Homebrew on the PS3?

**Evangelionn** · May 17th, 2006, 12:41 PM

http://palgn.com.au/article.php?titl...5db65a9d696183

Originally Posted by Chris Leigh

Sony big cheese Izumi Kawanishi has announced that the company will be encouraging homebrew coding on the PlayStation 3 when it launches this November. In an interview with Japanese site Impress Watch, Kawanishi said, "Because we have plans for having Linux on board the PS3, we also recognise Linux programming activities. Other than game studios tied to official developer licenses, we'd like to see various individuals participate in content creation for the PS3."

However, whilst Sony seems to be encouraging PS3 homebrew, Kawanishi also clarified that would-be Jeff Minters won't benefit from any support from Sony. "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."

Ironically, Sony has adopted a fiercely anti-homebrew stance when it comes to the PSP, which has rapidly become a favourite with the homebrew community, despite the regular firmware upgrades released by Sony designed to stamp out homebrew coding.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/16/so...-linux-on-ps3/

Originally Posted by James Wiley

It's hard to imagine that Sony, a company that continues to actively block unlicensed applications on the PSP, will welcome the homebrew community with open arms when it ushers in the PlayStation 3. But, according SCE network system development manager Izumi Kawanishi, the console will ship with a built-in Linux OS, complete with compilers and other tools. It would seem that Sony is indeed inviting homebrew enthusiasts to develop basic applications and game content. Just don't expect Sony to provide technical support or access to SDK libraries, as these privileges are reserved for licensed developers.

While Linux support on the PS3 has been known for some time, this latest revelation implies an added value to the console, which in turn could justify the exorbitant price tag for some. The question is, will mainstream consumers ignore this key feature?

Interesting

**GroundZero3** · May 17th, 2006, 12:43 PM

That doesnt make sense espically with the stance they took on homebrew with the PSP as the article stated

**Evangelionn** · May 17th, 2006, 12:44 PM

i know but theres a bunch of articles about it

**EXreaction** · May 17th, 2006, 12:46 PM

Ya, but don't you need a PS3 Dev kit in order to make something for it anyways? If you do, good luck homebrewers...you will only need like $20,000 to start making something for it.

**GroundZero3** · May 17th, 2006, 12:47 PM

Well we have heard alot about Sony that was either false or taken out. It would be cool since it running linux but i will have to see it to believe it.

**Evangelionn** · May 17th, 2006, 12:55 PM

i was just searching throught articles about sony on google and there was a bunch about this so idk could be a rumor but if its true that could kinda be cool

**buckaro** · May 17th, 2006, 01:22 PM

So your telling me the PS3 will run like a PC? If thats so then it would mean that the PS3 is actually worth the money IMO, because you can then do everything you want on it, supposing you can plug in your KB/mouse into the USB ports....and with a 60gb harddrive thats not too bad. if your not someone who uses the PC much, this could well be great.

**Evangelionn** · May 17th, 2006, 01:26 PM

Well you can plug in a USB mouse and keyboard or use a blu-tooth keyboard and mouse also there is an Web browser
also look at this video it shows the PS3 interface and the web browser an stuff http://youtube.com/watch?v=1mq5job_e...S3%20interface

**EXreaction** · May 17th, 2006, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Evangelionn

Well you can plug in a USB mouse and keyboard or use a blu-tooth keyboard and mouse also there is an Web browser
also look at this video it shows the PS3 interface and the web browser an stuff http://youtube.com/watch?v=1mq5job_e...S3%20interface

Pretty cool...if it does work with a kb/m for the web browser, that makes it an even cooler media center!

**Evangelionn** · May 17th, 2006, 01:32 PM

ya and if you can do this stuff with it then its well worth paying $599 IMO.

**buckaro** · May 17th, 2006, 01:33 PM

Hmm, just checked a few comments at joystick. A lot of people think its BS, or at least it'l be rubbish. Also, if it does happen, will you be able to instal normal apps etc for it? If the homebrew happens surely people can take linux apps and run them on here, or even linux compatible games....

