The Playstation 3: Suck by Design
This no doubt looks like a basic PS3 hate column tossed together by a mindless “Xbot” (which I admittedly am) but it’s not. This has nothing to do with grief over the system, and everything to do with a public statement by one of the gurus behind the Playstation dynasty.
Oh, and I’d like to welcome all the die-hard fanboys who are here to bitch and moan in my comment section. While you’re here, please use proper capitalization and punctuation.
According to CNet (via The Escapist) the CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Kaz Hirai stated to Playstation Magazine, “We don’t provide the ‘easy to program for’ console that (developers) want, because ‘easy to program for’ means that anybody will be able to take advantage of pretty much what the hardware can do, so then the question is, what do you do for the rest of the nine-and-a-half years?”
A striking resemblance.
I’m going to venture a guess, by virtue of his name, that Kaz Hirai isn’t a native English speaker. So, it’s likely that the nuances of that quote don’t really ring to Kaz or his translators like they do to us. While we might read (as my shock headline implies), ‘We designed the PS3 to get programmers to shit themselves inside-out in frustration’ he probably meant something like, ‘We decided to consider future potential more important than quick accessibility for the long term success of our console.’
But even the most forgiving interpretation of this quote doesn’t reflect well on the company’s vision for their console. Imagine if you were looking for a job and you put “Does not work well within a team” right on your resume.
You probably wouldn’t even get an interview at McDonald’s.
This is essentially what Sony has come out and said, given that console makers and third-party development houses need to work together for either to see any kind of success. This business philosophy is especially bizarre in a market like today’s because a console’s success is often measured by the quality of their exclusive, third-party titles.
It’s a shame Sony locked away so much bad-ass hardware potential behind nasty dev challenges because the PS3 could, easily, be the king of this console generation if developers could fully utilize it. Instead, they are reluctant to sign exclusive rights to the PS3 and often vocally prefer working on projects for the Xbox 360.
Sony, you have one of the sexiest video game consoles ever made, why wouldn’t you try to let developers use all of it?
PS: A musical interlude by Doc Adams,
Tags: console wars, Don't Be That Guy, Kaz Hirai, Playstation 3
Killzone 2.
I love how every playstation’s defence is automatically ‘Killzone 2″ Wow, is it like the ungodly only defence you have? I have an argument with a ps3 owner and they say “Killzone 2″ Like it’s the jesus of all gaming? You call halo 3 over-rated? You’re only defence is killzone 2. And I’m beginning to loathe it even though I don’t own it.
once again killzone 2
I am one of those “Die Hard Fanboys” for the PS3 that you mention in your article. I love my console and it actually took me away from being a die hard xbox/xbox 360 fanboy….. (the NXE helped as well)
PS3 is a better system….
That said, I must say that I totally agree with you 100%…
The translation may be poor…. and Kaz might have good intentions on what he meant to say.. I think that if they opened up the PS3 to developers, made it easier to develop for, it would blow this generation of consoles away.
P.S. that video is half obsolete now…. half…..
Dagon,
I’m sorry to hear that the 360 didn’t do it for you, but I can’t blame you for abandoning it. Personally, I think the NXE is alright, it makes in-game menu navigation a lot easier. But the inclusion of gimmicks like avatars was completely unnecessary and somewhat childish.
And yeah, the PS3 has the potential to be the break away winner of this console race once developers get comfortable with its infrastructure.
And yes, that video is mostly obsolete now, I just thought it was humorous, especially the line about Killzone 2, which I know is taboo now that everyone apparently loves that game.
PS: As a hardcore Elder Scrolls fan, I love the screen name.
Mr. Bennett, I regret to inform you that you may have to be one of the dumbest “journalists” in gaming..
Killzone 2 is a perfect example of what really happens when you actually take your time to develop a great game. Mr. Bennett it makes me sad to see people like you exist in the world, and like Dagon said the video is half obsolete now. (it’s mostly obsolete IMO.) Also there is not much of a resemblance on that picture.. 
“Mr. Bennett, I regret to inform you that you may have to be one of the dumbest “journalists” in gaming.. ”
Ah starting off with the hard insults. You seem smarter already.
“Mr. Bennett it makes me sad to see people like you exist in the world”
Really, “Dystopia”? You are saddened by a guy who posted an opinion on a game developer and an outdated video?
No, no don’t worry about Darfur, South African/Korean dictators, racists, rapists, child abusers, terrorists, animal abuse, murderers, etc. Let’s be “sad” about a video game blogger who made the mistake of questioning the game system you have a hard on for.
