Sony's Kaz Hirai Candid on PS3 - Really!

Yes, you read it right. Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment's President and CEO spoke candidly regarding the present and future of the PS3 in this months issue of Famitsu magazine. 1UP dishes on the interview, and I have to say, it is a refreshing change from the spin machine we've become accustomed to from Sony over the past ten years.

The interview spans topics ranging from the delay of Sony's online service, Home, to the decision to drop backwards compatibility from future PS3's and the selling off of cell chip production.

I found the most notable statement came when Hirai was asked why the 40GB PS3 was not announced at the recent Tokyo Game Show just days before it was released to stores. "What was most important at TGS was to appeal to everyone our software lineup. A library of games is what consumers look for on a game console, and it is our mission as a console maker to fulfill that. Therefore, we put the focus on software that our third parties have been working on, as opposed to the new PS3 models." he said.

This focus on software instead of hardware is exactly the kind of fundamental strategy change that can get the PS3 back into the race against the Xbox 360. Ever since the PS3 was first announced, all Sony has done is tout the consoles' hardware..."it has the amazing new cell processor, it will change gaming forever, it has Blu-Ray which is the greatest media ever, bluetooth, memory card slots out the wahzoo...yada, yada, yada; everything except games! That lack of software is exactly what has kept the PS3 on store shelves and out of peoples living rooms.

Apparently, they are starting to realize that great hardware means nothing without equally great software. Hardware only exists to showcase software, not the other way around.

Kudos Kaz. Give me some more reasons to get excited about my PS3 please.

Hirai also spoke candidly about the delay of Home, explaining that it was not meeting his expectations, and that was the key reason for the delay. He said, "This is a very big project for the PS3 and we want to make sure that we deliver to our hearts content." He reiterated that Home will go online in the Spring of '08.

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I Love the Xbox 360, but I'm Not Biased!!

Just as any other journalist covering the world of gaming, I am occasionally perceived by readers as biased towards one system or another. This past week, after I posted the story "Why The Xbox 360 is Crushing the PS3", I received a few emails accusing me of being biased towards the Xbox 360. I even received a comment attacking me personally on a level so juvenile it doesn't warrant further discussion. I rarely feel the need to defend myself or my opinions, but in this case I felt it necessary to set the record straight on a few things.

While I admit the title of the piece was somewhat inflammatory, the fact remains that throughout the story I provided MANY links to other sources supporting my thoughts on the subject. Not one person that called me "biased" offered any shred of evidence to support a counter view. Apparently, they disagreed with me but didn't know why.

Several readers assumed I only own a Xbox 360 and said that if I owned a PS3 and/or a Wii then I wouldn't come to the conclusion that the Xbox 360 is leading in the current console hardware battle. To me, that kind of thinking is the absolute definition of bias. First of all, as I said in the story, I don't consider the Wii to even be in the same race as the PS3 and 360 for several legitimate reasons. Inferior processor power, much lower price (though not as much so now with the $279 Core Xbox 360 now available) and the fact that Nintendo is admittedly targeting non gamers with the Wii are all reasons to separate it from any discussion of competition between the PS3 and 360.


However, for the record, I own all three consoles. Those are my controllers at the top of the story. Specifically regarding the PS3, I bought one shortly after it was released and sold it a few months later due to the severe lack of software. Honestly, I got sick of looking at what was essentially a big black paper weight. But now that there are some quality titles on the horizon combined with the much lower priced 40GB model, I recently got a new PS3 (pictured above next to my 360 and PC).

My basic assertion that the Xbox 360 is presently in the best position of the three going forward had nothing to do with bias and everything to do with recent history, present sales, future software expectations and developer support. It's not my fault that Sony is more concerned about pushing Blu-Ray than giving gamers what they want...namely games. Just as it is not my fault that Nintendo is more interested in quick profits than they are in giving hardcore gamers what they want...eye candy and good online gaming.

Microsoft is not perfect...by far. I hate Windows Vista and have no urge to put it on my Gaming PC. I fully documented their issues with faulty 360 hardware and the steps they have taken to resolve them. But those issues don't change the fact that when you examine their gaming operation as a whole, they are presently doing the best job giving gamers all the things they want and expect from a modern gaming console; quality hardware, a huge library of excellent games, the very best online gaming, digital distribution of movies and television programs and more.

