Thank you JF_Aidan_Pryde san for translation.
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2005/0520/e303.htm
This article is Masayuki Chatani (SCEI CTO) Interview.
[Translation by web translator]
An E3 report of Masakazu Honda
A SCEI CTO Masayuki CHatani interview
Masayuki Chatani CTO
I hold it for from 17 to 20 on May (local time)
A meeting place: LA Center Studios
Playstation 3(PS3) that the finally detailed specifications and hardware appearance were announced. However, on hardware, both sides of software, some doubt is still left, too. I asked Masayuki Chatani of Sony computer entertainment (SCEI) chief technology officer (CTO) about a story about PS3.
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● Interface of luxurious PS3
About hardware, it is for Cell and GPU made by NVIDIA of a Shader 3.0+ generation, memory, it to have understood the deployment of a BD-ROM drive beforehand, but is the first time that detailed specifications of terminals were shown.
Above all, the point where there are two HDMI terminals is interesting. Two screens that is how to use with 3,840*1,080 pixels full HD was suggested by an announcement event, but cannot say to only HDMI that, still, 2 must be equipped with a transmitter, then never"almost free of charge".
■ I think that there is a strong reason in its own way to be equipped with two transmitters of HDMI, but a dual HDMI terminal will be assumed what kind of how to use.
[Chatani] The reason why two HDMI appears in is because it "wanted to do so" purely. Because I improved game characteristics, as an oblong dual display, an expansion screen of a game, I wanted to adopt the plural screens by all means. Nothing does not have to join by two high definition TV television and has only to connect a small assistant display.
■ May I think that HDMI has S/PDIF signal *6 think HDMI?
[Chatani] Because I am based on perfection, naturally the output of a sound is assigned to specifications of HDMI.
■ This is the story that affects an operating system part, will it be possible for such how to use that is incorporated communication function (for example, instant messaging) in firmware and can utilize an assistant screen even when to enjoy a game while contacting always a friend with the same tool, besides two screen correspondence software?
[Chatani] Yes. Of course a communication function is incorporated in firmware. I want to take communication while doing a game. It will get possible to take out a chat screen to an assistant screen that I can put popup in a main screen.
Functions of a basic system largely increase when I compare PSP with PS2. In the same way as it, a system of PS3 becomes the thing that expansion evolved a basic function. Naturally a communication function through Internet is included in that.
■ Judging from a message to want you to use PS3 for the deployment of a SD card as the center of the digital media, the meaning that there is is natural. However, I am supplied with the product which a badge of Sony stuck to. Will not it be for a past to have had it?
[Chatani] At first I assume the use with a digital camera as I understand it by being equipped with a Compact Flash slot other than a SD card slot. In addition, I begin a cellular phone, and a SD card is used with various devices. A user is all troubled with is not usable if I do not do media conversion, appearing besides memory stick. Of course I can want to put save data in all media.
■ Three kinds understand correspondence, but how to use to check out of the music that I use this SD slot and purchased in EMD to a SD card will it be possible for to treat a picture of a digital camera?
[Chatani] I consider it to depend rather than presence of a slot which DRM (digital copyright management) technology I use. For example, if a magic gate is required, I will become only memory stick from a difference of a function side. I put it besides such an aspect, and both memory stick and a SD card are equivalent.
■ There is remote control from an IP network to a control device in specifications list, but will this assume that I use it how?
[Chatani] How to use via IP is thought about, but it examines control of a game to handle PS3 with a wireless remote controller of an IP base.
■ There is it when I can play a video format of BD-ROM, but will this be implemented by Just after release?
[Chatani] Of course it is so. An application format of a video is not yet settled, but I almost harden, and it is room about decode of a HD picture. About an interactive element, I implement it by software on a rule.
■ A sound chip is not mentioned in block diagram of announced PS3.
[Chatani] It is not equipped with a sound chip this time. Because the reason is because it can generate Cell about a sound entirely. There was the scene where a leaf flies by a press event, but a leaf can run the cord that simulation does a sound to cut wind, and this makes sound source data and I break it, and 5.1 channels can be accompanied and finish it to stereophonic sound. Because there was considerable margin in handling of Cell ability and digested light if it was sound processing degree, DSP did not have to do the part which made a wave pattern for an exclusive chip.
■ A terminal of Gigabit Ethernet says "*1/ input output *2s" || is mentioned, but this will be any kind of meaning? It is equipped with a router function and will use it in WAN side and LAN side and the meaning that reached? Or do you do even any special connection when you connect PS3?
[Chatani] A router function does not last. The inside should be a switching hub purely, but myself want to answer in and an out meaning basically at other opportunities because I cannot understand it. I am possible not to mention connection between PS3. A place the release back connects a lot of PS3, and to make a super computer will come out. Sony picture entertainment seems to intend to use PS3 as a rendering farm of CG for movies.