Good job!
Yeah Graham is the dumb one.
Graham = TWAT! Nothing else to add.
A truly compelling argument.
Indeed, it wasn’t a very well-thought-out comment, but who cares? Look at the FY 2009 line-up of exclusives for PS3:
Killzone 2
MLB The Show ‘09
White Knight Chronicles
Uncharted 2
inFamous
Heavy Rain
MAG
Metal Gear Solid Online
God of War III
Gran Turismo
A secret title in development by Insomniac (Ratchet & Clank, Resistance, etc.)
There are also rumors floating around that Gears 3 could appear on PS3 and the Lost and the Damned as well as a subsequent chapter of Grand Theft Auto 4 could be coming to PS3 bundled in disk format. I don’t think there’s much substance to these rumors, but who knows?
I admit I’m a PS3 fanboy, but it took me 3 RRODs to be swayed to the dark side. I’m a slow learner. At any rate, I love my PS3. I think the reason we’re not hearing anything about the 360 is because Microsoft is giving up on it. Jasper seems to be a failure. I think they’re working on a 620 because the 360 truly “sucks by design” much to my bitter dissapointment. Then again, what would you expect from the makers of Windows ME and Vista?
I personally stay away from microsoft like it’s a bad smell, i use a mac. Sony have built a great system, not just for games but for watching media etc. It does so much and it’s solid unlike the xbox’s red ring of death. I mean that must be terrible with that looming of their heads, thinking that at any moment that little red unretractable ring might just pop on, it’s bound to give anyone a inferiority complex don’t you think, symptoms of which is constantly giving bad press to PS3. I don’t know why people are staying it’s too expensive, look at a price for a mac! Blue ray player, mediaplayer, internet, all with a pretty sexy finish. Sony even lose money making a unit, that just goes to show they are willing to put quality over quantity untill the part become cheaper etc. Also you get so much with it and free online everything. Xbox feels cheap period.
As for programing you never really know what goes on behind the scenes it’s all just speculation and hearsay, the press just say what they want like this article.
I am playing killzone 2 at the moment and it’s amazing, when i finished it and want to play it from the beginning again. And there are some wicked exclusives on the way.
Microsoft are so uncool cheap out their advert for Microsofts songsmith! : -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oGFogwcx-E
Yes, the looming threat of the RRoD is frustrating, and Microsoft has made a couple of odd business choices recently, but that really has no place in this discussion.
You might also note that I didn’t attack the Blu-Ray player or the PS3’s price point. I don’t consider either of those an issue as they are really appealing to people who spend their time watching HD movies and seeking an integrated media experience. The PS3 does a better job than the 360 for that audience.
What I’m saying is there seems to be a company mission statement regarding the PS3’s future as a game console that I personally think is a poor choice. But , I could easily be wrong and Sony could come out of this one on top in a year or two, just like they did with the PS2.
Why do you feel the need to attack Microsoft so heavily? Isn’t that just your way of giving them bad press?
“Imagine if you were looking for a job and you put “Does not work well within a team” right on your resume. You probably wouldn’t even get an interview at McDonald’s. This is essentially what Sony has come out and said..”
That’s not even close to what he was saying and a huge reach by you.
Every playstation including the portable have had growing pains from the start. And it’s done this way specifically for the reason Kaz said. What would we do with the rest of the 9.5 years? If they made it easy from the beginning it would end up like the original xbox did. There was no great ramp up in visual quality. And i’m not counting launch games, because most of those are just thrown together to make a date.
What i dont get is why you’re upset over something everyone else already knew. Playstation is never easy to program for. And in the end it’s always helped Sony win the battle.
Ya I have to agree with the previous posts. The PS3 was a pain in the ass to learn to program for, no doubt about that. But so was the PS2 when it first came out and look at it now, the obvious winner of the last gen consoles.
Now look at the line up for 2009. It is clearly dominated by the PS3, and with I price drop (probably down to $299) this is the year the PS3 makes a break away. I don’t know why anyone thought it would have been last year, they didn’t have a big enough blockbuster game line up for that, and it was still priced to high to make much of a dent, it did for the first half of the year though. Microsoft had to reduce the price of their system to stop PS3 from getting to close in sales.
