GDC 07: Microsoft Responds to Playstation HOME Service

Almost immediately after Phil Harrison unveiled Playstation HOME, Nintendo claimed Sony’s new online service was evidence of the company’s ‘mii-too’ approach in the console war.

Despite the fact that the new service looks like a direct competitor to Xbox Live, Microsoft remained silent regarding the manner. Recently however, C&VG caught up with Chris Satchell, the general manager of Microsoft’s Game Developer Group, who provided a much less bitterly worded opinion of Sony’s online strategy.

“I think they’ve definitely taken some concepts that we originated like achievements, but I think they’re pushing in a different direction and we’ve sort of fundamentally got two different approaches going on here.”

The major difference between the two services as Satchell describes them is that Xbox Live complements and facilitates playing Xbox 360 games online, while the Playstation HOME service is a seperate entity from PS3 games entirely.

“It looks cool but it’s fundamentally separate from the games – or at least what they’ve shown so far. It’s a cool world but it’s like a little game by itself. Our approach is the other way around; it’s that games are the center and that’s the star of the show, that’s what people buy the console for.”

Satchell was also quick to point out that Sony isnt the only one pushing user created content. Forza Motorsport 2 for example will allow players to tune, paint and sell cars online. Granted thats not equivelant quite as grand in scope as Sony’s HOME service, but it serves the same purpose of building online communities around games and allowing players to interact with games in a new way.

Not even Satchell could deny the charm of Sony’s other big surprise however. I anything, it seems he’s like to see more games in the same vein. “I think Little Big Planet is very cool, but I can’t see a big portfolio of games at the moment that do this. I don’t think there’s a whole load to catch up.”

For the full interview, check out C&VG.