Post by: cr4ck3rj4ck on September 12, 2006, 12:48:00 PM
Post by: twistedsymphony on September 12, 2006, 01:10:00 PM
This could easily go the way of great success or horrible failure, but I think overall it improves Sony's online presence.
Buying a 3rd party solution is a quick and dirty way to add a whole lot of features fast, the biggest stumbling block is leveraging that system to work for your specific needs. Basically they need to make sure it integrates seamlessly with the console as opposed to some tacked on port of PC software... you need to be able to navigate through the menu's easily with a controller (where the PC version you'd use a mouse), make sure it works with the entitlement system, make sure it can handle more then one account at a time (remember PCs are only ever built for one player per machine), making sure the menus and other text are easy to read at SD as well as HD resolutions and 4:3 as well as 16:9 aspect ratios...
There are lots and lots and lots of little details that need to be worked out. As someone who work on integrating 3rd party software on a daily basis I can tell you that upper management LOVES this type of stuff because they can make one clean purchase and +10 to their feature list... they often don't realize that these solutions can still take a lot of massaging to make seamless and flow well with what's existing already.
As I said, this could make for a great success or a horrible failure. Here's hoping Sony is (and has been) giving this partnership the attention required to make it work in their favor. At very least I give kudos for them finally realizing that they can't make software to save their lives.
The article seems to be mostly speculatory based on XFire's existing PC service (which is fine) but it still leaves question as to how it will handle things like leaderboards, entitlements, True Ranking, Gamerscore, reputation, and player feedback. All things that Xfire currently doesn't handle, but Sony has claimed to be handling with their upcoming service to combat Xbox Live.
I'm also curious to know how XFire benefits in this... where are they getting their $$? They said that they don't charge for features that are normally free on a PC but get their profits from their "content" but exactly what are they delivering for content?
Post by: incognegro on September 12, 2006, 01:13:00 PM
I thought xfire was just a IM client for games on ur pc.....whatever.
Post by: gasclown on September 12, 2006, 02:11:00 PM
Post by: redwolf on September 12, 2006, 02:26:00 PM
Post by: Mr Invader on September 12, 2006, 02:48:00 PM
And now the PS3 is gonna use Xfire...
I'll bet the qualirty of service will be the same.
Post by: blame canada on September 12, 2006, 02:57:00 PM
*PS3 meeting* "Ok lets see, uhm, what should we bullshit our way out of today... hrm, oh lets see, oh remember that HDMI cable? Yea, how about we tell everyone that we won't ship with one. Oh and how about tommorow we say something like, Oh! got it, we annouce we will be better than xbox 360 with online service! Yeah, that outta keep people busy while we work on getting these damn PS3's out to our game developers." CEO of sony, "What PS3's?
"Anyone else think the same?
Post by: incognegro on September 12, 2006, 04:36:00 PM
Post by: Deftech on September 12, 2006, 06:20:00 PM
Post by: Deftech on September 13, 2006, 08:13:00 AM
Posted today kids...
Source
QUOTE
Sony has been quick to quash rumours that the PlayStation 3 will incorporate a version of PC messaging and matchmaking solution Xfire for online gameplay.
While the company has admitted that one launch title - SOE's Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom - will utilise Xfire, there are no current plans to use the Viacom-owned technology.
Read the rest at the link provided above
Post by: KAGE360 on September 13, 2006, 08:57:00 AM
QUOTE(Deftech @ Sep 13 2006, 10:20 AM) 
well this brings up a question. sony has said that their online network would include all that LIVE has (gamertags, friends list, invites, messaging, entitlements, and more) now if their online gaming service really includes all of these features, then why does untold legends need this software??
something is up, as always, and i see sony dissapointing with the online again.
