Sony's Steinberg on PS3 success, Home, GTAIV, & more
Back at the Game Developer’s Conference, GameDaily got the chance to sit down with Scott Steinberg, the Vice President of Product Marketing over at Sony Computer Entertainment America, in order to talk about numerous subjects, such as how Blu-ray has toppled HD-DVD, what is happening in terms of the PlayStation 3’s current worldwide standing and its future, reaching out to the market Nintendo seems to have cleverly tapped into, Grand Theft Auto IV details and much more.
First up, when it was revealed that Microsoft would be favouring the HD-DVD format, whilst Sony was going to back the Blu-ray DVD format instead, many believed a bitter fight would ensue. However, Toshiba very recently decided to bow out of the race, leaving Blu-ray to rule to roost. Clearly this proved to be a major blow to the Xbox 360, whilst on the flip side was a considerable bonus for the PlayStation 3. Steinberg was quick off the mark to reveal how he believed the news was indeed huge and significant to the competition. As he states,
“…once the standard battles subside as they have, I think the opportunities for us at retail increase; instead of trying to support two systems and platforms retail now focuses on Blu-ray, both as a video game platform and as a consumer electronics device. The movie studios now get behind Blu-ray and start promoting their movies on Blu-ray and that becomes part of their lingua franca, their manner by which they market. It just winds up escalating the installed base growth.”
He drills the point home by commenting on how there will have been many PlayStation 2 owners that have been sitting on the fence for quite a while now, but will now have the incentive to upgrade without fear of buying into a “dead format”. This now gives Sony a lot of momentum to cease all the talk about standards and instead focus on the games more.
Sony PlayStation 3’s Home - the way forward?
Game Daily went on to quiz Steinberg about when the PlayStation Network is set to receive an overhaul, with Sony responding positively to user feedback and demands in general from consumers. Straight away his response was that 2008 is set to be an important year for two main reasons. The first one being the software line-up, which “we’re ecstatic about” since “we’ve got an incredibly diverse lineup”. Elsewhere there is Home to look forward to, with the closed beta testing already underway right now and full functionality being rolled out later in the year. He stresses that “2008 is going to be the year where both on the service side as well as on a Blu-ray side, you’re going to see everything that we’ve got.”
Moving on from this, when pushed into a corner about consumer confusion over the various SKUs that have been released onto the market so far, the answer was quite blunt, “It hasn’t hurt Apple.” Elaborating slightly, he continued by revealing how surprisingly the 80GB SKU has sold considerably more than expected, despite the extra $100 price-tag attached, thus going against what many critics believed would happen. He was unable to clearly answer about further changes to the units on offer, since Sony is constantly looking at the marketplace to see whether or not the marketplace can support the two-tier approach, taking on advice from retailer partners and coming to the best final business decision. The same goes for packing-in the DualShock 3, rather than the now somewhat defunct Sixaxis-sans-rumble - the answer is simply that he does not know what will happen. However, “peripherals are going to get a much better focus from us – 2008 in addition to being the year of the software and the network will be the year of the peripheral for us.” There are plenty of games in the pipeline that will make use of the DualShock 3, so his only major worry is whether there will be enough volume to meet the obvious increased demand.
As for whether or not the PlayStation 2, which is still remarkably strong given that it is now in its eighth year on the market, can become Sony’s answer to the Wii, attracting some of the casual userbase that Nintendo has tapped into, Steinberg said:
“I can say that the PS2 continues to break records. 41 million+ in the back pocket. I would say that the kind of games that we’re building out and the peripherals for PS2 are in line with where the eighth year of a 10-year life cycle is. I think the price point alone and the causal games like Guitar Hero, Singstar and Buzz! are enough to get that casual consumer over. I think a Wii Remote style would feel a bit less innovative on the PS2, so I don’t think we have any plans to go there. I think it’s interesting to think of what different controller configurations could do for the PS3 and possibly for the PS2, but as a Wii Remote knock off, I don’t think we’re in the business of creating knock offs. I don’t think we need too; we’re over 41 million installed base. I think those folks and households who still do not have a PS2 are pretty small, and I think those folks are buying a PS2 because it’s a DVD player as well as a game machine, so they get the utility. They don’t want to have two machines. They’re new into the game business, so it’s really about a $129 price point, not the $250 that the Wii offers and it’s a catalogue of games. We’ve got thousands of products to choose from. Those are the tipping point forces that are getting the new PS2s sold through and I think adding some gimmicks aren’t in the near future plans.”
