Beliaeff: For us, I think one of the key tenets we try and follow would be is the title platform appropriate and does it leverage our core competencies? For a PSP title, does it involve short play sessions, does it support WiFi and infrastructure modes, and will it load fast off of an UMD?

For PSN, is it something that is a palatable download with a broadband connection, does it help validate the PS3 purchase, and is it online multiplayer? For PC, we are pretty established and tend to focus on will it be a kick ass, large subscriber base game a few years from now? PSN and PSP title for us are relatively quick. MMOs take a long time to build properly :)

Beliaeff: I like to think that in the MMO-universe we hold similar or larger sway than you attribute to us for downloadable games. For us, we are fairly conservative in the space and want to learn a lot about what the market expectations are for the platforms and the PS3 is still a young platform.

We tend to go broad across many genres rather than deep in one or two genres. One of the things I love about working here is that we get to experiment a bit and see what sticks. So we take titles like the Midway classics that have proven successful across many platforms, titles we thought did well on Sony platforms like GripShift and some yet to be announced titles, and exploiting some good ol' Sony IP that has a long history of success across many platforms.

QJ:

Beliaeff: I think for us we are pursuing a more conservative strategy on PSN as the platform matures. So you will see a mix from us of titles like the Midway classics that have a solid pedigree, original IPs that do a good job of exploiting the hardware capabilities like GripShift, and other titles and Sony IPs that make a ton of sense as downloads.

Beliaeff:  We have been very happy with PSN to date. We have released ~9 titles so far and have many more in the development queue. For us, we want to see them finish a lot of what they have already put in motion. Constant storefront improvements, the release of Home, and the release of the PS3 Eye Toy would make me ecstatic.

Beliaeff: PSN 10 years from now should be the dominant console service on the planet. Once Sony brings to bear all it has to offer, it will be hard for other services to compete with its depth of games, television properties, movies, and music offerings. It should define what a full featured download service is. For SOE, I hope that we continue to find a way to innovate and be at the forefront of what is next for the future of the service.

QJ:

Beliaeff: We are tremendously excited by what Phil Harrison and the Home team are evangelizing. Home is a very powerful metaphor that excites us greatly. There have been no formal announcements about how deep our support is for it, but we love it to death. We hope to be there at day one like we were for PSP, PS3, and PSN and continue with long-term unified plans.

Beliaeff: That is a good question. Like I mentioned earlier, MMOs take a long time to make well and I think time has to pass a tad before I can answer this in depth. It is most certainly an exciting proposition for us.

Beliaeff: We really, really look forward to its future as a downloadable commerce platform.

Beliaeff: I think a lot of people forget that MMOs are also still somewhere in their adolescence. There has not been a huge quantity of titles, nor have they been around for a long time. I do not think anyone has defined what the future of MMOs will be. I do think WoW has defined MMO 1.0, but MMO 2.0 is out there for the taking and it will take a true visionary to own that - I work with a few teams on solving that in SOE San Diego. As we learn more and more about what people want, I think that the ease of socialization will continue as will the ability to control your own destiny.

QJ:

Beliaeff: We have a studio in Taiwan that we are very proud of called SOGA. It is spearheaded by my colleague John Laurence for the last few years. You should probably give him a call...

Beliaeff: Going back to the concept of MMO 2.0, I do think Asia is ahead of us when it comes to how to think about the business model of MMOs. In the West, we are very subscription-or-die oriented with few exceptions. This is all going to change in the future and Asia will define the initial impetus for change.

Beliaeff:  *cough* Maybe I am a n00b, but I did not realize there was a pointy-eared elephant character in the DC universe.

Beliaeff: Ahh. A-life. Pretty cool, huh? Water your garden, and it will grow over time. That is very powerful.

Beliaeff: We acquired the rights to Vanguard. Sigil was not a part of that. I think for players we are a net positive. A big net positive. Sigil was very focused on building the most feature intense MMO ever seen. We are very into making sure that the game is fun, stable, and polished and are very willing to spend time making sure what is currently there is truly an enjoyable experience for all of its players. I have the pleasure of working directly with the Vanguard team and they are so passionate about making the game great, that I think the players already see the change for the better that has occurred.

Beliaeff: (On-handedly) I love my job. Our lawyers are intense. I want to keep my job. Did I mention how cool Andy, Rick, Steve, and Kelly are? They are so cool that I kind of need to end the interview now.