MercuryNews: A Chat With Phil Harrison

[Nerve-Damage]

MercuryNews: A Chat With Phil Harrison (http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2006/10/a_chat_with_phi.html)



DT: Microsoft has been saying that you guys are four years behind them in online play. Do you feel that what you have here is better than what they have on the XBox 360?

PH: I'm not going to couch it in competitive terms. I'm going to say what we have delivered, which is the most integrated online platform, the best consumer experience for getting access to additional content whether it is paid for or free, having an open and free browser allowing you to gain access to all your favorite web sites and community features and content benefits that come from that. I think there is incredible innovation in that. Built into the platform itself are communications features: the friends' lists, the buddy features, which are leveraged across all of the games which are free of charge. I don't see what is missing from the offering. I do also observe that just like with the PSP, the PS 3 will be a growing and evolving platform. We'll continue to add benefits over the months and years to come.




DT: What is your feeling on exclusives this time? Will you have as many?

PH: I think exclusives do matter but not in the way they have in the past. What we're looking for in delivering the PlayStation 3 is a differentiated experience, one that takes advantage of the new capabilities of the platorm, like hard disk drive, Cell, RSX, PlayStation Network. These become the exclusive functions in their own right. Our own worldwide studios have the development capability of Nintendo and Microsoft combined. That gives us an edge over the coming months and years. It's up to us to use that edge as effectively as we can. We know that third parties are pushing forward with other technical functions of the machine incredibly well within their development teams.

*cough* bull**it *cough*


DT: I guess some people could quibble about whether these titles are demonstrably better than the Xbox 360 titles, since some of them have a resolution of 720P. What is your comment about what people should expect on how to tell the difference, how much better they will look?

PH: Resistance: Fall of Man is demonstrably better than anything else you can get a hold of. It has 40-player multiplayer free of charge. It has all the community features and content extension features you can expect. We demonstrated Motor Storm. It's not a launch title and will be available after the first of the year. But we'll have a demo available on day one. You saw that today. That is an absolutely incredible, visceral, brutal experience. That is really suggesting what the capabilities of the PlayStation 3 are all about. We need to have sufficient numbers of content that become the PlayStation 3 demonstrators. The PlayStation 3 evangelists in software. We have that.


:spit:

I’m a big PS3 supporter...

That being said….

Gears of War still edges out Resistance: FOM…especially in the graphics department (IMO).

[VG Aficionado]

Gears of War still edges out Resistance: FOM…especially in the graphics department (IMO).That's taking into account that I've got yet to see some GeOW footage which shows more than one third of characters on screen than RFOM shows in intense action scenes. Same goes to draw distances.

[Pumpkin Head]

Well i must need glasses i don't see GOW Graphics better,I think RFOM murders GOW on every aspect[hey thats just me] Time to get glasses.. lol.

[woundingchaney]

That's taking into account that I've got yet to see some GeOW footage which shows more than one third of characters on screen than RFOM shows in intense action scenes.

How many characters does Res. show??? Although, they both are focusing on different gameplay techniques.

Its really just a matter of opinion. I think that all in all GoW is a much more graphic intense game than Res.(not to say that Res. is bad looking or anything like that).

Phil H. is probably one of the better mouthpieces of any company this gen, sometimes he has some of his technical comments off but he usually presents himself as reasonably refined.

[Hrama]

Yeah, he does have a certain pinash for answering questions. I am not going to comment on the whole GoW versus FoM thing, but he mentions that all of the Playstation 3 games... here...

Built into the platform itself are communications features: the friends' lists, the buddy features, which are leveraged across all of the games which are free of charge.

Yes, but I think there is still confusion about how and in what kinds of ways. Is voice chat supported in all of the games? What types of headsets? Proprietary? Blutooth? Is video chat supported in all of the games? I'm just really curious about these features and I don't think Sony have demonstrated them enough...

[Nerve-Damage]

That's taking into account that I've got yet to see some GeOW footage which shows more than one third of characters on screen than RFOM shows in intense action scenes. Same goes to draw distances.

Don’t get me wrong!! RFOM is a great looking game and probably a blast to play. :drunks:

However; GOW (IMO) is just ahead a few notches in the graphics department .

[VG Aficionado]

How many characters does Res. show??? Although, they both are focusing on different gameplay techniques.Up to 40 or more. The draw distances and physics are superior and more intense respectively than GeOW's too.

However, I'm not saying that GeOW doesn't look good. I'm just saying that both games are really different and both will look better or worse depending on what you're looking at. I think the best looking human characters on any game to date are the boxers from FNR3 for PS3, but I have to take into account that what you're seeing most of the time on the screen are just two characters in a small environment. I can't expect the same quality for a game that shows ten times more characters on screen in larger environments.

[NeoPlayStation]

Gears of War is too slow and Resistance has a lot more NPCs and other things on the screen. And in terms of gfx, IMO Resistance is more impressive and your animation is alot better than Gears of War.

[woundingchaney]

Yeah, he does have a certain pinash for answering questions. I am not going to comment on the whole GoW versus FoM thing, but he mentions that all of the Playstation 3 games... here...



