The reason for the Spider-Man font for PS3

[Z]

The creative force behind the design of PS3, Teiyu Goto, has revealed how the Spider-Man font came to be used on PS3 in an interview with the Official PlayStation Magazine.

Goto explained, "Take the PS2 logo - we created it to blend in with the rectangular shape of the console. Personally, I feel very strongly that the logo would not have looked right on PS3.

"If you really look at the PS3 contour carefully, it is rounded when viewing the console in profile. Rather than creating a typography with all the risks that entails, it was wiser to use the one from Spider-Man, for which Sony has the rights.

"It was also the wish of President Kutaragi, who insisted that I use this typography. In fact, the logo was one of the first elements he decided on and the logo may have been the motivating force behind the shape of PS3."

Issue 005 of Official PlayStation Magazine goes on sale tomorrow.
http://computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=161017

[n1n9tean]

That's exactly the same reason that I've proposed on numerous occasions!

[TimmyJ]

Is it just me or does that not seem like much of a reason? It's practicaly like saying "we did it like that... because we did"

I can't say I particularly care anyway, a font's a font, but this just seems like such a lacking reason.

[n1n9tean]

No, they are saying it is well-fitting with the design of the hardware. I've always thought that it made perfect sense. If you look at the PS3 from the side (right at the hard-drive bay) it's the same basic shape as any of the full-figured characters (P,S,O,3).

[Z]

what are you talking about? he said they wanted a font that fits with the profile shape of the unit. Spider-Man's fit it very well. if they didn't go with it, they would have gone with something similar.

PS. why do people call it the Spider-Man font where it is present and used before that came out? there is a slight difference in that A and Y fo example have their lines a little out of frame, but it looks very similar to an established font that I forgot its name.

talking about the design of PS3, the designer said he was influenced by a building design in Japan. I've seen the building and read its name, but forgot it being a Japanese name. the building does look like a giant PS3 thought.

[TimmyJ]

That's not what I mean, I understand that there was a need for a font that would suit the general aesthetic of the PS3, but he just never really said why they specifically chose the Spider-Man (sorry Z) font. It just seemed like a bit of a jump between the reasoning that the PS3 needed a new font and the fact that the Spider-Man font should be used specifically because Sony own the rights to it - Sony must surely own the rights to more than just one font? Had he said that the Spider-Man 3 font was best suited after testing out other fonts that Sony owned then it would have been a more satisfactory degree of reasoning to me.

I don't need details spelling out for me, I guess it's just that I prefer people to be quite articulate. Although I should imagine that this is something that becomes lost when their words are translated either before or after speaking them.

Sorry if I wasn't articulate enough before :)

[Jay Gee]

I honestly believe the font's perfect for the console. The old rectangular PS2 logo would've indeed clashed with the PS3's sleek and sexy design. In terms of going with what works, they nailed it.

[n1n9tean]

I honestly believe the font's perfect for the console. The old rectangular PS2 logo would've indeed clashed with the PS3's sleek and sexy design. In terms of going with what works, they nailed it.

Ditto. I love the pairing. Whether you think the Spider-Man movie series is crap or not has nothing to do with the fact that its font is the perfect one.

I mean, I don't see anyone seriously whining over it. But, I also can't imagine why anyone would.

[Z]

That's not what I mean, I understand that there was a need for a font that would suit the general aesthetic of the PS3, but he just never really said why they specifically chose the Spider-Man (sorry Z) font. It just seemed like a bit of a jump between the reasoning that the PS3 needed a new font and the fact that the Spider-Man font should be used specifically because Sony own the rights to it - Sony must surely own the rights to more than just one font? Had he said that the Spider-Man 3 font was best suited after testing out other fonts that Sony owned then it would have been a more satisfactory degree of reasoning to me.

I don't need details spelling out for me, I guess it's just that I prefer people to be quite articulate. Although I should imagine that this is something that becomes lost when their words are translated either before or after speaking them.

Sorry if I wasn't articulate enough before :)
you do have a point. they didn't elaborate at all. my guess is this is a translated blurb out of the original interview.

I love this kind of talk by the way. I like to learn about the little details in design and reasons behind decisions that most would brush off as trivia. too bad there aren't enough of those.

[dockthepod]

I still hate the font :) I really liked the ps2 one but it wouldn't have worked on the ps3. I just wish they could have come up with something original.

[Smokey]

love the FONT suits it too the ground. does it really matter though?

[LiquidEagle]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/0c/05/ab9492c008a0c67020f57010.L.jpg

Equilibrium kind of had the same font, but it wasn't italicized. Anyways, rather than calling it the Spider-Man font I just call it the Sony font :laugh:

[Smokey]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/0c/05/ab9492c008a0c67020f57010.L.jpg

Equilibrium kind of had the same font, but it wasn't italicized. Anyways, rather than calling it the Spider-Man font I just call it the Sony font :laugh:

are they bringing out a Equilibrium 2. and is the main actor BALE playing Snake in the MGS movie? i hope so

[LiquidEagle]

After Equilibrium, Writer/Director Kurt Wimmer went on to make Ultraviolet, which is one of the worst (if not the worst) goddamn movies I've ever seen.

