Sony Details New PlayStation Network Expansion Specs at OGDC
May 11, 2007
During a panel discussion on the topic of new opportunities in console technology at the Online Game Developers Conference (OGDC from here on in) in Seattle, SCEA’s director of third-party developer relations took the opportunity to explain to an audience of developers - as well as detail the PlayStation Network with many fresh specifics.
Sony’s Michael Shorrock explained that the new PS Network was a “loyalty catalyst for PlayStation platforms.” “It’s designed to be a profitable eco-system for both developers and publishers. And it’s a marketing platform for games and content.” Shorrock hopes the Network enables “creativity in development, and flexibility in business models for both the development community, and the publishers.” Sounds good so far. He then showed a slide outlining Sony’s ‘Wheel of Services.’
Sherrock then discussed Son’ys “entire scope of services that we’ll be developing and releasing in the coming months ahead.” There are six key components, and Shorrock began with ‘Services/VOD’ which delivers full-length movies, television programs, or music direct to users. ‘PlayStation Store’ is where Sony has its commerce for downloading digital content. ‘Home’ is the 3D avatar-based world which will facilitate communication amongst consumers. ‘Online Games’ adds the human element to traditional gameplay. ‘In-game/Network Advertising’ is part of Sony’s “core group of services, and we’ll be announcing more about it shortly,” Shorrock promised. Finally, ‘Wireless’ deals with the wireless capabilities of the platform, “which will allow gaming via PSP and mobile devices, keeping users connected at all times.”
Shorrock sees the ability to have user-created content, which appeals to Sony’s consumers: “It’s what they’ve asked for, and it’s what they want.” Shorrock noted that Sony is looking for “lots of content,” particularly when it “shows the power of the PS3.” (Translation: high-def games, use of the Sixaxis controller, new IPs.)
“I’m happy to announce that we’re open for business, here with the development teams and the publisher community,” Shorrock told the audience of online developers. It’s free for consumers, he said, “and it’s a place for developers to self-publish and explore a variety of business models.” He referred to set areas of Home as ‘pavilions’ that might be set apart for a number of different reasons. “It’s an open system, so publishers may have, [for example,] an Activision pavilion. They may have a variety of games in there…”
The OGDC moderator inquired if pavilions must be purchased or leased by publishers. “What we’re creating is a very flexible model for developers and publishers,” Shorrock responded. “We’re open to proposals, how you might like to proceed.” Some publishers, he said, might want their pavilions to be free, while others might want to charge. “Our business model is flexible enough to allow for either way.” Gotta give it to him; he’s saying all the right things.
Sony Announces New Mobile Games
May 9, 2007
Sony Pictures Television has announced a list of mobile games to be released in 2007, which features God of War: Betrayal, Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man Puzzle, Jeopardy! 2007, Jump That Car, and Snoop Dogg Cruisin’.
God of War: Betrayal takes place after the events of God of War. Humans and gods mistakenly accuse Kratos of betraying the Olympians, and Kratos must clear his name and win back the favor of Olympus. Featuring an original story from the writer of the console game, this title features interactive environments and a specialized 2D character animation engine, boasting “triple the number of frames per second versus recent competitive titles.”
Spider-Man 3 is a 2D side-scrolling game featuring combination moves and a destructible environment. Spider-Man Puzzle is a casual mobile game in which the player matches three or more identical game pieces on a grid-shaped board in order to advance, score points and defeat evil villains. The game features story-driven elements.
Jeopardy! 2007 is a sequel to the original and features a newly designed interface. Content is created by the actual writers of the TV show. Players can win over 75 different virtual trophies and badges in five modes of play including single, against computer, and play against other contestants in daily tournaments. Jeopardy! 2007 is a subscription game.
In Jump That Car, players pilot a buggy through environments filled with hills and valleys, taking jumps and trying to make landings. Power-ups can be collected and players can race alone, against a ghost buggy of their previous best time or play a crash mode, where the farthest crash-landing wins.
In Snoop Dogg Cruisin’ players must impress Snoop with hopping and tilting skills using customized low rider cars.
PS3 Predicted as Next-Gen Victor
May 7, 2007
In his latest Entertainment Software Publishing and Retail industry report, video game analyst Michael Pachter says that the “quality and quantity of the underlying available content” will be the key decider over the next-gen, giving the slight edge to the PS3.
“We believe that the Xbox 360 and the PS3 are far more similar than their predecessors were and believe that the economics of game development will serve as a disincentive to third party publishers to offer exclusive content for either console,” Pachter explains. “In a perverse way, the similarity between the two platforms will likely serve to lower the costs of porting software from one platform to the other, and we anticipate that virtually every third-party title produced for one will be produced for the other.”
That lack of differentiation, Pachter concludes, will give the Wii an initial competitive advantage, as by nature of its control mechanisms, publishers are far more inclined to create separate SKUs. Scoring that content exclusivity is the “wildcard” in next generation console sales, and Nintendo’s particular advantage, he says, is its “deep library of internally developed games/brands,” concluding, “we think that Nintendo’s Wii will gain the greatest share of the hardware market in 2007.”
