Sony considers incentives for commercial PS3 use
by Kyle Orland 
{ Apr 11th 2007 at 2:55PM }
Tired of wasting all those idle PS3 clock cycles curing diseases for the benefit of all humanity? Wish you could sell off your extra processing power for prizes and free stuff instead? Sony knows how you feel, and is reportedly looking into a program that would let you do just that.Sony Computer Entertainment CTO Masa Chatani told the Financial Times that they are in discussions with a number of companies interested in using the parallel processing power of the PS3 network for their own research. Chatani realizes users might be hesitant to simply loan out use of their $600 living room computer to a commercial enterprise, so the company is considering offering incentives such as free products to users who would aid in such research.
This sounds like a win-win-win situation to us: Sony gets a new revenue stream; small companies get their research done relatively cheaply; and PS3 owners get free stuff. Of course, every PS3 running one of these commercial projects is one less project running the potentially life-saving Folding@Home. OK, so maybe it's win-win-win-lose. Still, three out of four ain't bad.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
viito @ Apr 11th 2007 3:02PM
Nice to know all that money spent on the PS3 and it's basicly becoming somthing you leave on to proccess data for other's. Anyone actually use it for gaming? Guess it makes sense to ship with non HD cables since a majority of the owners don't even use it for gaming?
Dolla Dolla @ Apr 11th 2007 3:08PM
@viito
Actually, it doesn't make ANY sense not to ship it with the proper cables since it is a Blu-ray player. But, I certainly wouldn't knock Sony for this move. Hell, if they get in bed with the right business partners, they could potentially lower the price of entry, which is what they need ... badly.
Oh, and games. They could use some of those, too.
Taylor B @ Apr 11th 2007 3:09PM
Pharmaceutical companies are equally life-saving, and the companies mentioned aren't going to be megacorps like Pfizer, they would be start-ups or small companies. Any individual who would like to contribute to Stanford would still be welcome to do so. Anyone who believes in the cause and results of Folding at Home will likely remain contributers while others who have chosen not to contribute will still get a quid-pro-quo method of helping produce new types of medicine.
An introduction to other medical based distributed computing would likely tap into users who have chosen not to fold for Stanford. It's realistically opening up the demographic for distributed computing.
Just Me @ Apr 11th 2007 3:12PM
Wouldn't it be smarter for Sony to not even sell the PS3, and simply run them inhouse for research purposes?
jsn @ Apr 11th 2007 3:12PM
haha.... Our game lineup is below average, our console is over priced and our online features are minimal, at best, but hey, you can sell cpu cycles for pennies per hour... Trying to figure out exactly what Sony's strategy is, as if it knows, makes my head spin.
Taylor B @ Apr 11th 2007 3:14PM
The Cell processor is versatile. It's interesting to see that people are flustered by the fact that it's potential goes beyond just gaming even though it's exceptionally suited for just that.
PS3 is already selling at a loss, anyone reading Joystiq knows that, so why ask why they're not shipping with cables? Sony is selling component cables on the cheap anyways for 19.99.
And it still makes sense for the PS3 not to ship with cables even though it has Blu-Ray because all the games are on next generation discs, which means it needs a BluRay player to run the games. And many of the games need BluRay because they demand a higher capacity than 9gbs. Resistance is at ... 17gbs I believe?
Are these commenters even PS3 owners?
Todd @ Apr 11th 2007 3:18PM
Pharmaceutical have enough money to buy their own super computers and then some. I wager Universities would be willing to get into bed with this idea, to help crunch numbers on astrophysics and whatnot.
The prizes better be good. Earn money back on that $600 living room computer. Earn points to be spent on game/Home content. Get free games in the mail (yeah right). Giftcards to be used at Sony Sytle.
viito @ Apr 11th 2007 3:17PM
I know it does not make any sense I was being sarcastic. True story here a friend of a friend decided he wanted to join the HD world so he went out and got a new 60" TV and a PS3. My friend got a call saying he come check out my new toys. So my friend heads over and say's dude this game looks like crap WTF? He then looks at the setup and notices ohh yea it only comes with RCA cables. The guy who got the TV and PS3 had no clue and I guess the people who sold it to him failed to alert him he needed diffrent cables to get HD out of the console. Moral of the story how many other people out there are not aware of this? I am willing to bet a lot of PS3's out there are running like this. That is just sad on Sony's part. I don't see this new's being any good either it just reinforces the fact Sony is grasping at strings to try turn lemon's into lemonade. The popularity of folding @ home is cool and I think it's a good cause. But seriously this is almost a slap in the face.
