An excellent interview. David Jenkins from Metro deserves a lot of respect for this.
So many writers on video game websites and magazines think it is their job to sit on the fence and never ask difficult questions because they fear a developer or publisher will stop further access. But Jenkins asked Mark Rubin some tough questions about performance whilst always maintaining a professional and friendly tone. He asked questions that real gamers want to know the truth about including why is there a disparity with the next-gen versions of Call of Duty Ghosts?
Rubin avoided answering but he did give away some significant information, that Infinity Ward and Activision are under strict Non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from talking about the performance difference. This reveals a new shady side of the industry where console manufacturer/s use contracts to stop gamers knowing pertinent information which is relevant for making an informed purchasing decision.
No-doubt both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will have some fantastic games but many consumers want to know facts about the hardware and this won't happened if video game 'personalities' reverse their previous opinions and start claiming that specifications are not important - they are important, gamers do want better that's why there are new console cycles every 5 or 6 years. If there wasn't we would still be playing Pong and Space Invaders. Of course beautiful graphics make a game, nobody is saying that. But we want to know that there are real improvements in the next generation.
For many video game websites and magazines they walk a delicate tightrope of sharing news with the public and keeping publishers happy with their editorial stance but if they don't speak up the real issues then there will be no facts in the industry just spin. I hope journalist can learn from this and represent gamers by asking the questions that need to be asked.
"GC: So, just finally, I have to ask: why does the PlayStation 4 version look so much better than the Xbox One? Is the resolution really the only difference?
MR: [laughs] Yep, it’s the only difference. The TVs are different on some of them, but… they both have their different rendering engines but they’re as close as possible. It really comes down to resolution. Xbox is upscaled 720, it’s outputting at 1080p but it’s upscaled from 720. Whereas PlayStation 4 is native 1080p. So that’s really the only graphical difference. But it is enough. Some people here are saying they don’t really notice a difference…
GC: Was that the guy with the white stick?
MR: [laugh] But yeah, the PS4 looks really good.
GC: Is the PC version still better?
MR: There’s actually some features that we’ve added to the PC that are definitively not on any other generation. We worked with Nvidia a lot with this, but we have a different form of anti-aliasing that’s really new and advanced – that isn’t on current or next gen. We have a fur shader on the dog and on the wolves, they actually have a moving fur shader that works really well, for PC. And the third one, which I think is one of the coolest ones, is we’re using Nvidia’s APEX Turbulence tech to have smoke that actually wisps and waves and moves out of the way of objects.
GC: So is that something the new consoles can’t do or you just didn’t have time to implement it?
MR: No, it’s… well, you can do almost anything, almost. Tessellation can’t be done on current gen for the most part, because it’s a DirectX 11 feature, but we could still do it but you’d get a frame rate of 2. So that really becomes the reason we do everything: the reason the Xbox One is 720, the reason the PlayStation 4 is 1080 is we’re trying to make the game look as good as it possible can and making sure we maintain our 60 frames per second.
We maintain the latency and the speed and the things that people actually care about. Even if they won’t admit it, the thing that makes Call Of Duty popular is how it feels, because of those priorities.
GC: So the obvious assumption from all this is that the PlayStation 4 is definitely more powerful than the Xbox One, is that true?
MR: [acting very embarrassed] I can’t answer that.
GC: You can’t answer it on a technical level or because you’re being diplomatic?
MR: Can’t answer that.
GC: You can’t say whether you’re avoiding the question for diplomatic reasons?
... sorry if the post is too long, but it's important for people to read this.
MR: [embarrassed] I just can’t say anything…
[Even the attending PR guy is looking embarrassed by this point]
PR guy: It’s very hard for us to be…
GC: Are the console manufacturers leaning on you to avoid these sort of questions?
MR: [unsure - speaking to PR guy] I don’t know if that…
MR: [even more embarrassed to us] Yeah, there’s things that we… We sign NDAs with the first parties [i.e. Microsoft and Sony - GC] and there are things that we’re not allowed to talk about.
GC: So when John Carmack and Shinji Mikami say the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are almost identical, is that something you could agree with?
MR: Hmm… I would say that’s a bit inaccurate but I wouldn’t be able to tell you any detail of why that’s inaccurate.
GC: For diplomatic reasons?
MR: Yes.
