June 10, 2008February 2, 2010

Day in LA: Ask Your E3 Questions, Share Your Pics

Tomorrow I’m heading down to our Santa Monica studios (with a side trip to Insomniac Games) to shoot some pre-E3 interviews. In case you weren’t reading us last year (I’m glad you came around), we asked a number of producers the following questions:

1. What game do you have at E3 this year?
2. Describe it in five words or less.
3. If you could sit one person in front of your game for an hour, who would it be?
4. What game do you most want an hour to sit in front of yourself (besides your own)?
5. How many E3’s does E3 2007 mark for you?
6. Describe the pre-2007 E3 experience in five words or less.
7. Most over used phrase or expression during E3 season.
8. You are asked to make suggestions for an E3 survival kit- what three items HAVE to be included?
9. What advice would you have for someone who has never experienced E3?
10. Describe what you anticipate from 2007’s newly formatted E3 in five words or less.

The plan is to do something similar, only I’ll be shooting video so you can better get to know the faces behind the games you’ll be playing over the next year or so.

Looking at this list, I’m thinking not all of these questions are relevant this year. So what would *you* ask? Keep in mind I’m asking the same questions to everyone I interview, and that it’s more focused on the person and the event than the games – I’ll of course invite you to share your game-specific questions *at* E3. So please don’t post: “how many multiplayer stages will there be in R2??”

I’ll ask that *next* month.

Oh, and later on tomorrow night, I’m going to drop by the Hollywood launch of Metal Gear Solid 4. Anything you’d like me to ask David Hayter (the incredibly gruff voice of Snake) or any of the producers on hand?

Speaking of MGS launches, if you end up taking some good pics of yourself in line (especially if you’re dressed up like Snake or Eva or Ocelot), give us some link love in the comments.

PS if you’re lining up at the West Hollywood Best Buy, make sure to say hi.

Comments are closed.

126 Comments

3 Author Replies

ftwrthtx
June 10, 2008 at 4:26 pm PDT

My question is in regards to Qore and the ‘other official magazine’ P:TOM.

Why didn’t we, as subscribers to P:TOM, not get a subscription to Qore included with P:TOM?

Should I just let my P:TOM subscription expire and then subscribe to Qore?
osirisomeomi
June 10, 2008 at 4:28 pm PDT

Those sound like great questions. They’re all pretty serious softballs though, so I hope you ask them some more challenging ones also.
Granted, I realize that you don’t want to spoil E3 info, but some tidbits about these developers and their game production process would really interest a lot of gamers. The questions you have don’t really say anything about the games or delve into the game making process (as an alternative to actually giving us game info pre-E3).

Anyways, best of luck, you have an awesome job, and I hope to see a lot of interesting new games/info from Sony at E3.
osirisomeomi
June 10, 2008 at 4:30 pm PDT

Here’s a question I’d like you to ask: What is the hardest part about game development today? Open ended so people won’t all give the same answer.
- Jeff Rubenstein
  June 10, 2008 at 4:33 pm PDT
  
  awesome question. I shall ask it.
Jeigh
June 10, 2008 at 4:32 pm PDT

Hm…

You do not pose an easy question Mr. Rubenstein…

How about:

“Do you think trade events like E3 are going to last, or will it eventually come down to more intimate events from individual publishers/developers?”

I’ll see if I can think of any more, but I’ll post this for now. (And if someone posted “First!” please destroy them. :P )
- Jeff Rubenstein
  June 10, 2008 at 4:34 pm PDT
  
  also good. I\’ll see if they have a preference as well.
Dann7978
June 10, 2008 at 4:32 pm PDT

Cant wait to get in line tommorow gonna be huge
Phoenix2088
June 10, 2008 at 4:34 pm PDT

Question: Is the dev build of In-Game XMB causing problems for your development team?

How about that ;). Yes we are growing impatient.
Jeigh
June 10, 2008 at 4:37 pm PDT

Oh, yeah! Ask osirisomeomi’s question!

