I came accross this article recently:


The PlayStation 3 was a massive investment for many gamers, especially for those that bought the console at launch. For Sony, the costs were even higher, with billions spent on development, and more spent on selling the console at a loss. So its no wonder the company wants to extend the PS3′s life-cycle, and thus make profit on the platform. Now, a Sony patent has hinted that they will release external processors to make the console even more powerful – without the need for a PS4.


The benefits of an upgrade to the PS3 are obvious – allowing for a more powerful machine, without having to pay so much for a new console. However, the “PS3 External Processor” has its drawbacks: it wouldn’t give consumers the same experience as a full new console, and would run the risk of both fragmenting and confusing the market.

The patent – from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Tokyo, JP – explains the reasoning behind the processing peripheral:

In recent years, there has been an insatiable desire for faster computer processing data throughputs because cutting-edge computer applications involve real-time, multimedia functionality. Graphics applications are among those that place the highest demands on a processing system because they require such vast numbers of data accesses, data computations, and data manipulations in relatively short periods of time to achieve desirable visual results. These applications require extremely fast processing speeds, such as many thousands of megabits of data per second. While some processing systems employ a single processor to achieve fast processing speeds, others are implemented utilizing multi-processor architectures. In multi-processor systems, a plurality of sub-processors can operate in parallel (or at least in concert) to achieve desired processing results.

Coming to the conclusion that:

Accordingly, there are needs in the art for new methods and apparatus for interconnecting one or more multiprocessor systems with one or more external devices to achieve higher processing capabilities.

The patent is shown in a picture:

The dotted area 500, is the external processor, with the patent explaining that the memory it shares (514) with the internal processor could be DRAM, MRAM or SRAM, among others:

PE 500 is closely associated with a shared (main) memory 514 through a high bandwidth memory connection 516. Although the memory 514 preferably is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), the memory 514 could be implemented using other means, e.g., as a static random access memory (SRAM), a magnetic random access memory (MRAM), an optical memory, a holographic memory, etc.

The patent expressly states that several external processors may be used:

In accordance with an alternative embodiment, two processor elements may be cascaded by each employing its respective BIC in a coherent symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) interface (or BIF) configuration. The coherent SMP interface (BIF) of each processing element is coupled to one another to set up a coherent interface there between.

The patent was filed this August and only recently published, showing that any plans are most likely in the early stages.

Last year, EA’s Chief Creative Officer, Rich Hilleman, told VentureBeat how he “expected we’ll see a PlayStation 3.5 before we see a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox 560 before we see an Xbox 720,” ”

Would you be interested in purchasing an “External Processor”? Let us know in the comments below

Here is the link:
http://playstationlifestyle.net/2010/12/09/ps3-5-sony-patent-shows-plans-to-increase-ps3s-power-with-external-processor/

thanks man, i was a crysis fan from the start i had it on pc, and i liked it. but for crysis 2 i just want to play on xbox so i can be with my xbox friends. Im getting sick of being told im "not a real crysis fan" id like to get along without dividing up the forum

Indeed, plus later on you can always scoop up crysis 2 pc in a steam sale to indulge upon the true glory of crysis 2

In the end it doesn't matter what platform you play on, as a lot of the time it does depend on friends playing the game. Although personally i'd get it on PC and then convert them to PC like i've done to everyone XD

Now i don't have a friend who's a gamer who doesn't play on PC! Simply because the next time they get a PC i build it for them and for the same price as a crappy dual core i3 from PC world they get a crysis maxing monster.

All I have to say we really dont know what the PS3 version will look like until Crytek shows us a updated look.

This picture could be from any time frame.

Crytek should give us an statement if this new Trailer is showing Console Gameplay.
I#M buying the game on Xbox360 too.

Crytek should give us an statement if this new Trailer is showing Console Gameplay.
I#M buying the game on Xbox360 too.
This!

Interesting read yoz, and actually confirms another one of my suspicions for the future of any console wanting to compete in the PC area: upgrades.

It'll also get rid of yet another advantage of consoles: ease of use. Now you'll need to look up system requirements!

Basically, the only way to compete with PC is to be a PC.

Some what true in a way, If they make some sort of upgrade device for ps3 i doubt you will need to have knowledge to do so. Plug and play is the only thing accepted i`m afried.

Pc is very simple too, take out a card, put another one in. Can't get much more simple, yet that's 'complicated' for the average dribbling moron that occupies the world. can't see a plug and play system on a ps3 being any more simple. After all, it's not like something like a gpu can just plug in like a 360 HDD since it needs much larger connectors for data transfer.

For many reasons it'll also be very difficult to replace much else than a gpu without making the whole system modular like a normal PC.

No need to call anyone a moron, To upgrade the ps3 you don`t need to open your ps3 like a pc.(check the link)
Upgrading your pc can get very complicated real quick if you create the next bottleneck in your system.

It is also to increase the life span of the ps3, not to compete against the pc platform.

I wouldn't if most of the world wasn't Can't say that the kind of people who phone 999 because someone 'stole their snowman' are intelligent! Nor anyone who isn't willing to learn anything new and important regarding their hobby, especially when that amounts to the equivalent of plugging in a memory stick.

