Screenshots

[Squirminator2k]

While these are probably nothing new, We've just received a batch of screenshots from THQ of both the DS and PSP versions of the game. Feel free to [pop over to Dream17 (http://www.dream17.co.uk/softography.php?id=110&s=screens)] and have a gander.

Personally, I'm rather impressed with how the DS version is looking in comparison to the original.

[DarkAvenge]

for some reason they all appear blank white to me

[Squirminator2k]

Try CTRL+F5. I had a problem with the files where they were opening fine in PSP7 but appearing as blank in everything else, but I re-saved the files and sorted the problem out. If all else fails try wiping your cache and having another look.

[DarkAvenge]

how do you wipe cache?

[Everett1]

Can't put my finger on it but the PSP visuals of the game look slightly more better.

However, this game to me is more so of the gameplay factor than visuals.

With a typical Worms game I'm looking forward to online play the most, and it don't matter who it is...it's for fun, of course. :)

[Squirminator2k]

Can't put my finger on it but the PSP visuals of the game look slightly more better.

They're smoother. The PSP has better antialiasing than the DS, so things tend to look less jaggy.

[Spadge]

Higher resolution. Anti-aliasing. Higher pixel/3d bandwidth (i.e. draws more pixels and polys per game frame - every second)

PSP games *SHOULD* always look better, given those facts. It's like comparing Wii with 360, really. There's no reason why DS (or Wii) can't look good, but the PSP has the hardware to make things look very slick - however that's no guarantee of what is drawn and to what quality.

[DarkAvenge]

yeah, but the sony tech support guys are dicks

[Everett1]

They're smoother. The PSP has better antialiasing than the DS, so things tend to look less jaggy.

Ah...similar to a PC game's term with the GPU. I've noticed the DS version does have some jags but it don't bother me.

Higher resolution. Anti-aliasing. Higher pixel/3d bandwidth (i.e. draws more pixels and polys per game frame - every second)

PSP games *SHOULD* always look better, given those facts. It's like comparing Wii with 360, really. There's no reason why DS (or Wii) can't look good, but the PSP has the hardware to make things look very slick - however that's no guarantee of what is drawn and to what quality.

Wasn't aware that higher resolution and Anti-aliasing plays into a console game of being more smooth (as Ben said)

I'm used to these terms of a PC game as I'm more of a PC gamer than console. You'll have to keep in mind I wasn't aware also of the PSP's tech specifications either.

You two have enlighten me of the processing transition of visuals being more smooth due to provided features.

I'm able now to see this point you and Ben are making as it has greatly made me informed of this.

[Squirminator2k]

Both versions look very slick. There's a minor rendering glitch prevelant on the DS screenshots, mind:

http://dream17.co.uk/screenshot_wow2_ds04.png

You can see it at the top of the bottom screen, and the bottom of the top screen. I chalk that up to these being in-development screenies. It personally doesn't bother me, as there's a similar such minor glitch in Sonic Rush and I don't find it distracting.

[Muzer]

I see no shi---glitch

[Squirminator2k]

Zoom in (you can do this [here (http://dream17.co.uk/softography.php?id=110&s=screens&url=screenshot_wow2_ds&i=04)] if you don't have an art package on your PC) and look at the two rows of pixels on the bottom of the top screen. Rendering glitch.

[Muzer]

Good point, but I thought that since that's right at the bottom of the screen, no-one will notice... I didn't notice that in Sonic Rush before now.

Oh, and Opera can zoom images (Ctrl+Mousewheel)

[Genexi2]

You have to hand it to the developers to at least attempt 3d on both screens since the DS can't render a 3d-scene on two screens at once, meaning you usually have to kill the frame-rate in half (from 60fps to 30) to render the 3d scene twice, once per screen......albeit it's all running nice and smoothly here even with all the Worms action going on in the fore-ground, it's a nice little touch of depth.

[AndrewTaylor]

You have to hand it to the developers to at least attempt 3d on both screens since the DS can't render a 3d-scene on two screens at once, meaning you usually have to kill the frame-rate in half (from 60fps to 30) to render the 3d scene twice, once per screen......albeit it's all running nice and smoothly here even with all the Worms action going on in the fore-ground, it's a nice little touch of depth.