Actually gave me an idea for another one:

“Do you feel that preparing for such events impedes far too greatly on the development cycle, or is it a sort necessary evil to get the word out on the titles you’re working on?”
- Jeff Rubenstein
  June 10, 2008 at 4:41 pm PDT
  
  do you wanna do this interview?? :-)
PlasmaGlory
June 10, 2008 at 4:42 pm PDT

You could ask:
“What is the greatest game you have ever played?”
If they say the game that they’re working on, then that means they have already resorted to shameless self-promotion so their game must really suck, and if they don’t know then their game must really suck because they don’t think about games enough.
Jeigh
June 10, 2008 at 4:43 pm PDT

@Jeff Rubenstein

>.>

<.<

…Maybe. XD
Xanog
June 10, 2008 at 4:48 pm PDT

I’ve got a few potential ones:

1. If you could say one thing to the fans of your game/series out there, what would it be?

2. What do you see as the “next step forward” for your studio, series, etc.? (for future titles)

3. Coke or Pepsi? *laughs*

And as for Mr. Hayter:

1. Where can I buy your vocal chords?

2. Will you sing a rendition of “Stayin’ Alive” in Snake’s voice for us?

3. Do you ever use boxes to hide for overly zealous fans?

And thanks in advance for the feature!
GhostInTheVoid
June 10, 2008 at 4:48 pm PDT

Heres the question you should be asking all developers this year…

“Do you have some spare time to help us finsih HOME”???
thefjk
June 10, 2008 at 4:49 pm PDT

Here’s a question… How do you see the industry in 10 years?

A bit broad but a general answer covering anyone from: next generation of consoles, technology, multimedia and medium, cost of development, hardcore vs casual etc.
TAGImperium
June 10, 2008 at 4:50 pm PDT

Resident Evil 5 is the game I wanna know more about, hopefully they will have a ton of new info at E3 this year. My question will be, why is Sony being so quiet about the rumored 2.4 update? Why not kill the speculation?

Oh sorry, that’s not game related for E3!
TAGImperium
June 10, 2008 at 4:54 pm PDT

Although i’m starting to doubt if this supposed update will be out by E3. I don’t care when it comes out, it’s just cluttering up all the blogs and messageboards out there. It would be nice to have this thing either confirmed or debunked.
SantanaClaus89
June 10, 2008 at 4:54 pm PDT

I have a question for you, Jeff…

WHERE IS 2.40??
Chrisrahosiris
June 10, 2008 at 4:57 pm PDT

Jeff,

Could you ask some developers about any plans to bring RPGs to the PS3.

Also, could you ask 3rd party developers what their favorite part about developing for the PS3 is.

3rd and final question

Do developers wish that E3 would return to the larger format that it had in the past?

Thanks for your time Jeff
PirateThom
June 10, 2008 at 5:01 pm PDT

Any chance you could develop a Japanese style RPG?
nando92
June 10, 2008 at 5:01 pm PDT

Yeah I have a question for you to ask jeff:
what will be the story behind resistance 2 and are there plans for a future resistance 3?
thanks in advance if you ask jeff :)
Gothdom
June 10, 2008 at 5:06 pm PDT

regarding the latest comments and I’m sure they are derived from the crap Square-Enix just blurted out today. Anyhow, I know it’s totally unrelated to the topic, could you get some answers from Sony or Square-Enix?

-Are they dropping support?
-Will we have Star Ocean 4? (before someone points me to the xbox-ign link, it somewhat says “released first on 360” then they say unsure… everything is unclear
-Will we get more JRPG or just FFXIII
-As soon as someone mentions an upcoming generic FPS, “Purple Nirple” him.
Traveler1990
June 10, 2008 at 5:10 pm PDT

Can You Find out about any Rpg’s in development or any new info about the ones we know about?

this drought is getting pretty deppressing
Sindress
June 10, 2008 at 5:12 pm PDT

How about this one:

When did you know for sure that you belonged in the video game business?
Ghostm
June 10, 2008 at 5:13 pm PDT

