How WipEout maintains 60fps and 1080p

[PS3]

Maintaining 1080p and 60fps is no easy feat. In fact, many games in this generation can barely pump out 720p graphics, as seen by upscaling tricks used by titles like Haze, Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV. However, WipEout HD is one of the few games that maintains 1080p at a silky smooth 60fps. How were they able to do that?

Inside the Digital Foundry once again examined the pure pixel count of WipEout HD. What they found is interesting. The game does, for the most part, run in full 1080p. However, when the action becomes too intense, the game will downscale the resolution. It appears the PS3 figures out exactly what resolution the game needs to run at frame-by-frame to ensure the game's 60fps count is never broken. "Rather than introduce dropped frames, slow down or other unsavoury effects, the number of pixels being rendered drops and the PS3's horizontal hardware scaler is invoked to make up the difference. It's an intriguing solution that works with limited impact on the overall look of the game"

It appears the lowest resolution WipEout can render in is 1280x1080, which is still a 50% increase over 720p. The end result is something gamers, regardless of their AV tech knowledge, can truly appreciate.

[Max]

This game truly is beautiful, and if you ask me, the first to properly utilise the PS3's features - what with the real-time audio mixing, support for custom soundtracks, the graphical techniques mentioned here and the excellent online experience. Joining a game is easy and quick, which contrasts sharply with basically every other online console game I've ever played (or tried to play). There's usually some long-ass wait involved (think Halo 3 matchmaking) or inexplicable network issues (think Xbox LIVE in general). WipEout gives you a PC-style server browser and connection times are neglibile. The way it should be.

[cdr]

Yeah this game is really beautiful, amazing and all that. Yeah it's smooth, but the world textures could look better.

[Bingo83]

Its decent but no more, I like the tilt control but that took a long while to get to a point where I would consider myself adept.

So shocking low res textures and polys being thrown around though.

[TJ]

I think the game is brilliant, especially for $20 and I usually hate racing games be they arcade or sim.

[Max]

Originally Posted by Bingo83

Its decent but no more, I like the tilt control but that took a long while to get to a point where I would consider myself adept.

So shocking low res textures and polys being thrown around though.

Er, really? I think you mean low detail textures. And I'd disagree with that, too. Also, how can a polygon be low res? Would you rather it ran at 600p/30 FPS like your HAZE's, Halo 3's and COD4's? (actually COD4 might run at 60FPS but it's definitely upscaled)

Plus, for £11.99, how high can you really set your expectations?

Motion-sensitive controls are bollocks, I find. Super Mario Galaxy is the only game that has ever done motion controls correctly - the way they integrated the waggle into EVERY aspect of how you interact with the game is genius. Every other game that uses them feels unnatural. Except perhaps Mario Kart Wii, which I've just remembered.

[cdr]

It's cool they included the Sixaxis support, but just like every other game it's just too frustrating.

[TJ]

It's much harder to get used to then say... a racing wheel control. But once you practice enough I'm sure it works just as well as analog stick controls. Thing with that is only the hardcore players will really be committed to getting used to it where they're actually just as good as using the default controls. It's still pretty cool that they included it even though only a small percentage of people will use it. Personally I use the motion control for the pitch.

[rathat]

Fuck i need a ps3 lol. I loved wipeout for ps2 and PSP.

[Bingo83]

It takes a long time to get used to the 6-axis control scheme, but I think its worth it.