GDC 2007 Lecture To Reveal PS3 Edge Tools

A newly announced lecture from a high-level cabal of Sony programmers promises to reveal PlayStation Edge, apparently a "set of cutting-edge technologies" to help all PlayStation 3 programmers get the most out of the complex SPU and RSX chipsets. The lecture, which is presented by Cerny Games' Mark Cerny, Naughty Dog lead programmer Jon Olick, and SCE Worldwide Studios principal programmer Vince Diesi, is described as follows: "Three first party technology teams within Sony -- the WWS Europe Advanced Technology Group, WWS America ICE team, and WWS America Tools and Technology group -- have combined to create PlayStation Edge, a set of cutting edge technologies for imminent release to all PlayStation 3 developers." The description goes on to explain: "Rather than an overarching engine, these teams have chosen to create specialized systems that demonstrate best practices of SPU and RSX utilization. A unique tool for RSX performance analysis, extensively used in the tuning of first party titles, will also be presented." No specifics on full roll-out of the tools have yet been revealed, but another major Sony technical lecture at GDC, 'RSX Best Practices', promises to discuss "...the origin and usage of the libgcm API, algorithms for optimal use of the RSX vertex cache, and use of the CELL in tandem with the RSX including necessary synchronization techniques", noting: "This material has never been presented before in an open forum."