History MediaNotes / HowVideoGameSpecsWork

* GameEngine

** UsefulNotes/{{Java}}

** UsefulNotes/JavaSoftwarePlatform

[[DescribeTopicHere Describe]] How Video Game Specs Work [[DescribeTopicHere here]], but in ''layman's terms'', please (like the ''Guinness World Records'', we're just here to head off hunting bets, not prep you for IT 101.) This isn't Wiki/TheOtherWiki.

** UsefulNotes/ScriptingLanguage
*** UsefulNotes/{{Lua}}

** UsefulNotes/Java

This marketing scheme began very early on, in fact. The earliest recorded example of this being tried out is with NEC and the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, which is, as evident in it's name, advertised as a 16-bit machine despite having a 8-bit CPU (the 16-bit part refers to it’s Graphics chipset, which was capable of more than 256 colors). Even the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}}, for example, while indeed capable of 64-bit calculations, ran with a 32-bit capacity most of the time for a lot of good reasons. Some people have gone so far as to call the [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]], UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} generation "128-bit" thanks to this misinformation to this very day--out of these, only the Dreamcast and [=PS2=] were capable of 128-bit ''anything'' natively, and even then, it's not for general-purpose processing--and on top of that, the [=PS2's=] main processor is a 64-bit MIPS R5900,[[note]]Both the CPU and Vector Units have 128-bit Single-Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions. However, these don't work on a single 128-bit value, but either 4 32-bit values, 8 16-bit values, or 16 8-bit values.[[/note]] although Sony deliberately mismarketed it as being twice as much that due to the "more bits equals better graphics" belief still lingering, and to compete with the equally misadvertised UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast[[note]]Which had a 32 bit CPU, with a 128 bit vector unit, which Sega got marketing mileage out of by using this fact to advertise the whole system as being 128 bit[[/note]]. Nintendo also got on the bandwagon, as the tech demo for the [=GameCube=] was called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_128 Super Mario 128]]'', implying that the console has a 128-bit CPU.[[note]]Its [=PowerPC=]-based CPU has a 32-bit word size with a double-precision 64-bit FPU, which many took to mean that the CPU was 128-bit since 2x64=128, although the real reason the demo is named as such is because it spawns [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin 128 individual 3D Marios on screen]]). In terms of bus width, the [=GameCube=]'s CPU has a 64-bit data bus, while its GPU has a 64-bit data bus and 512-bit texture cache.[[/note]] Occasionally, the bit misconception still pops up today, such as some mistaking the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} as having a 360-bit CPU (it actually uses 64-bit hardware).

[[DescribeTopicHere Describe]] How Video Game Specs Work [[DescribeTopicHere here]], but in ''layman's terms'', please (like the ''Guinness World Records'', we're just here to head off [[InternetBackdraft hunting bets]], not prep you for IT 101.) This isn't Wiki/TheOtherWiki.

** PixelVsTexel

So far, we've only discussed the UsefulNotes/CentralProcessingUnit (CPU). Another equally important factor (or nowadays, ''more'' important) is the UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit (GPU). Several marketing campaigns often referred to the GPU, yet many misunderstood them, erroneously assuming they referred to the CPU. The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, for example, was advertised as a "16-bit" system because its dual GPU chipset had a 16-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed the "16-bit" was referring to its 8-bit CPU somehow being 16-bit. Likewise, the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo was advertised as a "24-bit" system because its GPU chipset had a 24-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed it was referring to its CPU processors (one 16/32-bit, the other 8/16-bit). This misadvertising is by no means limited to consoles, as video card manufacturers for [=PCs=] and Macs of the era also play up to the hype, often claiming that more bits equals more vibrant colors or more realistic graphics compared to their lesser competitors.

So far, we've only discussed the UsefulNotes/CentralProcessingUnit (CPU). Another equally important factor (or nowadays, ''more'' important) is the UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit (GPU). Several marketing campaigns often referred to the GPU, yet many misunderstood them, erroneously assuming they referred to the CPU. The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, for example, was advertised as a "16-bit" system because its dual GPU chipset had a 16-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed the "16-bit" was referring to its 8-bit CPU somehow being 16-bit. Likewise, the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo was advertised as a "24-bit" system because its GPU chipset had a 24-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed it was referring to its CPU processors (one 16/32-bit, the other 8/16-bit). This misadvertising is by no means limited to consoles, as video card manufacturers for [=PCs=] and Macs also play up to the hype, often claiming that more bits equals more vibrant colors or more realistic graphics compared to their competitors.

