BLU-RAYIn an interview by the German online-magazine Der Spiegel (the mirror) “Sonys oberster Spieleentwickler” (Sony's top game-developer) Phil Harrison comments on claims by Nintendo-fans of Sony plaguing the Revolutions controller. Phil also explains why blu-ray doesn’t need copy protection and what MySpace has to do with the upcoming PS3.

Phil explains why he can understand the accusations made by the Nintendo fans but says those are being rather stupid as Sony didn’t accuse Nintendo of stealing their idea of bringing out a 3D capable games machine (the N64) two years after the release of Sony’s original play station game console in 1994. When ‘Der Spiegel’ states that it can’t be coincidental that both companies are bringing out a motion sensitive controller Phil simply states that both companies have been working on these controllers for a long time and that they are rather different. He goes on stating the fact that the dual-shock controller is the world standard when it comes to human-computer-game interface. Now simply a motion sensitive function has been added. But Phil cannot name any upcoming PS3 titles that will implement the new motion function.

The interview goes on about the implementation of blu-ray copy protection and the apparent lack thereof in the ‘cheap’ version of the ps3 without a HDMI-interface. According to Phil blu-ray devices only need copy protection implemented from 2011 onwards. And there will be two versions of the ps3, one with and one without the hdmi-interface, this shouldn't be a problem according to Phil. When asked if Sony isn’t afraid of ‘Raubkopien’ (illegal copies) Phil says that the contents of the blu-ray disk are just too big for people to distribute and download online. The blu-ray medium itself is it’s own copy protection in a way. Perhaps in 10 years time the contents of blu-ray media will be easily distributed on the web, but for now there are no worries.

Xbox-360-Live is put into perspective and Phil talks about Sony’s online plans. He states that the PS3 is a ‘computer’ that people will use to play games, browse the web, watch movies, listen to music and for ‘other computing purposes’. “We don’t need the PC”

Phil comments on the possible errors in judgement M$ is making with it’s goals for the Japanese market. The differences between the Eastern, European and US tastes in videogames are discussed.

If you want to know more and understand German, go check out the rest of the article on the Spiegel-site.