Sony Computer Entertainment has made further comments which seemingly underline the dual usage planned for the PlayStation 3, confirming that the system will make use of keyboard and mouse input devices.
Although the primary usage for keyboard and mouse quoted by Sony is for games, namely the first-person shooter Unreal Tournament 2007 and new Killzone, this news further extends the PlayStation 3’s reach away from gaming and into somewhat unknown territory.
Sony has been frank about its plans for extended non-gaming PlayStation usage for years now. It has maintained a relatively open policy on its vision for using a PlayStation machine as something of a digital hub for the modern home. “Though sold as a game console, what will in fact enter the home is a Cell-based computer,” said SCE chief Ken Kutaragi back in July. “The model image for the Cell-based network may be the Internet: servers around the world form one virtual 'computer,' and each PC accesses it. Application programs can no longer directly access the hardware; instead they will have to be written in high-level, object-oriented language. The Cell processor will completely change the concept of programming. I am sure that a technology revolution is about to occur, not only within Sony but throughout the digital consumer electronics industry.” Read the full story here.
Of course, Sony isn’t the only company with designs on your living room, computer-driven future. In our interview with Peter Moore last month, this subject was tackled in some depth.
Peter Moore: ...Over the years you've talked about 'The Trojan Horse' and asserted there's an end game here that's not about videogames. That we want to infiltrate your living room and just attach a cash register to your broadband connection.
SPOnG: But in fairness, there were many Microsoft executives going on record in 2000 and 2001 to say that there would only ever be games and that there would never be any other content throughout the project, and they said this repeatedly.
Peter Moore: When Robbie Bach stands up and talks about 'digital entertainment' and the headline 'Lies Exposed!', and remember that I read SPOnG every day, and then I read on your site that [Ken] Kutaragi said, 'this is never a games machine', and I wait for the next day for the same reaction and it never comes.
SPOnG: But Sony has always said that though, since the PlayStation 2. It has always been their published plan.
Peter Moore: Yes. But they have never delivered. The element of what we're trying to do - we believe that games are at the core of interactive entertainment in the future. That when we look at what people will be doing with their televisions next year or the year later - well the TVs themselves are now built for videogames and interactive entertainment. The 18-30 male demographic has beautiful televisions but they ain't watching television on them. They're playing games, they're on Xbox Live. They're bringing gaming out of the bedroom to where it really belongs - with your cool TV, 16 x 9 aspect ratio, surround sound system... Games offer a more compelling entertainment experience than television and we know we can make a difference and compete. We know we can be a major player in interactive entertainment and we know that investment into the game space is what we need to do. We've done that as you well know, to the billions of dollars, and we'll continue to do that.
As to whether Sony will deliver this time will be interesting to see.
Stay tuned for updates as the countdown to PlayStation 3 continues here at SPOnG.com
Although the primary usage for keyboard and mouse quoted by Sony is for games, namely the first-person shooter Unreal Tournament 2007 and new Killzone, this news further extends the PlayStation 3’s reach away from gaming and into somewhat unknown territory.
Sony has been frank about its plans for extended non-gaming PlayStation usage for years now. It has maintained a relatively open policy on its vision for using a PlayStation machine as something of a digital hub for the modern home. “Though sold as a game console, what will in fact enter the home is a Cell-based computer,” said SCE chief Ken Kutaragi back in July. “The model image for the Cell-based network may be the Internet: servers around the world form one virtual 'computer,' and each PC accesses it. Application programs can no longer directly access the hardware; instead they will have to be written in high-level, object-oriented language. The Cell processor will completely change the concept of programming. I am sure that a technology revolution is about to occur, not only within Sony but throughout the digital consumer electronics industry.” Read the full story here.
Of course, Sony isn’t the only company with designs on your living room, computer-driven future. In our interview with Peter Moore last month, this subject was tackled in some depth.
Peter Moore: ...Over the years you've talked about 'The Trojan Horse' and asserted there's an end game here that's not about videogames. That we want to infiltrate your living room and just attach a cash register to your broadband connection.
SPOnG: But in fairness, there were many Microsoft executives going on record in 2000 and 2001 to say that there would only ever be games and that there would never be any other content throughout the project, and they said this repeatedly.
Peter Moore: When Robbie Bach stands up and talks about 'digital entertainment' and the headline 'Lies Exposed!', and remember that I read SPOnG every day, and then I read on your site that [Ken] Kutaragi said, 'this is never a games machine', and I wait for the next day for the same reaction and it never comes.
