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DF article GTA V - X360 vs PS3

Hanmik

Member
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-grand-theft-auto-5-face-off

Simply put, having both discs installed to the 360's HDD appears to create a bottleneck for the engine as it attempts to draw these assets from the same source, but playing straight from disc gives us comparable results to PS3. This hampers the experience much more than the launch issues Skyrim had, where that game suffered from similar texture-streaming when installed. In this case, the engine is apparently optimised to utilise bandwidth from both the disc drive and HDD at once.

Running straight from disc, then, there's little to distinguish the PS3 and 360 releases when it comes to environmental detail, but there are some curious catches. Flying the Cuban 800 plane around shows up variations in grass placement, but more striking is the presentation of palm trees regularly sighted around the city. Their more flourishing look on 360 is unusual given the parity elsewhere, though we notice the upshot of this is a nasty pixel-crawl across their tops during slow pans, suggesting a lack of alpha-to-coverage to mitigate the extra-thin details. Also falling within nitpick territory is a slight difference to reflection map resolution while in front of Franklin's bedroom mirror - the PS3 delivering a lower-quality, pixellated alternative to the 360's reflections.

The target this time is 30fps for both platforms, and it holds at that point for most areas. Overall the PS3 puts out the lower frame-rate for synchronised in-engine cut-scenes, typically by a matter of two frames-per-second and rarely much more. Curiously, the 360 version is the only one of the two to drive upwards from the 30fps target on occasion - far from being ideal, this produces a judder effect due to the frame-rate no longer operating as a multiple of the 60Hz output signal. Regardless, the readings for both consoles stick together like glue during dips below the line, with each going as low as 20fps.

For unsynchronised play involving cop chases through busier segments of the city, it's common to see drops to 20fps on both platforms as well, though a clear performance leader is hard to parse out here. Trevor's more explosive battles with rival drug dealers in the outback areas also suffer, during which the PS3 seemingly takes an advantage despite the chaotic excess of fire and smokes effects. Ultimately, the variability of this lead shows attention has been duly paid to the strengths of the PS3 architecture, where the difference is practically imperceptible to the naked eye.

360_110.bmp.jpg


PS3_110.bmp.jpg


Grand Theft Auto 5: the Digital Foundry verdict

At last, Rockstar North's monstrous open-world caper is here in all its glory - but after five years and an estimated £170 million being sunk into development and marketing, which version is the one to buy? After playing both versions extensively and amassing over 2TB of lossless video to analyse, we must stress that you're bound to have a fantastic time with either take. Lighting and physics engines are fully intact on both versions, and the minor differences in reflection mapping go down as nitpicks. At its core, both PS3 and 360 present the same massive Los Angeles-inspired sprawl via the same 720p native resolution lens, with almost entirely identical effects and object detail.

However, it's apparent that the PS3 version has an undeniable advantage in one area: even to the naked eye, ground textures on 360 are blurred as a result of what appears to be unoptimised asset streaming. Glitch or not, this basically amounts to concrete and grass textures appearing fuzzier beneath the feet of Trevor, Michael or Franklin, while the PS3 version's remain crystal clear. The 360 does command a minor advantage in frame-rate during synchronised play, but for shoot-outs and high-speed hurtles down the city streets, the PS3 can sometimes pull ahead in these metrics - though the difference is rarely perceptible either way. Since all else is identical across the board, the PS3 version is recommended on the grounds of image quality if you have the option.

Grand Theft Auto 5 easily counts as the most feature-rich and eye-catching sandbox title of the current generation to our minds, though the silence on the as-yet unannounced PC and next-gen releases is deafening. Adaptations must surely be in the running - and doubtless these would be bolstered by smoother performance and higher-grade effects afforded by more muscular hardware. But that's perhaps missing the point; with so much heist-plotting content crammed into one package, and with an intriguing 16-player online mode yet to be patched in, there's no time like the present to enjoy Los Santos' delights on the platforms you already own.

LOTS more at the link.. PS3 version is preferred platform "It's fair to say that the 360's performance advantage has less impact in-game compared to its texture filtering issues. It's close, but PlayStation 3 is our preferred platform for this game."..
 

Yoshichan

And they made him a Lord of Cinder. Not for virtue, but for might. Such is a lord, I suppose. But here I ask. Do we have a sodding chance?
Shit just got real. Good luck to the people that we will lose today (and tomorrow).
 

SgtCobra

Member
Dis gon b gud?

"It's fair to say that the 360's performance advantage has less impact in-game compared to its texture filtering issues. It's close, but PlayStation 3 is our preferred platform for this game."