And indeed, you won't need to open the ps3, however, for future iterations of such technology they'd be wise to have an expansion bay built in. Otheriwse where will it end? Mega-Drive/Mega-Cd/32x style mini robots? The reason being is that both the xbox and ps3 tried the high end tech route this generation. It lost them a lot of money that the wii raked in. Therefore both companies will be using mediocre tech next generation that will cause them to lose many self respecting developers to the PC within a year or two of release. If that doesn't happen it'll be a dark time for our hobby.

Ready for cod 48 using the same game engine with the same gameplay? you better damn be if you support the idea of effectively integrated graphics (the weakest form of pc graphics) being the main gaming platform like what we'll see in the next xbox. I, personally, want to see our medium advance, not stagnate and i'm already pissed off enough as it is with half the games that release today. Even crysis 2 is more compromise than a radical jump forward, however even crysis 2 is miles ahead of it's nearest competitors in terms of gameplay and visuals (of which, funnily enough, the biggest is crysis 1). So i can't be grumpy with crytek, they're putting in more effort than those who use the unreal engine for the 60 bazillionth time to make 'generic brown shooter: the chronicles of the stifled yawn'.

In the end, if you want fisher-price plastic toys that make some crappy images you would've bought the wii, not a current gen console. Now it's those consoles successors which threaten us more than what the wii did. Thankfully i know such gamers will see through sony and microsofts marketing and realise what a crock of **** they will be.

But i digress, back onto what will happen when the next gen consoles release with sub standard tech:

For microsoft, this won't matter, they own the PC so it will still cause them to gain revenue in some form and can therefore focus the 360 on wii esque games using kinect style tech while still having a 'hardcoe' platform, the fact that they're trying to step up the gfwl program shows that they're trying to gain a foothold in the PC market in advance of the next xbox. Probably won't work due to how big steam is though. But that's micrsofts own fault.

Sony has no such fallback, and they can't shove a gtx680 into a case the size of a lunchbox! They need some form of upgradability to compete with the PC, otherwise they'll lose players and then developers. If you don't compete well enough on tech but try to be a 'hardcoe' platform, you die, look at the dreamcast. Therefore they need a modular expansion system. This generation it wasn't as bad, because despite how bad the current consoles are now, they are still high end parts from 2005/2006. therefore 720p at low/medium is still achievable for current games, much like pc's from that era. But that is not because they are keeping up with PC's, far from it, since at this point a ￡250 PC could play crysis 1 high/very high at such tiny resolutions.

Anyone paying attention to the tech that drives current PC's know that the next generation consoles can't be like the last gens (best gear for the time stuffed into a small package). The only way would be to make them extremely loud, very expensive (￡500 or so) and at minimum ps3 original size. What instead will happen is that consoles back off the development curve and return to what we saw in the early half of the 2000-2010 decade or make another step in the direction of becoming a pc.

That step will involve a 2-3 year cycle of upgrades, with cheaper midrange parts making up the consoles hardware instead of uber high end. Making the initial console cost less and quality of graphics over time far better.

A lot of children in this thread.
I can't be surprised, it's a lot easier to call someone names behind a keyboard than in person.

China wants their wall back

Well they can't, i have it now

Crysis on ps3, not worth the momentum,,

Ps3, whoever liked that combustletable thing???

Here it comes, a better questiion, why is crysis 2 on ps3?

Ps3, whoever liked that combustletable thing???

? you mean, like stuff that blows up right?

! the Ps3 should never evem had crysis, they already have killzone 2 and 3. and the makers of killzone hated crysis players duh!

Crysis was for Pc, and thats the 1st one. It should be the same for no.# 2

Crysis was for Pc, and thats the 1st one. It should be the same for no.# 2

! that is wickedly true!!!!

Hang those so-called dual shock controllers, if they ever dare get near crysis 2!

" Give Peace a chance" - John Lennon-

Serious guys... Consoles for consoleros and Pcs for enthusiasts.
There is nothing left to talk about in the platformwars...

Well, if your "beloved" Crysis 2 comes on the PS3 and 360, what will you do?

Obviously yes, this game started on PC, but why shouldn't it come out on consoles, where more people can play it and enjoy the experience we all have once experienced?

And yes, this so called "War" is pathetic nowadays. Really, it's not even a war when there's no guns and killing.

Indeed, everyone should be able to enjoy every game, and i hope that exclusives eventually die out.

However, what i do want is for each platform is to be given the game it deserves. No cutting back on features because one platform can't handle it, just give that platform less.

We're not going to split the community up like that. You guys need to learn to get along. Failure to remain civil to one another, regardless of what platform you game on (seriously, how ridiculous?) will result in your inability to get into further arguments.

In any case, this thread is about Crysis 2 on the PS3, lets leave the Xbox pvssyr to a different thread unless it directly relates to the topic somehow

Cheers
You have all been warned earlier and this is a final courtesy warning.

If you have nothing of value to add to this thread, which is about Crysis 2 on PS3, then don't post. Continued baiting, trolling, whatever you want to call it, will result in temporary bans being given out until the message is received.