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[Crimson_Gold]

But my TV is only 720p!!! Well, actually 1366x768. I have another one but that room is not suitable for Kinect or the Eye. And I fully expect this gen to be a 720p gen. The first thing that suffers when devs look for more power is resolution. Those 1080p launch titles (most of them ports of current gen titles) don't fool me, when devs have the choice to either add more eyecandy or make it more sharp they will add more effects because that's what everybody instantly recognizes. The gaming press thought Ghosts looked vastly better on PS4 than on X1 (except Polygon). Then it turned out that both were running at 720p. Ryse at 900p looks better than any 1080p game. Horizon at 720p looks better than any 1080p racer. There's much more to a good final result than resolution.

I am glad that you have enjoyed your purchase immensely. You are now stating many opinions as facts, which you have been doing for quite some time now. 1080p is better than 720p. It is just how technology works. Having a higher native resolution does impact the image quality. Enjoy your purchase, but please stop with the nonsense.

 

[J-P]

Kotaku:



Polygon:

The polygon quote was written before the patch that made the game 1080p. That's why he didn't notice the difference. Pretty sure he will now.

 

[SillyEskimo]

These pictures do not do the difference justice IMO. I played AC4, BF4, and CoD:Ghosts for an entire day on the PS4 before their respective 1080 patches. What a difference!

 

[Unknown One]

About time some website posted about this.

 

[Curufinwe]

There is no reason why an Xbox One can't get 1080p out of most games. If most 360 games like Gears 3 were hitting 720p, having 10 times the power at their disposal means that 1080p should be a breeze. It has to be a driver or tools issue.

It's not. Its a Xbone has 33% less CUs and 50% less ROPS issue.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7528/the-xbox-one-mini-review-hardware-analysis/2

 

[Nymphae]

Kind of sad that in this day in age we really need articles stating how a higher resolution is better than lower res as if its like some controversial opinion.

 

[TheOMan]

There is no reason why an Xbox One can't get 1080p out of most games. If most 360 games like Gears 3 were hitting 720p, having 10 times the power at their disposal means that 1080p should be a breeze. It has to be a driver or tools issue.

Actually it's a memory config issue:

A single frame at 1080p takes 7.910MB of the ESRAM. (1920x1080x32). Add in prefetched data, additional mapping needed for shadows and other effects and AA, the ESRAM gets quickly exhausted. 720p is the only answer.

Given that effects are going to get more abundent and complex, it is actually LESS likely we will see 1080p games on the Xbox One in the future.

People need to start facing reality.

 

[Curufinwe]

The polygon quote was written before the patch that made the game 1080p. That's why he didn't notice the difference. Pretty sure he will now.

Nope, their reviews editor confirmed that the graphical comparison related only to multiplayer which was always 1080p on PS4.

https://twitter.com/aegies/status/400726449356685312

He also claimed the Xbone version had additional lighting effects, something no other member of the media has mentioned as far as I know.

 

[mrklaw]

I can only speak for myself:

1.) It comes well after other sites claimed the opposite, thus restarting an argument that I thought was thankfully over.

2.) It's an "article" stating the obvious. 1080p is superior to 720p? No shit!

3.) It comes after the biggest shopping day of the year, when it might have mattered to some consumers who had been led astray by other sites.

It may be stating the obvious to you, but very few websites have actually come out and said it. This is a welcome article.

 

[Stimpack]

That's perfect, and I completely agree with Nailbomb. People can act as if it makes no difference and doesn't matter, and that's just fine, but it's entirely wrong. While it might not matter to some people, it does matter to others. If you don't care for the discussion, don't participate.

 

[Amused]

It kanda matters, but more than anything it is a sign of what's to come. Maybe...

The ps4 is more powerful, there is no denying it. At launch this has translated into better resolution and better framerate. With time, it could (should) translate into more AI scripts running at the same time, bigger maps with more stuff happening in them and other gameplay-related stuff.

