Q&A: IBM's Kahle Talks Cell

[Arwin]

Not completely inspiring interview with Kahle on Cell at gamasutra:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15981

[Carl B]

Gamasutra is so committed to not asking Kahle any questions of worth, that I'm considering kicking the article to gaming.

[Arwin]

I know. I even doubted if I should post the link at all ... oh well.

[David_South#1]

Don't blame gamasutra too much. Their interviews definitely tend to be short. But a few good questions were asked.

Kahle himself didn't say anything new or informative.
And to be honest that is what we should expect.

It's kind of like with Ken Kutaragi. These guys knew what they needed to know, when they did their jobs, and kept climbing until the reached the mast head on the ship. At which point they become /managers/ not "Engineers". Great for their business understanding of events and decisions. Not so hot when it comes to technical fuss. They ride above deck. If you want to know how to operate the ship you need to interview the mechanics and learn the quirks from the maintenance staff.

The title of architect means, large view. They draw a big structure with engineering they haven't thought out. They know what the space needs to do and anticipate movement between the spaces. But don't imagine the details of the design. The people that run the plumbing, do the electrical work, and make it stand up when it leaves paper rely on someone else. An army of unnamed engineers and drafters the fill out the details of how it might best work.

The good news is that IBM continues to develop for STI Cell. So programming should improve. The Newest Cell SDK #3 should be the charm to get all of us underway. After all it still seems to take every big company, at least three tries to get it right. (By us, I mean someone else; Dammit Jim! I'm a caw-pen-ta', not an engineer.)

Thank everyone for the time they put into understanding and utilizing this architecture. As a gamer it is greatly appreciated that things like the PS2 were figured out and made to work better than anyone had at first thought was possible.

Here is some motivation for ya'll.
http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn12826-simplest-universal-computer-wins-student-25000.html
Time, patience, and faith in yourself.

BTW, don't forget 2D games are still really fun.
(I've imagined quite a few using diorama landscapes and camera positional changes.)

Oh, And one more thing, watch "Ping Pong Matrix",
{{"The physical limits CAN BE OVERCOME by the imagination."}}

Best of luck to all of you.

Neil_In_Florida

[Carl B]

Neil were you high when you wrote the above? ;)

I don't think you're understanding the source of me or Arwin's frustration with these questions. You say that a few good questions were asked; I'd ask you, which ones? There's not anything in there that we haven't already known for years. Gamasutra should have asked some questions about what Cell would enable PS3 to do (if they had to keep PS3-focused), rather than trying to poke and prod for faults.

[kimg]

Even i, a person without technical education, found the interview not interesting. Yes, its hard to program multicore, yes, the interview speak only of stuff in public knowledge 5 years ago, in some cases. nothing in present, and dont touch future.

[David_South#1]

Hey, Carl B

No, I was just up way, way, too late. 4:31 AM too late!
(Delirious without coffee juice, even changed my signature!?)

You are right about what sort of questions they should have asked.
It is agreed, the questions have been asked numerous times before.
For as long as I can recall (2002) Gamasutra have asked fairly limites interviews and articles.
Why do you suppose that is?

Still the last two questions do seem fair, because they can at least act as barometers.
1. What is the state of your response to programming criticism?
i.e. do you have any good news or positive ideas to spin this with us?
2. How involved are you in software development?
i.e are you driving development or shelving it as someone else's burden?

Yes, the Questions's have been drilled into the ground.
But do you ever stop asking what time is it and where are you going?
That's how I see it.

Neil_In_Florida

BTW, if ya'll don't mind,
(good intentions not withstanding)
I'd like to move (and edit) the game suggestions.
That or request the post be submitted to Webster as definition of rant. Whichever is preferred. :-D

[Carl B]

Hey David, no problem. :)

I would just suggest creating a thread in the appropriate forum copy/pasting your game ideas if you want to discuss them further, or if you want them formally moved, I can do that for you; feel free to PM me.