This marketing scheme began very early on, in fact. The earliest recorded example of this being tried out is with NEC and the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, which is, as evident in it's name, advertised as a 16-bit machine despite having a 8-bit CPU (the 16-bit part refers to it’s Graphics chipset, which was capable of more than 256 colors). Even the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}}, for example, while indeed capable of 64-bit calculations, ran with a 32-bit capacity most of the time for a lot of good reasons. Some people have gone so far as to call the [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]], UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} generation "128-bit" thanks to this misinformation to this very day--out of these, only the Dreamcast and [=PS2=] were capable of 128-bit ''anything'' natively, and even then, it's not for general-purpose processing--and on top of that, the [=PS2's=] main processor is a 64-bit MIPS R5900,[[note]]Both the CPU and Vector Units have 128-bit Single-Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions. However, these don't work on a single 128-bit value, but either 4 32-bit values, 8 16-bit values, or 16 8-bit values.[[/note]] although Sony deliberately mismarketed it as being twice as much that due to the "more bits equals better graphics" belief still lingering, and to compete with the equally misadvertised UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast[[note]]Which had a 32 bit CPU, with a 128 bit vector unit, which Sega got marketing mileage out of by using this fact to advertise the whole system as being 128 bit[[/note]]. Nintendo also got on the bandwagon, as the tech demo for the [=GameCube=] was called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_128 Super Mario 128]]'', implying that the console has a 128-bit CPU.[[note]]Its [=PowerPC=]-based CPU has a 32-bit word size with a double-precision 64-bit FPU, which many took to mean that the CPU was 128-bit since 2x64=128, although the real reason the demo is named as such is because it spawns [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin 128 individual 3D Marios on screen]]). In terms of bus width, the [=GameCube=]'s CPU has a 64-bit data bus, while its GPU has a 64-bit data bus and 512-bit texture cache.[[/note]] Occasionally, the bit misconception still pops up today, such as some mistaking the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} as having a 360-Bit CPU (it actually uses 64-Bit hardware).

This marketing scheme began very early on, in fact. The earliest recorded example of this being tried out is with NEC and the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, which is, as evident in it's name, advertised as a 16-bit machine despite having a 8-bit CPU (the 16-bit part refers to it’s Graphics chipset, which was capable of more than 256 colors). Even the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}}, for example, while indeed capable of 64-bit calculations, ran with a 32-bit capacity most of the time for a lot of good reasons. Some people have gone so far as to call the [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]], UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} generation "128-bit" thanks to this misinformation to this very day--out of these, only the Dreamcast and [=PS2=] were capable of 128-bit ''anything'' natively, and even then, it's not for general-purpose processing--and on top of that, the [=PS2's=] main processor is a 64-bit MIPS R5900,[[note]]Both the CPU and Vector Units have 128-bit Single-Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions. However, these don't work on a single 128-bit value, but either 4 32-bit values, 8 16-bit values, or 16 8-bit values.[[/note]] although Sony deliberately mismarketed it as being twice as much that due to the "more bits equals better graphics" belief still lingering, and to compete with the equally misadvertised UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast[[note]]Which had a 32 bit CPU, with a 128 bit vector unit, which Sega got marketing mileage out of by using this fact to advertise the whole system as being 128 bit[[/note]]. Nintendo also got on the bandwagon, as the tech demo for the [=GameCube=] was called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_128 Super Mario 128]]'', implying that the console has a 128-bit CPU.[[note]]Its [=PowerPC=]-based CPU has a 32-bit word size with a double-precision 64-bit FPU, which many took to mean that the CPU was 128-bit since 2x64=128, although the real reason the demo is named as such is because it spawns [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin 128 individual 3D Marios on screen]]). In terms of bus width, the GameCube's CPU has a 64-bit data bus, while its GPU has a 64-bit data bus and 512-bit texture cache.[[/note]] Occasionally, the bit misconception still pops up today, such as some mistaking the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} as having a 360-Bit CPU (it actually uses 64-Bit hardware).

