Wonders of a New Generation

[SomTervo]

Something I noticed in Shadow of Mordor that I'm going to guess is RAM-related is that the enemies have way more barks, repeating themselves far less often than last-gen games.

 

I've always thought that CPU and general RAM limitations were a bigger limit than GPUs ever were, at least when it comes to the design elements that make a game interesting and fun to play. The lack of Nemesis System in the last-gen Shadow of Mordor supports my long-held beliefs, and I wonder what elements of Unity could never work on the last-gen consoles.

 

Definitely. This is part of the reason I become such a bitter old man when people start putting all the importance on FPS/resolution. The most important forward steps in gaming are taken in under-the-hood simulation. That's where gameplay will really improve.

 

I'd say Alien: Isolation supports your belief as well, GOH. The AI in it is astounding, and there's no way last-gen could run it. Eg when there are 4 different AI "factions" in one large area, all with different priorities and goals and movement patterns and animations and sound cues and weapons, and the game handles them all doing their shit simultaneously in one area then handles them all interacting in different ways.

 

I'm really looking forward to Unity. But I've actually forgotten this in all the excitement around Mordor, Alien and Evil Within. And for once I have the money to get everything. EVERYTHING.

[TheMightyEthan]

Alien: Isolation is on PS360.  Though they could have massively pared back the AI, I haven't heard.

[SomTervo]

That's what I was thinking. After a little research, however, it looks like I might be wrong.

 

You can definitely tell the animation model is last-gen stuff. Some really stiff shit going on, even if the AI and interaction design is great.

[deanb]

I think the barks is less to do with RAM and more down to space limitations. This gen all of the consoles get a nice and roomy 25-50GB of storage space compared to last gens multi-plat limit of 4-9GB.

 

I'd say the Nemisis system is a RAM thing though. It takes a long while before the captains are out the rendered area, and it's a pretty decent in scope. It wouldn't surprise me if the whole of Mordor and it's captains is in RAM at all time (it's not a huge map really). It's definitely the first "8th gen" game I've seen that's really stood out as a "yeah I think this is what 7th gen has held back from us".

[Mal]

Definitely. This is part of the reason I become such a bitter old man when people start putting all the importance on FPS/resolution.

I still think a 1080p at solid 30 fps standard is a goal that developers should reach but yes, I would trade that if they can put out better AI and simulations. In the end, I am really a gameplay kind of guy. For example, Dwarf Fortress. I love that game (Besides it more or less non-existant, rudimentary UI which makes for a tough learning curve). A lot of situations can happen where you really question the capability of the simulation/AI of the game.

 

Boring AI is just well, boring. This is apparent in FPS like the recent Destiny. Unless you are forced into their zones, the AIs are dumb as shit in which they stay within their bounds as you shoot them to death. Maybe its the PS3 though?