Video of the final PS3 dev kit and partial dashboard
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Aug 17th 2006 at 10:38AM }
During a visit with Sega to get the latest on Full Auto 2, 1Up captured a video of the final PlayStation 3 dev kit and what the dashboard of the PS3 is lookin' like right about now.
... we were given a chance to play around with a final PS3 development kit and captured it all on film. Particularly worthy of attention were the controller (which didn't have the tilt functionality in it yet, unfortunately) and the menu system, which, while still very early, shows the obvious design cues from the PSP's dashboard.
If you're interested in what Full Auto 2 looks like, you can watch the video here. We played the game last month and were impressed by the makeover for the PS3. The cars handled better and most importantly, didn't fly like paper airplanes every time you hit a bump in the road.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Derbeste @ Aug 17th 2006 10:45AM
Anyone who thought Nintendo was slipping because devs didn't have wiimote speaker functionality can now please feel free to to say, "Oops".....then act like you never thought it was a big deal anyway.
stephen @ Aug 17th 2006 10:47AM
wow the ps3 is really innovative isn't it, i mean that controller is just lightyears ahead.
epobirs @ Aug 17th 2006 10:49AM
At first glance I thought it was an Xbox being displayed for size contrast or something. Shame the lighting makes the panels details so hard to make out, just for geekology's sake.
teknomusik @ Aug 17th 2006 10:53AM
FRICKIN AWESOME DUDE!!
Not.
GunForHire @ Aug 17th 2006 11:02AM
Is that a guide button I see? Wow, how new and exciting!
eRock @ Aug 17th 2006 11:03AM
Wow, that is really creative...
vidGuy @ Aug 17th 2006 11:07AM
yuck, yuck... these menus work for the PSP but I think that style would be too simple for the PS3. Just like Nintendo needs to improve the "depth" of its menus and WiFi connect screens, Sony needs to make this stuff have more substance.
Fagaymer @ Aug 17th 2006 11:09AM
Wow! I cannot wait! I'm glad the menu is similar to the PSP menu. It's so easy to use and naviagate. I love the simplicity of it! Bravo!
Intangible 360 @ Aug 17th 2006 11:17AM
That "centre button" looks cheap and ugly, their menu system is bland and uninspired...I guess I shouldn't have expected anything better. IMHO (at least at first glance) the Xbox 360 controller and Menu systems are much better both functionally and aesthetically.
The ZeroCorpse @ Aug 17th 2006 11:17AM
`Makes the Xbox 360 dashboard look gorgeous. And they're calling PS3 a super-computer with an interface like that? Yuck. The OS bears more resemblance to a chintzy handheld than a desktop computer!
This will BOMB and bomb big. Why couldn't it be Sony that left hardware design and Sega who is putting out a new system now?!?!
Subnet6 @ Aug 17th 2006 11:18AM
I doubt the sonybots are going to show their faces on this post.
That being said, the dev kit looks pretty high tech. Much moreso than the plain steel boxes we've seen for the Wii or the G5s for the 360.
I am honestly disappointed about Sony going back to the classic controller. While I liked the PS2 controller, I think that MS had the right idea of taking a good controller (the S controller) and making it better. There was room for improvement of the dual shock without making it a boomerang afterall. It just seems like after the backlash agains the boomerang (which I felt was overdone and unnessecary) they lost all their cojones for making a new controller for the next gen.
Lord Meph @ Aug 17th 2006 11:23AM
Now they ripped off M$'s guide button too?!?
Sony truly has no shame. Apparantly they have no creativity either....
OOOOPs @ Aug 17th 2006 11:26AM
The XBL interface shouts: HARDCORE GAMER HERE!!!
The PSP/PS3 interface is simple; simple is a good thing when it comes to interfaces. If anything the PSP/PS3 is more Apple-like than that XBL crap.
jd @ Aug 17th 2006 11:26AM
to all those complaining about the current GUI -
its a devkit. wake up, it doesnt have to be pretty.
PS2 TOOL devkits didnt even have a UI, just a single screen showing the units firmware and ip.
RazorElite @ Aug 17th 2006 11:29AM
@10 The backlash of the boomerang was necessary. That was definitely one of the most horrible controllers ever created.
And yes, that interface does suck BIG TIME. The 360 interface is very simple as well, but not nearly as bland. I hope with a default UI that crappy, they'd have some alternative skins.
Hudson922 @ Aug 17th 2006 11:30AM
Does any one know what kind of batteries the controllers will be using?