In multiplats? Maybe not. In first party games? Of course.

Sony should just go all in, and get exclusive dlc for multiplats that simply can not run on the Xbone in any meaningful way. That would go a long way in showing why the power difference matters.

 

[vpance]

So basically, they're just saying PS4's higher resolution is better if you like better graphics. I mean I'm with them 100%, but why the fuck did this take so long?

Embargos and blacklists.

 

[jschreier]

I'll gladly accept the invitation to not read your website, but decline the latter. If I see something I disagree with, I'll be voicing my issues with said content, whether it comes from Kotaku or any other site. If it bothers you so much, then just continue ignoring my grievances and towing the company line, as you are now.

If you do not read Kotaku, you therefore have not seen that we already told readers not to get either console on Black Friday, and therefore your complaints about us not publishing this article before Black Friday are both uninformed and irrelevant. Hope that helped.

 

[erawsd]

Look man, I know you have been reporting everything under the sun, which I am grateful for - but you are also an opinion website, and your opinion influences potential buyers. To hold back the opinion that it is important that the PS4 has a better resolution than the XBone until December 3rd is kind of weak.
And in terms of being driven crazy - how about spending six months witnessing a weaker console's faults being continuously glossed over or forgotten by just about every reporter in the industry.

Its not like they've waited 5 years into the cycle. These things haven't even been on shelves for a month. If they really had some secret agenda then they wouldn't have ever said anything or even joined the "it doesn't matter" brigade.

And lets be honest, early adopters could care less what anyone says about these machines. Kotaku rated both consoles "Not Yet", and still each is sold out and have shattered sales records in numerous territories.

 

[falconbox]

sucks that my tv is only 720p. Oh well.

 

[jayu26]

But my TV is only 720p!!! .........Ryse at 900p looks better than any 1080p game

How would you know?

lol.

 

[BruiserBear]

Look man, I know you have been reporting everything under the sun, which I am grateful for - but you are also an opinion website, and your opinion influences potential buyers. To hold back the opinion that it is important that the PS4 has a better resolution than the XBone until December 3rd is kind of weak.
And in terms of being driven crazy - how about spending six months witnessing a weaker console's faults being continuously glossed over or forgotten by just about every reporter in the industry.

I would say Kotaku have been one of the better outlets in terms of honest reporting, so I think you're barking up the wrong tree here.

There are far bigger grievances to be had with other outlets.

 

[Nibiru]

Of course it matters, there's no need for a whole article about it.

I don't know about that. There are still many around here saying it doesn't.

 

[Dragon]

How is this tolerated?

 

[Axass]

Kirk played a bunch of games, noticed a disparity, and wanted to write about it.

Serious non-trollish question: Do you have a coherent editorial line at Kotaku (isn't Totilo in charge of that?), or every author posts and writes whatever s/he likes?

I ask because I remember this article, where, aside from the insiders' quotes, at certain points, Stephen clearly minimizes the whole situation, saying that "Some gamers may look at the comparison and see the same game or a game that looks impressive enough on both machines.".

That message is kind of contraddicting Kirk's piece. Don't you worry about your readers being confused about the message you want to send, and in doing so losing credibility? (because you're technically saying it matters on one side and it doesn't matter on the other)

Guys, make sure to buy the lower quality, inferior version of the game, so you can be the first to give EA more money before anyone else, on a broken game they have yet to fix a month after release!

Why is it that I don't see any ads, even though I stopped AdBlock on NeoGAF?

 

[a916]

Why is this still a topic worthy of discussion? 1080p is better than 720p, most people will notice the difference, and it all comes down to the games. The end. I swear, "game journalists" seem to love to just keep reigniting this silly argument.

Because GAF complains when no one mentions it...