As for the PlayStation 3 becoming more accessible to the mass market, Steinberg very defensively states how Sony is managing to sell a considerable amount of units through the likes of Target and Circuit City in the US and the company’s top ten accounts include mass merchants. Yet Game Daily redefine’s its point by talking about how Peter Molyneux of Lionhead has recently discussed how he is attempting to streamline the control system of Fable 2 on the Xbox 360 so much that it does not use all of the buttons on the system’s controller in an effort to attract more gamers. Steinberg is non-plussed by this, though, believing that Blu-ray is the key to getting the PlayStation 3 into the average user’s home, just as the fact that the PlayStation 2 had DVD support was a major reason for its success. Also, the fact that the PlayStation 3 controller set-up is barely different to that of the DualShock 2 means a ‘memory map’ is in place “that will not have to be relearned, so I think from a qualitative perspective that enables easy upgrade for the 41+ million”.
Passing over that clearly sensitive topic, the subject of Mass Effect from EA-owned Bioware coming to PlayStation 3 was broached, to which Steinberg said he could not comment on it directly, but “can say with a lot of authority that games are getting bigger and bigger and it’s more of a struggle for third-party companies to design for DVDs; they just don’t have the capacity for the big blockbuster games that we’re leading as far as first party on the PS3 and you’re going to start to see more from third-party companies, Metal Gear Solid 4 as an example, that tips the scale on gig size and you’ll see games 30, 40, 50 gigs shipping in 2008.” Unless, of course, people are still willing to tolerate the annoyance of having to disc swap constantly.
Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar, PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360)
As for how Microsoft was able to not only lure Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive into bringing what was predominantly viewed by many as a franchise that favoured Sony platforms to the Xbox 360, but also secure exclusive episodic content for its home console, Steinberg replied:
“The short answer on the episodic content is that they spent the GNP of several small Latin American countries to get that, and if you’ve ever played San Andreas…there’s a lot of game to Grand Theft Auto and there’s going to be a lot of game to Grand Theft Auto IV to the point where I think most people will have that Grand Theft Auto experience on the PS3, day and date, same core game shipping on the 360. Perhaps they’ll be shipping some episodic content in the fall, but there is a whole lot of product shipping on the PS3 in April and I personally don’t think there’s going to be a huge percentage of folks who jump into downloadable content for another price when they’re still playing through the core product. So while I do think having that brand on their system was a move for them which they felt they needed to make because they cut a big check for it, I think PlayStation fans know the Grand Theft Auto experience on the PS2 is how they grew up playing Grand Theft Auto, and when you combine GTA IV with MGS 4 and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, all the exclusive content that we’ve got going forward, I think that goes from tipping point to shoving point for consumers who are on the fence, wondering what platform should I buy. I think the clear exclusive message that we have is that the PS3 is where, not only do you get Grand Theft Auto, but you’ll get MGS, you’ll get Gran Turismo and these are also brands that have moved hardware units. It’s the elite of the elite products that actually enable hardware to be sold with software and we’ll have three of them.”
Be sure to read more over at the original article, and stick around on Playstatic for further updates…
From the moment Microsoft stepped into the gaming industry they were doomed. They only focus on the present, never the future. Also, xbox 360 has an 88% RROD RATE! Playstation 3 gives more potential for developers, it has software that can be enjoyed by many ages, it’s hardware can be used for many other purposes besides gaming and entertainment (research). It’s much much more than a regular gaming system. Xbox 360 to me is a PS2 with hyped up graphics. Now PS3 is something really new. As for the Wii, it’s pretty awesome - I’d love to get it, but I want the PS3 first so I can have the whole multimedia thing. Then I’m going Wii and probably get Brawl for $20 lol.
o research, but its a gaming system, the only research that should be done on a game console is gaming. and thats why your hyped up xbox 360 is selling more than ps3
88% rate??? wtf the highest I’ve seen in any unbiased news report is 33%… and From the great Wiki!!
