I have a concern about Skyrim that is making me hesitate to reserve the game.

A little background on my problem:

The first current generation console I bought was a PS3, and one of the first games I bought for it was Oblivion. To this day Oblivion on the PS3 is the most fun I've ever had with a videogame, and I've played hundreds upon hundreds of hours across multiple files.

I liked Oblivion so much that I bought it 4 different times. The regular Oblivion for PS3; GOTY Edition for Xbox 360; GOTY Edition for PC (I'm not a PC gamer and I was overwhelmed by all the modding capabilities of Oblivion); and GOTY Edition for the PS3.

One of the many things I noticed, having played the game on all platforms, was the dayplain disparity between the PS3 version and the 360 version, in terms of loading time and graphics especially. In fact, I did a direct side-by-side comparison many times, running both version simultaneously at full resolution on the same television set. I would position myself at the exact same place (say directly outside Bruma, facing the Northern Gate) and compare the two screens. It really is a striking difference, and as far as I'm concerned, it's as good a proof as any of the hardware disparity of the two consoles. The PS3 has finer texture resolution (roof shingles and Dadreic armor notches stand out dramatically well in the PS3 version, whereas on the 360 the textures are muddled and undefined), better looking backdrops and foliage, and the draw distance is either farther or loads more quickly. One really needs to have the two side by side to apprehend the real difference, and anyone can read about more on this subject on the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_The_Elder_Scrolls_IV:_Oblivion

The PS3 version of Oblivion was released exactly a year after the 360 and PC versions, and the advantage of being given its own extended development cycle certainly showed in the finished product. The porting was handled in part J4 Studios, and despite the patches which were later given to the 360 version, the hardware disparity is still very, very obvious.

This brings me to my concern. We have seen a number of multiplatform games suffer quality downgrades on the stronger platforms (the PS3 and PC) to streamline the development cycle for all platforms, resulting in a game that is very much consistent in quality across all platforms, despite inherent hardware differences of significant magnitude. My fear is that both the PC and the PS3 version of Skyrim will suffer from a similar corner-cutting and quality downgrade because they are being developed in tandem and probably together with the technologically weaker 360 version. It does not take a great deal of imagination to grasp why this is very upsetting for PC and PS3 owners.

As someone who owns all the major console and has (though rarely uses) a high-end rig, I would like to know whether this is a legitimate concern. I think in all fairness each platform deserves to be treated and developed for independently, because otherwise the final product will naturally be a representation of the weakest hardware, that is to say, the Xbox 360. I am not adverse to buying several versions of Skyrim as I did Oblivion; but if the PS3 version will only be the 360 version burned on to a Blu-Ray disc, I think I will have to go ahead with the PC version.

Any and all information on this subject will be most appreciated.

...then go with the pc version if youre so worried

That's a lot of writing! :ahhh:

I have Oblivion on two platforms as well: PC and 360, and the quality disparity between the two is so vast that I never again touched my 360 version after about ten hours of playing it. But the gaming industry is what it is. PCs get mods though, so they're able to stretch the limits of the game far more than console gamers can. If you must go console, go PS3.

Like you said OP, the PS3 version of Oblivion is superior to the 360. I have both versions too. I expect the same for Skyrim, so i'll be going with the PS3 version.

You're asking for a console war here.

First off, the PS3 is a pain in the ass to port games to. Usually, Multi-Platform games will generally be a little bit weaker for the PS3. The reason why Todd <3 the 360 so much is because it's a breeze to port games on it and the PC, since they're similar. However, the PS3 is vastly different.

But, the Xbox only has like 6.8 gigs of disk space. That's extremely low, and yes, it's holding back the PS3's very good CPU and the PC in general, no question about it.

Now, I think you're a rare case because it's actually the opposite, Oblivion was generally worse on the PS3 than the 360 (Since PS3 was released later and it's a [censored] to port games too, which I've stated earlier.)

But now, since Bethesda has equal amount of time making the game for all 3 platforms, the console game will be very similar on both the 360 and PS3. The PC will get better textures, resolution, and AA draw distance, plus DX11 support.

So have no fears,

Just get the PC version... I'm getting the Xbox version myself, because I really can't stand using a keyboard. Plus I don't have a computer that only belongs to me. It's the family computer, and getting it for the PC would deprive my of many hours of fun.

It's not a rare case at all. I can vouch for the OP because my PS3 version runs better and looks better too. A few reviews I've read back in the day said the same thing.

I've heard elsewhere I suppose. Multi-Platform games nowadays are generally better for the 360 (Just look at Red Dead Redemption.) Like I said, PS3 uses an entirely different concept to port games.

The 360 and PS3 are on pretty much equal footing...you're not getting gypped because the 360 is "technologically weaker".

Actually, it's the consoles holding back the potential of PC's(360 and PS3 alike)...or, in a more friendly light, it's more PC players benefitting from the consoles because the game isn't designed for the bleeding edge of technology.

Whilst the PS3 is difficult to port, this sentence is not accurate. It's been discussed before and tested by review sites that found the game runs more smoothly and loads faster on PS3, and has slightly better lighting. Apparently this was due to the fact that Bethesda put it to someone else to actually put effort into doing a good port for it.

Exactly.

They're not doing that this time around, I take it? How did their in-house PS3 version of Fallout 3 compare to the 360 version?

Then while am I hearing so many different cases? Maybe I'm thinking of a wrong game...

Either way, the console version of Skyrim on the 360 and PS3 will be very similar to each other. That I'm sure of, since Bethesda had an equal amount of time developing for both consoles, and they're certainly pushing their limits (More so on the 360 )









But Xbox gets DLC first HA!

Not sure. I played New Vegas on the PS3, but not Fallout 3.

Couldn't Bethesda make the PC version look like Crysis 2+Witcher 2+Battlefield 3...if they wanted to?
Then make the console version look like what we've seen so far?

Probably not like those games as they're more focused than a game like this...but it could be better. Definitely. Maybe even that good...but very few people could play it.

It would also require a lot lot more money because part of the development proces would be completely separate from the other.

That's what people fail to realize, most PC gamers don't have a high end rig. The game being tied to the consoles as well keeps it accessible to more PC players alone PLUS the console gamers. It's two sides of the same coin.

Sorry to burst your bubble but that is no longer true. Developers have now gotten used to developing games to the PS3, that might of been the case in 2006 and 2007.. but from 2008 onwards, PS3 was gaining an edge. Now the disparity is clear.. anyhow, honestly if you want to play a game for the graphics then you'll getthe PC version, no doubt about it.

double post

Couldn't Bethesda also make the PS3 version look like Killzone 3+Uncharted 2+Heavy Rain... if they wanted to?

Ummmm......I said the PS3 version was better. Did you think I meant 360?

sorry for the double post. I think the forum glitched out for a minute. There's double and triple posts everywhere.

Or Gears 3...

Seriously...there's no point in starting some console war here.

They're both older technology that are on roughly equal footing.

No, that was simply directed at your comment that the PS3 is pain in the ass to port. Sure, it was harder to optimize but that was only because they got lazy..but they've pretty much know how to do it in a more streamlined fashion.

What comment? When did I say that?