PS3 Graphics Quality

As I understand it, even with the PS4 being released soon, the PS3's full graphical potential was never fully achieved. That being said, I have a very important question regarding Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn for PS3.

I play everyday for 12+ hours. While I have an enjoyable experience there are some consistent issues that I am requesting some answers to:

1. Why do the graphics seem lowered versus the PC Version? It was my understanding that while the PS3 could probably be outdone by modern gamin PC's, that the PS3 should have no problem rendering these graphics as that is what it was specifically designed to do. Is this lack of Ultra-quality due to a hardware limitation or is it latency-related?

2. No statements have been given regarding enemies failing to render when large groups of players are all doing the same "Fate" in the same location. What is the current standing on this wide-spread issue?

3. Are the overall graphics and/or rendering issues PS3 users are experiencing related to a more specific hardware limitation regarding the network capabilities of the PS3. More specifically, are us PS3 players being limited due to an outdated Ethernet hardware on the console perhaps not capable of handling the bandwidth required for premium rendering?

I only bring these issues up because I am led by examples from other games to believe that the PS3 is capable of handling high-quality rendering even on a large multi-player scale so I wonder why the graphics are hampered when it comes to PS3 players? I also have a PC license of the game and it plays much more efficient than the PS3 both graphically and latency-related. It has older hardware such as the I7 920 quad core and an even older graphics card (Nvidia GTS 250) and it still handles the game better. Why is this?

ok i can only answer one of the questions posed for you and that is rendering. the rest would be purely speculation on my part so i wouldnt want to post it if it had no weight. the rendering issues from the ps3 are merely an oversight. im assuming you played before the first maintenance period. i know i had no issues during that time besides the 1017 boss but, what has happend with rendering is that when they increased server capacity they had forgotten to reform the rendering priority to the new scale of players leaving the ps3 at a disadvantage in rending.

in actuality this is one of those things that would have been fixed already had there not been a plethora of other bigger issues.

something i forgot to add and this is purely speculation on my part is that they could have operation wait for it in action and are just waiting to see the numbers for subscriptions.

So if your theory is correct, do you foresee that particular issue being handled anytime soon? Sounds like it'd require a short maintenance to reconfigure those server-side (from a consumer point of view, more of an opinion).

Also, even if you a mere opinion on the other issues, I'd love to read your thoughts on them as PS3 players seem to be getting the least amount of attention around here, perhaps we need to be more active in reporting our issues.

since you have asked i shall give you my theory on the graphics. from what i have seen of pc game ply i wouldnt say that the graphics are a leap better as much as they are textured more which i dont believe were dumbed down merely for hardware purposes as much as they were for prioty and strain issues. lets say they kept the textures on par with that of the pc version. the strain this could place on the playstation could cause a shortening of the lifespan of your console merely due to having to keep up causing greater lag and less of an experience.

i think the latency issues that spawn from the ps3 version arent even the playstations fault as much as it is the network on which it operates which goes something like this, ps3>modem/router> ping psn> ping SE> back to console

I can definitely consider your theory on the graphical settings to be within the realm of a realistic reason.

Regarding your theory on the latency limitations of the game via the console however, I just don't quite see why the configuration of ones personal network in relation to the general ISP and to SE would cause he issues. In my experience in the computer service industry, a network has only ever been as strong as its weakest link. If there is a bottleneck somewhere in the chain of communication, then it leads to an overall dissatisfying experience. Given my current configuration (I'm a network technician) and the lack of any significant problems with my ISP, I'd have to believe the issue to be related to either the specific network adapter specifications of the PS3 or a bottleneck in SE's server-handling in regards to PS3-associated access to and from PS3 players. A PC on the same exact network loaded the exact same cutscene more than 2.5x faster (I ran a little experiment since I have a license for both PC and PS3). What do you make of that? It made me believe the above stated.

ill take your word on it man like i said that was just a theory i had as a possibility considering your a network technician im sure you have a greater grasp of the subject then myyself. (dont mean this in any sarcastic way) i do know though that the servers operate on some sort of cluster system based upon your ip so maybe that could have something to do with that but, like i said my knowledge of general latency is limited to about 10 hours of research on modem/router issues, static ip's, port forwarding and the such. anything beside that is 50 meters over my head.

