Help cure cancer with your PS3
by Ross Miller 
{ Aug 24th 2006 at 11:25AM }
For those of you who don't care about humanity's survival, every PS3 user who runs the program gets a visualization program of the folding process, complete with HDR lighting. You can check out videos via the bottom of the FAQ. Next time you're throwing a party and need some killer visuals, hook up a PS3, put on some electronica, and have yourself a life-saving rave!
[Via Engadget; thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Piranacon @ Aug 24th 2006 11:30AM
Surely that should be "Help cure cancer (& world hunger) with your PS3."
But thats and intresting move by Sony, but I can't see many gamers wanting to give up any CPU time to this. Good luck to those that do give up some cycles to a worthy cause.
DrJack @ Aug 24th 2006 11:31AM
That is actually really cool. I hope they consider something like this for 360 as I can't really afford both systems. My one concern would be overheating, this should be running the CPU (and spe's) a lot, I hope for PS3 owners sake they have some good quiet fans in there.
Eric Von Shpeel @ Aug 24th 2006 11:36AM
cool, I used to use seti@home on my old pc, it was very interesting
ZENegade @ Aug 24th 2006 11:37AM
Awwwiggghhhhhtttt! I actually contributed to Joystiq!
Anthriel @ Aug 24th 2006 11:38AM
Incredibly cool. Some much needed and very deserved positive buzz for Sony.
tiremfej @ Aug 24th 2006 11:39AM
Hmmm...sounds kind of like the super computer that can control missles and won't be allowed into the states. Give me a friggin' break. Same old dance, different song.
Jason W @ Aug 24th 2006 11:40AM
Sounds alot like the "Sadam is using the PS2 to make a super computer." rumor crap that came out befor the last ps came out. I file this under the hype tab.
Oh and im not going to pay for bandwith when im not using it.
Kyle @ Aug 24th 2006 11:46AM
It's not the bandwidth that I'm concerned with, its the machine itself. I don't know if I want to leave my brand new machine on for an extra couple hours a day, sucking up energy and possibly quickening the console's death. We'll see though, it's for a good cause
Marty @ Aug 24th 2006 11:47AM
They have screensavers available that do all this right now... it's not as if this is some major advancement in technology or anything.
How much does Sony hand over to Joystiq to post this stuff as if it's news?
Thryon @ Aug 24th 2006 11:49AM
I think this is very cool. I have been running SETI@home for years on my PC. I will not be getting a PS3, but I still like the idea.
Kristof @ Aug 24th 2006 11:51AM
you pay for bandwidth? Like seriously, most connections are a flat rate $x/month ...
sometimes people like to just say crap.
And you're not giving up CPU cycles either, this is something that would probably run when you're not playing ... this likens to 'SETI at Home' that people run on their Macs ... I can't see why this would be any different.
I'm not buying a PS3, but jeeze people, stop the hate train, if Nintendo did this you'd all be "yay! Nintendo can have my babies!" .... If a Powermac G4 from 5 years ago can help with space exploration, then I'm sure a much more powerful unit can do this.
Jose @ Aug 24th 2006 11:51AM
You guys don't realize that this has already been going on with PC users for years now. Projects like this as well as seti@home, bbc climate change experiment, and a whole host of other projects recruit PC users to install these as standalone programs, or even screensavers. This isn't the same old song and dance from sony but instead sony getting in on something already huge. +2 Kudos to Sony
ncdign @ Aug 24th 2006 11:56AM
Attack Cancer's weakpoint for massive damage!!!
joe smith @ Aug 24th 2006 11:57AM
This is news? Half the computers at my work are running some sort of distributed project (mostly SETI@Home). Big deal. Makes me wonder how secure their network is going to be if it supports this sort of thing.
TRUTH @ Aug 24th 2006 11:58AM
Ohh...so thats why its 600$. Now it make since....
la @ Aug 24th 2006 11:58AM
Wait a minute where are all the sony sucks comments? This is joystiq right. Is everyone sleeping?? Everything sony related on this site since E3 has been down with sony and up with microsoft, and I guess nintendo can come along too. I'll check back here later in the day when the joystiq readers come out to play.
