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Ask Sony's Phil Harrison About PS3 and Games
Posted by
Zonk
on Mon Mar 19, 2007 01:21 PM
from the everybody-be-cool dept.
from the everybody-be-cool dept.
During GDC Sony made an effort to answer questions directly from the gaming community, taking steps to put aside the problems of the past several months. Today, we have a chance to take another step in the right direction with the company. Phil Harrison, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, has been the face of the PlayStation 3 here in the United States since before the machine launched. He's agreed to answer questions from the Slashdot community about the PlayStation 3, the console since launch, and their recent announcements about LittleBigPlanet and Home. I've linked a trio of other interviews he's done recently below, to give you an idea of topics that he's already covered. I'm sure there are plenty of questions we might ask that have yet to be put forward in a public forum. So - feel free to ask away. One question per comment, please, and keep in mind that Mr. Harrison is here to answer questions about the PS3 and games only; any other Sony-related questions are outside the scope of this interview. The highest-rated comments will be passed on, and we'll post his answers as soon as we get them.
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Offsite: 1up Interview
Offsite: Wired Interview
Offsite: Gamasutra Interview
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Retaining PS3 Exclusives (Score:5, Interesting)
Are Sony and MSFT relevant? (Score:4, Insightful)
On a standard set Wii titles look better than the last gen, and offer an new, innovative, and most importantly fun experience. On a standard set, a PS3 is a $600 PS2, and a 360 is a $400 Xbox.
Also, wrt Live, Home, etc: do you really think gamers are so eager to install stores under our TVs?
Do you have any vision for the online experience, other than as a way to get my credit card number?
Re:Are Sony and MSFT relevant? (Score:5, Insightful)
I find it curious that you neglected to mention that Nintendo operates a service that does the exact same thing, though. In fact, Nintendo's online service is almost EXCLUSIVELY for buying things - at least Sony and Microsoft have online gaming.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
What Xbox game looks just like that?
Cha-ching (Score:5, Funny)
mod parent up please (Score:5, Insightful)
It's high time we started holding companies accountable for the wild ramblings of their representatives.
Anyone who believes in fairness and honesty has a moral obligation not to purchase anything from Sony until many helpings of $1200 are released to many people out there. Which of course we know will never happen...
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
That is completely, utterly, and totally irrelevant to the conversation at hand.
The simple fact is that officers of a corporation should be held accountable for their utterances, and corporations should in turn share that accountability. If you can't trust someone to be a good corporate citizen, why would you hire them to be in a position of importance?
Neither I nor anyone else cares if Jack has been reprimanded behind the scenes. W
mod up (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Blu-Ray and availability (Score:5, Interesting)
The PS3 has three major problems as I see it; lack of software, price, and lack of availability. The latter two of these three issues have been blamed on the fact that the PS3's Blu-Ray drive requires an expensive and scarce blue laser.
Given the problems that seem to have come with Blu-Ray, does it still look like including the drive in the system was worth it? And if so, was it worth it for the PS3, for the Blu-Ray format, or for both? What steps are being taken to remedy the problems in price and availability?
Competing with XBox Live (Score:5, Insightful)
Do you really think you can compete with XBox Live?
Last generation, XBox Live really blew people away and has set the standard for console connectivity. It will be 6 years old this November. Microsoft seems to have learned from it and has enhanced it for the 360 (like achievement points), and will be introducing it for Windows. Nintendo, sadly, doesn't seem to have learned and will be using "friend codes" again on the Wii, with reports that each game will use different codes.
How well do you think your offering will be able to compete with XBox Live? While there is a price associated with XBL, making a service free doesn't make up for what may be lost. From what I know the PS3 doesn't seem to have the same focus and commitment that Microsoft has. And while some of your ideas are quite interesting (like the Home concept), I have to wonder if it will be seen as being as well developed and integrated as XBL is at this point.
Do you think you can beat XBL this generation, or do you think you might be relegated to playing catchup?