I definitely appreciate the input. I'll bump this thread if it gets "too ignored" simply because I believe PS3 users are not being vocal enough about our issues, thus causing them to be treated with less priority than the PC users. (That's my formal opinion) and we at least deserve some kind of basic reasoning for the difference in gameplay quality, at least in regards to the status of the rendering issue, and the obvious latency limitations we are experiencing as a whole. I hope someone with some possible official information sees this thread.

i wish you the best on this endeavor and i do hope it come to the devs attention at some point. hopefully this does and we will get some sort of information on a fix that doesnt subjugate whole servers to ps3/ps4 users.

once again i wish you the best man and have a good one.

I don't mind graphics being toned downed but not being able to see or target a monster in fate is ridiculous... it should appear first and then the other players
not the other way around...
and doing blindly with the d-pad hoping to find the mob does not work either, you get the people, the minions, the companions, the pet... but not the monster

I can understand your frustration Hysterior. As a dragoon, I only have 2 AOE abilities, both of which do minimal damage, and one of which requires a target to be selected. Everything else I do is single target so unless I actually belong to a FATE party, I find it near impossible to achieve any kind of real participation in these events that would merit any realistic reward. The issue is obviously wide-spread for console players and this, we need to be more active in making it known.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xSinful_Snake

1. Why do the graphics seem lowered versus the PC Version? It was my understanding that while the PS3 could probably be outdone by modern gamin PC's, that the PS3 should have no problem rendering these graphics as that is what it was specifically designed to do. Is this lack of Ultra-quality due to a hardware limitation or is it latency-related?

---

Ok. It's mostly to do with the limited graphical RAM on the PS3. You can't load high quality textures in 256MB of it. It just can't be done. The PS4 should rectify this.

Quote:

---

2. No statements have been given regarding enemies failing to render when large groups of players are all doing the same "Fate" in the same location. What is the current standing on this wide-spread issue?

---

This has been fleshed out on other threads but basically it's a culling issue. The system has the wrong culling priority to remove stuff that isn't relevant to you. It's both a PC and PS3 issue. I believe SE have said they are looking into it.

Quote:

---

3. Are the overall graphics and/or rendering issues PS3 users are experiencing related to a more specific hardware limitation regarding the network capabilities of the PS3. More specifically, are us PS3 players being limited due to an outdated Ethernet hardware on the console perhaps not capable of handling the bandwidth required for premium rendering?

---

Graphics/rendering have nothing to do with the network latency. and frankly the PS3 has a gigabit ethernet connection available. Which will mostly be unused since most home connections aren't anywhere near that area. It shouldn't affect latency as well but there could be a buggy ethernet controller on the PS3 but that would have I assume poped up earlier. If using a wired connection it shouldn't be an issue really. Wireless on the other hand would be.

Quote:

---

I only bring these issues up because I am led by examples from other games to believe that the PS3 is capable of handling high-quality rendering even on a large multi-player scale so I wonder why the graphics are hampered when it comes to PS3 players? I also have a PC license of the game and it plays much more efficient than the PS3 both graphically and latency-related. It has older hardware such as the I7 920 quad core and an even older graphics card (Nvidia GTS 250) and it still handles the game better. Why is this?

---

I assume most of the engine is optimized for the PC and not the PS3 so there is a limitation in the software itself in terms of graphical fidelity and overall performance. I am a PS3 player but you need to consider it is an 8 year old system with a lot of limitations that if not properly approached really limit what it can do.

And some general suggestions for PS3/controller players. Setup the crossbars to have a couple shown only when weapon is drawn so you can easily cycle through the two. Makes skill selection much easier. And also left/right trigger with one of the shoulder buttons will cycle through enemies on screen. Makes target selection dead easy. Both of these things can be found on the forums as well(the first has a youtube video as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lof8nKmlTH4). Hope it helps.

