SCEA boss talks web browsers and movie downloads for PS3

[TomO]

In an interview with US magazine EGM, Sony Computer Entertainment America boss, Kaz Hirai, has discussed possibilities (http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/nid/1033/) of Web browsing and movie downloads on the PlayStation 3 and didn't miss the chance to have a dig at Microsoft.

[Vandenh]

Web browsing and movie downloading on ... err... well... hmmmm... ah yes.. the OPTIONAL HD. Great!

[Deadend]

Who keeps letting the Sony execs talk?

All they do is slam MS and Xbox and talk about "oh, we could have done something cool, but we couldn't, but now... we may not anyways because were a bunch of scardy-cats who are now playing catch up to Microsoft."

Can they please say something good about themselves that is based on concrete information?

Whoopty-do you can use a USB keyboard with a PS3, you can also use one with a PS2 if the game supports it.

Whoopty-do, a web-browser for a console, Dreamcast had one of those, and it sucked, because it does not handle many things correctly or plug-ins. What happens with the PS3 browser? Will Sony make sure there is no way for someone to make a website that has code that locks up a PS3 or attempts to delete things, or install things?

It is also fucking hillarious to hear Sony slam a company for doing something propritary, such as Live. Come on, it's Sony! They used to make you use Atrac to listen to music on a portable music player, and their custom software sucks! Oh, and Betamax.

Yes, MS is not perfect, but... Sony should not be talking as they are worse.

[Roc Ingersol]

Oh good, I'll be able to surf the webtron while my DVDs age like fine wine.

[TrackZero]

Mmmm. Movie downloads. As if UMD wasn't bad enough, now you'll be able to pay close to full price to just download a movie that can only be watched on your PS3.

[jim_rock]

Mmmm. Movie downloads. As if UMD wasn't bad enough, now you'll be able to pay close to full price to just download a movie that can only be watched on your PS3.


PREACH!

Sony's movie crap (umd) costs more than DVDs and is less versatile?! What whiz thought this was the way to push propietary formats?

[Morratut]

I was going to say something but Deadend said it better than i could.:mad:

Sony is full of shit. Microsoft aren't saints but i trust them a lot more than Sony at the moment. :)

[VirgoBlu]

I thought this was gonna be for the PSP. Who cares if you can surf on the PS3? If you have broadband you have a computer that can do that. Come on! Lame.

[*Legion*]

I thought this was gonna be for the PSP. Who cares if you can surf on the PS3? If you have broadband you have a computer that can do that. Come on! Lame.

I like the ability to web browse on a console - not as an every-day feature, but as a feature to use in a pinch. I used the Dreamcast's web browsing a few times... once just to try it, and a couple other times when I was on vacation (and not exactly carrying my desktop system around) or when my PC went down and I needed to hit the web for some Linux documentation or something.

It's nice to have an emergency Web terminal in your console.

These execs are still full of shit, though.

[Mrbunchypants]

Sounds kinda stupid to me. No HD means i can't download extras from site. like new lvls or tracks. how am i going to watch a movie?

Wait don't tell me. i'm going to need the HD.

Go sony. :mad:

[netcraazzy]

This is more worthless information and mud slinging.

"there's really no reason why we or some other software publisher can't come out with a web browser."

Yeah and there's really no evidence that you will.

"You've got to have both sides of the equation."

How's this for an equation: Sony=Bullshit

[Dirty Harry]

Man all you guys are faggots, im going home....


The fact that you faggots are still bitching about no HD for sony obviously are out of the loop. While the hard drive is optional, it is not mandatory. Sony is going to market the harddrive as an optional device you can purchase, methinks they did this to cut down on production costs of the actual ps3 and aswell whats the point of using a hard drive to game save if its not very portable. Think of this.....

[Reanimated]

This is EXACTLY what they were saying when the PS2 launched.

I'll believe their bullshit when I fucking SEE it. Talk is cheap.

[Metal Jesus]

All the bitching about Microsoft makes me really think that they're worried about the XBOX 360.

If it wasn't a serious threat, they would just ignore it.

[Dirty Harry]

This is EXACTLY what they were saying when the PS2 launched.

I'll believe their bullshit when I fucking SEE it. Talk is cheap.
Shut your fat mouth chubbykins, wait and see, microsoft sure didnt deliver on what i wanted for a console but you dont see me shitting out of my ass like a school girl about it.

[Heretic Machine]

I can't wait to get my hands on the XBOX 360... It's a good thing it's coming out first, I wouldn't want to wait to enter the new generation, since I'm going to be skipping the PS3 for quite a while it seems.

This time I'm going to resist the urge to buy the new GTA right when it comes out, and instead wait for an XBOX 360 port (which I'm sure will happen). Might not have any reason to buy a PS3 at all really.

[TrackZero]

Man all you guys are faggots, im going home....


The fact that you faggots are still bitching about no HD for sony obviously are out of the loop. While the hard drive is optional, it is not mandatory. Sony is going to market the harddrive as an optional device you can purchase, methinks they did this to cut down on production costs of the actual ps3 and aswell whats the point of using a hard drive to game save if its not very portable. Think of this.....

