SCEA's Hight: PlayStation Store overhaul, Warhawk expansion coming in April

by Ross Miller { Mar 4th 2008 at 12:24PM }

A redesign of Sony's PlayStation Store is coming in April, according SCEA's Director of Product Development John Hight. In an interview with Gamasutra, Hight said, "I think you will see a pretty big change in the PlayStation Network in the early part of April, where we roll out some new interface stuff largely based on customer feedback."

The changes, according to Hight, amount to simplifying the system and "cutting down on the number of mouse clicks, making it easier to find stuff that you want to find."

High also said in page four of the full interview that another Warhawk expansion is due out also in April. Said Hight, "We just released an expansion on Warhawk in September, and we'll release another one in April."

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Tags: hight, john-hight, playstation-store, ps-store, scea, sony, warhawk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ghaleon @ Mar 4th 2008 12:33PM

You know what would be sweet? If I could actually read the text on the store. I have two fucking sweet CRT HDs, the best picture you can buy still, and the store's font looks scrambled and vomity on my 36". It's more readable if I bump it DOWN to 480p. They shouldn't have designed it so it looks optimal on like 50" sets.

Shimrra @ Mar 4th 2008 12:36PM

I agree the font size is real an eye soar. But other than that everything else to me is fine.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 4th 2008 12:38PM

Hmm... I've not seen it on a 36", but I can confirm that it's perfectly clean and legible on my 56" HDTV.

Kevin @ Mar 4th 2008 12:43PM

CRTs supposedly still have the "best picture" but they look like shit to me (I used to have a 30 inch). They suck as computer monitors because of phase differences . I can read the text perfectly in 720p on my 20" lcd monitor, so your hypothisis of 50" or bigger is incorrect.

el serpiente @ Mar 4th 2008 1:06PM

looks fine on my 37" LCD. Perhaps a pair of glasses are in your future.

Organic_Shadow @ Mar 4th 2008 1:44PM

Part, errr, the MAIN problem with the store looking nasty in general is the fact that it's A WEBSITE. Not an app that is streaming database info direct. So it's rendering everything with a web-based graphics engine(trying to sound smart) instead of just using system fonts/display methods, etc.

If the redesign is STILL a website, then they might as well not update it. That's why it's so slow. That's why it looks nasty. That's why SingStore works- not by design, but by the way it was built. Why do you think XBL and Wii's store don't do them as websites?

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Mar 4th 2008 1:46PM

Napoleon? Exec at Sony?.Odd.

umm....hello??? @ Mar 4th 2008 1:57PM

looks fine on a 60" sxrd screen...although it DEFINITELY needs revamping.

Hyams @ Mar 4th 2008 2:14PM

I had no trouble on the 17" SDTV I used to use.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 4th 2008 2:18PM

I really don't care about that fact that it's web based. I mean, hundreds of online stores get along fine that way and I'm posting on a web site right now. I really don't think that fact that it's web based is a major issue.

upz @ Mar 4th 2008 2:41PM

Vid, I usually agree with you, but I'm also of the belief that we need to ditch the website format altogether. Unless we move away from it, it'll be tough to not only speed up navigation, but also optimize the control for a Sixaxis instead of a mouse.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 4th 2008 3:17PM

OK, I agree that it can be somewhat slow navigating from page to page, but I don't think that's really a web issue. Plenty of web pages operate faster than the PSN store. Sony just needs to speed up their end.

And I'd also like to point out that the stores on the other consoles aren't always blazing fast either. I don't know how many of you have a 360, but if you do surely you have seen the situation where you go to one of the blades and all you see is a blank blade and the 4-quadrant loading animation? I see it on a pretty regular basis. Whether or not the store is displayed in web form or not the system still has to fetch the data for what's available.

Anyway, I just really don't think that the web based store is the main problem with the speed. Of course, if they change it to something else I wouldn't be against it either. I really just don't care much either way.

What I do like about the store that I think they should keep no matter what other changes they make is the recently released list on the right hand side. In fact, it pisses me off when they put an ad there for a game instead of the list. That list is so much more handy than the way Live is set up. With Live you literally have to go to each section and check the "New" option in each one. With PSN I can go there on Thursday and see what's new for all sections right on the front page and also see the new stuff in the Featured Items section. Keep that and I don't care what else they do.

Aaron @ Mar 4th 2008 12:35PM

SWEET!

Tiptup300 @ Mar 4th 2008 4:28PM

THEY LISTENED TO ME!

NATO_Duke @ Mar 4th 2008 12:38PM

So, looking at that picture I'm thinking he wants to sell me insurance.

Its good news there will be updates and changes, but I still don't need a flood insurance policy!

Neon Jebus @ Mar 4th 2008 1:06PM

I was long lost brother of Will Arnett.

