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Engadget interview: SCEA's Jack Tretton talks Sony NGP, announces (and then un-announces) PlayStation Suite for PS3
Ever since his candid and humorous E3 2009 Sony keynote introduction -- wherein he thanked the audience for showing up despite the big news (PSP Go) having already been leaked -- we've always had something of a soft spot for Jack Tretton. We managed to have a sit-down with the SCEA President-CEO following the company's big Tokyo meeting, a non-working NGP unit in tow. For a brief moment, Tretton "confirmed" that PlayStation Suite games (currently slated for Android devices) would work on PlayStation 3. We asked rather directly, to which he responded, "Yes, they will. Yeah." By the next question, however, he explained that he might've misspoken and wanted to clarify that Suite is only NGP right now. It should come as no surprise, then, that there was no talk of Suite for any other devices, be it Bravia sets or Google TV. Tretton said there was at least one compatible Android device currently on the market but wouldn't elaborate -- given the 2.3 requirement, we're presuming he meant the Nexus S. We weren't able to get him to budge on the issue of the NGP's price, but we did ask him to opine on the Nintendo 3DS's $250 tag. Instead of offering friendly competitive jabs, he said only, "I think if the quality's there, then the people will find a way to buy it, within reason... I think that if you could create content that consumers see as compelling, they'll find money that they didn't think they had." A bit too reminiscent of former boss Ken Kutaragi's old adages, but hey, it's not like we expected a sub-$300 sticker, anyway. Some other highlights: Tretton wouldn't definitively say whether or not original PSP titles are in Suite's future -- "at this point, it's PlayStation One games, but I think it can go in a number of directions." This runs a bit counter to what Kaz Hirai said earlier in the day, but either he might've misspoken or the translator erred. The controller overlay we saw used as an example at the event was just that -- an example, with no guarantee of future use. That "holiday 2011" launch applies to at least one territory, but Sony was "ambiguous for a reason" (i.e. simultaneous global rollout is a dream but far from a promise.) We probably won't have a clearer image until fall rolls around, sometime after E3. No discussion on battery life, but Sony is "certainly look to improve upon [original PSP]." For what it's worth, that one measured about 4.5 to 7 hours at launch, and Sony eventually sold an extended-life pack. PS Suite will have non-gaming apps. A WiFi-only version? "We haven't made any determination on models yet," which is infinitely more vague than the confirmation of non-3G SKUs from SCEE president Andrew House. Will Sony or a Sony partner make a flagship device to show off the Suite? A, dare we say, PlayStation phone? "Stay tuned" was all Tretton would say, followed by a laugh. Hey, at least we acknowledged the elephant in the room. Full transcription after the break. %Gallery-115252%
NGP battery life likely comparable to PSP
A 1UP report quotes Sony head of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida saying that the NGP handheld will have "about the same [battery life] as the original PSP." The PSP's battery life varies considerably from around 3 hours if the UMD disc drive was whirring away, to much longer if played off flash storage. Sony's official estimate for average PSP operation time is 3-5 hours. Meanwhile, Eurogamer has Sony Europe honcho Andrew House saying the device will have a "good, solid battery life because of two factors." The dual delights of life extension are apparently the card-based media (instead of UMD, which requires moving parts) and the OLED screen. Those potential power savers are joined by energy-sapping features like a four-core CPU, 3G, and other factors, helping explain the PSP-like battery life.
Watch two sizzling minutes of NGP games in action
Wasn't it so boss when Sony showed off a full two-minute clip of gameplay footage on its just revealed "next generation portable" last night? You know, the clip that showcased Uncharted, Killzone, Gravity Daze, LittleBigPlanet, Reality Fighters, and all those other games? According to excited attendees of Sony's press conference, the clip was rather thrilling -- unfortunately, Sony has yet to release it. Thankfully, a rogue cameraperson captured the whole thing and, at least for the time being, has made it available on YouTube (with remarkably steady hands, we might add). Call us weird, but Reality Fighters has us more excited than anything else. Maybe you didn't notice there's a banana suit? See for yourself after the break.
GameStop taking NGP pre-orders ... for $999
At the very bottom of GameStop's listing for the NGP is a notice: "official pricing and release dates have not been announced by the publisher." But that's not stopping the retailer from taking pre-orders for Sony's newly announced handheld -- for a whopping $999.99. Before you faint, though, remember that "these are estimates only and subject to change." Talk about a horrible estimate (we hope). Hey guys, why not wait to take pre-orders until the system, y'know, has a name? [Thanks, Howard!]
id's Carmack comments on NGP's theoretical performance
John Carmack, id Software's technical director, reminds us of our technical incompetence daily on Twitter. Yet, one tweet managed to catch our attention and make some semblance of sense to our puny brains. Carmack expects "the Sony NGP to perform about a generation beyond smart phones with comparable specs." That should theoretically give Sony's handheld a competitive edge over the next slate of Android and iOS devices. "Low level APIs" may enable developers to get the most out of the NGP. Essentially, low-level APIs give the developer more direct control. However, it's unclear if Carmack is speaking out of first-hand experience -- we don't see id Software/Bethesda on this list of NGP developers.
