Phil Harrison Talks Little Big Planet, Home , 30 FPS Madden & Upcoming PS3 Titles

Remember that E3 thing? During that three days of not-so-glorious madness, 1UP cornered Sony Computer Entertainment's Head of Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison, for some head-to-head discussion about a number of topics related to the PlayStation universe. What'd they talk about? GameVideos has the footage, with highlights below.

Madden on PS3 Only 30 FPS
"[pause] Well, I can only point to our own sports studio [doing a] 1080p, 60 frames-per-second basketball game, but I'm afraid I have no idea. We're providing some tools and technologies from our worldwide studio's core technology groups to 3rd parties now, as well. You may remember something from GDC, we announced this thing called EDGE and that's now widely deployed within the 3rd party community, and that is clearly improving the developer's ability to maximize what the CELL processor does. Hopefully, that will assist folks like EA. It would concern me if the platform was incapable of doing it, but we've proven the platform is capable of doing it, so it's not a PlayStation 3 issue. I'm trying to be polite."

How Home is Progressing
"We did have a small hiccup on getting the Home development kit out, but it actually went out on Tuesday [Harrison is referring to Tuesday, July 10th], so that's already started out there. Some of the functionality that goes into Home is actually based on top of the PlayStation Network functionality and it has to be deployed there first before we can put the visual layer on top of it, so there's a couple of different schedule issues in that, but, we're on schedule for the Fall, as we said yesterday. Game launching, the ability to launch games directly from inside of Home, is in the next library update for developers, which will be in August."

[highps3]

As far as Madden 08, id care if it were a decent football game but its not. The whole entire game needs to be completely re done...

Have they EVER switched the camera view? EVER? Even in the 90's Madden still had that same 3rd person over the quarterback view... Sorry but in real football surely the quarterback doesnt see the field as if he were in a blimp...

I have Madden 07 which frankly looks the same, ill pretend my rosters updated and save 59.99 for a decent game... I like how they pawned off side line catches as a feature this year... As opposed to last years retarded AI just running out of bounds...

Thats EA for you... Creativity NOT IN THE GAME!

[Omegasyde]

Phil gave a verbal "back hand" to EA and Take2

"...Well We(sony) can produce a full 1080p basketball game running at 60 frames....."

Granted it is less players on "field" vs football but usually the basketball games make it up by making the fans in the stands pop out.

Vs.

Madden making the people in the stands look like generic moving cardboard stickouts which all wear the same flannel sweater. :)

[ben hates you]

madden will still no matter what sell like crazy

[risk]

and you can thank hicks for that.

[Lord Anubis]

really nice interview.

[Vojkan]

Hmm, it was ok interview. Not much of new did we found out. They should have asked him more specific things about Infamous, than are 8 Days and GetAway 3 in works or are they canceled and so on.
HOME and LBP and already explained and overused for so many times since GDC 07.
But yeah tumbs up for PhilH.

[junk56]

phil harrison is probably the best exec from all the companies. hes not a liar, scripted and he doesnt dodge the questions like a lot of the other execs. when hes interviewed, he simply answers the question in the proper manner not repeating or biasing much

[Omegasyde]

Yea If he could only give public relations lessons to Jack Trenton. This guy should of taken the Mic from Ken Kataguri and Jack Trenton along time ago.

[WIIIS1]

Man EA ought to sue this guy for defamation. Everyone knows the cell is useless for games which accounts for the framerate issues in PS3 games, and there he goes casting aspersions at the developers' integrity.

[DrPirate]

Too bad we can't sue you for forcing us to read your stupid banter.

[MK_Red]

Have you even seen a good PS3 game like Ninja Gaiden Sigma or Resistance? NGS runs smoothly at 60 FPS at 1080p while Resistance goes does the same at 720p. Cell may indeed be a bit more difficult to work for but if games like MGS4, GT5, Killzone2 and Ratchet & Clank TOD are any indication, bad ports on PS3 like this one from EA are the fault of lazy developers.

