14 DAY TRIAL // Traditional PlayStation developer Sucker Punch is currently working on the sequel of one of the PlayStation 3's most surprising titles, inFamous, in the form of Infamous 2, and has recently revealed that the title just couldn't have been done if it was developed for the PS3's rival, the Xbox 360.
Darren Bridges, game designer for Sucker Punch, has revealed that the original game only harnessed around 20 to 25 percent of the power of the PS3's Cell processor, and that the sequel is now getting around 50 to 60 percent of that power.
"For Infamous 1 we were only using 20/25 percent of the power, now we're hovering over 50/60 percent of the power," he said."When we say it probably couldn't be done on the other console, we're talking strictly horsepower."
The Sucker Punch exec even admitted that around 50% of the PS3's power is almost exceeding the Xbox 360's own ratings.
"Well, yeah. Yeah. I mean we're still a way away from launching so we're probably going to throw more stuff on that Cell processor. So yeah... Do you think [Xbox 360] could pull off Uncharted 2? Everyone's comparing us to Uncharted 2, so if you think you can make Uncharted 2 on Xbox then OK maybe you can make Infamous 2 on Xbox."
Bridges admits though that if the studio would put its mind to it, and with the right type of technology, the Xbox 360 may have been able to run some of the game, but it feels very good to be developing for the most powerful console and not be constrained by hardware limitations.
"It's pure speculation, [Sucker Punch has] no idea of whether we can do it because we don't work on Xbox or any other console. That's good for us because we don't have to play to the lowest denominator of the consoles. We're playing to the PS3 and we're making a game that we can make, technology isn't limiting us."
He added: "We can focus on the specific things that the PS3 provides and tailor everything on the technology specifically for it so that we can squeeze every drop out of it. And I don't know if we could make this game if we had to go cross-platform."
Infamous 2 is scheduled to appear next year, and will further expand on the features of the original game, and deliver a wider open world, more powers for its main protagonist, Cole McGrath and new enemies.