GC: Okay, that’s fine. I think we can all read between those lines. But that’s absurd, how can they not except any journalist, any reasonable journalist, not to ask that question? It’s what everyone wants to know.
MR: [still feeling very awkward] The key thing is we try to focus people away from that sort of thing and try to focus them on the fact that the game is fun no matter what platform it’s on.
GC: Do you think with the next game you make there will there be such an obvious disparity between the two formats?
MR: Unknown… But over time… If you look at Call Of Duty 2 compared to COD 4 there’s a massive graphic difference, they look very different. So I think we’ll get better, yes.
GC: But will that same proportional gap always be there?
MR: Don’t know. Until we get there I honestly don’t know. To be not diplomatic or anything [laughs] we really don’t know. We’ve done as much as we can in the time we have to get where we’re at. Will they close the gap? Will they go off in the opposite direction? Who knows? But for this game it is what it is.
GC: Do you think everyone else will have these same problems? All these other cross-generational games that are out at launch?
MR: Well, I think they’ve already said they are haven’t they? Battlefield 4 is 720 on Xbox One and I think 900 on PS4? Titanfall has said they’re 720… So we’re not the first to say we’re 720 on the Xbox One.
GC: No, no. So they’re all obviously hitting the same wall.
MR: Yeah, so you’re reading that correctly in that it’s not specifically us doing something villainous. It’s a thing where all of us have to work at getting better at developing for both consoles. And that’s the fun part. I always use the analogy that the first game on a new console is always like an awkward first date, but once you know a lot more about each other it’s a lot better.
GC: Okay that’s great, thanks very much for your time.
It's not just about the resolution, it's not just about the number 720p or 1080. It's about admitting the FACT that they hit a bottleneck and had to compromise. I hear so much "oh, most people won't notice" blah, blah. It's not about that, it's the FACT that they had to gimp it down on the Xbox One version to get the same frame-rate as the PS4. Yet, they still won't admit it, they'll just continue to try to justify it or overlook it completely or change the subject.
The Xbox One is technically gimped because they put so much effort into kinect. PERIOD. If you like Kinect and that's the reason you're getting an Xbox One, cool, I'm not bashing. To each their own, but stop claiming secret sauce is going to make it 10 times more powerful. Please! It's utter nonsense, have some self-dignity
EDIT: This is just for the trolls. If you genuinely like the Xbox One, cool, do your thing. I'm not trying to be a hater or anything. Some of the delusional trolls on here are just totally ridiculous. And yes, I know there are annoying fanboys on all sides, and they are all equally annoying.
Oh, and my proof is in this paragraph. They could've made it 1080p, but then they wouldn't have hit their 60fps goal. While I do agree that in a game like this 60fps is more important than resolution, they were able to do both on the PS4. So yes, there was a compromise on the X1 version:
MR: No, it’s… well, you can do almost anything, almost. Tessellation can’t be done on current gen for the most part, because it’s a DirectX 11 feature, but we could still do it but you’d get a frame rate of 2. So that really becomes the reason we do everything: the reason the Xbox One is 720, the reason the PlayStation 4 is 1080 is we’re trying to make the game look as good as it possible can and making sure we maintain our 60 frames per second.
The real answers are what Mark Rubin didn't say, when he wasn't saying it.
This is probably the most informative, and direct interview I've seen on N4G all year. It was so refreshing not to hear the same old spin and buzzwords and to see a real reporter ask the tough and uncomfortable questions that thinking people want to know. Bravo to metro.co.uk!
I actually respect Mark Rubin for what he did here. He tried his best to answer David's questions, without breaking whatever he agreed with Microsoft/Sony. He didn't get angry or attempt to halt these very awkward question (though they are great questions for us).
And great great great journalism by David, some extremely awkward questions for Mark but these are the questions we (gamers) want answered. Brilliant!
Amen!!! This is how Gaming journalism should be, whether the news is positive or negative it should be covered and interviews should be just like this, stern pulling no punches. Expertly given and very professional, no bias, just platform agnostic straight to the facts questions.
Indeed this was the best Article/Interview and best demonstration of Journalism on display all year!
I have to, I just have to waste a bubble. I smell a green troll that will be without power on the 22nd November when he receives his "prized" and pricey order.
I wasted enough of my time and a bubble now, Back to important facts and matters!
