The R&D manager tells Gamasutra how he got from underwater robotics to the gaming industry, why he thinks the traditional gamepad will remain relevant despite motion controllers and where he thinks the competing Kinect for Xbox 360 succeeds, and where it fails.
If there’s any sign that Google is up to something in the gaming business, the hiring of Marks is a big clue. In January 2018, Google hired Phil Harrison, the former head of Sony’s game research and development and worldwide studios, as a vice president and general manager.
Google has also hired scores of other game-related talent, including former PlayStation Home chief Jack Buser, Xbox Live Arcade creator Greg Canessa, and a number of other folks.
Can't believe it. But I guess everything changes eventually. My guess is that Sony already has the patents and direction needed for the next iteration of psvr for him to leave.
Must be something big going on at Google with him being one of the pioneers of motion control and 3d controls in the console space. And Phil Harrison who wanted motion controls to happen sooner on playstation before nintendo decided to take the risk with wii. He's at Google as well.
Whatever they're making over there, won't be long before it's shown to the public. VR?AR? Both? With 6dof? Should be interesting. Maybe it's a counter to Facebook's santa cruz and new prototype headset they are working on. The race is on on who gets there first. Maybe Sony should make a playstation go or PSGO to get in the race. Streams from PS5 or take on the go for smaller experiences.
Anyway, good luck Dr. Marks. You made some amazing stuff over at Sony, enjoyed the college appearances about new experiences beyond game controllers and the entertaining E3 demos. I thought Anton would be your successor but he's over there at media molecule.
Phil Harrison, most recently worked at Xbox. He did work for Sony too, but the fact that he was a corporate vice president at Microsoft for Xbox is far more relevant and recent than the fact that he worked for Sony.
Nothing to do with Xbox. Phil worked at Sony for years. He helped pioneer Playstation Home and believed in motion controls. Nintendo knew Sony was also working on motion as well
https://www.google.com/amp/...
**Nintendo president Satoru Iwata seems to agree, having told GameDaily recently, "We were anticipating that Sony would make that kind of announcement, so I had to make a kind of wry smile at the time**
And it so happens that Google hired the guy who was the chief of PSHome and the guy who pioneered motion control and 3d control from Sony. And Phil had said in the past that Sony and Microsoft don't push enough to bring in more consumers.
https://wccftech.com/phil-h...
Same games, better graphics. Same games, better graphics. Resulting in about the same amount of gamers buying 100 million consoles or so. Facebook wants to reach the masses with oculus. HTC, vive, etc built wireless headsets to reach the masses and are doing so in China. It makes sense for Google to counter Facebook's spaces in Oculus Go where you can play together in vr, watch content in vr and surf in vr. Only limited by 3dof. Which Cruz will remedy. Go is to get consumers used to it.
This is a race to get the masses to accept vr and make it affordable for everyone while getting better tech over time. It's going to take time, but the winners stand to make billions.
Why is his work at Xbox irrelevant? Regardless of what he will be working on, his experience in a leadership position at Microsoft's gaming division has to be something they looked at when choosing him...
Of course that helps in that he was a vice president at Sony and Microsoft.
But this is about reaching a wider audience, which as fun as our consoles are, never reach the masses like say cell phones. Phil believed in trying to reach the masses and not just the same gamers upgrading to the next console over and over. If you notice, it's about the same amount every generation.
Wii, as casual as it was,reached a group that normally never played games at all. Phil thought Sony should have pushed motion controls and home more. They didn't. He left.
Don't you find it interesting that the guy who specializes in motion controls and vr, the guy who believed in motion controls and virtual spaces that gamers came together to play in,the guy who ran home and the guy who worked for microsoft in the games sector, now ALL work for Google.
That means all of them believe Google stands a chance to reach the masses that Sony ,Microsoft and Nintendo can't. And I think it's all of the above of AR,VR and MR. Being a vp is only a fraction on what they are looking for with Phil. And now they have Dr Marks too.
Interesting stuff Apocalypse. Truth be told we have absolutely no idea what Google is cooking at the moment. I for one cant wait yo see what they have instore for us.
Imagine flying in a 3D version of Google Earth in VR.... Damn the potential here is limitless.
He accomplished more relevant things for Sony than he did for Microsoft that's why working for Sony still is major benchmark.
He's been With Sony nearly forever! Google must have offered him a huge salary he couldn't refuse that's for sure! Well, all the best to him!
Adam Boyes, Richard Marks, Bruce Straley. All of them recently moved on from Sony and they are all irreplaceable. I'm sure with the incredible success Sony is having at the moment it won't be hard to find more talent, but these men were huge assets to the company and they will be missed.
hey that's cheating!, build up your own talented Engineers :D, well played Google well played.
Dr. Richard Marks was a visionary and a hugely important part of Sony for over a decade. He ran Magic Lab, headed PSVR, PS Move, and actually discovered the technology for Kinect long before Microsoft. This is a massive blow to Sony and i would like to believe they have an adequate successor in mind. But truth be told, the was more likely Google swooping in and throwing ridiculous amounts of cash at Dr. Marks ultimately blindsiding Sony. He will be missed.
