GDC: Sony and You

Threepio

Phil Harrison's GDC Keynote is tomorrow (March 7th, 2007). It could very well be the first time in ten months wherein the immediate reaction to something said by a Sony executive isn't "bwahahahahaha etc".

Links
The PlayStation HOME Trailer on GameTrailers.com HERE. Don't think, just click.
Little Big Planet Trailer HERE
Phil Harrison's 1 hour Keynote starts at 10:30am Pacific time, 1:30pm EST, 12:30pm CST, 11:30 MST.
1up is liveblogging via RSS HERE
There's a link to the GDC site here
Great picture of Phil. He could really form a trio with J Allard and Michael Rosenbaum.
Sony has also announced the launch of their "Edge" toolkit - Linky
Impressions of the Pre-Keynote from Gamebiz Daily are HERE
The New York Times apparently confirms PlayStation Home - Thanks FatBaby - Arrrrrticle Here
Eurogamer is live blogging - Thanks bruin - HERE


This is apparently the breakdown of what Phil will be spittin' come keynote time:

Details from Phil Harrison- Sony Computer Worldwide Studios
Keynote at GDC March 7th 2007:

Anouncements:
PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE COMPLETELY, UTTERLY, TOTALLY UNCONFIRMED.
Firmware update available on the 8th for North America/Japan and Asia. European PS3's will be preloaded with this latest update.

Features of this latest firmware include:
More refined PS Store front end
Playstation Network integrity enhanced
Wallpapers from Pictures
Ability to change Background Colours (<- European/Canadian Spelling)
Sony Connect Store for music and movies added to the PS Store. - Hundreds of trailers/full films/song videos and mps3s available for download. (<-Interesting. Sony only content? US Only? Globally?)
Playstation Card option in PS Store enabled
Playstation Lifestyle- Similar to MySpace/YouTube. User generated content and experiences are the key.
+ more.

Removal of Emotion Engine chips in PS3's in NA and Japan to follow in April.
Reason for this is to reduce costs and focus on enhanced opportunities via software. Benefits include the ability to upscale selected PSone/PS2 games to 1080i/720p.

Lots of development talk. (Developers, Developers, Developers)

Release dates for key games:
Warhawk in June/July 2007.
Heavenly Sword delayed.
Killzone and MGS4 in late 2007.

New content on PS Store available on the 8th:

Tekken 6 trailer
Lair demo & trailer
Rainbow Six Vegas demo
EA: Skate trailer
Battlefield Bad Company trailer
Warhawk demo
Virtua Fighter 5 demo
Virtua Tennis 3 demo & trailer
GRAW 2: trailer
Mortal Kombat 2 game
Killzone trailer

Killzone demo for May.

End List

It's a very exciting list of features; this particular list doesn't embrace the PlayStation Home concept (the amalgamation of goal rewards and avatars in a personal space for each player), however that feature has been widely "reported".


This could be the turning point for Sony with the PlayStation 3. I thought we should have a thread wherein we could discuss. Hopefully I didn't screw up

Unco-ordinated

I think you need to make it perfectly clear that those 'announcements' are just rumours.

Threepio

Unco-ordinated wrote: »

I think you need to make it perfectly clear that those 'announcements' are just rumours.

Check aaaaand check.

FatBaby

Tomorrow can't come fast enough.

Raughn

The potential for upscaling will not be limited to the emotion engine-less PS3s, right? Surely the emulation updates will come with firmware updates to every PS3, with launch-era PS3s having the option to go on-board or virtual? If I end up buying a PS3 pre-April, I don't want to be locked-out of the potential to play God of War in 720p.

Threepio

I would think that Firmware updates would carry the upscaling to launch PS3s.

Otherwise you'd have rabid PlayStation fans (yours truly included) storming Sony HQ performing acts that make Kratos look like a teddy bear.

bruin

I look forward to the live blogging at 1UP, Eurogamers, and Joystiq (among other places?). 1:30 PM Eastern tomorrow, yeah!

Carnivore

Oh god.

I am clawing at the walls for a Killzone trailer. It had better be ever fucking bit as good as the last video or I am going to be very annoyed.

Unco-ordinated

Raughn wrote: »

The potential for upscaling will not be limited to the emotion engine-less PS3s, right? Surely the emulation updates will come with firmware updates to every PS3, with launch-era PS3s having the option to go on-board or virtual? If I end up buying a PS3 pre-April, I don't want to be locked-out of the potential to play God of War in 720p.

I'm 99.9% sure you'll be able to. I wouldn't really be worried about it.

Munro

Hopefully, MSG4 will come out next year, after the PS3's first price drop...

A man can dream, can't he?

bruin

Carnivore wrote: »

Oh god.

I am clawing at the walls for a Killzone trailer. It had better be ever fucking bit as good as the last video or I am going to be very annoyed.

