Peter Dille talks about the PS3, generally

by Nick Doerr { Jan 10th 2007 at 12:00PM }

After Peter Dille gave his presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show, Game Informer managed to squeeze an interview out of him. We'll make a list of what was covered, because those are always awesome. We know how the Doerrman stands with lists -- he's always open to them (get it? Like a door... come on, I had to think of that one for all of twenty seconds!).

The big announcement at CES for Mr. Dille was the official "1 million PS3's sold" -- not shipped, sold. You see, retailers have to buy the units, so to Sony, the units are sold. This is of course referring only to the US... Japan's numbers will be announced soon.
Some spin on the 10 million 360 numbers was mentioned, but since it's so blatantly competitive, we're not going to transcribe the spin. You can read it if you want to, but if you're not a Sony fanboy, you're likely to get agitated.
Sony is actively working on PlayStation Network updates (likely to be finished up before the European launch). These include: download speeds, background downloads (or multitasking) and other patches (maybe to start fixing those PS2 game jaggies... if that can be fixed).
As far as the bluetooth controller connection drops, Sony shrugs it off as an issue with all the different ~~crap~~ "proliferation of devices" you have on your desktop. Personally, I've nothing else (wireless, bluetooth or otherwise) around my PS3 and get perfect connections every time.
There will be a firmware upgrade making the downloadable titles currently playable only on the PSP able to be played on the PS3 -- that's very good.
Tekken is coming to the PS-Store for the US soon. We're told to "stay tuned" to the store.
About exclusive games, Dille says that soon third-party developers will want to "start at the highest system and work your way down" -- the reason many are multi-platform right now, he attests, is the 360 has been out for a year and most developers are familiar with the platform as a good starting point. Which is true. But, will this change? Or will all games begin development on the 360 and be "ported down" (he was implying this) to the PS3?

Whew! He certainly had a lot to say. Unless you really have an agenda against Sony, this guy really made it seem like he's excited about the PS3 and pretty much sold the excitement to you, too. Good stuff.

Tags: CES, Consumer Electronics Show, ConsumerElectronicsShow, Peter Dille, PeterDille, Playstation 3, Playstation3, PS3, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andir2.0 @ Jan 10th 2007 12:18PM

He has a point about the 360 sales. If your selling well, your not going to be discounting and bundling yet. I heard a commercial on the radio stating that you can get free XBox360s buy going to some website. I'm sure there's some agreement and guidelines to it. I wasn't interested enough to follow through.

Wreckhart @ Jan 10th 2007 12:34PM

@ Rob H

Anything that comes out a year earlier is naturally a year ahead, the difference is going to be made up by the PS3's more powerfull processor.

I cant wait to get a PS3 in March, and all the games coming soon Oblivion, Motorstorm, Lair, Heavenly Sword, Devil May Cry, Def Jam, Mercs 2, Burnout 5. Its gonna be a good spring.

Lou @ Jan 10th 2007 12:38PM

I really like Sony, I have had PS 1, 2, and 3, and a PSP. I'm obviously not a fanboy because this guy is so retarded.

First, if we are going to compare $400 consoles to $100 consoles, then lets talk about the sales of the DS Lite vs. the PS2, PS3, and PSP. It is ridiculous to use the 360 against he PS3. Almost as bad as, those not CG statements and we SOLD OUT at PS3 launch.

Second, PS2 had amazing games for one reason, it was the most popular console. Sony's developer kit is supposedly the most buggy, hard to develop for system. The 360 benefits from a good lead time, but also from being able to easily pull developers off of games for windows.

As for his other statements I mostly agree, but I don't have dropped connections and I have several bluetooth devices and about 10 wireless devices running, so that may mean that it IS a small bug that effects some. As for the shipped/sold debate, does it really matter. None of these companies give straight answers. Just look at Microsoft's, the ring of death isn't our problem, wait no, everyone gets free repairs. I'm sure Sony's accounting is correct, however, its bullshit doesn't have any government regulation.

shase @ Jan 10th 2007 12:51PM

@2

I think its more of a developer's choice. Sure if they are lazy and want to milk as much as they can they will work on the lowest standards then up. But if you are a developer who actually *gasp* want to challenge yourself and team and want to make *gasp* a great game then its better to go from the top. Itagaki is a great example- he said he always want to make games for the best console, and he had quite a few good things to say about ps3.
The reasons i see developers doing the multiplatforms are cost and once they familiartize with the PS3 it will be easier to develope for and spread more.

