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[sonycowboy]

Full interview (w/ some other points) here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002280716_hirai19.html

Can anyone explain to me what the hell he's saying? There are alot of words in his response, but no actual detail. Something about air conditioners?!!? And the whole part about "We've got to make sure we include the PS2, PSP, & PS3 all in our Playstation online world"? How the hell can you retrofit the online stuff back to the PS2 and still provide a truly integrated PS3 online experience?

I know this is Kaz and he's not exactly the guy in charge of this, but damn. Get it together guys. Online is going to be one of the major factors in the next generation battle and it seems (from this interview and I recognize there may be more behind it) like they still don't understand why Live is so successful.

Q: Explain Sony's online strategy. It doesn't seem to me as clear as what Xbox is doing with Xbox Live. What are your thoughts on online in the next generation?

A: That's going to be a very integral part. I liken it to air conditioning in the car. It used to be nice to have in the '60s, at least when I was growing up, but now I don't think you'll find too many cars without air conditioning. It's a definite must-have. It's going to be an integral part of the PlayStation 3 experience.

The challenge that we have is to make sure that we are able to also provide a world, an online world, where consumers can take advantage of the PlayStation Portable that they have, and to use that as a device that works in tandem with the PS3. For example to play games on the other side of the world.

We do have the largest online user base in any of the consoles. So we want to make sure that we also include the PlayStation 2 users in that experience, to the extent possible. We don't want to shut them out, or just keep them in the PS2 world where everybody else is enjoying the PSP/PS3 world. So that's an added challenge that we have that others do not.

So those bring out specific challenges that we need to work through, and to also bring out a comprehensive online program from Day 1 as opposed to a program that gets changed every two months or what have you. I would much rather wait to make sure we have something that we are happy with, that the publishing community is happy with, and put it out even if that means that it takes a bit longer than people expect.

Q: Could you see Sony going with a broader, more centralized, community-focused online experience?

A: I think community focus, centralized, to a certain extent, yes. Those I think are very important. That's one of the findings that we're seeing in our online community when we talk to them. But we want to make sure that it's not too controlling, because that's the tradeoff that you have there. It's a fine balancing act that you need to strike the right balance with centralized, and feeling like you're a part of the community without being forced into that.

 

[VictimOfGrief]

PlayStation Live. :lol

 

[Legal Step]

Internet in space dood!

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

this is the reason i'm not too excited about PS3 right now. he says the ps2 has the biggest online userbase of any console, but what does that even mean in this regard? 90% of the games i have played online for ps2 have been dog shit. the only thing i really have enjoyed is madden.

 

[human5892]

The air-conditioning bit is simple: he's saying that, like AC in cars, online on consoles used to be more of a luxury or rarity, but is fast becoming the standard.

 

[impirius]

All I ask from Sony and Nintendo are unified login names and friend lists.

 

[VictimOfGrief]

All I ask from Sony and Nintendo are unified login names and friend lists.

and all I'll ask from Microsoft is the ability to change your god damn user name to whatever the fuck you want... WHEN YOU WANT.

 

[sonycowboy]

The air-conditioning bit is simple: he's saying that, like AC in cars, online on consoles used to be more of a luxury or rarity, but is fast becoming the standard.

I know what he's getting at. It's just fluff when he actually has nothing to talk about. I could go into a metaphor about how consoles are like Prom dates and how much you get gussied up for the big night and how your parents take pictures and how you need a theme and...

what the hell was I talking about??? :lol (same thing).

Just answer the question and be specific. If you're not ready to talk about it say. "We've got alot of plans, but nothing we can talk about now).

 

[Teddman]

Q: Explain Sony's online strategy. It doesn't seem to me as clear as what Xbox is doing with Xbox Live. What are your thoughts on online in the next generation?

A: We don't have one yet.

:lol

 

[jarrod]

What about PSP... have any 3rd parties announced online support yet? DS has online support announced from nearly every notable publisher, with a nice spread of titles already even (Tony Hawk, Tenchu, FFCC, Bomberman, Winning Eleven, Harvest Moon, Gundam, Dynasty Warriors, Castlevania, Spike Wrestling, etc)

 

[SpokkX]

for the record:

does anyone here actually play Ps2 online regularly?

personally I though Ps2 online was a joke.. laggy and messy as hell

I know there are a lot of Xbox live users here..

