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[Opus Angelorum]

I searched and found nothing. I thought this was a great interview, with some revealing answers.

I've edited some quotes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2013/02/21/sony-playstation-4-jack-tretton/

Q. I’ll start with the question everybody’s asking: When do we actually get to see the console?

But I was so focused on the content that when I think of the console I think of what comes through the screen, not the device that it emanates from. I just think there’s a lot of natural curiosity: What’s the controller gonna look like? What’s the box gonna look like? We made a conscious decision that wasn't going to be a part of the first reveal, but I would look for E3 as a time when you’ll get a good look at it. Or sooner.

Q. The event also talked a lot about the PlayStation 4′s cloud services –downloading back catalog games, playing them from the cloud, sharing games between devices, even having friends log in and watch you play, or take over the controller. Is that out of the box? And will all those services be tucked behind PlayStation Plus, where users have to pay for them?

I think it’s aspirational on the device, as opposed to us standing up there, pounding the floor and saying the day this thing ships all this stuff will be there. I think it’ll absolutely be there for the device, but I don’t know whether it will be there for day one on the device. I think a lot of these are things that we’re gonna do over time. And with that said, I think there will be a tangible example of all the things that we showed. It’s just a question of how deep it will go, how many games it will involve.

Notice he dodges the question of cost.

Q. So now that there’s this whole media infrastructure built around PlayStation, at what point do those services start to spill into the rest of Sony’s business? Microsoft’s built Xbox Music into Windows 8, it’s on PCs, it’s on tablets and phones…

I don’t think you’ll see PlayStation branded stuff on other Sony devices - you will see and you currently see the Sony Entertainment Network. Whether it’s your smart phone or your tablet or your TV you can take advantage of Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited… most of the deals that we’re doing with app providers we’re making available across the Sony Entertainment Network.

Q. How much are you worried about the rise of mobile gaming taking away from your business? If someone does all their gaming on a phone now, doesn’t that mean they’re out of the market for a PlayStation 4?

When somebody buys a PlayStation or one of our dedicated devices, they’re buying it first and foremost for gaming. And I will stack our gaming capabilities against anybody else’s.

So if you’re a true gamer you may kill some time on a smart phone and you may enjoy games – and I’m not belittling games on a smart phone – but you’re not gonna confuse Uncharted on the PlayStation 3 with an experience that you get on the smart phone. And I really don’t see smart phones and tablets as a threat, I see them as being additive. I think more people are gonna migrate to console from smart phone and tablet than the other direction.

Interesting last sentence there.

I found this question/answer to be the most interesting and honest:

Q. But all that stuff you’re talking about, like streaming movies and playing Blu Ray discs, I can do that on the PS3. Is there some entertainment feature I can only get on the PS4 that gives me a reason to upgrade?

PlayStation 3 is gonna live on, and we don’t expect everybody to drop their PlayStation 3 and immediately buy a PlayStation 4 this Christmas. We know that there are gonna be people buying and playing PlayStation 3 for years to come, just as they did with PlayStation 2, just as they did with PlayStation 1.

There may be a consumer that doesn’t become a PlayStation 4 consumer for five years. That’s okay. I mean, we’re selling PlayStation 3’s to people today, we sold them to people in 2006, and we hope to be selling them to people in 2015. That’s okay.

I think the great thing is that there are no absolutes. It’s not all about disc space, it’s not all about internet connected, it’s not all streaming, it’s not all large form games… there’s a lot of choice there for consumers, and I would argue more choice than any of our competitors.

I've never been a fan of Jack, but his answers here seem humble and realistic.

 

[Impeccable]

Some pretty fantastic insight and realistic goals.

Loved the bit about mobile gaming because it's fantastically true.

 

[nib95]

Very good responses all around. I agree with him on a lot of it. Also very poignant words with respect to console gamers shifting to mobile gaming and vice versa.

 

[Aquamarine]

So if you’re a true gamer you may kill some time on a smart phone and you may enjoy games – and I’m not belittling games on a smart phone – but you’re not gonna confuse Uncharted on the PlayStation 3 with an experience that you get on the smart phone. And I really don’t see smart phones and tablets as a threat, I see them as being additive. I think more people are gonna migrate to console from smart phone and tablet than the other direction.

Interesting how this is completely the opposite of the sentiment that's given off by many analysts.

I'm definitely inclined to believe Jack, but this statement qualifies Sony's "conservative" approach to this gen.

 

[dubc35]

I think more people are gonna migrate to console from smart phone and tablet than the other direction.

The opposite seems like the case to me.

 

[maverick40]

Great interview and some interesting answer. I love reading what Jack has to say

 

[-KRS-]

The opposite seems like the case to me.

