Sony's Gamers' Day 2006 (PS3 launch details etc.)

[Titanio]

Here's something more than might have been briefly mentioned but wasn't totally clear to me yesterday - games can permanently install data to the hard disk to speed load times and data access subsequently. For example, Genji has an option to install 4GB of data to the HDD with a one-time procedure that takes three minutes. This cuts load times subsequently from 15 seconds to 4 seconds. RR7 also features this, apparently.

http://www.mtv.com/news/?source=TLD...543621/20061020/ludacris.jhtml?headlines=true

That's a pretty cool option.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Here's something more than might have been briefly mentioned but wasn't totally clear to me yesterday - games can permanently install data to the hard disk to speed load times and data access subsequently. For example, Genji has an option to install 4GB of data to the HDD with a one-time procedure that takes three minutes. This cuts load times subsequently from 15 seconds to 4 seconds. RR7 also features this, apparently.

http://www.mtv.com/news/?source=TLD...543621/20061020/ludacris.jhtml?headlines=true

That's a pretty cool option.

That is pretty cool, Is this a game specific option or can it work with any game? Either way, I do like.

 

[Arwin]

edit - and if like me you were very confused about some aspects of the friends lists and game integration etc. this interview might be quite helpful:

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200610/N06.1020.0101.55287.htm

Very good interview indeed, and the linked interview with Phil Harrison clears up some more issues too. A *lot* of info to digest these last two days!

 

[Titanio]

That is pretty cool, Is this a game specific option or can it work with any game? Either way, I do like.

Game specific. RR7 offers it, Full Auto also (apparently). Different games have different install sizes.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Game specific. RR7 offers it, Full Auto also (apparently). Different games have different install sizes.

Sounds good, I assume the installed space automatically deletes when you try to install another game to have more space available (instead of split into a portion of a specific amount of space)?

 

[Titanio]

Sounds good, I assume the installed space automatically deletes when you try to install another game to have more space available (instead of split into a portion of a specific amount of space)?

I assume it'll be the user's discretion how much space they wanna use up with installs.

 

[Bad_Boy]

I assume it'll be the user's discretion how much space they wanna use up with installs.

Yeah I could see that. Like you could actually have all 20GB or 60GB of space on your ps3 available for anything you want to put on it (or however much is left over after formatting & installed OS's), and if you run out of space the ps3 would tell you not enough room to install, just so you have the choice of more space available to you.

Not sure that made sense, its kinda hard to put it in words....I guess the best way I could put it would be to describe it like installing a PC game, as theres no set amount of space available for JUST installing a pc game.

 

[quest55720]

Here's something more than might have been briefly mentioned but wasn't totally clear to me yesterday - games can permanently install data to the hard disk to speed load times and data access subsequently. For example, Genji has an option to install 4GB of data to the HDD with a one-time procedure that takes three minutes. This cuts load times subsequently from 15 seconds to 4 seconds. RR7 also features this, apparently.

http://www.mtv.com/news/?source=TLD...543621/20061020/ludacris.jhtml?headlines=true

That's a pretty cool option.

That is a great idea IMO to be honest I hope MS steals it. It would give users more control/options and that is never a bad thing.

 

[Inane_Dork]

Sony must be really secure to allow Linux on the system and have developers permanently store data on the hard drive. To me, anyway, that raises a red flag quite high.

Is anyone else finding it funny that Sony is making console gaming more like PC gaming? The industry worried that MS would do that for years, and now it's Sony making the sweeping changes.

 

[Diamond.G]

Sony must be really secure to allow Linux on the system and have developers permanently store data on the hard drive. To me, anyway, that raises a red flag quite high.

Is anyone else finding it funny that Sony is making console gaming more like PC gaming? The industry worried that MS would do that for years, and now it's Sony making the sweeping changes.

No one ever answered my question about cross compatibility between Linux data and XMB data. I would assume that if they are allowing data (save games, etc) to be stored on the drive it would have to be in a section of the hard drive that the linux side shouldn't be able to see. Other wise it seems like they are opening themselves up to hacks and the like (of the game save type mind you).

 

[Carl B]

Sony must be really secure to allow Linux on the system and have developers permanently store data on the hard drive. To me, anyway, that raises a red flag quite high.

Is anyone else finding it funny that Sony is making console gaming more like PC gaming? The industry worried that MS would do that for years, and now it's Sony making the sweeping changes.

Well, they're not making console gaming more like the PC... just the console itself.

Which is honestly something we knew was on teh table for them since pre-PS2.

@Diamond: No one answered because no one knows for sure yet.

 

[Titanio]

Is anyone else finding it funny that Sony is making console gaming more like PC gaming? The industry worried that MS would do that for years, and now it's Sony making the sweeping changes.

I think the industry was worried about bad characteristics transferring..the big one I remember at the time when it was being mooted that MS would move into the industry was perpetual patching replacing proper pre-release testing etc. If good things make the hop, then great.

 

[one]

Is anyone else finding it funny that Sony is making console gaming more like PC gaming? The industry worried that MS would do that for years

Really? What's that concern exactly? Like short-term hardware upgrade?

 

[Hardknock]

now that's an option I can stand behind.

great use of the HDD. I wonder why MS didn't think of something like this? they'll probably copy it regardless though.

 

[quest55720]

Really? What's that concern exactly? Like short-term hardware upgrade?

