GDC: PS3 "the best platform" for small devs

Scott Steinberg, Sony Computer Entertainment America's VP of product marketing, has told GamesIndustry.biz that he believes the PlayStation 3 is the smart choice for any small developer wanting to get their games to an online audience.

Responding to the Microsoft keynote at the Game Developers Conference, Steinberg pointed to the section of the talk from Chris Satchell on the XNA platform, and explained: "it was interesting in the sense that what they were talking about we've sort of been doing for the last couple of years with PSN and giving smaller, start-up, entrepreneurial developers the chance to get in and make their games available on the PSN."

He went on to note that the online services for the PlayStation 3 were free to consumers, whereas to experience full functionality on the Xbox 360 users were required to pay for a Gold membership.

"We don't charge for our online service," he said. "We make it available for everybody. So, the accessibility of somebody's content who decides to make a game that is maybe smaller, more affordable for consumers to buy — I think we're a better choice because the PS3 owner has the ability to go online day one without having to cut a check.

"I think on a global basis, the PS3 brand is going to be the winner. I think the story is already written in Europe and in Japan. In the US it is sort of a 'jump ball' that is remaining, but quite candidly I think if a small, start-up company wanted to have global access to their content, and have global commercial potential for their content, Sony is by far the best platform."

Steinberg also went on to say that, in the scheme of things - taking into account the ten year plan for the PS3 - he believed that Sony could be very confident about the forthcoming year.

"The importance of 2008â¦We're exactly where we want to be chessboard-wise heading into 2008."

In the full interview, which is available now, Steinberg also touches on the Blu-ray situation and his perception of the long-term viability of physical media, as well as the PS3's software line-up for 2008.