TRUTH @ Aug 24th 2006 12:01PM
Sony Sux...now you happy #13. Lets play!
TRUTH @ Aug 24th 2006 12:07PM
So what happened to just playing games on a console. Seems like alot of wasted horsepower. I'll stick with Nintendo & M$. At least there still about the games. Scientist research on cancer, not gamers.
Kristof @ Aug 24th 2006 12:10PM
"Sony Sux...now you happy #13. Lets play!"
Why do people quote numbers? Is it too hard to quote the poster's name? Don't people understand that these numbers change because of the order of when something is posted is changed by people confirming their posts?
It bugs me when people do this because 80% of the time they respond to the wrong post when they reply to the number.
White Rose Duelist @ Aug 24th 2006 12:11PM
I have my computer at home trying to compute larger prime numbers than the world has ever known. Could I do this on a PC instead, or do I need a PS3 to help cure cancer?
I too would be worried about the PS3 melting or somesuch if it were doing calculations 24/7. Sony's track record on hardware reliability is, how you say, not so hot.
The Intangible Fact @ Aug 24th 2006 12:12PM
It looks like your talking to yourself "Truth". But I see your point. A game console is made for what...? No answers...oh yes playing games...we have a winner...now where do you want us to sent your brand new Xbox360 and Wii?
Kristof @ Aug 24th 2006 12:12PM
So TRUTH, if your girlfriend (boyfriend?) borrows the car, is that a waste of horsepower because YOU'RE not using it?
Do you people understand you'll have a choice to run this? You run it when you don't play.
Martin @ Aug 24th 2006 12:14PM
It wasn't Saddam... It was the Koreans using it as computers for Missle Guidance systems with the PS2.
Anyways... God... First PS3 forces us to have BluRay, now they are forcing us to cure cancer!!! God, give us better options and cut the price.!!!
(just joking but putting it out there before a fanboy does!!!)
White Rose Duelist @ Aug 24th 2006 12:14PM
Marty - didn't you get the memo? Joystiq is anti-Sony this quarter. Come back on October 1 when the new irrational fanboy contention goes into effect to post this.
Car2oon @ Aug 24th 2006 12:14PM
Wow! Thats- so cool of Sony! So buying a PS3 means buying a next-gen console AND contributing to a good cause! Something the Wii and 360 cant do ;)
And no one has to leave the PS3 on for the whole day.. If all PS3 owners just left it on for 30 minutes a day, that should be way more than enough to provide the horse power they need.
TRUTH @ Aug 24th 2006 12:18PM
Kristof, can I ask you somthing? What is the main reason for buying a PS3, 360, Wii or other gaming device? To play games..well that is my reason for buying one.
gman @ Aug 24th 2006 12:25PM
@10. kristof
"you pay for bandwidth? Like seriously, most connections are a flat rate $x/month ...
sometimes people like to just say crap."
There are a ton of companies in North America that have a flat rate, but charge for any bandwidth used over the xxGB per month that is included in the so called "flat rate" it's fucking ridiculous and a greedy bastard move on the ISP's parts but if there are no broadband ISP's in your area that operate differently, then you're fucked either way
Phranctoast @ Aug 24th 2006 12:25PM
now if sony can only cure the hate........
ALH @ Aug 24th 2006 12:30PM
aahh..huhh..wait what? Its a good cause, yeah, but surely we should be encouraged NOT to leave our consoles on when we're not using them? You know, all those ads about not leaving your computer or TV on standby when youre not using them to try and cut carbon emissions? Are they for nothing?
Not happy with attacking our wallets, sony is now after our O-Zone :p!
Fan @ Aug 24th 2006 12:32PM
Leave it up to haters to find something negative to say about contributing to a good cause.
Its not new, its not revolutionary, its not mandatory, it just helps out. Personally I think its a good idea and I hope they make it easy to set up so that the average man or woman can contribute.
