Memory edge of the XBOX360 over the ps3

Xbox 360 reserves 32 MB for the system. The remaining 480 MB (94%) is
completely available for games to use how they wish. The 32MB of system
memory is used for the kernel, device drivers and the Xbox 360 Guide, which
includes friends lists, voice/text messages, achievement lists, gamercards,
Live Marketplace, 1-1 chat, virtual keyboard, and the music player. For CPU
reservation, core 0 is completely available to the game, and the system
reserves a small percentage (think single digits) of core 1 and 2.

For comparison, PS3 developers have to deal with a system that has memory
split into two 256MB banks, one of which is reserved for graphics only. A
large portion of both the memory banks are reserved for the system. On top
of that, games that want to support other features, like friends lists or
in-game commerce, take an additional memory hit. Arstechnica.com indicates
that a total of 96MB is reserved for the system on PS3. Innerbits.com
indicates that 9MB is required for friends lists (and 60MB for in-game
commerce!). If those numbers are correct, a PS3 title using friends lists
functionality has 512-96-9 = 407MB available, 73MB less than an Xbox 360
title using the same features.





If Sony mandates these features in future titles (unlikely for in-game
Commerce, possible for friends), game developers will cut other game
features to meet a smaller memory footprint. If Sony doesn't mandate these
features, then games won't universally support them. Either way, gamers
lose.

* What do we have "in" the Guide (already reserved) vs. what a developer
would need to allocate more memory for? Thinking in-game shopping experience
in particular - are we all covered in the 32 MB?

The Xbox 360 Guide already supports the Marketplace experience, so in most
cases an Xbox 360 game doesn't need to allocate any additional memory. If
the title wanted to have an in-game experience, they'd just need to carve
out a small chunk to manage in-game images, descriptions and prices.


http://ozymandias.com/archive/2007/0...es-on-PS3.aspx


the better memory system of 360 and the better OS is a win-win situation for
developers and gamers, this is in my opinion one of the bigger factor under
the best looking 360 port in multiplatform games