tippy @ Apr 11th 2007 3:24PM
that is all we need new formula boner pills so you can sleep with your hateful screeching wife to keep her from sleeping with some else
i can hear the pr ads now, the ps3 saved my marriage
robert @ Apr 11th 2007 3:50PM
Taylor B, don't you know that you have to talk about how bad Sony and the PS3 suck in order to be part of the internet cool crowd?
so if you want to be cool, quit forming your own ideas and get in line with the rest of us... and quit trying to have a different opinion than the masses.
horngreen @ Apr 11th 2007 3:30PM
I doubt the "free stuff" will be worth more than the electricity the PS3 is using. Hey Sony instead of "again" trying to lead us to believe your console can do everything for everyone why don't you just make a massive cell processor for these companies to use? I mean Gates gives billions to help third world countries through his foundation and he doesn't expect me to use my 360 to cure disease.
DBX00 @ Apr 11th 2007 3:39PM
The whole point is for companies that can't afford to purchase supercomputers to take advantage of the processing power. In order to utilize the processing power of 10,000 PS3's you would need to invest huge amounts of money into computers.
Also, you should really check again before you start claiming the PS3 doesn't have a game lineup. The games have already started coming at a steady rate. The only console that needs to worry about a drought is the Wii. The PS3 is already building a game library beyond its launch titles. Simply put the release lists for all three consoles next to each other and you'll easily see the PS3 has 2007 and 2008 under control.
Also, I don't mind having the option to help other research companies that may be pursuing cures for AIDS or rare diseases. In the case that my computer will be used for other commercial uses, I'm sure they'll find some way to make it worth my time. Otherwise, I just won't use the software like any other software that doesn't match my needs.
jsn @ Apr 11th 2007 3:53PM
DBX:
C'mon, few exclusives and even fewer AAA exclusives along with a bunch of cross platformers does not a strong lineup make.... I know it hurts to accept that the supposed beyond next gen PS3 is really only last years next gen and not what Sony advertised.
sheppy @ Apr 11th 2007 3:55PM
DBX00, wish I could agree with you there. PS3 is getting a dry spot right now (although having The New Goblin as a PS3 exclusive... FUCKING ROCKS) but Sony needs to push more titles out soon. Lair leads the next charge but that's July.
Then again, this IS a traditionally slow spot for games.
sheppy @ Apr 11th 2007 4:00PM
@jsn,
just stop. Seriously. Everything you type makes me feel like I'm stuck a Daily Show interview segment. You know, where the person they are interviewing is an embarassment to themselves, their family, the species that shares their genomes. That's you, buddy. An embarrassment. A tragic individual thrown in the ring with someone like Samantha Bee, with wit as sharp as a stick of butter, and still coming out lookings like a crushed camel stool sample.
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 4:03PM
taylor B -
Sony's whole (marketed) point with the PS3 is that games come in blu-ray because they are in HD. so no, it doesn't make sense that a $600 machine comes with genesis-era composite RCA cables.
also, Resistance was around 16-17gigs, but it certainly didn't have to be.
though you might not have guessed, the cutscenes were space hogging HD FMV even though they could have easily been done in realtime. they were just static images fading into each other, and probably the reason you didn't notice they were prerendered video. not to mention it shipped with every region's audio/voice track, not just english.
re: folding@home
folding at home is great precisely because of the casue. its worth the electricity carbon consumption profile of leaving it on because of what the research is intended for.
Sony renting out the (woefully) underused PS3 processor time for anything else wouldn't be worth the environmental sacrifice. especially considering it'd just serve to give more money to Sony on top of what we already paid for what was supposed to be a GAME machine.
.
AKM @ Apr 11th 2007 4:06PM
Games lineup will not be a problem very soon. We just angry for new, fresh, nice looking game. But if you consider then GOW2 for PS2 look better then Halo3 for 360 (at least on beta video they show us 2 days ago) then we have lots of game. Well, at least ps3 owners who newer have previous version of console.