The rest of you idiots can shut up. Curing cancer is a worthy cause and someone should slap you for turning this into a flamefest, like you do with ALL other topics.
The Intangible Fact @ Aug 24th 2006 12:36PM
I've noticed everytime someone mentions something negative but factual about the P$3 people counter with(your a fanboy blah blah blah). Its suppost to be about the games screw all the other sh*t.
Fan @ Aug 24th 2006 12:40PM
@ The Intangible Fact
I love the way you spell PS3 with a $. Wow youre so original, cool and funny! I guess you spell Micro$oft like this and Nintyendo like that.
OMG I wish I was as cool as you.....
neil @ Aug 24th 2006 12:40PM
Some boob at WIRED magazine suggested this for the 360 and PS3 last year. It sounds like a great idea on the surface, but the PS3 is going to consume at least 500 watts and that adds up if you leave it on 24/7.
Fact is, game machines are not designed for curing cancer, they are designed for playing games. If a person is going to plunk down the necessary $750 to get out the door with a PS3, one game and a controller, that same person is more than likely going to have a computer, or computers anyway.
Lastly, running Non-Sony approved programs on the PS3, especially ones that tax the system to the max, most likely will void the warranty. Who is going to pay for burned out PS3?
gok @ Aug 24th 2006 12:40PM
They will never make any meaningful discovery with this. Just a huge waste of energy :| But i still think its cool :P Good shit from sony :)
gok @ Aug 24th 2006 12:41PM
It'll act as ubercool screensaver if nothing else.
Ethan @ Aug 24th 2006 12:48PM
Wow, you people are seriously ignorant. Hundreds of thousands of people die of cancer every year, and you guys are trying to make using unused bandwidth and wasted electricity, turned into used bandwidth, and unwasted electricity sound like a bad thing. Seriously, get a life you ignorant POS's, I bet if someone in your family died of cancer you would have a different stand on this, and would hope that more people would use programs like this.
Pseudo99 @ Aug 24th 2006 12:58PM
OH!!! I see!! This is what Sony meant by the PS3's amazing Cell-processing power (that they're conviently not boasting much about anymore).
I can't wait. That Emotion Engine of the PS2's makes me feel joy and sadness every time I play a PS2 game.
AKozlenok @ Aug 24th 2006 12:59PM
To all those bashing Folding@Home: I've been folding for quite some time now and on occasion visit stanford to oogle at things. Though I am not a researcher working on F@H I can honestly say that the work that it is doing is helping reasearch along, from a scientific point of view. The kind of single machine that it would take to actualy simulate that many different protein folding algorhythms is insane, and where it not for this project the amount of data for medical research would be severely lessened. Also Folding is not JUST for cancer, it also helps with Alzheimers, Huntingtons, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, and some others I dont' remember. Having seen several people die from cancer, including someone near and dear to me, and knowing how much of a help this distributed computing program is, I am ashamed at some of you that are advising throwing money at the problem in stead of actualy assisting it in an active and viable way.
I commend sony for making a PS3 F@H client (for one because it saves me from having to code it), and for another, because it really does actualy help. I don't think this is in any way a publicity stunt, but mores o just a way to help, I can't see this as much of a barganing chip for anyone, not even sony.
Even if some of you fail to see the light even after reading this, then I guess your beyond help. My hats off to sony and even more so for those others on Joystiq willing to put forth the effort to help with this research.
Mark @ Aug 24th 2006 1:02PM
Nintendo is asking you to leave your console on when you aren't using it so that it can download demo's in the background.
Sony is asking you to try leaving your console on when you aren't using it to help the Folding@home project, yet some of you people are actually faulting Sony for this. This is a way cool move by Sony, and I hope everyone who buys a PS3 uses this option.
AKozlenok @ Aug 24th 2006 1:03PM
32: hadn't read your comment till after my post. Here's exactly where you're wrong: ONE the ps3s can do folding just fine, sony has stated many times publicly that the Cell is there for complicated batches of math (i.e.: shader operations, physics batching, etc.) which is exactly how WUs for F@H work. Two: This client is being written BY sony, so i doubt it would void your warranty to run something that THEY wrote for THEIR system, yes it runs using stanfords server and general client interface but the rest is still sonys writing.
