Mon, Mar 07, 2011 | 06:24 GMT

It’s true – Killzone 3 did max out all of PS3′s SPUs

Killzone 2 famously used only 60 percent of the PlayStation 3′s latent power, but when Guerrilla finished with Killzone 3, they were hard pressed to fit everything in.

“By the end of Killzone 2, we had a lot of people on the team who were pretty comfortable with [coding for SPU use],” Guerrilla’s Michiel van der Leeuw told Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry, speaking of the Cell processor’s 32 Synergistic Processing Units or SPUs.

“So it was just a natural progression for us to continue using it. We got to the point where they were all full though, so we had to optimise our SPU code quite a bit to fit it all in at the end.”

Van der Leeuw’s comments come in opposition to an earlier statement from managing director Herman Hulst, who said he’d learned a lesson from Killzone 2 to never claim a hardware’s potential had been fully realised.

Guerrilla utilised the Cell’s oft-overlooked SPUs for a number of processing tasks, taking the load off the PS3′s dedicated systems.

Killzone 3′s physics, for example, were optimised in collaboration with Havok to use SPUs rather than the physics processing unit.

Various graphical processes including anti-aliasing were also shifted over, leaving the graphical processing unit free to be pushed in other directions.

The extra processing available in the SPUs also allowed Guerrilla to ramp up the game’s scaling AI.

There’s plenty more good reading through the link above, even if you’re not the techy type.

75 comments

#51

Crysis
07/03/11, 6:14 pm

@50, Well yeah, he skipped half my comment & replied only acknowledging the small part he read.

#52

xino
07/03/11, 6:15 pm

“Besides it’s ASTOUNDING graphics, the game has fantastic play control (I was just noticing this the other night while aiming long distances), as well as the running and cover system. Also the sound is amazing, and the overall feel of the weapons is very impressive and fresh. Such a nice change of pace from the over done war FPS.”

don’t other FPS have the same thing?
fantastic play control? last time I checked Killzone 2′s control was much better and realistic for it’s recoil feedback. So how exactly is this “less realism” version better?
Running and Cover system!? so “running” is now a BIG aspect in Killzone 3 as one of it’s features? Wait don’t other FPS have cover systems!?
Overrall feel of the weapon? what feeling? this is killzone 3 not killzone 2, the recoil is gone.

hahahah defendant!

“If you can’t recognize ANY of that, than your just a shit gamer is all and CLEARLY have bias against this landmark PS3 title.”
Sorry but I only own ps3 at the moment and I greatly support it and call it the better system than Xbox 360.
what is your point? because i dislike Killzone 3 I’m a nazi?
what…what is your point in this
“Your annoying because if ANYONE compliments KZ3 (or in your case, any PS3 game;), you go apeshit (see above).”

CONTRADICTION MUCH?
If someone dislikes Killzone 3, defendants like you are the ones to go apeshit and defend the game like your bread and butter.

The examples you’ve listed are the same thing every other FPS does!
Battlefield Bad Company 2 has better sound effects than killzone 3.
Crysis, BulletStorm, Halo 3 all have great graphics. YOUR POINT?

@Syrok?
“With 80 words per minute you would need 12 and half minutes to type a 1000 words.”

does that include typing a word from paper and typing from the mind?

please mind your business or do you want to jump in this discussion?
and you don’t mind me asking…how fast can you type?

#53

scrambles_the_deathdealer
07/03/11, 6:16 pm

“If you don’t want to start trouble don’t fucking retaliate to the person.” so we are just supposed to take everything we see on this site without any discussion at all? WTF is wrong with people? If there were no exclusives at all we would still hear someone going, it run/looks/ sounds better on my system, and thats just sad. As for your argument for run/cover/ shoot that makes Killzone 3 what FPS doesn’t make you do that if you want to stay alive? Put a video of you dominating in COD without running or taking cover, and not on recruit. I can only come up with Bioshock because you wake up in that chamber evey time you die or if you have good plasmids you can kill with true skill and thought. Bulletstorm looks fun, but the demo got old too quick. I can over simplify it too exactly like you did KZ3. Let me see, Bulletstorm = environmental kill, regular gun kill and charged shot kill. That was super easy, BUT I NEVER DO THAT, for two good reasons. 1) its a insult to the devs that worked hard on the game and 2) its an insult to anybody that enjoys the game.

