PS3 is "two, three years ahead of the market" says MS boss

[FantasyGhost]

Neil Thompson questions whether we're really ready for Blue-ray

UK senior regional director for MS has been speaking to the times about the arrival of PS3 across Europe last Friday.

"In the technology and gaming there's really little in the PS3 where I can say, 'Gosh, I wish we had that'," he told the Times online. "The biggest threat that Sony has for us is the brand that's been established around it."

While Thompson admitted that PS3's graphics would give 360 a run for its money, he said that Microsoft is leading the race in the online department: "More and more we're seeing that the online experience is a really important factor. Sony has come up with an online world that seems to let you do just about everything except gaming.

"It's two, three years ahead of the market. People won't want to replace their entire DVD collections, and they'll get a better resolution with a standard DVD on an Xbox than a PS3. It's nowhere near the importance of the format war between VHS and DVD. The internet is becoming an increasingly important medium. Surely online is going to be the distribution method for much of the high-definition content."

You can read our exclusive interview with Stephen McGill, Microsoft's head of gaming and Entertainment and Devises Division UK, here, where he asks where Sony's killer games are.

If you happened to be in a coma last week and have just woken up, check out our UK PS3 launch report right here, including an exclusive movie of the first PS3 in the UK being sold.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=160600

[GTAce]

While Thompson admitted that PS3's graphics would give 360 a run for its money, he said that Microsoft is leading the race in the online department: "More and more we're seeing that the online experience is a really important factor. Sony has come up with an online world that seems to let you do just about everything except gaming.

Is he scared because of the graphics power from the PS3? 8)

Lol i dont know what he wants to tell us people....


EDIT: Does this mean in "2 or 3 years" there will come a 360 with a blu-ray drive? lol j/k

[VG Aficionado]

The biggest threat that Sony has for us

So it is a threat, huh? Sony is the enemy, they're evil

Sony has come up with an online world that seems to let you do just about everything except gaming

People won't want to replace their entire DVD collections

They don't have to and I myself won't replace mine, but I won't buy any more DVDs when Blu-ray movies are pretty much the same price.

And funny how he doesn't even mention the HD-DVD add-on, even to argue that "Microsoft gives you the option to blablabla".

Bottom line: who cares what you have to say about the PS3, man.

[woundingchaney]

It makes sense for Neil to downplay the need for BR and point out MSs current superiority in the online arena. Although there is a constant direction from MS that BR plays no positive role which I disagree with. Outside of gaming BR is a great addition to being able to watch high definition content, its standard in the console. With the ever increasing purchases of HDTVs I personally cant see not having a high def. movie format. As far as gaming, I have no doubt that the extra space is nice for developers nor do I doubt that BR will be the future medium but I dont feel that DVD is going to be a dooming problem this gen (for the most part).

I cant see online being the distribution method any time soon (this gen anyways), he is definetely talking out of his ass here. LOL Sony being ahead of the curve by years when he is suggesting a common distribution format that could be every bit of a decade away.

[FantasyGhost]

Well it's not all what Neill said though: I'll probably should digg up the Times online interview instead of bits and peaces.

Xbox 360 to support Blu-ray if needed

Neil Thompson, head of Xbox in the UK, has said that Microsoft will support whichever high-def disc format wins the war.


An add-on similar to the HD DVD Player seems most likely
In the high definition disc war between Blu-ray and HD DVD, Microsoft and Sony are currently stood firmly in rival camps. Sony's PlayStation 3 comes as standard with a Blu-ray drive, while the Xbox 360 has an HD DVD add-on to enable playback of HD DVD movies.

Just because Microsoft is supporting HD DVD now, it doesn't mean the software giant won't offer Blu-ray support if needed. Speaking to the BBC, UK Xbox boss Neil Thompson said, "Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution."

Obviously Thompson hasn't confirmed Blu-ray for the Xbox 360, but it does sound like Microsoft is open to the idea of Xbox 360 Blu-ray playback should it be required.

Source: BBC Online

http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/22-03-2007-5079.html

[frosty]

PR doing his job basically. It's a pretty well crafted jab at Sony, pointing out the lack of DVD upscaling as a flaw in PS3 that the 360 can use to combat BR without having to replace your DVD collection. If it only looked anywhere near as good he'd have a point.