 

[UnObtainium17]

Idk, I was ps3 only player last gen though I really hated that a shit ton of games ive played ran better on 360, that difference didnt seem to get in the way of me appreciating the game. It came to a point that I didnt care anymore. If a lot of ps3 folks got over this issue last gen, I see no reason why xbox fellas cannot.

I probably started not minding that issue because upon playing those sony exclusive I came into the realization that it was more about the developers skill than owning an under powered machine. On this xbone-ps4 issue meanwhile seems to be more that the more expensive console is still also the underpowered one (no puns given). I will probably pissed if I was an xbox owner.

 

[The Gaming Zen]

For those keeping score at home:

Xbo has worse resolution for most multi platform games

Xbo has 10+ minute installs vs ps4 <1 minute

Xbo has a huge form factor compared to ps4

Ps4 exclusively has full remote play via Vita

Ps4 exclusively has a motion controller, the move

I could go on about the superiority of PS+ over live, Sony 1st party over MS.

I never thought this decision would be so easy.

But it's not. I have both systems and I play Xbox One much more than my PS4 because I like the games better, and all my friends stayed with Xbox. The Resolution thing doesn't even matter to 99% of most people buying these consoles. This time around it's going to be where peoples friends play, since we now live in a socially connected world. Anyways, I love both systems, but based on what I've seen so far Ryse is the best looking next gen title hands down!

 

[Dragon]

But it's not. I have both systems and I play Xbox One much more than my PS4 because I like the games better, and all my friends stayed with Xbox. The Resolution thing doesn't even matter to 99% of most people buying these consoles. This time around it's going to be where peoples friends play, since we now live in a socially connected world. Anyways, I love both systems, but based on what I've seen so far Ryse is the best looking next gen title hands down!

Resolution thing doesn't matter.
Ryse is the best looking game.
Mention irrelevancies about anecdotal evidence of your life that wouldn't matter if you were Bill Gates.

smh

Why is this still a topic worthy of discussion? 1080p is better than 720p, most people will notice the difference, and it all comes down to the games. The end. I swear, "game journalists" seem to love to just keep reigniting this silly argument.

For someone who doesn't think it's worthy of discussion, you sure do...discuss it a lot. Also I'd be careful of questioning the legitimacy of a thread, been banned for that before!

 

[LCGeek]

Why is it that I don't see any ads, even though I stopped AdBlock on NeoGAF?

Never out something like that here. unless they changed their policies on the subject.

 

[xxracerxx]

But my TV is only 720p!!! Well, actually 1366x768. I have another one but that room is not suitable for Kinect or the Eye. And I fully expect this gen to be a 720p gen. The first thing that suffers when devs look for more power is resolution. Those 1080p launch titles (most of them ports of current gen titles) don't fool me, when devs have the choice to either add more eyecandy or make it more sharp they will add more effects because that's what everybody instantly recognizes. The gaming press thought Ghosts looked vastly better on PS4 than on X1 (except Polygon). Then it turned out that both were running at 720p. Ryse at 900p looks better than any 1080p game. Horizon at 720p looks better than any 1080p racer. There's much more to a good final result than resolution.

Oh Kirlekk, you make me smile.

 

[Trey]

Never out something like that here. unless they changed their policies on the subject.

Never out that he has NeoGAF whitelisted?

 

[Axass]

Never out something like that here. unless they changed their policies on the subject.

I shouldn't out that I don't use Adblock here?

EDIT: Oh wait, you thought I only stopped it NOW, to see the XO ad. Nope, I have it on halt all the time, though I only see a white rectangle where the ads should be.

 

[Metallix87]

For someone who doesn't think it's worthy of discussion, you sure do...discuss it a lot. Also I'd be careful of questioning the legitimacy of a thread, been banned for that before!

I'm not questioning the legitimacy of the thread, I'm questioning why things are the way they are with regards to game journalism and their "responses" to the launches and the launch issues, most notably the 1080p vs. 720p issue. This thread is absolutely legitimate and should exist.

 

[.GqueB.]