Talk all you want about call of duty, the game that only tweeks its engine, its the same game engine from COD 2, that game is from 2005, if you don’t believe me look it up. I saw no article about this site what so ever. Here let me do the work for you. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/291588/news/modern-warfare-3-new-engine-would-be-counter-productive-infinity-ward/
Go ahead and defend them when they have been doing nothing but riding a hype train for years with their 4 hour long story modes and ancient tech. All they want is your cash, or did you think they put out COD out every year cause they love you?

#54

Syrok
07/03/11, 6:19 pm

Well, if you say you can type 80 words per minute than surely you must know the answer to your first question. I can’t possibly tell you how the process of you writing a post looks like.

No, I really don’t want to argue about the quality about games, certainly not with people who are as defensive about their opinions as those posting here. ;)

I have no idea how fast I can type, and honestly I don’t see the relevancy here unless you are trying to “win” another little skirmish of no importance whatsoever.

#55

spiderLAW
07/03/11, 6:29 pm

I agree with Aimless #44
Thats exactly 100% correct

#56

lexph3re
07/03/11, 6:36 pm

Feature that make killzone 3 worth it to me.
1. Proximity mines and turret placements.
2. Hand to hand melee that not only makes since but is reversable.(non of that stupid cod run threw a persom hit the knife their dead)
3. Jet packs
4. A balance of team base and solo multiplayer(you don’t have to soley rely on your squad but if you can things still work out great0
5. A story mode that utilises more then one run and gun aspects.
6.even though you said don’t list is I am graphics are superb.( you don’t ask for what quality a game has then start stripping good things about it out. That’s purposely tryin to set up a fight because you think its in your favor)
7.completely improved controls as well as customisable placements(that way if you love cod, bs, rfom, or whatever you can have your personal fit)
8. The purpose of an exploding dart when that’s a one hit kill? A group is aproaching you shoot one in the middle and have an after explosion hit the rest. Its like bowling
9. Intricate class system online that enable nice alternative functions like engineering, medic, infiltration. What’s better then being invisible? Making you opponent think your friendly then wipe him and the rest of his squad out.
10. If these aren’t enough for you to feel this game is a breath of fresh air from the cod and halo HYPE you just don’t need to be playing it.

#57

xino
07/03/11, 6:41 pm

@syrok
listen man…you are viewing the Word Per Min in ‘definition’. Have you even taken a speed test or type testing ever?
I don’t think so because if you do you would know that 12mins as nothing to do with 80wpm.
What about thinking of a word or what to say? shouldn’t all that contribute to the minute taken to type? What about mistakes?

“I have no idea how fast I can type, and honestly I don’t see the relevancy here unless you are trying to “win” another little skirmish of no importance whatsoever.”

no because I just want to prove to you that you don’t have valid EXPERIENCE on typing fast. You only understand the term through the meaning! Just like i said typing from a paper or from head? Which case you don’t know the answer and provided this:
“Well, if you say you can type 80 words per minute than surely you must know the answer to your first question. ”

That is not an answer:/
I guess if a teacher asks you similar question, i wonder wtf you would really say. That is not a reply.
If you know this is not important seriously why fucking quote me in the first place? stop trying to act like a smart ass!

It’s like all these bunch of idiots who talk shit about game development but don’t even know the process of building games.

