This also raises the question as to what will happen when games need more than 256MB RAM outside the GPU; if the 360′s ability to push resolutions beyond 720p relies on using more than 256 MB RAM, then one must presume we’ll see performance degrade significantly when the system needs more than 256MB for non-graphics-related functions. For instance, Epic’s pressure for unified RAM on the 360 assumes that Gears of War’s textures, or other requirements, required more than 256MB RAM on the GPU. Apparently, the rest of the game did not rely heavily on RAM, but what happens when a game requires more, for AI, physics, etc? The real issue isn’t the resolutions, which I anticipate will be a matter worked out soon, but rather everything else graphics-related.

It’s really rather interesting, because the decision for unified RAM assumes that Microsoft doesn’t anticipate titles needing more than 256MB outside the GPU, or is simply favoring graphics over other potential features. Granted, this allows for developers to decide what aspect of a game to focus on, while PS3 developers will have to keep graphics and other functions more balanced throughout their lineup. In this manner, PS3 games will be limited in terms of what can ultimately be done on the graphics or AI/physics side, but I imagine that the future will require some balancing. Whether this balance is 50/50 as Sony’s system is suited for is what the industry will determine over the next two years.

(As a sidenote, it’s worth nothing that the PS3′s GPU does in fact have access to the PS3′s CPU RAM, though the latter is not optimized for the GPU. The 360 on the other hand, using unified RAM, can have its GPU use the CPU’s RAM without a performance hit.)

First, as for the PS3 RAM defiiciency causing major issues with higher resolutions, I stand by my original statement. Resistance: Fall of Man creators at Insomniac were forced to limit the maximum resolution of the game to 720P, not because of the PS3 scaling issues that may or may not be fixable with an upcoming firmware update, but because of a serious RAM shortage. The 360 has a shared RAM approach, which makes supporting high resolutions much more manageable. EPIC Games, creator of Gears of War and the Unreal Engine, have echoed my comments, stating that Gears of War would not be feasible on the PS3 because of the RAM shortage. Microsoft almost fell into the same trap during design, as they originally intended to use 256 RAM, but were convinced by EPIC to use 512. This decision, although rumored to cost Microsoft over a billion dollars, gives the 360 yet another advantage over the PS3 camel.

Secondly, my post on ranking the current consoles was not who will “win” the console war, but rather ranked the systems by quality. I would be in no way surprised if the PS3 sells the most units, based on the fervent support of anything Sony by Japanese gamers. The Japanese consumer seems repeatedly all too susceptible to hype and brand loyalty, and this will play right into Sony’s hands.

A perfect example of Japanese Sony fever, the Xbox was the best hardware on the market last generation, however was massively outsold by the PS2. Some of this could be explained by its late arrival to the market and also on the already established PS2 base, but much credit has to be given to the Sony hype machine. They simply play the Japanese market like a fiddle and publish all the Pokemonesque games they can to keep the Japanese attention.

It will be interesting to see how the Sony hype machine fairs this generation, given the cost and serious problems of their horse built by committee. Consumers have even less reasons this generation to ignore the superiority of Sony’s competition. Will the consumer choose based on what the systems actually deliver or based on what Sony advertisements get them to feel? We shall see.