Well done Rockstar, well done..
Glad I pre ordered the PS3 version, but I was seriously on the fence on buying the 360 one..
Where are the people saying that open world games are worse on the PS3?
 

nib95

Banned
I did point out that texture difference earlier. Anyway, fucking Amazon didn't delivery my copy (yet) so I'm off to the store to pick up a PS3 version!
 

Trickster

Member
Kinda surprised the ps3 version is the better version. I get noticable frame drops very often in the city. Definitely not a smooth 30 fps. 360 version being worse honestly surprises me.
 

Banzai

Member
Getting the PS3 version anyway, but yeah, where are the PC or next-gen announcements? Everyone pretty much expects them by now.
 

Sn4ke_911

If I ever post something in Japanese which I don't understand, please BAN me.
"It's fair to say that the 360's performance advantage has less impact in-game compared to its texture filtering issues. It's close, but PlayStation 3 is our preferred platform for this game."

Case closed.
 
Pretty shocking turning around for Rockstar. Their open-world games in particular have always lagged quite a bit behind on the PS3 compared to the 360 versions this gen. So it's pretty amazing that their most ambitious game ends up having a slight edge on the PS3.
 

Ensirius

Member
Kinda surprised the ps3 version is the better version. I get noticable frame drops very often in the city. Definitely not a smooth 30 fps. 360 version being worse honestly surprises me.

In the OP they mention how you get dips in the 20's in both systems, so that's a negative factor present on 360 and ps3.
 

R.I.P

Member
Surprised that the PS3 version pulled ahead, though it seems like in most areas both versions are about as good (or bad, might just wait for the nextgen versions for dat smooth framerate & 1080p :p)
 

Hurley

Member
So the two platforms are basically equal when it comes to fps? The 360 pulls ahead in some instances but then so does the PS3?

I'm surprised, I mean it's great news but I'm use to the PS3 losing out when it comes to this aspect.

R* really did go out with a bang for this generation, creating both ports equal more or less.

Well done.
 

JAYSIMPLE

Banned
Got the 360 version and more than happy. Should have gone with my gut but most of my friends are on xbox. Great work rocks tar. It will tide me over until pc or next gen
 
So the two platforms are basically equal when it comes to fps? The 360 pulls ahead in some instances but then so does the PS3?

I'm surprised, I mean it's great news but I'm use to the PS3 losing out when it comes to this aspect.

R* really did go out with a bang for this generation, creating both ports equal more or less.

Well done.

Makes a nice change doesn't it? I know some were fearing a RDR situation again but it's obviously not the case here. Hopefully the ridiculous bias claims will ease too.
 

dc89

Member
Got the PS3 version because that's what I got GTA IV on. Plus my gf who loves GTA prefers the PS3, so it was always going to be that version for me.

The game looks outstanding on either platform tbh, let's just enjoy playing it.
 

dark10x

Digital Foundry pixel pusher
Sill, it looks like the 360 version does run a tad smoother overall (though, really, when they're both sub-30 fps at the same points a 2 fps difference isn't a big deal).

I'm glad they both feature virtually identical image quality, though. While the 360 had a resolution advantage in GTAIV, the image was full of severe dithering which kind of ruined the visuals.
 

gogogow

Member
Wow, finally, native resolution for the PS3 version in a open world Rockstar game. I did get GTA4 day one. Had no intention of buying GTAV, but I always like to reward developers with effort. Maybe I will get it after all.
 

Card Boy

Banned
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Embargoes suck for multi console owners, i didn't pre-order the PS3 version because i was expecting a GTA4, Midnight Club:LA, Red Dead situation again.
 

Vitor711

Member
With the fact that all prerelease video had been on PS3, and that most default review copies seemed to have been PS3 also, is anyone surprised?

I'm glad the differences are so minor as to be negligible, but I always thought it was fairly obvious that the PS3 version would maintain a lead (however slight it may have ended up being).
 

nib95

Banned
Lol, Eurogamer is getting hammered.

Also, imo the fuller tree's thing on the 360 is not really an advantage in the end, based on these images and the videos, (as well as the text in the OP), they seem to have more jaggies on the edges of leaves compared to the PS3 version, so not sure the slight added leaf volume is worth the additional aliasing.
 

Rootbeer

Banned
PS3 version purchase redeemed. Can't wait to to get it in the mail tomorrow.

Not that I had a choice since I don't own a 360

A choice other than waiting for PS4/PC versions, if/when they actually do come, that is
 

IN&OUT

Banned
This is just a proof that PS3 is more powerful than X360 once you understand its bizzare cell.

I admit that I expected DF to give this to 360 no matter what...they deserve an apology from me.
I'm sorry ..
 
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