Xbox 360 has much bigger lineup for now, buy how many games really worth to play?
Some of them very same ps2 ports or pc ports …
In case of folding@for gift look like PS3 owners will benefit even by only turning their consoles on…
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 4:06PM
*cause*
Biphster @ Apr 11th 2007 4:07PM
I have my PS3 set to automatically load into folding@home after 10 mins idle. Its amazing how many spare minutes add up when you might be doing something in another room and such.
People saying the same old same old again eh? I OWN A PS3... and I play games, YES GAMES!! Motorstorm being the big full game at the moment (Resistance next on my list) and i'm having a good laugh with Super Rub a Dub in little bursts (When I dont have much time for a big gaming session). And flOw just swallows HOURS!! how does that happen? Nothing is really happening but its very "addictive".
I watch movies, I even watch tellytubbies on DVD with my kid on my PS3. And Music, the missus loves the way she can just poke a CD in the drive and the machine turns on itself and starts playing the CD with no TV or remote presses at all. I run it on an SDTV so the bundled AV cable is fine for me, if it only had HDMI id be pissed, you cant please everyone. A HDMI cable is NOTHING to buy anyway.
So when its not busy doing all this, it starts running F@H, not alot, but like I say its amazing how the spare moments add up. I've made a total of 7 work units since I bought the machine (23rd March). Thats about 42 hours!!! I'm happy that has all gone to a good cause.
So what the FUCK is the problem with the PS3 exactly? Its games? Take a look at the Wii line up, its just as "Bad". The price? look at some of the Wii "Package Choices" of late.. check out The Xbox 360 "Elite"...
I'm happy with the games out, not all of us can go out and buy 16 games a week, so what IS the issue here? There are over 30 games out and yes some are bad, but some are GOOD too! And if you want to use all the extra features the PS3 provides, its THERE READY! No addons to pay for no extra costs. Its not FORCED, its just there ready. When I get a HDTV, I ALREADY HAVE a HD player!! well fuck me, I thought Sony were RAMMING these things down our throats? I dont feel that. Do you? Do you even own a PS3? So whats the issue then?
People ALWAYS say tha same old boring shit over and over and over.. YES! I DO TOO!! Such a waste of time.
charlie @ Apr 11th 2007 4:08PM
This is what business is all about. Coming up with innovative solutions. I love it. People will be able to get free crap for basically donating electricity when they're not using their PS3 for something else, companies will have access to immense amounts of distributed processing power, and Sony has a new revenue stream that it can potentially use to lower the cost of PS3s. How can this possibly be construed as bad in any way?
syco @ Apr 11th 2007 4:09PM
TaylorB: The only reason PS3 games are on Bluray disks is because Sony said they had to be. No competent game development studio actually need 30Gb of space on the disk... and if they do, for some unknown reason, then they can do what everyone else has done since the PS1 and span multiple disks.
PS3 owners still need to sit down and think about their little box for a minute, and why it's $600.
Bluray Drive: So Sony can push Bluray in a pissing contest against HDDVD. Basically it has NOTHING to do with gaming
Cell: Because it's easy to market a highly parallel chip because people will think a 3.2Ghz chip with 6 psuedocores is the same as a 19.2Ghz chip, which of course it is not. You have a $300 chip in this console for no discernible reason.
I'm not trying to say the PS3 is incapable of playing games, obviously it isn't, and so if/when it HAS games, what is inside the box won't matter to anyone but developers and fanboys.
What I'm saying is that it's more expensive than it needs to be. Sony could have put a normal, or even dualcore, PowerPC chip in there at 3Ghz and lost virtually no performance. They could have put a normal DVD drive in there and saved something like $100 on the price of the console, which would have done nothing but make it cheaper to print the disks.
The PS3 should have been $400.
AKM @ Apr 11th 2007 4:14PM
“Resistance was around 16-17gigs, but it certainly didn't have to be”
No, of cause not. They can compress sound , downsize textures , remove in game movie and cut 17 levels from 24 … Game play will last for 1 hour and we can enjoy it on 8 Gigs DVD.
