PlayStation suite

[patsu]

TGS: Sony To Debut Android-Based PlayStation Suite SDK In November
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/...idBased_PlayStation_Suite_SDK_In_November.php

Sony has announced via a Gamasutra-attended keynote at Tokyo Game Show that it will debut public SDKs for its Android-based PlayStation Suite starting in November, with PlayStation Suite-created games on devices including cellphone, tablets and PS Vita in Spring 2012.

Described as a solution "to deliver the world of PlayStation to Android based portable devices", through the PlayStation Suite SDK, developers can create content for PlayStation Certified (PS Certified) devices and hardware certified through the PS Suite license program, as well as for PlayStation Vita.

Supporting C# as the programming language, PS Suite SDK can run programs developed in C# on virtual machine equipped on both PS Certified devices and the upcoming PS Vita handheld.

Pretty cool ! But it's only one piece of the puzzle, small but significant piece. ;-)
Where is your PSSuite user experience ?

EDIT:
For that matter, what is the high level framework ? (Phyre-Engine included ?).

Does the framework include community elements such as traffic and marketing tools for developers ? LiveArea is only a technology and loyalty tool. It seems to be useful for existing customers only. It doesn't draw people who haven't bought into Playstation yet. e.g., Only people who bought a Gundam game can see the Gundam LiveArea. No one else know about it. Not even PS3 owners. That's not very exciting.

Near offers another dimension, but it's still too limited (only geolocation-based which is old news today. What about virtual groups like Google+ ? Most of my party and chatroom folks are in a different timezone, or faraway). Playstation Home fronted is too heavy weight although the backend has most of the right elements.

IMHO, the Vita UI and the Tablet UI look "random" (i.e., no overriding concept/soul) albeit functional. Need more work !

 

[patsu]

PS Suite segment in Shuhei's TGS keynote:

 

[tuna]

Is PS Suite based on Mono or do Sony have their on VM?

 

[patsu]

Did they say it's a VM tech ? Or is it just a language frontend for gcc ?

I collected the keynote videos but have no time to go through them yet. ^_^

 

[Arwin]

Is PS Suite based on Mono or do Sony have their on VM?

The text seems to suggest VM:

"PS Suite SDK can run programs developed in C# on virtual machine equipped on both PS Certified devices and the upcoming PS Vita handheld"

 

[patsu]

Hmm.... interesting ! The VM sounds like a virtual Playstation. ^_^

 

[patsu]

Looks like Xperia Play is getting an update to Android 2.3.4 today:
http://www.fonehome.co.uk/2011/09/2...video-video-chat-google-talk-auto-brightness/

HD video recording

...

Disable auto-brightness

...

Facebook inside Xperia 2.0

...

3D Sweep Panorama

...

USB connectivity

...

Screen capture

...

Google Talk video chat

...and 4.0 later:

All current-gen Sony Ericsson Xperia models will be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich:
http://www.phonearena.com/news/All-...ted-to-Android-4.0-Ice-Cream-Sandwich_id21947

The ICS update is expected to be a major overhaul of Android bringing a redesigned, holographic UI. Google has also confirmed that ICS will feature a “Virtual Camera Operator,” somewhat similar to Kinect in functionality as it will use face detection to figure out who is calling and adjust the video quality.

On a related note, Amazon will probably reveal its tablet effort soon:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/amazon-press-invite-teases-long-awaited-tablet/

an invite has gone out from the Bezos-backed company for an event on the 28th of this month at 10AM.

EDIT: Would be exciting if Vita can run or dual boot into Android 4.0 too !

 

[patsu]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/06/us-sony-ericsson-idUSTRE79553720111006

Sony Corp is nearing a deal to buy out Telefon AB LM Ericsson's stake in their 50:50 smartphone joint venture, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday citing people familiar with the matter.

...

 

[tuna]

Good move I would say, there is no point in Ericsson to own SE anymore, especially since the spun of their mobile phone platforms group.

 

[Bigduo209]

Is it possible with the PSSuite or PSV dev-kits to reverse engineer/develop from the PSV to PS3?

I've been seeing all this discussion on how it can done for PSV to Android (or vice versa), but not with the PS3 unless I'm mistaken.

 

[patsu]

Probably depends on what PSSuite is. If it's high level like a C# based PhyreEngine or Sony's HTML app framework, then it can probably run on both Vita and PS3. If it's low level and optimized for Vita and other portable devices, then it may require extra work/software layer to run efficiently on PS3.

Aside from tech challenges, there is also business considerations.

Sony is supposed to talk more about PSSuite in November. We will know more soon enough.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Is it possible with the PSSuite or PSV dev-kits to reverse engineer/develop from the PSV to PS3?

I've been seeing all this discussion on how it can done for PSV to Android (or vice versa), but not with the PS3 unless I'm mistaken.

It just needs an appropriate software layer to run on PS3, same as Flash. We don't know if Sony are making one though, but it'd be in their interests to add the existing 50 million PS3 games with a history of downloading more pricey games to the Android and Vita userbase. It'd also encourage Android owning PS3 owners to spend on PS titles they can play on PS3 as well, rather than only on their tablet.