“Even so, rumors abounded that the initial failure rate of the “Xenon” motherboard based Xbox 360 may have been as high as 33%”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RRoD
Oh ya about sales, again from the all knowing Wiki!
Worldwide sales figures
1. Wii: 20.13 million, as of December 31, 2007
2. Xbox 360: 18 million, as of February 22, 2008
3. PlayStation 3: 10.49 million, as of December 31, 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_wars#Worldwide_sales_figures_6
enjoy
Lone Goat
I love my PS3 and never considered getting a 360, but even i’m gonna defend the 88% RROD rate. XBOX wouldn’t exist anymoe if that was true.
I love my PS3 too I also never considered a 360 mainly because of the still ridiculously high 16% failure rate and that is is made by Microsoft. I also have a Wii and together the PS3/Wii combo is wonderful. You’ve got the PS3 for the beautiful graphics and online play and the Wii for when you want to truly enjoy playing a game and have fun. BTW Home looks beautiful!
Never considered a Xbox. Just hating fools that is for sure. Not one game for the PS3 looks better than a game on the 360. Believe me I will get a PS3 when the time is right. Please tell me one game the looks better or is rated higher on the PS3. Two years have passed and guys are still waiting for that game to say Ha! It just hasn’t happend that is for sure. I’ve seen and played the PS3 numerous times and it never grab me and tolded me to buy. Just think about this for a second, rumors are already flying around that the next xbox is due out in 2010, two years plus and a new system is due out. Microsoft stated when they released the 360 will have a 5 year life span and recently it was stated it might be pushed back two years due to the success of the system. Please tell me one game that runs better. Not one and gamerankings reviews will back me up and not one article says a PS3 game looks better or runs smoother. I will admit that Cell is hard to work with and a developer just stated that PS3 has the potential to become better. Potential gets people fired. Maybe in a year a two the PS3 fan boys will get their last laugh, then Boom! Xbox 720. 5-6 years is quite some time to develope a new system with updated technology. Then Playstation will have 5 years left on there 10 year plan. It’s catch up time and believe me Microsoft is in this for the long haul. Ha!
you know xbox lover, you truly are a tard, what game on 360 looks better than uncharted, and if you say gears then u truly have fell from the top of the retard tree and hit every branch on the way down.
Look at halo 3, its THE GAME to own if you have a 360, and it doesnt even run in HD!!! thats why the 360 will fail, so ya you just spent how much on the 360 and all its accessories just to buy another one in 2 years that is not backwards compatable and has all the same games on PC? whereas the PS3 (yes except the stupid ass 40gig) is backwards compatable, and has a garunteed 10 year lifecycle plan. just look at PS2 vs. xbox, the original shit box sold just as well as the 360, and guess what? all support for it was dropped as soon as the 3shitty came out. now look at the ps2, its EIGHT YEARS OLD!!! which is ancient when i comes to technology, and it still outsells most of the next gen consoles. odds are that the ps3 will be in the same boat. oh and the ps3 has only been out for a year dumbass. so go ahead and stay with MS so they can sell you a shitty console that will be outdated in 4 years, and in those 4 years you will own about 10 of em, while us Playstation and Nintendo guys keep our reliable hardware and awsome catagorey of games.
P.S. go to college or finish high school, so when you post a comment you know nothing about, you can half-ass make it sound like you do.
“Look at halo 3, its THE GAME to own if you have a 360, and it doesnt even run in HD!!!”
ummm i believe Some thing is called HD when it’s over 480i. So yes halo3 is HD but no it’s not really good HD…
“thats why the 360 will fail…” ummmm 50% of houses in the US don’t even own 1 HD-TV. And Most 360 games run in native 1080i, yes i know not all of them.