But we already have GOW and its 360 exclusive :_)
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 4:18PM
yes, i have a PS3. i bought it for games, because, well, thats what i bought a PS1 and PS2 for. kind of makes sense right?
i don't buy HD movies, so seeing how Sony has handled the PS3, i feel the $200 extra cost of the HD movie player Sony FORCED on people who love their GAMES, was for the benefit of blu-ray movies as a consumer media standard and clearly NOT games.
nor, ultimately, me the gamer.
.
Dolla Dolla @ Apr 11th 2007 4:19PM
Now now, syco, be reasonable. No company is allowed a 3-peat. Sony recognized they were about to dominate another generation, so they opted to let Nature take its course, bringing the domination to an end. It was very kind of them, if you ask me.
syco @ Apr 11th 2007 4:25PM
@Dolla Dolla
I lol'ed.
sheppy @ Apr 11th 2007 4:28PM
Some confusion exists about Resistance's size. So allow me to pump this out without taking digs at anyone.
Resistance IS 16-17 gigs. 200-300MB of "junk data" exists between sections on the disc to make it more accessable (read: faster loading). The game data itself is divided into 12 sections so that's a whole lot of junk data. Also, Resistance utilizes uncompressed audio which, considering it supports 7:1, is a huge amount of space. Likewise, textures were uncompressed. Resistances makes a case for BluRay simply by refusing to compress. For hardcore tech buffs, compression sucks.
Now, those claiming the multidisc solution is simple in HD-DVDs defense obviously has little clue. Multidisc sucks. Anyone with a copy of Freaky Flyers for Gamecube can tell you why. On each disc, the core elements need to be present as well the disc exclusive content. All fine and dandy right now, but it's not hard to imagine a game company going beyond HD-DVD. In fact, many have and when Bioware uses a term like "Mass Effect was crammed on a single disc," I internally cringe because it was CRAMMED with a compression heavy console like the 360. But what would be worse is if, while exploring, you cross over into a section of space that needs you to change discs.
Now, having said that, for a vast majority of people, compression works. Most people cannot see/hear the compression. Seriously, your average person cannot tell the difference between an MP3 and a CD... that says it all.
So in essence, HD-DVD sets limits but limits that are acceptable by a vast majority of people. BluRay removes those limits but the advantages seem negligable to all but the hardest of the hardcore.
WTangoFoxtrot @ Apr 11th 2007 4:30PM
Digi is totally right. the reason resistance is so huge ( despite the game being inferior in quality - textures, models etc compared to Gears ) is because the Blu-ray has crappy read speeds and shouldn't be used for gaming.
Bethesda also said that the main problem in the making of Oblivion was the slow disk speed. solution - copy the same file several times around the blu-ray disk so the disk doesnt have to be read too much to find something.
end result : developers have a nightmare, more requirement of the hard-disk to cache, sony makes tons by selling more blu-rays.
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 4:31PM
AKM,
are you really trying to imply that Resistance's "uncompressed" textures look better than Gears of War textures? if you do claim that, than i can safely ignore all your posts because its clear you haven't played both, and aren't capable of speaking objectively.
try getting close to any of those "blu-ray textures" and you'll understand why Resistance is universally held as visually inferior to Gears of War.
yes Resistance was long, but it also heavily recycled textures across maps, they went on record as doing tricks like changing the lighting cast per level.
Gears is 1 hour long eh? and you're a big fan of Resistance's "cutscenes"? well, it's pretty clear your facts are wrong, and your opinion is pretty skewed.
.
sheppy @ Apr 11th 2007 4:33PM
@WTangoFoxtrot
No offense but if you think Oblivion is the first game ever to do that, you haven't been into gaming very long. Hell, Mega Race on Sega CD had multiple copies of the same data to speed up loading. Physical disc space has always been a consideration on optical media, even on your Xbox 360.
mccomber @ Apr 11th 2007 4:37PM
Funny, folding@home gets a lot of "well, why should I leave my ps3 on, what's in it for me?". Something comes up about users getting something in exchange for letting their PS3 run while they aren't playing it, and we get... complaints about everything else.
If I could get psn credits, gift cards or other random swag just for letting my ps3 run while I'm at work/sleeping, why wouldn't I do it?