Resistance NGP being developed by Nihilistic, isn't a port
Insomniac Games, creator of the alternate-history FPS Resistance for PS3, tweeted its congratulations to Nihilistic Software, the apparent developer of the series' NGP incarnation (which was revealed in a promo reel of in-development games for the handheld during PlayStation Meeting 2011). Insomniac confirmed in a followup tweet that the title would be a "brand new Resistance game. Not a port." While Insomniac has handled all of the Resistance console iterations, including this September's Resistance 3, the well-recieved 2009 PSP spinoff, Resistance: Retribution, was developed by Sony Bend. With Bend currently linked to the Uncharted NGP game, however, it seems Nihilistic got the call to carry on the Resistance for the PSP successor. Little else is known about the title, aside from what can be inferred from the brief clip (pictured) in the promo reel -- which does seem to indicate that, unlike Retribution (a third-person shooter), Resistance NGP will be a first-person shooter. Nihilistic is perhaps most (infamously) known for being the original developer of the failed StarCraft: Ghost project, before going on to complete Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (EA), Conan (THQ) and the downloadable Zombie Apocalypse (Konami). The studio is currently finishing up PlayStation Move Heroes, published by Sony. [Thanks, Brian]
Sony wants NGP hardware to be profitable and affordable
The more responsible gaming hardware enthusiasts among you have probably reserved your excitement over the recently announced NGP until you learn the device's ever-important launch price. Given the impressive specs of the handheld -- as well as Sony's infamous tendency to overcharge for its new gaming hardware at launch -- we wouldn't blame you for worrying. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe boss Andrew House recently provided Eurogamer with the first potential hints about the console's MSRP, saying, "I can't put a ballpark on it in terms of figures, but what I would say is that we will shoot for an affordable price that's appropriate for the handheld gaming space." However, Sony's not going to be giving the things away; House also shot down a Eurogamer source who claimed Sony would be selling the device at a loss. House explained, "we would want to have our hardware be profitable, in addition to our software," later adding, "We've experienced both sides and we know which one we like to be on!" That seems like a tricky balancing act: How exactly is Sony planning on introducing new (assumedly high-investment) technology at an affordable consumer price point and still hope for the NGP to remain profitable? Wizardry? Alchemy? Both? As far as a firm number, Game Informer was the only outlet able to get anything out of Sony's biggest wigs -- when GI brought up the enormous launch price of the PS3, Sony Computer Entertainment president of worldwide studios Shu Yoshida laughed, and replied, "It's not going to be $599." We're glad events unfolded in that order -- had he said "It's not going to be $599," then laughed maniacally, we would have started to get really nervous.
Here's a big list of developers and publishers working on NGP projects
Beyond the handful of games revealed onstage during last night's big Sony event, an enormous list of developers and publishers currently working on games for this holiday's "next generation portable" device has surfaced. Game Informer posted up the entire list broken down by region, which features big names like Activision, Ubisoft, 2K Games, Square Enix, and Capcom. Perhaps more notable than the big name publishers is the group of listed developers, including Rockstar Games, Capybara Games, From Software, and Grasshopper Manufacture. As GI points out, both Electronic Arts and THQ (and their respective development studios) aren't currently listed as working on games for NGP, though we imagine that will change as the year goes on (we already know that EA has had exposure to the in-development system).
All NGP models include Wi-Fi, 3G available in certain SKU
Either there's a bit of confusion between regions, or Sony will offer NGP system variants with different communications capabilities in certain regions. Europe will have the choice of 3G-equipped or Wi-Fi only models, SCEE president Andrew House told Eurogamer. "The first thing to clarify, which I'm not sure the presentation did a perfect job of doing today, is that all of the devices will have Wi-Fi capability; a separate SKU will have 3G," House said. The Kindle offers a similar choice, as does the iPad and even the iPhone/iPod Touch. However, ITMedia reports through Twitter that all Japanese NGP systems will offer 3G. Whether there's a requirement to sign up for service with purchase, and what the available plans are, is currently "undetermined." No announcements have been made as of yet for North America.
Video: 'Little Deviants' shows unique use of NGP's rear touchpad
It turns out that the NGP game Little Deviants doesn't just have the most amusing and cute name in the handheld's known lineup -- it also has the most interesting use of that inexplicable rear touchpad thing. As shown on stage at last night's PlayStation Meeting, players manipulate said deviants by moving their fingers along the touch panel, which raises the ground on screen, causing them to roll. It's as if you're putting your finger through the system to gouge the game world!