ComradeTrotskii @ Mar 4th 2008 1:08PM

I'll never understand why we need to see picture of these execs every time they open their mouth.

Sony, Microsoft et al. should take a leaf from the book of Ubisoft marketing and just get some hot bird to do all their talking.

"Sony Director of Whatever Lucy Funbags today announced that whatever....
Here is a picture of Ms Funbags with a banana while she was trying to be an actress"

I'd pay attention to those announcements.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 4th 2008 1:10PM

A hot bird? You mean like a Phoenix?

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 4th 2008 1:28PM

Hes cool, hes hip with it, ducka ducka ducka ducka....
No? Anyone? How bout a hot pocket?

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 4th 2008 1:30PM

lol at baby sea tuna

but seriously, Jade Raymond is a fox. and that comic about her that they got so upset about was hilarious.

FidliousWong (Oatmeal Defense Force) @ Mar 4th 2008 12:47PM

I want to see how Operation: Broken Mirror will effect the gameplay dynamics of Warhawk. The bubble shield is a tad lame but having that tank as a forward spwan point could really change gameplay, especially since it carries a full load of weaponry.

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 4th 2008 12:50PM

Is there some place I can go to see a list of changes/additions for the expansion?

Trev @ Mar 4th 2008 1:02PM

Its not a list, but IGN has an article on it. http://ps3.ign.com/articles/854/854404p1.html

Hyams @ Mar 4th 2008 2:19PM

I'm guessing it'll promote more teamwork. A tank, plus rocket-launcher guy in hatch, plus a guy behind the tank with a wrench, plus a biofield to protect rocket-launcher guy and wrench guy = pwnage.

Although, I don't think anything could match a full dropship.

FidliousWong (Oatmeal Defense Force) @ Mar 4th 2008 3:04PM

Hyams, a Warhawk with four landmines attached to it going all kamikaze brings down on of those dropships quite nicely. Trick is to place the mines on the tail though since the gunfire you'll be boosting through could set em off.

Hyams @ Mar 4th 2008 3:32PM

That's an awesome idea. I've gotta try that. ^_^

Vince UK @ Mar 4th 2008 1:03PM

I can't decide if he's more Alan Partridge or Alan Hansen.
Either way - back of the net!

maverick_saturn_626 @ Mar 4th 2008 1:05PM

Yay, the rumour was true :) Good for PSN, now just to wait for movies, and if that rumour is true as well, then I have nothing to worry about ^^

Neon Jebus @ Mar 4th 2008 1:07PM

I was *thinking*...

baby sea tuna @ Mar 4th 2008 1:11PM

That dude looks like Napoleon Dynamite...minus the fro.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 4th 2008 1:19PM

BINGO!!!

farfisa @ Mar 4th 2008 1:17PM

I'd maybe listen to him if he could spell his own name...

RoboChamp @ Mar 4th 2008 1:22PM

Can I has Home x New PSN x Firmware 2.4 x Warhawk 4-hit combo please?

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 4th 2008 1:32PM

I'll have what hes having.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 4th 2008 1:34PM

make that three. and a Sam Adams.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 4th 2008 1:46PM

I'll take a Sam Jackson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh0AFawxPDw&feature=related

Apparently Ill be fucking fat bitches in no time =)

Organic_Shadow @ Mar 4th 2008 1:48PM

WITHOUT MAYONASE this time... geeez... everywhere in this country they just slather it on everything. What gives?

Oh, and btw, the 1.4 patch = APC/wrench/mine, the expansion next month = more vehicles etc. that we have no info on yet.

Organic_Shadow @ Mar 4th 2008 1:50PM

Err, actually, 1.3 patch = wrench/biofield/home/etc.

Expansion = APC + vehicle(s) we don't know about yet, as well as new map(s), etc. we don't know about yet.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 4th 2008 1:33PM

coolio. i think the current PSN gets the job done now but im all for making things easier. and i think im about to change my internet service now anyway so i can actually play online games like Warhawk.

electronicat @ Mar 4th 2008 1:45PM

I think he looks more like Bronson Pinchot.

electronicat @ Mar 4th 2008 1:46PM

...with a little Ray Romano thrown in.

umm....hello??? @ Mar 4th 2008 1:58PM

...am hoping that they utilize the XMB media crossbar for their PSN store, it'd definitely be easier. also looking forward to another WarHawk update....it's a nice break from Halo3/CoD4...

Nate @ Mar 4th 2008 2:50PM

I agree with those that say they need to chuck the web-based store. Sure, it's fine for BestBuy.com, that doesn't mean it's acceptable as part of the UI of the PS3. The store *is* a part of the PS3's UI, and the fact that it's a website hosted somewhere else makes it a hugely jarring transition from the instant feedback from a native application. It's completely unacceptable from a user experience point of view.

I really hope they make it a native app, but I'm pretty sure that's probably not happening in April, this just sounds like a facelift.