PSM's Chris Slate

Last week I spoke with Chris Slate, editor-in-chief of PlayStation Magazine. We discussed the slow start of the PS3 and what lies ahead for the latest round of consoles.
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TT: I hate to start off on a rough note but listen to this quote from Gabe Newell of Valve in the February issue of Game Informer:
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Gabe Newell: The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels. I think it’s really clear that Sony lost track of what customers wanted and what developers wanted. I’d say, even at this late date, they should cancel it and do a “do over.” Just say, “This was a horrible disaster and we’re sorry and we’re going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it.”
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Ouch! If that quote isn’t a kick to the head I don’t know what is, the problem is I agree with him. What went wrong?
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CS: I have heard that quote before and while Sony certainly doesn’t need to start over, they definitely got so much wrong. They made some grand promises but haven’t delivered. Their games show no discernable difference between the 360 and they have fewer games. Most people see that the 360 is cheaper and has more games so they choose it instead. I think their business model had holes in it. The biggest thing the PS3 had going for it is the PlayStation brand and they over relied on it. The lack of units available before Christmas hurt as well. But I do think it’ll be a different story next year.
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TT: What can Sony do to recover from such a terrible launch?
CS: That’s the big question right now and to be honest I’m not sure what the answer is. The most obvious thing they need to do is level the playing field by dropping the price but who knows when that will happen. The only thing they can do is weather the storm and develop their gaming library with a few killer titles. There might also be some untapped power on the PS3. Early PS3 games look as good as year old Xbox 360 games so there could come a time when PS3 games look better.
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TT: If a console has great games, it’ll do fine, where are the great games for the PS3?
CS: It has some really good games but is missing a Mario or a Halo that even a non-gamer can recognize. The PS3 does have “Resistance” but it didn’t really do anything new. When the Xbox 360 came out they ran into a similar problem where gamers were playing the same game as before but now it had better graphics. The problem is gamers are less patient with the PS3 because they are used to better graphics so they expect the games to be better. Its still early in its life cycle so the PS3 can still do well but they have a big hill to climb.
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TT: Did Sony make a horrible gamble on the Blu-ray system or is too early to tell?
CS: I think its too soon to tell. DVD’s weren’t a success overnight so maybe one day it’ll be the new big thing that makes the PS3 more valuable. Right now Sony is selling the PlayStation franchise as a computer entertainment system. You almost never hear them refer to the PS3 as a gaming machine. The PS3 is attractive because you get a lot of things at one price. The problem comes when you do a lot of different things well but you don’t do one thing the best and right now the PS3 is lacking as a game system.
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TT: What are your impressions of the Wii? Is its motion sensing controller a fad or will it be in all future consoles?
CS: I think to some degree it’s a fad because beyond “Wii Sports” there’s not much use for its controller. I have one at home and I really enjoy it but it’ll take time for developers to figure out how to best use the control scheme. I do think that of all three companies (Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony) that Nintendo has their heads on the best because they make great games without losing money. Its an interesting comparison between Nintendo and Sony. Nintendo has no problem being known only for games while Sony tries to be all encompassing. Its kind of like Apple’s approach with the iPod. It just seems hard for Sony to define what their focus is.
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TT: What are your impressions of the Xbox 360 so far?
CS: I like it quite a bit, aside from some early quality assurance issues. I don’t think what they’ve offered is much different than Sony but its at a cheaper price. They just seem to be one step ahead of Sony in every area. They have some killer app games and “Halo” has become a cult phenomenon. I do feel the PS3 and 360 have exactly the same strategy but right now Xbox is delivering more. One of the major advantages the PS3 does have is with Japanese developers like Konami and Square Enix who are PS3 exclusive, at least for the time being.
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TT: How do you see the console war shaping up during 2007?
CS: I think it would be hard for anybody to pass Microsoft this year. I think, by numbers, it’ll be number one. I think the Wii will be number two but the PS3 will be gaining.
Beyond this year? Its tough to tell. The industry is up for grabs, which is good for consumers as companies are giving their best shot. But I do think the real console war is between the PS3 and 360.
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TT: PS3 exclusive game I should most look forward to this year?
CS: Metal Gear Solid IV from Konami is still a PS3 exclusive. Naughty Dog is working on a “Tomb Raider” type game that should be good. “Gran Turismo 5” may come out this year but its 50/50. At this point in the year it’s a little early to tell. We’ll know a lot more around June or July at E3.
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TT: Final question – you’re on a deserted island with one TV and your choice of console, what do you choose right now and why?
CS: Right now? Oh, boy that’s tough. If I’m just playing games, I’d pick the Wii because I could play “Wii Sports” over and over again. As much as I enjoy the PS3, I’ve always been a Nintendo fan.
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terry.terrones@gazette.com