Yes, but I think there is still confusion about how and in what kinds of ways. Is voice chat supported in all of the games? What types of headsets? Proprietary? Blutooth? Is video chat supported in all of the games? I'm just really curious about these features and I don't think Sony have demonstrated them enough...


I feel ya, it seems that we know very little about what is integrated and what is standard or not supported with the online network. There has also be an abundance of mis-information on the subject.

I think that initially the games may support an individual network structure until further integration and refinement is done on the Playstation online structure.

Up to 40 at least. The draw distances and physics are superior and more intense respectively than GeOW's too.

However, I'm not saying that GeOW doesn't look good. I'm just saying that both games are really different and both will look better or worse depending on what you're looking at. I think the best looking human characters on any game to date are the boxers from FNR3 for PS3, but I have to take into account that what you're seeing most of the time on the screen are just two characters in a small environment. I can't expect the same quality for a game that shows ten times more characters on screen in larger environments.

I dont think the physics looks better and Im not really impressed by the animation in either title. I have never seen any gameplay screens showing 40 players on-screen (but I havent really been keeping up on any game/games as of late). The draw distance is larger as it is built around massive scale battles.

There is positives and negatives to both, but the particle effects, lighting, character builds and environment simply put GoW ontop IMO.

But yeah I definetely see where you are coming from.

[Pumpkin Head]

Ok i found my glasses RFOM still looks better than GOW,just my plain opinion..:salute:

[liver_kick]

It sounded like Harrison was comparing games as total packages (not just graphics), but yeah, that'll be up for debate. Visually RFOM and GeoW's do different things really well IMO. Gears has a great dynamic lighting engine, higher quality normal mapping and environment texturing. Resistance goes for bigger scale, a lot more enemies on screen, very dynamic rag doll and animation blending, and an impressive amount of atmospheric particle effects and physical collisions going on all at once... it seems pretty demanding on the simulation/algorithmic front. Both should offer unique experiences.

[OmniCloud]

LOL^ur retarded son...@Pumpkin Head

Wounding pretty much summed it up. Early shots where of Resistance from E3-just paled in comparision to Gears. With every month now-they have improved whle Gears has relatively stayed the same with better framerates. I just think we saw the Awesomeness of Gears earlier and now it's not that impressive anymore. But the games Looks CRAZY. Reiterating Wounding the particle system and characters are some of the most detailed I've seen in a FPS. On the flip side-Resistance has about 15 NPC beside you while battling about 20 Chimerans-then a GIANT Stalker comes outta NOWHERE! I think they both shoot for different goals. Resistance has me more intrigued because of the frantic action and weapons while Gears running/action movie sequences looks to be something to show off to your friends who thnks 360 isn't a powerhouse. I think the reviews will speak for themselvs-but I'd give the nod to Resistance for fun factor.

HEy this about Phil Harrison's interview tho-and I think World Wide Studios speak for themselvs.

[SevenDesigns]

Since when was Gears of War a FPS? I don't understand why people compare the two games as if they're in the same category. Not only that, but you're comparing a game that's been in development on the Xbox360 for ages, is a second gen (pretty much) title for that console, to a launch title (Resistance) that hasn't been in development as long.

I've been saying this for ages. Gears of War is nothing more than a game to show off pretty effects, and a chainsaw.

With that said, I will be owning both Resistance and Gears of War. They are two completely different types of games, and will give me joy. Whether it's equal joy or not, i'll find out once i'm done playing them both.

Considering Gears of War takes about 12 hours to complete, i'm sure i'll be spending more time with Resistance.

*edit*

PH: Resistance: Fall of Man is demonstrably better than anything else you can get a hold of.

Technically, he's not wrong. But you'll find out once you test out both titles (that's if you really want to compare them).

[Z]

Don’t get me wrong!! RFOM is a great looking game and probably a blast to play.

However; GOW (IMO) is just ahead a few notches in the graphics department .
that is your opinion. and Harrison gave reasons why he thinks what he stated:
"It has 40-player multiplayer free of charge. It has all the community features and content extension features you can expect."

and keep in mind he said "demonstrably" better, as he knows he can't say X game is better than Y game as it is a matter of personal preference.
Is voice chat supported in all of the games? What types of headsets? Proprietary? Blutooth? Is video chat supported in all of the games? I'm just really curious about these features and I don't think Sony have demonstrated them enough...

Is voice chat supported in all of the games?
communication features are in-built in the hardware itself. you can access them and communicate with anyone irregardless of the application all of you are running at the time. you could be watching a DVD movie, another a BD one, a third listening to MP3's, the fourth playing a game, the fifth scrolling through pics, etc. and you will all be able to communicate.

What types of headsets? Proprietary? Blutooth?
any bluetooth or USB headset, keyboard or mic is fine.

Is video chat supported in all of the games?
read first answer.

[Hrama]

Huh, hadn't heard a confirmation on the being able to use any blutooth headset yet. Any source Z? I know it just would make sense... but then again, a lot of things make sense that we don't see in any of the consoles...