However, one thing i would take note of from the vid(from E3, so pretty new) is that the PS3 will be able to have 6-8 browsers open, i can open more browsers than that on my PC now.

Oh, and what about using say MSN or trillian or whatever you want? This COULD be really interesting(but then you could get viruses and need a firewall maybe etc maybe!?!). It could get just too complicated and not work unless it's linux that does next to nothing.

**cunokyle** · May 17th, 2006, 01:35 PM

It would seem that Sony is really wanting this to be a true multi-media machine.

Maybe Sony is wanting some of the Linux gurus out there to develop features for it much like takes place in the open source community. This could be a really big deal!

**EXreaction** · May 17th, 2006, 01:36 PM

True...but I still am going to wait...I am thinking that this fall I will get a Wii and play with that for a year or so...sometime get an HD TV(as I will be moving and will have to purchase everything I want now...no more using my parents stuff

) Then if BR wins out as the next format, mabey I will get a PS3...or mabey if Halo 3 is a killer, I will get a X360...then sometime down the road I might get the other one...

I will just have to wait and see how it all turns out...

**GroundZero3** · May 17th, 2006, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by cunokyle

It would seem that Sony is really wanting this to be a true multi-media machine.

Maybe Sony is wanting some of the Linux gurus out there to develop features for it much like takes place in the open source community. This could be a really big deal!

They did its called Xbox Media center

**EXreaction** · May 17th, 2006, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by cunokyle

It would seem that Sony is really wanting this to be a true multi-media machine.

Maybe Sony is wanting some of the Linux gurus out there to develop features for it much like takes place in the open source community. This could be a really big deal!

I don't think that they would want or even let people develop things to go ontop of the main OS...if it is Linux, it will be tweaked extensively...and a lot of the things that work in any distro now may be removed for the PS3's version...

And I highly doubt Sony would let anyone near the Source of the OS(mabey parts of it...but not the main code)...and without it, if the OS is tweaked too much, it will be really difficult to do anything with it.

**buckaro** · May 17th, 2006, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by EXreaction

I don't think that they would want or even let people develop things to go ontop of the main OS...if it is Linux, it will be tweaked extensively...and a lot of the things that work in any distro now may be removed for the PS3's version...

And I highly doubt Sony would let anyone near the Source of the OS(mabey parts of it...but not the main code)...and without it, if the OS is tweaked too much, it will be really difficult to do anything with it.

Probably why atm their not bothered about "homebrew", it just won't do anything good but might get them a couple of extra sales.

the mre "features" they pack in the better they can sell it.

**Makaveli_786** · May 17th, 2006, 02:02 PM

I don't see why they'd be against homebrew on the PS3, not like people are going to run copied games through it unlike with the PSP which would be easier.

**EXreaction** · May 17th, 2006, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Makaveli_786

I don't see why they'd be against homebrew on the PS3, not like people are going to run copied games through it unlike with the PSP which would be easier.

One major reason would be hacking...if someone can access the main OS files, it will be a heck of a lot easier to hack it and find security vulnerabilitys...and if someone hates sony a lot and likes hacking, they could easily damage everyone's PS3 that is connected to the net(if there is a bad flaw found)...that would be a huge disaster for Sony.

**Makaveli_786** · May 17th, 2006, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by EXreaction

One major reason would be hacking...if someone can access the main OS files, it will be a heck of a lot easier to hack it and find security vulnerabilitys...and if someone hates sony a lot and likes hacking, they could easily damage everyone's PS3 that is connected to the net(if there is a bad flaw found)...that would be a huge disaster for Sony.

LOL damn your giving Solo ideas there.

That could happen but at pretty insane odds

**JimRune** · May 17th, 2006, 02:48 PM

A lot of people think its BS, or at least it'l be rubbish.

If you ever go to Joystick or Engadget, a lot of people are going to say it's BS. I wouldn't exactly use them as the defining line in whether it's true or not.