Ben-DutkaWe like PlayStation Home boss Jack Buser. He's crazy enthusiastic and passionate and he always speaks his mind.
And when asked by VentureBeat how he reacted to the other E3 press conferences, especially in regards to the digital space (where Home obviously operates), Buser replied as follows:
"I think we’ve had a fantastic E3. I’ve watched all of our competitors very closely. And I think we did a very good job of drawing a solid line in the sand here at E3, and standing up with our back straight as PlayStation and saying, 'We’re for gamers.' We are for the gamer first and foremost. Everything we do at PlayStation, we ask ourselves first, 'What’s right for the gamer?' The reaction to the press conference has been just amazingly positive. While some of our competitors, seemingly, are losing the plot, forgetting what built this industry. It was the gamer. And our press conference really drove that home."
Buser cited the incredible first-party projects like The Last Of Us and Beyond: Two Souls , saying they're the "best games I've ever seen" and reminding us that they're exclusive to the PS3. Basically, it's all about pushing the envelope and giving gamers new experiences; Buser believes only Sony is really doing both these days.
"It’s not yet another rehash of the same old thing; these are truly innovative, genre-breaking experiences that can only be found on PlayStation. So whether it be from PlayStation Plus, or titles like The Last of Us and Beyond, God of War Ascension, our partnership with Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed…. Everything we’re doing is for the gamer first and foremost, and I think that…I was proud to be a PlayStation employee at this E3."
I'd sort of have to agree with that. Throughout it all, from the start of the PlayStation brand, I've always felt that Sony definitely existed to please the true hardcore gamer. Just my take. Well, mine and Jack's.
I really like Jack. He seems like a nice guy, his E3 presence is a welcome change from the typical used car salesman approach the other companies tend to make.
Every time I talk to him, I'm struck by one thing-
It seems like I'm talking to either an old friend or just some cheerful dude who loves his job and can't wait to tell you all about it.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 6/8/2012 1:23:18 PM
But will Home exist next generation?
xDD Nice.
If it makes money it will exist. HOME can be very lucrative. Sony just needs to find a way to make more visible and compelling. I jump in sometimes. People do actually buy stuff on there. Its like a 3D Facebook of Google+.
It should World! Not only does it represent the world according to Sony, but it is a lock-in of sorts once you start to kit your character and side kick out.
I jump in every so often and have bought a few virtual items. I guess because I have a virtual living space, character etc, I would want the world and my character to live on; therefore, inevitably I will have to purchase a PS4 to allow that virtual existence to continue.
Apple use iTunes and iPhone as a lock-in to the rest of their ecosystem. How many people have bought Macbooks on the strength of their experience using an iPhone for example.
In my case I purchased an Asus Transformer Prime quad core tablet. Beautiful machine to use and and look at; it is because of this experience that I am purchasing an Asus laptop with the same finish for example…
I am not one sided in my tech; I have a diversified portfolio and I go with the best I can find for a reasonable price. I am upgrading my Sony Experia phone to the new LG Optimus x2 soon. I feel it edges out the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy III from where I am standing.
However, I must admit, I am tempted to wait for the release of the iPhone 5, just because it might be quite a lot bigger and packed with new hardware and software features that may entice me to go the Apple route regarding my phone replacement…
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 6/9/2012 12:35:12 AM
I feel like Home will be getting a next-gen overhaul for the PS4, and get some better networking functionality. Maybe even become Sony's premiere social networking software and possibly integrate directly into games? 🙂 Like, trophies you get could be placed in a room in Home, like a Trophy Chamber, or something.
Last edited by Dirt on 6/8/2012 1:40:57 PM
I think Home needs to feel more like a big open world city next time.
That is exactly what I've mentioned a few times. If I could actually get in a vehicle and travel from location to location as well as teleporting it would give it an open world feel.
That is a good point World… i have felt similar for years now. I still feel it feels to disjointed. Home should essential be a game world, that is streamed down as you move through it. Hop onto virtual transports to move around.
I would take the Infamous code and build a city from that engine, and call it Home. Its ever evolving perpetual place that your character can live on when you are not online. Going through daily tasks to keep your existence going…
Similar to a second life… it should feel more connected, bigger and have the same visual fidelity as Infamous, Uncharted, Killzone 3 etc…
To be honest, I believe it will eventually be like this. I think what holds Sony back with epic online worlds is bandwidth. If everyone using home had a defacto 100mb internet connection and could download and process vast amounts of data quickly, without much delay, and without worrying about having inordinate amounts of storage space; I think we would be at this level already – that being large and detailed open world to roam around in – Third Life essentially!
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 6/9/2012 12:40:40 AM
100% agree. Home really shows off the true limitations of current hardware.
FWIW, Buser isn't the "Home boss" anymore; he's the Home boss' boss. It's still part of his portfolio, but that portfolio has been expanded. Cade Peterson (GlassWalls) stepped up into Jack's old position, more or less.
