Andrew House talks Sony NGP price, 3G version, more

I think that we feel very confident that we have very sufficiently differentiated ourselves from the competition with spec, and in particular the connectivity and network features and interfaces that are all pretty revolutionary. That will set this device apart.

Um... I'm not sure, is the honest answer to that question. [Once again, it sounds like he really doesn't know.] But that does not sit within our plans right now.

It's a fair question. I think that we view 3D as having the greatest potential, in the near term, in what I would call a dedicated entertainment environment. And that's in the home, around the television, and where it's a shared experience. I think that's really important. We struggle a little bit to see how that 3D, shared experience translates to portable devices as they currently stand.

I think what you heard today from a range of publishers and developers was, yes, that they're already finding... I would say to you, we're further along in the development curve in preparation for this device than we have been on previous devices.

The feedback that we're getting from our own studios as well as external studios is that it is very pleasantly surprisingly easier to develop for. And as you heard from some of the speakers today, the opportunity to take certain assets from an existing PS3 experience, and take them fairly seamlessly, then allows the developer to concentrate on the aspects that really do inform a portable experience.

Like, how do I use the interfaces? I think you saw that demonstrated well from Shuhei's demonstration of Uncharted: it's visibly and recognisably the same world and experience as the PS3, but the uncovering of the tablets, the interface to do climbing, just makes it then a completely new twist.

To be honest, the publishers that I've spoken to have generally indicated that they don't think that that's satisfactory for the consumer. To try and ask the consumer just to re-purchase an existing console experience – I don't think we or they feel that is really going to be the correct strategy.

Where I think it does become really interesting is if publishers, including ourselves, start to think of franchises more holistically. So, here's Uncharted; here's the dedicated PS3 experience and that's what this needs to be; here's a network aspect to Uncharted and that's what that needs to be; and here's the portable offshoot or adjunct to that, and here's what that needs to be. But they're all working together to enhance a franchise.

We were delighted that Philip [Earl, Activision suit] was able to be with us today and to stake a commitment that they've already seen that opportunity for Call of Duty and taking an extension of the most powerful-selling franchise around right now.

I think that we will work extremely hard and are already moving very fast to try and maintain the security of our device. It's the lifeblood of our industry – if you're going to continue to see innovative games, they have to be within a business model that allows publishers to justify and recoup the huge investments and creative talent they've put into those games.

I think the best thing that I can say on that is we will do our absolute utmost to address any and all security issues around PS3.

[A Sony rep informs me after the interview that PS3 received a firmware update today – 3.56 – which he characterised as the first, if definitely not the last, step in Sony's response to the hack.]

I don't think we're in a position to have nailed down launches by geography. You'll hear more about that from us later on this year.

It will definitely be on the market within calendar year. That's the intention.

[Laughs] PSwhat?

Haven't you been invited to tomorrow's presentation?