 

[akascream]

Time to announce another partnership with AOL. Free publicity for everyone!!

 

[impirius]

and all I'll ask from Microsoft is the ability to change your god damn user name to whatever the fuck you want... WHEN YOU WANT.

Yes. I cancelled my old "impirius" Live account and they wouldn't allow me to reopen it. >:-(

 

[Pedigree Chum]

That doesn't sound too bad. It seems that they want features of XBL, but to not have a heavyhanded approach (no online fee?). Hopefully Sony delievers on this aspect, considering that they want the PS3 to be a home media platform of sorts, a strong online component is needed for online gaming and media distribution.

 

[TTP]

The PS2 online talking is puzzling. Does he mean PS2 online games will somehow benefit from running on the PS3?

 

[DarienA]

Reminder:

If you expect to get details on whatever crappy or good online plans Sony has this early consider the console is not coming til what mid next year? You're daft.

 

[human5892]

I know what he's getting at. It's just fluff when he actually has nothing to talk about. I could go into a metaphor about how consoles are like Prom dates and how much you get gussied up for the big night and how your parents take pictures and how you need a theme and...

what the hell was I talking about??? :lol (same thing).

Just answer the question and be specific. If you're not ready to talk about it say. "We've got alot of plans, but nothing we can talk about now).

Ah, okay. Yeah, that was a completely useless interview.

Who knows, though; maybe they have a plan but don't want to reveal all of it, or maybe they're still evaluating how to proceed since their console is still a ways off yet. I expect the service to be at least a little more cohesive than what you got on PS2, in any case. It's probably a good bet that Xbox Live will still be the best experience in terms of a unified structure, though.

 

[Ranger X]

Sony pretty much only need tighter TRC rules for online games/modes then it would force devellopers into offering quality/standardised content. And please don't mind the 56k anymore.
Making an online game on the PS2 is almost free of any rules. The quality of the online game completely depend on the develloper devotion/talent. This could change easily on the PS3 if Sony starts to care about online gaming and put up some standards.

 

[sonycowboy]

Reminder:

If you expect to get details on whatever crappy or good online plans Sony has this early consider the console is not coming til what mid next year? You're daft.

There are a few takeaways, with this being the most disturbing

So those bring out specific challenges that we need to work through, and to also bring out a comprehensive online program from Day 1 as opposed to a program that gets changed every two months or what have you. I would much rather wait to make sure we have something that we are happy with, that the publishing community is happy with, and put it out even if that means that it takes a bit longer than people expect.

That almost makes it seem like their online plans won't be available when the console launches. Which, if one is relying online to be fully integrated into the OS / Console functionality, that could be a problem.

I'm sure they have a ton of plans, and I just hope that they're playing coy and have something really incredible planned. But consider the PS2's issues online (too many publishers made waves, which makes me think Sony did something to tick them off), the fact that PSP is ~supposed to be big online, but we see very little evidence so far, and this interview.

All together, they make me slightly concerned that Sony somehow is having problems wrapping their heads around online.

 

[Rhindle]

Didn't somebody here on the Board come up with that air conditioning metaphor a week or two ago? I swear I remember reading that. :lol

 

[PhatSaqs]

They're main hang up is probably trying to come up with something that trumps Live allwoing them to continue to downplay it in the process. Putting out something inferior aint an option. Only thing is, that's gonna be pretty tough at this point IMO.

 

[akascream]

Reminder:

It's never to early to start damage control.

 

[turok4n64]

aint this funny...nintendo is fully online and sony isn't now :lol

 

[gofreak]

It's really not that difficult sonycowboy.

Something about air conditioners?!!?

An analogy.

Past: luxury.

Present and future: necessity.

And the whole part about "We've got to make sure we include the PS2, PSP, & PS3 all in our Playstation online world"? How the hell can you retrofit the online stuff back to the PS2 and still provide a truly integrated PS3 online experience?

