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Grad-School Thesis Becomes PS3 Game
Carl Bialik from WSJ writes, "USC student Jenova Chen's Flash game, 'flOw,' attracted interest from Sony, which commissioned an enhanced version that will be sold through its PlayStation Network, WSJ.com reports. From the article: 'Gameplay is incredibly smooth, particularly for a Flash game. But it's the design touches that set flOw apart. Players will notice faint outlines of the creatures lurking at lower depths, a foreboding sign that vicious manta- and squid-like enemies await. The water darkens as the creature advances to deeper levels. The game's ambient sound is somewhat hypnotic. The intuitive controls and design simplicity are among Mr. Chen's mandate: build immersive games for people who don't consider themselves gamers. 'My parents and grandparents don't play games. My girlfriend, she doesn't play either,' he says. 'I want to make games that those people can appreciate.'"
The reason it costs $600 is that it does more.
It's plays PS3, PS2 and PS1 games.
It plays Blu-ray and DVD movies
It has a built in web browser
It plays MP4 video downloaded to it's HD or via USB mass storage device.
Same goes for photos
It can play audio CD's and rip them to it's HD in either ATRAC, AAC or MP3 format, no PC required.
But it's also a personal computer, if you install Linux, which is officially supported and could be done the day of launch.