“whereas the PS3 (yes except the stupid ass 40gig)”
ya I’d bet that 40GB fills up quick with more and more games asking for a 5gb install to help with the load time of a 2x blue-ray. before u go off with how blue-ray won.. yes it did.. just like the beta-max the better format (HD-DVD)goes to a early grave.
“now look at the ps2, its EIGHT YEARS OLD!!! which is ancient when i comes to technology, and it still outsells most of the next gen consoles.”
I hope it would out sell other next gen consoles, it’s been out for about 5-6 years before them.
“P.S. go to college or finish high school, so when you post a comment you know nothing about, you can half-ass make it sound like you do.”
you know those times when a twat waffle makes a fool of them selfs… yup
I’m a civil engineer slick. Uncharted is a joke and please don’t even go there. Please, Uncharted are you joking. Hey look everybody there is clown on the interent. Now that is a funny joke. Atleast I hope you are joking. PS2, what? It’s about games buddy and if you think Uncharted is on your side right now please don’t respond to this.
Uncharted! He said Uncharted. Did you just say Uncharted. Say Uncharted again. No, being serious here Uncharted is right up there with Halo or Grand Theft auto seriously ask the clown who responded to my comment he’ll tell you everything.
PS. tell him to get Sony’s b-sack out of his mouth before he responds. That’s disgusting, he should be ashamed of himself.
UNCHARTED Rules dude. Just for that I going to go out and get it. System seller everybody.
I own both consoles and can find good and bad points on both systems. Fan boys, get a life.
I also have both xbox IS the console for online gaming ps3 is no where near as good!! At the momment ps3 had to many issues such as shoddy ports,Game installs (25 mins for DMC same with GT5)and l-o-n-g loading times if sony can pull there finger out and get these issues sorted (get the playstation network up to xbox live standards)Then xbox owners may see the point and switch to ps3 at the moment mine is just been used for watching blu-ray movies and the odd game of Uncharted and gt5..
“l-o-n-g loading times if sony can pull there finger out and get these issues sorted”
They can’t with a Big install on your hard drive per game. that blue-ray drive is only 2X
i think the xbox is better, just because of the better games out right now. i was thinking about getting a ps3 just for a blueray player. also metal gear, that is one game that would like to get.
I was seriously doubting Sony’s ability to pull the PS3 out of the proverbial gutter, but now it seems they are on the right track.
MGS4 bundled with the new DualShock controller, Gran Turismo 5, Home, GTA4 (which is also on the 360, but who cares), Final Fantasy XIII (whenever it finally comes), Killzone 2, and many more games are going to make the PS3 the system to beat this year.
What does Microsoft have coming up for the 360? Let’s see… Fable 2 (all hype), Gears of War 2 (all hype), Halo Wars (could be good, but I’m not into RTS)… not much else. Sorry Xbox, but Sony’s got you beat this year!
Lol. NOW they can finally focus on games. About time.
I’m not gonna lie, the DVD capability was indeed one of the reasons I bought a PS2. However, that was also about as much use as it got; the last game I played to death on the PS2 was Front Mission 4, and that was two or three years ago. Other than that, I had… Metal Gear Solid 3. Not much else. Now I don’t even need it for a DVD player. This philosophy alone is why Sony is wrong for pushing the PS3 as a BluRay player, when all the majority of people want is a game system. I bet that if they took BluRay out it’d probably be way cheaper. They’d even break into that “casual gamers” niche they so wish they had a market for if it was a game system first. Lord knows that developers won’t be using the capabilities of the format for another five years.
As for games, Sony has a few good titles coming… but not nearly as many as the 360. That will still be my most played console, over both my Wii and my eventual Playstation. (By the way, all you people pimping Resistance 2’s 64 player games, Joint Operations was doing 150 years ago, and that was on the computer. If you care that much about multiplayer, buy a PC, because it’s easy to see that’s what Sony’s trying to make the Playstation.)
