 GB of Video Card ram? My OC 7970 does just fine, my PC with Titan has frame drops though.

 

[reptilescorpio]

There's nothing "insane" about Titanfall's insane graphics settings, that's for sure.

But didn't the beta have purposely lower-res textures to preserve filesize?

It's 12GB for 2 maps.

I'm shocked at what the high-res, dozen or so maps edition will weigh in at!

 

[Zeyphersan]

The news to me is they changed the XBO's internal scaler, making it less sharp apparently. I don't have one but I know that was a big complaint, so I'm interested in their breakdown of the difference it makes.

 

[Chobel]

If PC and xbone using the same textures then why the xbone version is ~5GB and PC version is 12GB? What would create all this 7GB difference?

 

[ZeroX03]

It's 12GB for 2 maps.

I'm shocked at what the high-res, dozen or so maps edition will weigh in at!

I'm sure the '12GB' file size for the Beta is mostly empty data. There is no way in hell my net downloaded 12GB in 5 minutes. <-- Aussie here.

 

[ElTorro]

I noticed the tearing as well on the XBO. Wasn't directly aware of framerate drops into the 30ties drops, but that's certainly disappointing, especially since the game does indeed look like ass; more current-gen than next-gen. Nevertheless, sacrificing visuals for framerate is the right move.

 

[GlamFM]

If this is the status quo for the final version I will not purchase the game.
Been playing the beta on X1 for the past 2 days and performance is just bad.

I hope the final version performs better.

 

[Maleficence]

It should be pretty scary to all prospective and current XBO owners that this game can't seem run either at 60fps or 1080p.

 

[reptilescorpio]

I'm sure the '12GB' file size for the Beta is mostly empty data. There is no way in hell my net downloaded 12GB in 5 minutes. <-- Aussie here.

Why make it say 12GB though?

(took about 4 hours here, also in Australia)

 

[spekkeh]

I dunno those side by side comparisons are the most shocking difference I've seen in a loong time. It was a lot less pronounced previous gen. I sure hope it's learning process with the Xbone.

 

[boinx]

Do you have at least 3 GB of Video Card ram? My OC 7970 does just fine, my PC with Titan has frame drops though.

Nope, seems like GTX 660 Ti was a 2GB card, so that explains it then.

 

[Green Yoshi]

I don't get it. Why choose 792p and unstable 60 FPS instead of 720p and rock-solid 60 FPS?

 

[Cizeta-Moroder]

I have a relatively high end gaming pc.

I love strong visuals.

The visuals of Titanfall are great, imo. I'm never still enough to notice the lower textures, and the design is really great.

It#s all about how it looks in motion, imo.

Yeah, I'm using lowest settings (aside textures, which are at high) at 720p and it still looks great.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

Why did the OP neglect the sources highlights?



More details:

What the fuck?! This is not a visually impressive game, and they can't even stabilise it at 60fps?!

 

[wiggleb0t]

Can't they just add these as video options?

Can't you just say options?
Someone complaining of pc specifics thar reads like a strange console only owner envy of sub >800p 2014 next gen future TheOne is providing.

 

[DieH@rd]

If PC and xbone using the same textures then why the xbone version is ~5GB and PC version is 12GB? What would create all this 7GB difference?

Most probably different compression of assets. Xbone and PS4 have integrated modules for data decompression.

 

[Prine]

Engine just seems lacking in general...

 

[Facism]

it was 12 gb for 2 maps ?

there's about 7gigs of audio that decompresses during the install on the PC version.

 

[DieH@rd]

This needs to be in OP:

By and large, Titanfall is a healthy 60fps shooter as promised, but only as long as it's played with an on-foot Call of Duty mindset. With Portal 2's Source engine at its core, it's as fluid and responsive as you could hope for when pistolling Pilots and kicking AI grunts.

However, it all changes once you buckle into a Titan, and in this build we see lengthy passages of play (particularly by the end of a mission) falling within the 35-45fps range. Neither one of the levels on show is especially worse than the other in this regard, and it's clearly the barrage of alpha effects that ends up pressing the hardware too far.

It's also impossible to ignore the tearing that creeps up during such dips. Adaptive v-sync is in play, which taps in any time the engine detects a frame going over budget and missing a slot within its 60Hz refresh. Temporarily removing this lock helps to make control over the action feel smoother than it otherwise would, but at a big - and regular - cost to the overall presentation.

 

[123rl]

What the fuck?! This is not a visually impressive game, and they can't even stabilise it at 60fps?!

I'm reserving judgment until the final game. But, in their defence, the game is silky smooth online. Just no lag at all.

There are definitely framerate drops once the Titans start appearing. In my last match I had three on screen and I'd say it dropped below 30fps quite quickly

 

[EGM1966]

My already low interest is dropping. I planned on PC or maybe 360 but (at least going by the Beta) the PC version is simply the XB1 version shoved onto PC without any further effort or attention and the 360 version is worryingly AWOL in terms of being shown and I don't know whether to assume this is because it looks too close to XB1 for comfort or because it's really bad.

Definitely waiting to see how it takes off and whether it really seems like a game I could enjoy enough over a long period of time - also will wait for final PC release and analysis to see if the retail version is improved over the Beta in terms of textures, etc.

Gotta say though - overall I'm not too impressed with the engine/optimization work with the title from the Beta code at least.

 

[le.phat]

How is this game not a smooth 60 fps all-round? Honestly?

 

[Drainer]

Been playing the beta on X1 for the past 2 days and performance is just bad.

Either there's something wrong with your Xbox or this is some hyperbole.

 

[darkwing]

How is this game not a smooth 60 fps all-round? Honestly?

it's a beta?

 

[DeFiBkIlLeR]

How is this game not a smooth 60 fps all-round? Honestly?

..because the Xbox is an underpowered, multi media, set top box, rather than a true games console.

If you want smooth frame rates and 1080p....watch a Blu-Ray.

 

[Kaako]

Wonder if they can actually hit consistent, stable 60fps in retail version.

 

[ExoHazMatt]

Either there's something wrong with your Xbox or this is some hyperbole.

This. It's amazing the standards some people are holding this beta to.

 

[DeFiBkIlLeR]

This. It's amazing the standards some people are holding this beta to.

Good coding can't fix shit hardware...

 

[NBtoaster]

Can't they just add these as video options?

They are there as video options. The highest they go matches X1, but they scale lower for lesser rigs.

 

[Winternet]

"Visually, PC gamers looking for an edge over the console release in terms of lighting, shadows, effects or model detail may be disappointed. Even at the "insane" texture quality setting on PC, the oil rig structures around the Fracture map still share precisely the same washed-out mapping as the Xbox One, while floor mapping is also like-for-like. Much of the game's assets and rendering tech are shared in this sense, right down to the distance of the shadow filtering cascade."

Embarrassing.

 

[Gavarms]

This needs to be in OP:

Have added to OP

 

[Skeff]

Either there's something wrong with your Xbox or this is some hyperbole.

Well for a game aimed at solid 60fps above everything else "Framerate is king" then I'd say it's not just his Xbox but it's DF's Xbox as well, and I'd assume everyone else's Xbox as well.

The game has sustained drops to around 40fps with massive screen tearing.

Although this is a Beta and performance is likely to improve, I would hope that they do not try and use the resources saved by these optimizations by increasing the resolution, as it seems the framerate should be improved first.