While they should be trying to keep the Sony HDD discussion to the thread that's currently open for it, it is valid to point out that downloading movies as a selling point to the system is kind of silly when the HDD is optional. I mean, you're expected to pay for the console (which is most likely going to be the most costly of the three), then an additional harddrive and then to download movies which you can only watch on the PS3? Ouch, very ouch.

As for the Web Browser, I don't feel too much one way or the other. It's not really a selling point to me and I see big problems with it if they can't properly patch it for exploits (which I suppose can fit on a memory card, but again the HDD is an issue).

As to cutting costs, as has been discussed, a HDD is dirt-cheap these days (a 160GB drive costing the same as a 1 GB compact flash card) and adds little if any cost to the console. This is simply another case of Sony milking money out of the consumer, which I wouldn't care too much about, except it's changing the game development for the console, as having a HDD is no longer a standard.

As to a harddrive being portable or not, its just a red herring, it makes little difference in the grand scheme. Since it costs me nothing for it to be portable, great! In fact, it makes it easier to upgrade at a later time since the consumer doesn't need to tear into the machine itself. It doesn't mean memory cards won't still have a place. Again, this was all discussed in previous threads.

I think the "hate-on" you're seeing here is that every-single-fucking-day Sony keeps doing interviews where all they're doing is slamming Microsoft, yet Sony is still a long way off from showing off what their own console can do. EA readers are just getting sick of hearing it, and it's making Sony look bad. They'd be doing themselves a favour to shut the hell up in the interm and stop slagging the competition just for the sake of it.

[novicius]

Forget the Xbox 360, Sony's plan to make a more expensive PS2-esq console might be the one thing that will break their dominance in the console market.

*Insert tired joke regarding DirtyHarry and Ritalin here. :rolleyes:

[Dirty Harry]

Forget the Xbox 360, Sony's plan to make a more expensive PS2-esq console might be the one thing that will break their dominance in the console market.

*Insert tired joke regarding DirtyHarry and Ritalin here. :rolleyes:
Tired joke :*(, now everyone laughs behind my back, that is very sad for me. I laugh in your face, why not give me the same courtesy.


It's just amazing to see all these gamers act like they indeed know how to run a multi corperational business or even a smalll business. I doubt most of you even know how to run a small time convience store but that isnt my point. My point is this, all i read, see and hear from people is this continual bashing of the sony brand. Many people here act like they indeed are big shot business suits who know what sony should do next. Another thing i think people havent quite caught onto yet, this thing called a console, while baby its just a really stream lined game playing machine the same that a pc does (and better i may add). Another point i have to share is this, once Sony releases their next console and everyone notices that the grass is greener on the other side and that their precious xbox\mircosoft is not so precious anymore. Another thing i will add is this, the only reason everyone is just so damn jive about xbox is that it provided people the chance to do things that have never been done on the console market succesfully. Online play is a real big thing when it comes down to games now adays, not everyone has a friend who can play a game at 4 in the morning, so that is why online play is soo important. Hell, online play removes the bridge for other gamers who dont have access to another 3-7 people to play a sports game or a racing game for example. We all know sony enjoys money, they see money in this new fangled online gaming, just because they havent mentioned where their online game support was going, but i am 100 percent confident that their online plan will be better than their barebones attempt last generation. Another thing, the only real reason in my mind that this generation is occuring so quicky after the xbox and gamecube where released is that the ps2 is getting pretty old and games are being pretty limited as to what can been done on the xbox vs. the ps2 graphically and online wise. Anyways, i figure everyone should just shut their big fat yaps and patiently wait for the results to accumulate, instead of blindly flogging Sony because you expected more than you got.

[mister_slim]

I was under the impression that Socom II was pretty popular?

[Nameback]

I can't wait to get my hands on the XBOX 360... It's a good thing it's coming out first, I wouldn't want to wait to enter the new generation, since I'm going to be skipping the PS3 for quite a while it seems.

This time I'm going to resist the urge to buy the new GTA right when it comes out, and instead wait for an XBOX 360 port (which I'm sure will happen). Might not have any reason to buy a PS3 at all really.

If I remeber correctly I belive Rockstar's contract for exclusive GTA games expires with the PS2. Meaning they can release the game for any system they like, or become exclusive to another console *cough*Xbox360*cough*.

[TrackZero]

Tired joke :*(, now everyone laughs behind my back, that is very sad for me. I laugh in your face, why not give me the same courtesy.