Again hats off to sony.:-)
Kristof @ Aug 24th 2006 1:05PM
TRUTH, Sony has always said the PS3 is not 'just' a gaming console. Maybe they are trying to prove that point with things like this.
Smarter Gamers @ Aug 27th 2006 1:45PM
Hey its a great idea what Sony is trying to, but unfortunately it does not really fit well here. I would never leave my XBox 360 on after I am done, the only way I would do that is when I am downloading stuff from the Marketplace. Otherwise don't try to add little crappy features that have a good cause because they ran out of original ideas.
saboola @ Aug 24th 2006 1:15PM
Sony is doing this as a pre-emptive measure. Kutaragi said that they made it too powerful. They found that the PS3 beta testers were getting cancer from the sheer awesomeness that is the PS3. In order to counteract this , they plan on using the PS3 to cure cancer. If this fails they will send the PS3 back in time to have sex with Sarah Conner, or something. I have a friend who works for Sony.
LaughingTarget @ Aug 24th 2006 1:27PM
Given the Cell chip in the PS3 is actually designed for this sort of operation, then this is a very good idea. A PS3 will outperform just about any desktop PC for some time in this specialized operation because the Cell is perfect for it.
Given the sheer number of F@H processors already out there, the PS3 won't be the one curing cancer and will provide a marginal if noticable difference in overall F@H results. Still, any additional processing space will be of help. F@H is a very valuable and worthwhile endeavor. Much better than all those processor cycles wasted on Seti@home. Searching for aliens isn't as useful as curing Alzheimers.
The Intangible Fact @ Aug 24th 2006 1:33PM
@ fan
What can I say.....Im a original type of man.
The Intangible Fact @ Aug 24th 2006 1:42PM
Lets take a look at these questions:
1: Is it cool to have this for the PS3?
A: Somewhat
2: Will it really help the fight on cancer?
A: Maybe
3: Is it worth $600?
A: Hell no.
4: Will your friends come over to play cure the cancer?
A: No
5: Will it help you look sympathetic to the ladies?
A: Yes
6: Does it play games?
A: For an extra $200 as an add-on.
Henry @ Aug 24th 2006 1:44PM
"Nintendo is asking you to leave your console on when you aren't using it so that it can download demo's in the background.
Sony is asking you to try leaving your console on when you aren't using it to help the Folding@home project, yet some of you people are actually faulting Sony for this. This is a way cool move by Sony, and I hope everyone who buys a PS3 uses this option."
"TRUTH, Sony has always said the PS3 is not 'just' a gaming console. Maybe they are trying to prove that point with things like this."
I agree with both of these comments.
What Sony is doing, is using the system's potiental for good cause and I mean honestly, almost everyone of us is bound to get struck with some sickness or diseases. So for all these commenters that hate Sony for this so much, when all these scientist comes up with a cure or a breakthrough for all these diseases and sickness that they cure with the help of the PS3. Don't ask for the help, just live with the cancer or disease, for thinking it's a foolish idea.
Intangible 360 @ Aug 24th 2006 1:52PM
As others have stated this has been happeneing for quite awhile on computers, I'm running the seti screensaver on my very crappy laptop...it says absolutely nothing about the power of the machine.
That said it's hard to argue with helping to cure cancer, it bothers me though having it used by Sony to try and make their system look more powerful.
TRUTH @ Aug 24th 2006 1:56PM
I don't mean to offend you guys, its just that I grew up with atari, nes & snes. Back when you bought game consoles to play games and nothing else. All these extras are just to help sony sell more machines to wider base of sympathetic people. Here should be Sony's slogan "Do Your Part on the Fight Against Cancer Buy a PS3".
Venator2000 @ Aug 24th 2006 2:03PM
This is a nice way to have people keep their systems connected and powered on 24/7, so Sony can fix... oops, UPGRADE... the system all the time, and also probably seek out and delete any illegal music you've put on your system. ;-)