@53
“As for your argument for run/cover/ shoot that makes Killzone 3 what FPS doesn’t make you do that if you want to stay alive? ”
sorry I don’t understand that english or what you’re trying to say. Are you saying every other FPS uses that mechanic? Yes i know other FPS requires you to take cover to stay alive, but Killzone 3 makes sure you do so quite often. Try playing it on the hardest difficulty and you’ll just see how many times you take cover. The game is so slow as well.
And I read an article that not many people finished Killzone 2!
I am not surprised!

“Bulletstorm = environmental kill, regular gun kill and charged shot kill. That was super easy, B”
what is your point exactly?
my point is that Killzone 3 offers nothing new in terms of FPS. I forgot to mention earlier what Killzone 3 did offer was the JetPack.
Bulletstorm shows a new way of playing FPS which is by killing with point and style. If you fail to see it this way then you are a typical consumer who just games and argue about games 24/7. I on the other hand is on a verge of being a Game Designer, that is why I know what is good and bad and I’m complaining why killzone 3 sucks. If you all just think I’m a Killzone 3 hater,why did I buy the game in the first place? Why did I even buy the Collectors Edition?

“Talk all you want about call of duty, the”
Who is banging about COD? I haven’t even played Black Ops yet. You clearly do not even know wtf I am talking about:/

Stop trying to argue! You didn’t even read any of my post, you are just repeating yourself and trying to make me repeat myself.

#58

xino
07/03/11, 6:43 pm

you know the funny and hypocrisy thing is.
I am complaining Killzone 3 sucks.

Yet these people take it as an offence and jump as a defendant.

Seriously, I give a fuck what I think about the game?
can’t you just ignore me?

if you must prove me wrong and defend Killzone 3 so much doesn’t that make you a ps fanboy?

to further own some n00bs here who acts like smart ass.

80+wpm.
look at the time I submitted this and my comment @57.

#59

spiderLAW
07/03/11, 6:46 pm

@58
Thats less than 80 words per minute. Its closer to 50wpm

#60

Cozzy
07/03/11, 6:46 pm

Well I think KZ3 is pretty good :)

#61

Galactic_Barret
07/03/11, 6:51 pm

Hilarious. I’ve never seen such an angry gamer in a while. Going ultra hard to completely discredit a certain game and a certain sect of gamers is so beyond pathetic. Really, without pretense, how old are you? It would be interesting to know if there is an specific age group that goes bonkers over trivialities like these.

I mean, I have a life; Bitching and moaning over a solid game thats main fault is that is does nothing new shows terrible prioritizing. Using any COD title as an example of the opposite shows poor judgement.

But do continue, its pretty funny watching one Guy getting so worked up.

#62

xino
07/03/11, 6:57 pm

@Lexphire
good post…

1. The grenades are good but game needed more grenades plus I hate the way the character throws the grenades. Throwing grenades was designed for time of exploding/setting it off.
2. The melee is definitely a good thing
3. Jetpacks were good but could be done better since Halo Reach has Jetpacks:/ But I won’t complain, it’s nice it has Jetpacks.
4. Multiplayer is the worst garbage I’ve ever played next to COD. Everything is completely broken, I like the article Sarcastic Gamer wrote.
5. Story mode sucks, just about Nazi AKA Helghast. Did anyone spotted Hilter in the game? The captain of ISA is a douche, I won’t spoil anything here.
6. Graphics are great no doubt, I never complained about them, but every FPS I’ve ever played all had great graphics so this is nothing new.
7. Controls are good because of the Move but many are having problems with the aimming. I don’t think you can customize the controls, many console games lack control custom.
8. Nice makes better sense. But I never encounter enemies that group together. The A.Is are all over the place, ducking, advancing towards you, and flanking.
9. Great class but all broken! Why have a sniper to go invisible and jam the enemie’s radar? WTF? that’s even worst and promotes camping. This is why assholes from COD are infesting Killone 3 online.
10. Yes I won’t get the next Killzone, Killzone 3 lacks new concept and new designs! GG spend their time to improve the game on MOVE support and 3D support.
11.playing as a Helgast, nothing new…was so lame. There is a part in the game that proves bad story telling and I won’t spoil anything.