[Kiosko]

I remember a article about using your PS2 headset.

[BruceWayneIII]

Huh, hadn't heard a confirmation on the being able to use any blutooth headset yet. Any source Z? I know it just would make sense... but then again, a lot of things make sense that we don't see in any of the consoles...

Find the latest demonstration of the XMB explained by a Sony rep - he clearly states Bluetooth headset...

You can also read the section about accessory settings in the PS3:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/740/740601p8.html

[The Game 2006]

Well i must need glasses i don't see GOW Graphics better,I think RFOM murders GOW on every aspect[hey thats just me] Time to get glasses.. lol.

I agree. GoW also has a frame rate problem. Both games look awesome, but I never cared for games using the Unreal Engine, they always looked plastic and doll like to me.

[Kabbage]

I agree. GoW also has a frame rate problem. Both games look awesome, but I never cared for games using the Unreal Engine, they always looked plastic and doll like to me. And a Blur everything that is more than 25 feet off problem. *At least that is what the last few vids ive seen on gamevideos has indicated*

*Still Has GeOW Reserved so dont cry xkids*

[Red_Eyes]

Gears of War still edges out Resistance: FOM…especially in the graphics department (IMO).

But is Gears of War running at 60 fps at 720P with 15 allies characters and a dozen enemy characters? I rest my case.

[curryking1]

Resistance runs at 30 FPS doesn't it Red?

Anyways, I really don't know why GeoW is touted so much, I think Lost Planet looks ten times better than GeoW in both graphics and gameplay. GeoW you got 3 guys on screen, and your camera needs glasses because you can only see 20ft in front of you before everything gets blurred out. I personally think GeoW is going to reasonably solid with sales when it comes out, but I'm skeptical on what the critics are going to say about it. Like the graphics are good, but it doesn't have a lot more than that going for it I think. Just me, I totally respect what other people think, but I can't see it myself. It's all perspectives of course.

But also to add, I think Resistance might have a bit worse textures for the ground, but that's the only place I see Resistance looks worse, as well as the characters. But overall, I think Resistance actually looks better, the environment pieces mesh together really well, and the effects are strong, and particles look great, and the character models have realistic shading and appearances.... Ok I'm gonna stop rambling, I just think that Resistance is actually very solid graphically, not that behind Gears, but also has better physics, AI, and animation (me <3 animation + ragdoll hybriding, it's finally been done, I've waited for it for so long). The reason for this is because I think Resistance has this natural colouring and method of lighting, the graphics are crisp, it's very smooth with no FPS problems whatsoever, and the textures are far from bad. Ok, I don't know how to explain this though, because it seems most people think GeoW looks better, but I really want to beg to differ, I just can't explain it right lol.

But come on! If people want to big up the 360 for the graphics, I really think they should be going Lost Planet on everyone! I really think that looks so much better than GeoW!

[Domination]

Don’t get me wrong!! RFOM is a great looking game and probably a blast to play. :drunks:

However; GOW (IMO) is just ahead a few notches in the graphics department .

Judging by all the reviews coming in, FOM sounds and even looks like a fantastic game. But to give credit where credit is due, I did think Gears of War was the better looking of the two. Of course this is without mentioning that Resistance IS a larger base game and also having more effects and interacting onscreen than Gears of Gear from what I can tell. On top of that, it's a first-gen launch title.

Now one thing I did really notice about FOM was the lighting on a lot of their characters. It seemed livelier looking.

[OmniCloud]

@CurryKing-Lost planet's explosions are some of the best I've ever seen-if there's one game I'm madd I won't experience because I won't have a 360 it's definitely Lost planet-I agree, truly the best looking game on 360 for me..

[Domination]

Yeah, he does have a certain pinash for answering questions. I am not going to comment on the whole GoW versus FoM thing, but he mentions that all of the Playstation 3 games... here...



Yes, but I think there is still confusion about how and in what kinds of ways. Is voice chat supported in all of the games? What types of headsets? Proprietary? Blutooth? Is video chat supported in all of the games? I'm just really curious about these features and I don't think Sony have demonstrated them enough...

Honestly, I really don't feel that these can be argued. To me, it's a closed case. There is little to anything left to debate here.

The console supports Blue Tooth. Blue Tooth is considered a link of many. If the console was able to detect these things in the room it was in when activated, then the obvious is most likely the case, nevermind everything else.

If voice, text, IM, video chat, etc. is built directly into the friends list on the XMB, plugging it into the game is a small step. So I would think that those are apart of being a standard feature unless developers went completely lazy on us by not plugging their games into it.

[cliffbo]

GOW looks very good to me, but it seems to lack that intensive, all out, mind boggling action that RFOM does. it is only my opinion but i do think that the graphics are a lot better on Resistance.

wounding, to point out that Resistance has larger play areas to in some way justify the inferior draw distance of GOW is a bit pointless really. what is is!
its the same as when people try to explain away the better games on the PS3 by simply siting extra development time. it doesn't matter WHY, the fact is they are better both graphically and gameplay wise.

[Coded-Dude]

RFOM is free to play online.......