 

[patsu]

One of the reasons I'm not so sure (at the moment) is because Sony only mentioned that PSSuite will run on portable devices. They have not officially committed to PS3 PSSuite.

 

[patsu]

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/playstation-suite-sdk-will-be-released-in-limited-beta-in-nove/

During a panel at GDC Online today, SCE's Shigeru Sugimoto clarified the timing of that release.

In November, the SDK will be released as a limited beta, or a "tech preview," including the Android version and a PC-based "simulator" allowing those without Android phones (that last group includes everyone) to develop for Suite.

Vita development will be added later, when Sony expands into an "open beta." Later, in addition to Sony Ericsson Android devices and PS Vita systems, the Suite will support PS3. "We are targeting devices from other manufacturers as well," Sugimoto said, referring to other Android phones.

If you'd like to download the SDK, you can sign up here to find out when it'll be available. You will need a PSN ID to access it.

 

[patsu]

Google TV 2.0 Could Make its Debut on November 8 at Streaming Media West (EVENTS)
http://www.androidguys.com/2011/10/13/google-tv-20-debut-november-8-streaming-media-west-events/

Donagh O’Malley, Global Head of Content for Google TV, recently spoke at an industry event where he said we were but three-to-four weeks away from the Honeycomb update. It just so happens that Mr. O’Malley will be speaking on November 8th in an hour-long session called Google TV Demo: The New World of Smart TVs. Toss in the fact that Google recently gave developers the final add-on SDK needed for Google TV and we're pretty convinced that this is going to happen.

...

 

[patsu]

PS Store Now Available on Sony Corp “Sony Tablet S”
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011...vailable-on-sony-corporation’s-sony-tablet-s/

The official PlayStation Store for PlayStation Certified devices launches today in nine countries, including the US and Canada. It is available immediately on Sony Corporation’s “Sony Tablet S.” At launch, 10 PSone games will be available on the PlayStation Store for $5.99 each.

A great line-up of PSone classics and favorites will be available on the PS Store for PlayStation Certified devices at launch, including the following titles available for the Sony Tablet S:

Cool Boarders
Destruction Derby
Hot Shots Golf 2
Jet Moto
Jet Moto 2
Jumping Flash!
MediEvil
Motor Toon Grand Prix
Rally Cross
Wild Arms

 

[patsu]

Kaz Hirai: Sony is 'in discussions with non-Sony companies' over PlayStation Suite
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/kaz-hirai-sony-is-in-discussions-with-non-sony-companies-over/

Wondering whether Sony's PlayStation Suite will ever really leave its nest? While the SDK won't be out until next month, SCE Chairman Kaz Hirai just told us here at AsiaD that this Android-friendly framework's still open to all other manufacturers, and he emphasized that it "isn't an ecosystem where we want to keep everything within the Sony family"

...

Kaz also confirmed that Sony's currently "in discussions with non-Sony companies to bring them onboard," but as to when this will come to fruition, the company will make those announcements "when it's time to go public with it,"

 

[patsu]

It's confirmed.

Sony to acquire Ericsson’s share of Sony Ericsson:
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201110/11-140E/11-140E.pdf

• Sony Ericsson to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony and integrated in to
Sony’s broad platform of network-connected consumer electronics products
• The transaction also provides Sony with a broad IP cross-licensing ag reement
and ownership of five essential patent families
• Ericsson to receive EUR 1.05 billion cash payment
• Sony and Ericsson to create wireless connectivity initiative to drive connectivity
across multiple platforms

...

EDIT: Android 4.0 has a new design language...
http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/26/ice-cream-sandwich-design/

Sony-Ericsson announced earlier that all Xperia will be upgraded to Android 4.0 OS later.

 

[boommoob1]

Kaz Hirai: Sony is 'in discussions with non-Sony companies' over PlayStation Suite
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/kaz-hirai-sony-is-in-discussions-with-non-sony-companies-over/

Why would Sony allow it on non Sony products?. If it's not a differentiator what's the point?. It's profits will at best be marginal for Sony as a whole. Stringer, Hirai continue there nonsense while Rome burns. Utterly unsuited to be leading a tech company.

 

[Arwin]

Why would Sony allow it on non Sony products?. If it's not a differentiator what's the point?. It's profits will at best be marginal for Sony as a whole. Stringer, Hirai continue there nonsense while Rome burns. Utterly unsuited to be leading a tech company.

Couldn't disagree more. If Playstation Suite becomes the de-facto platform for games on Android, then Android benefits from having a great games platform, and Playstation Vita will be a best of both worlds for games, with both having access to all the good independent stuff when it is still relevant and having the top of the line or more specialist titles. Otherwise, iOS will keep having this corner of the market pretty much to itself.

I would go so far as to say that if Sony doesn't manage to get Playstation Suite onto other platforms, it'll likely become a failure. If anything, this move is a sign that Sony is starting to understand the different role the company has, starting with understanding the important inter-play of software vs hardware.