http://www.gamespot.com/news/6165596.html

another live blog
http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/02/dice_sonys_phil.html

Motorstorm!

about time we get Super Rub-O-Dub :D

rub-0-dub pics
http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/02/first_pics_supe.html#more

Most reliable source in the industry, along with www.next-gen.biz Gamasutras LINK (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12696)


"Another highlight of the morning at D.I.C.E. in Las Vegas was Newsweek's N'Gai Croal sitting down with Sony exec Phil Harrison for an uncensored Q&A session.

A multitude of subjects were covered in the informal session, and Gamasutra will be presenting highlights of the most interesting questions alongside Harrison's answers.

One particularly interesting aside is that, during the Q&A, when asked what Harrison was playing in terms of games on his PSP, he commented: "The next version of LocoRoco which... I can't really talk about because we haven't announced it." Further details were not forthcoming.

In addition, during the course of his Q&A, the Sony VP revealed Super Rub A Dub, a slightly unlikely PlayStation 3 E-Distribution game which is played entirely using the SixAxis controller's tilt function, and involves manipulating ducks in a bathtub, previously a favorite technical demo for both the PlayStation 3 and other Sony hardware.

Q: "When an external developer approaches you with a game, what are the three most important things you look for?"

Harrison commented that Sony is looking for "the same things everyone is looking for, that spark of creativity and innovation." That, of course, needs to be backed up with technical skill, management, commercial viability. Normally, Sony will go through 2-3 review processes before they even get to a publishing contract.

Q: "Has this [process] changed with downloadable content?"

Harrison: "I think the intention is the same, but clearly the risk profile for the PlayStation Network is much smaller than a Blu-ray disc title, that may have a budget of double-digit millions. We’re seeing more of the interesting innovation at PlayStation Network, and we’re able to take a much bigger risk."

Q: "In North America the PlayStation 3 is $500 to $600, eventually it’s going to come down in price. What’s in development that will reach out to casual gamers to convince them?"

Harrison commented specifically: “Plenty. I think what you’ve seen on PlayStation and PlayStation 2, you’ve seen content offerings that have appealed to different audiences.” He added: “We are developing some things that we think are going to stimulate the usage of PlayStation 3 beyond hardcore gamers and into wider audiences.”

The Sony VP also noted: “Something we’ve done successfully in Europe is something we’ve coined ‘social gaming.’ We’ve had great success with SingStar and EyeToy, which combined is over a $500 million category - Singstar has sold 7 million units.”

Harrison then demonstrated SingStar on the PlayStation 3, noting: “We’ve taken it online. We have this concept of the SingStore where you can buy songs from the PlayStation network."

Q: "Perhaps Sony’s third-party relations have been less effective than when you were the point person. How much intel do you have on developer support, and how does Sony plan to improve this?"

Harrison started by admitting: "There’s no point in me being defensive. If that’s what people are saying, there has to be an element of truth in it." He went on to comment that "we can always do a better job", but noted of particular apparent complaints that some key technical documents and information originate in Japan and do not always flow easily to other parts of the world: "Most of the key components of PS3 were created in English speaking parts of the world."

Q: "During the previous generation, it was well known that the major distinction between PS2 and Xbox was that the integrated online experience of Xbox Live was far superior to what Sony was providing - can you comment about this generation?"

Harrison noted: "The launch of a platform like PS3 is not a fixed specification the day you buy the console", commenting that: "The chipset stays the same but what it does in software changes over time," addding, "We’ll continue to refine [the PlayStation 3 Network], not just for developer experience, but for consumers too."

He also added obliquely: "This year we’ll be adding some functionality to the PSP that will unify our approach", hinting at a more robust download service for Sony's portable that has been rumored for some time now.

Q: "Valve's Gabe Newell said [in a recent Game Informer interview] that the PS3 launch was a 'total disaster'. He isn’t the only developer who wanted me to ask this. Why wasn’t the launch postponed to say, spring, when many issues could have been resolved?"

Harrison started by asking: "By what measure is the launch of PS3 unsuccessful? We had people lined up in stores in three continents." However, he noted, "we can always sell more", and as for the company's plans, the European launch is "on track for March." The Sony VP particularly noted that "the boat with the first supply is on its way from China as we speak. I think it’s a fantastic achievement."

