SCEA's Lempel says Sony isn't playing "catch up" with Xbox Live

Sony's been out there touting its PlayStation Network user numbers for some time now, but it looks like it's now ratcheting up the rhetoric when it comes to the actual user experience as well. Taking the lead on that front is Sony Computer Entertainment America's director of PlayStation Network Operations, Eric Lempel, who recently told Industry Gamers that Sony doesn't think "there's a lot of 'catch up' [with XBL] anymore," adding that, "in some cases, I think we've got more, and we've got some other things they don't have." Of course, he further goes on to point out that PSN is and has always been free, and he cites PlayStation Home as just one thing that distinguishes PSN from Xbox Live, adding that he doesn't "see a lot of things they're doing that we're not.". Your move, Microsoft.

[Via Edge Online]

[Angel @ Jul 8th 2009 6:14PM]

FIRST... *runs and hides*

[Adam @ Jul 8th 2009 4:54PM]

LOL

[Chaos Theory @ Jul 8th 2009 4:54PM]

I don't know about the, the XBL experience is pretty seamless and the achievements aspect adds a really nice element to gameplay. I personally like the ps3 better as a system, but i'm really stuck on the achievements/gamerscore aspect of XBL.

[Chaos Theory @ Jul 8th 2009 4:55PM]

I don't know about that*

[DBrim @ Jul 8th 2009 4:57PM]

Yeah, because trophies are so different.

[dan2600 @ Jul 8th 2009 4:59PM]

WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT ACHIEVEMENTS?! are you 13 and still need an e-peen?

[WickedEast @ Jul 8th 2009 5:11PM]

Yeah, I never understood why people would give a damn about achievement points and trophies. In most cases, it's not even a good indication of how good you are in a particular game, but rather how much time you wasted on it.

[Monkey with glasses @ Jul 8th 2009 5:20PM]

@WickedEast

Try and get the sitting ducks trophy in Hawx and see if you don't need skill. Just sayin' man.

[MarnBeast @ Jul 8th 2009 5:21PM]

I actually really enjoy having achievements, despite the fact that they really do mean absolutely nothing. It's not the achievement that's the real reward, it's the task in general. They just add goals to a game that wouldn't be there ordinarily, adding replayability and play time. I know that this artificially increases the game time and doesn't actually add anything to the game, but it's still better than not having them. Games have had these achievements for years, it's just nice to have them add together for all of the games you've played.

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 8th 2009 5:25PM]

the one thing i like about ps3 community, is if enough people voice wants/needs for a particular feature to be added to the platform, or to the xmb (as long as its within reason) they generally listen. i know they've said many times in their firmware update videos that a lot of guys that work on the ps3 firmware development actually read the posts that are on the official playstation blog/forum/thingy

[SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jul 8th 2009 5:29PM]

well i personally look at achievements and trophies as a way to extend games that don't have alot of replay value. i mean i never get all the achievements/trophies in games with good multiplayer, but in solo player games it's something i generally pay attention to. at the same time, i couldn't tell you my Gamer Score or Trophy Level off the top of my head.

[AnnoyingPoster @ Jul 8th 2009 5:33PM]

dan2600 = sony fanboy loser. jump off a bridge and take your playstation and all your crappy games with you.

[Aaron @ Jul 8th 2009 5:43PM]

Annoying Poster calling out fanboys. lol @ the irony

[errrrrere @ Jul 8th 2009 8:23PM]

Trophies are much better tha some single gamerscore that Xbox offers.

You get to see how good a person REALLY is. Any moron with enough spare cash can buy every game released and collect the easy achievements on Xbox, and get a high gamerscore.

On PSN, you see how many Plats/Gold/Silver/Bronze they have. In addition the level up is FAR more meaningful that a stupid number.

[ill trooper @ Jul 8th 2009 10:22PM]

"WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT ACHIEVEMENTS?! are you 13 and still need an e-peen?" - dan2600

...and subsequently, why do you care if someone else cares about achievements? Why be a dick?

[WickedEast @ Jul 9th 2009 1:37PM]

@Monkey with glasses: That's why I wrote: "In most cases", not all cases.

[drseatbelt @ Jul 8th 2009 4:55PM]

hahahahahahaha

phew.
hah

[Monkey with glasses @ Jul 8th 2009 4:57PM]

There' re only playing catch up with xbox 360 sells which they should be close by now, me thinks.

