SCE interviews (Kutaragi, Kawanishi)

[one]

There are various interviews with SCE at E3, here's a brief summary of them.
"PS3 is a computer" (as a PC is an office computer), basically it's the message.

Ken Kutaragi interview @ ITmedia
http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/games/articles/0605/09/news046.html
(Most parts are at http://ps3.ign.com/articles/706/706133p1.html)

• The playable devkits at the E3 floor are all connected to the network and new builds of games are sent there day by day via FTP even during the E3
• The PS3 price may be too cheap, it's like no other. (See the IGN article)
• 2 million units at launch. (See the IGN article)

Ken Kutaragi interview @ Nikkei Tech-on
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/NEWS/20060510/116928/

• Contrary to the underestimation by people, there are over 10 playable titles at the show floor, unlike the days of PS1/2
• There's not necessarily a correlation between the higher software development cost and the higher hardware spec. The criticism that regards PS3 as a too fat, too powerful hardware sounds like the excuse by those who avoid the challenge to new technologies. Until E3 developers hadn't known what other developers had been doing, apparently there are those who are surprised to see the states of completion of PS3 games not only among users but also among developers. I expect it can remove the excuse.
• Many devkits are stacked in the data center at the E3 showfloor connected to the network. Developers can send data everyday via FTP like in arcard games development. Consumer games distribution will begin to focus on network more, for example using a BD as a key disc, game contents are updated via network, or you can carry over the data you played at an arcade to a PS3 at home. PS3 begins the evolution since the day one you purchased it along with the network, because there's no need to close it within a package. People will feel it in the very near future, sooner than March 2007.
• PS3 is a computer, just like a typical computer which downloads a program from CD-ROM to HDD then executes it from an HDD as a cache. If the HDD space is small for you, you can buy a bigger HDD. In the next year even a PS3 with 120GB HDD may be released. It's not another version of PS3, it's just another configuration. Because PS3 is a computer. We may be able to sell it in BTO (built-to-order) for each customer. With that assumption, the internal of PS3 is designed with modularity in mind unlike home appliances and game consoles. In the way of thinking with which a computer is designed, we adopted standard interfaces and selected various parts with extensibility in mind.
• Kutaragi feels potential in the "Eye of Judgement" game.
• We have as many Cell as we'd like to sell them, so no worry about the scarcity. We started the manufacturing of Cell in Summer 2005. The more Cell the more better since we want to put Cell servers across the network. What's really difficult to secure were general parts in good times, such as passive parts, memory, HDD, boards, plate, and all other parts for 1 million per month production.
• (Answering the question about what Sony President Chubachi is saying as "customer viewpoint" lately) I am hardly conscious of it, we've been always with the customer since we began PlayStation. PS is a part of daily life and SCE employees, families, and myself are all uses, in other words customers.

Izumi Kawanishi interview (SCEI corporate executive, software platform development division) @ ITmedia
http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/games/articles/0605/11/news058.html

• The base system of the 20GB PS3 and the 60GB PS3 is the same, it's like PC motherboards with different interfaces but different peripherals. It's not that there are 2 models of PS3, they are variations.
• It's natural that specs are different due to price ranges, just like hi-end and lo-end PC.
• The PS3 spec is the same worldwide, but there'll be more variations in future.
• The current PS3 can't output different pictures through HDMI and AV-multi. There may be a PS3 with 2 HDMIs in future
• Games can be saved in HDD. The difference in 20GB/60GB PS3 such as HDMI, WiFi, memory cards slot, and HDD won't matter in playing games. If you feel the HDD is small you can buy a bigger one.
• Though we wanted to add a motion sensor before we couldn't decide what kind of it should be built in and sensor devices were not good enough back then.
• The new PS logo button is used to raise the system menu, to turn on/off PS3, and to make the system recognise the controller. It's powered by a battery charged with a USB cable from PS3 to controller. The controller can't be used for PS2.
• PS3 has a standard web browser and a media player and XMB. It can play download contents and send data to PSP as a server. For the 20GB HDD PS3, PSP is connected via USB.
• In the PS1 emulation in PSP, PS1 game code is not at all modified. Some games can be run on a general emulator and others will be shipped with a special emulator. They are booted from MemStick Duo. If users want PSP may support MemStick boot of user application in future.
• The power supply unit of PS3 is internal. The quietness is equal to the PS2.

