Can you explain to our readers what your position is at SCEA?
Hi all, my name is Rusty Buchert and I am a Sr. Producer at the Santa Monica Studios. My focus is purely on PSN titles for the PS3.
The PLAYSTATION Store has differentiated its offering from that of its competitors. We've seen a lot of unique experiences, such as fl0w, that simply aren't on the other platforms. How is Sony's focus on downloadable games different than the other guys?
My focus has been to find unique, fun experiences. We started searching for games like this from the outset and we were searching through the Indie Scene right out the gate. In general the Scene thinks outside the traditional development box. All to often people get indoctrinated into one general way of thinking about games in genre, design, and execution. You are not going to get anything new thinking like that. We were betting on the fact that people wanted something new and not a rehash of a rehash of a rehash.
Is there more or less risk involved in working with smaller games?
There is a lot less risk compared to the Blu Ray titles. There is a lot of upside to the risk being so much less. We get to experiment on a major portion of the games. We get to test out new game mechanics and design/experience ideas.
How does Sony decide to pursue a game for the PSN? Do you go to the developers, or do they come to you?
It is a mix. We have teams that come to us and we also are always on the watch for new teams with unique ideas. Before there was an official thatgamecompany, the team came to us with several ideas and wanted to work on PSN. In turn, we saw Everyday Shooter at GDC and we knew we had to pick it up.
What does Sony offer developers that choose to work for the PSN?
There is a lot we can bring to the table. The immediate thing is dev kits. For small or new teams this alone can be a real challenge to get. We can bring various technologies and tech experience to the table. We bring long term veterans to help teams along. Depending on the situation we can bring a large variety of resources to help as well. There is also the advantage of having SCEA's marketing and PR supporting titles.
At E3, you talked about trying to go for the biggest independent PC games, and bringing them to the PS3, creating a "Sundance Channel" of indie games on PS3. How is that effort going?
It is going, slowly but surely. Part of the trick is that we are being particular about what we pick up. There are a lot of games to sort through. When we find a gem we start pursuing it. Some work out, some don't. I recently heard back from one developer that wanted to finish college and then he would like to try. The game made me think he was already programming professionally. There are some other experimental projects projects that will also fit in this vein too. These are very much art and an extremely different take on interactivity.
What direction would you like to see the PSN move in?
I think we are already going in a good direction within SCEA proper. A mix of indie with traditional titles with a unique approach and some experimental projects are the way to go.
Finally, can you name some of your most anticipated upcoming PSN games?
Well, there is Everyday Shooter as well as the next game from thatgamecompany. Pixel Junk Racers as well as Go Sports Ski are both a blast. There are more, but I can't talk about them yet.
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Thanks Rusty for an eye-opening interview. We can't wait to see some of these ... unannounced art games.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-21-2007 @ 8:16AM
Russ said...
SHould have asked some real questions like
*Why do some territories wait longer for content when the 360 manages to get worldwide launches?
*Why is everything being delayed?
*Why no demos for the multiplatform releases?
*Why no published schedule of releases?
*Do we have to wait FOREVER for anything worthwhile to get released?
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8-21-2007 @ 8:20AM
bajanboss said...
very nice
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8-21-2007 @ 8:20AM
qrayg said...
You should have asked him why it's taking so dang long to get games on the PSN. It's pretty embarrassing being a PS3 fan right now. Even the Wii has 2-4 VC games coming out every week. As of this writing there are exactly 2 games on the PSN that are worth playing.
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8-21-2007 @ 8:41AM
sam-evans said...
When are PSN price cuts coming, Super-Rub-a-dub is $2.99USD, while it is $15NZD
I would definitely buy it for the same price it is in the USA, should the price be droped here in New Zealand/Europe
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8-21-2007 @ 9:07AM
Andrew Yoon said...
Hey guys,
I think you're misunderstanding the games he's responsible for. We're not talking about PS1 ports. Nor are we talking about New Zealand pricing. We're talking about games developed exclusively for the PS Store coming from Sony Santa Monica.
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8-21-2007 @ 9:08AM
slick said...
ask when they are going to redesign the ugly network
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8-21-2007 @ 9:27AM
Spherical said...
@ TheSh0wstopper
Don't forget Super Stardust HD ;)
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8-21-2007 @ 9:28AM
Aaron said...
@ #3:If you have only found 2 games out of all the stuff on PSN that is worth playing, why do you even own a PS3? Sounds like your tastes are VERY narrow, in which case you shouldn't really be complaining about variety.SSHDBlast Factor Advanced ResearchCalling All CarsCastlevania: SOTNflOwPiyotamaAre just a few of the things I enjoy playing, and not just because that's all that is offered to me. To each his own, I suppose....
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8-21-2007 @ 9:30AM
Aaron said...
^^^ Damnit, my formatting got all messed up
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8-21-2007 @ 10:10AM
James said...
There are a lot of great games on PSN right now - I actually think it's probably the most underrated part of the platform. I bet that they aren't releasing a lot to the PS Store right now because they're waiting for HOME. I have a feeling once that platform is released they're going to deprecate the PS Store and move everyone to HOME, and that's when we'll see it take off.
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8-21-2007 @ 10:11AM
MRBlue said...
A better question is why does PSN always get demos AFTER the 360.
I understand when release dates are staggered between the two consoles but I get sick of reading about 360 demos of cross-platform games nearly every week while we get stuff like movie trailers and gameplay videos.
I love my PSN Store but I'd love it more if it had more playable demos for upcoming games.
It's because of the DiRT demo that I will definitely pick it up. And I know the store is still growing but demos need to be a better focus in the future.
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8-21-2007 @ 10:43AM
Popfrogs said...
Stay on topic, whiners. The guy in the interview is responsible for bringing NEW GAMES to the PS Store. He has nothing to do with demos or anything else.
If anything we should be thanking Rusty for gems like Flow, CaC, SSHD and Piyotama. These are all original titles distributed via the PSN exclusively.
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8-21-2007 @ 10:49AM
drdre74 said...
I'm with Russ. Why not ask the real questions. These questions dont answer anything that real PS3 fans want to know. I want to know why devs say they handed the demos over to Sony and 360 gets them up right away and Sony holds on to the demos for weeks. If they even get put out. 360 got the Skate demo today. Where is the PS3 demo? They said its done. It would be nice to at least get updates on what and when something is goning to get updated on the PSN.
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8-21-2007 @ 11:24AM
Popfrogs said...
#14: "360 got the Skate demo today."
Ok, now I'm officially pissed.
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8-21-2007 @ 11:29AM
doug said...
Joust rules by the way
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8-21-2007 @ 11:36AM
wem003 said...
Piyotama is horrible. I wish I had my $2 back.
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8-21-2007 @ 12:00PM
NickB said...
Wow, people really dont read do they. Kinda sad. This guy has NOTHING to do with demos. Why would you want to ask him about late demos, if he has nothing to do with them?
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8-21-2007 @ 5:16PM
gamingeek said...
Two words-- Super Stardust
One of the best and most addictive games on the PS3 period!
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8-22-2007 @ 8:36AM
Paul Hannington said...
It's pretty apt the someone called Rusty Bucket is in charge of the PSN ..... whoops .... I may have misread his name ..... or did I ?
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8-23-2007 @ 3:03PM
Rusty Buchert said...
Hey All,
I want to clarify on this since there is some serious confusion. I only make the games. I do not control the PSN and NOT how when or wDemos and the rest go up on the Store. I have absolutely no control of the store. I'm just a developer.
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