[Bathyj]

I cant believe you used the word integrity while talking about EA.

I only wish your parents were as lazy as them an not bothered having sex to create you 10 years ago.

[jerrell]

I can see that you do not have a PS3 and what someone needs to do is sue your parents for conceiving you! I agree with DrPirate with his comment. That is just stupid banter!!!

[WIIIS1]

@ Bathyi

You really don't have to tell us all about how much of a chore it was for your parents to have sex with each other.

And I'm guessing you go around justifying your virginity by saying you're just too lazy to have sex?

[Vash_The_Stampede]

[email protected]

That was a weak comeback.

[Omegasyde]

Go rent Def jam or something, or heck go watch Yo Mamma! on MTV. Your shiznit is weak, son.

If anyone is to blame, its Trojan Brand Latex for your presence here today.

[WIIIS1]

Sony fans, just because I think Phil shouldn't be pointing fingers at developers doesn't mean that you have to get so riled up and talk trash about topics that you're just too young to fully comprehend, such as sex. Its not like you're all the bastard sons of Phil Harrison are you? Or are you...?

[T_Tokyo2010]

I think its only fair to say that both sides play the blame game once in a while, and some of the time its true that the devs are just lazy, or too short on time.

[macalatus]

@Bull$h!t the Third, aka BS3

Look at you, Bull$h!t the Third, all invigorated with those (unfortunately given) "5" bubbles!! If you weren't so much idiotic as to post something like "everyone knows that the cell is useless" then you wouldn't have to deal of being gang-posted by Sony fans. And another thing: Where in the freakin' interview does it shows that Harrison said something truly bad that would be constituted as "slander"? A slander would be saying something that isn't entirely true and stating it as "fact". A good example of slander would be me calling you "stupid". But then again, as evident in your post, you proved that it is a FACT, so it can't be "slander". Oh, what the hell, you didn't call yourself Bull$h!t the Third for nothing!!

PS Speaking about sex, and since you probably know more about it, how's the progress in producing the next member of the Bull$h!t family, Bull$h!t the Fourth?

[ISay]

i read his comment and thought it was dumb then i read all your comments and thought you guys might be going a little too far with this guy then i read his comment again to find your right “what a cunt thing to say”

[The Wood]

you were meant to be OUT at three strikes. If your supprised buy peoples response to your childlike comments then you really are dupid.

on topic
Phill is a good speaker especially when your face to face it seems. Lets hope he can keep it like this as it gives LESS fodder for sony haters.

[Real Gambler]

When asked about the fact that EA did a game in 30fps for the PS3, Phil said that there's already games out in 1080P at 60fps. He also said that Sony has develepped tools to help developpers make games. What's bad about this please???

If somebody could be sued for defamation, it could be you... After all, you're saying "Everyone knows the cell is useless for games" but with absolutely no proof whatsoever. This is defamation. Proof, there's many awesome games out already, and more to come. You are truly sad.

[popup]

Keep saving those pennies BS3, and you too can afford one someday.

Children today....

[madness]

Fluffy Rabbit Game = System Seller

[Clinton514]

It's eerie. But the man is doing a good job. Very interesting interview. Thank you for linking it.

[Keyser]

He's the son of Data from Star Trek.

I'm kidding. Phil is cool under pressure and is very knowledgable about the product he represents. Class act.

[tehcellownu]

of course ps3 is capable of doin it!! its jus some devlopers jus dont have skills to program the ps3..

[blackmagic]

I disagreed with you not because I don't think the PS3 can do it (because I believe it can), I disagreed with your comment on developers and this is a common theme that seems to resonate here on N4G. Whenever a multiplat game comes out and is at a higher level on the 360 everyone always says the devs are lazy but I disagree with this.

