I've been a developer for 5 years, I just hope everyone knows what you're saying is nonsense. If you're talking about moving from a strong GPU to a weaker GPU by making cutbacks in that department, theoretically you could just remake the entire visual components of the game until it worked, sure. Eventually lods and texture downscaling might not be enough, and you'd end up basically remaking the game on a visual front (I guess there's a debate about whether or not this is a port or simply a remake). The moment you factor the CPU in there, you might have to sacrifice core systems of the game. Reducing AI counts or environment sizes might not be enough, if the game relies on any CPU heavy systems for it's core makeup (a physics heavy game, or the like). The same could really be said for any fundamental GPU-centric elements, like a reliance on real time lighting or dynamic shadows (splinter cell wouldn't have worked on an N64, sorry).
The fact of the matter is, this isn't a remake, it's using the absolute same fabric as the PS4/PC/XboxOne version, albeit heavily cut back. This is mighty impressive.
I should say, I'm actually a big advocate for the idea that things can be ported more often than people on ERA seem to think. But the idea that anything can be ported to anything is simply ludicrous. I guess you could try and make a DS game with the same spirit as RDR2, but you're sure as fuck not going to port that game to it lol.
What a terrible and disingenuous post.
What I'm saying is nonsesne because (and this is your argument): at some point a downport becomes a demake?
Call it whatever you want, but my point stands. Any game can be downported/demaked if you're willing to sacrifice image quality, assets quality and technical features (physx simulation as you mention).
Also, your own definition seems to be so vague that it makes me wonder if you even know where to draw the line between demake and downport.
Would you consider Dead Rising Wii a downport or a demake? Assets (from 3d models to texture work) have obviously been remade from the X360 version but mechancially the Wii Dead Rising is the same, albeit with reduced object(zombies) count and lower quality textures and resolution.
So is it a demake or a downport?
And for your information, assets have been remade in Withcer 3 Switch too, to be able to make it work on the Switch. If you take a good look you'll notice character models (and even object, such as the hanging tree, seem to be a different 3d model, with lower polys) have been remade.
Which complicates matters, according to your own nonsensical definition of what consitues a downport versus a demake.
In any case, you're terribly disingenuous about this.
Regardless of semantics, anything can be downported/demaked, though the quality will suffer, obviously. And yes, RDR2 can be brought to the Wii in a demake/downport capacity. It will absolutely look worse, but it will be the same game, just like Witcher 3.
Also lol at how you dropped 'I've been a dev for 5 years, trust me, I'm an expert'.
In what capacity did you work as a game dev for 5 years if you don't mind me asking?