I concur with your answers on #1 and #2. Thanks especially for listing the ram available to the PS3 as I was unaware the GPU was only able to handle 255mb.. That seems surprisingly low but explains why an Nvidia GTS259 (capable of up to 1GB of GPU ram) would obviously perform better and it's safe I say that the actual functions of the game operate mostly well, with exception to the culling priority, so it's not to say that the game is broken for us PS3 players.

I also had already assumed that the Ethernet port on the PS3 was capable of a gigabit transfer rate but still wonder if therein lies some sort of hardware limitation as for instance at any given time in my home, my PS3 is the only device hard wired to the router with all PC's and other devices being off throughout the day.

You're also probably right a out he engine being optimized for PC Users though I do hope the PS4 version comes with more engine compatibility.

The last tidbit of advice regarding targeting made me laugh simply because my first response to it was "We have to HAVE a target first in order to toggle through them with the trigger buttons".

P.S.
When I press R1 while in combat I would assume this would toggle a target from one to the next (assumably to the right), but all it does is toggle the next crossbar in my UI. Am I doing it incorrectly?

If you only have issues with your PS3 then there might be an issue with the cable or the port on the router etc... There are so many things that might cause issues there. But atleast with a wired connection you can try and diagonse those.

Well the PS4 is basically a PC - except it has some insane ram config - I can see it being as a very decent system. And I assume that it will get the same makeover as the DX11 version for the PC.

You need to hold the left or right trigger and then use r1/l1 to cycle targets(this will work even if you don't have a target yet).

So hold L2/R2 and then use R1/L1 to cycle.

Ah okay that makes sense. I wasn't using it like that. I'll that next time for sure.

12+ hours? LOL LOL LOL

On a lighter note, PCs are powerhouse machines capable of the best graphics money can buy. The PS3 is NOT a powerhouse machine and is limited by what your 250 or so odd dollars just bought you. The PS4 will be better obviously in terms of an update in hardware, graphics, and speed and all that, but a capable PC will dwarf a PS3 or PS4 at any given time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ruskie

Ok. It's mostly to do with the limited graphical RAM on the PS3. You can't load high quality textures in 256MB of it. It just can't be done. The PS4 should rectify this.

---

Don't think the PS3 has 256MB of graphical RAM (like RAM found in a video/graphics card), I think it has 256MB of OVERALL RAM for the entire system. So yeah, a jump from 256MB (PS3) to 8GB (PS4) is going to be significant.

It has 512 mb total ram split half way between system and graphics use.

Somebody is totally overestimating the power of a 7-year-old console.

The fact that FFXIV runs as well as it does on a 7 year old console is a marvel to me. If they fix the fate targeting issues, there really is no valid complaint to be had.

If graphical quality is such a premium, then playing on a PC is the obvious choice.

12 hours a day...
12 hours a day.... do u know what the sun and moon still look like m8?
but yeah im with everyone else ps3 is 7 years old u find a store bought pc from 7 years ago and see how that plays ff14:ARR.

im useing a 2 year old laptop hooked up to my tv.
and well it would fmess up a ps3 anyday
i run at a steady 30 fps on 1920-1080 res, on standard laptop gfx
if i run it at a regular laptop resolution i can hit highest QL gfx at 50 fps
but i like my big tv :)

PC's are the greatest when it comes to gameing.
consoles just ruined it for us was all

PS3 is a good console. But modern PC is between 10-50 times quicker (dependant on the power of your graphics system). PS3 has a rather quick processor though. That's why a lot of computing in this game is made on central processor. PC processor is not 10-50 times quicker. More like 5. And it has nothing to do with ethernet.

Also forget those stories about "Full Potential" with a full potential of a fork you can teleport continents into other planets.

It should also be pointed out that a lot of the time the PC version of the game is dumbed down for consoles.