Mike @ Aug 17th 2006 11:30AM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1mq5job_en0
I like it.
Urbanstorm @ Aug 17th 2006 11:30AM
"Makes the Xbox 360 dashboard look gorgeous. And they're calling PS3 a super-computer with an interface like that? Yuck. The OS bears more resemblance to a chintzy handheld than a desktop computer!"
Well I would sure hope so seeing how they are a company that makes OS for a living ;-)..
Anyway I saw this coming when I saw the psp and new walkman dashboard.If it is anything like the psp you will be able to put up wallpaper and change the color so it's not "THAT" bad if you think about it, but its still no where close to the 360 but it's not as bad as some of you make it out.
vidGuy @ Aug 17th 2006 11:34AM
True, jd, but why wouldn't they make it just a single screen/no-menu bootup if they were planning on using a menu system complete different from PSP's?
Looks like PS3's menu will be very similar to PSP's (which has been rumored for some time now), and I feel that doesn't give the right impression of the system.
Bryan @ Aug 17th 2006 11:40AM
It's amazing how much time all of you 360 fanboys have to spend on criticizing Sony. Shouldn't you be playing your super-awesome 360....oh thats right you've already tired of Dead Rising...the only decent game on the 360(that isnt on PC).
Lord Meph @ Aug 17th 2006 11:45AM
"Looks like PS3's menu will be very similar to PSP's (which has been rumored for some time now), and I feel that doesn't give the right impression of the system."
I think the impression it gives is spot on.
Both the PSP and the PS3:
1) are overpriced
2) are innundated with 'been there done that" sequelitis
3) have the ability to play proprietary movie formats that will be dead in a couple of years
4) do not have rumble features
5) will be outsold by their competitors
existonfile @ Aug 17th 2006 11:46AM
I don't think this will be the final design of the PS3 menu. They probably just used this as a place holder, especially considering it's very PSP-like. I mean, why would the developer need to know what the UI looked like? They just need the functionality there. Considering how much Sony is "borrowing" from the Nintendo and Microsoft, I would expect something similar to the 360's Blades on the retail PS3's.
Daniel @ Aug 17th 2006 11:46AM
RazorElite - just out of curiousity, what made the boomerang controller 'one of the most horrible controllers ever created?' No one even used the thing. If you didn't like the way it looked, that's fine. But to say something as ridiculous as your statement is, well, ridiculous. How is anyone to know if the boomerang was good or bad to actually USE?
Silly, silly, silly.
razer @ Aug 17th 2006 11:52AM
Actually Bryan, we are playing Ninty Nine Nights another 360 exclusive that just came out today. So take your smart ass comments somewhere else thank you!
jc @ Aug 17th 2006 11:59AM
I don't think the menu system interface looks very impressive, but then again, I never bought (or didn't buy) a console based on it's menu... as long as it works, that is all that matters to me.
The only thing I find odd: how does Sony plan on promoting their PS3 as a 'super computer' when it's user interface is the same as the PSP (clearly not a super computer). Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't buy the Mac Pro if the OS/interface was the same as the iPod.
Mentalist @ Aug 17th 2006 11:59AM
Wow. Amazing. The power. $600 for that? ;)
IslandLife @ Aug 17th 2006 12:00PM
The Xbox360 interface is junk like everything designed by or for Microsoft. They need to learn that a minimalistic approach to design is much better than trying to fit everything on screen at once. Form follows function.
andrew @ Aug 17th 2006 12:00PM
if you look at the E3 video you will see what it really looks like. http://youtube.com/watch?v=1mq5job_en0
new*allusion @ Aug 17th 2006 12:05PM
I love the way these are now "dashboards" rather than "menus"...
Anyway, I think it looks quite good, it's quite obvious what everything does and navigation is so simple I reckon anybody could work it out. Clearly, as this is a developers system, and we've seen more finalised versions in E3 videos, there is more to come then is on here. The background can be user controlled if the PSP is anything to go by, in this case however its simply a transparent overlay on top of the "in development" multiplayer menu for Full Auto 2- if you look carfully you can see options for AI levels and opposition car numbers. Good to see you access the friends list (although they don't here) whilst in a game too.
To the "Sony stole it!" brigade - from who? Themselves? The PSP has exactly the same system as this and came out before the 360 was revealed. Just replace the "PlayStation logo" button with a "Home" button and then they'd be exactly the same. The only other difference is the friends list and user options both of which you pretty much need today in a home console.