Very good article. Very good questions and very good answers. I just cannot believe the ordasity of M$ trying their utmost best to hide the truth, be it good or bad. I wish a class lawsuit action develops from this as obviously it seems that consumers are deliberately kept in the dark about the specifications and functionality on what they are getting for their pre-ordered goods.
It's a travesty and I just cannot contemplate that people still trust in M$ after their RROD and now this resolution gate saga!
Actually, I think most gamers just care about games, the features, and well what else it can do.
The vast majority don't care if it has 1.4 or 1.45 flop this flop that.
Personally, what consumers should care about is what is pertinent. Pertinent things are what would you like to do with your console, what games you play and how do you like to play them!
All this other nonsense is for fangirls to wage their war.
I think most gamers care about what games they would like to play, and I also believe that most gamers are attracted to the shiniest and best graphics they can get regardless of game play. A fun game can make up for that, but there is a reason the biggest AAA titles are also the ones with the best graphics. Graphics sell, and to get those graphics you need power.
Specs play an important part in that, and while it's not the end all of what makes a good game, there is no denying that a great many do care about specs, even if not directly.
So if a game clearly looks and/or runs better on one platform, but a certain platform holder is purposefully stopping this information from reaching the consumer, i.e you and me, you don't think that's pertinent information? Were you making such statements early in the PS3's life, when it suffered through the multiplatforn situation, and certain people around here made that very well known amongst the community?
You don't actually have to answer those questions.
Why in the world would developers and publishers talk about disparities between console versions. They're in the business of selling their product. Making one version seem not up to par is not what they want.
"GC: So the obvious assumption from all this is that the PlayStation 4 is definitely more powerful than the Xbox One, is that true?
MR: [acting very embarrassed] I can’t answer that.
GC: You can’t answer it on a technical level or because you’re being diplomatic?
MR: Can’t answer that.
GC: You can’t say whether you’re avoiding the question for diplomatic reasons?
MR: [embarrassed] I just can’t say anything…"
Wow... Its not like the consumers need to know this or anything... Kudo's to David Jenkins for actually being a journalist instead of being affraid he will lose his freebies and swagbags. Something other "journalists" dont dare and who only ask soft ball questions. Game "journalist" are more PR mouth pieces then they are Journalist.
Offtopic Cal Robbins from Godisageek.com cant talk about the embargo of Xbone cod because there is a embargo on the embargo. Microsoft really wants to keep this underwraps for as long as possible.
Everyone and their dog knows the PS4 is more powerful, regardless if this guy says it. Its just fact, i don't see why we need to even bring it up any more.
If they where absolutely the same or very similar like some devs have been saying and this guy truly believed that he would have said it and not plead the fifth.
It's the xbox-one that is more powerful. If it was the ps4 he would of said it because that's certain devs have already stated it before, so why would he be so reluctant. Watch and see. The xbox-one is more powerful and MS has a NDA in place for devs not to say anything. Even Dice has stated that xb1 hardware is still under NDA. They will be dropping the bomb really soon. You guys will see.
We've seen the spec sheets for months, we've seen the very accurate report from EDGE and now, we have a HUGE multiplats that is confirmed to be running at a higher resolution on the PS4 than the XBO. What more do you need to see?
@ Belking. Everything you said reminds me of Linus from "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown". Anyone else get the reference? You,sir, are delusional! But you go ahead and buy your Xbox.
No wonder your down to one bubble. Crazy, delusional comments like that. Do you really think that if the Xbox One was more powerful that the games would be running at lower resolutions? That's insane amounts of fanboy denial right there!
Hahaha. Oh Belking, you poor deluded fool. That is one of the funniest comments I have ever seen on N4G and that is saying a LOT.
Are you expecting them to reveal a hidden Titan in that featureless black box? I'll admit, it is big enough to contain one. Maybe that is why the NDA was drawn up. Or maybe it features alien technology that MS can't let us know about. Or maybe each X1 has a Green Lantern Corps power rings at its heart.
I'm actually giving you a bubble for funny. At least you put a little effort into your incessant trolling.
Yeh the xbone is the most powerful lol thats why COD ghosts looks like a current gen game on it and still drops more frames than an epileptic window fitter /s
Look at the cod vid for xbone lol the guy cant even turn around without the frames dropping to sub 20, its like a slide show, the games running at 720p imagine if they got it to 1080p, instead of playing the game it would be a book where you had to turn the pages.