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
You are probably thinking of the rumor going around pre-PS3 launch that the PS3 was going to be using XFire for its online system. It turned out that it was just one game (Untold Legends) using it
20gB PS3. (Score:3, Interesting)
Good enough for $600? (Score:5, Interesting)
When are we going to see a price drop? (Score:5, Interesting)
Ryan Fenton
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Sprite based 2D games (Score:5, Interesting)
There is this old conviction amongst some that Sony's tried to kill sprite based 2D games and is reluctant to let them be published on Playstation consoles.
Is there any truth to this?
Does Sony have a "stance" against on sprite based 2D games on the PS3? Can a game like Odin Sphere be published on the PS3?
Linux PS3 3D games dev (Score:5, Interesting)
I have to ask (Score:5, Funny)
RSX and Cell development (Score:5, Interesting)
Will Sony be offering up kernel patches and an RSX optimized OpenGL library for PS3/Linux?
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
http://moss.csc.ncsu.edu/~mueller/cluster/ps3/doc
graphics call access to RSX is blocked by a hypervisor which has control over the kernel. I'm asking if Sony plans to create a hypervisor interface to RSX, as well as kernel patches and optimized GL support.
Homebrew (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Homebrew (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Re:Homebrew (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
No HDTV, Why Should I Get a PS3 (Score:5, Interesting)
I was going to go with something snarky about the price of the PS3, but I've decided to instead make a more direct point.
I don't have an HDTV. As I understand it, the major selling point of the PS3 is its new HD graphics. I currently have no plans on getting an HDTV. So, sell me on why I should get a PS3 given that I have a 13" CRT TV. Would it still be worth it? Will I still be able to play all the same games that HDTV players can? Or will I have to suffer unreadable text or HUD elements that are too small to understand?
Or, can I hook up the PS3 output to my computer monitor using DVI? Right now I'm more willing to upgrade my computer monitor than my TV, so that might work for me, especially given that my TV is smaller than my computer monitor.
Honestly, the lack of an HDTV is the largest reason I'm uninterested in the PS3 right now. There are other reasons, of course, but I'm sure that they'll be brought up plenty of times by other trolls. Uh, I mean, other posters. :)
Long Term (Score:3, Interesting)
While the adoption of HDTVs is on the rise, the current market penetration is still a small fraction. Many aren't inclined or perhaps capable of acquiring an HDTV, which is required for the full PS3 experience. What reason is there to choose the PS3 for an SDTV when the visual difference from the competition is negligible?
The PS3 is expensive, and at the same time is purportedly sold for less than it costs to make. Beyond the frequent debates over price drops and the formidable barrier $500-$600 presents to many gamers is a concern that the PS3 is ultimately doing more harm to Sony, specifically their bank accounts, than good. Is Sony prepared for the possibility that at the end of the console's lifetime, the PS3 will constitute a net loss?
All three systems are currently in a drought when it comes to top-class titles. Whoever pulls out of it first might gain significant momentum. Does Sony plan to try to capitalize on the situation, or do they feel it is better to let the games come out "when they're done"?
Many are concerned that while an interesting idea, Home will ultimately obfuscate the streamlined processes seen in other online services. How is Home addressing this concern?
Killzone made another appearance at the GDC, after having been mysteriously absent from E3 2006. Why is news for this title so rare, especially after having been so crucial to the presentation at E3 2005?
Those are my questions.
Rumble (Score:5, Interesting)
Oblig: Rootkit (Score:5, Funny)
-q
Full GPU access for homebrew (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't think this has been asked yet... (Score:5, Interesting)
How, then, is Sony going to go about changing this mindset? There's still plenty of time to go from being viewed as the last place console to being a legitimate contender, if not the forerunner, but there's lots of ground to cover to do that. Are there any plans for this you'd be able to share with us, and any ideas on how long it might take before we see the PS3 in a stronger position than it is now?