I usually get down voted, but Google definitely has something going on. They have extremely deep pockets and can buy whatever talent they want at whatever price. I don't see them releasing anything of physical content, but I'm sure it will be interesting.
Star Trek: Bridge Crew's multiplayer co-presence could be big for VR, according to Sony's head of PlayStation Magic lab Richard Marks.
Seen a lot of thing stoat could be 'bug for VR'. I hope one comes you pass as the tech needs something to give it a popular edge
What? Thing stoat could be bug for vr? I hope one comes you pass as The tech? You comment is a riddle to me, please tell me The answer or The meaning?;-)
It's the reason I got vr in the first place. Unfortunately for me the day I bought my psvr, was the day star trek bridge crew was delayed, I've been waiting ever since.
Looks interesting but Sony is not doing VR any justice by spending money on timed exclusive deals. In order for VR to be big they need to collaborate with one another.
Preordered, looks great. Been waiting for this for a long time.
Werewolves Within is great, and that team did this too. Similar social aspect but radically different. Should be great.
Richard Marks head of PlayStation Magic Labs had a really interesting conversation regarding PSVR with Glixel
If anyone can do it, he will! The man is a fricken genuis.
Mark's has brought a lot of things to the table that people try to discount and the he's not afraid to take risks in the process. Without him we would not have experience the PS Eye and its eventual evolution to the current PlayStation camera or, the evolution of the move controllers and even the PS4 with Checkerboard Rendering.
He has been instrumental in the evolution of the PlayStation Brand.
As well as PSVR for consoles.
Ehmm, PS Eye, Moves, PSVR are indeed his yes, PS4, Pro and checkerboard rendering stuff is Mark Cerny's....
The PlayStation people called Mark(s) have left a mark tho! :)
Yeah. He's pretty smart. Maybe that's why he's a doctor. Lol! I agree.
I've followed his work for a while since he joined Sony. Him and his team always making demos of possible things to come to PlayStation. Still waiting for his magic game or someone to make it for him. That would have been cool. Even in VR.I would have played it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch...
Even the cups demo could be put into a VR alchemist game. Either magic or mad scientist.
https://m.youtube.com/watch...
You could tell Sony was getting ready for something when they were working with Plastic on Datura and using the move controller to simulate VR. Remember that?
https://m.youtube.com/watch...
That's when I knew VR would be next.
Only hiccup was when Dr Marks and Sony were working with Prime sense with their motion tracking,depth sensing camera and Microsoft swooped in, threw some cash around and bought the company. I think Sony was going to launch a camera like Kinect. You can tell Dr Marks was pissed and disappointed that that happened. But, since he's a cool guy, he had to let it go. (60 minutes in to 62:30. He even says move sold just as well as Kinect)
https://m.youtube.com/watch...
It was the second time Microsoft played dirty like buying into Immersion to screw Sony on rumble in the DS3 and get paid from the lawsuit. But that's a story for another day.
https://arstechnica.com/gam...
Anyway...
From the original article at Glixel,
http://www.glixel.com/inter...
Dr Marks speaks of speaking something in VR and it appears. Like calling up a castle. It's possible today in VR. It would basically be something like Dreams crossed with Scribblenauts from 3DS. Instead of typing, you say it in a mic. Instead of 2D, it's in VR. It's possible. Or maybe Dr Marks is giving clues of what's coming next. Maybe even from Media Molecule.
Oh, and that 3D head tracking was this tech demo.
https://m.youtube.com/watch...
I hope Dr Marks sticks around and makes more interesting possibilities at Sony. Too bad Anton went to Media Molecule. I figured he was Mark's protégé to continue the work for whatever comes next. I hope he gets to work with Softkinetic since Sony bought them and they have depth sensing camera tech. Too bad it couldn't have been used for PSVR.
Both Sony and Microsoft were in violations of immersions patents. Both care planes initially fought the infringement suits. Microsoft decided to invest in the company instead of continue to fight. Sony fought longer and lost. As a result they had to pay a judgement that was shared with Microsoft since they bought into the company. If memory serves me right Microsoft sold their shares after Sony paid.
Maybe I'm way off base here, but that sounds like good business.
Replies(1)
I'm not sold on VR yet but I agree if any VR can make me interested it's the PSVR, I hope things turn out well for this guy.
Great interview. I knew Indiana was huge for Media Arts and Sciences, but I didn't think someone so nationally recognized in the gaming industry would be from my home state. Gives me a little glimmer of hope as I go into this field.
Dr. Marks is awesome for one big reason, he is not a douchebag at all. he is a really smart guy who has hands on the technology.
It's assholes like Kudo who make motion gaming look retarded. Dr Marks is a straight up dork. He's really moddest and kind of a goober around the pretty ladies like Veronica Belmont(loving her so much) and just tells it like it is. If there is a con he brings it up, talks about limitations and how it can be improved. There is no bullshlt with ol Richard Marks, not scamming, no lying, no three ring circus. Plus the guyhas a real degree, unlike 99% of anyone who comes on the stage to talk about their games. he is not a stage front, or an actor, just a really smart dude trying to innovate through Sony.