When are we getting any JP RPGs or RPG news? I actually bought a PS3 for JP RPGs and it seems like M$ just owned our ASSES today wit JP RPG news. I’m sooooooo ashamed!!!
BlackRabbit
June 10, 2008 at 5:15 pm PDT

Fallout3 and FFXIII are all well and good, but are there any other RPGs releasing on the console in the near future? Any reason why this genre is visibly lacking where in previous generations it was the PS that lead the charge?
tirminyl
June 10, 2008 at 5:16 pm PDT

My question:

“With the existence of XBOX Live, and PSN, consumers now expect more life out of their purchase. How has it affected you, if any, with planning, developing and supporting your product beyond its shelf life (dlc, patches, etc.)”

“With initiatives by Valve Software and Insomniac Games sharing SDK kits with the community, do you think more developers will opt to share more in hopes that it boosts productivity, quality, and lessens development time overall?”

Thanks Jeff
Resolver1
June 10, 2008 at 5:23 pm PDT

Jeff a lot of your questions other journalists have asked many times plus some of them are generic.
REDNAVE
June 10, 2008 at 5:25 pm PDT

I want to know “How will your game take advantage of Playstation Home?”.
Plant the seeds of Home in their minds while they are still sleep deprived!
PsychoEddie
June 10, 2008 at 5:27 pm PDT

@Jeff

How about:

Because not all of us have HD Tv’s; does your game have a gamma correction feature and if not, why?

The Warhawk folk have and continue to spank the competition in customer support; What’s your company doing to play catch-up?

In game xmb: Gift from the gods, Holy grail, or mark of the beast?

Mary Ann or Ginger?
jqtaxpayer
June 10, 2008 at 5:28 pm PDT

Here’s a question… why is 360 getting all the Japanese RPGs and the Japanese console only has one Japanese RPG that 360 already has (Enchanted Arms) and one American RPG that 360 already has (Oblivion)?
TheApprentice
June 10, 2008 at 5:32 pm PDT

What was the most challenging part for you to get into the industry and how long have you been in it?

(And any advice for hopeful’s?)
aliziry
June 10, 2008 at 5:33 pm PDT

Is first party development enough to sustain a console nowadays?
Zaku
June 10, 2008 at 5:34 pm PDT

I have to agree with some of the others here. One of the big selling points (besides being a quality product and carrying a lot of IPs/exclusives that interest me) for the PS3 was the promise of looking forward to JRPGs like during the PS1 and PS2 eras. Could you ask around to see if anyone has any plans to release any new ones or could you check up on the current ones?

Also, if you get in touch with some higher up, specifically in the ‘3rd Party Relations’ division, could you ask ‘What’s going on?’ Many of us fans are wondering why such franchises as Ace Combat and now Star Ocean have slipped out from under us, as of now, being exclusive to a foreign platform (foreign in the sense that they’ve been on PS for so long and now we don’t even get a simultaneous release at that). Also, why are so many titles slipping to the ‘other’ side as ‘timed’ exclusives. I’m guessing someone brought their all too familiar tactics to the industry ($$$)?

Really would like to see Sony shift more focus to 3rd party support/exclusives.
TheApprentice
June 10, 2008 at 5:35 pm PDT

With the surge in online multiplayer gaming, how important is that to the development of your game be it SP or MP?
Zorox
June 10, 2008 at 5:37 pm PDT

Ask how come you guys are focusing so much on shooting games and ignoring other genres (RPG).
erico316
June 10, 2008 at 5:43 pm PDT

jeff please i mean please can you head to square enix booth at e3 i now i bugging you jeff but i am worry that the ps3 will get no rpg love this year from them.
as for my fall of men 2 question will there be an installed this time around?
erico316
June 10, 2008 at 5:48 pm PDT

also ask them if they cn come on the blog.
Mana Knight
June 10, 2008 at 5:49 pm PDT

Hmm, I’m trying to think of questions. I’m thinking along the lines of what makes your game stand out from the rest at E3.

Like, what do you think makes your game stand out from any other games than may be shown at E3 2008?