J @ Jan 10th 2007 1:24PM

Yes. They should start with the highest system which is the Xbox 360 anyway with it's superior GPU and more available RAM so it will have the slightly better graphics anyway. And if he wants to talk about spin, he needs to look at the 1 million PS3's "sold". Yeah right. Sony's PR is just about the worse out there. They blatantly lie, but the sad thing is is that the sheep still believe them. Dont get me worng, I have a PS3, but it is not the powerhouse console they want you to believe. yes, their CPU is superior than the 360's, but their GPU pales in comparison and have less RAM available for games. Hillarious.

warble @ Jan 10th 2007 1:29PM

What? No news about how the SIXAXIS didn't really win an Emmy? Not even an Update to the news article?

Sad. I guess you guys figure if you ignore it, it will go away.

Inspired @ Jan 10th 2007 1:59PM

At this point, Sony can do a few things to regain somewhat of a respectable image:

1) Shut the hell up.

2) Let the PS3 speak for itself.

3) Show us amazing games that can't be done on the 360 so we can FINALLY believe the hype.

They do these things, and Sony will see a turn-around. Hell, if they will do just number 1, I'd be happier.

Sidney @ Jan 10th 2007 2:04PM

What? No news that KONAMI are dropping I belive 4 PS3 games that are in development then?.

Roadz @ Jan 10th 2007 2:50PM

You know things are bad when you are quoting that you are looking forward to a MLB game. And note the word *killer*.

GI: If you had to pick one first-party title that would be the killer app here in 2007 and will really blow open the PS3 sales, what do you think that will be?

Dille: I think we have a good first half of the year. Games like Lair that people are really excited about. MLB is coming out and is looking great and is the best-selling sports game from a first-party studio. Motorstorm. Heavenly Sword. And don’t forget you have games like Killzone in the back half of the year. We’re not really saying that there is one game that consumers have to wait for. I think that the content is there now and the content is coming. It’s going to be a steady stream of really great PlayStation 3 content.

shase @ Jan 10th 2007 3:17PM

@10
Where did you hear this from? All I heard is Konami *might* drop Coded Arms for PS3 and thats it. Please post link. thanks

ps3x360wiiowner @ Jan 10th 2007 4:19PM

All of you are wrong! It has to do with the market share. PS2 has the biggest share, then xbox 360, Wii, and at the tail end ps3. However, since we are in the HDTV era, it is also going to be based on company's past success. Sony has suprised the nay sayers in the past. PS2 is a great example. They said it was a difficult system and costly to develop games. Yet it is has won. PS3 is in its early infancy. By year end, there will be some amazing games like Lair, killzone 2, tekken 6, heavenly sword, virtual figher 5 (ps3 1st), mgs4,etc. In year 2008, besides silent 5 or re5, there will be some awesome games unmatched by 360. 360 only good games coming out this year is lost planet, halo 3 and maybe bioshock (also ps3). By year end, I predict sony will have 10 million owners. 360 will have 14 million. by end of 2008, sony will have 22 million (ps3 likely will have a price drop by then) and microsoft will have 17 million. Wii is just a novelty (probably 20 million by then).

P.S. Tekken 5: dark ressurection will be on PSN in February (u.s) version that is

SuicideNinja @ Jan 10th 2007 4:40PM

"The big announcement at CES for Mr. Dille was the official "1 million PS3's sold" -- not shipped, sold. You see, retailers have to buy the units, so to Sony, the units are sold."

Ummm....is a retort even worth the breath? Who cares if CONSUMERS don't buy them?

"But if you are a developer who actually *gasp* want to challenge yourself and team and want to make *gasp* a great game then its better to go from the top."

You obviously never developed anything. Most companies don't allow you a choice on whether to be challenged, because they put employees on a tight schedule (and budget). Microsoft knows this, that's why their tools are more effecient and easier to use. This leaves developers wasting less time figuring out an obscure processor and more time creating a game. We can only hope that IBM provided solid documentation on the Cell, because we know Sony has no idea what they are talking about.

Developers that go multiplatform are going to start with the easiest application first and then port away from there, as long as there's still "guaranteed" money in that starting console. We already know the 360 isn't going anywhere.

The truth is, the most powerful platform is the PC...so he ends up suggesting all games should first be developed there. I hate saying that, because I really dislike PC gaming, but it's the truth.

ps3x360wiiowner @ Jan 10th 2007 5:22PM

Not entirely true, Virtual fighter 5 is first done as an arcade game. It is then ported or developed into ps3 and ported to x360 later this year. Bioshock was developed for ps3 first then switched to x360 and then decided to do it as multi-platform. Would the ps3 have more content??? Programming is evolving and it has to, in order, to survive. Guru of any profession like a challenge. Cell processing is a challenge. Eventually, it would be easy to develop once other technologies advance and cost would come down. Any new tech's price come down over time. So, developers in short term may regard on less production oost, but on major games like mgs4 or re5, they would rather work on better technology, not old technology x360 would be in 2 years. progamming has advanced from basic to C+++ and whatever language they are using now. I am not a programmer, but it does make sense. Why do we buy newer computers or switch to newer gadgets! Developers with newer tools or toys would rather make an awesome game on more advance console. However, market share still dictate where they will go. Sony is still the leader with their ps2. Hence, games like silent hill, resident evil, etc will continue on playstation.

