By Stevie Smith Feb 4, 2008, 9:33 GMT
Despite modern high-definition advancements in the industry, the fact remains that most gamers just want great videogames that run smoothly with a constant frame rate. In that sense, it’s highly likely that the majority of the game-buying public couldn’t care less about the intricacies of screen resolution.
Devil May Cry 4 restricted to 640p? Credit: Capcom.
That being said, the hardcore fanboy contingent are probably frothing about the knees with incensed rage at this moment following news that Devil May Cry 4 will arrive on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with a resolution of just 1024 x 640p - GASP!
According to a press release uncovered by Game Reviews Blog, Japanese developer and publisher Capcom has confirmed - via its European arm - that while the Games for Windows version of Devil May Cry 4 will support an unspecified “higher resolution,” the home console editions of the hack-and-slash action title will be restricted to 640p in order to assure a stable in-game frame rate.
Other indicators have previously pointed to Devil May Cry 4 arriving at 720p.
While it is worth noting that samples from the supposed press release do not include a credible source link and read extremely poorly (though they could be via a translation), the lower screen resolution for PS3 and Xbox 360 will certainly fire the passions of those who’ve invested considerable cash in HDTVs in order to maximise the potential of their gaming experience.
Also, the press release clearly states that Devil May Cry 4 includes “high-definition visuals moving at 60 frames per second,” which is a feature detail many are bound to take issue with.
In criticising the press release, Game Reviews Blog offers that: “Gamers that spend $2-5k on a 1080p HDTV got screwed again.” Yet it also concedes that while reviewing Devil May Cry 4 it certainly “seemed like a true 1080p game.”
Which means that, for most gamers, this is no news at all and won’t sully the overall experience in any way, shape or form - HDTV or otherwise - if true.
The only thing most of us truly want is a solid and dependable frame rate, and when it’s hard to discern the differences between one screen resolution and the next but the product has been scaled back to guarantee smooth gameplay, well…
…we really shouldn’t get our consumer knickers in such a twist as long as the game plays well and still looks gorgeous, which Devil May Cry 4 certainly does.
Note: Great games of 2007 at a lower than optimum screen resolution include BioShock, Halo 3, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. We wonder, would hardcore HD fanatics be willing to buy Hour of Victory if it ran in full HD?
No, not likely.
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