There are games with similarities usually, but usually the something special about something that will make it stand out from the rest, makes it really special (such as Resistance 2 having 8 player co-op).
ALVEZ1
June 10, 2008 at 5:49 pm PDT

“Do you think that the bar is set to high now a days for video games?”

I hope you consider asking them this.
Zaku
June 10, 2008 at 5:52 pm PDT

@34

Yeah, please shift focus *BACK* to what the PS brand is known for: Diversity. The first party offerings are pretty diverse as is but spice it up with the 3rd party. I don’t think we need any other exclusive shooters as Resistance, Killzone, and SOCOM have us covered. Branch out to get some more RPGs, Action/Adventure, Platformers, and please bring ‘Colony Wars’ back.

Just step away from shooters for the time being as that’s not what the PS is known for.
erico316
June 10, 2008 at 5:54 pm PDT

also ask sqaure enix and namco bandai and tri cresendo if they can come on the blog during e3 week.please respond i just echoing my and the ps community worry!
Chrisrahosiris
June 10, 2008 at 5:56 pm PDT

Can you ask someone if they’ll please make Legend of Dragoon 2.
KazeEternal
June 10, 2008 at 5:57 pm PDT

Hmmmm here’s one.

“When working on new titles is the Sixaxis functionality something you consider or is it an after thought?”

“Is there anything you would like to try with the Sixaxis functionality?”

“With the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 both being on the market, have you considered ways of using the interaction between the two units for future titles?”

“Has development on the PS3 gotten any easier with the new development kids?”

“How do you feel about the backward compatibility being removed from the 40 gig PlayStation 3 for PS2 titles?”

“If there is any game you could revisit from your companies catalog and remake for the PS3 which title would it be?”

“Has considered releasing more downloadable games ranging from the impulse buy titles (5 to 10 dollars) to full PS3 games like what was done with warhawk?”

“Has taken any interest in bringing its playstation one catalog of games to the PlayStation Store for download? If so which titles would you like to see appear first? What about PlayStation 2 titles if Sony worked out a system for these games?”

This one is to cross porters between PSP and PS3:
“When developing a game for PSP and PS3 have you considered sharing the gamesave between the two versions of the game to allow the adventure to be taken on the road?”
Bigomiee
June 10, 2008 at 6:04 pm PDT

What is the thing you love the most about your game.
darkiewonder
June 10, 2008 at 6:09 pm PDT

To David Hayter:

Have you ever used your Snake voice anywhere in public to get things? xD

To Sony:

Where’s the JRPG?

and I don’t want to hear about Final Fantasy and White Knight Story or the xbox 360 port of Eternal Sonata and such?

No excuses like “We are listening” and “We have a strong line-up” PR talk because you’re not fooling anyone with it. Microsoft have been doing a tremendous job at securing games this year. Regardless of buying them it’s more than Sony has done this year. And why is the ps3 NOW becoming the “Shooter” System? and before you answer that stop pushing HOME service. No one asked for it from the beginning and it’s more of a wasteless effort on your part. Nor is the “AAA” Titles you brag about for the rest of 2008.

So Sony, get your act straight and get nice with 3rd party developers.

Thanks for your time </3
Dubbedinenglish
June 10, 2008 at 6:14 pm PDT

How about this:

Of you were to host E3 anywhere, where would it be?
MGSMerc
June 10, 2008 at 6:28 pm PDT

Here is a question. When will MGS 1 arrive on the US PSN Store? It would be nice if the Japanese share.
P_tear_griffin
June 10, 2008 at 6:28 pm PDT

Hopefully my questions are generic enough to apply to all devs:

1. Do you think the game industry as a whole is slowly moving away from single-player/story driven games?
2. Now that many developers have had a crack at motion sensing on the PS3, what are their plans for it in the future?
3. How often do you make technical changes to your games half-way through or late into the game development cycle based on something you’ve just seen or played from other developers?
4. Any game genre you are interested in working that you’ve yet to explore?
5. So far on the PS3 Warhawk and Socom have been the only games that decided to ditch the single-player campaign in favor of online only. Is this something you as a developer are interested in pursuing?
Voozi
June 10, 2008 at 6:29 pm PDT

I’m currently going to college for Computer Science Game Development and I was wondering if you could ask this question to one or more devs.

