PS1 vs PS2: pre-release screenshots

[SniperSteve]

Hey Guys!

I was browsing my old PS1 pre-release screenshot directory and was like: WOW! What a difference 8+ years make! So enjoy the below comparison between the Alpha/Beta screenshots of PS1 and the Alpha/Beta sceeenshots of PS2:




















































































Hope you enjoyed! Just think, if PS1 started off as this, and turned out so good, just think what PS2 will be like.

(The images were shrunk for some reason >.<
so go here if you wanted to see the larger sizes: http://postimage.org/gallery/q43pq1oh6/1c4f0b22/
)

[EASyEightyEight]

Ah... if only PS1 actually had bases that weren't surrounded by trees infantry used as cover, or mountains where "skilled" snipers used to sweep the ramparts clean with impunity because hit boxes were below the f***ing head, and they abused the $#!% out of it.

The best PS1 battles weren't over a base at all. Hoping SOE does it right with PS2 and their hex grid.

[Xyntech]

The irony is that while the final product of Planetside looked better and more cohesive than those early screen shots, a few of the elements in the screenshots actually look a little bit superior to Planetside, such as some of the lighting. Obviously this would have been due to hardware restrictions as they expanded out the scale of the game.

Hopefully they are factoring things like scale into the game a lot earlier this time, so that we won't have to lose out on too many of those visual elements that we see in the screenshots for the sake of hardware limitations.

[EASyEightyEight]

Might depend on heavy traffic. We can bet they can at least place dummies in their world and animate them to see how 100+ guys on screen might effect the framerate.

Engines have come a long way though. They're far more efficient than they used to be. I know it's probably a bad example, but compare older 360 or PS3 games to the games they have today. COD 2 looks and runs like $#!% compared MW2. I remember when I thought COD 2 looked nice.

[Bags]

They said they already FPS stress test with bots.

[Xyntech]

Originally Posted by Bags

They said they already FPS stress test with bots.

Yep. Also, I think some of the most important aspects are things like dark nights, as well as visual obstructions such as foliage, clouds and fog that can't be toggled off. I can't imagine those things being remotely at risk of not being included in the modern engine. Okay, I may be holding my breath a little on the clouds, but it's not like it's an impossibility.

It's not like the game needs to look the way it does in the screen shots on every computer anyways. It just needs to look decent and have all of the important features like grass be included at every detail level. As long as they make it so that at least the higher end systems can look as good as those screenshots, I'll be more than happy.

I think the reason that the lighting looks better in some of those PS1 screenies is that they looked to be experimenting with a more realistic time of day lighting, as opposed to the day and purple lighting that then ended up going with. Otherwise, the final product did look just as good or better in every way. Given the developers expressed interest in having nights be dark in PS2, I doubt there is anything to worry about. PS2 is probably going to look as great as those screen shots or better.

[Sardwyn]

Yes engines have come a long way. Looking at some of the screenies from ingame being released currently....just wow Can't wait to ditch my real social life :P

[Geist]

Amazing, thanks for sharing. Still kind of wish I was old enough to take part in the early days of Planetside, instead of playing a month in 2004 and than enduring a somewhat fun, a little disappointing, 2 years from 2009 to 2011

[Xyntech]

Originally Posted by Spectre

Amazing, thanks for sharing. Still kind of wish I was old enough to take part in the early days of Planetside, instead of playing a month in 2004 and than enduring a somewhat fun, a little disappointing, 2 years from 2009 to 2011

I started playing shortly after release. I played it for a while, but have only played it a tiny bit now and then for most of the time since then. It just doesn't feel as much like Planetside to me anymore.

I so felt left out having not started playing Planetside back in beta though. I am extremely glad that I am going to be around for PS2 from beta onwards.

[duck]

I played it when it was first released. I was in middle school, and a few of my friends played it with me. I don't remember how I heard about it since I didn't follow gaming news but when I read about the massive battles the first thing I had to do was persuade my parents to shell out $15/month

Those screenshots give me a lot of memories. Was really an awesome game, and an experience no other game could replicate.

Can't wait for PS2 to come out.

[TRex]

I know we all look at these from a player perpective , but I feel really happy for the likes of T Ray ,who finally get to make the game that they envisioned in the beginning. This time around looks like they get the real support they probably craved .
Planetside was so far ahead of its time , its been a rough ride at times and frustrating. I salute them, and all the fans past and present that dug in , or just kept in touch hoping one day we would see this little diamond get the recognition it deserved.

[Raymac]

Awesome job on pairing the pictures together to really emphasize the difference. I don't even know if I've been this excited for the release of any entertainment thing (movie, book, game, amusment park, etc.) ever. It's like being a kid just before Christmas all over again.

[HELLFISH88]

This thread delivers....however it makes me miss the old Vanguard a bit.

Screenshot's from last century are hilarious.

[Hamma]

Great thread