It's just amazing to see all these gamers act like they indeed know how to run a multi corperational business or even a smalll business. I doubt most of you even know how to run a small time convience store but that isnt my point. My point is this, all i read, see and hear from people is this continual bashing of the sony brand. Many people here act like they indeed are big shot business suits who know what sony should do next. Another thing i think people havent quite caught onto yet, this thing called a console, while baby its just a really stream lined game playing machine the same that a pc does (and better i may add). Another point i have to share is this, once Sony releases their next console and everyone notices that the grass is greener on the other side and that their precious xbox\mircosoft is not so precious anymore. Another thing i will add is this, the only reason everyone is just so damn jive about xbox is that it provided people the chance to do things that have never been done on the console market succesfully. Online play is a real big thing when it comes down to games now adays, not everyone has a friend who can play a game at 4 in the morning, so that is why online play is soo important. Hell, online play removes the bridge for other gamers who dont have access to another 3-7 people to play a sports game or a racing game for example. We all know sony enjoys money, they see money in this new fangled online gaming, just because they havent mentioned where their online game support was going, but i am 100 percent confident that their online plan will be better than their barebones attempt last generation. Another thing, the only real reason in my mind that this generation is occuring so quicky after the xbox and gamecube where released is that the ps2 is getting pretty old and games are being pretty limited as to what can been done on the xbox vs. the ps2 graphically and online wise. Anyways, i figure everyone should just shut their big fat yaps and patiently wait for the results to accumulate, instead of blindly flogging Sony because you expected more than you got.


Like I said, it's hard to "shut our yaps" when every day Sony keeps posting shit-talk. I won't go into your opinions, because, they're yours, but needless to say I disagree with many of them. But you're right, wait and see is the proper thing to do (I recall saying the same thing about PSP versus the DS when they both launched, look how that's been turning out.....), however we can still post our thoughts on new announcements. I'm not ruling the PS3 out as a purchase, I'm very interested in it. However I am quite concerned that they're making mistakes already at this stage that will cause them to loose their market dominance. Though I'm certainly not making any snap judgements about my purchasing of Sony's console, I do like to post my opinions and see what others have to think.

BTW, I've worked at a lot of big tech companies in my time on the job market and I do spend more time than I should watching the marketplace and what works and doesn't. So I do feel qualified (as much as any paid anaylst) to comment on a companies PR and technical "moves". It doesn't mean I'm right, but I'm not about to step down at it just because you don't like what I have to say. If you don't like it, counter my points with logic instead of just telling us all to "shut up" because we're not qualified to even discuss such things.

[Hellstorm]

In the end, just remember this: Nintendo was right.

[Royal Fool]

Oh good, I'll be able to surf the webtron while my DVDs age like fine wine.

I laughed so hard at that, thanks for making my day. :)

[mister_slim]

In the end, just remember this: Nintendo was right.
Must have been an accident.

[Dirty Harry]

Okay, fine. If you dont agree with me that sony will lay a hella ass whooping, then well you're wrong.

[*Legion*]

All the bitching about Microsoft makes me really think that they're worried about the XBOX 360.

If it wasn't a serious threat, they would just ignore it.

What's funny is that the reverse isn't true - Microsoft is barely mentioning Sony. They did make a lone rebuff of Sony's claims about the PS3 being so "superior", and left it at that.

[netcraazzy]

In the end, just remember this: Nintendo was right.

About what?

[Achilles]

All the bitching about Microsoft makes me really think that they're worried about the XBOX 360. If it wasn't a serious threat, they would just ignore it.You’re right, they seem to be terrified by the amount of trash they’re talking. They also overloaded the PS3 with features in a way that smacks of desperation. Almost as if they think they can’t beat MS at gaming so now they want to make it a “Media Supercomputer” or some stupid thing. The console war is Sony’s to lose at this point, but they seem to be really giving it a shot. I just wonder if they’ll sue MS for being a monopoly if they manage to overtake Sony and gain the 80% market share that the PS2 and PS1 had.

[riposte101]

PS3 will barely edge out Microsoft this generation in sales. But the increased competition and the degeneration of Sony's other sectors allows Microsoft to crush them in the generation after this one (PS4/X720). Microsoft has said all along this is a 10-15 year plan. Every piece has fallen into place for them to win. Sony can't keep up when every thing they do loses them money and their two profitable markets dwindle on them (gaming & movies). If you haven't heard the movie industry has been shaky lately also.

[riposte101]

Hell every single PS3 they sell Microsoft will share in the profits because their video codec runs the blu-ray drive.

[Achilles]

Hell every single PS3 they sell Microsoft will share in the profits because their video codec runs the blu-ray drive.
I believe MS has to pay Sony to use the DVD codec as well, so I doubt that’s a big win for MS there. Despite all the trash that the Playstation group is talking MS and Sony are good business partners on many things. MS buys Sony TVs, monitors and other Sony products, and Sony computers ship with windows on them for example.

To get back on topic. Web browsers and movie downloads are a fine idea if they want to do them (the movies would have to be cheaper as others have mentioned, or some kind of direct TV). In the past they’ve said that they will make a web browser for the PS2 but it never happened.

[LilAbner]

This is EXACTLY what they were saying when the PS2 launched.

I'll believe their bullshit when I fucking SEE it. Talk is cheap.

Amen, Reanimated! Took the words straight outta mah mouth, brutha!

LOL @ Kaz Hirai. :D

[Hellstorm]

Must have been an accident.
So far that accident is killing the PSP. :p

[Hellstorm]

About what?
It's about the games and the way we interact with them. Anything else is unneeded bloat. Bloat, heh, something MS is pretty good at although Sony is catching up.