It looks to me like they've rather cunningly made the background less prominent and less CPU intensive by having no lighting or textures to speak of. It's nice, simple, block colours and it looks quite good while not being hard for the hardware. It's a very clever bit of design work. Edit: And I'll bet it wasn't easy for the artists.

[mreuvers]

Hi all,

I can assure you that the glitches you see on those screenshots, are non-existent in-game.

Cheers,


Martijn Reuvers
Two Tribes

[Everett1]

Hi all,

I can assure you that the glitches you see on those screenshots, are non-existent in-game.

Cheers,


Martijn Reuvers
Two Tribes

Thank you for your answer, Martijn Reuvers. Keep up the good work with this game.

[Luther]

It looks to me like they've rather cunningly made the background less prominent and less CPU intensive by having no lighting or textures to speak of. It's nice, simple, block colours and it looks quite good while not being hard for the hardware.

It's the same technique as we used in WOW. The 3D background scenes are vertex colored, so they use no textures at all.

[AndrewTaylor]

Well, it's not clever when you do it. :p

[Squirminator2k]

Hi all,

I can assure you that the glitches you see on those screenshots, are non-existent in-game.

Cheers,


Martijn Reuvers
Two Tribes

I figured this would be the case. I have full faith in Two Tribes' ability to produce a playable Worms game on a Nintendo handheld. So many have tried, so very few have succeeded.

[Muzer]

I'd say none have succeeded; the only two playable handheld versions of worms that aren't clones or emulated so far (not counting WOW2) are WOW1 on PSP and WWP on N-GAGE. Those handhelds are made by Sony and Nokia respectively.

[Squirminator2k]

I have to disagree with you there. Yes, the previous handhelds games were clones or ports, but until recently the franchise didn't really need handheld-specific versions. The PC/console side of the series has gone 3D. If Team17 had called the original WOW "Worms 4: Mayhem" instead, I imagine there'd be some miffed people who want to know there their missing third dimension is (someone would then joke that a patch is in the works, etc. etc.).

The original GameBoy version of Worms wasn't bad, though. Nor was the GameBoy Advance version of Worms World Party. It wasn't perfect - far from it - but it was playable and, for a long time, it was the best handheld version of Worms available. Then the N-Gage version came out, which was nice but as only seven people owned an N-Gage in the UK* it was ultimately pointless. WOW is the first game in the franchise specifically for handhelds, and that makes all the difference.

Edit: I've re-read your post several times, and I can't make head nor tails of this last line:

Those handhelds are made by Sony and Nokia respectively.
What are you getting at here? The games were made by Team 17 and Two Tribes respectively. It looks like you're implying Sony and Nokia developed the games in question, which... y'know, they didn't†.
__________________________________________________ __________________
* Figure may be inaccurate, largely because I made it up.
† Although I seem to recall that Nokia approached Team 17 about an N-Gage Worms game in the first place. They didn't develop it, though.

[Muzer]

1) I know about WWP GBA and I think it's good, but a lot of other people hate it so I was just goin' witht he flow.
2) I said the HANDHELDS are made by sony and nokia respectively; and I never said there was any point, just they were playable.
3) I never said about ports not counting. Is WWP N-GAGE not a port? As long as they're official.

[Squirminator2k]

Well then I'm sturggling to figure out what, exactly, your post actually says. It appears mostly to be telling us that Worms Open Warefare came out on the PSP, Worms World Party came out on the N-Gage, and that there hasn't been a good handheld Worms game yet because they're all ports and clones.

[Muzer]

no. Let it suffice to say that so far there are no good worms games for nintendo handhelds

[Spadge]

You won't be saying that soon :)

[MtlAngelus]

S2k, I think he was referring to this part of your post:
I have full faith in Two Tribes' ability to produce a playable Worms game on a Nintendo handheld. So many have tried, so very few have succeeded.
He was just saying that so far no worms game on a Nintendo Handheld has been good, then he proceeded to point out that the only good ones were on Ngage and Psp.