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Sony Talks PS3 E-Distribution Initiative 148

simoniker writes "Talking about its PlayStation 3 E-Distribution Initiative, the company's intended Xbox Live Arcade 'killer', SCEA's John Hight has laid down a challenge to Microsoft, commenting that: 'Some of our [digitally distributed first-party] games, by virtue of their design and hardware demands, simply couldn't work on Xbox 360.'" More from the article: "The PlayStation Beyond submission site has been online since GDC 2006, when Sony's Phil Harrison announced its presence, and explains further of the concept: 'The E-Distribution Initiative (EDI) will provide an alternative publishing opportunity for the direct download of games and other content to the user. The EDI will be managed by Sony Computer Entertainment's development and studio organizations in North America, Europe, Japan and Asia (collectively known as SCE Worldwide Studios).'"
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Sony Talks PS3 E-Distribution Initiative

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  • by wonkavader ( 605434 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @12:17PM (#15660631)
    We've had so many stories about the PS3, and I'm excited because of the Cell chips, but with all this chatter, HAS ANYONE SEEN A DEMO?

    Does the thing work, yet? Are there any games people have seen running? Are the graphics or the smarts or the complexity really beyond the 360? Is it all simulation for design, still, or is there a PS3 that basically works that people have seen, and is it stunning?
  • um... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by computertheque ( 823940 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @12:17PM (#15660634)
    "Some of our [digitally distributed first-party] games, by virtue of their design and hardware demands, simply couldn't work on Xbox 360" So he means they're developed without cross platform distribution in mind. Let's not be so harsh about it Phil, just be honest about it.
  • Well, duh. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Rob T Firefly ( 844560 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @12:20PM (#15660658) Homepage Journal
    'Some of our [digitally distributed first-party] games, by virtue of their design and hardware demands, simply couldn't work on Xbox 360.'"
    You could say the same of any Sony game that's written for the proprietary hardware. You can't "simply" run a Speak-and-Spell, Tiger handheld, NES cartridge, Betamax tape, or deck of pinochle cards on XBox 360 either.
  • Translation (Score:3, Insightful)

    by mtxf ( 948276 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @12:25PM (#15660688)
    "Some of our games, by virtue of their design and hardware demands, simply couldn't work on Xbox 360"

    Im pretty sure this is just refering to the motion sensing which sony built into the control in a late attempt to jump onto the ninetendo bandwagon. it doesnt say that the xbox is incapable of running the game due to lack of resources such as cpu, mem etc

    so sure, these games couldnt work on the xbox, but will xbox (& wii) owners really be missing much....? (especially when you look at price comparisons/value for money)
  • by CaymanIslandCarpedie ( 868408 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @12:28PM (#15660713) Journal
    And why are the hardware demands so high

    This is great marketing here! He doesn't say the 360 isn't powerful enough or anything like that just "by virtue of their design and hardware demands, simply couldn't work on Xbox 360.". So they've designed our games to run on cell processors.. the 360 doesn't have a cell processor... so it just won't work on a 360. And the way they say it makes one assume the 360 doesn't have the power the PS3 does even though he said no such thing.

    Here's my version ;-) The original Pong, by virtue of its design and hardware demands, simply couldn't work on a PS3.
  • by __aaclcg7560 ( 824291 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @12:31PM (#15660729)
    ... Xbox Live Arcade 'killer' ...

    Maybe they should worry about the price of their hardware killing the market before going on sale first?
  • Re:Wooo (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Morinaga ( 857587 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @12:55PM (#15660920)
    You do not need the paid gold account to download new content like Arcade games. Gold membership gets you in the door for on-line play with the games you have. Less than $5 per month is a small price to pay to be on Microsoft servers with players that are held responsible for their behavior be it cheating, abuse etc...

    Now from what I understand Sony will use basically the PC structure of on-line play via a ad-hoc type of network. This absolves Sony of significant infrastructure management but invites all kinds of problems in terms of quality control. Game developers are always touting about the fixed hardware set for consoles and how that helps them on maximizing performance and hitting deadlines because they can avoid the moving goal posts of PC gaming. I'm not sure how Sony will structure this network (no one does apparently) but you would think developers will be less than thrilled with implementing their own on-line connectivity solutions, ala Gamespy interfaces and the like.

    As to your side note, yes there are decent games on the 360. Oblivion is quite good. You have a very narrow definition of what you care for apparently. You don't like sports games, racing games nor "console speed FPSes"[sic]. I'm not quite sure what you mean by FPS in that statement but then again, I'm not sure what genre you do like. It would be easier if you stated what games you do like instead of those you don't and I'm sure you could receive some more meaningful feedback (if that's what you're interested in).

    I'm not sure what this fear is you describe with Microsoft killing innovation. Are you suggesting that Microsoft suppresses quality games by developers out of some desire to only release popular titles? If anything I think Microsoft has taken very large steps towards helping Indy developers and smaller publishers with their digital distribution over Xbox Live and their willingness to deliver bandwidth for free trial downloads of this content. Try a friend's 360 and test drive "Wik" from the Arcade. This is no main stream blockbuster title but it's innovative and fun. Big brother really isn't out to get you. Microsoft wants to make money and they do that by delivering products that the public wants to purchase. You want to blame them for delivering popular content, I applaud them. I also give them credit for establishing a medium and pricing venue that allows the smaller segment of the market to get a shot.

