A fascinating lecture from Mark Cerny
In this Gamelab 2013 lecture, PlayStation 4 lead architect Mark Cerny discusses the hurdles of developing for the notoriously-challenging PlayStation 3 and how that led to a more standardized approach (and lack of Cell processor) with the PS4. “We didn’t want the hardware to be a puzzle that the developers would need to solve in order to make quality titles,” he said of the upcoming system’s architecture.
The talk starts with a recap of his mind-blowing professional history, which includes stints at Atari, Sega, and Universal Interactive Studios working alongside studios such as Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog. Depending on your level of familiarity with the industry, this may feel akin to a flashback sequence during the final moments of a thriller; all of the pieces come together.
You’ll also gain even more respect for Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida after watching this, something I didn’t believe was possible. Highly, highly recommend you see the entire talk if you’ve got a spare hour this weekend.