Anyways, Sony, drop the price for the 60 gig some more and I’ll buy in. I want me some MGS4. Should’ve had that Dual Shock fiasco wrapped up a while ago, though. :P Not wise to make Konami find a way to integrate it after 90% of the game is done like you did. Guess that’s what happens when you try to screw people…
Note:
The reason I said the philosophy was wrong (that I forgot to include, go me) is that the majority of households don’t even have HDTVs yet. The need for BluRay is simply not there. It’s like I’ve said before, they’re forcing their customers to buy into a format they may not want, or even be able to use.
Veritas,
The console has been made to be future proof,
Look at the inclusion of the blue ray as a movie player as a bonus, its inclusion into the PS3 is for its storage capabilities not its movie capabilities. And while compression will cope at the moment, its not going to cope with in three years time.
Granted MS would have brounght out the next xbox by then, but its not about them its about the PS3 having the capability to last ten years.
They haven’t provided sufficient proof that it would be a worthwhile purchase for me yet, though. In all honesty, MGS4 is the -only- game I want to play right now. Everything else I’m looking forward to is either PC exclusive or being released for the 360 and PS3, in which case I’d choose the 360 for Live.
At any rate, even in ten years time, the majority of people won’t have HDTVs. Look how long it took people in the US to switch from analogue. And lots of them are STILL being forced to buy digital converters. If Sony had released the BluRay stuff ten years from now, I’m sure people would it eat it up. But as it is, only the people on the cutting edge of technology can really use this stuff.
WAIT If all u want is MGS4 u could do what I’m planing on doing… wait for it to be whored out to other consoles like every other MGS before, But thats if u want to wait a year or so.
Ha ha ha la laugh at sony fan boys, just keep trying to justify your blu ray player (i mean game’s consol). Ha ha ha ha ha.
Fucking name says it all you tool
I agree with microsoft.
Phil Harrisons not with playstation anymore fool!
It was still funny. :D
It’s funny you bring up the memory issue, the makers at Ubisoft stated that they were having memory issues with the making of Assasin’s Creed when that came out. They said they were having problems with botth format. Ubisoft stating that blueray technology uses memory in a much different way than standard DVD’s and to push a signal out in 1080p takes a lot of memory, that is why you won’t see cable TV pushing any high def out in 1080p. The signal takes up to much memory. I’ve already heard the MGS4 is only in 720p just for this reason and they ran out of space. It’s not future proof, look at the steps they are taking to improve gaming cards for the PC, by the time MS decides to come out with a new system I’ll bet the gaming card will be impressive. Technology is improving a high rate. Don’t get me wrong I’m going to buy a PS3 just to play games, when they come out of course.
Well, I think XBOX lover is a tool. Defending the 360 like it’s his job. Nevertheless, I do agree with some his points. I have Uncharted for my PS3 and its a beautiful game. I can tell you that Bioshock is every bit as good in graphics and way better in gameplay.
I do think the 360 has the better games but thats a no-brainer. Keep living. The PS3 is finally making moves and it sure looks like MS has no answers. Gears 2 will be good but Sonys line up will move consoles.
I’m glad I have both. For those that did not buy a 360, you missed out on the best games of 2007. You are losers. For those that don’t have a PS3, you will be losers to the best games of 2008. The rest of us are winners, ….not whiners like the rest of you.
Not trying to instigate, but I keep hearing about this stellar line-up… just what is it? The only game I can think of is MGS4, and perhaps GT5, but I’m not a racing fan…
I’m genuinely curious. It’d be nice to know my purchase will be for more than Snake, if you know what I mean.
