Gabe Newell, the chief of Valve Software – the company that developed such popular game series as Counter Strike and Half-Life, has called the PlayStation 3 game console a “disaster” in an interview and called Sony to remake it. Mr. Newell believes that Nintendo Wii will win the battle of new-gen consoles, though, it is unclear whether games for Wii will ever emerge from Valve.
“The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think. It’s really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted. I’d say, even at this late date, they should just 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’,” Mr. Newell is reported to have said in an interview with Game Informer Magazine.
The comment is just another piece of heave critics from a major game developer concerning difficulties with game development for the PS3, something, which may eventually lower attractiveness of the console for gamers, if developers abandon certain titles for the console, or make it less exciting and appealing than a version for the Xbox 360.
Back in 2006 Valve Corp. confirmed that it would deliver titles for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, though, no actual timeframes of availability have been released so far. Valve also has never revealed plans to develop for Nintendo Wii, though, public acclaims of Nintendo’s new generation game consoles, which some consider as underpowered, may be an indicator that the developer of one of the most popular PC game titles is looking in the direction of Wii as well.
“The happy story is the Wii. I’m betting that by Christmas of next year, the Wii has a larger installed base than the 360. Other people think I’m crazy. I really like everything that Nintendo is doing,” Mr. Newell said.
When asked about opinion about Microsoft Xbox 360 game console, Mr. Newell said that it would be better if Microsoft would concentrate more on the Windows Vista operating system.
“Microsoft has so many problems with Vista; I wish they were focusing more on the thing that runs on hundreds of millions of PCs rather than six million proprietary clients. Vista really shows a lack of focus on making a better consumer platform. I came out of the Windows group, and right now, I’d go with a Macintosh as being a better solution for most consumers than a Vista-based PC,” he is reported to have said.
Comments currently: 25
Discussion started: 01/16/07 04:56:52 PM
Latest comment: 01/29/07 05:51:38 PM
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[1-15]
1.
" Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted " -- Customers in America maybe but for countries in Asia, esp. Orientals, is exactly what customers and what developers want. In an age of excessive information, continuous overflow of data, and rapid new advancements in computer technology, HD-DVD might not be big and good enough to store information (for Asians). Blu-Ray™ might be the perfect thing for Asians
Personally I don't think Sony lost track of what customers and what developers want. I think they precisely predicted what customers would want in the future to come momentairly.
Well it's my personal opinion so... Feel free to think on your own.
And please don't mail me your opinions about my opinion because I will ERASE IT ON THE NANOSECOND I SEE IT.
... Holy sh!t! $100 off at EBGames! Hot flipping le$bi@n$!!! gtg
[Posted by: Hocus-Focus | Date: 01/16/07 04:56:53 PM]
2.
Out of curiosity, what are the exact reasons why it is a disaster? Neither this article, or the article linked to supply his reasons... I have a feeling its because the game developers are not yet familiar with coding games for the Cell processor...
[Posted by: ACE | Date: 01/16/07 05:54:00 PM]
3.
“Counterstrike:Source is a total disaster on so many levels, I think. It’s really clear that Valve lost track of what Pubbers and what competitive gamers wanted. I’d say, even at this late date, they should just cancel it and do a ‘do over’."
[Posted by: Zeke | Date: 01/16/07 09:31:00 PM]
4.
Bah. Cell processor isn't suitable for videogames. It has only one cpu core, the SPEs aren't cpus and the graphic chip is outpaced by the one into Xbox360. To program videogames for PS3 is a pain in the neck, you cannot efficently replace hardware lacks with software artifices. Sony is trying to joke or foolish customers and fans, as a console PS3 in the long run will be only a fiasco, perhaps only the BD can save this litterbin.
[Posted by: NorthStar | Date: 01/17/07 12:28:00 AM]
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And you're a developer? *rollseyes*
You haven't got a fucking clue what's going on, merely echoing what the tabloids have been saying.
How about you go ask developers and such on both sides (pro and against PS3) before coming up with bullshit like a parrot.
[Posted by: 432ds | Date: 01/17/07 09:05:54 AM]
>And you're a developer? *rollseyes
Are you?
STFU.
[Posted by: nayon | Date: 01/17/07 09:02:43 PM]
5.
The true objective PS3 vs. 360 list
Tech specs:
Memory:
Basically a tie, but very small advantage 360 since the 512 can be split as the game needs, not 256/256.
GFX chip:
Again, tie. Both DX9 features and roughly the same performance.
CPU:
Tie. Both have the same CPU, but the 360 has two more copies and the PS3 has six SPEs which have the same theoretical power as one of xbox's cores. So if you can get 33% of the raw power out of the SPEs it's a tie. Any more the PS3 wins, any less the 360 wins. The bottom line is the entire chip is actually about the same size, Sony made the choice of having lots of raw power while trading for ease of use. No clear winner.
Extras:
DVD capacity
PS3 wins thanks to blue ray
save game storage:
PS3 has HD *standard* so wins.
HD movie player
tie: PS3 has this built in, but not free since the HD DVD player can be added to the 360 for this price.