So far, we've only discussed the UsefulNotes/CentralProcessingUnit (CPU). Another equally important factor (or nowadays, ''more'' important) is the UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit (GPU). Several marketing campaigns often referred to the GPU, yet many misunderstood them, erroneously assuming they referred to the CPU. The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, for example, was advertised as a "16-bit" system because its dual GPU chipset had a 16-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed the "16-bit" was referring to its 8-bit CPU somehow being 16-bit. Likewise, the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo was advertised as a "24-bit" system because its GPU chipset had a 24-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed it was referring to its CPU processors (one 16/32-bit, the other 8/16-bit). This misadvertising is by no means limited to consoles, as video card manufacturers for PCs and Macs also play up to the hype, often claiming that more bits equals more vibrant colors or more realistic graphics compared to their competitors.

** {{MP3}}

Which is not to say that the leap in bits was entirely pointless: An 8 bit word can only hold a value of up to 255, while a 16 bit word can hold a value of up to 65,536 (which acts as a {{cap}} on anything the programmer wants to do: want a map with more than 256x256 squares? You're going to need to go to 16 bits for that, and in the NES, for example, that's gonna require more space than the CPU has easy access to). There is a point of diminishing returns, though: a 32 bit word holds a value of up to 4,294,967,296 (4 billion), which is more than enough for most purposes (and most 32 bit CPU instruction sets support 64 bit variables), so the jump to 64 bit words was usually driven more by bus limitations and memory growing larger than 4 gigabytes than by programmer needs.

Or take processor speed. The SuperNintendo's 5A22 CPU had a UsefulNotes/ClockSpeed of 3.58 [=MHz=] (megahertz). The [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Sega Genesis/Mega Drive]]'s 68000 CPU had a clock speed of 7.67 [=MHz=], just over twice the Super NES. So that meant that Super NES games should only run half as fast, right? Sega did have this advertising campaign of "[[http://segaretro.org/Blast_processing Blast Processing]]", and some early Super NES games did have slowdown. When Capcom ported ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII Turbo'' to the Super NES, it had a secret mode that was faster than the UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame and just as fast as the Genesis version, with little noticeable slowdown. The mode turned out to be more gimmick than playable, but it showed that the clock speed was only part of how the processor worked, and proper use of the system was what made the game run so fast. It did not necessarily mean the Super NES is just as fast as the Genesis, however, as evidenced by the faster scrolling speeds of Genesis games like ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' and the 3D polygon graphics of Genesis games like ''VideoGame/HardDrivin'' and ''VideoGame/StarCruiser'' not needing any UsefulNotes/{{Cartridge}} enhancement chips (which the Super NES required for 3D games like ''VideoGame/StarFox'').

So far, we've only discussed the UsefulNotes/CentralProcessingUnit (CPU). Another equally important factor (or nowadays, ''more'' important) is the UsefulNotes/GraphicsProcessingUnit (GPU). Several marketing campaigns often referred to the GPU, yet many misunderstood them, erroneously assuming they referred to the CPU. The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, for example, was advertised as a "16-bit" system because its dual GPU chipset had a 16-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed the "16-bit" was referring to its 8-bit CPU somehow being 16-bit. Likewise, the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo was advertised as a "24-bit" system because its GPU chipset had a 24-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed it was referring to its CPU processors (one 16/32-bit, the other 8/16-bit).

This marketing scheme began very early on, in fact. The earliest recorded example of this being tried out is with NEC and the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, which is, as evident in it's name, advertised as a 16-bit machine despite having a 8-bit CPU (the 16-bit part refers to it’s Graphics chipset, which was capable of more than 256 colors). Even the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}}, for example, while indeed capable of 64-bit calculations, ran with a 32-bit capacity most of the time for a lot of good reasons. Some people have gone so far as to call the [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]], UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} generation "128-bit" thanks to this misinformation to this very day--out of these, only the Dreamcast and [=PS2=] were capable of 128-bit ''anything'' natively, and even then, it's not for general-purpose processing--and on top of that, the [=PS2's=] main processor is a 64-bit MIPS R5900,[[note]]Both the CPU and Vector Units have 128-bit Single-Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions. However, these don't work on a single 128-bit value, but either 4 32-bit values, 8 16-bit values, or 16 8-bit values.[[/note]] although Sony deliberately mismarketed it as being twice as much that due to the "more bits equals better graphics" belief still lingering, and to compete with the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast[[note]]Which had a 32 bit CPU, with a 128 bit vector unit, which Sega got marketing mileage out of by using this fact to advertise the whole system as being 128 bit[[/note]]. Nintendo also got on the bandwagon, as the tech demo for the [=GameCube=] was called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_128 Super Mario 128]]'', implying that the console has a 128-bit CPU.[[note]]Its [=PowerPC=]-based CPU has a 32-bit word size with a double-precision 64-bit FPU, which many took to mean that the CPU was 128-bit since 2x64=128, although the real reason the demo is named as such is because it spawns [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin 128 individual 3D Marios on screen]]). In terms of bus width, the GameCube's CPU has a 64-bit data bus, while its GPU has a 64-bit data bus and 512-bit texture cache.[[/note]] Occasionally, the bit misconception still pops up today, such as some mistaking the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} as having a 360-Bit CPU (it actually uses 64-Bit hardware).