We’ll just see how Homefront fairs in terms of reception.

#63

Cozzy
07/03/11, 7:02 pm

@62 I have to disagree with you on the multiplayer, I think the classes are great and I really enjoy all the different perks you get. I mean what other game allows you to pretend to be the other team? Also, broken? What’s broken because I haven’t encountered any problems, it plays just fine? The story is ok. A bad plot and a bad script but some of the gameplay elements in it are extremley fun but they’re just so short. Graphics are fantastic obviously.

#64

Dr.Ghettoblaster
07/03/11, 7:16 pm

Hey xino,

There’s no way in hell I’d waste my time reading your ridiculous lengthy comments cause your dumb ass ain’t worth it. But get this.

The reason why you’re being such a prick here is because you say KZ3 is shit. You may not like it, and that is totally cool. whatever. but to say it’s absolute shit and throw all these ridulocous insults at it cleary indiciates you have ab-normal issues and are probably still pre-pubecent.

That’s like me saying James Camerons Avatar is complete shit. I may not like the movie, but I will at least admit the production quality is at minimum, slightly above average.

#65

Dr.Ghettoblaster
07/03/11, 7:32 pm

Or to put it simpler…XINO

your insulting and putting down of the game, rather than stating why you don’t like it, speaks volumes about your intelligence level.

The reason I chose to defend the game is because I think it’s fantastic and certainly above average accomplishing more than many other FPS’s have.

#66

xino
07/03/11, 7:40 pm

@62

have you been spending time on the multiplayer?

1.the shotgun is not overpowered?
2.being invisible and jamming other people’s radar is not broken?
3.running around disguised and even stealing other people’s name is not broken?

Sorry but this is TERRIBLE game designing!
1. You have 18 i believe ammo for Shotgun, 1 clip takes out an enemy. What about the other guns? I will need to get headshots 100% all the time so i don’t have to scavenge for ammo crates. That is not balanced!
2.So if we have 16 players in 2 teams. 4 people are snipers, wouldn’t that make gameplay hell for the opposing teams? Because snipers jam radar at 15m radius and if 4 are scattered across the map, they will bound to jam the radar wherever you are:/ OH WAY! The snipers are invisible so it makes it hard for you to hunt them!
3. To make sure you are not an enemy disguised as my team mate, I will need to shoot at you and melee you every single time I see you, is this balanced? Sorry this is the worst designing ever and who ever approved these idea should be fired!
Because it allows team mates to friendly fire all the time just to make sure you are not an enemy disguised.

http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/index.php/2011/03/fixing-a-broken-killzone-3-multiplayer.html

if the multiplayer is not broken for you, then that’s good to hear.

#67

YoungZer0
07/03/11, 7:42 pm

Some people just need to get laid, that’s all.

#68

God
07/03/11, 7:46 pm

“It’s true – Killzone 3 did max out all of PS3′s SPUs”

More to come there is.

#69

scrambles_the_deathdealer
07/03/11, 9:08 pm

Ah typo, i ment that you said killzone 3 -run/cover/shoot or ‘run/cover/ shoot makes up Killzone 3′ ”Are you saying every other FPS uses that mechanic?” I wouldn’t call it a mechanic, but yeah, any game on atleast hard (and i would certainly hope on the hardest difficulty) should have you taking cover like your life depended on it. It would be hard for me to think of one 1st or 3rd person shooter where you you don’t have to be behind cover to stay alot on the hardest difficulty. You sure you don’t mean there are too many enemies shooting at the same time though the whole game? It sounds more like that really, because there are a shitload. The game is slow movement or storywise? I think the movement is fine, I had no problem with the heavy feeling in 2, but I welcomed something new. I actually am surprised to hear many didn’t finish 2, need to look that up, I had no prob with finishing it on elite and getting the top level in MP,

