Sony Hints At PS3 'Homebrew' Linux Plans

simoniker writes "Talking to the Japanese press, Sony executive Izumi Kawanishi has illuminated some of his company's PlayStation 3 Linux plans, indicating that it will be possible for individual 'homebrew' coders to create playable content for PS3, something actively blocked for Sony's PSP handheld. He commented: "Other then game studios tied to official developer licenses, we'd like to see various individuals participate in content creation for the PS3"."

Comments

Don't get your hopes up

[Guspaz]

PS2 linux failed because:

1) Sony crippled it and didn't give anything close to direct access to hardware, meaning very little hardware acceleration
2) Sony charged a big chunk of change to "buy" linux support

And Sony is actively trying to kill off PSP homebrew. So don't get your hopes up!

Re:Don't get your hopes up

[_egg]

That's funny, since they shipped the hardware manuals with the kit and even gave a "sample" implementation of OpenGL in PSGL. AFAIK the only hardware they didn't give access to was the IOP, hardly the performance-sensitive piece of the kit. Are you sure you're not slinging second-hand, inaccurate information?

Fool me once!

[Inoshiro]

Ken Kutaragi will not get a cent from me.

The PS2 was supposed to support Linux. How many homebrewers bought the PS2 dev kit and actually had success?

How about the amazing no-show on the PSP?

And now the PS3 is supposed to be friendly? It'd be cheaper to buy a MacMini and howebrew up something for Ubuntu or OS X than the Sony PS3.

This will change everything!

[Evangelion]

Remember how PS2 homebrew development exploded when the PS2 Linux kit came out? Remember how many new and exciting independant games were released for the PS2?

This is going to be awesome.

Target Audience?

[goMac2500]

So Sony is going to go after the free software audience with a $600 console? Someone needs to recheck their math...

Re:grammar error...sounds good

[swanriversean]

"I would definitely reconsider purchasing the console if I could run linux on it and I think many other people would reconsider too. $599 isn't too bad for a console+linux PC."

- right on, I haven't had a console since my SNES. I've already decided to buy a Wii (they had me when they announced the virtual console and the rest is just bonus), but if I can use the PS3 as a desktop computer as well ... that might be a great buy too ... imagine, 2 consoles in my house.

Of course the PS3 would just be for running Linux ... I can't imagine that would make Sony too happy ... hey even better! Although that is probably the reason why the PS3 won't turn out to be a very good linux platform.

The real difference

[SuperKendall]

So, on the PSP, they are currently actively blocking any attempts of "homebrew" software. But for the PS3, they are going to allow it?

I don't see how there can be such a big difference in the stance of homebrew applications for their 2 main flagship products.

The difference is this. On the PSP, if someone creates a game you can play Sony gets no money.

On the PS3, if you crate a game for others to play you can probably sell it on the Sony online service and Sony gets a cut.

I'm pretty sure Sony intends this to be a way to have a lot of small games generated to give theonline service buzz, which benefits everyone. It's a shame they can't see reason on the PSP but at least they came to thier senses with the PS3 and it even makes sense in terms of a profit motive.

Possible reason?

[MrJynxx]

Maybe they're not having to much success with creating apps on the CELL. Hopefully they'll open it up for the genius's of the world to take a stab at coding in the cell environment. For the coders who want to experiment with the CELL, this could be an attractive offering. I"m sure a CELL desktop/server will cost a hell of a lot more than a $599.

Could be a good thing if they actually give access to all of the hardware. But I doubt it, my PSP is still on firmware 1.5.

MrJynxx

Re:Why not?

[drinkypoo]

This is why you should be concerned:

It seems that Sony is happy to let basic application and game construction take place without access to the extremely sophisticated rendering and physics libraries available to licensors - Kawanishi further commented: "When a game studio enacts development on a PS3 by entering a license contract, SDK libraries... will be presented, and various technical support given. In contrast, when using Linux World on the PS3... support will fall to the lowest level required, and you must solve and work on things by yourselves."

If the article is to be believed, you don't get access to any of the normal libraries. If they don't give us specs, either, then you're not going to be doing much 3D...

It appears that it's more Linux++ this time

[Morgaine]

You seem to have forgotten the following two Linux-related announcements:

- Kutaragi at the recent 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing

... which claims: "Kutaragi said that that the PS3 will require a hard drive, which will have a 60 GB capacity and support Linux OS."

- Kutaragi at the earlier PS3 Conference Report

... which says: "He [Kutaragi] did offer some tantalizing new details about the system, though. PS3 will include a 60GB hard drive (which is upgradeable) with Linux preinstalled."

It would appear then that things aren't all that bleak. Maybe IBM had an influence this time around, as they would love to see the Cell succeed, and perhaps forced Sony to open up a bit.

Re:So what?

[LWATCDR]

"It doesn't matter as long as you have direct access to the graphics processors. Then people can craft thier own libraries. "

Spoken like someone that has never written a line of code.

If having direct access is all that you need then where are the free drivers for nVidia and Ati graphics cards?
Having access isn't enough. You need drivers!
If we are lucky Sony will give you a frame-buffer. Good enough for Frozen-bubble but not enough to get me to pay $600+ for.