Post by: incognegro on September 13, 2006, 11:53:00 AM
QUOTE(KAGE360 @ Sep 13 2006, 04:04 PM)
well this brings up a question. sony has said that their online network would include all that LIVE has (gamertags, friends list, invites, messaging, entitlements, and more) now if their online gaming service really includes all of these features, then why does untold legends need this software??
something is up, as always, and i see sony dissapointing with the online again.
Thats the first damn thing I thought! I knew something was fishy about this xFire deal (hence my first post).
Post by: Mr Invader on September 13, 2006, 06:54:00 PM
QUOTE
Yesterday we reported on Sony's potential use of Xfire as a component of their Playstation Network Platform (aka the PS3's answer to Xbox Live). The news was reported by many outlets, including our parent-site, Joystiq. This morning Joystiq posted the following update:
"Sony Online Entertainment has contacted 1UP and clarified that the Xfire technology was only being evaluated for the PS3 launch title, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom. 'This proposed deal is completely separate and independent from the PlayStation Network Platform, and is something that SOE was examining specifically for Dark Kingdom.' It seems we're back to square one."
As it turns out, we may not actually be back to square one. But, first, this response from Sony raises many interesting questions:
Why is Sony experimenting with any facet of their online approach so late in the game?
Does the response imply that games/developers can do what they want from an online perspective, without a consistent and standardized experience?
If Sony's own proprietary stuff is so great, why have the trial with Xfire in the first place?
We'll we might be able to shed some light on at least that last question: It appears that Sony may not have a fully proprietary online platform (at least not yet). While they may not be using Xfire as an integral component of their overall strategy, we understand that they are using a number of 3rd parties to pull the Playstation Network Platform together. We received this note following our original story:
"Per your Xfire post, there are many network middleware providers partnered with Sony on the PNP. These are third parties that they use to supplement their in-house online solutions. This includes the likes of Gamespy and several others. To clarify the Internet gossip a bit, the Xfire story does not mean that Sony has outsourced their online platform to a single vendor. They are just one of the bunch. Sony continues to develop funtionality and their own Xfire-like capabilities while not trying to reinvent the wheel. Several PS3 titles use Gamespy, for example, to do their matchmaking already."
"Sony Online Entertainment has contacted 1UP and clarified that the Xfire technology was only being evaluated for the PS3 launch title, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom. 'This proposed deal is completely separate and independent from the PlayStation Network Platform, and is something that SOE was examining specifically for Dark Kingdom.' It seems we're back to square one."
As it turns out, we may not actually be back to square one. But, first, this response from Sony raises many interesting questions:
Why is Sony experimenting with any facet of their online approach so late in the game?
Does the response imply that games/developers can do what they want from an online perspective, without a consistent and standardized experience?
If Sony's own proprietary stuff is so great, why have the trial with Xfire in the first place?
We'll we might be able to shed some light on at least that last question: It appears that Sony may not have a fully proprietary online platform (at least not yet). While they may not be using Xfire as an integral component of their overall strategy, we understand that they are using a number of 3rd parties to pull the Playstation Network Platform together. We received this note following our original story:
"Per your Xfire post, there are many network middleware providers partnered with Sony on the PNP. These are third parties that they use to supplement their in-house online solutions. This includes the likes of Gamespy and several others. To clarify the Internet gossip a bit, the Xfire story does not mean that Sony has outsourced their online platform to a single vendor. They are just one of the bunch. Sony continues to develop funtionality and their own Xfire-like capabilities while not trying to reinvent the wheel. Several PS3 titles use Gamespy, for example, to do their matchmaking already."
http://www.ps3fanboy...but-gamespy-is/
This is gay
They need to make up their minds about whats happening on the PS3
Post by: lex_luther23 on September 14, 2006, 01:09:00 AM
Post by: KAGE360 on September 14, 2006, 08:30:00 AM
QUOTE(lex_luther23 @ Sep 14 2006, 03:16 AM)
This is going to be lame sounds like ps2 network all over again.
well it should, sony announced at E305 that their online strategy was going to be like the ps2's. it was only a couple of months ago that they announced features similar to LIVE
Post by: twistedsymphony on September 14, 2006, 12:07:00 PM
QUOTE(Mr Invader @ Sep 13 2006, 09:01 PM)
...
