Comments on: Firemint 3GS 'Real Racing' Tech Demo – 40 Cars On Screen http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/ ... keeping in touch with the latest in iPhone gaming Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:32:49 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: SKJ http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-28006 SKJ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:16:53 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-28006 Wow, nice observation. On a related note, I just wanted to mention that the iPod Touch 2G has a faster CPU (532MHz) compared to the iPhone 2G/3G (412 MHz). Perhaps they used an iPod Touch 2G to eliminate any framerate issues that the iPhone 3G may have had, as they didn't want to spend too much time/money to optimizing the demo to run smoothly on the latter. Just my 2 cents lol, of course I don't know for sure..... Wow, nice observation.

On a related note, I just wanted to mention that the iPod Touch 2G has a faster CPU (532MHz) compared to the iPhone 2G/3G (412 MHz).

Perhaps they used an iPod Touch 2G to eliminate any framerate issues that the iPhone 3G may have had, as they didn't want to spend too much time/money to optimizing the demo to run smoothly on the latter.

Just my 2 cents lol, of course I don't know for sure…..

]]> By: spiffyone http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-28003 spiffyone Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:28:59 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-28003 1. Check the video again. It's hard to see due to the small size of the screen, but @~0:38 you can see 8 other cars around you and more off into the distance ahead. BTW, remember that a similar feat was possible on Dreamcast (as proved by Test Drive Le Mans) which used an earlier PowerVR GPU. 2. Even though they are rendered onscreen, as can be seen if you watch the video more closely, here's my question: Why burden the processor in the first place rendering what CAN'T be seen onscreen? PowerVR's tile based deferred rendering does away with that need, as only that which is visible will be rendered. That's why the specs officially stated for their GPUs are misleading: they actually undershoot the capability of the GPUs. 1. Check the video again. It's hard to see due to the small size of the screen, but @~0:38 you can see 8 other cars around you and more off into the distance ahead. BTW, remember that a similar feat was possible on Dreamcast (as proved by Test Drive Le Mans) which used an earlier PowerVR GPU.

2. Even though they are rendered onscreen, as can be seen if you watch the video more closely, here's my question: Why burden the processor in the first place rendering what CAN'T be seen onscreen? PowerVR's tile based deferred rendering does away with that need, as only that which is visible will be rendered. That's why the specs officially stated for their GPUs are misleading: they actually undershoot the capability of the GPUs.

]]> By: Alex http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-27986 Alex Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:01:50 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-27986 Exactly! Who cares about progress though? Let's ignore the success of the Wii and the fact that both Sony and Microsoft are rushing to add motion control to their consoles. If it's not got a thirty year old control convention, it's not a "real" games machine. What a fool I feel, while I play Real Racing, Peggle etc... Exactly!

Who cares about progress though? Let's ignore the success of the Wii and the fact that both Sony and Microsoft are rushing to add motion control to their consoles. If it's not got a thirty year old control convention, it's not a "real" games machine.

What a fool I feel, while I play Real Racing, Peggle etc…

]]> By: mrbass http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-27959 mrbass Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:10:37 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-27959 Max I saw was 8 on the screen simuntaneously. Sure it's driving 32 others but not rendering them. So it's more like 8 cars vs 6 cars with a few extra cpu/memory to allow AI for the other 34 additional cars + 2 additional cars rendered on screen. Max I saw was 8 on the screen simuntaneously. Sure it's driving 32 others but not rendering them. So it's more like 8 cars vs 6 cars with a few extra cpu/memory to allow AI for the other 34 additional cars + 2 additional cars rendered on screen.

]]> By: spiffyone http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-27958 spiffyone Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:08:29 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-27958 They're not using an iTouch2G while stating it's a 3Gs. Unless you meant "3G" instead of "3Gs". They're not using an iTouch2G while stating it's a 3Gs. Unless you meant "3G" instead of "3Gs".