Developers make one game that works great on the Xbox, PS3, and PC, instead of one maxed out on the PC, a less maxed out one for the PS3, and an xbox version.

This is why the PC version of GTA games always come out later than the console versions, and why they are way better games graphics & performance wise. they go the distance and make separate bump maps and materials and everything for the PC.

The best example of the top of my head is with the Dragon Age games. Origins they did different versions, graphics are better for pc, you have different options for leveling, your character speaks more during combat, etc. for Dragon Age 2, they did it the other way, where they dumbed down the graphics for Xbox, and released the same smelly version for PC.

This explains why you would think your PS3 was performing at PC level, when usually it is the PC actually having to come down to PS3 level.

Wow these were all great responses except for the one setence response from somebody whose name I won't bother to remember at the moment. :)

I'd like to add that I'm not exactly expecting god like performance on the PS3, but I am expecting some very close to PC performance on the PS4, with its ridiculous processor and its additional 6 GB of ram (would be 8 but the OS was stated to require 2gb for normal is functions).

I just figured that since my i7 is approximately 3-4 yr old (probably more since I got it way ahead of time through a special program), that that would I only be enough to notice a small difference between a PC which is made for multi-tasking and a console that is dedicate purely to gaming.

Overall, like I said, great answers but I still remain puzzled on why the ps3 version even with lesser gfx quality (I'm okay with that now) still seems to lack in the latency performance area (even on a wired connection where only the PS3 is on).

One last question regarding the graphics. How come the PS3 seems to show movements as of they're happening in slow motion. Graphically I've come to accept the RENDERING, but the factor of "Slow motion" (doesn't look latency relates at least I think as my crossbars (hot bars) seem to update precisely and quickly). It's the just the movement of the character himself when he (for example) uses an ability like "True Thrust" and he jumps for an attack.

Could his be a hard disc capacity issue (digital download via Psn store), where perhaps my hard drive is near full this causing the game to take longer to process that called upon ability?

i've got something to add to this, From my experience between playing on both, i've noticed that the PS3 lacks considerably compared to standard Laptop settings for the PC version. For 1, the enemies' animations seem choppy. For any instanced fight where there is significant enemy animations, (the first fight oudside Ul'Dah with that being the starting city) the enemy looked like it was moving at 3 FPS while compared to PC the enemy moves at a comparable animation of any non-online game.

I know the PS3 isn't as graphic intensive as most current PCs, but to be outdone by a laptop running via integrated graphics is kinda sad... at the lowest default settings mind you.

edit: I mean come on... FFXI ran better than it's pc counterpart on release being run on defaults and that one was build for PC/PS2

Khovel, it seems you're understanding me now. As I stated, expectations were never a glorious overestimation. I knew the PS3 could be outdone by a normal gaming PC today but I experience things like your "3 FPS Movement" you're talking about.

This does NOT seem like it was normally intended. The monsters literally move like South Park characters (like season 1 episodes). While I would understand a slight chop when you're in a populated FATE or zone but this happens in closes instances and even while solo-questing. Some mobs I have seen this with are:

- Treeant creatures
- Vangaurd Magitek machines
- Large Demons

While the issue seems to be more common with any large creature, it has occurred on small monsters like Wind Sprites.

This cannot be the expected performance they had in mind, even if they prioritized PC performance. I'd like to remind you that Yoshi has stated that the Vita will soon be able to stream access to the game for crafting an running around towns even outside. They have to fix this before they even consist that feature, whether or not its before or after PS4 releases.

Hope PS4 does better.
We cannot expect much from an old ass system though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arriverderci

Hope PS4 does better.
We cannot expect much from an old ass system though.

---

Aye, but we shouldn't have expect much less from a dedicated gaming system when apparently old laptops can run it better. That logic stands to be incomprehensible to me simply because of the boasted potential of the console.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xSinful_Snake

Aye, but we shouldn't have expect much less from a dedicated gaming system when apparently old laptops can run it better. That logic stands to be incomprehensible to me simply because of the boasted potential of the console.