Here's my argument, I assume that both the 360 team and ps3 team at EA have similar skill levels and I also assume that both teams have been given the same amount of time and the same budget to create the game but the 360 version usually comes out a little better in one way or another. This isn't because the devs are lazy or unskilled and it isn't because the PS3 is not capable. Rather, I beleive it is because the ps3 is finicky to program for and the same sized team with similar skills, the same amount of time and the same budget will produce a better product on the 360 vs the PS3 because of it. Another factor is whether or not there is a team working on a pc version. Because of the similarities between the directx environment on the pc and the 360 environment, often programming breakthroughs will be mutually benificial between the pc team and the 360 team.

Given more money and time, the PS3 team will likely produce a product that is equal to or better than the 360 version but herein lays the catch-22 of the cell processor. It may be capable of more but to get there requires more time and money. More time and money means more risk and in the world of multi-million dollar development cycles, risk is a bad thing so studios are willing to put out a lesser product rather than take a higher risk.

This isn't about skill, laziness or the capability of the platform. It's about dollars and cents and as long as it requires more time and effort for a team to get something out of the cell, then we will continue to see lower quality on multiplat titles for PS3.

You want better quality games on the PS3? Then quit calling devs lazy or unskilled and start calling on Sony to improve their developer tools and documentation so the devs don't have to work so hard just to get to the same place.

[Shaka2K6]

Always love reading his interviews,every time i read one it makes me so proud to be a Sony fan and owner of a PS3 day-one.
Phil Harrison keep up the excelent work you are the best in the business.

[sonarus]

lol at all the phil harrison lovers in here he is a cool guy though. Was gonna buy madden 08 for ps3 till i found out it wasnt gonna run at 60 frames so am skippin it this yr. There are far too many games i wanna get so any game that basically f's up is off my list.

[bluebrad1974]

When will Sony just own up about the Cell? Folks, the Cell was put into the PS3 to be the video imaging device for blu-ray, not because it's good for gaming. Just ask any developer that had to spend an extra 6 monthes to a year in development with mediocre results.

http://www.hpcwire.com/hpc/...

http://www.videsignline.com...

http://www.advancedimagingp...

[Clinton514]

Words with no works. Fun.

[bluebrad1974]

Sony's PR department has some of you so brainwashed it's disgustingly pathetic.

[Clinton514]

does nothing for your argument. Have a good night misguided one. I hope you learn some day.

[bluebrad1974]

I added some links for you kid.

[Kaneda]

"Using an enhanced PowerPC CPU and eight floating point units"

The article you posted said Enhanced PowerPc chip...that means PS3 is more powerful than 360, becoz 360 uses old PowerPC chip from IBM too... while PS3 uses ENHANCED PowerPC...

[ngg12345]

Have you got banned yet, in gamespot for trolling? I know that you wrote the exact article here yesterday, and that you are one of the most hardcore fanboys on both sites (can't believe you don't have more then 3 ignores). Anyways, I enjoyed your random links, and your other great topics (mgs4 is the cheesiest stupidest game ever, splinter cell owns it, mgs shouldn't even be considered a game) was one that I will always remember (up there with the albert einstein and hitler didn't live in the same century comment by twinblade).

What have you been up to recently anyways? Making a name for yourself I see.

[macalatus]

@ngg12345,

Because of your benfeficial, excellent community service in exposing the
'real person', I, on behalf of every honorable N4G.com user, award you with a "+" bubble.

UPDATE:
@ngg12345,
I admire your humility. FYI, I used to go Gamespot, until Sony haters and rabid MS fanboys started over-saturating the comments section of news articles, even if those PS3 articles have nothing to do with the Xbox 360.

@bluebrad1974,
Are you upset that this site isn't like Gamespot, where your kind can relentlessly bully people just for simply supporting Sony, fanboy or not?

[ngg12345]

I just am bothered seeing a familiar face, that I really dislike. It is like seeing bill gates, the user at a nintendo forum trolling. It just brings me even more hatred for someone. I have to admit, he is the only person (among the 2 people who ignored me, how dare you?), that I actually hate on this site. I don't understand why he didn't change his name, because I would think most people would acknowledge who he was (he isn't just infamous, but usually on every worst fanboy list) at gamespot.

