Recap: Sony developer slams PS3, praises 360
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jan 11th 2006 at 8:30PM }
Back in November, a Sony developer named
Josh Robinson, who claims to have had hands on experience with one of five PlayStation 3 dev kits available in the
United States, wrote an op-ed on Downinfront.tv citing his disappointment in
the PS3 and his take on the 360. He lamented, "I started of VERY excited about
the PS3. I was very confident that it was going to just destroy the XBOX 360 just on the name SONY alone. The more time
that goes by the more I am becoming doubtful. Everything I’ve developed or seen developed has yet to be 'next
gen.'"The post has made its way around the net a bit since then and Joystiq picked up the story two days ago. In the last two days, the original post has been removed and the corresponding forum had been closed stating, "We removed the post for a reason. I can't go into it any more until I talk with the other members of DIF. When we clear things up, we'll post it again. =)"
After looking into it a bit more, the story appears authentic. Josh Robinson works for Sony, maintains a personal webpage here, and has a member page at Downinfront here. He also posted several responses to the Joystiq post, before the Joystiq trolls proved insurmountable. What does this mean?
Well, not much probably. Could one developer have had a bad experience with early PS3 dev kits? Sure. I personally don't expect the PS3's graphics to look any different than the 360's, but this might help temper some of the Sony hype a bit. The main point is that progress on the system is slow. Dev kits are finally getting out to developers in decent numbers, while Sony meanwhile ignored CES entirely, letting Microsoft walk away with the lion's share of press.
In the meantime, enjoy the op-ed, courtesy of Google's cache.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
A2 @ Jan 11th 2006 9:47PM
I read the article last year and thought it had a ring of truth about it. No doubt the PS3 is difficult to program, just as the PS2 was difficult to program. That it's using even more complicated technology that is unproven doesn't help. Just like the 360, most early developers will program only program for one processor until they can get the hang of the system. I wouldn't expect 'next gen' titles to appear until a year AFTER the system is introduced.
I also read how many final dev kits sony admited to distributed by January, but the number sounds awfully high (4000 wasn't it?) when you consider there number of publishers is WAY under 1000. That would have to mean there are those that have a TON of dev kits.
And it's been mentioned before, but the graphics between the PS3 and Xbox 360 will be similiar and I doubt most major third parties will take the time to taylor their titles between the systems. Always develop for the lowest common denominator...
The real difference should come down original first party titles, content, features offered, and pricing.
Irwin @ Jan 11th 2006 10:40PM
Wow thanks A2, coudlnt have put it better my self.
I wont have to post anything now :).
Timdog @ Jan 12th 2006 4:13AM
Sony will give up a share of the market. Xbox360 is going to be the more successful system. next up, 2010 console war xbox1080 vs Ps4. Who knows.
Jon @ Jan 12th 2006 3:24PM
Sony has really dug themselves into a corner. When everyone sees their first round of games will be a bunch of games already out for the 360 for over a year, their launch will be a huge disapointment. Especially if they don't release any online option that compete with Xbox Live.
Games I'm watching for this year:
Fight Night
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advance Warfighter
Splinter Cell
Top Spin 2
Gears of War
Frame City Killer
Ninety Nine Nights
Oblivion
Battlefield 2
enish @ Jan 12th 2006 6:41PM
Actually, I disagree that the first wave of real 360 games will come out next year.
Think about it like this:
#1) Most developers got their 360 kits in september, before that they had single core beta kits.
#2) Most game developers have close to zero clue how to design for the power of these next gen consoles yet (As you stated, they've only had the full three cores available for the last few months - hence the lack of optimization of launch titles).
#3) Most great games take 2-3 years in development (GTAs, RPGs, etc).
#4) The REAL 360 games, i.e. the one's designed with the full scope of the systems power in mind, are only going to start pre-development in a few more month.
Tack another 2-3 years from that already future dated start date and you have 2009 before the really kick ass titles appear.
Just my opinion.. hope I'm wrong. :)
Dwayne @ Jan 12th 2006 10:22PM
Xbox is obviously ahead of the game, but we will have to wait and see how this ends up. I hear alot of sony fanboy's who will not even play the 360 talking about how they are waiting for the PS3.
I don't understand why they have so much loyalty to sony. I am an xbox fanboy, I just thought the xbox was better, I owned a PS2 at the time.
I have switched consoles so many times, back and forth from Intellivision to Atari to nintendo to sega back to nintendo then back to sega then to playstation.
People that are so closed minded, really are missing out, I guess that's their problem.
Jon @ Jan 13th 2006 1:55AM
I hear ya...I would gladly shell out hundreds of dollars for the PS3 and even sell my 360 if:
a) Sony comes out with a better controller than the 360.One that is competent with 1st Person shooters and Racing games.
b) Sony has a competetive online gameplay option that best Xbox Live.
c) PS3 works as a Media Center connector (When Vista rolls out next year...I expect a huge amount of new PC's to indeed be Vista Media Center PC's, I know mine will be).
e)PS3 works with all digital cameras and MP3 players, like MS does.
f) Can play WMA's like my Yahoo Music subscription songs over the network like my 360 can. (360 is Plays For Sure compliant)
g) Comes out with a crap load more 1st Person Shooters that are worthwhile this time around.
h) Does not cost more that $400
i) the PS3 is made with better standards than usual Sony products (better than abysmal manufacturing)
j) Has an equivalent to Xbox Live Arcade and Xbox Live MarketPlace. I want to be able to purchase and download games, movie trailers, demos...etc.
Notice I don't say much about games, even though so far the 360 looks to have a much more impressive portfolio announced than PS3 so far...both systems will have lots of great games. This time around I'm looking for a system that takes me beyond gaming and gets my media in the living room on HDTV easily.
I guess I just want the PS3 to be just like the 360 and a tad better.
They have allot of work cut out for them. Xbox is literally years ahead in the online space...and any Sony fanboy that hasn't tried out Live, Arcade, and the Marketplace on the 360 ..better give it a try before waiting a year for a hype box and broken promises.
EdgeOne @ Jan 13th 2006 4:32PM
I think by the time Sony debuts the PS3, Xbox 360 will be hitting its stride and hardware differences under the hood will mean very little. As an original Xbox LIVE beta tester, the new LIVE for 360 is really showing promise as a main reason for going 360.
To be honest, I will most likely buy a PS3 as well. I did the brand loyalty thing with Sega / Nintendo, but now, if the games are good enough, the system they're on is secondary. Of course it helps that $500 bones several times a year is nothing to me.
So put down that controller, kids, and get yourself an edumacation so instead of talking about who is better, you can have them both!