Portable Uncharted developed by Sony Bend, has 'camera mode'
You know how it is when new tech is announced. You let the magic of the moment get to you, the whimsy, and suddenly you're thinking all kinds of crazy things like, "Maybe Naughty Dog is developing the Uncharted NGP game they just showed off!" Sure, we realize in the light of day -- as we sweep up the glitter and take down the disco ball -- that we were just a little too hopeful last night. But luckily, the reality isn't too bad at all: Game Informer reports PortaDrake (working title [ours]) is being developed by Sony Bend (Logan's Shadow, Resistance: Retribution) with oversight from Naughty Dog. Across the web, hands-on impressions of the game seem to be positive, with the "gimmicky" features (swipe the device's back to climb a rope?) either working better than expected or being ignored without incident. Also interesting: PortaDrake features a "camera mode" that lets you use NGP's motion-sensing tech to look around your environment and take photos. No word on connectivity with Uncharted 3 yet, but no one's ruling it out.
Time for bigger pockets: NGP filmed and photographed
It may surprise you to learn that, in some ways, our friends at Engadget are even nerdier than us. While we spent the night imagining all the NGP's gaming possibilities and repercussions, the Engadget staff probably spent it combing high resolution photos of Sony's new device, looking for secret buttons and wondering how many ... wires are in it, or something. But their obsession is your gain since they've come away with a ton of PSP comparison pics and even a video (which you'll find after the break). In the meantime, here's our technical analysis of the NGP: it's right-side up, which, as you can see from the photo, is a big step forward from its predecessor.
Sony's next PSP (codename NGP): a closer look
Following the unveil of its bodacious next generation portable (NGP) PlayStation device, Sony let a swarm of journalists (including us) on stage to get a closer look at the PSP's dual-stick, quad-core successor. No touching, but we were able to direct our lens mighty close and compare the NXP with a PSP and PSP Go before the on-hand staff shooed us away. Enjoy the pictures! Update: And now we've got video for you as well! You know where it's at. %Gallery-115201% %Gallery-115205%
Watch the NGP 'concept video'
Weren't able to attend the PlayStation Meeting in Japan? Don't worry. You can watch the concept video that introduced the world to the PSP2 NGP right after the break.
Your first look at Sony's 'NGP' handheld
Sony sent out lovely product shots of its new handheld, the NGP. If you're dying to see what the crazy rear touchpad thing looks like, or what it looks like from the side (a lot like an iPhone 4, strangely) then you're going to be in looking-at-hardware heaven. The power button is on the top this time! That's different. And it's a button instead of a toggle!%Gallery-115191%
Sony's next-gen PSP (NGP) has a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, quad-core GPU as well
You know that crazy next-gen PSP (NGP) with multiple touchpads, dual analog sticks, and quadrupled resolution that Sony just trotted out? Yeah, it's got a quad-core Cortex-A9 and a quad-core Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU doing the grunt work within. We've never seen a handheld this powerful. Then again, considering the darn thing won't be launching until this holiday season, maybe quad-core parts will be the least Sony will need in order to match up to the "super phones" coming up this year. We're just wondering how long any of these souped-up portables will last on a charge. Full spec sheet after the break.
Metal Gear Solid 4 demonstrated on NGP
As if we didn't understand the implication the first time, Sony paraded Hideo Kojima out on stage -- this better be a Zone of the Enders game! -- to demonstrate ... right, of course: Metal Gear Solid 4 on the NGP. "There's no announcement of a new title today," Kojima confessed, "but I'd like to talk about the future perspective." We get it -- PS3 games can be exported to NGP -- and Kojima is envisioning a future in which games will be seamlessly transferred back-and-forth between the home console and portable unit. "This dream is going to come true in the near future," he pledged, "and right now I'm working on this project." "I can't disclose further information," Kojima added -- but that's what E3's for, right?
Unreal Engine 3 shown on NGP
Tim Sweeney from Epic Games showed up at tonight's PlayStation Meeting to reveal that Unreal Engine 3 works on the NGP -- which shouldn't be much of a surprise, given that the device was shown running PS3 games, and UE3 runs on phones. Speaking of phones, the game demonstrated was Dungeon Defenders, which is currently available for Android and iPhone. Sweeney also showed an updated version of the "Epic Citadel" tech demo.
Lost Planet 2, Yakuza demonstrated on NGP
Capcom's Jun Takeuchi took to the stage at today's PlayStation Meeting to show off Lost Planet 2 running on the NGP handheld -- as a demonstration only, as he said Capcom was not announcing new titles at tonight's event -- "but before long we will be able to announce new titles for NGP." According to Takeuchi, LP2 was running on MT Framework Mobile (which also powers Capcom's 3DS games) and this demo was put together in just two weeks. "I'm sure you've seen the PS3 version," he told the audience, "and the quality is just as good" on NGP. Takeuchi said the NGP could handle the "full specification." Next up, Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi demonstrated assets from Yakuza: Of The End, to show that "everything can be transcribed [from PS3] onto NGP."
NGP's 'Near' app tracks your location, finds other NGP players around you
The NGP has some pretty crazy location-based capabilities, mostly embodied in an app called "Near." Near tracks your location, and makes an ongoing map of where you've been. In case you were wondering .... where you've been. In terms of games, Near connects with PSN, and finds out what's popular among other users where you are right now, as well as what other people nearby are playing. You can even buy games right within that interface! If you stumble into, say, a place where people are playing Hot Shots Golf all the time, you can just buy it right then and be ready for the next impromptu tournament.