Online:
360 has xbox live
So far its pretty much a tie. I guess it comes down to the most important spec of all, GigaFuns. Which, interestingly enough, is where Nintendo focused during development ;)
[Posted by: nvfirewall | Date: 01/17/07 12:54:41 AM]
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LOL where do you get your facts from? That is such rubish. Especially the tie in GFX card and CPU. 360 smokes them in both when it comes to games.
[Posted by: Stix | Date: 01/17/07 03:49:47 AM]
How do you know?
Have you developed a console benching application that thoroughly tests both CPU and GPU subsystems, allowing you to back up that statement?
OR are you just ANOTHER parrot, echoing what you read on the web?
Polly wanna cracker?
[Posted by: 432ds | Date: 01/17/07 09:08:00 AM]
"360 smokes them in both when it comes to games."
Wow, you were so quick to argue you didn't realize you were agreeing with me. It's not the size of your CPU, it's how you use it.
[Posted by: nvfirewall | Date: 01/17/07 11:09:36 AM]
The CPUs comparison is debateable...Mainly because one excels in one scenario, and the other wins in other situations.
[Posted by: 432ds | Date: 01/17/07 09:11:27 AM]
"The CPUs comparison is debateable...Mainly because one excels in one scenario, and the other wins in other situations."
Exactly, I called it a draw because neither is clearly superior. They're just different. You'll never be able to objectively prove one is better than the other overall. Individual tests, yes. Overall, no way.
[Posted by: nvfirewall | Date: 01/17/07 11:15:26 AM]
6.
Mr. Newell seems to be a very sensible man! I couldn't agree more with his opinions.
[Posted by: Erlend | Date: 01/17/07 02:42:53 AM]
7.
yes, the most important factor is the games. which console has a bigger range and better quality games.
[Posted by: not mine | Date: 01/17/07 02:44:57 AM]
8.
I agree mr Newell. I think Paleostation 3 is misplaced. As videogame console it's unbalanced, his cpu don't match the need of a modern videogame, a single core plus some "spe" units doesn't help a videogame programmer but hurt him. As a general purpose PC it's bottlenecked by the lack of memory and horsepower, you can also forget those "spe", they aren't cpu. Perhaps as a BD player there's a chance, but seem to me this Paleostation has missed the point. Play it once, Sam...
[Posted by: Columbus | Date: 01/17/07 06:04:47 AM]
9.
Wow. Even Carmack's dislike for the PS3 weren't this strong.
[Posted by: lonechicken | Date: 01/17/07 06:28:13 AM]
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I think they're all pissed off, because they have to figure out how to properly use the Cell in games. It doesn't bode well when MS dev tools are better than Sony's ones.
[Posted by: 432ds | Date: 01/17/07 09:09:47 AM]
People don't want to keep relearning shit. Cell will fail just like Intel's EPIC has failed.
[Posted by: nayon | Date: 01/17/07 09:04:33 PM]
10.
I get the feeling there's more to this than what Gabe Newell is saying.
[Posted by: 432ds | Date: 01/17/07 09:12:47 AM]
11.
Gabe is just Lazy, he should investigate the PS3 before saying these things about it.
Can he not see the potential?
[Posted by: Raith | Date: 01/17/07 10:09:53 AM]
12.
I just wanted to add my favourite thing about this generation, the PS3 and 360 are more similar than any other console generation I can think of.
[Posted by: nvfirewall | Date: 01/17/07 11:17:33 AM]
13.
ummmm, isn't half life two on xbox 360, it came out on xbox ???
[Posted by: Renegade | Date: 01/17/07 02:54:59 PM]
14.
This guy is out of his element. First of all, there is no way Mac is a better platform for the majority of pc users. I have used both and no matter how much Mac users dislike it, Windows has too many advantages, Secondly, he suggests to restart PS3. This comment is obviously over the top. By restarting the PS3 all those customers that bought the console would lose out and it would kill Sony already hurting reputation. The vast majority of consumers would not re-buy a console if it was dropped a few months after launch, even the Sony fans, would not put up for it considering the cost of consoles. Furthermore all the advertising, development technology invested in and the loss from producing consoles, would create a hit to great to re-start. Lets look at the situation, Sony is not in great financial shape, they can not afford to lose the PS3 and re-make another console. It would cost them too much and they would be left permanently behind other consoles. Lastly, Sony needs PS3, because it a major revenue of the company and will lead to there other major revenue, Blue Ray. That’s Sony two big investments, dropping both, would leave the company in shambles, and cause a major collapse in the company. In the end this guy seem more like someone wanting to get at Sony by making over the top comments, witch kills his credibility. I don’t even like the PS3 but this guy is out of his element.
[Posted by: Mike Silva | Date: 01/18/07 07:02:17 PM]
15.
What an idiot... Why should we care who this moron is. YOUR A GLORIFIED GAME MAKER, USE THE TOOLS PROVIDED AND MAKE GAMES. WE DONT WANT YOUR OPINION ON WHAT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH, JUST DO YOUR JOB MORON.
[Posted by: Your Daddy | Date: 01/29/07 05:51:38 PM]
[1-15]
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