I think you missed some key words:

"So we want to make sure that we also include the PlayStation 2 users in that experience, to the extent possible. "

Aka probably not very much at all.

I'm not sure what you're getting in a huff about, from these comments at least. Wait till they unveil their plans before bitching about it.

 

[Roland Hood]

That's going to be a very integral part. I liken it to air conditioning in the car. It used to be nice to have in the '60s, at least when I was growing up, but now I don't think you'll find too many cars without air conditioning. It's a definite must-have.

I think community focus, centralized, to a certain extent, yes....It's a fine balancing act that you need to strike the right balance with centralized, and feeling like you're a part of the community without being forced into that.

Centralized AC?

 

[Joe]

i still think its a bad sign the psps uses the ps2 system of online play considering psp-ps3 connectivity seems to be a pretty big deal for sony and ps3.

i just dont see sony putting out something that is better than xbox live. if MS has one advantage its software (obviously).

 

[SolidSnakex]

That almost makes it seem like their online plans won't be available when the console launches. Which, if one is relying online to be fully integrated into the OS / Console functionality, that could be a problem.

I'm sure they have a ton of plans, and I just hope that they're playing coy and have something really incredible planned. But consider the PS2's issues online (too many publishers made waves, which makes me think Sony did something to tick them off), the fact that PSP is ~supposed to be big online, but we see very little evidence so far, and this interview.

What its come to is that they want to please 2 groups as Kaz has said over time. They want to be able to please that group that doesn't want to have to pay to play a game online even if its a specific fee at one time. But they also want to please that group that does want a better online area even if that means they have to pay for it. So they're basically stuck trying to figure out how they're going ot pull that off.

 

[midnightguy]

makes you GLAD that Xbox Live is around and Xbox 360 is coming, with many improvements and additions to Live

 

[Razoric]

i still think its a bad sign the psps uses the ps2 system of online play considering psp-ps3 connectivity seems to be a pretty big deal for sony and ps3.

I was thinking the same thing. The PSP uses the EXACT same online model PS2 uses. Doesn't bode too well for PS3 imo.

 

[mrklaw]

this is the reason i'm not too excited about PS3 right now. he says the ps2 has the biggest online userbase of any console, but what does that even mean in this regard? 90% of the games i have played online for ps2 have been dog shit. the only thing i really have enjoyed is madden.

doesn't mean anything though. Xbox online doesn't magically get good connections just because MS have a peer-peer matching service.

Most likely its good netcode (nicked from the motoGP guys maybe), which is freely given to other developers as good practice.

Something easily doable with PS2. Whether it *is* done or not is debatable, and could be a big + or- in the next gen wars

 

[kaching]

Just answer the question and be specific. If you're not ready to talk about it say. "We've got alot of plans, but nothing we can talk about now).

The interview is from almost a month ago, was already discussed and what the hell are you getting so antsy about? :lol I think he pretty much said what it was he was ready to talk about - they know its becoming increasingly important and they want to fall somewhere between a controlled community like XBL and a largely DIY community environment like they have now. Beyond that, he had nothing else to say and wasn't trying to tease you with more. Armchair analysis on your part is just looking for something to read into.

 

[Lionheart]

aint this funny...nintendo is fully online and sony isn't now :lol

?

Where is Nintendo fully online?

And unless I missed it, Nintendo hasn't given any specifics about their online network either (unified usernames, buddy system, etc.).

 

[DarienA]

I'm sure they have a ton of plans, and I just hope that they're playing coy and have something really incredible planned. But consider the PS2's issues online (too many publishers made waves, which makes me think Sony did something to tick them off), the fact that PSP is ~supposed to be big online, but we see very little evidence so far, and this interview.

All together, they make me slightly concerned that Sony somehow is having problems wrapping their heads around online.

Be concerned?

Bah, it'll either be there or it won't. Again... looking for XBL on the PS3 is setting yourself up for disappointment.

You've been warned...again.

 

[sonycowboy]

It's really not that difficult sonycowboy.

I'm not sure what you're getting in a huff about, from these comments at least. Wait till they unveil their plans before bitching about it.

I know exactly what he's getting at.