However, while the analyst says Sony may struggle to secure third party exclusivity, he does expect that a combination of blockbuster internally-produced games, the growing installed base for the PSP and continued robust PS2 software sales will make up for the third party shortfall.
On top of that, Pachter also says that aside from game content, “we expect the ultimate outcome of the console wars to be decided by the motion picture studios. Should the studios embrace Sony’s Blu-ray standard for high definition DVDs, we think Sony will gain an insurmountable advantage over Microsoft; should the studios embrace Sony rival Toshiba’s HD-DVD format, we think that Microsoft can maintain its first mover advantage and will dominate software sales for years to come.”
By the end of the cycle, though, Pachter predicts, “we see Sony ‘winning’ the console war with 36% of the market, with Nintendo ‘capturing’ second place at 34% and Microsoft finishing third at 30%” — a virtual “dead heat,” with all three generating “significant profits.”
Sony’s Home Beta Tests Begins
May 3, 2007
The first phase of the beta test is already underway, and a second phase, which will offer spots open to the public, is scheduled for this summer, SCEE reports.
Sony’s Phil Harrison had stated previously that the first version would arrive sometime in April, and it seems that phase one of the Home beta has already commenced.
A voicemail from a Sony representative informed GamePro last week that a very small number of random members from the “PlayStation Underground” (Sony’s club of PlayStation hardware owners) had already received exclusive invitations to partake in the beta trial for Home, which would be closed to the public.
In addition, a recent press release from Sony indicates that the test has already begun, and would be occupied by an “initially small group of both internal staff and known beta testers.” The release also indicates, however, that more positions will be open at some point during the summer, particularly those who will have registered at the Home beta trial site.
New PlayStation Camera, Hasbro Agreement for Sony
April 26, 2007
Sony has announced the PlayStation Eye camera for the PS3, which should debut this summer with bundled EyeCreate software.
As key features of the upgraded Eye camera peripheral, Sony lists a more sophisticated microphone (4 channel audio, 48kHz) with the ability to reduce background noise and focus on spoken word for smoother, more accurate speech recognition, and a re-engineered lens with higher resolution input (640 x 480 at 60fps) to better perform in low-light conditions, a faster frame rate, a two-position zoom lens for close-up and full body options, and free EyeCreate editing software, which allows users to save, edit, and add visual effects to photos, video and audio clips.
EyeCreate also enables user to capture videos and audio clips directly to the PS3’s hard disk drive and access a range of different capturing modes, including slow motion and time-lapse. Pricing for the peripheral has not yet been revealed.
Announced simultaneously was that Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast will provide content for one of the debut titles to use the PlayStation Eye, the camera-based CCG The Eye of Judgment. WoTC already produces major CCG Magic: The Gathering, and under the agreement, Hasbro will create, manufacture and distribute the trading cards associated with The Eye of Judgment video game.
In the game itself, through use of a 3 x 3 board and trading cards, each encrypted with CyberCode, players conquer the field by selecting a card and placing the coded card in front of the PlayStation Eye for their respective creatures to come to life and battle. Each creature has various skills which will determine the outcome of the battle. Players take turns placing cards as they jostle for control of the board; the winner is the first player to conquer five of the nine fields. The game is slated for release in fall 2007.
PSP Price Cuts for Europe
April 23, 2007
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has announced price cuts for the PSP in Europe.
The price of the PSP Core bundle will fall from €199.99/£149.99 ($271) to €169.99/£129.99 ($230). Earlier in the month, a price drop in the U.S. was announced (from $199.99 to $169.99), although the effect of this change on sales has not yet become clear in the latest NPD data.
Sony officials have also announced that the registered retail price of budget priced Platinum re-release titles will fall from £19.99 to £14.99 ($40 to $30). Five new titles will also be added to the range, in the form of Ridge Racer 2, Tekken: Dark Resurrection, Killzone: Liberation, LocoRoco and Moto GP.
“PSP is unique and is constantly evolving. It offers the widest palette of mobile entertainment, from gaming to video, music, photos and internet,” said SCE UK managing director Ray Maguire. “But now the exciting possibility of connecting remotely to PS3 makes PSP more relevant than ever. So what better time to offer a brand new price point, and the launch of five new Platinum titles?”
Sony Reveals 2Q Line-up
April 20, 2007
Sony Computer Entertainment America announced the key titles of their lineup for the second quarter of 2007 today, adding that “more than 100 first- and third-party PS3, PSP and PlayStation 2 titles will launch during the next few months of 2007.” The list so far contains mostly third-party titles, but Sony is still confident that their first-party studios will soon release content that will add depth to their library.
“Our second-quarter line-up […] demonstrates a continued commitment from both SCEA and third-party developers to the PlayStation family of products,” said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing, SCEA. “We are excited by the content being developed by our partners, but are also looking forward to launching PlayStation-branded exclusive games created by our own worldwide studios this quarter and throughout the rest of 2007.”