Maybe handheld -> smartphone (maybe), but I don't see a lot of people who traditionally bought home consoles all of a sudden stop buying consoles because they happen to have a smartphone.

 

[shinobi602]

The opposite seems like the case to me.

I can't see actual Playstation/console fans just up and going "You know what, fuck Uncharted, GOW, Gran Turismo, Halo, Elder Scrolls, GTA, etc on my consoles. Temple Run 2 is where it's at."

Just don't see it.

 

[TheContact]

Jack Tretton is awesome I hope he's around forever. Hopefully he's at E3

 

[Massa]

He lets it slip that we're 9 months from launch, so November it is.

 

[casmith07]

It's good to see that Sony has kind of come back to reality. The PlayStation 3 turned out fine, but lord the launch was broken.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

The opposite seems like the case to me.

Yup. I might be, well, not biased, but I think it's hard for anyone to imagine this statement being true who takes a subway to work. I've seen people of so many different demographics playing Temple Run it's just incredible. I want to use the term "unprecedented" but it's possible I haven't on the planet long enough to use it in this instance.

 

[U n i o n 0015]

It sounds like they're not committing to much. Cloud gaming is a huge feature, arguably the feature that makes the PS4 so different from the competition, and it sounds like they have no idea when it'll be ready for debut.

 

[Perkel]

The opposite seems like the case to me.

I think he means what is happening when people start to play games more than 5 minutes a weak.

We all started as casual gamers at some point. The more people who will try gaming the more hardcore people there will be.

Console market and PC didn't shrink at all ! It rose actually. Current gen sold overall more consoles than last gen and pushed way more software.

Mobile gaming is just growing market which can further fuel it with new people playing games.

 

[ScOULaris]

Good ol' Jackie-boy. Most of his answers were right on the money here.

 

[Auto_aim1]

He lets it slip that we're 9 months from launch, so November it is.

November 2013 was shown during the Sony presser.

 

[SolsticeZero]

Jack Tretton is awesome I hope he's around forever. Hopefully he's at E3

Yeah, I've always liked Jack. Real down to earth guy, and his presentations aren't boring or too exciting, ya know?

 

[Chuck Norris]

Interesting how this is completely the opposite of the sentiment that's given off by many analysts.

I'm definitely inclined to believe Jack, but this statement qualifies Sony's "conservative" approach to this gen.

What exactly are you supposed to do about mobile gaming? It is what it is, and will be there either way. Sony seem to be really inclusive and welcoming of mobile gaming actually.

 

[triggaz]

The numbers don't back his migration claims up. The DS was huge before the rise of ios and android gaming. Now it's shrunken considerably the ios and android market has eaten in to that.

Consoles may be different but this year we are gonna see the advent of several sub $100 consoles with free to $5 games on your tv with proper controller support. I'm very interested to see the disruption there. I mean say what you want but in the last two years or so there have been more interesting rpg's on ios than on Playstation. One nich genre sure but it's telling.

Also a ios android flop won't destroy a company like a HD twins/PC flop will so I really believe once these mini consoles hit you will see a lot more traditionally console pc developers switch over even faster.

 

[TheContact]

November 2013 was shown during the Sony presser.

That's what I would have guessed. December would be too late for people to find time to buy it and afford it.

 

[Massa]

November 2013 was shown during the Sony presser.

Really? I thought it said Holiday 2013. Oh well.

 

[chogidogs]

This is exactly what I don't understand about these analyst generalizations. Sure, I can enjoy a mobile game or 2 but I like the Playstation because I like the games. This was the case on te ps3, sure it will be similar when the ps4 rills out.

 

[McHuj]

If you wanna have an event to talk about multimedia capabilities, we’ll proudly stand up and list all the media partners that we have, and the fact that we’re the number one most used Netflix device around the world. But the 3.1 million people that streamed [Wednesday's event] and that stayed up at all hours depending on what country they were in, they were there to see games. People that want to hear about multimedia applications don’t stay up until 4:00 in the morning to see presentations. We know that the people who were watching were gamers. We know that the people that are the primary purchasers of our boxes are gamers, and that is the audience that we cater to first and foremost.

Thank you. And fuck you, Kinect.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Personally, I just can't get into smartphone gaming. I've bought some games and I might buy a controller attachment later to play some JRPG's I bought but I'll probably just play those at home rather than on the go. I just don't see smartphone gaming taking over console gaming for the long term.

 

[BeEatNU]

Love me some JT, I was sad I didn't seem him at this conference. I imagine he will host the e3 like normal.

can't wait!

 

[VanWinkle]

Good interview. Very interesting and honest responses. I like a more humble Sony like this.