Haha, good luck with that.

DewtheKingAJD

Ugh, please Sony, let me listen to music or do SOMETHING during a dl. PLEASE! Maybe that will be related to the Store Front update...

Threepio

If nothing else we'll get background downloading - phyrric victory though it might be

I think we may also use this thread to take bets on what the new meme will be.
The Giant Enemy Crab thing has recently been kaiboshed due to the GEC Union filing suit for defamation against the Crazed Internet Fan Community. CIFC has stated that the case has no basis, but in the meantime, we should be on the lookout for meme-portunities.

I'm thinking "Kiiiiiiiiiillllllzoooooooooooooone" might be a possibility. Either that or "PlayStation Live" as an innovation. So who wants in? Anyone? What'd I say...?

FatBaby

I will be happy as long as it good news.







"Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooood News!"

Unco-ordinated

bruin wrote: »

Carnivore wrote: »

Oh god.

I am clawing at the walls for a Killzone trailer. It had better be ever fucking bit as good as the last video or I am going to be very annoyed.

Haha, good luck with that.

I'm sick and tired of people going 'olol killzone'. Seriously, it didn't look that great. Off the top of my head I can say that Gears of War, Mass Effect and Heavenly Sword all look better. And considering how awesome Killzone: Liberation was (and looked), I really wouldn't be surprised if Killzone 2 looks fucking awesome.

DewtheKingAJD - We know for sure that that'll be included by the PAL launch. Even if the 'download pauses will playing games' rumour is true, you'll still be able to watch videos/listen to music while doing them.

bruin

Unco-ordinated wrote: »

bruin wrote: »

Carnivore wrote: »

Oh god.

I am clawing at the walls for a Killzone trailer. It had better be ever fucking bit as good as the last video or I am going to be very annoyed.

Haha, good luck with that.

I'm sick and tired of people going 'olol killzone'. Seriously, it didn't look that great. Off the top of my head I can say that Gears of War, Mass Effect and Heavenly Sword all look better. And considering how awesome Killzone: Liberation was (and looked), I really wouldn't be surprised if Killzone 2 looks fucking awesome.

DewtheKingAJD - We know for sure that that'll be included by the PAL launch. Even if the 'download pauses will playing games' rumour is true, you'll still be able to watch videos/listen to music while doing them.

Are you serious? Watch the trailer again, I really don't think we'll see anything that looks like that this generation.

And I don't think the graphics in Heavenly Sword look that great. The game looks awesome sure, it's one of the reasons I'm buying a PS3 eventually, but the graphics aren't especially good.

Kyougu

I'm really hopping that the Home feature that's been rumored turns out to be true and well implemented. That would be awesome to have.

FatBaby

Sony to Add Online Bells and Whistles for PlayStation 3

The centerpiece, a new service called PlayStation Home, is to become available to consumers in the fall, said senior game industry executives, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans. PlayStation Home is meant to build on and surpass somewhat similar offerings from Sony’s competitors Microsoft and Nintendo by allowing users to create persisting online identities that record players’ achievements in different games. As players progress through a game, they will unlock various virtual prizes that they can then show off to friends and rivals, the executives said.

And there you have it... looks like its true.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/arts/design/07game.html?_r=2&ref=technology&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Threepio

FatBaby wrote: »

Sony to Add Online Bells and Whistles for PlayStation 3

The centerpiece, a new service called PlayStation Home, is to become available to consumers in the fall, said senior game industry executives, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans. PlayStation Home is meant to build on and surpass somewhat similar offerings from Sony’s competitors Microsoft and Nintendo by allowing users to create persisting online identities that record players’ achievements in different games. As players progress through a game, they will unlock various virtual prizes that they can then show off to friends and rivals, the executives said.

And there you have it... looks like its true.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/arts/design/07game.html?_r=2&ref=technology&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Sweet Jesus in heaven, it's true. There's hope!

I mean... Naturally, this in line with expectations for this quarter and it will reflect well in the results that we... aw fuck it. YEAH! WOO!

As I sit here downloading the Warhawk trailer I really, really hope we get background downloading

So... Spokesperson for PlayStation Home? Happy Gilmore. "WHY DON'T YOU GO TO YOUR HOOOOOOOOOME?"

This is what I love about my job: I can legitimize sitting around at 10:30am tomorrow, cruising blogs for live updates in the name of "Research" Bring on the Demos baby!

FyreWulff

I bet everyone will just cover their room in a wallpaper of penises.

Viscountalpha

FyreWulff wrote: »

I bet everyone will just cover their room in a wallpaper of penises.

No just you fyrewulff. :P

Seriously though at some point alot of this rumor-mongering gets to be a bit tiresome. When do we let the hype machine not have its way finally?