“Bulletstorm = environmental kill, regular gun kill and charged shot kill. That was super easy,”what is your point exactly? ***that your over simplifing it and anyone can do that without even trying***
Bulletstorm shows a new way of playing FPS which is by killing with point and style. If you fail to see it this way then you are a typical consumer who just games and argue about games 24/7.
** its a interesting game, it got my attention early but the only real variety are in the environmental kills. If they were going to be innovative spread it all around. after 10 min I can do every different type of kill i can do with a gun, including the ones that involve doing the whip. All thats left to do is see the the environmental kills. it still looks fun but felt like a chore after a while and then i realized i was just playing to find a new thing to kick my enemy into. its not a bad game, just shallower than promised **

I on the other hand is on a verge of being a Game Designer, that is why I know what is good and bad and I’m complaining why killzone 3 sucks. If you all just think I’m a Killzone 3 hater,why did I buy the game in the first place? Why did I even buy the Collectors Edition?
**sure you are, and sure you did, nothing but opinions and nothing that can be proven in that**
“Talk all you want about call of duty, the”Who is banging about COD?
**I am talking about COD, you say Killzone 3 is nothing but hype. the fact is that its changed more drastically in two games than COD has in 4 and didn’t you say it had a hollywood story line? We talkinging about that ridiculous jump on the snow mobile? yeah, ‘hollywood story line’ it sounds like you sell games at gamestop rather than being on the verge of being a designer, give me a break **

#70

spiderLAW
07/03/11, 9:15 pm

@66
No the shotgun isnt overpowered. Its just like a shotgun should be. From far it takes several shots to kill somebody. From 10ft to closer, it destorys a body with a single shot. Sounds about right to me.
Just like an assault rifle has range and so does a sniper.

judging by the depth of perception in the game:
The Light Machine Guns have poor accuracy at long ranges but they can reach 75yrds max.
The assault rifle has a 50yard range max with decent accuracy.
The sub machine guns have a 25yrd range max with pretty good accuracy.
The sniper rifles are 100+yrds range with almost perfect accuracy.
Shotgun 10yrd range with multiple shots needed to take down an enemy with poor accuracy and slow fire rate.

Its pretty spot on really.

#71

Cozzy
07/03/11, 11:12 pm

@xino

I’m guessing you meant 63 and yes I have spent time on the multiplayer as a matter of a fact. I’ve had it a week and I’m a gold captain. The shotgun is not overpowered, It’s exactly as it should be, terrible from long range and an instant kill from close. There is nothing wrong with the being invisible and jamming people’s radar. The whole point of those perks is to allow snipers to be hidden and it adds a unique aspect to the game. It’s something that other fist person shooters don’t offer. The infiltraitor’s ability to take another player’s name is a great idea. It’s a fun way of completing missions and again something new that only killzone has to offer. Your point about how you must shoot your own team to find out if their the enemy or not is also not really a problem, it’s not as if friendly fire is on like in Halo and you can easily betray your team. I get the impression that your a little kid who isn’t very good at the game so has come on here to have a bitch and moan, which is emphasised by the fact you said you have to “get headshots 100% of the time to not have to scavange for ammo crates.” Has it not occured to you that you are also able to use these “broken” perks and abilities yourself and that maybe if you tried to enjoy the game for what it is and what it has to offer then you might get some new and good experience out of it and if it really is that bad trade it in and get anohter game to play.

#72

xino
07/03/11, 11:41 pm

@69
it is called mechanic or game mechanic. Game mechanic is how a game plays.

I meant the pacing of the game is quite slow.

“sure you are, and sure you did, nothing but opinions and nothing that can be proven in that”.
and opinions can be viewed at a different perspective in terms of right and wrong.
I may tell GG that making the sniper invisible will give the sniper more freedom to kill and make it frustrating on others. While someone with a different perspective will say, no it will be cool because no one can’t see the sniper, you have to trace the shot.