playstation 3 is the best sistem look the benefits
#1 if you like hd movies you save money cuz u don’t have to buy one hd player
#2you can play 4 free online
#3can transfer music to psp fast
#4can watch blu ray movies
#5can play the game resistance fall of man rated 9.5 out of 10
#6can play motorstorm
#7can use sd ms cf memory cards
#8 better quality video via hdmi on all ps3 sistems 1080p
#9 wireless internet
#10 you can play psone and ps2 games
#11 f you want to watch spiderman
on hd #1 #2 #3 exclusively on blu ray
#12 unreal tournament first on ps3
#13 guitar hero first on ps2
#14 blutooth tecnology
#15 ps network registration free $0
#16 ps3 is the most powerfull sistem in the world
xbox 360
#1can’t play hd movies>> only if u spend in the player sold separately about $180
#2 if you buy the hddvd is no good ”toshiba is broke with that brand hddvd may won’t make more hddvd movies”
#3 you have to pay 4 play online gaming
#4 xbox 360 is older
definitely ps3 is better
“#1can’t play hd movies
#2 if you buy the hd-dvd is no good “
thats b/c i bought a GAMING SYSTEM!!! not a movie player. if most gamers did care the hd-dvd add-on is VERY cheap on ebay right now… yes there isn’t anything new coming out.
“#3 you have to pay 4 play online gaming”
LOL Your thinking XBL And PSN are even close to the same?!? dang… i’ve played on the PSN network, it’s a damn joke. have u even played on XBL?
“#4 xbox 360 is older
definitely ps3 is better”
thats odd the 360 is still winning in sales
*lookup to the top of this page*
Lol, no comment.
Ramon Jr #2 got me on your PS3 been a better “sistem” lol ….PS3 online is total dump and you know it ! £40 for a year on xbox live is worth every penny you get premium content such as full movie downloads,Music videos ,Tv shows (US), XLA ,up to date demo downloads in game chat ie you don’t have to be on the same game ,msn,a proper community.
All i can say is i am glad i got both systems, the 360 done me well while i waited for the PS3. In 2007 i had both systems, i probably brought about equal amount of games for both systems. In 2008 i have yet to buy a single game for the 360 as all the multi-format games i buy for the PS3 ( i just prefer that system, the RROD chaps my arse and the 360 is SO noisy) and there really is nothing that interests me for the 360 until of course the mighty Gow2(can’t wait for that) but does that mean i will sell my 360? of course not. I am sure come 2009 there will be loads of exclusives on the 360 and the PS3 will be devoid of major releases (except GT5), it’s all swings and roundabouts at the end of the day.
I am just glad i got both then i can get ALL the best games.
I can appreciate everything else, but noisy? Really?
You must not be playing with surround sound…
Trust me i have an expensive surround system but i also sit about 2 feet away from my 360 and the PS3 , i can barely hear the PS3 but the 360 sounds like a tornado when it’s spinning the disc at full speed. It wasn’t as bad before it went all RROD on me, since it come back though it is nosier, plus coz i play the PS3 more i really notice the difference between the two.
Shaaame. You’ll ruin your eyes that way. :D
I actually sit about that far away, too, and I just got mine back from the repair facility (not RROD, though; E74), but I just keep the volume loud enough that I don’t even notice it.
Then again, I also sleep with a fan on, so maybe I’m just immune to white noise.
Yeah i live in a silent countryside village and if a mouse farts i wake up, my ears are attuned to any unwanted noise, suppose thats the price you pay for living in a silent (see:DEAD) village. If i leave my subwoofer switched on when i go to bed i can hear the hum from the transformer in it and have to get up to switch it off.
**CURSES BLOODY SENSITIVE EARS**
Well, certainly it must make music a more enjoyable experience? :(
I know, I love my 360. I won’t lie I’m chomping at the bit to buy the PS3. I have a 360 and Wii and play them both. Games is a must and one won’t due it for me right now. Snake looks solid but microsoft has Splinter Cell exclusive game and as my memory serves Splinter has rated higher in every aspect on gamerankings.com. I haven’t been a fan of both of those series myself so it doesn’t jump out at me. There needs to be that one game that grabs me and it isn’t there.
I love all the comments saying that PS3 will beat 360 this year, didn’t you all say that when the PS3 first came out, and then a year later??? but both times you had your arses in the air getting fucked my microsoft because they bring out dumb games like Lair.
oh, and apparently this is going to be your year that you beat the 360. Work it out, if you haven’t beat 360 by now you aren’t goin to
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