[bluebrad1974]

It's pretty obvious this place is filled with brainwashed Sony loyalists.

[bluebrad1974]

I don't know why you would think anyone should use a different name. But anyway, how is the SPG treating you? Good hopefully, but I would take anything that anyone on that site says with a grain of salt. In true Sony form, I have yet to see anything truthful come out of them. You should contact me, we could get together for coffee.

[ngg12345]

http://n4g.com/ps3/NewsCom-...

I think that any loyalists that will defend a company are pathetic. I own a xbox 360, ps3, wii, and a great computer. Anyways, I don't really post on system wars, just have an account to see the raving fanboys (greg_splicer, powerchargged, and tree_branch).

[The Wood]

what a looser. Last time i checked my blu ray player didnt have a cell inside. Did pioneer ripp me off or something.

People we are under attack from the lord of the flies.

[Real Gambler]

They just prove that the cell can do more than just play game. That's cool with me if it can be used in hospitals to save lives. Don't want to scare you, but PowerPCs (like the 360) are also used in hundreds of applications other than gaming... Wake up!

From your very own links:

Cell 10 times the performance of the latest PC processors in general applications, and up to fifty times the performance in imaging applications. (Great, it's good at imaging too)

The Cell Architecture ..., with its core functionality focused on the extreme graphics demands made by game consoles. (So it can do more, but it's focused on game consoles...)

Mercury is leading adoption of this powerful multicore processor in non-gaming markets that include, medical imaging, video processing, semiconductor, seismic computation, and ray tracing. (So yes, like a PC, you can do more than gaming with the cell)

Sony's PlayStation 3 and a workstation from IBM are expected to be the first Cell-based machines. (And trust me, they won't be the last!!! In fact, this prove that any good programmers can use any processor and get awesome stuff out of it. Hope these 3D heart imaging are not in 60fps also, otherwise, some programmers would look bad too!)

[popup]

Bluebrad1974 said "Folks, the Cell was put into the PS3 to be the video imaging device for blu-ray, not because it's good for gaming"

Well, after seeing GT5 in action, I think thats a more worrying hardware fact for your 360 than it is for the PS3.

[mikeslemonade]

I'm still buying Madden this year simply because im a fan of the NFL. And then in PSP through exploits i can get Madden for free there.

[WIIIS1]

I'm sure Phil and the rest of you rabid fans are all right. EA got to where it is by being a lazy developer.

[Nuclearwinter]

Well yeah, all they put out are sequel after sequel, not making any decent changes to those endless sequels. So I guess we could call that being lazy.

[Odion]

the only part of that interview i didn't like is that Home= Habbo hotel, as in their the same because you have to pay to put stuff in your pad

[ngg12345]

That really sucks

[incubus5187]

there will be standard stuff to hook up your pad but when it comes to specialty furniture it will cost... another thing sponser contests will allow you to win furniture so don't be too pissed off about about not getting everything for free even though the sick ass service is

[e-ray]

I agree. They should've made it so that the more games you play, beat, etc. (similar to achievements), you could then use those points to purchase stuff for Home. It would expedite game sales as well as satisfy those crying for achievements but want something more original.

[nice_cuppa]

I would love to hear the EA boss make a statement about phil harrison's interview !

Do not underestimate the power of EA !

I KNOW I WOULD BE PISSED IF I WAS THE HEAD OF EA !

Do they have the stones to go against Sony ?

[Kyur4ThePain]

EA said they can't get a game to be 1080p at 60fps on the PS3 and Sony said well, we can.
What's your trouble with that?

The head of EA should be pissed only at his own people for not doing what they're being paid to do.

[Kaneda]

hmmm who could that be?? PEEETTTERRRR MOOOOORREEEE!!

[Juevani]

*hmmm who could that be?? PEEETTTERRRR MOOOOORREEEE!! *

hahaha, bubbles

[TLSBill]

Awesome! Pnwed relocation expenses included style!

[darkvenom]

thanks for making me laugh,anyways bubble for you.