“I am talking about COD, you say Killzone 3 is nothing but hype. the fact is that its changed more drastically in two games than COD has in 4 and didn’t you s”
Seriously apart from the story line! It had mechanics and bits that were just too cool man!
Medal of Honor even copied some bits off COD. Infinity Ward did a banging job with MW games! I have yet to try Black Ops.
I haven’t played Reach yet but I can tell GG must have copied some bits off Reach. With the space battle and Jet Packs. But I wouldn’t bet on that.
COD offers hollywood style: running in Brazil (how sick was that!?)
the bit with Cap Price when he was young and you had to defend yourselves.
In MW2 whereas your partner was caught and the armies were about to shoot him, you had to press a button to blow up an aircraft that distracted the armies.
The nice ending.
The No Russian.

come on man! That is the kind of shit I want in Storymode Campaign!
I hope HomeFront offers similar experience!

“yeah, ‘hollywood story line’ it sounds like you sell games at gamestop rather than being on the verge of being a designer, give me a break”
is that so.
just wait till I start making my games. I’ve been playing FPS since Doom. I know how it all evolved with the latest features added and taken off. And this idea I have for my game which is a FPS is about bringing the fun back in FPS! And mind you…it’s a different way of playing FPS.
Bulletstorm is on the path of doing it right, and I can’t remember where I heard this from. But someone said that every FPS are too serious which is true!
This is why Duke Nukem & Bulletstorm are what is bringing the fun back to FPSes!

#73

xino
07/03/11, 11:51 pm

@70
are you sure? because at close range I shoot people and sometimes they don’t die. But standing from 10feet away I get gun down by a shotgun. And there’s a topic on this at Killzone.com forums about shotgun being overpowered.

@71
“The whole point of those perks is to allow snipers to be hidden and it adds a unique aspect to the game. ”

Sorry that’s a bad design! In a multiplayer you shouldn’t allow people to be hiding and camping! That’s the problem with todays FPS multiplayer stages, they have varieties of design that allows people to break the game.
The more I see these problems the more I get fuelled and just can’t wait to make my game. If you played Battlefield 2 either Console or PC. You’d notice just how many damn people play as Snipers! There are days when almost the entire team are snipers and not doing the objectives!

If you give a sniper ability to be invincible or prone. The sniper will do nothing but go to the furthest bit in the map to map people. Sniper will not contribute to the team but care about having a 6 kills and 0 death in a match!

Recently Brink dev said that snipers will be frustrated in Brink and this is something I’m proud off and happy about!

” it’s not as if friendly fire is on like in Halo and you can easily betray your team. I get the impression that your a little kid who isn’t very good at the game so has come on here to have a bitch and moan, which i”

and there I thought you are a civilised gentlemen who is willing to have a clean discussion. But I didn’t know a whore mother raised you to be a disrespectful asshole. You deserve that insult because I don’t see the point in getting offensive and calling me a kid.

I won’t bother reading the else. And next time son of a whore, learn to use paragraph.

I’ll say it again…this place is full of disrespectful assholes.

#74

YoungZer0
07/03/11, 11:59 pm

@73: And you’re one of those people. Tell us, please, what did you do to earn our respect? Besides from randomly insulting people who disagree with you.

#75

Cozzy
08/03/11, 5:44 pm

@74 Thanks YoungZero

@Xino

YoungZero is quite right, you haven’t done anything to earn our respect, you’ve come on here and been childish, insluting the game and insulting those who don’t agree with your point of view. The difference between you and me is that I haven’t used foul language to insult someone because they see things differently to me. I made that comment so trhat maybe, just maybe, you’d understand how childishly you’ve behaved on here. You call me disrespectful and then proceed to use language that just shows you up. Oh, “learn to use paragraphs,” learn to spell and punctuate correctly before you tell me how to write.

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