They need to make up their minds about whats happening on the PS3
I think they have...
from what I gather
Playstation Network = Xbox Live Silver
So the PSN supports profiles, "entitlements", messaging, voice chat, etc. "feature for feature" Xbox Live (silver)
Sony doesn't offer any "Gold" level service... that is left up to the developers themselves who can then choose to use Gamespy, XFire, etc. etc. etc. It also means they can charge whatever they want on a game by game basis.
IMO this means that most PS3 games WONT support online multi player (because publishers wont want to front the cash to run the servers) the games that do support online multi player will either have a monthly fee or lackluster support (just like the PS2).
Of course this is smart MARKETING move on Sony's part because "Playstation Network is free" but they conveniently leave out the part about not offering online multi player themselves and many that play the games where the publisher is footing the server bill will assume that they're really playing on the Playstation Network.
Post by: incognegro on September 14, 2006, 04:21:00 PM
QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Sep 14 2006, 07:14 PM)
I think they have...
from what I gather
Playstation Network = Xbox Live Silver
So the PSN supports profiles, "entitlements", messaging, voice chat, etc. "feature for feature" Xbox Live (silver)
Sony doesn't offer any "Gold" level service... that is left up to the developers themselves who can then choose to use Gamespy, XFire, etc. etc. etc. It also means they can charge whatever they want on a game by game basis.
IMO this means that most PS3 games WONT support online multi player (because publishers wont want to front the cash to run the servers) the games that do support online multi player will either have a monthly fee or lackluster support (just like the PS2).
Of course this is smart MARKETING move on Sony's part because "Playstation Network is free" but they conveniently leave out the part about not offering online multi player themselves and many that play the games where the publisher is footing the server bill will assume that they're really playing on the Playstation Network.
No twisted, we've been through this before. Remember when Major Nelson brought up that same point during e3 after observing sony's slides during their presentation. Then rumors were flaring about "Playstation Network = Xbox Live Silver" so sony had to say something, and I dont remember who (probably ken) clarified that gaming will be free. So they can further confuse us
I think there still isnt any clarification on what sony is doing but one thing is for sure, when we do find out its gonna be VERY controversial
Post by: twistedsymphony on September 15, 2006, 06:30:00 AM
QUOTE(calderra @ Sep 15 2006, 08:09 AM)
The problem with PSN=Silver is... this "new" information on a piecewise solution.
-How do you have Achievements (er, Entitlements) when nobody's using the same dialler to get online? (XFire, Gamespy, and others)
-How do you chat in realtime when everyone is using completely different methods of connection?
-How do you have Game Invites across these vastly different networks?
The short answer is that you don't. The longer answer is that you might build a database that everyone has to access to pull information from (like most instant messengers), but even then, you're up to the mercy of your individual connection program for how accesible the features are and how usable it all is (ICQ vs AIM vs Messenger vs IRC vs...)....
I don't think either of your answers are correct... nothing says you can't connect to more then one service at the same time, as long as they're not trying to do the same thing... Sony's PSN will probably run on Sony's own server for things like entitlements, chat, etc. and then the console would just connect to a different set of servers for gameplay.
It would work exactly like FFXI does on the 360... when you connect to the PlayOnline servers (since it doesn't use Xbox Live) you remain connected to Xbox Live as well for things like voice chat, messaging, achievements, etc. etc. etc. Similarly all EA games connect to EA servers as opposed to Xbox Live... to the gamer they think they're playing on Xbox Live, despite the fact that they're not... Sony could do the same thing and no one would be the wiser.
I'm not saying Sony wont have servers... if they so much as offer one bullet item on their list they will have to, but nothing says they can't just let publishers provide their own servers to host the actual games and use the Sony servers to host the resulting stats and everything else.