This marketing scheme began very early on, in fact. Even the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}}, for example, while indeed capable of 64-bit calculations, ran with a 32-bit capacity most of the time for a lot of good reasons. Some people have gone so far as to call the [[UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]], UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} generation "128-bit" thanks to this misinformation to this very day--out of these, only the Dreamcast and [=PS2=] were capable of 128-bit ''anything'' natively, and even then, it's not for general-purpose processing--and on top of that, the [=PS2's=] main processor is a 64-bit MIPS R5900,[[note]]Both the CPU and Vector Units have 128-bit Single-Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions. However, these don't work on a single 128-bit value, but either 4 32-bit values, 8 16-bit values, or 16 8-bit values.[[/note]] although Sony deliberately mismarketed it as being twice as much that due to the "more bits equals better graphics" belief still lingering, and to compete with the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast[[note]]Which had a 32 bit CPU, with a 128 bit vector unit, which Sega got marketing mileage out of by using this fact to advertise the whole system as being 128 bit[[/note]]. Nintendo also got on the bandwagon, as the tech demo for the [=GameCube=] was called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_128 Super Mario 128]]'', implying that the console has a 128-bit CPU.[[note]]Its [=PowerPC=]-based CPU has a 32-bit word size with a double-precision 64-bit FPU, which many took to mean that the CPU was 128-bit since 2x64=128, although the real reason the demo is named as such is because it spawns [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin 128 individual 3D Marios on screen]]). In terms of bus width, the GameCube's CPU has a 64-bit data bus, while its GPU has a 64-bit data bus and 512-bit texture cache.[[/note]] Occasionally, the bit misconception still pops up today, such as some mistaking the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} as having a 360-Bit CPU (it actually uses 64-Bit hardware).

Or take processor speed. The SuperNintendo's 5A22 CPU had a UsefulNotes/ClockSpeed of 3.58 [=MHz=] (megahertz). The [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Sega Genesis/Mega Drive]]'s 68000 CPU had a clock speed of 7.67 [=MHz=], just over twice the Super NES. So that meant that Super NES games should only run half as fast, right? Sega did have this advertising campaign of "[[http://segaretro.org/Blast_processing Blast Processing]]", and some early Super NES games did have slowdown. When Capcom ported ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII Turbo'' to the Super NES, it had a secret mode that was faster than the UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame and just as fast as the Genesis version, with little noticeable slowdown. The mode turned out to be more gimmick than playable, but it showed that the clock speed was only part of how the processor worked, and proper use of the system was what made the game run so fast. It did not necessarily mean the Super NES is just as fast as the Genesis, however, as evidenced by the faster scrolling speeds of Genesis games like ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' and the 3D polygon graphics of Genesis games like ''VideoGame/HardDrivin'' and ''VideoGame/StarCruiser'' not needing any {{Cartridge}} enhancement chips (which the Super NES required for 3D games like ''StarFox'').

So far, we've only discussed the CentralProcessingUnit (CPU). Another equally important factor (or nowadays, ''more'' important) is the GraphicsProcessingUnit (GPU). Several marketing campaigns often referred to the GPU, yet many misunderstood them, erroneously assuming they referred to the CPU. The UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16, for example, was advertised as a "16-bit" system because its dual GPU chipset had a 16-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed the "16-bit" was referring to its 8-bit CPU somehow being 16-bit. Likewise, the UsefulNotes/NeoGeo was advertised as a "24-bit" system because its GPU chipset had a 24-bit data bus, but many erroneously assumed it was referring to its CPU processors (one 16/32-bit, the other 8/16-bit).

[[DescribeTopicHere Describe]] How Video Game Specs Work [[DescribeTopicHere here]], but in ''layman's terms'', please (like the ''Guinness World Records'', we're just here to head off [[InternetBackdraft hunting bets]], not prep you for IT 101.) This isn't TheOtherWiki.