Playstation 3 to use OGL 2.0

[Bigjakkstaffa]

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While i can see the advantages of using such a well established APi as OGL, given its death in the PC gaming arena (Cliffy B and John Carmack being the only guys who really make provisions for OGL rendering), could this not work against Sony in terms of getting developers to port from PC to PS?

--Jakk:t

[RamonGTP]

What was PS2 using? I was under the impression that it was neither DX nor OGL, but someing proprietary to the PS2 with a very high learning curve... If thats indeed the case, than OGL would only make it easier to port games from PC to PS3 than it is to port games to PS2 today.

[bob05]

Originally posted by RamonGTP
What was PS2 using? I was under the impression that it was neither DX nor OGL, but someing proprietary to the PS2 with a very high learning curve... If thats indeed the case, than OGL would only make it easier to port games from PC to PS3 than it is to port games to PS2 today.

That's exactly what I was going to say. PS2 does use it's own language, and switching to something (more) common like OpenGL, it'd make ports easier. They need every bit of advantage they can get since Microsoft is taking XBOX 2 more seriously.

[Vampiel]

They would of have even more of an advantage if they switched to directx. But im glad someone else is pushing OGL though.

[Someone Stupid]

PS 2 wasn't either Direct X or OpenGL driven. Can't recall the specified format, but it is a pain the rear to code for. Most developers still think they haven't been able to tap half it's power. So if that is the case, ditching to a common standard has it's benefits. They'll get the most performance out of the chip, so it can be weaker, thus cheaper.

[RamonGTP]

Originally posted by Vampiel
They would of have even more of an advantage if they switched to directx. But im glad someone else is pushing OGL though.

It probably wouldn't look to good if Sony PS3 is competeing with Microsoft XBOX2 using a MS developed API. I think sony made a smart move going with OGL. IMO it was probably the best thing they could've done.

[Vampiel]

Originally posted by RamonGTP
It probably wouldn't look to good if Sony PS3 is competeing with Microsoft XBOX2 using a MS developed API. I think sony made a smart move going with OGL. IMO it was probably the best thing they could've done.

True. So OGL seems to be the best way to go for them.

[cwin]

OpenGL is very fast and it's my prefered API. The directX api is incredibly complicated and confusing :eek: and as ogl is cross platform :D
They are gonna have more luck with it than using their own api. Although DirectX may have been better for porting PC games, maybe this will boost OpenGL popularity, leading to better feature and more games in OpenGL, and possibly then more games on operating systems other than Windows. Sony would have had basically no chance to be allowed to use an implementation of directx on a console they are trying to compete with Microsoft's.
The thing i dont like about OpenGL, i find in the atmospheric effects and certain shader features it seems quite limited, games tend to look more cartoony in OpenGL than in DirectX.
Maybe i'll be able to get a developers kit for PS3 and do some small lil games for the pure fun of it ;)

[NDD]

Does this mean no backwards compatibility with PS1/PS2 ? :confused:

[RamonGTP]

Thats a mighty fine question there ND... However, I think there were pretty big programing difference between PS1 and PS2 and it was still backwards compatabile... But who knows, it might be a bit to pricey to make the PS3 backwards compatable with PS2/1

[cwin]

hmm... maybe an emulation layer? or maybe they would include the PS2's OS also in the PS3, (with a few modifications for hardware etc) and actually have PS1/PS2 games run on that..