SPOnG: But Sony has always said that though, since the PlayStation 2. It has always been their published plan.
Peter Moore: Yes. But they have never delivered. The element of what we're trying to do - we believe that games are at the core of interactive entertainment in the future. That when we look at what people will be doing with their televisions next year or the year later - well the TVs themselves are now built for videogames and interactive entertainment. The 18-30 male demographic has beautiful televisions but they ain't watching television on them. They're playing games, they're on Xbox Live. They're bringing gaming out of the bedroom to where it really belongs - with your cool TV, 16 x 9 aspect ratio, surround sound system... Games offer a more compelling entertainment experience than television and we know we can make a difference and compete. We know we can be a major player in interactive entertainment and we know that investment into the game space is what we need to do. We've done that as you well know, to the billions of dollars, and we'll continue to do that.
As to whether Sony will deliver this time will be interesting to see.
Stay tuned for updates as the countdown to PlayStation 3 continues here at SPOnG.com
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Comments
Greg2k 2 Sep 2005 11:58
1/5
Jesus Christ, this is so sneaky. Sony reveal mouse and keyboard support, yet they make absolutely no comment towards the controller. Are they waiting for the Revolution controller to be shown?
Because by now, we should know a lot more about the PS3's controller, and if we don't, it's because it's not finalized; and that's what bugs me.
Because by now, we should know a lot more about the PS3's controller, and if we don't, it's because it's not finalized; and that's what bugs me.
tyrion 2 Sep 2005 13:12
2/5
It was fairly obvious that the PS3 would accept signals from a keyboard and/or mouse since the thing has USB ports. Also the PS2 supports USB keyboards for text entry.
It was only a matter of time before the keyboard/mouse input scheme was adopted by games developers.
However, where are you going to put the keyboard and mouse? You need a desk for this. With most consoles sitting under the TV, I foresee lots of people kneeling at coffee tables playing UT/KZ.
It was only a matter of time before the keyboard/mouse input scheme was adopted by games developers.
However, where are you going to put the keyboard and mouse? You need a desk for this. With most consoles sitting under the TV, I foresee lots of people kneeling at coffee tables playing UT/KZ.
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jsm30625 2 Sep 2005 16:44
3/5
Greg2k wrote:
Jesus Christ, this is so sneaky. Sony reveal mouse and keyboard support, yet they make absolutely no comment towards the controller. Are they waiting for the Revolution controller to be shown?
Because by now, we should know a lot more about the PS3's controller, and if we don't, it's because it's not finalized; and that's what bugs me.
Because by now, we should know a lot more about the PS3's controller, and if we don't, it's because it's not finalized; and that's what bugs me.
Another reason why Nintendo should patent the cr*p out of the controller, do some viral marketing, release a few more vague details, and hype it up even more.
BustyKrusty 2 Sep 2005 18:48
4/5
tyrion wrote:
However, where are you going to put the keyboard and mouse? You need a desk for this. With most consoles sitting under the TV, I foresee lots of people kneeling at coffee tables playing UT/KZ.
Since all FPS use R1/R2 for shooting, those buttons seem a bit too centered for my taste and i'm not using mouse and keyboard while i'm on the sofa. Shoulder buttons on DualShock are well positioned; why push them somwhere in the middle?
So for Sony, the shape is allright even though most gamers think it sucks,and then decides to stress the use of m/k.Then if it's so important for Sony why there are no RTS games on the way?
Thief 4 Sep 2005 07:16
5/5
Good questions. No one has answers, as there are none. I've been wondering how Sony is so popular for a while, as the things they do don't make sense. Like for example, making the slimline PS2 not compatable with the HDD. The Slimline PS2 didn't come out that much longer than the HDD, so if your PS2 breaks (and it will, they are very poorly made) and you need a HDD, you're just conpletely screwed.
I hope to god that the next generations of non-Nintendo consoles aren't focused around m/k (We all know Nintendo won't go the way of m/k). I think if all gaming went to m/k primarily, there would be a chance of me stopping gaming. I'm *not* going to play a 4 player game with 3 friends in my room with us all having m/ks, and I'm *not* going to rearrange my room to having 4 tables in my room. I'm already not entirely sure I'm going to pick up the PS3 anywhere close to launch, but if they make it centered around m/k, I definately won't.
All though, the Boomerang controller may be worse. Sure you can hold it in your hand, but it's going to be uncomfortable as hell. My friends and I figure Sony is trying to win over the Austrailian market. I mean, if any Kangaroos attack them while they are playing PS3, they're got a Boomerang to fight back with!