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Naughty Dog thinks PSN will have an edge over Xbox Live

1:55 PM on 07.30.2008, Brad Nicholson 22 comments

Naughty Dog thinks PSN will have an edge over Xbox Live photo
     PS3

Naughty Dog’s Richard Lemarchand sees big changes on the horizon for the PlayStation Network that will vault the service over Microsoft’s Xbox Live. In an interview with IGN, Lemarchand said, “there’s going to be other things coming down the pipe that’s going to give PSN as a whole a competitive advantage.” Chances are, he wasn’t referring to the latest update to the PS3 firmware.

When pressed to explain what the big changes will be, Lemarchand hinted that it would revolve around connectivity outside of downloading games and showing off Trophies.

…as a games designer I'm very excited about net connectivity. Sony is really looking to expand games as culture in the same way that pop music, literature and fine art are culture. When you couple that with ubiquitous computing, with connectivity, with locative technology like GPS and cellphones, all of that feeds into social networks and the tremendous interest and power of Facebook, I think those kinds of things are going to be completely transformative for game design.

At this point, I am thoroughly confused as to what these amazing new features could be other than social networking. Sure, I would love to reveal my GPS position on a Facebook application, but I’m not ready to say that a feature like that would kill what Microsoft has going on. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what these new crazy features are going to give us.

Next page: More Sony stories




Shael's Avatar
Shael at 07/30/2008 14:23
Of course he'd say that...Just like Lionhead will say that XBL Marketplace is awesome or that Retro Studios will say that only WiiWare can deliver the content they envision.

Besides, who gives a hoot which is better? Games are all that matters.
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 07/30/2008 14:26
"I agree. PSN is the most fully featured free service of all the networks. "

Steam is the best free service, actually.

But back the the topic at hand, I'll remain cautiously optimistic. The last PSN update didn't really "wow" me. It was OK, and it fixed some issues, but it isn't better or equal to Live.

Hopefully they can improve their system outside of Home.
mix's Avatar
mix at 07/30/2008 14:27
Avatars are awesome....

Man it would be SOOOO AMAZING if the PS3 got GPS capabilities, wait no it wouldn't.
Ceej989's Avatar
Ceej989 at 07/30/2008 14:40
War? deserve it? ugh..
I agree that Sony is making strides with PSN and maybe it will be a great full featured service, but right now, it's not. Live can be expensive or not worth it, if you're outside of the US, which really sucks. I really wish people outside of the US can experience all the great content that the US gets in terms of stuff on marketplace and soon to be netflix streaming.
Alexradl's Avatar
Alexradl at 07/30/2008 14:49
Right now, PSN is playing catch-up. Seeing that PSN is free, it will definitely have the edge once it's features equal that of XBL.
PixelJunky's Avatar
PixelJunky at 07/30/2008 14:51
Basically what he's saying is that like Facebook, how you can put books, music, movies, and other things on your page. Sony wants to expand our culture to include games right beside these mediums. Aren't you wondering why Video Games aren't an option on these social sites? Where is a place for me to put my favorite current games, rate old school games and such.

Sony wants gaming to be seen as an equal with the other media by the sounds of it, instead of a subculture as it's viewed today. I commend them for that and hope they can pull it off.
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar
ArrestedDeveloper at 07/30/2008 14:58
Of course he'd say that, all but one of Naughty Dogs game have been Sony exclusive and I'm betting Sony published most of them as well.
Quest's Avatar
Quest at 07/30/2008 15:22
ArrestedDeveloper at 07/30/2008 14:58

Of course he'd say that, all but one of Naughty Dogs game have been Sony exclusive and I'm betting Sony published most of them as well.



Like valve and M$ ;)
lubczyk's Avatar
lubczyk at 07/30/2008 15:37
I meant PSN is the best of the console services. Steam is best of all if you include the PC, but its also free, unlike Xbox Live.

Why should console owners pay to play online while PC gamers have been getting them for free for decades?

Answer: They Shouldn't. It's all apart of nickle and diming your customers. That's the Microsoft way.
lubczyk's Avatar
lubczyk at 07/30/2008 15:39
PS: You pay $5 a month for Xbox Live and you don't even get Dedicated Servers while many games on the PSN and most if not all PC games offer Dedicated Servers for free!!!! If paying for servers that aren't even dedicated, while other services offer them for free isn't considered a rip-off, then I don't know what is.
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 07/30/2008 15:54
Oh, God. Here we go. Another PSN vs XBL war.
d0x's Avatar
d0x at 07/30/2008 16:04
Of course he is going to say PSN will be better. I'm pretty sure Naughty Dog hasnt made a non Sony game since the genesis days. They are as close to first party as you can get without being owned outright.

This guy also has no idea what MS has in store for the future of live, so everytime Sony catches up MS will just turn on more features. Sony needs to get the basics down before they start branching out anyways.
Sueng's Avatar
Sueng at 07/30/2008 16:50
What I don't understand is what all the hootenanny is about XBL being better then PSN when you essentially pay for ads getting shoved in your face.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 07/30/2008 17:01
Somebody is drinking the Cool Aid
Sathan's Avatar
Sathan at 07/30/2008 18:35
@ d0x

Actually they are owned by Sony unlike Insomniac. Sony bought them in 2001. So yeah they couldn't say anything other than PSN is the greatest and keep their jobs.
Takeshi's Avatar
Takeshi at 07/30/2008 18:35
I don't even care about this discussion. If it's good is fine. It doesn't have to be better than something. As long as their servers are good, I'm good. And please stop saying: "I hope company A wins over company B." Because you didn't think of the consequences. A Monopoly is never good. The three consoles of this generation can live happily together.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 07/30/2008 18:58
I can't wait to see what they have for the future. But as soon as they announce it, the other guys are going to begin production on their own version (and still probably come out with it first), so anything they come out with really won't be a huge advantage.
Scrixx's Avatar
Scrixx at 07/30/2008 19:16
I'll take steam and live, or no internet at all rather than PSN.
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 07/30/2008 20:14
i agree, free blowjobs for president.
Quest's Avatar
Quest at 07/30/2008 23:15
Scrixx at 07/30/2008 19:16

I'll take steam and live, or no internet at all rather than PSN.

do we need a M$ fanboy like you here .... answer .. NO ... so go away kid
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