Re: [GD-Consoles] Nobody on this list?

[Steve R. <St...@no...>]

>>> "Jason G Doig" <jas...@py...> 07/03/02 12:23PM >>>
>Obviously I don't speak for other platforms where you might still be =
nuked from orbit.

Roger that. The nukes are positioned and standing by. Awaiting target =
acquisition...

(that was a joke)
Yep, unfortunately many things are covered by NDA and it's hard to talk =
too candidly in a public forum like this. However, there are some good =
cross-platform subjects that are worth discussing. I'll throw out some =
tasty ones:

Issue #1
An important issue for cross-platform developers is how the same art/textur=
es will appear on each of the platforms. My sources tell me that Microsoft =
recently released a paper comparing XBOX to PS2 in terms of color/display =
output. I'd like to hear from developers what their experiences have been =
across all three platforms with respect to texture appearance. Have =
textures needed to be changed in any way when porting from one platform to =
another?

Issue #2
Consoles have limited memory when compared with PCs. What general =
compression algorithms (if any) are people using on their titles (custom/zl=
ib/lzo/platform specific). Do you hold any data in memory and then =
decompress it on-the-fly when it is needed? How concerned are you with =
patent issues when considering a compression algorithm on your title?

Issue #3
For cross-platform games: What platform is your primary platform and at =
what point do you start porting to the others? During development, what =
methods do you use to guarantee quality and stability across all platforms?=
 Do you design/code your game for the lowest common denominator or do you =
build it on the best (perhaps on a top-notch PC) and then gracefully scale =
down?

Issue #4
Each console maker has a (different) plan for how online games will work. =
Are you excited by any of these plans and how will it affect the direction =
of your games? Are you going to jump onboard or sit this one out until the =
next generation of consoles?

Grab an issue and run with it. Issues #1 and #4 are timely ones and issue =
#2 holds a certain fascination for me (I was bit by the compression bug =
about a year ago).

Steve Rabin
SDSG - Nintendo of America, Inc.
Editor of "AI Game Programming Wisdom" (www.aiwisdom.com)