Sony still have things to improve. Psn is okay. Browser sucks. they should add iptv. They should allow psp players play with ps3 players. They should have social games like uno. Allow us to play others through our pc too.

Sidney @ Jan 10th 2007 5:27PM

@14 This is the link I found for the PS3 Konami canceled game list -

http://ps3.qj.net/Konami-axes-PS3-and-Wii-titles/pg/49/aid/78831

Mark @ Jan 10th 2007 5:38PM

Why do you bother comparing the Xbox 360?,the fact is the 360 is now a proven machine that has gone past the 10 million mark and is here to stay,Gears of War has sold around 3 million copies in as many months so thats around 3 million times £40 and that is just on "one" game that is "exclusive" to the 360,no developer will ignore any console with those potential sales at such an early stage of it's life.

alienclay @ Jan 11th 2007 12:16PM

they both have have 512mb of ram. the on the 360 the ram is shared between the gpu and cpu, whereas in the ps3 256mb of two different types of ram are dedicated to cell and rsx seperately.

i won't go into gpus because thats a matter of opinion as they handle things differently and i don't like comparing first generation titles on any system. i believe GOW is the first game giving us a taste of what 360 can do and believe both ps3 and wii have a lot of potential to gorw in that arena.

to sum it up,
"a weapon is only as deadly as the person weilding it"

alienclay @ Jan 11th 2007 12:58PM

at launch there are only a limited number of games competeing with yours (esp. when you discount sports titles) and because most everyone will want at least ONE game you stand a good chance of return.

so reevaluate your equasion assuming 10 games at launch for console one and currently 100 games (all else being equal for all games console)

this thins out over console life as more games and more consoles pour into the market. and if your game sucks than don't expect to make money either way.

1 milion consoles * (1/10) chance of picking your game = 100k

10 million consoles * (1/100) chance of picking your game = 100k

you may only have to sell to 10% of the installed base but you have to work harder to compete against competition from other games out of consumers with a finite amount of money to spend.

not to mention that people don't just buy new new games, they also buy new old games after the inevitable price drop, and games with legacy across various platforms. 4 months from now people are still going to pick up copies of NFS Carbon, and as with most cross platform games, the dev costs are spread out so adding another console costs only a fraction of doing it exclusive, no matter which console you start with. its not just about risk, cause if it is the real question would be why would any dev (outside of first party) make exclusives anyway?

(i have my own conspricy theroys on that, including trying to 2-3 consoles in everyones house, and that some consoles do better in some regions than others,.... but thats getrs too far into this rebuttel)

scott @ Jan 12th 2007 5:44PM

Regarding PS3's arriving in retail stores -

" And really, as soon as they’re getting there, they’re evaporating. There’s a tremendous demand."

Good joke! I work at a Gamestop, with an EBgames right below us, both stores constantly have ps3's in stock, at least 6+ at all times. If 6 wii's arrive in stores, they're gone within an hour.

And regarding the developers wanting a challenge to develop on - that's retarded.

Why on EARTH would you spend tons of money developing a game for a console with around 1 million units out there? When the xbox has 10 million units out, and is easier to develop for (just because it's easier doesn't mean its worse). Like the previous poster said, it's not about wanting a challenge, it's about cost. PS2 had great exclusive titles because they had some 130 million consoles out there. That's a great number, and developers knew they would get their monies worth even if they kept it console exclusive. But why would any company spend tons of money to make a ps3 exclusive game?

A)Spend tons of money developing a game for ps3, if 100% of the people buy the game we'll sell around a million copies.
B)Spend tons of money developing the game for xbox, we only need 10% of owners to buy this game for us to make what we would have made from making it only on ps3.

Which is more realistic to you?

DrXym @ Jan 14th 2007 4:55AM

Peter Dille scares me. He's like a walking gaffe ready to misunderstand or overstate at the drop of a hat. Perhaps he's a great marketing person but he really needs to be informed of that which he speaks if he hopes not be generating a mini-firestorm of headlines about 1080p Motorstorm.

$L\\\'univers de BL$