As for Christian Bale being Snake, I'd love it to be that way.... but after re-watching Two Towers and Return of the King (Extended Editions, of course :-p) last night, I think I might want to see Viggo Mortensen instead -- he looks a tad older, just like Snake would, but he's still supar badass :-D

[Smokey]

Viggo Mortensen
mmmmmm dunno if i can picture him in that role. ill have to watch a movie of his

[LaLiLuLeLo]

whoever plays snake has to look good as liquid snake also, keep in mind.

[LiquidEagle]

whoever plays snake has to look good as liquid snake also, keep in mind.

I don't really like the idea of a double-role. Whoever plays Liquid Snake has to be Master Miller too, and I'd rather not see somebody do all 3 :laugh:. So I'd most like to see David Wenham or Sean Bean be Liquid Snake, but for the movie-goers who haven't played the game, it would ruin the whole Master Miller thing if he was easily recognizable. So they need to get the makeup crew from The Prestige on the movie, if you know what I mean ;)

[CreativeWriter]

At least now we know it was a conscious decision based on economics (owning the font). Why not give this explanation at E305 when the internet was freaking out over the font and the "popcorn" container look to the PS3 (me included)? I had feared some PS3/Spiderman tie-in with the boomerang controller ("PS3 aims for pop audience" was my feeling). Both Sony and Nintendo were slow reacting to initial negative press concerning their systems.

If you're going to name your system the Wii, as in Weeeeeeee, your PR guy/gal should be waiting, positive spin press release in hand. It took Perrin Kaplan a week or so to respond while the internet went all I, Claudius on us, and only then on Matt's IGN mailbaggy-thing. Sony never responded to the font controversy--at least not that I remember... until now. These companies need to be more savvy about the power of the internet to color press coverage (didn't CNN run with "Wii? Huh?" stories for a couple days?).

[yoshaw]

talking about the design of PS3, the designer said he was influenced by a building design in Japan. I've seen the building and read its name, but forgot it being a Japanese name. the building does look like a giant PS3 thought.

Allow yoshaw to help out his friends :P ( getting cocky, yeah! lol )

Here's the building, called 'Tech Gate Tower'. I believe its in Australia(?). Correct me if wrong.

http://xs313.xs.to/xs313/07135/TechGateTower1.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs313&d=07135&f=TechGateTower1.jpg)

PS: Z, my broadband got queued for a 20day wait. Too many people subscribed in the same period. Doh!! (>_<)

[FantasyGhost]

Desire for change was there, but the PlayStation legacy was stronger, says the man who designs PlayStation

The man responsible for the visual design of all Sony's PlayStation consoles, Teiyu Goto, has revealed the story behind that boomerang-shaped controller which was mocked by the world and his dog at E3 in 2005. You couldn't escape the comedy jpegs of batman holding the pad either.

"President Kutaragi wanted something different for the controller," Goto told Official PlayStation Magazine. "Quite frankly, we had set aside the ergonomic aspect in favour of the image it conjured up. We wanted to present an avant-garde model for the show, running a risk of being criticised."

It's safe to say that the criticism quickly followed. When asked about his personal thoughts on the controller and if he liked it, Goto replied, "It was very futuristic visually, but practically speaking you only had to hold it to realise how it compared to the Dual Shock 2. You know there are so many players who are used to the PlayStation controller; it's like a car steering wheel and it's not easy to change people's habits."

But the design was dropped and the Sony reverted back to the Dual Shock 2 model, which eventually became SixAxis. "The desire for change for there, but the legacy of the PlayStation was stronger - the slightest change to the controller could annoy players and the risk wasn't worth taking. Also PS2 and PS3 provide backwards compatibility; the ergonomics should be the same when you play games from the previous generation but without having to bring out the 'wired' controllers. It is for these reasons that we reverted to the shape of the classic controller."

You can read the full interview in Issue 005 of Official PlayStation Magazine, on sale now. Check out why Kutaragi insisted on using the Spider-Man font for PS3 here.http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=161099

[Garfunkel]

I also think it's got something to do with the strength of the spiderman brandname. Company's always want to combine franchises.

[Z]

Allow yoshaw to help out his friends :P ( getting cocky, yeah! lol )

Here's the building, called 'Tech Gate Tower'. I believe its in Australia(?). Correct me if wrong.

http://xs313.xs.to/xs313/07135/TechGateTower1.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs313&d=07135&f=TechGateTower1.jpg)

PS: Z, my broadband got queued for a 20day wait. Too many people subscribed in the same period. Doh!! (>_<)

yeah, that's it. I can't believe you've found it! I tried looking for it a while back but found nothing. you should work for Google. :ko: