We often get asked why we decided to make a PlayStation website, and as the founder of Push Square, your humble host often points to the breadth of unique and interesting ideas that are birthed on Sony's systems. Not every game that the platform holder publishes is a slam dunk, but for every Lair there's a Shadow of the Colossus, so it evens itself out.
And with the likes of Dreams and The Last Guardian on the way, it's nice to know that the Japanese giant remains committed to crazy creative concepts. "When we started out in the business, the founders of the organisation had a very strong focus on taking creative risks, and believed that bringing something new to games was what we should be all about," gaffer Andrew House told The Guardian.
He continued: "You look back at some of the early Artdink games that came out, like Aquanaut's Holiday and PaRappa The Rapper; the latter wasn't a huge seller, but we all still talk about it. It's great to see that spirit still in the organisation: it's certainly something that I encourage." And long may it continue: PlayStation is all about the out of the ordinary for us, and we can't wait to see what the future holds.
[source theguardian.com]
Comments 16
Its great Sony try new things - else it would be all Mario games and Master Chief.
Yep they don't always get it on the money but for every stinker there are a handful of classics, keep it up!
That's why I always prefer Playstation over Microsoft, but in terms of taking creative risks, Nintendo will always be the king.
I'd say psvr is a pretty large creative risk.
Personally I feel that the games industry is one of the most creative and risk taking industry. I can't say that I think Playstation is the biggest risk taker as I think Nintendo probably take that. Not only do Nintendo take creative risks in gaming but also in their hardware too - Who would have thought that the Wii mote would be so successful and their consoles are not the most powerful either but sell on their unique ideas.
I do see Sony as 'typically' Japanese in terms of hardware and software. Not always unique but often take existing ideas and concepts and work on them to perfect and improve upon them. If something doesn't work, they don't give up on it but look at why it didn't work and try re-inventing it.
PSVR isn't innovative, it could be a creative risk, but are trying to get in on the Oculus Rift type band wagon in the same way PS developed 'move' after the Wii mote.
@themcnoisy Sony fanboy coming through? Sony has their bread and butter franchises just like the other two. I think the breadth and scope come from Sony and Nintendo for sure.
All devs talk about taking risks, but so few actually do it. The plethora of PS3 to PS4 remasters bring his point down. But thankfully we have Horizon and Shenmue 3 to look forward to. My favorite game of 2015 (Splatoon) is one of these risks.
The bad part is that even when devs are willing to take risks, gamers are the ones who won't. Look at the average US/UK top ten and it is the safest thing in the world.
@ozgood Old school Sega come Xbot, Playstation 4 Convert. I like all consoles really.....
I would agree with this statement. Thankfully Microsoft is now starting to get a clue because it looks like the Xbone is finally going to start diversifying with their franchises. Wish it happened sooner though.
(o_O )
@SonyInfinity I kind of disagree in some capacity. I think it's really only risk-taking if they are the only ones pioneering the tech. There are other VR devices out there, so I think it's leaving something to be desired. Oculus and even the HoloLens to some extent are all treading the same waters. They all seem to be treading the same waters at the same time nonetheless though
When it comes to software, I hope this means they are going to continue to take risks with their software coming up. The last few years have come across as iterative. With the likes of No Man's Sky, Horizon and a few others up ahead, it really does feel like PS will start to put more unique, risk-taking experiences in our console
@sinalefa I agree about Splatoon. One of the few truly unique games I played this year.
@themcnoisy
I think MS is doing pretty well these days and in a way I feel they're this gen's PS3; they invest in their own properties, give cool extras and focus on the end user. It's almost as if every console manufacturer need their third console to be less succesfull than they think it will be, just to build some character.
I've been a PS gamer since day 1, but the real bond to the PS brand that I feel now was only shaped in the PS3 era. It's something about those underdogs that attract me; playing games that aren't appreciated by the casuals and being part of a select group. Although in the end the PS3 caught up, I never stopped feeling a part of that group. Whenever I turn my PS3 on I feel calm inside, as if it's your digital/ virtual home where you know every nook and cranny and all the best places to hide.
I am that melodramatic guy that can talk 20 minutes straight about the DreamCast, PS3, N64 and even the Wii U and almost get teared up, but I just have the feeling that the One has the potential to be that likeable underdog for me, something I would've never imagined at the start of this gen. Things like the Elite controller, BC, Ori, Cuphead and excellent games like Halo 5, Forza and Tomb Raider commercially not doing as great as planned, make me all warm and fuzzy inside because it's the material where my next "talk of the gen" is made of
Ofcourse they will never have PS's diversity and for that alone you need a PS4, but it's remarkable how the devil turned into an angel in just a year time and l honestly feel all gamers will benefit in the end.
@Boerewors
Interestingly enough, Xbox One is on track to be MS' top selling home console, tracking ahead of where 360 was at the same point in its cycle. The 'third console curse' is in effect in that it may end up getting outsold by PS4 but where as N64 and PS3 were each the lowest selling console for their respective brands, X1 may avoid that fate. It will definitely outsell the original Xbox.
@Gamer83
AND Phil Spencer said there's going to be an Xbox 2!!
Only thing that really comes to mind is how they're offering some assistance to shenmue 3, I can't credit them with their VR work since they're just chasing oculus. If they want to prove themselves as risk takers give Peter Molyneux complete creative control on a project and watch things get wacky.
@sonicmeerkat Nooooooo! There's creative risk and then there's corporate suicide...
But anyways, PlayStation has more often than not proved itself an innovative company with a huge amount of pioneering franchises. And that's coming from a guy that desperately wanted the PS1 and PS2 to fail miserably (hey, I was a Saturn and Dreamcast owner - don't judge). Nintendo of course have always been fantastic but I have to admit I think they've gone a bit stale over recent years - with a few notable exceptions of course and there's always originality to be found in their tried-and-tested brands even if the characters are the same.
Gaming is an amazing industry/art form/hobby and it utterly baffles me how ridiculously dramatic and demanding gamers can be sometimes. I guess that's testament to how much they care about it at the very least.
Which is why, since my gaming inception in the late 70's, Playstations library has been my favorite.
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