■ AV intention is considerably strong and feels it even if I make it a design even if I make it terminals. I knock on a design of PS2 basically, and a part of a square box curls up to a stand, but there is the atmosphere that resembled B&O(Bang & Olufsen) of the time when then a toploading method was the mainstream in 横置. Would the consciousness that I called a kind of an AV product be strong?
[Chatani] I am conscious while a domestic display becomes high definition from now on that PS3 become standard of the HD times. Therefore I grew it to be able to play every format offered with 12cm disk.
■ It seems to be considerably severe for heat, but it will be it to how much a noise level when I think about power and housing size to show, the specifications which I called a storehouse in a power supply of Cell and GPU?
[Chatani] Because Shizu sound characteristics are very important parts, now a design team of hardware is trying it hard to make it as possible calmly. Naturally an effort for every power-saving with a tip level is packed with. Are you quieter than the first model of (PS2? I compare it for a の question by the) present and do not measure it, but want to be finally quiet.
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● There is Cell to express a view of the world to be near to the natural world
■ The demonstration of press conference suggested the possibility that physics simulation changed a game into. I think whether it is it to the game machine that PS3 is attractive even if there is the side making use of a characteristic of Cell in so that it is it on a key where it is possible in this part to.
[Chatani] Quality itself of rendering becomes very high in PS3 as well as the output with full HD resolution. However, when become a high picture of reality in high accuracy, the picture does not usually experience it || make an unnatural move, and feel very sick || it is it in an impression. For example, if ups and downs of skin do not change naturally when I change an expression by rendering of a face handed down to cutaneous sensation, I feel very sick.
This is an example, but I am in proportion to graphic quality improvement in every scene and must realize is natural, moving. Of high quality, then graphic rather tends to become the opposite effect for a game with AI and a level of simulation being low.
■ What kind of form does parallel computation by seven SPE contribute in in a physics simulation part?
[Chatani] The simulation cord which I used in a game handled the character who appeared as one rigid body till now. Is softer from now on ||, for example, can express a human being and the trees and plants, a fluid naturally. When I express one character, I divide it into plural part-time jobs to constitute the character and operate it and can start natural movement and expression.
In addition, even race games of a car can let you operate behavior every various parts separately. For example, I can demand it in right and left of a tire when the road surface situation is different because it operates behavior every part in parallel individually what kind of behavior a car shows.
■ If there is the title that simulation precision oneself leads to value of a game like GRAN TURISMO even if I say physics simulation, there will be a scene playing an active part in implication a bottom gives game quality, and to do as an unrewarded drudge. A developer will get possible to use physics simulation as "a tool" easily to where.
[Chatani] Naturally I tune up a simulation cord with oneself thoroughly, and there will be a vendor to implement. We are always surprised, but a developer of entertainment software has really high ability. No matter how, by the processing that I can consider to be difficult, I write a very high-speed cord. One offering a tuning tool to be able to make use of a skill of the them.
Because it is prepared how old middleware to do physics simulation is, I can implement one more comparatively easily by using them. It took time till middleware is digested at the time of PS2, but several companies already enter ハボック this time. For example, I generate the natural topography automatically, and cords demanding feel of a material of cloth or a result person of a wrinkle simulation cord of various types is prepared.
■ Will a place changing in comparison with time of PS2 have development environment of PS3?
[Chatani] I am not strange basically very much. Target hardware for development and normal development environment, a tool are prepared. A different thing is addition of a Cg compiler by having changed graphics to NVIDIA and a tool, a support of OpenGL ES conventionally.
■ Will even an aspect of performance tuning be the same approach?
[Chatani] Because there is a group of tools of performance analysis, I implement the cash use situation or the bus use rate that had game developers evaluate it till now in form to expand these more. I lay emphasis on a tool to draw ability of programmer oneself. In addition, a function to discharge the use situation of a processor as log enters in Cell. I can know the situation of each core of the Cell inside in detail by using this.
■ There can be a few points where development environment is still distributed to, and observation that it is difficult to draw a performance and two opinions that I try to really develop it, and a performance easily appears and was surprised at mingle about PS3. The real development spot will be any kind of situation.
[Chatani] To be frank, room of a performance can be very big and does not hear the impression that I am hard to make. Of course it is sure that you must change a way of thinking with programming of a single core, but a necessary man-hour does not stop in especially to complete a game. It is repeated, but ability of an entertainment programmer is really terrible.
For example, I show a demonstration to make rendering and did a picture of London city, but this processes writing and tex tea in Cell not what do rendering in GPU and begins to write it to a frame buffer. Even Cell can generate 3-D scenography high enough without using GPU.
■ How does the front use Cell for expansion of an entertainment element for several years? I felt that there was a hesitation, but did discover the answer?
[Chatani] It is physics operation, simulation, AI as having mentioned above. When a picture improves, unnaturalness is outstanding. I lack it to draw reality to balance with picture quality only by programing the movement that I already abstracted. There is Cell to express a view of the world to be nearer to the natural world. Expression in a game will evolve to a thing of a different level till now from now on.
[Text by Masakazu Honda]