I am not convinced that you troll for fun, not because you actually believe the stuff you say. Even the most delusional fan boy would not say this when all the known facts go against everything you just said.
Also, the ones that compare the two systems generally either downplay the difference, or say they're "about equal". This guy avoided the question. Those that talk exclusively about the PS4 say it's a very powerful machine(no comparison), those that talk about the X1 say it's a powerful machine(again no comparison). They aren't lying, there is just no frame of reference for the statement.
because some xbox fans don't want to accept it and they have some corrupt paid off devs saying both consoles are basically the same or that there is no difference between 720p and 1080p or that it doesn't matter they won't see the difference. The wool is being pulled over there eyes and uninformed people who look to reviewers to make there decisions are being mislead.
As a Xbox fan (not fanboy) I get it, I accept ps4 is more powerful, I admit MS constantly F* things up, and I'm disappointed with X1.
but i am still getting a X1, not because I'm un informed or delusional,but because it has the games I want.
I really believe X1 is going to struggle, but I have no choice if I want to continue playing the games I love, I have played every halo game made and I'm addicted, I'm not missing halo 5 due to weaker specs.
not every Xbox fan is delusional for wanting X1, there are many reasons, for me its the games I love.
NewZealander, my kiwi mate, good for you. I dont agree with your preference, I wouldnt buy a console for Halo (even though thats exactly why I bought a Xbox1)because I think the first game was the best in the series, but I do agree with your reasons for wanting Xbone.
Just as I know PS4 is the better hardware that has almost nothing to do with my decision for wanting one. It has everything to do with the support and vision Sony has given gamers right through the lifespans of all of their consoles.
So if you prefer Xbone and its all about the certain games you want and not about the hardware, I say good on you, enjoy, and you wont get any arguments from me trying to tell you youre wrong.
Yes well said NewZealander , i gave you a bubble up im glad you had the balls to say that. If only you guys could admit you didnt invent pavlova then we could all be happier lol
I wish more Xbox fans such as yourself would speak up on these forums. Unfortunately your fan boy counterparts tend to not really be quite as eloquent in why they are getting the system and tend to become apologist or PR people for MS.
I prefer Xbox but acknowledge that the PS4 is more powerful - so what! Games, functionality and online are more important to me. The original Xbox was more powerful than the PS2 did that stop the PS2 from being arguably the greatest console of all time? I think not! Only fanboys interested in keeping score care about this which is kind of silly actually. Especially when we look at the overall bigger picture which is everything that the console offers. The Xb1 clearly takes the lead here. Sony fanboys know this and that's why we all can't seem to get beyond this silliness. Some more power is the only advantage the PS4 has!
But both the PS4 and the PC are capable of running this game in 1080P so it is a problem with the Xbox Ones hardware otherwise it wouldn't run the game in 720P.
Don't Microsoft have the best Dev tools on the planet with Direct X? Because that's what many people told me on N4G so it can't be the tools.
of course there is some poor optimization...but thats going to be on all platforms...
if we are to believe the devs and that all platforms are developed separate from eachother and no porting is going on then its all equal playing field...
i just find there to be no way that the Xbone version gets its resolution more than DOUBLED by the next game...and if it does there is no way the assets keep pace with the PS4 version
It seems that Microsoft doesn't want anything said at all. Sony has developers praising their consoles ease of development, and its showing through higher native resolution, while MS has no one saying anything about their console. All they have going for them is a hand full of devs stating the consoles are similar, which spec wise they are obviously not
WOW. now THIS was one hell of a interview David Jenkins. I can't... I can't even figure out how to explain how telling this interview was for all of us and the gaming community as a whole to truly come to an understanding how tight the gaming industry is like at the top of the reigns where the publishers and manufacturers of the world sit and puppeteer the developers right below them to do what is asked.
I found this extremely telling. and quite frankly- quite frankly straight up I'm going to tell you guys how I feel about this. I ACTUALLY feel pretty bad for publishers like Infinity Ward and Treyarch after reading this. Now, hear me out; If we go off what we just read in that interview you can tell how restricted Mark and company are when it comes to making these yearly sequels to COD.
"GC: But will that same proportional gap always be there?
