HSM Presents: A Video Interview With Paul Sullivan, SCEA Digital Platforms
by NorseGamer, HSM Publisher
Not too long ago, the PlayStation Home user base saw its SCEA community management team transition into a new and larger function: Digital Platforms. And the question that’s stared everyone in the face, which no one’s really bothered to ask: what exactly is Digital Platforms?
This is particularly important because we’re in the midst of something exceptional: the transition from one console generation to the next. Though HSM has historically been a Home-centric publication (something which we made the conscious decision to change last year), with a Home-centric audience, it’s important to realize that there’s a whole lot of exceptionally cool stuff happening throughout the greater PlayStation pantheon — and, frankly, it’s really exciting.
E3 2013 was a masterpiece for Sony. A console launch year is a high-stakes, time-on-target barrage, and as Sun Tzu famously wrote, every battle is won or lost before it is fought. By the time the dust settled from the major press conferences, it was already clear that Sony had won. E3 itself thus felt more like a celebratory rock concert — at least, in the Sony pavilion.
During E3, we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview Paul Sullivan (SEN ID: Tempest_Fire), Senior Community Manager at PlayStation Digital Platforms. Spend any time with Paul, and you quickly discern four things:
- There’s a massive intellect constantly at work. You know that scene in Watchmen where Dr. Manhattan is doing half a dozen things at once, all with equal proficiency? That’s more or less what it’s like to interact with Paul. When he mentions something, you already know he’s worked out all the possible permutations and outcomes of the idea behind the statement to twelve decimal places and figured out which is the best course of action.
- There’s absolutely no inefficiency with the man. Everything is precise and to the point. Speaking as a certified Gallup Strengths Coach, it’s one of the most astonishing levels of focus I’ve ever seen.
- He’s genuine, and he makes people laugh. I know the aforementioned brace of points makes him sound a bit like a machine, but the truth is that he’s got a really great sense of humor, from subtle nonverbal facial reactions all the way up to layered one-liners that ricochet off a corner and have you laughing half an hour later.
- He’s tall.
Enough of my yammering, however. Let’s join HSM Editor-in-Chief Terra_Cide, as HomeStation Magazine proudly presents an interview with Paul Sullivan, from SCEA Digital Platforms. Enjoy!
July 15th, 2013 by NorseGamer | 10 comments
NorseGamer is the product manager for LOOT Entertainment at Sony Pictures, as well as the founder and publisher of HomeStation Magazine. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, he holds a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and presently lives in Los Angeles. All opinions expressed in HSM are solely his and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sony DADC.
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Wonderful interview.It is always interesting to see the people behind the names we see everyday on our load in screen. With GlassWalls gone, Tempest_Fire is our new defacto leader and I liked hearing from him.
Nice interview with Tempest_Fire guys! It’s nice to have a face behind the avatar. One things that’s so obvious about this community is how much people care about what they are doing.
Great interview! Incase he reads this. Thanks Paul for all the hard work. Looking forward to the future.
Well! That was interesting! And it was in stereo… whether re-channeled or real stereo I don’t know.
It’s nice to have a face and voice to place with a person and that was done with three well known peeps.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing things in the article itself was HSM changing from a Home-Centric publication to something else which I’m not clear of. But that’s OK cus it’s cool stuff.
I didn’t expect Home on the PS4 to be mentioned so no disappointment there. It’s a fun article and interview.
SPOILER:
9+5=14
Nicely done interview by Terra_Cide during E3, enjoyed watching
Great guy! First time meeting him was at a Pixel Junk Shooter 2 blog party! Very excited about PlayStation Home and a genuine love for gaming. The SCEA Digital Platform team is lucky to have him.
Great interview!
One thing the video doesn’t really capture is the sheer *energy* that rolls off this man. I think only my five year old and a Jack Russell puppy could possibly have more. Hook a dynamo up to him, and he could supply enough electricity to a small town for a year. Of course, the high Sony came into E3 off the presser probably didn’t hurt, either.
And he’s not just tall -- he’s so tall I hyperextended my spine by the end of all the takes from looking up at him.
6’5″, since it seems to be a point of conversation. =)Thanks for the opportunity to speak to so many people through this interview. It was a lot of fun.
It is good to know that things have been handed off to someone who likes games. I look forward to seeing how things progress with him having a guiding hand in what happens.
Excellent questions! It was fun to watch.
That was cool! There is something casual and fun about the Sony crew in comparison to the Xbox guys