---

You're not getting it. YES, an old laptop can run FFXIV seamlessly better than a PS3, because once again, that old laptop can be upgraded and is only limited by the amount of money inside your pocket. PCs are always upgradeable so you can always be experiencing better graphics, by having a better video card. When you buy the PS4, it is what it is, it won't be any better down the road. PC will ALWAYS trump any gaming system in terms of speed and graphics. And this is all coming from a dedicated console gamer.

I didn't know you could upgrade a laptop.
My laptop cannot run this game, you all must have a gamin' one lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arriverderci

I didn't know you could upgrade a laptop.
My laptop cannot run this game, you all must have a gamin' one lol.

---

You sure can! We put a man on the moon and you were under the impression that there is no way to upgrade a laptop? Come on now!

why do these threads always turn into a insult thread. you pc elitest punks are a trip.

This thread had potential now it's just another bashfest. /me unsubscribes

The character draw limit is there for both, it just takes a lot more for it to happen on PC. So whereas PS3 users may be unable to see mobs in a regular Fate, PC usually only gets this issue on Odin/Behemoth, etc.

The graphic quality issue is expected though. This isn't bashing, strictly factual, but consoles are never better than (let alone equal to) computers of the same age. At release, PS3 was already behind computers and even now the PS4 specs are already below modern computers. Consoles literally are just budget computers with specialized operating systems; they use all the same components just older and modified to meet the console price, energy consumption, and heat limitations.

The i7 (any mid-high end computer processor really) far out performs the Cell processor, mainly due to the vastly different architectures. Your GTS 250 also outperforms because the PS3 uses a modified 7800, which was already a year old when the PS3 was released. Basically, yes it all comes down to hardware limitations. The PS3 version of FF14 already has to render with lowest settings at 544p as it is, then upscale to 720p

I don't believe I did anything to turn this into a bash fest, at least my previous posts don't seem to suggest so but back to the topic at hand.

While what the previous poster said is true regarding the limitations of the ps3 graphically, the PS3 play from my experience is ALOT less buggier than the PC play simply because of the platform.

So in conclusion, we cannot expect to get any kind of graphical improvement on the PS3 console due to the hardware limitations though because of these very limitations, there is a higher stability with the console's functions. This is because it is safe to presume all the bugs that a PS3 can output are most likely archived and fixable, this these forums are rarely filled with gameplay problems on the console (excluding the payment settings which are universal across the platforms).

That being said we can at least look forward to the PS4 which will have a lot more system resources in order to output the game at 1080p and with stability in the increased graphics. While new PC's at the time of the release, it is easy to deduce that new PC's will continue to have errors because the of the pure diversity of the technology they encompass. New drivers, new firmware, new software updates, even the addition of new hardware later in the PC's life will never allow for stability across the board of functions it is capable.

We can be confident that because the hardware in the current PS3 will not change except for hard drive space, and the PS4 will be of the same origin.

For those looking to make a decision such as myself regarding getting a PS4 or a new gaming PC to play Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, I personally have come to the conclusion that I would rather spend 400-500 on a PS4 that I'm sure will last through the next 6 years providing hardware doesn't fail, than spend 800-1000 on a new gaming PC that will require 150-300 dollar upgrades (in as little as annually to bi-annually) to keep up with the next 6-7 years.

Some may consider this to be a bias move but I'm in the department of saving money and as long as the game can be played with stability at anything higher as graphically as it is now, I will be content.

The point of this thread was to get answers on some very popular questions regarding the PS3's performance and although the answers were not from official sources, I'm a PC Tech by profession so I know the heights to which the world of computers belongs has no limitations though it comes with a steep price on ones financial strength.

I can feel content on what I have with the PS3 and I know that with the coming updates, it will only get better and with the PS4, these issues will be a job of the past.

I hope this thread will help others in the future regarding their possible questions they may carry with them.