Sony is extending their support for schools and universities with courses geared towards computer engineering and programming. At the Develop Conference 2009, Sarah Lemarie, SCEE R&D’s education contact and support infrastructure development manager, revealed that a PS3 dev kit designed for academic use is in the works and is currently in the closed beta phase. The PS3 dev kit includes a consumer-sized PS3 and a full SDK. Sony’s cross-platform game engine PhyreEngine will also be made available as part of the program.
“I have exciting news. We have started a PS3 Academic Development Programme, and we’re refering to the dev kits as mini-dev kits, which I can best described as being in a closed beta stage at present. We’ll be opening this beta up slowly”
”Of course universities can use Linux to program on the PS3, but I would really strongly recommend that if you are interested in the PS3 you look into this, as the experience you will get over Linux is quite incredible.”
I’m jealous of any undergradutes who get to try PS3 development as part of their studies. I might even go back to uni just to give it a go!