[josh @ Jul 8th 2009 6:00PM]

They are falling behind actually, just not as fast. The 360 still sells more units every month than the PS3, which means that the gap is (slowly) widening. PS3 needs a price drop before they can catch up.

[Monkey with glasses @ Jul 8th 2009 6:17PM]

True, but let see in long run, maybe, but you're still right. But still think that they are not doing so bad. I'm buying my third system soon just waiting to see what these rumor brings.

[trew @ Jul 8th 2009 7:44PM]

@Josh. Stop listening to NPD numbers or faked Neilson polls. Look at the GLOBAL picture. PS3 is closing on the 360 pretty quickly. That 18month headstart where Microsoft racked up 13m sales has shrunk to 5m gap between the 2 consoles. Many of those 360s are gonna be RROD casualties too, and not actually in active servce (many regular consumers don't even know about the extended warranty)

[Andrew @ Jul 9th 2009 12:34AM]

@trew: Actually in every major region other than Japan not only are Microsoft selling more consoles but their sales are actually increasing whereas Sony's are decreasing. This was shown with the recent release of not only NPD stats, but European and Australian stats as well.

[Aaron @ Jul 8th 2009 4:57PM]

Commence fanboy poo-slinging in 3... 2... 1...

But seriously, I think both services have stuff to offer for gamers of all types. Not every single gamer out there thinks that the features LIVE offers are necessary, like party chat, etc. However, I do think that to remain competitive, whatever Sony's frame of mind, that they have to implement at least SOME of the current features that LIVE has. I think that once they get cross-game voice chat that works IN-GAME, that a lot of people will stop complaining as much. That seems to be the most sought-after feature for PSN at the moment.

I've read that they're trying to implement SKYPE for the PS3 sometime down the road. That would actually be a great feature, as you would be able to not only talk with other PS3 SKYPE users, but SKYPE users on the PC as well. That would be the ultimate cross-platform chat solution.

[Aaron @ Jul 8th 2009 4:58PM]

Goddamnit, I see in the time it took me to type that, we already have the mongoloids coming out from under their bridges...

:(

[Aaron @ Jul 8th 2009 5:01PM]

Sorry for the consecutive posting, but Engadget has no way of editing comments.

One thing Sony really needs to do in their next console release is bundle a goddamn bluetooth or USB headset with every system. Even if they re-release the PS3 as a slim model, PACKAGE A DAMN HEASET IN. It's one of the biggest things that is holding the PSN back, as not every gamer has the means to communicate with one another.

[Timmy @ Jul 8th 2009 5:06PM]

"mongoloids", how Politically Incorrect, yet so tasty

[Alan Strangis @ Jul 8th 2009 5:10PM]

TIMMEH!

[tX2 @ Jul 8th 2009 4:57PM]

There's only 3 things XBL has that PSN doesn't.

1. Cross Game Invites
2. Sending Voice Messages
3. In-game Party Chat

And by the 3.0 update most of those should be there. Are these 3 features really worth $50?

[John @ Jul 8th 2009 5:14PM]

Yes, and who still pays $50?

[teej @ Jul 8th 2009 5:16PM]

on paper, the comparison seems like apples to apples. however, XBL is a much better experience, and that is not due to these additional 3 functions. unless you're 12 years old, $50/year isn't a lot of money...i mean, $4.17/month. the whole free argument is stupid. yay, you pay nothing to settle for an online system rather than pay a little more to get something more enjoyable.

[FNG @ Jul 8th 2009 5:35PM]

so it will take sony a 3.0 to get to something that live has had since the 360 launched a year ahead of sony. you would think sony could have had these from the beginning...

[Anticrawl @ Jul 8th 2009 5:39PM]

Any half-wit can go online or to a Target and get a 13 month card for 28-35 US dollars. I have all three consoles and a gaming PC and without a doubt Xbox Live is the best online experience to be had. If you can't see why then you're either an idiot or a fanboy.

[Monkey with glasses @ Jul 8th 2009 5:56PM]

@teej

More enjoyable?

Just love when fanbois take their opinion as fact. Very funny.

Me personally, i've seen both but used only the psn, i have alot of fun with it and even more since is fre. I don't know about you but anything free sounds good to my ears.

Now just before you say something like "you know what else ifs free, syphilis", i was not talking about what you have. :)

[hexhunter @ Jul 8th 2009 6:02PM]

Do you know why on the PS3 you can't play music and play a game at the same time? Because Microsoft patented it, I worry that many of these "catch-up" situations are caused because someone holds the rights to what should be a basic service.

