What does it mean for a game to be optimized for a specific platform?

[Smashmasta]

I'm pretty new to the gaming world and I keep reading about games being optimized for pc or Xbox, etc. I was wondering what that means. Thanks.

 

[ashiataka]

If you're developing a game for a console for example, then you have very specific constraints. You will have to make sure your memory usage is below a certain amount, that your framerate on the hardware is always x fps etc. Whereas with development for the pc it's more free. You could design your game such that it can't even be maxed until next year's hardware is out.

Basically, stuff that if developed for pc will make better use of the resources available in a typical gamine pc, given that at this time they are superior to the console hardware.