All in all, xbox 360 would have dominated this gen if the system was more reliable, and no one can argue that the system itself is a peace of sh*t. but they rushed it to the marked and now their paying the price. PS3 now has almost everything the xbox does, except party chat which will be in their next update later this month.
you piece of shit, the guy who wrote this article must be a broke dick who cant afford the ps3. if you could have any console free you would be a liar if you said you would not choose ps3. so quit writing articles and get a job you stupid bitch
Boy, that last comment really added a lot to the discussion. Moron. I love my PS3, but you are a moron, jp. BTW I think hirai was trying to say that they only wanted the best and most qualified programmers developing on the PS3. They didn’t want a bunch of Wii-ish type crap software from less able hands. That said, it was worded in a very awkward and retarded way. Obviously they did not want to intentionally make the console hard to program on. They went the route of having the most powerful hardware, at the expense of the complexity of a parallel programming paradigm. The much more limited hardware of the 360 is much closer to a pc design and a more common software multi-threaded programming paradgm. Since many programmers were already familiar with this design, it was easier for them to squeeze out amazing performance from of the 360. I think it is rapidly approaching its maximum performance potential. PS3 still has quite a ways to go, and more power to give up. Developers that took the time to rethink the parallel hardware aspects of the cell will be very pleased in the next few years, and should be able to crank out the sofware on a reasonable timetable now. 360 developers will be starting out fresh on a new system soon. But are people going to buy that system? I don’t know
Killzone2 is all I need to say. Nuff said.
Does this page generate revenue based on ads? That would explain the idiot headline. I have Firefox with AdBlock, and it doesn’t even load any of your ads. So there!
Here’s my interpretation of what Kaz said: Sony made a great, innovative console, not run-of-the-mill tech for fear of developers. It’ll keep developers busy for the next 7-8 years. Programmers are just beginning to understand the PS3, What we’re seeing today is just the tip of the iceberg, and it’s already better than anything on any other console in history.
Know what else is good about Firefox? It’s NOT made by Microsoft! That explains why it’s innovative.
This column has nothing to do with ad revenue, the post is the author’s opinion.
I can see why Sony have done this. It potentially provides visual improvements new for each iteration of a game franchise. Just look at resistance 1 & 2. I suppose it’s a bit like having only one present at xmas. After opening the one present, you’ve seen it all. This way, there’s always something new and improved around the corner. Look at KZ2. I’m sure that KZ2 can also be improved on.
Although it’s a paint in the ass for developers. I can remember when Bill Gates said 640k of memory was enough for anyone. By christ I feel old all of a sudden. I’m not even going to mention my Speccy / Amiga days…
Just look at the quality difference in games from the first generation to now on the PS2. Can we expect to see similar visual leaps? Probably not, but improvements will be made. Not to mention new motion controllers which will use much cleverer tech than the Wii’s. So Yes, there’s much more to come from the PS3. Just be patient folks!.
“I’m going to venture a guess, by virtue of his name, that Kaz Hirai isn’t a native English speaker.”
Graham Bennett - March 12th, 2009
Well how many languages do you speak Graham, yes that’s right arsehole just one. Believe it or not ignorance is not a virtue, well maybe in the press it is!
“It’s a shame Sony locked away so much bad-ass hardware potential behind nasty dev challenges because the PS3 could, easily, be the king of this console generation if developers could fully utilize it. Instead, they are reluctant to sign exclusive rights no the PS3 and often vocally prefer working on projects for the Xbox 360.”
Basically the xbox architecture is built like a PC hense why developers find it easier to develop for. So i understand why developers want to make there games on a pc based system and then port it over to Xbox, that’s easier and of course lazier! The PS3 is a console and has been designed as one. I personally want the console experience and want to stay away from pc based computer games. Developers have to challenge themselves and work in ways they are not used to, this produces innovative games. That’s what Kaz Hirai meant and anyone with half a brain can figure that out.
Don’t give up the day job Graham!
How is designing a console around existing, perfectly functional programing paradigms a bad thing?
What exactly do you mean by the ‘console experience’ and how does the 360 or Wii not deliver it?
I’m genuinely curious, because my 360 lets me sit in front of my TV and play games with my friends online or in the same room. I kind of thought that was generally considered the ‘console experience.’
Graham Bennett: You Suck by Birth!
your such a
faggotdude. the only games 360 has are halo and gears of war. other then that xbox has bought their way into getting good games. sounds like their desparate and so are you to get some fanboy message out there. red ring of death need i say more.FAGGOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.Editor’s Note: All discussion is welcome, but let’s not resort to petty name calling.
And Sony bought their way into a dominate HD format. There’s nothing wrong with that type of business.
“”What exactly do you mean by the ‘console experience’ and how does the 360 or Wii not deliver it?
I’m genuinely curious, because my 360 lets me sit in front of my TV and play games with my friends online or in the same room. I kind of thought that was generally considered the ‘console experience.’”"