Loving the way the controller uses a piece of widely available, cheap and simple tech (a mini-USB cable) for charging too. Play and Charge kits? Microsoft- you just got greedy there. Still I wish Sony had changed their pad a bit more then they have, good to know it finally has triggers though.
One of my major concerns is that on the PSP menu you have to stay on the Music section to listen to a song, hopefully they'll allow you to navigate away from that as you can on the 360. That's a great feature- loved having my own soundtrack to a game!
devi8i @ Aug 17th 2006 12:20PM
Ok, if you want to be a fanboy and bash Sony at least come to the table with real comparisons.....
Sony's dashboard for the PSP and the PS3 is VERY reminiscent of Microsoft's Windows Media Center except Sony's runs horizontally with vertical sub menus and MS's runs vertically with horizontal sub menus.
So, is Sony just copying a really good menuing system, or is Sony copying a very bad menu system…… watch how you respond fanboys of all sides.
ninja @ Aug 17th 2006 12:20PM
Yea yea yea... "Sony's motion controller is soo advanced..." Okay smart asses.
Sony had a Patent already filed for the same style of game play (motion sensors in 3D space) before Nintendo ever even announced their "innovative invention". The difference? Sony used an camera; Eye Toy.
Who is copying who? And who cares anyways?
vidGuy @ Aug 17th 2006 12:27PM
ninja, I don't care who copies who as long as things work for us, the consumers. But the Eye Toy is a far cry from the remote. Even if the tech were the same, the remote's going to get a ton more support since it's the DEFAULT control method.
@devi8i,
I think it's a good menuing system... for simple devices. MS's WMC needs to be simple to sell to the right users. The PSP needs to have a simple interface because it is a handheld. A console system that is many times more powerful than the PSP shouldn't have a nearly identical user interface.
Aex @ Aug 17th 2006 12:30PM
@20
Both the PSP and the PS3:
"1) are overpriced"
Maybe overpriced, but sony has always been overpriced and has always sold. Tho a 600+ price tag sucks... alot, on the plus side it'll be the only system with a next gen disc system (Blu-ray).
"2) are innundated with 'been there done that" sequelitis"
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
"3) have the ability to play proprietary movie formats that will be dead in a couple of years"
Welcome to Sony's Firmware updates. With almost every patch to the psp firmware, sony has added a new playable movie/music format. When was the last time you saw nintendo update a firmware?
"4) do not have rumble features"
Because the ruble is sooooooo useful.
"5) will be outsold by their competitors"
People said that about the PS1 and the PS2
Here is how it'll break down. MS hit the market first and is gaining place because of it. Wii will hit the market next, and because its cheap (and nintendo) should bust ahead of MS. Then the PS3 will hit the market, and grow slowly. Then when Blu-ray gets big, all the people that bought a PS2 for the DVD player will buy a PS3 for the Blu-ray player, and PS3 will remain in the lead. Then nintendo fanboys will cry and scream about how their system is a "BETTER" system, and the only reason PS3 sells more isn't because its a good game system, but because its a multimedia system.
The same thing happens every generation release. Nintendo fanboys (other system fanboys too) scream about how cool their not-released system is and when it comes out its all good. Then people realize that they just bought another GIMMICK.
Yes, I have a PS2 and a PSP. But, here's the kicker... I have a GC and a DS too! Screw the xbox, I'll leave that to the women (GF has the xbox ;)
Supra @ Aug 17th 2006 12:39PM
Sony's gonna fall flat with the POS3
Pal @ Aug 17th 2006 12:39PM
PSP's dashboard? More like PSX's dashboard!
By PSX, I don't mean the misnamed PlayStation 1 nickname (where do you get "X" from PlayStation?), but the $700 HDD+PS2 machine.
Man, I'd rather have the PS3 look like the devkit. I still loathe the PS3's design. It looks like an ugly scanner.
Lord Meph @ Aug 17th 2006 12:40PM
@32
Since you only really addressed #3, I will respond to that.
When I say "proprietary movie formats" I am referring to UMD (which are already discontinued) and Blue-Ray (which will probably follow suit).
"Then when Blu-ray gets big...."
Don't hold your breath.
BTW, I have a 360, a DS and a GC. I bought a PS2 just for GTA, but sold it a while ago. Other than their TV sets (I have a nice HD LCD Grand Wega) and cameras, I think Sony is crap.
When it comes to game machines they serve the lowest common denominator and rarely, if ever, bring anything new or innovative to the table.
Darth Pixel @ Aug 17th 2006 12:44PM
Hi, I represent all PSbots out there.
I am here to declare this interface is superior to the 360's interface because it is truly 2D.