Q: "Late last year, you told MTV News regarding the PSP, 'Our achievement has been to deliver console-quality gaming in the palm of your hand. But that could also be considered a missed opportunity -- that we have yet to really deliver PSP games that speak with their own voice and stand for what the machine can do on its own.' With the PSP’s features, why is it taking developers so long to create unique experiences?"

The Sony exec was direct on this, commenting: "I don’t mean to belittle developers, but we’ve only managed to recreate PS2 in the palm in your hand." He continued, "I think we can go deeper, I think we can explore more features of the machine, connectivity, social aspects, media aspects, and integrate it into game design that is unique to that format. It’s not a missed opportunity so much as a future opportunity."

Phil Harrison: The Future is Now
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/763/763939p1.html

DICE 2007: Phil Harrison Video Interview
http://media.ps3.ign.com/articles/763/763881/vids_1.html

Wow, the last question in the ign interview hints that the PS3 will possibly offer an answer to XBox360's achievement point system. Cool if something new and improved happens.

the keynote speech will bring something big :eek:
Phil Harrison
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
10:30-11:30 AM PST

You know, this is a pretty decent interview. Sony isn't being blind and overly confident here, IMO, like they have been publicly in the past. It's nice to see some humility.

I like the console a lot, I just want more games :)

Sony - DICE 2007 Phil Harrison Keynote video
pt.1
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=17010&type=wmv&pl=game
pt.2
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=17008&type=wmv&pl=game
pt.3
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=17007&type=wmv&pl=game
pt.4
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=17006&type=wmv&pl=game

DICE 2007 Phil Harrison Interview
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=17027&type=wmv&pl=game

The guy sounds very smart and insightful. I tend to agree with him.

The guy sounds very smart and insightful. I tend to agree with him.

This guy should head up Sony PR - he makes sense, seems to have a brain, and can talk about "sensitive" or unpopular issues candidly and come off with a positive spin without sounding fresh from a mental asylum.

Whoever has orchestrated the PS3 efforts should be fired and for the sake of the human race sterilized to prevent accidental breeding and reproduction.

This guy should head up Sony PR - he makes sense, seems to have a brain, and can talk about "sensitive" or unpopular issues candidly and come off with a positive spin without sounding fresh from a mental asylum.

Whoever has orchestrated the PS3 efforts should be fired and for the sake of the human race sterilized to prevent accidental breeding and reproduction.


I agree. The sad thing is that I feel everything he said is essentially true. But reality and perception can differ. Despite getting killed in the press (deservedly in some instances), the launch was great by the numbers. They got one of the most technologically advanced peices of consumer tech ever, produced at a level to meet demand with no major hardware issus. The system is built to be improved over time with added features and functionality. They got BR into homes.

But, a lot of Sony reps seem like idiots with some of their statements. Plus, why in the HELL couldn't Sony put a freaking scaler chip in the PS3 that worked from day one. I mean that really sucks for those people that own HDTV's that are 1080i native and don't have scalers. A "full HD HDMI 1.3 beast" that can't scale resolutions!!!!!!! Can you say "review your business plan".

Now Phil Harrison is making sense and seems humble yet VERY confident about the hardware. Right now thats what they have......a great peice of hardware that in my opinion will one have games that look and play better than any other system around.

They need games to continue the launch momentum and maintain/increase sales numbers. This year should be a great one to be gamer.

The guy sounds very smart and insightful. I tend to agree with him.
I like him also he said in an exclusive interview that MiniDisc (MD) are the No. 1 leading portable music players in the world over apples Ipod. :p I can scan that article if needed its 4 months old. :)

I like him also he said in an exclusive interview that MiniDisc (MD) are the No. 1 leading portable music players in the world over apples Ipod. :p I can scan that article if needed its 4 months old. :)

OMG. Do you have any idea if he really meant something else and misspoke or is he really insane? As I recall MD was a Sony product - if he's going to laud minidisc as a big success, PS3 should be worried.

OMG. Do you have any idea if he really meant something else and misspoke or is he really insane? As I recall MD was a Sony product - if he's going to laud minidisc as a big success, PS3 should be worried.
it was just probably just a media hype what he said, but thats what he said when asked about SONY and its failing own media prioritery such as MD, MS, etc...and asked about why he thought blu ray would succeed when all other SONY media has failed. His response was that the MD is a huge success and that its the No. 1 selling media music in the world and we are not worried about blu ray failing. Anyways glad he spoke at DICE better than other folks. :)

I thought MD went over well in Asia and the rest of the world? It just didn't catch on in the US.

Kinda like laser discs.