If anyone can show me that I'm wrong, I am always open to being enlightened. But let's be clear...understanding the facts and pointing them out, even (and especially) when it's not popular with some readers doesn't make me biased. It actually makes me unbiased. I don't have a grudge against Sony or Nintendo; quite the contrary. I want nothing more than for them both to be hugely successful, because I firmly believe competition is the only thing that drives innovation. If Sony and Nintendo start providing me with great games and experiences with their consoles, I will be the first to sing their praises. After all, I voted for them both in the only way an American truly can...with my wallet. And I actually voted for the PS3 twice. Doesn't that make me biased toward the PS3? Hmm.

PS3 Firmware 2.0 Available Tomorrow

It's not officially official, but you can bet the latest update for the PS3's firmware (version 2.00) will be available tomorrow. Following is a list of the additions/changes coming in version 2.00.

The PlayStation 3 system software version 2.0 update includes the following:

* Users
o You can now password-protect user accounts.

* Settings
o [Dynamic Normalizer] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
o [Energy Saver] has been added as an option.
o [Equalizer] has been added as a feature under [Music Settings].
o [Full] has been added as an option for [DVD Wide Display] under [BD / DVD Settings].
o [Photo Settings] has been added as an option.
o [PS / PS2 Settings] has been added as an option.
o [RSS Channel Settings] has been added as an option.
o [Sample Rate] has been added to [Audio CD Import] under [Music Settings].
o [Screen Saver] has been expanded under [Display Settings].
o The method of selecting an output resolution has been changed in [Video Output Settings] under [Display Settings].
o [Theme Settings] has been added as an option.
o [Zero Unused Disk Space] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Format Utility].

* Photo
o Additional slideshow effects have been added.
o [Photo Effects] have been added as a feature.
o Wallpaper feature has been added.
o [Zoom] has been added as a feature.

* Music
o Additional visualization effects have been added.
o CD information can now be entered.
o Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.

* Video
o Files can now be played sequentially.
o Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.
o You can now select [Zoom] under [Screen Mode] when playing video files saved on the hard disk or storage media.*.
*An appropriate USB adapter (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.

* Game
o Support for PLAYSTATION®3 format software titles has been expanded.
o XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) is now accessible during gameplay.

* Network
o [RSS Channel] has been added as a feature.

* Friends
o You can now have multiple chat sessions.
o You can now select an image to use as your Avatar from [Photo].

* Other
o Date and Time is now shown when the PS button is pressed.
o File sorting has been changed.
o [Help] has been added as a feature.
o Playability status with the PS3™ system has changed for some PlayStation® and PlayStation®2 format titles.
To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles.
o [Secure Delete] has been added as an option.
o Some PLAYSTATION®Network features have been revised.

Drake's Fortune looks good, really good!

When I initially saw the original video of Drake's Fortune for the PS3 at last year's E3, I thought it looked great but figured the final game wouldn't look anything like that...call me jaded, call me a realist, just don't call me Shirley.

Well, after reading the article about the game in the latest issue of Game Informer and seeing these new screenshots, I am becoming a believer. If these screenshots are accurate, this game looks absolutely beautiful. Maybe there IS some power in that there cell thingy.

Drake's Fortune is billed as a cross between Diehard, Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider. While I am understandably skeptical of marketing speak, if Naughty Dog can pull off that kind of super-hybrid of action and achieve this level of visuals, then they just may have a mega-hit on their hands!

That's assuming of course that Sony starts selling some PS3's.

Video Interview - SCEA's David Karraker talks Home

While at GDC, Sony of America's David Karraker was (cornered) interviewed by Gametrailers. He discusses Sony's (microtransaction) online strategy HOME, Little Big Planet and Killzone 2.

Watch the interview below.

Today's Latest "Lost Exclusive" Video

With the recent revelation that Devil May Cry 4 is no longer a PS3 exclusive (really, how long can it be before Metal Gear Solid 4 is announced for the Xbox 360?) and will appear on the Xbox 360, we present this DMC4 video from Gametrailers.com