That much of a factor from what perspective? Inherent value of a product for enthusiasts posting on a forum? Or ammo in some inane pissing match over which console will sell better to some other people?

I'd say in terms of value. Or to put it simply in terms of "shit that actually matters". I just can't think of a time when graphics/power had any real effect on anything. PS3 was more powerful and, while it made a nice little comeback toward the end, it certainly wasn't Sony's shining moment. The Xbox was more powerful and, other than taking a nice little chunk out of Sony's mindshare, it certainly didn't dominate. Then you have the Wii that just dominated for years.

I just don't see why this matters.

Historically, hasn't the more powerful box cost more? Only outlier is GameCube I think... but Nintendo goofed up in a lot of other areas with that. You can make the case that if Nintendo bothered to put modern hardware in the Wii it would've lasted a lot longer as well.

I think people would be a lot more forgiving of the One's shortcomings if it was cheaper, like $350.

Isn't the packed in Kinect to blame for that? Or at the very least partly responsible?

 

[LittleIdeaSLT]

You know what matters which nobody seems to be willing to discuss? Display technology.

Panasonic has left the plasma business and Pioneer has long since been gone. We are being left with LCD technology and I'm simply not OK with that.

We need a change on this front. So many resources are being wasted on band-aids to solve LCDs inherent problems but they ultimately do NOT solve those problems.

I simply cannot fathom how PC only gamers, which seem to take hardware so seriously, seem to be OK with using an LCD monitor. It simply blows my mind. Why are people OK with this? They've somehow convinced themselves that substandard technology is somehow great.

It's the one thing in technology that I'm consistently disappointed in. The lack of progress here is astounding. Resolution is so far from the top of the "most important aspect of a display" list yet so many people act as if it is THE critical point.

OLED isn't necessarily the answer here, but it was a good start that is being abandoned for a variety of reasons. LCD is reliable, cheap, and the public seems OK with it so, fuck it, why bother putting R&D money into anything else?

It may be impossible but I'm dying for a display technology that can produce a genuine "infinite" contrast with a non-fixed pixel screen capable of full motion resolution (that doesn't rely on the source) and, of course, the removal of fixed refresh rates (a la G-Sync).

Amen, I think a lot of the "i can't tell the difference" or "looks good to me" comments come from the fact that a lot of the tvs in peoples homes are probably LCDs with poor contrast ratios... and probably still set to the factory "vivid" settings...

Sadly the mainstream doesn't seem to notice or care... but realistically thats what makes them "mainstream"

No clue when a superior display technology will show up (i doubt it'll be anytime soon) but until then I'm happy with plasma.

 

[The Gaming Zen]

Resolution thing doesn't matter.
Ryse is the best looking game.
Mention irrelevancies about anecdotal evidence of your life that wouldn't matter if you were Bill Gates.

smh

Resolution does matter for those looking for it yes. Hell, my mom still can't tell the difference between dvd and blu-ray and it drives me crazy.

Ryse is the best looking game IMO....completely personal.

I have no idea what you are talking about with your fancy play on words with the Bill Gates thingy

 

[Metallix87]

Isn't the packed in Kinect to blame for that? Or at the very least partly responsible?

Correct. Kinect likely costs an extra $80 - $120.

 

[ProjectGemini07]

I've also noticed no one is talking about OLED anymore either. Has that also been abandoned?

No, OLED is basically the only real hope in the near term. That, or Samsung picking up the crown of command in the plasma world and improving upon the excellent foundation that this year's 8500 model is.

The bigger point here is this:

"ISF states the the most important aspects of picture quality are (in order): 1) contrast ratio, 2) color saturation, 3) color accuracy, 4) resolution. Resolution is 4th on the list and plasma is generally superior to LCD in all of the other areas (but much more prone to reflections/glare.)"

1080p does matter, but the focus on resolution is misplaced.

I would take the entry-level Samsung 4500 720p plasma, which went for $430 this past Black Friday, over ANY LCD.