Microsoft painted themselves into a corner by having blades that swing left and right, while this interface can be navigated left and right AND up and down...much more logical and practical...and much more powerful.
Sorry, Xbots, you can't win the console war without Japan.
End of transmission.
trooper11 @ Aug 17th 2006 12:46PM
"Then when Blu-ray gets big, all the people that bought a PS2 for the DVD player will buy a PS3 for the Blu-ray player, and PS3 will remain in the lead."
This one little comment is based on alot of assumptions. The future isnt that clear right now and Im starting to wonder how long it will take before HD-DVD or Blu-Ray take off.
I dont understand why some want to play that card for the ps3. The situation for the ps2 when it luanched was that dvd was a big jump over vhs and was the only standard for such a jump, so it quickly took off thanks to industry wide adoption. the PS3 doesnt get that luxury becuase Blu-Ray (or for that matter, HD-DVD) arent that kind of percieved jump for the mainstream of buyers since you also have to buy a new tv, etc , just to get your money's worth. And on top of that, Blu-Ray isnt even the industry wide standard, its competing agaisnt a format that, as far as movies goes, can do everything it can in a cheaper package.
So at this moment, no one can say which format will be the dominant one and that also means that selling point for the PS3 isnt that powerful for the average consumer who doesnt want to buy into a possibly dead format (same goes for hd-dvd). Sure Blu-Ray will say to the top 1% of hardcore users, but they were going to buy it anyway, so it doesnt change anything.
Joe A. @ Aug 17th 2006 12:48PM
READ THE POST: That is the PS3 devkit interface, not the console itself. Ever seen the 360 devkit interface? Not exactly as pretty as the dashboard, but as a matter of fact, it doesn't function like it either unlike the PS3's simplified dashboard interface.
Some impressions I got from this video:
- REALLY large (looks final) devkit still confuses me on how they'll fit all that power in their proposed final unit without it going Dell-laptop in my entertainment center.
- USB mini-b plug and connector for the wireless controller looks like after constant plug/unplugs can wear itself out (like any Mini-B plug/connector) and can make the connection loose.
- I thought the PS3 was able to have 7 players on one system. I only saw 4 lights on the controller... and if they're gonna do combo-lights to pull 7 players off, that'll be really tacky and annoying.
An impression I got from E3 when I played the PS3 is that the controller is TOO light. Sony needs to put either more gyro sensors in there to put more weight in the handles for balance or just put rumble back in.
JimmyHACK @ Aug 17th 2006 12:55PM
XMB interface is good, good enough for 360 to use it (go left or right to the section of interest, then up or down for activity)
Urbanstorm @ Aug 17th 2006 12:59PM
Again why is this such a surprise to people ? Sony said for the start the the psp and there new mp3 players would be able to hook up with the ps3.
This is nothing but sony way of doing what MS is planing to do with vista and the 360(live anywhere).
Is it as pretty as the 360 no , is it easy to use ? yes ! will you be able to take your mp3's and videos that are on the psp and transfer them to the ps3 and vice versa ? chances are yes.
Now weather or not you use the features is up to you, but if you take time from your fanboyness (that goes for you also sony and nintendo fans) you can see that they didnt make that bad of an idea.
Aex @ Aug 17th 2006 1:02PM
@Lord Meph
(I'll use your nick instead of numbers now, haha)
Ok, UMD does suck. Sony tried something and failed at it, they aren't the first company to do that. Blu-ray on the other hand is not a proprietary format. Blu-ray is the better of the 2 HD disc formats coming out. Owning a HD tv, I'm sure you already know this. Unless of course you are just one of those people that just have a HD tv because it sounded cool and actually never use the HD functions.
"When it comes to game machines they serve the lowest common denominator and rarely, if ever, bring anything new or innovative to the table."
Why do people ALWAYS think any innovation is for the best? Guess what, some "innovations" SUCK. I'm not going to list the innovative failures of the past, cause everyone should already know what they are. Sony takes their base system and makes improvements on it, and guess what? It worked with the PS2, and it will work with the PS3. You don't need GIMMICKS to make a good system, look at the DS, a majority of the great games dont even USE the stylus. If you think the wii's motion system is anything more than another nintendo gimmick, then I feel sorry for you.
vidGuy @ Aug 17th 2006 1:07PM
"Blu-ray is the better of the 2 HD disc formats coming out. Owning a HD tv, I'm sure you already know this."