On another note entirely, God of War 2 seems to be getting a more favorable reaction than any of the PS3 titles released thus far. Any thoughts on why that might be?
Philosophy of gaming... (Score:5, Interesting)
What inspired Sony to alienate Europe? (Score:5, Interesting)
Mistakes (Score:5, Insightful)
Who is the PS3's target? (Score:3, Interesting)
Who exactly are you aiming the PS3 for? The Developers are having a hard time with it, the consumers are asked to pay a higher price for a machine that has been proven to be on the same level as the 360?
In addition was there any consideration for developer buy-in before shipping the system?
Finally will there be any work made to bridging the gap between what the consumer ultimately wants and are getting? The buyer of a PS3 wants backwards compatibility which is being removed from the European release and possibly future American release. The buyer wants unique games, they don't exactly demand PS Home, they don't need Blu-ray movies, why is the PS3's target goals so different than the PS3's target consumer's goals.
Where's the Innovation and Fun? (Score:4, Interesting)
Gaming System (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
8 processors, limited functionality (Score:5, Interesting)
Why is it with 8 processors, it can only do these things one at a time.
I'd like to start it playing music and display a series of pictures and/or videos. It would be useful at parties.
I'd like to start it playing background music, turn off the music in a game and play a game, without listening to "call to battle" or whatever the track is, over and over and over.
"Alternative" gameplay controls (Score:5, Interesting)
What is your connection to games (Score:4, Insightful)
plans for a Europe EE version of the console? (Score:3, Interesting)
From some of the rumours I've been hearing (BBC radio 1) quite a lot of individuals have canceled they're orders in the UK and instead opted for an American imports including the EE processor
to avoid any conflicts with some of the older PS2 game titles
(and yes I am aware that Sony will be punishing those individuals that choose to follow this course of action)
personally I'm holding off for the time being until some form of comparison can be made between the 2 different versions of the console in terms of compatibility for the PS2 (and I'm pretty sure someone on a website - probably linked to from slashdot, will be running with this eventually)
at the very least I would have liked to have seen some form of optional add-in board, even if it had increased the cost
e.g. release the minimal version of the PS3 without the board
and the max version of the PS3 (larger HD) with the board
(although at the moment only the max version of the PS3 will be released in the UK I believe)
Ask 1996-Phil (Score:5, Interesting)
Phil, if you could go back in time and give professional advice to your 1996 self, what would you say?
If you were to give professional advice to people interested in entering the industry today, what would it be?
Rumble (Score:3, Interesting)
Regioning and Emulated Backwards Compatibility (Score:5, Insightful)
3rd Generation Game Companies (Score:3, Insightful)
Open Source Inititiative (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm just wondering what other sort of OSS initiatives are in the works? Can we see a scaled down graphics library with YellowDog for Homebrew Games? I think there is a huge amount of interest in being able to program your own games - I realize that Sony needs to protect it's interests and the interests of the larger developers out there, but don't you think the innovation with a smaller scaled down system would increase demand?
An answer not combed through with marketing and PR speak would be preferable
Re:Controllers (Score:5, Interesting)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Because, well, they're on crack over there at Sony.
Here's what I think the deal is: Sony thinks that stamping the Sony name on a turd will make it sell, and what's more, make it sell more for the turd with the competitor's name on it. For the most part they're right, because
Spare me the PR answer (Score:5, Insightful)
1. Cell processor, capable of incredible graphics and physics simulations
2. Blu-Ray, so you can watch movies at 1080p and listen to their excellent surround
3. Backwards compatibility.
While none of these claims are false, they all come with some limitations:
1. The Cell processor is difficult to program for, so don't expect games to use it fully for at least a couple of years, if ever.
2. You need a 1080p tv and a mid-to-high-end surround receiver to get the full experience of Blu-Ray
3. BackComp - It's limited, but it's there.
Frankly, your question was rather soft and almost looks like an astroturf. You might as well have asked "Please praise your system and tell us how good it is." I have no idea how you're getting moderated up.
Parent