AKM @ Apr 11th 2007 4:40PM
Digi Smalls:
That was not my point (sorry for my English) I mean in order to feet next generation game on last generation media they have to sacrifice something. They decided to cut longevity/content against perfect look. If they have BR media from the start they will manage to deliver even better/rich/long game.
Size does matter.
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 4:42PM
mccomber,
electricity/environmental impact, and giving money to Sony for something else besides making games.
Sony would be making money off your electricity bill, that's swag isn't free.
.
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 4:51PM
AKM,
empirically, more space is always better. but every PS3 lost exclusive (there have been so many) directly reiterates that DVD is enough for games right now.
i would have much rather that extra $200 i spent on my PS3 went to a better graphics card and memory (the real reason Gears looks better than Resistance) than higher media storage and video connections obviously tuned for movies and not games.
.
mcloki @ Apr 11th 2007 4:56PM
Half of you are getting paid to post on Joystiq. Why should it surprise you to get paid for CPU cycles?
And with this this is my last post on Joystiq. The griefers, the paid Microsoft shills and Nintendo fanbois who don't know any better have won. Joystiq used to be good a year ago. The poster were real people. The reviewers weren't writing like they owed Microsoft a favour for the laptops or whatever.
but when it comes to an article about using the power of a computer for the benefit of mankind, and you find a way to write a completely juvenile article and essentially find fault with their method. You are no longer reporting the news, You're insinuating yourself into the story. Shameful.
So long Joystiq. Once you were great, but now you're not even worth an RSS feed. I'm sure I'll read about you being taken over or slowly shutting down before next Christmas.
sheppy @ Apr 11th 2007 5:04PM
"Dear Joystiq
I used to be a big fan of yours, back before you became popular/more trafficed. So I will accuse majority of your readers of being viral agents or ninjas, carefully tucked away in a demon cows fourth stomach. Rather than read an article I find offensive, I'll skim it, not even realize what I'm reading, and draw the ultimate conclusion that my inadequancies are more in relation with your biase nature rather than my own shortcomings. I will now leave either a veiled threat or a passing comment about your expected lifespan before I jump onto a gamefaqs message board under the name of InuyashaZSlashWriter69 bragging of the place I foolishly think I placed you in.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go masturbate to kitten videos on Youtube.
Posted at 4:56PM on Apr 11th 2007 by mcloki"
Fix'd
Castle @ Apr 11th 2007 5:08PM
Pay me and I'll leave my PS3 on.
$1 per Work Unit. My final offer.
Slaziman @ Apr 11th 2007 5:08PM
The thing is sheppy, that the Xbox 360 version didn't need it. Then again the PS3 version had faster load times, so yeah.
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 5:09PM
ha.
sheppy @ Apr 11th 2007 5:16PM
@Slaziman
That's the thing, though. Several 360 games utilized data duplication. Is the 360 suddenly invalid because of it? The PS3 version didn't need it either, but was thrown in to increase game performance. Although, without it, I fully expected PS3 to have slower loading times.
I'm not defendng or denouncing BluRay. Just stating let's not use techniques used since Sega CD as a weapon against a medium.
Regardless, the whole BluRay versus DVD9 thing is tired and old. People act like this was the only thing that made PS3 expensive. Personally, I'm very impressed with the hardware. To me, it seems like a mature persons device based upon looks, functionality, and even the way the menu system is handled. Now I'm just need more games. Then again, I have yet to be able to beat the Char/Gato/Lala/Ridden combo Mission 3 in Gundam Musuo keeps hitting me with and I pick up Super Paper Mario tonight.
Edge of Blade @ Apr 11th 2007 5:18PM
Except we will all get lung cancer from the giant cloud of smug...
Gene @ Apr 11th 2007 11:01PM
lol @ sheepy
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 5:27PM
imagine for just a second if the PS3, instead of Blu-Ray, had that $200 premium subsidize a graphics card a generation AHEAD of the $399 xbox360 (instead of behind) and every multiplatform game would run at twice the framerate of a 360 with clearly better lighting and AA.
then, maybe they could say it was really all about next-gen GAMING. sadly, it's not. and i have that damned spiderman movie font to remind me.
.
AKM @ Apr 11th 2007 5:29PM
@Digi Smalls
Well, I not 100% agree with this. MGS4 look way better than GOW. I guess combination of Video and Cell more superior to 360 in this case.
