Flash on PS3/PSP and Sony's PS2 Revolution?
Flash content site Razoric.com
posted two interesting rumors regarding plans by Sony to challenge the
unique features of both Microsoft and Nintendo's next-gen consoles. The
rumors came by way of somebody claiming to be an employee of Macromedia
(now integrated into Adobe). First, Sony is allegedly licensing Flash Lite,
the scaled down mobile devices version of Flash, for its PS3 and PSP.
Intended to compete with Xbox Live Arcade, Sony would have a system by
which PS3 and PSP owners could download Flash Lite games directly to
the consoles. The source claims Sony chose the platform due to its ease
and low cost of development as well as built in DRM.
The other rumor details a direct response to Nintendo's Revolution
controller. Sony, the source claims, is working on creating a
controller with similar functionality to Revolution's. It will
allegedly be bundled with the EyeToy PS2 camera peripheral and sold
alongside a $99 PS2 as a "Revolution Killer." Since developers are
already familiar with the PS2 hardware, games utilizing the new
controller would presumably come easily. The email indicates that, with
the price cut and added functionality, Sony is hoping to add another
50M units to its current 100M worldwide PS2 install base.
Both rumors are theoretically plausible, but there are many holes in
the story. In terms of the first rumor, it would seem a bit odd to be
using Flash Lite--rather than full Flash or simply a PS3-specific
format--on PS3. The standard is generally used for mobile devices with
very small screens and very basic technical capabilities, such as cell
phones and media players. Even the PSP seems a bit overpowered for
Flash Lite. There was that recent rumor about an 8GB PSP, but as Flash Lite games tend to be measured in kilobytes, a Memory Stick would seem to be more than sufficient.
The second rumor is a surprising one. It's certainly well within the
realms of possibility that Sony plans to support its current console
long after PS3 goes live. After all, new PS1 games were still shipping
as late as last year. That said, legacy PS1 development was mainly
comprised of ports of PS2 games (frequently sports games, movie
tie-ins, and so on), and has generally been targeted at specific
markets known to have very low PS2 install bases. Actually mobilizing
developers to work on completely new titles for PS2 while PS3 is being
heavily marketed might be a bit of a challenge, especially if the games
are intended for use with a controller that the vast majority of PS2
owners do not have. Sony would have to manage both consoles actively,
instead of simply allowing existing support of a legacy console to
continue, as with PS1. That's along with Nintendo focusing all of its
home console marketing attention on Revolution, whose spacial
controller comes standard.
It's also worth wondering why an Adobe employee would be familiar
with Sony's long-term (and in this case probably very confidential)
home console plans.
Source: Late Night Consoling