LGF: Sony exec says customization is key

[cliffbo]

i don't think this has been posted yet:

LONDON--Games will need provide a variety of add-on options and keep on developing after their release to survive in the next-generation market, according to Michael Denny, vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studio Europe. Denny spoke at the London Games Summit today.

According to Denny, developers need to realise the ability to personalise, customise and download extra game content is going to be essential to the success of their games. "We face more than just a console generation transition," Denny said. "An 18-year old today has never known a world without broadband, mobile phones, or MP3s."

Denny told the audience he believes that online communities such as Myspace and YouTube have had a huge impact on the way people interact, and will additionally impact the success or failure of tomorrow's games. "Today's games are competing for timeshare even more than cash. Consumers today have more choice, they have more and better things and they have louder voices. And the future consumer will have an infinite menu."

Denny also indicated he believes networked connectivity will be essential to gameplay on next-gen platforms. This is because "gamers love to contribute, and more than anything, they love to show off," he explained.

"Today's gamer wants to customise their games to fit their own personality and style, and [wants] games to be more interactive than ever before," Denny said. "Today millions of ordinary people have the tools and the role models to become amateur producers… It is the desire to participate and create that becomes the enduring entertainment experience itself."

He concluded by saying he believed the best weapon in Sony's goal of sustaining interest in big-budget games is to provide carefully timed releases of a range of downloadable options, be they whole episodes or merely new skins for characters. "Imagine a physical game world where the player can place and design new objects to help create new and emerging gameplay," he said. "Imagine not just personalizing the look of the game, but personalizing the content in such a way that makes the gameplay more relevant to a particular player or group of players."

[Old_Timer!]

It's an interesting vision, the crystal ball isn't too clear at the moment.

[cliffbo]

It's an interesting vision, the crystal ball isn't too clear at the moment.

in saying what we want, he's told us what we'll get...

[Z]

It's an interesting vision, the crystal ball isn't too clear at the moment.
try bleach. it works like a charm. if not, let lose a Bankai.

[Kiosko]

It can work but I don't see this happening anytime soon.

[masteratt]

For the first time- I disagree with something coming out of a 'Sony man'.

I don't play games to "show off" and in fact I can say I hate showing off.
I hardly bother with downloading extra content (many PC games I have support this and I have never bothered....yes, I have broadband).
I also don't bother with hardly and mods. So it's good that people show off and release their own content but for me it adds asbolutely nothing.

So from my personal view: I don't agree with anything he said. You can say I play games to "get away" from people and this idea of networking and community they push on especially to effect gameplay is really not good for me.

[cliffbo]

For the first time- I disagree with something coming out of a 'Sony man'.

I don't play games to "show off" and in fact I can say I hate showing off.
I hardly bother with downloading extra content (many PC games I have support this and I have never bothered....yes, I have broadband).
I also don't bother with hardly and mods. So it's good that people show off and release their own content but for me it adds asbolutely nothing.

So from my personal view: I don't agree with anything he said. You can say I play games to "get away" from people and this idea of networking and community they push on especially to effect gameplay is really not good for me.

he was generalizing masteratt... none of us fit into neat packages. but i believe that is the aim of SOE and this is the biggest indication so far of what to expect.

[venomv]

Exactly, a myriad of options will help individualize ourselves, we all have our own personalities, but sometime that is hard to see. MS is trying with Live, but I think Sony want's to take it to the next level.

@Masteratt Maybe they just haven't offered what you want and don't realize it yet.

[FantasyGhost]

Wasn't this already known?
May 12, 2006
E3: Kawanishi Talks Homebrew Linux PS3 Development (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9290)
Then afterwards XBOX 360 came with the same thing?
And i'm not sure because i'm DL'ing the Press conference from E3 2005 but i thought Ken said soething along those lines aswell back then.

[FantasyGhost]

Just got the Sony Press conference of E3 2005 there was little talk about the network ability http://media.ps3.ign.com/articles/615/615091/vids_1.html
at 48min.

[Carlos]

It's an interesting vision, the crystal ball isn't too clear at the moment.
Actually, it IS clear. Look at the success of Xbox Live and its Arcade/Marketplace. The industry is changing in more ways than one. Look at the PC arena, they've been doing it for years, and years already, but hasn't gotten the same kind of success that Xbox Live's downloads has gotten.

[Z]

Look at the PC arena, they've been doing it for years, and years already, but hasn't gotten the same kind of success that Xbox Live's downloads has gotten.
come again?

[Domination]

Actually, it IS clear. Look at the success of Xbox Live and its Arcade/Marketplace. The industry is changing in more ways than one. Look at the PC arena, they've been doing it for years, and years already, but hasn't gotten the same kind of success that Xbox Live's downloads has gotten.

I'm not too sure about the numbers, but I could probably agree with you. There is just one thing, however, unlike a console, a PC isn't really high on most mainstream consumers lists for the simple fact that it is always evolving. A console, I'd presume, would be in a much better position.

Turbo Graphix 16 (http://blog.wired.com/games/index.blog?entry_id=1561160)