Izumi Kawanishi interview (SCEI corporate executive, software platform development division) @ PC Watch, by Zenji Nishikawa
(Some parts are the same as the interview above, such parts are omitted)
http://watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20060511/ps3.htm

• Though the PS3 hardware spec itself supports 2 screens output, the SKUs don't support it currently because its merit for users is unknown for now. HDMI x2 may be possible in future variations of PS3.
• We know 1080p is not an easy task but as you see GT:HD it's not impossible. Just like PS2 which was said to have too little VRAM in the early days we are not much concerned about it now.
• As for rendering resolution we recommend 1080p and 720p. Though we have no strict guidelines we recommend 1080p, anyway. But it depends on what resolution is prevalent for TV when a game launches.
• As for the developer comment that they prioritize info density per pixel to pointless HD, it's OK that a game has a different priority, though SD is nor preferable.
• As for the GbE port, the first PS3 configurations in 2006 have only one but in future configurations they can add more ports if they are needed.
• Unlike PS2 and other game consoles with OS and drivers on a game disc with the assumption that the hardware spec doesn't change, PS3 allows the change of the hardware spec with demands of the times. The OS and drivers are installed in PS3 and it absorbs hardware differences, which resembles the current form of PC.
• Since PS3 has Linux installed Linux programming is allowed. License fees are not required for individual developers. Licensed PS3 game developers can get SDK and technical support by SCE, on the other hand in the Linux world they don't have to pay license fee but the support is minimum. In Linux, Cell is under the hardware layer of the OS supervisor, but things inlcuding SPE are expected to be open to developers. But we don't intend to mix the PS3 as a game platform and the PS3 in the Linux world.
• PS3 is always "PlayStation". But in the category of computer entertainment, it's not necessarily a game that's provided for PS3. In that case, it may compete with PC including Windows PC.
• (Answering the question why there are no non-game apps in the E3 show floor) Well, it's because this is E3 (laugh)

EDIT: One more:

Izumi Kawanishi interview (SCEI corporate executive, software platform development division) @ AV Watch
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060511/rt003.htm

• DVD upconversion and progressive conversion will be implemented
• PS3 targets 4K x 2K video output too
• (Answering the question about Cell/RSX clockspeed that disappeared from the spec) We will announce the numbers later (But later Kawanishi referred to Cell as 3.2Ghz, so the interviewer speculates it's likely that the RSX spec has changed)

It has pics and movies of XMB in an actual PS3 unit which was shown behind the door.

 

[drpepper]

I like the idea that the HDD is replacable. What I really want though is to be able to open up the PS3 and put my OWN HDD. Time will tell but it seems like something they're pushing for. I can imagine the modularity would only go so far.

I'd also like to know more about their cooling scheme considering their power supply is internal. Cooling by convection?

I know the early iMacs used that and were very quiet, har to believe though that the PS3 would be quieter than a PS2.

 

[Npl]

I like the idea that the HDD is replacable. What I really want though is to be able to open up the PS3 and put my OWN HDD. Time will tell but it seems like something they're pushing for. I can imagine the modularity would only go so far.

Seems like you got what you asked for: http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=64667
I kinda hoped/expected the PS3 to sell WITHOUT HDD, but optional bundles with HDD.