MR: Don’t know. Until we get there I honestly don’t know. To be not diplomatic or anything [laughs] we really don’t know. WE'VE DONE AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN THE TIME WE HAVE TO GET WHERE WE'RE AT. Will they close the gap? Will they go off in the opposite direction? Who knows? But for this game it is what it is."
^^^^^^^^ I find this interesting because what I think it says is that they try and make the best product possible in the time they have to put it out. We may not consider it much because obviously we see the same thing year in and year out-- but do THEY have a choice? For all we know, Activision could be telling them you have a 1 year time period to make another COD game and that's that.
We bring up the same rehashed engine problem, the dull gameplay, the constant camping and small maps in every game but what if they(Infinity Ward) WANT to fix it but can't because of Activision's money milking strategy ?
THIS is what Gaming Journalism is all about. It's like a breath of fresh air to see the persistence David had with Mark in pushing the questions we wanted to know. Time and time again interviews often times stick to soft questions far too often but almost nobody ever asks the important ones.
I salute you David Jenkins. You gained a new reader and follower with this outstanding interview. By far one of the top stories I've read this year.
Side Note: I may be reading too much into this, but please let me know what you guys think about it. :)
Take note IGN, that's what is called journalism. I think its safe to assume that all Devs dealing with MS this new Gen will have to be extra careful about what they say. Probably cuz its easier and cheaper to bully people into not talking then to actually build better hardware You can keep your Titanfalls, Forza, Ryse and that crappy beat em up from 1992 Killer Instinct you don't deserve my $500.
Consoles for exclusives only. If its on the PC and you on a rig you are better off there. At least you can change the settings to fit your tastes... NDA = pink slime in your burger
A non open world racing game is among the least graphically intensive games possible. Very simple and you'll also notice only the cars look really nice, tracks still lack detail.
all this disclosure stuff is getting ridiculous. Its nearly as bad as the US Government. No game is going to perfect on a brand new console. Lets give it time people..
An excellent interview. David Jenkins from Metro deserves a lot of respect for this.
So many writers on video game websites and magazines think it is their job to sit on the fence and never ask difficult questions because they fear a developer or publisher will stop further access. But Jenkins asked Mark Rubin some tough questions about performance whilst always maintaining a professional and friendly tone. He asked questions that real gamers want to know the truth about including why is there a disparity with the next-gen versions of Call of Duty Ghosts?
Rubin avoided answering but he did give away some significant information, that Infinity Ward and Activision are under strict Non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from talking about the performance difference. This reveals a new shady side of the industry where console manufacturer/s use contracts to stop gamers knowing pertinent information which is relevant for making an informed purchasing decision.
No-doubt both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will have some fantastic games but many consumers want to know facts about the hardware and this won't happened if video game 'personalities' reverse their previous opinions and start claiming that specifications are not important - they are important, gamers do want better that's why there are new console cycles every 5 or 6 years. If there wasn't we would still be playing Pong and Space Invaders. Of course beautiful graphics make a game, nobody is saying that. But we want to know that there are real improvements in the next generation.
For many video game websites and magazines they walk a delicate tightrope of sharing news with the public and keeping publishers happy with their editorial stance but if they don't speak up the real issues then there will be no facts in the industry just spin. I hope journalist can learn from this and represent gamers by asking the questions that need to be asked.
pretty easy to read between the lines on this one IMO
Popcorn at the ready.
"GC: So the obvious assumption from all this is that the PlayStation 4 is definitely more powerful than the Xbox One, is that true?
MR: [acting very embarrassed] I can’t answer that.
GC: You can’t answer it on a technical level or because you’re being diplomatic?
MR: Can’t answer that.
GC: You can’t say whether you’re avoiding the question for diplomatic reasons?
MR: [embarrassed] I just can’t say anything…"
Wow... Its not like the consumers need to know this or anything...
Kudo's to David Jenkins for actually being a journalist instead of being affraid he will lose his freebies and swagbags. Something other "journalists" dont dare and who only ask soft ball questions. Game "journalist" are more PR mouth pieces then they are Journalist.
Offtopic
Cal Robbins from Godisageek.com cant talk about the embargo of Xbone cod because there is a embargo on the embargo. Microsoft really wants to keep this underwraps for as long as possible.
Sneaky sneaky.
Nexus 7 2013