Threepio

There's penis wallpaper?


Sold. Rowr.

FyreWulff

Viscountalpha wrote: »

FyreWulff wrote: »

I bet everyone will just cover their room in a wallpaper of penises.

No just you fyrewulff. :P

OH SHITS MY SECRET HAS BEEN REVEALED

Recoil42

The Playstation Home saga, for those who haven't heard:

http://kotaku.com/gaming/day-note/day-note-my-head-240945.php


So yeah, consider it definitely confirmed.

Threepio

Gamebiz Daily has some GDC Pre-keynote Reactions here. It's fluff, but still.

They speak of social interaction, being possibly more involving than the "Mii" concept and lots of media integration. They also speak of a new exclusive being unveiled tomorrow.

I have my money on the uber innovative Super Papery Not-Mario.

Kyougu

Threepio wrote: »

Gamebiz Daily has some GDC Pre-keynote Reactions here. It's fluff, but still.

They speak of social interaction, being possibly more involving than the "Mii" concept and lots of media integration. They also speak of a new exclusive being unveiled tomorrow.

I have my money on the uber innovative Super Papery Not-Mario.

Well, they certainly seemed pleased with the Pre Keynote. Looks like Sony may actually have some good press on their hands come tommorow.

Found this in another forum, from someone who attended the pre keynote

So, um, all the poo poo you heard about PlayStation Home is (obviously) true. The implementation might just freak you the gently caress out with the depth it has, though. We can't talk about it until tomorrow at 10:30AM, and I'd like to live blog all of it here, but I'm guessing the Wi-Fi will be destroyed by the number of people trying to connect, plus tons of people will be rehashing all the stuff in real-time that will go live at 10:31AM. Rest assured that you will not have to wait until the end of the keynote to get all the info in it.

Oh, and you'll be able to see every second of it tonight.

Have I teased you enough yet?

[edit]
I'll also say this: all of the aesthetic you would associate with Sony doing 3D avatars and worlds rings so loving true in what they're doing with Home. So long as you don't hate on the whole idea of Euro/Scandinavian design concept, you're going to freak on what you can do with your new home.

tbloxham

The new UK PS3 advert "This is living" or something is cool too. Im not sure that it made me want a PS3, but I did enjoy the advert

Maybe sony will start giving people what they want again.

halkun

Not to be jaded....

But if I had a dollar for every time someone said "Maybe sony will start giving people what they want again.".... I would have a lot of dollars...

I mean a lot of dollars!

Azrael

But not enough to afford a PS3.

Smacky The Frog

I'll be just starting my eight hour shift at work when the keynote starts.

elkatas

My source says that most interesting thing in whole keynote will be new exclusive game that looks quite amazing. Killzone will be also there, so we can except Threepio's list to be correct.

Lunker

I'm not really interested in getting a PS3 any time soon but I'm hella curious as to what's going to be announced. All three companies are going to be doing such crazy stuff this year -- it's like a gaming telenovela.

Threepio

Lads, can I kindly and politely request that we keep the PS3 bashing to a minimum? I would be forever in your debt if that were the case. (directed upwards a few posts. Yes, they're potshots. No, it's not the end of the world - but hell, we had a thread yesterday)

1UP is liveblogging with an RSS feed here
if you're into that syndication of a really simple kind.

Edit: I've added a links section to the first post - amalgamating what we've gathered so far.

cloudeagle

The global removal of hardware-based BC is going to drag things down (even if Sony does hit its target of 1,000 games, that's a pretty hefty drop from what the PS3 does already), so they really need to unveil a groovy new game and make Playstation Home look really amazing to counteract that news and make the conference awesome.

FatBaby

NeoGaf is going to be flying at the speed of stupid in a little bit. I look forward to that.

bruin

The only live blogging link in the OP is 1UP, who wasn't so great with the RPG panel last night.

Eurogamer's live blog can be found here - http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=73821
www.joystiq.com will also have one, but the link isn't up yet.

Threepio

Thanks bruin

I'm just a wee bit excited. 9 minutes.

bruin

Haha, the NeoGAF thread already has over 500 replies and it hasn't even started yet. That thread is half the fun of this keynote for me.

bruin

1UP wrote:

10:22 a.m.: Huge screens sporting the PlayStation logo adorn the front of the auditorium. There's a wheel and a tree, from this game they are going to announce that we can't talk about for another six minutes

Gran Turismo 5?

Edit - Here's the link to Joystiq's live blogging - http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/joystiq-and-engadget-live-at-sonys-2007-gdc-keynote/

Threepio

Holy Christ... Check out the HOME trailer on Gametrailers.

They did it. They fucking did it.

Epiphyte

LittleBigPlanet looks absolutely incredible.

Everything is physics based gameplay, and the visual style is really nice.