I also more than recognize that we're early on. I am just frustrated that they have yet to outline any sort of online vision to this point. Clearly, they missed the boat with the PS2, and I understand that. It was early days back then and it would have been hard to make the right decisions.

But they really, really should have been working on this for the past several years as, IMO, it's just as important as the hardware itself. And I bet they have been. But, from a PR perspective they just seem to be a little to cavalier about the whole thing.

I really, really would like a comprehensive, integrated, and strategic set of online initiatives for the PS3. Not just a single unified user experience ala Live 1.0

I understand your point, though.

 

[midnightguy]

I will give Kaz a +1 for this come-back, though

Q: I'd like to ask you the same about Microsoft. Speculate on what you think Microsoft's biggest advantage is heading into this next-generation battle.

A: That's a good question. At least they have a clean slate, I guess. They don't need to look after the people that have joined their family, if you will, as much as we do. We have, as I said, a very loyal customer following that we want to take along for the ride for the next 10 years and hopefully expand on that.

A case in point really is that to this day we're still in the PlayStation business. More important than that, PlayStation 3 will play your PlayStation games. It's not enough for us to go in there and say, "It's backwards compatible, sort of." That doesn't work for us. If you don't have a large installed base, you have the luxury of [he waves] doing this and starting fresh.

 

[Ruzbeh]

makes you GLAD that Xbox Live is around and Xbox 360 is coming, with many improvements and additions to Live

Uh-oh. The fanboys are jumping ship.

No, really, it's ok not to have an online plan now. The PS3 is gonna launch next year. You can't expect them to have things ready and everything already.

 

[kaching]

But they really, really should have been working on this for the past several years as, IMO, it's just as important as the hardware itself. And I bet they have been. But, from a PR perspective they just seem to be a little to cavalier about the whole thing.

I really, really would like a comprehensive, integrated, and strategic set of online initiatives for the PS3. Not just a single unified user experience ala Live 1.0

And so that's what it takes to not be "clueless about online"?

 

[gofreak]

I know exactly what he's getting at.

I also more than recognize that we're early on. I am just frustrated that they have yet to outline any sort of online vision to this point. Clearly, they missed the boat with the PS2, and I understand that. It was early days back then and it would have been hard to make the right decisions.

But they really, really should have been working on this for the past several years as, IMO, it's just as important as the hardware itself. And I bet they have been. But, from a PR perspective they just seem to be a little to cavalier about the whole thing.

I really, really would like a comprehensive, integrated, and strategic set of online initiatives for the PS3. Not just a single unified user experience ala Live 1.0

I understand your point, though.

All he said is that a) it's very important and it'll be an integral part of PS3, and b) they want to include all their systems in their online plan. I'm not sure how one could be so upset by such comments, and it's all the more annoying when it sparks the stupidity that is some of the followup comments in this thread. I'm not saying PS3's online service will be great or as good or better than XBL, I'm simply saying we know very little about it yet.

By the way, saying that they want PS2 to be part of that "world" may mean little more than continuing the availability of online play on PS2 beyond PS3's launch (in the same way you'll still be able to play Xbox online beyond X360's launch).

 

[sonycowboy]

And so that's what it takes to not be "clueless about online"?

Fine. Flog me, stone me, castigate me.

I recognize that this interview doesn't mean much. If you could read between the lines, it's a desperate cry to Sony to actually give us some insight into what ideas they have for online, because we have yet to see any semblance of a vision here. And, while I'm long on Sony faith, they haven't given me anything to hold onto at this point. And it's been years.

Then some crap like this interview comes up and just crystalizes it for me.

But, thank you, my brethren for beating the faith back into me.

 

[gofreak]

But, thank you, my brethren for beating the faith back into me.

I for one am not saying you should have faith Just that you should wait. You're drawing too much out of nothing right now.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

Fine. Flog me, stone me, castigate me.

I recognize that this interview doesn't mean much. If you could read between the lines, it's a desperate cry to Sony to actually give us some insight into what ideas they have for online, because we have yet to see any semblance of a vision here. And, while I'm long on Sony faith, they haven't given me anything to hold onto at this point. And it's been years.

