Ask Sony's Phil Harrison About PS3 and Games 472
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.
One simple question... (Score:1, Insightful)
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?
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:When are we going to see a price drop? (Score:3, Insightful)
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...
Homebrew (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Controllers (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 people typically go with what they know. Regardless, this made Sony believe that since the PS1 and PS2 were the most popular consoles of their respective generations, that people would just automatically go out and buy a PS3.
Sony felt that people would do this more or less regardless of income. I personally think that the line of reasoning had something to do with the idea that since people go out and buy their kids this shit on credit to shut them up, that it didn't matter that it cost literally twice as much as the prior generation of console. Furthermore, they believed that they would do it regardless of whether they owned an HDTV.
This of course has not really been the case. PS3s are sitting on shelves while you can't find a Wii anywhere, in spite of the fact that the PS3 is probably several times as powerful as the Wii. And of course, the Xbox 360 is also outselling the PS3, in spite of the fact that it was out months ahead of Sony's offering.
The composite video cable is the modern lowest common denominator. It was formerly RF, so everything came with an RF switchbox. The NES has component video output, but it didn't come with a component video cable. It came with an RF switchbox, because they knew that people would have that connection available. A component video cable is cheaper, and everyone has that input on their TVs now (actually my TV doesn't, but it was free; any TV I would buy would have at least S-Video input, and these days I'd probably be looking for component) so they ship with that cable.
What I don't know is what percentage of PS3 owners have HDTVs. I suspect that it is higher than any other console, even the Xbox 360. But I haven't been able to find any stats yet.
Mistakes (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
mod up (Score:5, Insightful)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
What is your connection to games (Score:4, Insightful)
Comment removed (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Linux PS3 3D games dev (Score:2, Insightful)
It's true that homebrew games go against their business strategy (sell console at loss and make it up in game licensing), but I really doubt it's a serious threat. The potential positive aspects certainly limit the threat.
Re:Cha-ching (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Are Sony and MSFT relevant? (Score:3, Insightful)
What Xbox game looks just like that?
What's the point? (Score:1, Insightful)
A good chance to ask some questions and all that is read is a shitstorm from fanboys.
You not being able to afford a PS3 is not a question.
I can't afford a Ferrari, but I don't bitch about it every damn day.
*Le Sigh*
Re:mod parent down please (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. What we want is for Sony to stand behind the words of their officers.
Regioning and Emulated Backwards Compatibility (Score:5, Insightful)
3rd Generation Game Companies (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:The PS2 (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Retaining PS3 Exclusives (Score:2, Insightful)