What kind of advice would you give those currently in college and would like to pursue a career in video game development?

And (if you’re able too as well)

How hard is it to find a job in game development when you’re fresh out of college with a bachelors degree in computer science?

Idk not very good at wording questions haha so feel free to reword them as you see fit.

Also maybe a suggestion…maybe one day have some kind of Q&A w/ a developer/studio regarding students & careers in the game industry and what it takes to get in, what they expect when applying, etc cause I’m sure I’m not the only student here in CS who’s interested ;D

——

To those wondering about JRPGs, I wouldn’t try to worry too much, just wait until E3. Last year Sony was able to secure us MGS4 so I’m sure Sony has some tricks up there sleeve again this year ;D
indigovenom
June 10, 2008 at 6:40 pm PDT

Q1: What support will you have for PSN or will you support it? (home?)

Q2: would it be possible to make some of that schwag available on the PSN. (i like a lot of the little items you get from cons, and i wouldn’t mind dropping a couple bucks for a R2 T-shirt if i could order it on PSN.)

Q3: what is your favorite game out now and why? (don’t care what system)

Q4:if you could remake any game (new or old) what would it be?

Q5: Whats the worst game you ever worked on?

Q6: what game do you not like?

Q7: who, in the world,would you like to collaborate with to make a game or who in the industry would you like to make a game with?

Q8: (actually just a rant) for fps companies: which do you prefer to shoot with: R2 or R1. (its been annoying me that the controller has a good trigger type button but a lot of companies are not using it)
THATPSPGUY
June 10, 2008 at 7:14 pm PDT

Hey Jeff, I”d like you get me as much Socom Confrontation “NEW FOOTAGE” as you can, even if you have to sneak a psp go cam into a secret meeting.(yeah that’d get u in trouble) No seriously, Just ask Pointman Dave what His favorite thing about Socom is and Why.

Also BOOTH BABES!

Oh can you also ask the folks at Incognito when the next WH update is coming out and some of the details that entail. We’d all be very happy with that info, I know I would be. Also mention the idea of Jet Packs to them. I think it would a whole new dimension to the game.

Thanks Jeff, My trusted and ever faithful Employee. Lol
JamesL007
June 10, 2008 at 7:19 pm PDT

I like the questions you have there Jeff I can only imagine the answers would be on the lines of something like this

1. What game do you have at E3 this year?
A. Our Best Game to date
2. Describe it in five words or less.
A. Super Cool and Awesome
3. If you could sit one person in front of your game for an hour, who would it be?
A.The Fans
4. What game do you most want an hour to sit in front of yourself (besides your own)?
A. Square Enix game, expect they do come to E3 anymore.
5. How many E3’s does E3 2007 mark for you?
A. 2
6. Describe the pre-2007 E3 experience in five words or less.
A. Long, Boring, Small, Odd Location
7. Most over used phrase or expression during E3 season.
A. Wow this is really boring.
8. You are asked to make suggestions for an E3 survival kit- what three items HAVE to be included?
A Water Bottle, Gun, and a Cyanide Tablet
9. What advice would you have for someone who has never experienced E3?
A. You are not missing much anymore, use to be a huge party is now a business meeting
10. Describe what you anticipate from 2007’s newly formatted E3 in five words or less.
A. Less people, Smaller Location

I bet the answers were on those lines, E3 is boring as hell now of days since so many developer will not be attending it anymore for GC and TGS instead, the ESA need to redesign the E3 or else it will be down to less then 100 people including the developers .

Its hard to think up a good question to ask that you will not think of yourself Jeff,

Maybe

How do you plan to use the new features the latest firmware updates have come to offer the PS3 gamers? Something on those lines would be good and interesting.