Then some crap like this interview comes up and just crystalizes it for me.

But, thank you, my brethren for beating the faith back into me.

Seriously though, they're keeping their options open. If you want an XBL clone, it's probably not going to happen. But I see it being a lot better than PS2 online, how much better? I don't know. I just hope that it's free.

 

[GDGF]

And, while I'm long on Sony faith, they haven't given me anything to hold onto at this point. And it's been years.

Nintendocowboy.....RISE!!!

 

[kaching]

But, thank you, my brethren for beating the faith back into me.

I couldn't care less about your faith, its your lack of objectivity that concerns me.

 

[sonycowboy]

I couldn't care less about your faith, its your lack of objectivity that concerns me.

It's my objectivity that has me saying this. I'm not really trying to say Sony is doomed or stupid, or clueless (despite the thread title ), I'm just asking for something that shows me that they're taking online seriously. And I haven't seen it yet.

I'm not saying that they don't have something AWESOME hiding beyond the horizon, I'm just going off of how the situation is currently based on thier history and what they're saying today. Clearly many of you think I'm overreacting and that's cool.

 

[bill0527]

and all I'll ask from Microsoft is the ability to change your god damn user name to whatever the fuck you want... WHEN YOU WANT.

That's the stupidest fucking thing I've ever heard.

Keeping people on one username and not letting them change it whenever the wind changes direction is about the best means of social control you can get in an online game. And with a large number of people playing online being total fucktards... you need all the social control you can get.

 

[PhatSaqs]

It's my objectivity that has me saying this. I'm not really trying to say Sony is doomed or stupid, or clueless (despite the thread title ), I'm just asking for something that shows me that they're taking online seriously. And I haven't seen it yet.

I'm not saying that they don't have something AWESOME hiding beyond the horizon, I'm just going off of how the situation is currently based on thier history and what they're saying today. Clearly many of you think I'm overreacting and that's cool.

Your concerns are warranted granted that Sony has been flip-flopping and seemingly confused about which way to go with their online plans since announcing the PS2 adapter years ago. They'll surely reveal all later on tho.

 

[sonycowboy]

That's the stupidest fucking thing I've ever heard.

Keeping people on one username and not letting them change it whenever the wind changes direction is about the best means of social control you can get in an online game. And with a large number of people playing online being total fucktards... you need all the social control you can get.

This is easily accomplishable with just about every authentication system out there. If I put someone on ignore or ask for them to be banned, etc, the system could easily follow their ID to whatever thier current gamertag is. Basically, having a master account that isn't indexed by the gamertag, then having multiple gamertags available with only one (maybe more) being active. Every gamertag points to the master account and the infrastructure can handle whatever "social control" they see fit.

I agree that if you want to change your gamertag that it shouldn't be impossible.

 

[Razoric]

This is easily accomplishable with just about every authentication system out there. If I put someone on ignore or ask for them to be banned, etc, the system could easily follow their ID to whatever thier current gamertag is. Basically, having a master account that isn't indexed by the gamertag, then having multiple gamertags available with only one (maybe more) being active. Every gamertag points to the master account and the infrastructure can handle whatever "social control" they see fit.

I agree that if you want to change your gamertag that it shouldn't be impossible.

why cant people just pick a name and stick with it? of all the things to complain about with online gaming the ability (or inability) to change your name is below the bottom of the list. seems like nitpicking to me.

 

[Zaptruder]

How do you divide the online user base up into paying and none paying, without segmenting the userbase?

paying customers get premium services... maybe voice across Sony servers, demo/addon downloads, unique handle registration; no one else can use the handle, paying or not. Offer a couple of mini games for free and provide a discount on the others.

Simple, basic things, don't take out the utility of online play for people that don't need the premium service, but still provides players with enough incentives for the premium service.

 

[jimbo]

"and all I'll ask from Microsoft is the ability to change your god damn user name to whatever the fuck you want... WHEN YOU WANT. "

Yes but that will encourage annoying kids to be even MORE annoying and just change their user name to get away with it. "Oh it was my brother using my gamertag Mr. Microsoft under a different username. I wasn't the one causing all that trouble. Please don't ban me"