Feature
dinsdag 9 februari 2010
PlayStation 3 launch interview
With less then a month to go before the launch of the PlayStation 3 in Europe, it was time to go and have a little chat with Sony about a few things.
Let's start at the beginning: What will we find in the box when we buy the PlayStation 3?
Of course the PS3 hardware, 1 SIXAXIS controller, a USB cable, a LAN kabel for internet, a powercable and a stereo AV cable (component, stereo AV, D-terminal, Multi-Terminal). And, very important, the manual. As a gamer, we know that most of you never read this, but with the technique of the PlayStation 3, it is very much advides. One of the things, for example, you need to watch out for, is the resolution setting. If you have the console set to a high resolution, and you hook it up to a normal television, you won't get any image.
The PlayStation 3 is being pushed as thé HD system. Why isn't there a HDMI-cable included standard?
Because there is such a variety in HDMI-cables, in price and quality, we want keep the choice to customer. Besides that, not everyone as a HD-tv yet, and we don't want people not being able to play with the console because they haven't got the right television set. By the way, it is also possible to use the PlayStation 2 SCART-connector if you have an older television.
What can we expect of the graphical quality of the PlayStation 3 on a normal SD television?
Of course it won't be on par with the high definition televisions, but it doesn't mean it will look bad, The PlayStation 3 will still be a very powerful console, no matter what television you hook it up to.
According to official specifications, a total of 7 controllers can be connected to the PlayStation 3. How does that work, and in which games can we see such a function?
It is possible to play on the PlayStation 3 with 7 SIXAXIS controllers at the same time, and a PlayStation Portable. One of the things we've been asked a lot, is why there are only four lights on the controller. Using a combination of the lights on and off however, does make it possible to connect 7 controllers. How we will be seeing those 7 controllers in a game however, I don't know yet.
The graphics on the PlayStation 3 look good, but if we're being honest, then Motorstorm for example, isn't on par with the 'in-game' images that were shown at E3 2005. What can we expect on that part of Killzone 2?
The images from E3 2005 were to show what the PlayStation 3 was capable of, and Motorstorm is already coming pretty close to that. I can't say too much about Killzone 2 yet, because I have seen only a little bit of it, and it was all in development. It will take a while before the developers can really use the hardware to it's maximum capacity, but in one or two years, you will most definitely see graphics as in the presentation.
At that presentation at E3 there were also shown two features, of which we haven't heard a thing since. The use of the PSP as an extra screen, for example as a rearview mirror with formula one racing, and hooking up a second screen to the PlayStation 3.
As you can see, the function of the PSP in Formula One isn't available in this version, but it could be coming in future versions, I don't know. Back then, it was shown as an example of what's possible with both consoles, and the formula 1-game was just an example. What the deal is with the two screens, I don't know exactly. It's true that the second av-port has been removed, but possibly it will be enabled with upgrades in the future.
The SIXAXIS hasn't got a rumble function, but the PlayStation 2-controller does. Is it possible to connect the PlayStation 2-controller with the PlayStation 3, to play the PS2-games with rumble?
Unfortunately, this is not possible. You will be able to play the PlayStation and the PlayStation 2-games with the normal SIXAXIS controller, without rumble. We have chosen for this option because we believe that the motion sensing technology offers a better game experience then the rumble function, and combining both would cause problems.
The same also applies to the PlayStation games we can download from the PlayStation Store?
No. PlayStation games that are downloaded from the PlayStation Store can only be played on the PlayStation Portable. You will download these games from your PS3 to your PSP.
What can we find in the PlayStation Store when it launched on March 23?
First of, there will be two demo's available: you can purchase Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, with playable character Jinpachi Mishima and 3 available modes: Arcade mode, Ghost mode and Versus mode. Besides that, you will be able to download the demo of Gran Turismo HD for free. Of the networkgames, you can get Lemmings and Blast Factor. Phil Harrison's favourite, Super Rub a Dub, will be available on March 30th.
No Fl0w?
Fl0w, what we refer to at the office as the ultimate relax game, will be available on April 6th, with Go! Sudoku coming on April 13th and Go! Puzzle on April 20th. Shortly after, you will see the release of Gripshift and Calling All Cars, but there is no specific releasedate of those games yet.
How can we pay for PlayStation online?
Well, it is important to know that the online use of the PlayStation 3 will basically be free. We won't ask any money to play online multiplayer, and there will be no difference between paying and non-paying members. Everyone is equal as far as that goes. The content in the PlayStation Store will also be free, such as certain demo's or extra software packages. Besides that, of course the firmware upgrades are also free, as is surfing the internet.
Certain things, such as PlayStation games or networkgames, will be paid for with a credit card. You will have a wallet, which you can fill with the local currency. No points or whatever, just clear.
Creditcards are hardly used here. Can you just buy a normal card with credit in the stores?
We are working on that at the moment. If it will be ready in time for the launch on March 23, we don't know yet, but we hope we can offer this as soon as possible.
One of the complaints we heard from America, where the console has already been released, is that when you download something, the console can do nothing else, and this can take a long time.
That is a problem we are aware of. Soon we will release a firmware upgrade which does make it possible to multitask on the PlayStation 3.
Are there any fun plans for the future?
We have something big coming up for the PlayStation Network, but I can't say anything about that yet.
Not even a little hint?
*laughs*
It has something to do with the Home Button on the SIXAXIS controller, and with the community.
Something like Hyves or MySpace?
