"The difference with Wii U be that when we first started out, getting the graphics 'n GPU t' run at an acceptable frame-rate be a real struggle. The hardware be always there, it be always capable. Nintendo gave us a lot a support - support which helps people who be doing cross-platform development actually pillage the GPU running t' the kind a rate we've got it at now. We benefited by not quite being there for launch - we got a lot a that support that wasn't there at day one... the tools, everything.
There's a switch in our build pipeline that says 'use PC textures' 'n we flipped that 'n that be all. I can take no credit for that, it be literally ten minutes' work... we be using PS3/360 geometry. it be just the textures we upgraded.
Tools 'n software be the biggest challenges by a long way... the fallout a that has always been the biggest challenge here. [Wii U] be a good piece a hardware, it punches above it be weight. For the power consumption it delivers in terms a raw wattage it be pretty incredible. Getting t' that though, actually being able t' use the tools from Nintendo t' leverage that, be easily the hardest part.
When they first looked at the specs on paper a lot a developers said, 'Well, ye know this be a bit lightweight' 'n they walked away. I think a lot a people have been premature about it in a lot a ways because while it be a lower clock-speed, it punches above it be weight in a lot a other areas," he explains.
So, I think ye've got one group a people who walked away, ye've got some other people who just dived in 'n tried 'n thought, 'Ah... it be not kind a there,' but not many people have done what we've done, which be t' sit down 'n look at where it be weaker 'n why, but also see where it be stronger 'n leverage that. it be a different kind a chip 'n it be not fair t' look at it be clock-speed 'n other consoles' clock-speed 'n compare them as numbers that be relevant. it be not a relevant comparison t' make when ye have processors that be so divergent. it be apples 'n oranges.
The Wii U has had a bit a a bad rap - people have said it be not as powerful as 360, this, that 'n the other. That, by 'n large, has been based on apples t' oranges comparisons that don't really hold water. Hopefully we'll go some way t' proving that wrong," he says. - Idries Hamadi, technical director
Full interview here
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