Most of the comparisons have had HD-DVD winning out, both in visuals and compatibility. And it's a heck of a lot cheaper.
darryl @ Aug 17th 2006 1:07PM
Very cool... wish I could read the text behind though. Final dev kits out there is a good sign... so far Sony is on track, according to their own schedule anyway.
jc @ Aug 17th 2006 1:11PM
Aex, what are you basing your "Blu-ray is the better of the 2 HD disc formats coming out" comment on?
Every review of side-by-side tests comparing HD-DVD and BluRay shows HD-DVD as coming out on top. Personally, I find it too early in either's development to expect a clear winner, but you have to give some merit to the professional AV/HomeTheatre guys.
Do you have some proof to back up your claim? I would love to see it.
Phranctoast @ Aug 17th 2006 1:16PM
HD DVD had its problems the first couple of months it was out (and had no competition). Lets give blu ray a couple of months. Theres also only one blu ray player out now that has defects that cause the blurry screen. Ill reserve judgement until I see the ps3 and its bluray player.
Lord Meph @ Aug 17th 2006 1:17PM
Aex,
I could do without your condescending comments such as "I feel sorry for you" but whatever...
UMD is proprietary movie format #2 that failed miserably for Sony. #1 was Beta Max, which was superior to VHS, but nobody cared.
It isnt a matter of whether or not *I* prefer the features that Blu-Ray ofers over HD DVD, its what the masses care about, and trust me, they only care about the cost when it comes to such similar formats. And really, other than incerased storage capacity, there isnt anything about Blue-ray that stands out to me, and I have always been an early adoptor and a video/audiophile.
Instead of making underhanded comments like "Unless of course you are just one of those people that just have a HD tv because it sounded cool ....", why don't you tell us all what is so superior about Blue Ray. Please, enlighten us.
And no, innovation isn't always "for the best", I never said it, and nobody else in this thread said it either.
But innovation is necessary for an industry to survive and grow. Without innovation, which you easily dismiss, we'd still be using Atari joysticks with one button, playing via rf connectors through a switch box, wouldnt have analog controllers, wouldnt have HD, wouldnt have DVD, etc. etc. etc.
So to dismiss innovation simply because it isnt always for the best is a bit disengenous, IMO.
The DS is not a gimmick, and the best selling titles on the system all use the stylus, so Ihve no idea where youre coming from with your statement about the touch-screen.
The Wiimote is not a gimmick, either. It is what the entire console (and the majority of its games) is built around. Its not a tacked-on feature (like, oh I dunno, say a sloppily implemented TILT function). Saying the Wiimote is just a gimmick is like saying that the earphones that come with an iPod are a gimmick. Its just a senseless, baseless and ignorant statement.
Jeff @ Aug 17th 2006 1:22PM
"And really, other than incerased storage capacity, there isnt anything about Blue-ray that stands out to me, "
In digital media, this is akin to saying "other than EVERYTHING BEING BETTER, there isn't anything that stands out". Storage capacity is all that matters, all else being equal.
Well, data transfer speed as well, and BD has that over HD-DVD too. This means higher bit rates are possible even when using the same codec.
Anyway, getting back to this whole "menu" thing - I just want to know when we all collectively decided that this is an issue that matters. Because, you know, back in the day, you put a game in and played. I'd be a lot happier if my game systems didn't have any menu at all.
Phranctoast @ Aug 17th 2006 1:22PM
ill be senseless, baseless and ignorant then.
the wii remote sounds cool at first, but then you realize you bought a system slightly more powerful then the xbox 1 for a peripheral that is a gimmick.
Aex @ Aug 17th 2006 1:23PM
@36
Of course they are assumptions. This entire thread is just one assumption on top of another. This is the way I predict things will happen. I base my assumptions on the past and my opinion of the hd vs blu topic. I could be wrong, you could be wrong, everyone could be wrong. But really, what fun is that?
If you wanna talk about hd-dvd vs. blu-ray, blu-ray already has a huge backing in the terms of the movie industry and hardware industry. Warner Brothers, Lion's Gate, Fox, Sony, Paramount, Disney. Straight out of wikipedia "Of the six largest Hollywood studios, this leaves only Universal Studios supporting HD-DVD exclusively." Only set back now is they are more expensive. But if you are dropping $800+ on a HD player now, I doubt cost is a concern of yours.
Back on topic, do I think ps3 is goign to be huge on release? No I dont. I think they will sell out like usual, and the preorder I have at gamestop will sell for double the price on ebay. Do I think they will gain ground as they add to their library and eventually surpass xbox 360 and wii, yes I do.