*looks away typically and laughs*
We will announce it soon. Just wait.
Thank you for the interview and good luck with the launch!
Of course the PS3 hardware, 1 SIXAXIS controller, a USB cable, a LAN kabel for internet, a powercable and a stereo AV cable (component, stereo AV, D-terminal, Multi-Terminal). And, very important, the manual. As a gamer, we know that most of you never read this, but with the technique of the PlayStation 3, it is very much advides. One of the things, for example, you need to watch out for, is the resolution setting. If you have the console set to a high resolution, and you hook it up to a normal television, you won't get any image.
The PlayStation 3 is being pushed as thé HD system. Why isn't there a HDMI-cable included standard?
Because there is such a variety in HDMI-cables, in price and quality, we want keep the choice to customer. Besides that, not everyone as a HD-tv yet, and we don't want people not being able to play with the console because they haven't got the right television set. By the way, it is also possible to use the PlayStation 2 SCART-connector if you have an older television.
What can we expect of the graphical quality of the PlayStation 3 on a normal SD television?
Of course it won't be on par with the high definition televisions, but it doesn't mean it will look bad, The PlayStation 3 will still be a very powerful console, no matter what television you hook it up to.
According to official specifications, a total of 7 controllers can be connected to the PlayStation 3. How does that work, and in which games can we see such a function?
It is possible to play on the PlayStation 3 with 7 SIXAXIS controllers at the same time, and a PlayStation Portable. One of the things we've been asked a lot, is why there are only four lights on the controller. Using a combination of the lights on and off however, does make it possible to connect 7 controllers. How we will be seeing those 7 controllers in a game however, I don't know yet.
The graphics on the PlayStation 3 look good, but if we're being honest, then Motorstorm for example, isn't on par with the 'in-game' images that were shown at E3 2005. What can we expect on that part of Killzone 2?
The images from E3 2005 were to show what the PlayStation 3 was capable of, and Motorstorm is already coming pretty close to that. I can't say too much about Killzone 2 yet, because I have seen only a little bit of it, and it was all in development. It will take a while before the developers can really use the hardware to it's maximum capacity, but in one or two years, you will most definitely see graphics as in the presentation.
At that presentation at E3 there were also shown two features, of which we haven't heard a thing since. The use of the PSP as an extra screen, for example as a rearview mirror with formula one racing, and hooking up a second screen to the PlayStation 3.
As you can see, the function of the PSP in Formula One isn't available in this version, but it could be coming in future versions, I don't know. Back then, it was shown as an example of what's possible with both consoles, and the formula 1-game was just an example. What the deal is with the two screens, I don't know exactly. It's true that the second av-port has been removed, but possibly it will be enabled with upgrades in the future.
The SIXAXIS hasn't got a rumble function, but the PlayStation 2-controller does. Is it possible to connect the PlayStation 2-controller with the PlayStation 3, to play the PS2-games with rumble?
Unfortunately, this is not possible. You will be able to play the PlayStation and the PlayStation 2-games with the normal SIXAXIS controller, without rumble. We have chosen for this option because we believe that the motion sensing technology offers a better game experience then the rumble function, and combining both would cause problems.
The same also applies to the PlayStation games we can download from the PlayStation Store?
No. PlayStation games that are downloaded from the PlayStation Store can only be played on the PlayStation Portable. You will download these games from your PS3 to your PSP.
What can we find in the PlayStation Store when it launched on March 23?
First of, there will be two demo's available: you can purchase Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, with playable character Jinpachi Mishima and 3 available modes: Arcade mode, Ghost mode and Versus mode. Besides that, you will be able to download the demo of Gran Turismo HD for free. Of the networkgames, you can get Lemmings and Blast Factor. Phil Harrison's favourite, Super Rub a Dub, will be available on March 30th.
No Fl0w?
Fl0w, what we refer to at the office as the ultimate relax game, will be available on April 6th, with Go! Sudoku coming on April 13th and Go! Puzzle on April 20th. Shortly after, you will see the release of Gripshift and Calling All Cars, but there is no specific releasedate of those games yet.
How can we pay for PlayStation online?
Well, it is important to know that the online use of the PlayStation 3 will basically be free. We won't ask any money to play online multiplayer, and there will be no difference between paying and non-paying members. Everyone is equal as far as that goes. The content in the PlayStation Store will also be free, such as certain demo's or extra software packages. Besides that, of course the firmware upgrades are also free, as is surfing the internet.
Certain things, such as PlayStation games or networkgames, will be paid for with a credit card. You will have a wallet, which you can fill with the local currency. No points or whatever, just clear.
Creditcards are hardly used here. Can you just buy a normal card with credit in the stores?
We are working on that at the moment. If it will be ready in time for the launch on March 23, we don't know yet, but we hope we can offer this as soon as possible.
One of the complaints we heard from America, where the console has already been released, is that when you download something, the console can do nothing else, and this can take a long time.
That is a problem we are aware of. Soon we will release a firmware upgrade which does make it possible to multitask on the PlayStation 3.
Are there any fun plans for the future?
We have something big coming up for the PlayStation Network, but I can't say anything about that yet.
Not even a little hint?
*laughs*
It has something to do with the Home Button on the SIXAXIS controller, and with the community.
Something like Hyves or MySpace?
*looks away typically and laughs*
We will announce it soon. Just wait.
Thank you for the interview and good luck with the launch!
Martijn Müller
1 maart 2007 - 17:27
1 maart 2007 - 17:27
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