]]> By: spiffyone http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-27957 spiffyone Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:06:08 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-27957 People stated the same thing once upon a time with PC games, which had the keyboard/mouse combo as the stock control interface. Lo and behold...it didn't seem to hurt the PC market for games. And before you chime in with the asinine "but there's joypads, etc. for PC", understand that those are peripherals...add ons. Add ons are not as highly supported as stock control interfaces for a very good reason: everyone who owns the platform has the latter, not everyone has or will buy the former. People stated the same thing once upon a time with PC games, which had the keyboard/mouse combo as the stock control interface. Lo and behold…it didn't seem to hurt the PC market for games.

And before you chime in with the asinine "but there's joypads, etc. for PC", understand that those are peripherals…add ons. Add ons are not as highly supported as stock control interfaces for a very good reason: everyone who owns the platform has the latter, not everyone has or will buy the former.

]]> By: spiffyone http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-27954 spiffyone Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:02:59 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-27954 Patapon is not a large game in terms of file size. Under (way under) 500 MB iirc. Yet another reason why UMD was a stupid move by Sony. Portable games are usually traditionally smaller in size than their home console counterparts, and here was Sony releasing a large disc medium for their first handheld. >_> Patapon is not a large game in terms of file size. Under (way under) 500 MB iirc. Yet another reason why UMD was a stupid move by Sony. Portable games are usually traditionally smaller in size than their home console counterparts, and here was Sony releasing a large disc medium for their first handheld. >_>

]]> By: spiffyone http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-27952 spiffyone Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:00:36 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-27952 The issue with following the PC model is, quite frankly, that one of the reasons that a lot of formerly PC only developers have moved more and more toward making console only games is due to the added costs, time, etc. that comes with the very need to develop with a variety of specs in mind. Don't have to pay any mind to that when developing for a console or specific console, as one can simply develop with one type of hardware spec in mind. It'll still pay to develop with the lowest common denominator in terms of time and costs. That said, since the 3Gs is undoubtedly the true new gen of the iTouch/Phone line (as we will probably see an iTouch model based off the same hardware), it might pay to have two versions (one current gen iTouch/Phone platform, one spec'd for this new gen...and, btw, when I state "gen" I mean in the way used by the game industry, not by Apple). Or, better yet, from a business stand point, await the time when this new gen reaches a larger user base (which will most likely begin once the next iTouch models come out and Apple slowly but surely phases out the old hardware of the current platform). The issue with following the PC model is, quite frankly, that one of the reasons that a lot of formerly PC only developers have moved more and more toward making console only games is due to the added costs, time, etc. that comes with the very need to develop with a variety of specs in mind. Don't have to pay any mind to that when developing for a console or specific console, as one can simply develop with one type of hardware spec in mind.

It'll still pay to develop with the lowest common denominator in terms of time and costs. That said, since the 3Gs is undoubtedly the true new gen of the iTouch/Phone line (as we will probably see an iTouch model based off the same hardware), it might pay to have two versions (one current gen iTouch/Phone platform, one spec'd for this new gen…and, btw, when I state "gen" I mean in the way used by the game industry, not by Apple). Or, better yet, from a business stand point, await the time when this new gen reaches a larger user base (which will most likely begin once the next iTouch models come out and Apple slowly but surely phases out the old hardware of the current platform).

]]> By: antonioj http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-27951 antonioj Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:53:43 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-27951 Still no explanation about why they are using an ipod touch 2g while saying it is an iphone 3GS Still no explanation about why they are using an ipod touch 2g while saying it is an iphone 3GS

]]> By: Mystic http://toucharcade.com/2009/06/30/firemint-3gs-real-racing-tech-demo/#comment-27944 Mystic Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:37:43 +0000 http://toucharcade.com/?p=12127#comment-27944 Who says you need a specific control option to be a game system? You? The iphone is THE BEST gaming system because it's also my phone,ipod,pda, etc. So i'm only carrying one device. Not to mention the most expensive game is $10 as opposed to $40 for some others. Sold my PSP a few months after I got it. Haven't touched my DS in years. iPhone is what I play! Go home fanboy. Who says you need a specific control option to be a game system? You?

The iphone is THE BEST gaming system because it's also my phone,ipod,pda, etc. So i'm only carrying one device. Not to mention the most expensive game is $10 as opposed to $40 for some others.

Sold my PSP a few months after I got it. Haven't touched my DS in years. iPhone is what I play! Go home fanboy.

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