Sony has also presented a total of eight new titles consisting of both original and retro games that can be purchased directly from the PlayStation Store.
Sony’s list of key titles is as follows:
PS3
F.E.A.R.
Spider-Man 3
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
MLB 07: The Show
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
The Darkness
The Bigs
Transformers: The Game
PlayStation Store
Calling All Cars
Championship Sprint
Gauntlet II
Joust
Mortal Kombat II
Rampage World Tour
Super Puzzle Fighter II HD Remix
Rampart
PSP
Alien Syndrome
Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars
Crush
Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy II
Harvest Moon Boy & Girl
Ridge Racer 2
Test Drive Unlimited
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas
Valhalla Knights
PS2
Dawn of Mana
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Manhunt 2
NCAA Football 08
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2
Odin Sphere
Ratatouille
Shrek The Third
Spider-Man 3
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
Rumors of 80GB PS3 Arise
March 30, 2007
Yesterday, Kotaku, a gamibg blog, did some investigative work regarding recent FCC filings. Well, it seems that their search led them to a Sony submitted request pertaining to a pair of recent BlueTooth modifications for the PS3. Hmmm…
The text at the very end of the request references the addition of a new PS3 model, one which has a product code of CECHE01 and is purported to contain an 80GB hard drive. According to the filing, the 60 GB model (CECHA01) is listed as the “Original Model” while the 80 GB model (CECHE01) is listed as the “Addition Model.”
So is Sony going to replace the 60GB model with the new 80GB model? Is Sony planning on the simultaneous release of 3 different PS3 units, in the tradition of the Core, Premium, and Elite versions of the Xbox 360? Is Sony going to do both? Time will tell.
Today, Kotaku has published an official response from Sony regarding the recent filing: “As mentioned when we made the product announcement for PS3, the system will have different configurations (thus, 60GB HDD with memory card slots and Wi-Fi and 20GB HDD without memory card slots or Wi-Fi both exists). Application to the FCC has been made with various possibilities in mind, however, it does not lead to a new product announcement at this time.”
Stay tuned…
Xbox 360 Welcomes Latest Ace Combat & Devil May Cry Installments
March 21, 2007
A recent issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu reports that the latest installment of the Ace Combat series - at least for now - won’t be coming to the PS3. In addition, Capcom has announced that Devil May Cry 4 will also join the Xbox 360 lineup.
According to the Famitsu article, Ace Combat 6 has only been listed as an Xbox 360 title. Whether a PS3 version is in the works is still unclear.
Ace Combat 6: Kaiho e no Senbi (loosely translated to “The Flames of War Towards Liberation”) will become the first ever Ace Combat game to be released on a non-handheld, non-Sony console. Ace Combat 6 is planned for a Japanese release some time by the end of 2007.
Possibly one of the most significant changes to the Ace Combat protocol will be addition of Xbox Live support, with online multiplayer modes enhancing the gameplay experience. Confirmed so far are team battle, battle royale, and co-op options.
In a press release from Capcom’s main Osaka branch, Capcom said that it will be “pursuing a multi-platform strategy to help enhance profits”, indicating that Capcom is no longer willing to bet on the PS3 being the undisputed console champion this generation. Nevertheless, Devil May Cry 4 will mark the series’ first foray on the Xbox.
A press release from Capcom’s American branch reads as follows: “Capcom is committed to making its titles available to as wide an audience as possible, and has been building its technology base to meet that goal,” said Mark Beaumont, executive vice president, officer and head of Capcom consumer software publishing in the Americas and Europe. “This announcement means that PS3, Xbox 360 and PC owners worldwide will be able to experience the latest installment of one of Capcom’s pillar franchises.”
Release dates for each version of Devil May Cry 4 still have not been announced.
PS3 Firmware Update Details
March 20, 2007
Sony has confirmed in a press release today the impending release of PS3 firmware update version 1.60. The update, set to be released in Japan this Thursday, March 22, will allow the following options:
Pinpoint zoom and resolution settings for the internal PS3 internet browser: Sony has now made it easier for those wiht larger displays to zoom in on website fonts or display text in resolutions better suited for whichever television you happen to be using.
Folding@home: PS3 owners will be able to use their consoles to participate in the genetic study currently being conducted by Stanford University. The research will be used towards fighting such diseases as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and cystic fibrosis.
Remote Play through wireless access point: PSP owners who also happen to own 20GB PS3s can now increase connectivity between both machines through any wireless access point.
Background downloading: Users now have the freedom to download files and games without having to stare at the download screen the entire time.
Full size on-screen keyboard: This makes it easier to type text within the PlayStation browser without the aid of a USB keyboard.
This firmware update will not be pre-loaded onto PAL systems, as most of those consoles have already been packed and shipped to retailers. Reportedly, this update will also contain the data meant to improve backwards compatibility in PAL PS3 machines.
My most heart-felt condolences go out to all of you who were expecting DVD/PS2/PS1upscaling or other features not having to do with the internet browser.
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