Well, your ‘console experience’ will last only for 3-4 years maximum ( on an Xbox360 or Wii that is ) while my ‘console experience’ will last for 10 years.
Sony wants its customers to be lazy, while Microsoft wants its developers to be lazy. And developers being lazy wont give the expected,desired or so called the ‘hyped’ results by the customers. The comparison is endless in this case.
1.Stable system- I don’t have to go to a repair shop fearing red lights on my console within the stipulated console life.
2.Free online- I don’t have to keep buying my right to play online.
3. I’m tired of comparing to prove what is better.
Get a look at this.The number of games being developed for the Playstation 3 will be a rising graph per year, that too for 10 years.Why?Because it’s hard to develop games for it,but only for now.When developers get used to the Cell structure,who would care for the ‘box’ or the ‘exercise machine’ when they would obviously get better results?
Xbox360.Its sort of like a non upgradable PC whose power is nearly equal to ‘max out’.Graph of games per year is a straight line.That too only for 5 years.Then what?Buy a new PC?Or the Xbox720?
Wii is for children.Or for people who don’t exercise.But not for me.Games?Are you kidding?
‘Wii is for children.Or for people who don’t exercise.But not for me.Games?Are you kidding?”
Gotta love those close minded views of a console.
Forgive me for not being obsessed over graphics. “How dare you buy a 360 and play castle crashers!” or “How dare you buy a Wii and enjoy it at 22 years of age! You 135 lb 5′11” non-exercising child!”
Wow…just WOW.
Wii is for kids or people who don’t exercise…(because we all know the average gamer is built like a brick shit house right? and that a system that promotes exercise must be for people who hate exercise. Flawless logic.)
Did you say anything that was even remotely accurate or even sensible?
I love how the fanbois show up on cue, to swear and justify their game system choice as though you insulted their loved ones. Even better is when they’re too cowardly to come back. God the article wasn’t even a bash story, how many times does one need to say “I think the system is still good and I hope it does well” before you brain dead, system whoring 13 year old boys wake the hell up and stop acting like these game companies are anything more than heartless corporations devoted to taking your money.
Since when is “I don’t like this one statement from a system’s developer” more insulting than “ur a faggotttttttttt and you don’t deserve to live”? Are you people insane?
If you really feel insulted over a comment on a corporate officer’s questionable statement, you need serious help. If you wear your preference on your chest like a badge of honor, you’re pathetic. Be proud of the things you’ve accomplished, the people you care about, your talent, etc. Personal preference isn’t brag worthy.
As for his statement, Hirai is an idiot. He’s been an idiot for a while. Constantly putting his foot in his mouth in interviews. He’s famous for it now.
His attitude is purely elitist. If the theory that inaccessible dev tools, is somehow going to ‘weed out’ the lesser developers, why don’t they have more amazing games? Isn’t that discretion that they could ascertain with research? The assumption that a hard tool kit is somehow going to breed good programming is absolutely ludicrous.
I’m sure someone somewhere thinks that waiting several years for these dream dev’s to come along is a great idea but I’m not one of them.
Reply to Graham : -
I love my wii! Great in terms of innovation. But it suffers for the obvious reasons, poor processing power, a bit of a cheap novelty thing also and does not look so good on my 40″ hi-def screen! I was merely stating the the xbox architecture is that of a pc computer which is why it’s easier to program for. I think a console should be treated as a console and be purposely design for that reason alone. And for developers, it’s not about using the tools you know and one should not be complacent in there work, that just produces boring results.
Also take piracy for example; it is easy on a pc to download a game illegally from a torrent. It is also easy on a Xbox. Why, because it’s basically a pc and it is impossible ( now anyway!) to do that on a PS3 because the architecture is completely different from that of a pc’s as it’s been designed with the best console architecture in mind in which hackers sitting at home cant understand. i don’t want the games industry to suffer the way the music and film industry has. Developers are turning away from making games for the pc because of this. Take the CryEngine 3 for example : -
http://www.edge-online.com/news/102/ps3-and-360-await-cryengine-3
Microsoft are just cheap, I had some bad experience when i first brought Visa and did the jump over to a mac, i have never looked back… I use my computer for work (or for writing useless posts!) and my console as a entertainment system. and i think the products should be designed for that reason and boy the PS3 is a sexy one at that!!
The fact of the matter is, if your a serious gamer and you really care about games and their development, you are missing out now not having a PS3. Little Big Planet has just won a Bafta for best creative design and there is more great exclusives to come, oh yes. Don’t let it pass you by, i really can’t recommend it enough.