  • by Gadzinka ( 256729 ) <rrw@hell.pl> on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @01:02PM (#15660970) Journal
    ...execs boasting about superiority and features of non-existing products? "Our product will be 31% nicer and 73.6% more cool; it will be so cool, that software for our product couldn't even run on competition's product!"

    Geez... Like kids in kindergarten. Just release the frelling product and we'll see for ourselves.

    Robert
  • by (A)*(B)!0_- ( 888552 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @01:31PM (#15661123)
    Why is it that every comment you've posted with your account is a defense of Sony's practices? Frankly, at this point, it doesn't look like the PS3 will even compete in the marketplace. If that is the case, the games are going to be few and far between. The best that Sony and you can hope for is that the PS3 carves out a nice chunk of the market (nowhere near the dominance that was enjoyed with the PS2).

    Given that it's probably not going to be The Platform, I'd rather not support the company that was at the heart of the whole rootkit fiasco. Sony's treated their customers like criminals in the past. Those who go back for more, in my opinion, are encouraging that type of behavior.

    I'll be buying a Wii.

    And stating that you have "the means to afford it" just makes it look like you don't actually have the means to afford a PS3 (and will be having your parents buy it for you) and that you don't understand the value of money. I can afford a PS3. I can afford plenty of things. Just because you can afford it, doesn't mean you should buy it. Tampons are priced to move but I have no use for them just as I have no use for a PS3.

    And what do you mean by "I'm over Nintendo"?

  • by Icepole4 ( 978286 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @02:16PM (#15661479)
    My comments are in support of PS3 because I am level headed. Every company does the same stuff, Nintendo, Apple, MS, etc...they are no different. They all chase the almighty dollar is the same ways. It just so happens that Sony is the whipping boy of the moment. Everybody screams rootkit, proprietary hardware/software, etc... when it comes to Sony. They have all done the same (Windows, cartridges, the ipod itself) so what makes Sony so evil? For some insight read the reply on FCDD. Am I a Sony fan, yep. Fanboy, nope. I like all electronics, As I said I am a early adopter of all things digital, and to me the PS3 is very exciting. I am over Nintendo because I have owned every piece of hardware they have every produced, from the original NES to the Virutal Boy. I personally have no desire buy their products anymore I'm over it, but that is MY preference. What you choose to do with your money is your right. As far as the means to afford it comment, that was just to highlight the high cost of the system not my own personal wealth. I will refrain from stating that I can afford something from now on as not to offend those over 30 still living in their parents basements, playing MMOG's all day, posting on slashdot to make up for their lack of female interaction. If I have offended your people I apologize.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @02:50PM (#15661750)
    Quite frankly, you are obviously a shill. You're not a fanboy, and you may likely not even be a fan, you're just astroturfing for Sony, likely for money. There are Penny Arcade comics that would be relevant here, but at the moment I'm not going to bother looking through their archives to dig up one.

    Only a few people are angry at Sony due to the rootkit thing (which is really unlike anything that most other companies have done). Most are angry because Sony's ego has swelled beyond logic, the PS3 is hideously overpriced, and there are no compelling reasons to get one rather than an Xbox 360, a Wii, and a few games at the same time.

    Furthermore, you say you're "over" Nintendo -- whatever the hell that's supposed to mean -- and the only argument you have to back that up is.. you've bought all of their previous hardware? Your logic isn't even connecting. Are Sony's shills so hard-pressed for something bad to say about Nintendo that they'll say you don't need a Wii just because you've bought hardware from Nintendo in the past? Give me a break.
  • by ClamIAm ( 926466 ) on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @03:01PM (#15661869)
    Hey guys, the PS3 is expensive! OMG LOL! Let's keep repeating this forever and ever, even if it's in a discussion about something different and we can't tie it into a real argument.

    Seriously, we get it. Enough already.
  • by Gadzinka ( 256729 ) <rrw@hell.pl> on Wednesday July 05, 2006 @06:27PM (#15663432) Journal
    For some reason, you were affraid to post it with your real /. ID. Might it be because your are a hopeless Sony fanboy that will apologise for stupid mistakes of the company, no matter what?

    If you ask me, console vendors are all behaving like prescool kids, but the only people behaving less mature than them are vendor fanboys.

    Grow the fscking up. There's no value in consoles other than what you really can do with them. Really, there's no value in software other than what you can do with it. It doesn't matten if you talk about Windows Longhorn/Vista, PS3 or anything. There's only the product and it's competition.

    Robert
  • Re:Wooo (Score:2, Insightful)

    by ClamIAm ( 926466 ) on Thursday July 06, 2006 @01:22AM (#15665093)
    The parent claimed the money gets you "on Microsoft servers". I'm pretty sure they mean "Microsoft is hosting the game". For Halo 2, this isn't the case.

So you think that money is the root of all evil. Have you ever asked what is the root of money? -- Ayn Rand

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