 

[xxracerxx]

Correct. Kinect likely costs an extra $80 - $120.

Put a microphone in the console itself and get rid of Kinect tie-in and sell it for $350. Winner of the generation.

 

[Metallix87]

Put a microphone in the console itself and get rid of Kinect tie-in and sell it for $350. Winner of the generation.

I wouldn't be surprised to see something along those lines materialize in 2014.

 

[Shosai]

I'm not questioning the legitimacy of the thread, I'm questioning why things are the way they are with regards to game journalism and their "responses" to the launches and the launch issues, most notably the 1080p vs. 720p issue.

Well you see, some writers really care about resolutions.

And some don't.

 

[xxracerxx]

Well you see, some writers really care about resolutions.

And some don't.

Some also have a problem giving launch titles a bad score in fear of the company. Hence why Loco Cycle got a 4/10 when the review reads like a 1/10.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

I am saddened and slightly nauseated that this even needs to be explained to people who play video games in the year 2013.

 

[BigDug13]

Put a microphone in the console itself and get rid of Kinect tie-in and sell it for $350. Winner of the generation.

I thought Kinect added exactly $75 to the system and that the XBO has a more expensive APU due to the ESRAM. So even removing the Kinect while attempting to keep the same profit margin would be a system sold at $425. Add a microphone capable of full room voice detection and we're approaching $435-450.

 

[Kazuma Kiryu]

My Assassin's Creed looks crystal clear on my tv which I feel I have set up very well using PC inputs and calibrated brightness levels and looks so much smoother and clearer than these crappy shots I keep seeing

This is just sad now.

 

[pixlexic]

That's if the xbone games resolution doesn't increase.

Which I think it will.

 

[Shosai]

Some also have a problem giving launch titles a bad score in fear of the company. Hence why Loco Cycle got a 4/10 when the review reads like a 1/10.

A 4/10 isn't a bad score?

 

[xxracerxx]

I thought Kinect added exactly $75 to the system and that the XBO has a more expensive APU due to the ESRAM. So even removing the Kinect while attempting to keep the same profit margin would be a system sold at $425. Add a microphone capable of full room voice detection and we're approaching $435-450.

I didn't say to keep a profit margin.

A 4/10 isn't a bad score?

Have you seen LocoCycle? A 4 in my mind is generous.

 

[gamers]

My god nobody cares about this crap. I own both system both look great. I play my Xbone more because it has better games. I played PS4 for a solid week until Xbone was released.

Haven't touch it since. They need games.

 

[BruiserBear]

That's if the xbone games resolution doesn't increase.

Which I think it will.

People who seem to know what they're talking about, suggest that's probably not going to be the case.

Of course exclusives will probably be OK, with most being 900p, or in some rare instances 1080p, but multiplatform games are likely to stay lower than the PS4 version.

 

[jim-jam bongs]

My god nobody cares about this crap. I own both system both look great. I play my Xbone more because it has better games. I played PS4 for a solid week until Xbone was released.

Haven't touch it since. They need games.

Clearly some people care. You obviously mean "I don't care about this fact".

 

[beast786]

My god nobody cares about this crap. I own both system both look great. I play my Xbone more because it has better games. I played PS4 for a solid week until Xbone was released.

Haven't touch it since. They need games.

You r right

Own an XB1 and of course it matters.

yes nobody cares.

funny , I played my ps4 more because it has more games. How could this be?

 

[Shosai]

Have you seen LocoCycle? A 4 in my mind is generous.

So you're alleging that there was a backroom deal between the reviewer and the publisher, simply because their score didn't align with the number in your mind?

Who does that? On a video game message board of all places

 

[sleepykyo]

because console gamers have been telling PC gamers it doesn't matter for the past decade

now because it's on someone's console of choice it matters. while to the other side, it still doesn't matter

So it doesn't matter then, outside of platform warriors?