However the whole hinting that home is everything but games, which has been a common mantra around MS' PR since it was announced, is pretty stupid considering they have absolutely no idea exactly how home works with games. They haven't used it. And judging by what Sony says it can do, it is everything AND games since it can basically act as a centralized lobby to ANY online enabled game (they show motorstorm being launched this way in the video). So, no matter how weak the dev's online system is (like when motorstorm first launched) home fills that gap in for it.

[FantasyGhost]

Here's a better article: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=23761

[BruceWayneIII]

that's a great article. +rep and thanks.

[makeitlookreal]

In my opinion Sony is simply making higher quality products all the time with their game consoles.

For example, lets say the PS2 was a Ford Mustang.

The PS3 would be Porche!

Yes, it's more expensive. But it's a better product.

[GTAce]

For example, lets say the PS2 was a Ford Mustang.
The PS3 would be Porche!
Yes, it's more expensive. But it's a better product.

Im a Mustang fan so-> 8(

Lol for me the PS3 is a Pagani Zonda F God i love those car comparisons. XD

[rpgamer_2k5]

Interesting article. Yes its mainly PR baggage but really, its an interesting article.

[Jay Gee]

Blu-Ray discs give us better quality video that's around the same as price as regular DVDs. For those who purchase DVDs, there's no reason to have to go back and re-equip their entire library with Blu-Ray discs. Most people who look at this from an objective standpoint wouldn't possibly believe that's the case. And who in their right mind would actually do that anyway? It's a great addition to consumers for both movies and games, and was a pretty smart move for Sony to kill two birds with one stone this generation, but it did have its setbacks with costs in the actual console.

Now, distributed Hi-Definition content? That's not going to become a fixed standard until nearly every console owner is equipped with an internet connection that can handle that much content. Not everybody who owns a 360/PS3 has a blazingly fast 8+Mbps connection. I can't imagine a tier 1 DSL user trying to download hi-def content to a console. It would take too long, even for his speed. I honestly believe we won't see this type of medium being accepted until a larger portion of the population has been upgraded to an internet connection that can acquire that much content in a timely manner.

[GTAce]

Lol im prepared for the future (got an 18Mbps ADSL connection).
But i agree with you people with lower bandwitchs would have a problem.^^

[Z]

I remember reading this a long time ago. hmm.

in any case, I see the thread title as being a praise to PS3. who doesn't want to have a futuristic product? if nothing at all, it will at least mean it will live longer and won't get redundant any time soon.

[F089/H]

Originally Posted by woundingchaney

It makes sense for Neil to downplay the need for BR and point out MSs current superiority in the online arena. Although there is a constant direction from MS that BR plays no positive role which I disagree with. Outside of gaming BR is a great addition to being able to watch high definition content, its standard in the console. With the ever increasing purchases of HDTVs I personally cant see not having a high def. movie format. As far as gaming, I have no doubt that the extra space is nice for developers nor do I doubt that BR will be the future medium but I dont feel that DVD is going to be a dooming problem this gen (for the most part).

I cant see online being the distribution method any time soon (this gen anyways), he is definetely talking out of his ass here. LOL Sony being ahead of the curve by years when he is suggesting a common distribution format that could be every bit of a decade away.

That about sums it up for me...When did you get an Italic name?

[Lucent Beam]

Sony has come up with an online world that seems to let you do just about everything except gaming.

....
No...?
I'm not quite sure what he's even referring to. Has he checked the numbers of people playing their PS3 online?

[Jay Gee]

I honestly don't know what he's saying. If he's referring to HOME, I'm definitely going to have to disagree with him in that regard. If he's referring to PSN...well, I had a blast playing RFOM online with zero lag that I was aware of. And if I didn't have to give my ex-lady friend's PS3 back to her, I would've had a blast playing Motorstorm as well.;_;

EDIT: Then there's that Warhawk game. And in all honesty, in terms of online multiplayer over the PSNetwork, I don't think it's bringing anything significant to the table.</drippingsarcasm>

[satriales]

Sony has come up with an online world that seems to let you do just about everything except gaming.

From my experience it is the other way round. Playing Motorstorm and Resistance online have been comletely lag-free and very good fun. MS have better friends list integration and things like sending messages and inviting people, but actual gaming online is better on the PS3 IMO.

[Red_Eyes]

Hahaha. So Microsoft finally admits that the PS3 will have better graphics. But at the same time, Microsoft also tries to downplay graphics and Blu-Ray and 'up-play' DVD and Xbox Live.

[sikkinixx]

Too bad the 360 only upscales DVD's when you use a VGA cable, a port which my DLP doesn't have *coughjerkscough*