 

[dubc35]

Maybe handheld -> smartphone (maybe), but I don't see a lot of people who traditionally bought home consoles all of a sudden stop buying consoles because they happen to have a smartphone.

Well, I guess I meant it more that people will spend more time on their phone since it's always with them instead of a console. I didn't mean it as console players will stop playing console games and play more phone games.

 

[Durante]

All of his answers make sense to me. Unusual.

 

[Tyrone_Biggums]

Originally Posted by Jack Tretton:
When somebody buys a PlayStation or one of our dedicated devices, they’re buying it first and foremost for gaming. And I will stack our gaming capabilities against anybody else’s.

So if you’re a true gamer you may kill some time on a smart phone and you may enjoy games – and I’m not belittling games on a smart phone – but you’re not gonna confuse Uncharted on the PlayStation 3 with an experience that you get on the smart phone. And I really don’t see smart phones and tablets as a threat, I see them as being additive. I think more people are gonna migrate to console from smart phone and tablet than the other direction.

This is where I'm sure most GAFFer's thoughts resonate. The mobile side of gaming is a secondary additive to core gaming. It isn't the preferred method of gaming because the games themselves are meant to be played piecemeal.

I hope there's always an environment for core gaming.

 

[params7]

And I really don’t see smart phones and tablets as a threat, I see them as being additive. I think more people are gonna migrate to console from smart phone and tablet than the other direction.

Jack boy gets it.

 

[pharmboy044]

I don't like his answer regarding streaming. That needs to be there day 1 and every developer needs to support it or it's a failure.

 

[Concept17]

Some pretty fantastic insight and realistic goals.

Loved the bit about mobile gaming because it's fantastically true.

Agreed.

Personally, I just can't get into smartphone gaming. I've bought some games and I might buy a controller attachment later to play some JRPG's I bought but I'll probably just play those at home rather than on the go. I just don't see smartphone gaming taking over console gaming for the long term.

I've only had an iphone for a month, but this is exactly how I feel. Nothing is grabbing me so far and the majority of apps, especially the most popular ones, feel like cash ins. Too many developers have flocked to the platform to make a quick buck. It like a giant bubble waiting to pop.

 

[gofreak]

I don't like his answer regarding streaming. That needs to be there day 1 and every developer needs to support it or it's a failure.

Not sure which streaming you mean, but I think video sharing and broadcasting will be there at launch.

Not sure if it'll be forced on games, Sony may allow devs to disable it - but I'm not sure it would be in the interests of pubs to do that. It's free promotion.

 

[clav]

I think it’s aspirational on the device, as opposed to us standing up there, pounding the floor and saying the day this thing ships all this stuff will be there. I think it’ll absolutely be there for the device, but I don’t know whether it will be there for day one on the device. I think a lot of these are things that we’re gonna do over time. And with that said, I think there will be a tangible example of all the things that we showed. It’s just a question of how deep it will go, how many games it will involve.

What kind of answer is this?

Sony should really fire Jack Tretton.

Basically that presentation was a lie. He's not sure of anything. Every time he opens his mouth, there is a headline in there that doesn't sound good at all. Yesterday he said something stupid on AllThingsD's interview.

 

[Pagusas]

So basically what he said was:

"all the features we showed on stage, and things we talked about, yeah those are all pipe dreams right now and dont expect them anytime soon, maybe in a few years! Oh and they will all be up to the game developers/publisher whether they work or not"

At least that's what I took from it.

 

[gofreak]

Re. getting traffic to come back from mobile / social to dedicated gaming, there's more friction going in that direction than in going from console to mobile/social. To get traffic coming back the other way you either need to be as accessible as mobile/social is (in terms of ubiquity and device access, and speed of getting into a game), or have REALLY good, appealing games that people will put up with some friction to get at. Not an easy job.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

I can't see actual Playstation/console fans just up and going "You know what, fuck Uncharted, GOW, Gran Turismo, Halo, Elder Scrolls, GTA, etc on my consoles. Temple Run 2 is where it's at."

Just don't see it.

That's because it's a completely invented thing. You're absolutely right. GTA III on your iPhone with virtual buttons won't make you suddenly not buy GTA V. Anybody who thinks so is a little on the slow side.

 

[Cheech]

Jack boy gets it.

Really? I think it's delusion. What indication is there that people will ditch smartphones and tablets for game consoles tethered to a TV? It sounds like wishful thinking. Tablets especially will only get more powerful, and quickly, to the point where playing AAA games on them without the need for a Wii U or PS4-like box. Just sell me a bluetooth controller that I pair to my iPad, and I'll still get the same experience. If I want to play it on a home theater? I'll just pipe it from the iPad through a dumb, cheap Apple TV like device.

I honestly believe this will be the last generation of game consoles.