Since PS3 has Linux installed Linux programming is allowed. License fees are not required for individual developers. Licensed PS3 game developers can get SDK and technical support by SCE, on the other hand in the Linux world they don't have to pay license fee but the support is minimum. In Linux, Cell is under the hardware layer of the OS supervisor, but things inlcuding SPE are expected to be open to developers. But we don't intend to mix the PS3 as a game platform and the PS3 in the Linux world.

Seems any PS3 will be having Linux installed from start (atleast based on how the translation is worded). I like that

Thanks one for translation.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Internal Power Supply, very nice. Thanks for the read one, very informative.

 

[dskneo]

internal power suply...... how about that... it puts the ps3 size in a whole new perspective

more space for my feet (i'm stepping cables and stuff right now lol)

 

[drpepper]

Seems like you got what you asked for: http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=64667
I kinda hoped/expected the PS3 to sell WITHOUT HDD, but optional bundles with HDD.

Yah, noticed that thread after I read this post. I got all giddy inside thinking of the possibility of upgrading to a 250 GB 10,000 RPM drive!

A PS3 w/o an HDD should have been offered but I guess Sony wanted to differentiate themselves with Microsoft.

This at least guarantess that everyone will have an HD and the average numb-nut won't have to go to a hardware store and install one himself.

I really like this prospect.

 

[Bad_Boy]

A PS3 w/o an HDD should have been offered but I guess Sony wanted to differentiate themselves with Microsoft.

I would have rather had every ps3 had no hdd, or every ps3 had a hdd. No in between. Like you said, this way it makes sure everyone has a hdd. And on the developer side, seems every game is going to be programmed with a hdd in mind. Win win.

Go hard, or go home.

 

[Sonic]

The PS3 having a hard drive is a turn on for me because it means one less accessorie I'd have ti buy to make it a complete system. Very good summaries of each interview..

 

[Titanio]

Thanks as always, one. Linux programming FTW

 

[drpepper]

With all this tal about a programmable PS3, what are the dangers of virus' or malicious code? I'm going to guess that the user space and OS space is protected and can only be accessed by the OS, where the programming playground is separate?

 

[slider]

Firstly, would there be any obvious technical problems with, say, taking an external HDD connected to your pc and attaching it to the PS3? Just as an example, if you had a lot of media on there that you'd like to move from the bedroom to your living room telly?

Built to order eh? I wonder if enough people really take off on the PC type utility side if you'll ever be able to get one with 2 Cells & lots more RAM? If you were doing video editing or something.

 

[expletive]

I thought the idea this generation was to 'grow the industry'.

 

[Deepak]

Thanks a lot, One! That was very informative.

Any info whether PS3 will support KB+M in games, atleast in FPSs.

 

[one]

Added AV Watch interview.

 

[drpepper]

spec change eh? Hopefully in an upward fashion.

 

[msia2k75]

spec change eh? Hopefully in an upward fashion.

It's about the RSX?

 

[drpepper]

It's about the RSX?

Yes (according to the news bit), but I would hazard a guess that it's a modiication that doesn't really change aything.

Seems like the PS3 is a moving target.

 

[msia2k75]

I feel a downgrade... :/

 

[NANOTEC]

It's rather interesting that throughout those interviews there isn't any mention of GFLOPS.

 

[drpepper]

It's rather interesting that throughout those interviews there isn't any mention of GFLOPS.

It's not as interesting as nuggets of info such as this:

PS3 is a computer, just like a typical computer which downloads a program from CD-ROM to HDD then executes it from an HDD as a cache. If the HDD space is small for you, you can buy a bigger HDD. In the next year even a PS3 with 120GB HDD may be released. It's not another version of PS3, it's just another configuration. Because PS3 is a computer. We may be able to sell it in BTO (built-to-order) for each customer. With that assumption, the internal of PS3 is designed with modularity in mind unlike home appliances and game consoles. In the way of thinking with which a computer is designed, we adopted standard interfaces and selected various parts with extensibility in mind.

Everyone knows the theoretical specs of the machine, it's time to move on to something more tangible.