Despite the naysayers (and valid criticisms), Home is too much of a $ucce$$ for it to be abandoned. It will appear in some form on the PS4.
p.s. I agree 100% with World's second comment.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 6/8/2012 4:45:42 PM
Totally agree Ben – I've had all three generations of Playstation, because they've been the best console, every gen, for people that like the best and the broadest console gaming. Each gen, the biggest range of the best titles have always been on Playstation. The competitors have generally had some great titles as well, of course, but they've always had a narrower focus, and generally less of 'em. Given Ninty and MS' hints at their future direction at this E3, I'd be surprised if this isn't even more so next gen.
Hell, the Vita's another great indication of this – the Vita is a 'gamers handheld'. They didn't cut corners to make it cheap, they made a top-notch gaming handheld (best portable gaming device by some margin atm, and will be for some time unless someone's got something pretty unexpected in the wings). Sure, they've made it more niche by making it a core gamers handheld, but they've made it for gamers first.
Imagine Home on VITA!
After watching M$ conference i question myself if i really need my 360 anymore. Sony has shown it cares about its core gamers with more exclusives coming out PS3 will be my console of choice for a long time. I just dont see value in my 360 anymore.
Paying $60 JUST to play online vs $50 PS+ and free infamous 2, LBP2, just cause 2, etc god knows what other full games they give in the coming months. XBL is a joke.
Last edited by JackDillinger89 on 6/8/2012 5:42:06 PM
The 360 is a cable box now!
Sony really drove that point home. I felt that for sure from their presentation. I watched MS's presentation. Based on some casual feedback I read I was expecting some sort of disaster. Instead, I was surprised to find that MS had a solid showing of software, very familiar, but a strong showing from the franchises that have defined their platform for so many years from their close partners, plus, the already thick offering of third party games.
But from all of the games I've seen, Beyond is the one that stood out for me most. I can't believe I'm typing this. But I atually really like the concept behind it, and this story isn't as uncomfortable to me as playing something involving child kidnapper/murderers. It's also gorgeous. Quite frankly, I think Beyond has better looking graphics than THe Last of Us (looks good of course) Beyond has a cinematic realism I can't say I've seen before. It's pretty incredible and feels more fresh than the ND take on PS3's hardware which is great, just familiar.
Anyway, with the conferences, maybe this statement by Sony shows that they're okay with not being this main stream pop-culture entertainment brand. I really got the feeling that MS is really aiming for mass everyone appeal, increasing visiblity with pop brands like Nike, and various entertainment networks, KINECT, windows 8 and tablets etc. It just seems their agenda has them rooted differently going forward, but still catering well to gamers. I suspect also MS will continue to be the more popular console provider in the coming years because of these inroads. But ulitmately, while sales may not come out on top for Sony, I think they're going to continue to drive the fresher, more progressive and innovative, more revolutionary experiences that help change standards. And I'm perfectly okay with that. I think everyone has learned from the Wii that popularity and sales really doesn't translate to the strongest lineup of software.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 6/8/2012 7:28:03 PM
Xbox 360 is branching off in so many directions. Movies, Music etc… I would never down M$ for their business savvy. No matter how cutthroat they may be. I've always said that they are pimps and gangsters. lol.
The way I look at it is the Playstation is GAMES! Sony has already been in the Movie and Music business for years so it is M$ that is encroaching on those territories. Sony just needs to get a move on in seamlessly consolidating its content. If they could accomplish that they they can regain much of what they have lost over the years.
I agree with Mr Buser. While the competition is scrambling every which way but loose Sony exhibited its focus on Games! The games shown are proof positive of that! Buser is such a cool cat too. I've had some conversations with him in Home a few times and he always puts off the air of an average Joe in an above average position.
Sonys E3 presence seemed focused on games but I cant help but get the feeling that they held back many things that they are working on. Saving it for when it really matters. Most likely the PS4. The PS3 is just too vibrant right now to toss the next gen into the mix. But one thing I must say is that the VITA was underplayed! If there is any machine that needs a boost it is the VITA. There is simply too much potential for Sony to just let it mosey along. Maybe we will get some major VITA news at VITA Heaven 2! I hope there is an explosion of content on the way for it.
yea, because crappy kids games totally built this industry!
rolls eyes.
god i cant believe the sh*t that comes out of these morons mouths at times!
yes of course he points to the last of us, funny how he forgets to mention the crappy kids games and lack of vita attention.
funny how they always manage to not notice that.
for the gamer my a$$!
thats why they canned 8 days the BEST looking game they had in their line up, and the getaway 3 the ONLY franchise to ever stand up to one of the industries biggest selling franchises GTA!
and all for a crappy kids game!
its like bugatti saying no were cancelling the veyron the worlds fastest car project so we can make a amazing new towel!
wow thats totally so much better!
eyepet was a MASSIVE FLOP!
and so have all of $onys crappy kids games, and so will all their up coming crappy kids games!
$ony needs to stop saying one thing, and doing another.
in other words practise what you preach!