The fear has been since the xbox shipped with a harddrive is patches to get games to work right. I have mixed feelings about the issue. While it is good that a developer can patch a game after finding some hard to replicate bug or wide spread issue. It also can lead to many games release before they are fully ready and tested.

I don't think being able to install a game on the harddrive is a concern at all it is an option. Now if it was manditory and games used up 4 gigs and install I would not like that at all.

 

[Tap In]

now that's an option I can stand behind.

great use of the HDD. I wonder why MS didn't think of something like this? they'll probably copy it regardless though.

not an option but don't most (360) games do this anyway with the caching system (last 3 games played are saved on it)?

Oblivion dev at NeoGaf described it pretty well a couple weeks ago suggesting that 4 Gig of data was set on the HDD and reduced load times dramatically from the Core system without HDD caching.

 

[wco81]

No one ever answered my question about cross compatibility between Linux data and XMB data. I would assume that if they are allowing data (save games, etc) to be stored on the drive it would have to be in a section of the hard drive that the linux side shouldn't be able to see. Other wise it seems like they are opening themselves up to hacks and the like (of the game save type mind you).

That's a key question. I was hoping that the XMB browser would let you download game save files directly from sites like gamefaqs.com or any other web site. But it appears the browser doesn't let you download anything.

That might be why you have to buy the PS2 Memory Card adaptor to get PS2 saves into the HDD rather than upload those to an online storage site and then download them to the PS3 HDD.

OK Linux might enable a lot of these things but it would be lame if you have to install gigs of an OS just to get this simple capability. Of course, you can do more with Linux but a lot of people are interested mostly in replicating MaxDrive or Action Replay functionality without buying such peripherals.

They say they give you web access but you're getting access to a locked gate. You can see through the gates but you can't get out or bring certain things back in.

 

[Diamond.G]

That's a key question. I was hoping that the XMB browser would let you download game save files directly from sites like gamefaqs.com or any other web site. But it appears the browser doesn't let you download anything.

That might be why you have to buy the PS2 Memory Card adaptor to get PS2 saves into the HDD rather than upload those to an online storage site and then download them to the PS3 HDD.

OK Linux might enable a lot of these things but it would be lame if you have to install gigs of an OS just to get this simple capability. Of course, you can do more with Linux but a lot of people are interested mostly in replicating MaxDrive or Action Replay functionality without buying such peripherals.

They say they give you web access but you're getting access to a locked gate. You can see through the gates but you can't get out or bring certain things back in.

Shoot, my wife barely even understands how to do some things in windows, I would hate to have to explain Linux to her. All I wanna do is transfer my TV shows and my anime that I download to the PS3 for easier viewing (won't need my PC on as nearly as much). Also is Sony going to allow Xvid/Divx content to be played with out conversion through the XMB (I imagine no one has an answer to that question)?

 

[Rockster]

In-game soundtracks on PS3 are of the application domain here anyway. If you want music to be available to that, download it to your PS3 (via your in-browser interface to your PC).

So I have to make my PC a webserver now too? I don't need or want the overhead and potential vulnerabilities. Not to mention, the point was that our/my music library was too large and cumbersome to even put on the PS3, let alone manage it there. Why am I waiting for software to be developed for YDL when I have more space, and better tools on my PC already.

Both Sony and MS are adopting their own agendas here. MS sees PCs at the centre, with 360 artificially limited to being a simple media renderer tied to the PC. Sony sees PS3 at the centre, which IMO is a much more powerful and flattering position for the machine. It can be a server or a media renderer (with specific support for Sony's own product in the OS i.e. PSP, the same way MS specifically supports its own product), but also, in contrast, it has the openess to allow for the user to extend that functionality beyond what Sony might 'officially' provide for (be it through the XMB web access, or if you want, via PS3/Linux as a home for your media with much more power and flexibility).

I agree there is the potential for great community driven software. XBMC is a fantastic application. The problem is that they happen in the periphery, outside of the core gaming elements. I currently enjoy the seamless intergation of music, voice, messaging, etc. across all console functions. The PS3 doesn't offer that and as has been mentioned more akin to XBox 1 Live. A big step back for the small step forward. IMO of course.

 

[Inane_Dork]

Well, they're not making console gaming more like the PC... just the console itself.

Eh, sorry, but that's just not true. Console gaming has not heretofore included copying gigabytes of data to HDD in a lengthy process. Too, the "dreaded" keyboard and mouse seems to be a friend of the family on the PS3 whereas MS still hates it (never understood why).

I think the industry was worried about bad characteristics transferring..

No, really? And here I was thinking they were worried about the good qualities of PC gaming transferring over. Gosh, what a dunce I am.

Besides, I don't see how sitting around waiting while a game installs is a good characteristic. It's not entirely bad, though, as it's optional. If they wanted to make it truly positive, they would allow developers to demand-load the stuff to HDD install of install it in a pre-pass.

This stands in diametric opposition of MS heavily promoting "tray and play" Vista gaming. I mean, MS is trying to move PC gaming away from what Sony just moved it to. Isn't that funny to anyone?

Really? What's that concern exactly? Like short-term hardware upgrade?

Patching hell, variable hardware configurations, incompatibilities with older titles, etc. Anything that might taint "pure" console gaming, I suppose. None of them did I care about, but then again, I'm a PC gamer and that stuff doesn't scare me.