 

[Tyrone_Biggums]

What kind of answer is this?

Sony should really fire Jack Tretton.

Basically that presentation was a lie.

That quote was definitely questionable on his part. Although, over promising and over hyping tech isn't new to gamers. Best to take most items with a grain of salt.

 

[Liamario]

Other things I've noticed:-

When we'll get to see the console...

We made a conscious decision that wasn’t going to be a part of the first reveal, but I would look for E3 as a time when you’ll get a good look at it. Or sooner.

Interesting, semi-confirmation of november?

But the combination of third party support and first party support… I mean, nine months out from launch we showed a lot of live game codeand that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[pharmboy044]

Not sure which streaming you mean, but I think video sharing and broadcasting will be there at launch.

Not sure if it'll be forced on games, Sony may allow devs to disable it - but I'm not sure it would be in the interests of pubs to do that. It's free promotion.

Yeah video sharing and broadcasting is what I meant. I really hope Sony doesn't make it optional for devs like they did with screenshots with the Vita.

 

[VanWinkle]

Didn't the Gaikai guy say at the conference that ome of those cloud features will come out over time? I thought that was known. Some of the stuff, like live streaming and Vita remote play NEED to be in day 1 and I think they will, too.

 

[gofreak]

Basically that presentation was a lie.

He's not really being inconsistent with the presentation. He was being asked first and foremost about the cloud streaming service - the PS1/PS2/PS3 streaming to devices - and Perry was pretty clear on stage that that would roll out in phases and that they didn't want to talk too much about everything they were working on there because it was still in development. But that at the same time, Sony had fully greenlit the initiative.

I think other network and gaikai related integrations - the remote play to Vita, the video sharing and streaming, are shorter term prospects and will probably be there day one.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

I am absolutely astounded and equally impressed with how little Sony has bragged and trash talked this time around. Just straight up honest, and reasonable expectations for their console. I really like it.

Really? I think it's delusion. What indication is there that people will ditch smartphones and tablets for game consoles tethered to a TV? It sounds like wishful thinking. Tablets especially will only get more powerful, and quickly, to the point where playing AAA games on them without the need for a Wii U or PS4-like box. Just sell me a bluetooth controller that I pair to my iPad, and I'll still get the same experience. If I want to play it on a home theater? I'll just pipe it from the iPad through a dumb, cheap Apple TV like device.

The games still are, and will most likely be for the foreseeable future, much, much, much, much better. You name one iPhone game coming out that looks or plays anything like Watch Dogs.

 

[Killing_Joke]

I really find the mobile/console gaming debate odd. My math might be a little fuzzy but over 250 million consoles sold so far this gen correct? Which would make the most successful gen of all time. 360/PS3 are still selling 200k+ a month which is damn impressive.

Either way, i like Jack. Never saw a reason not to like him. But he might as well have answered every question with wait till E3.

 

[Massa]

Really? I think it's delusion. What indication is there that people will ditch smartphones and tablets for game consoles tethered to a TV? It sounds like wishful thinking. Tablets especially will only get more powerful, and quickly, to the point where playing AAA games on them without the need for a Wii U or PS4-like box. Just sell me a bluetooth controller that I pair to my iPad, and I'll still get the same experience. If I want to play it on a home theater? I'll just pipe it from the iPad through a dumb, cheap Apple TV like device.

I honestly believe this will be the last generation of game consoles.

So because you want the iPad to become a console, this will be the last generation of game consoles?

It's nice to want things.

 

[DidntKnowJack]

Really? I thought it said Holiday 2013. Oh well.

It did.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

I think other network and gaikai related integrations - the remote play to Vita, the video sharing and streaming, are shorter term prospects and will probably be there day one.

Really? I don't think the remote play will be there at launch.

 

[i-Lo]

Interesting how this is completely the opposite of the sentiment that's given off by many analysts.

I'm definitely inclined to believe Jack, but this statement qualifies Sony's "conservative" approach to this gen.

The day I can play games like Crysis, Uncharted, Fallout, Metro, The Witcher, Dark Souls etc without compromising a single detail on a mobile device without remote streaming and be happy with a 5-10.1" screen that'll be the day when I get done with console gaming.

To me, comparing playing Dark Souls on the couch 8-10ft away from the 58" screen to a mobile game is just unfair.

The mobile has helped the market grow much more than it has migrated existing users onto itself from home console market.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Agreed.



I've only had an iphone for a month, but this is exactly how I feel. Nothing is grabbing me so far and the majority of apps, especially the most popular ones, feel like cash ins. Too many developers have flocked to the platform to make a quick buck. It like a giant bubble waiting to pop.

Yes, I definitely feel like its a bubble. People have gotten all excited about touch interfaces but they are quickly learning its limits.