I mean, it's almost as if MS patented word processors and forced all the other companies to pay to use a common-sense idea...

[josh @ Jul 8th 2009 6:02PM]

"There's only 3 things XBL has that PSN doesn't."

PSN has Netflix streaming now? Because that is the feature I use most on my Xbox. If PSN had Netflix, that would be cool because I use my PS3 as a DVD/BR Player so it would be simpler to have all my movie watching on one device.

[badison @ Jul 8th 2009 6:09PM]

I have both systems, but feel that the benefits of Xbox live come from the fact that all of these services are network goods. The more users you have, the more value there is in using the online features. They really aren't that different, but xbox live is kind of dominant in my experience since most of my friends play it. GTA on xbox 360 has more users than PS3's, etc.

I wish they would allow cross platform (PC, XBOX, PS, .... uh ... Wii?) playing between services. Thoughts?

Sort of off topic, but anyone who argues that any dollar cost is irrelevant might not be thinking of the people who are trying to save money or prefer to pay less. If you could get what you needed done with OpenOffice would you use that or MS Office?

[Monkey with glasses @ Jul 8th 2009 6:31PM]

@badison

I understand your point of view but same goes for me all my peeps have ps3 consoles so for me to get an xbox360 would be pointless. I use my ps3 to watch anime and shows online, no problem, and my other usage is to play with homebois, so really don't see a point to saying ps3 is better than the xbox360 or vice versa. Since there is nothing i would need that the xbox360 has to offer and i could do all i need on ps3, those argument on xbox360 being a better machine is funny. Could not even get me to keep one for free since i do not need. Now as for price you pay what you can afford, I'm sure most people would like to live in a mansion, feasible for everyone? I think not, and banks won't lower the price of property just to sell it.

[Dest @ Jul 8th 2009 8:23PM]

$50/year is certainly important considering how much people bash the PS3s price. If people actually looked LONG-TERM, and see the true cost of owning a XBOX360 for 3-4 years, they'd see that the PS3 has better value. My 2 cents. *I play PC games on a PC that I upgrade every 4 years for $100.

[dan2600 @ Jul 8th 2009 4:58PM]

XBL users are a buch of jerkish teenagers that spend more time insulting each other then playing.

PSN users never talk, never team work, they just kinda of boorishly play the game together.

I'll stick with steam...ya, you find servers of the jerks, but its one of the only online gaming communities were you will find SOME games where people just wanna play and have some fun. (mostly team fortress 2)

[dan2600 @ Jul 8th 2009 5:01PM]

granted this is with playing "random" users online...with friends these arguments are not valid.

[Aaron @ Jul 8th 2009 5:17PM]

Yeah, thank GOD for the xbox live party! Just listen/talk to your friends and don't have to put up with the morons out there :-D

[badison @ Jul 8th 2009 6:16PM]

I totally agree with dan2600.

[Ryujin @ Jul 8th 2009 8:55PM]

I agree with the PC part of your comment but XBL Party system is where its at to silence all those little kids who spend to much time trash talking and not enough winning, but if you're good enough at the game and high enough level then you filter out those kids and get people who will talk strategy with you.

[Nick Stark @ Jul 9th 2009 1:24AM]

I hate playing online games on PSN... no one has mics... its aweful. PC games are by far teh best I will agree. But id much rather deal with the handful of jerks than playing on PSN.

[Monkey with glasses @ Jul 8th 2009 5:00PM]

What is your point in quoting Kaz Hirai? Are you trying to say something by quoting some else's opinion? No, I guess not.

[Adam @ Jul 8th 2009 5:01PM]

One more thing that XBL has that PSN doesn't:
Good, lag-free servers.

[Aaron @ Jul 8th 2009 5:02PM]

LOL, living Bizzarro world, I see...

[tX2 @ Jul 8th 2009 5:05PM]

PSN is much more "lag free" than XBL. Sony has dedicated servers for PSN, which is why were soon going to be able to play 128vs128 with MAG. There is no lag on PSN, I don't even think you own a PS3.

[dan2600 @ Jul 8th 2009 5:05PM]

correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't XBL only let you play with US based servers and PSN is worldwide?

[rob thero @ Jul 8th 2009 5:19PM]

PS3 servers have less lag because of the sparse population.