I’m personally bout PS3 because it best BR player around for now. I will buy some games, but I’m prefers my PC with 8800 for gaming.
About exclusivity… well, if I don’t have to swap disk every time I drive from Brooklyn to queens in GTA4, I fine. Even with a cross platform Sony still have its exclusive. (Fight Night Round 3 for example)
jrieth50 @ Apr 11th 2007 5:35PM
So Sony will pocket the money and you'll get a new theme-pack. YAY for capitalism.
AssemblyLineHuman @ Apr 11th 2007 5:44PM
Wait, so the Folding@Home thing was just so Sony could show off the processing power of the PS3 user base to corporations? Damn, and I was happy to see a company being generous for nothing (except a little good PR).
Vidikron @ Apr 11th 2007 6:00PM
Damn... what is wrong with you people? What's wrong with research companies wanting to use the PS3 for distibuted computing? This should be looked at completely seperately from any issues you may have with the price of the PS3 or its games. This is a good cause.
Don't be surprised is simialr projects appear on the 360... one is apparently already being considered. So, please, just STFU already. Not everything can rationally be spun negatively just because the news item is about Sony.
Digi Smalls @ Apr 11th 2007 6:34PM
no one is dissing Folding@Home vidikron,
we're dissing WhoringMyPs3ToSonysCorportateClients$Home.
.
LaughingTarget @ Apr 11th 2007 6:45PM
Don't believe this will work out, mainly from the point of view of an actual company. Much of these projects are done under a time-constraint. Folding@home apparently isn't (or they don't care if something doesn't get folded, I probably have a few unfinished strains with my name on them when I deleted F@H from my PC).
Companies aren't going to give out research to random PS3 users and get the results back whenever. Can't just give it to someone else because when two results for the same thing shows up, gonna have to pay two people now.
HPU @ Apr 11th 2007 7:08PM
Absolutely ridiculous comments being thrown around here as usual.
Regarding the post:
As long as there is full transparency about what users are computing for companies, I don't see a problem. Over time this will evolve, potentially bringing down the cost of owning a PS3. Pick and choose which research you want to assist. This actually reminds me of developers moving away from dedicated game testers, instead using beta releases with groups of interested users/fans. Perhaps this service will be used to advance/hasten the development of games for PS3?
As to all the other crap you jokers are writing:
Load times: Oblivion = faster on PS3. I'm happy. Great game, looks awesome, plays well. I don't care how they did it.
Re: HDMI cables. Not sure how this managed to work its way into this thread, but I will direct PS3 users to www.firefold.com where long-ass HDMI cables can be had for extremely cheap. (ie) ~$9 US. Total non-issue, especially since the PS3 is also compatible with the old PS2 component cables, unlike other systems.
PS3 vs 360: Both are competent system. Both have great games lined up for '06, '07 and well beyond '08. Seriously, why do you guys bother commenting on this industry crap. I mean that as a serious question. Why? Why do you come here and misinform people? Do you honestly think the PS3 is going to become the next 3D0? Newsflash! Its feature set WILL NOT allow that to happen. There are several things about both the 360 and the PS3 that basically guarantee games will be made for both for years to come. (Not the least of which, that two of the largest corporations in the world are directly backing them, with both Sony and Microsoft strongly supporting impressive content development and distribution divisions. BOTH systems, this generation, WILL enjoy high quality exclusive content, as well as high quality ports.
Give up this non-debate. Don't be a corporate shill. If you want to support one company over the other, buy a game. If not, don't. Me, I'll be doing my console gaming on Sony's controller because I like it better.
Signed,
Happy PS3 User
Achika @ Apr 11th 2007 7:04PM
WtangoFoxtrot I sugest your read the following before you use oblivion as a Blu-ray negative.
http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/theelderscrollsivoblivion/news.html?sid=6165505&tag=topslot;title;1&om_act=convert&om_clk=topslot
"Oblivion will make extensive use of the PS3's hard drive by caching multiple gigabytes of data, which seemed to help with load times from what we saw. Bethesda's Pete Hines also commented that recent reports of data duplication on the PS3 Oblivion disc have been exaggerated, and this technique isn't different from the similar strategy that was employed in the creation of the Xbox 360 game last year."