PS3 Graphics Quality

[xSinful_Snake]

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 More specifically, are us PS3 players being limited due to an outdated Ethernet hardware on the console perhaps not capable of handling the bandwidth required for premium rendering?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?

[1Logic]

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.

[xSinful_Snake]

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.

[1Logic]

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

[xSinful_Snake]

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.

[1Logic]

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.

[xSinful_Snake]

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.

[1Logic]

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.

[Hysterior]

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

[xSinful_Snake]

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.