By the way Graham, how many languages do you speak?! ich glaube du kannst nicht Japanese sprechen!
case and point, killzone 2. enough said.
I think Sony has shown that it likes the road less traveled. The PS2 had some horrible first gen titles out there, and it was well documented that it was more difficult to program than the Xbox. Granted Microsoft made some headway with the Xbox when it came out and got the jump with the 360, but while they got the headstart, I think the fact the the Xbox 360 is basically a PC rig, and therefore easier to program for is why multi-platform titles look better on it. The PlayStation brand is all about time. So While MS is already prepping for the new Xbox, Sony is finally finding its ground and developers are starting to open the book on the possibilities that the PS3 has.
I had both the PS2 and Xbox, but I found more enjoyment on the PS2 than the Xbox. Also paying to pay online I feel is a slight to the gaming community, especially those who played multiplayer online for free.
I’ve always been a supporter of Sony since the original PlayStation and Resident Evil, and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon.
Killzone 2 - my god it’s like staring into the sun.
For those that haven’t heard Kazuo Hirai speak, the man is fluent in English, chances are he meant what he said, and he should make no apologies about it.
Why? Because Kutaragi is a visionary. He saw where gaming development is, came to a conclusion as to where consoles need to go and a console was designed with that vision in mind. It’s more expensive in terms of R&D and end-user cost but so much more worthwhile….especially if that vision proves correct, as it seems to be.
Yes the 360 is a better console using present day (which quickly becomes outdated) technology, but it has no vision for what the future of gaming is or where it needs to go. Just look at the sixaxis. It might be fundamentally flawed in its application, but the Nintendo Wii is proving Kutaragi and Hirai correct in regards to the vision he had for motion controlled gaming devices. Kutaragi’s vision for the PS3 and where console development needs to go is correct too, and Sony had enough money to subsidize it. Yes that makes it hard as you have to force an entire industry onto the new path, but if Sony didn’t do it, who else would?
Microsoft has never had a history of trailblazing.
Bill Gates invented DOS and as a result pioneered the entire concept of user interfaces which led to the founding of Microsoft.
They might not be as visionary as they have been in the past, especially in the console market, but to say they don’t have a history of trailblazing is just downright false.
Personally, I think the sixaxis was a means by which Sony was hoping to capitalize on the visionary approach of Nintendo. I don’t know which came first in development, the sixaxis or the wiimote, but I do know (as you’ve stated) that the wiimote is applied better which leads me to believe it had a longer development cycle.
The PS3 has a ton of innovative features, like Folding@home, but the sixaxis wouldn’t be the first I’d point to when making an argument.
I will give it to Sony for investing in Blu-Ray and the cell which might pan out in the long run, but it seems to be hurting their sales and brand strength in the mainstream market right now.
Sixaxis was a pretty last minute decision (from a development standpoint).
Bill Gates has a mythic representation in popular culture. He didn’t invent DOS. DOS was a low-featured copy of existing shells in the UNIX/VMS/other mainframe world. Bill Gates made advantageous *business deals*, not good software. Microsoft continues this trend today.
Saying Bill Gates pioneered the concept of user interfaces is wrong. DOS was far inferior to UNIX interfaces that existed several years before DOS was made. Full-featured GUIs were already available under X when the text-only DOS came about. In fact, it is hard to think of a single new UI idea that came out of Microsoft in the 80s and 90s. In the last 4 years Apple has innovated more in UIs than Microsoft has in the last 20 years.
An amazing article only flawed by your complete lack of technical understanding and insight. Well done!
So it is official.
I’m the only person in the world that didn’t really feel all that impressed by Killzone 2.
It just looked like a very pretty FPS.
I blame my PC.
Don’t get me wrong I like all the systems out there (recently even got a PSP and like it) but I just don’t get why people are gaga over Killzone 2?
Anyone have any reasons besides graphics? Because if graphics make a game then I’d have to say that Crysis was not a POC, which -I feel- it was.
Killzone 2 is overrated trash. I really wish people would stop using it as an argument to defend the PS3. Uncharted 2 and inFamous are compelling exclusives, and God of War 3 will most likely be great (whenever it comes out), but Killzone 2 is nothing more than a derivative, brain-dead FPS spawn sporting the recessive genes (read: bad traits) of better games like Halo and Call of Duty. Even PS3 owners deserve more than FPS leftovers of a mediocre-to-begin-with franchise.
Just sell it about 800$ or 1000$ the fucking ps3
and buy psp for only about 300$