Sony doesn't often admit its faults, so when the PS3 platform holder shows some humility, we listen. The confession comes by way of Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida, who admits that his company dropped the ball when it came to offering a competitive online experience on the PS3.
"I think we were late to offer the platform-level support, to make the online functionality work at that level," spills Yoshida. "We made the prior decision that you do not introduce the common centralized network names into every experience, so publishers made their own. That was fine at the start, but as more and more games have online functionality you need a unified approach.
"So Microsoft took that approach in the last generation, and maybe that's where people see the difference when they compare Xbox Live and PSN."
Yoshida adds that Firmware 3.0 is a step toward improving the PS3's online offerings and centralizing the PlayStation Store as a big part of the experience. He also believes that Sony needs to look more into social networking integration, especially exploiting things like Facebook: "Something like 300 million people already have accounts on Facebook. Why should we ignore that?"
With a free service and a number of solid online games, the PS3 always had potential to be a dominant online force. Until Sony truly wakes up to that potential, however, it won't be realized. Hopefully the brains behind the PS3 are starting to wise up, but has "late" become "too late?"
Contest:
4:20 PM on 09.03.2009
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I'm glad to see one of Sony's representatives making some sense for once. Frankly, I like PSN better than Xbox Live, and it's free.
I don't think it's too late for them.
Eh... it's a "gaming" console... I think they need to remember that and support gamers more.
If it's too late for anyone it's Nintendo. Evolve or die.
So yea, focus on the game interaction dammit!
Also, if MS has Last.fm support underway, what's to stop Sony from forging alliances with companies like Hulu, Pandora or Slacker? All three would be considered wise moves.
# Everyday Legend
That's quite possibly the best analogy I've ever heard in my life.
And no its not to late (well to the closed minded it is) they have an online network that people prefer over xbl, just keep the updates coming and it will be all good.
BTW I think he, as an artist, vigorously prosecutes the use of his carefully crafted images without his permission.
We don't see much of Ron any more.
Then when the extra features do come, there not really features people wanted. I have hopes that if we didn't see XGAMECHAT and such come right away, was because they were working on Netflix or HULU support. Or as someone said, slacker/pandora.....or even adding more OPEN codecs to the machine (flac, ogg, mkv)...but no, I haven't seen any of that.
IMHO, with this price drop and new image....they should pull people of the extra projects and put them on getting universal chat, universal grouping, saner xmb usability (txt messages comes in, I hit PS button...why am I not taken to the new message INSTANTLY), working and out to consumers.
After that, work on all the extras you want. Until then...focus on the gaming aspects. And ensure I don't have to head into HOME to do it.