PlayStation LifeStyle Interviews Jeff Rubenstein
Written by Sev1512 
Recently, PlayStation LifeStyle had the chance to speak with Jeff Rubenstein of the PlayStation.Blog. Jeff is Social Media Manager for SCEA.
(Jeff Rubenstein): The main goal for the creation of PlayStation.Blog is to bring PlayStation fans closer to those who create the games they play. My boss, Patrick Seybold (who started the blog a couple of months before I was brought on board), said in our first post, “we see it as a place where we can share with you our company’s collective insights, opinions and perspectives on all things related to SCEA, PlayStation and the industry we play in.“
Do you feel you have achieved that goal so far?
To a large extent, yes. We’ve gone from nothing to hundreds of thousands of weekly readers. However, I don’t think there’s ever a point where we can say “Mission Accomplished.”
Basically, we want to do what we’re doing now – only better, and more often. There are often posts that we can point to and say “Now *that* was a success.” This might come from making a particularly good announcement, or when a producer (like Warhawk’s Dylan Jobe) is particularly invested in the post, answering questions in the comments section. I’d like every post to be like that.
One of the more difficult days came with the launch of the Uncharted demo. Folks outside of North America weren’t able to play it, and were pretty vocal. Fortunately Naughty Dog was on the ball and had a solution very quickly.
The fan response has been overwhelming. Our readership has started off strong – and over the past 6 months or so has leapt to incredible heights. Internally we set expectations on benchmarks like subscribers and video views – and all of them have been smashed. That puts a lot of pressure on us to keep the momentum going.
In what ways, if any, do you plan on expanding the community aspect of the PS Blog?
In addition to expanding our Blog audience, we’ve made the jump into Facebook a few months ago, and that’s been successful by any measure. I’m wary of spreading the audience too thin, or making them run around to every new website or application that opens up. On the wider PlayStation front, a number of studios and titles like LittleBigPlanet, Insomniac, SOCOM, and Killzone 2 have all established or continued to grow communities recently. We’re happy to send readers there whenever possible.
In one way or another, yes. We will be part of the “Single Sign On” process that recently took place on the PlayStation Underground and forums. We’ve just been working out a way to do so without alienating our current userbase. The last thing I want to do is say ‘from now on you’ve got to do it this way, and you have no choice in the matter.’
Absolutely. Since we launched Metal Gear Mondays in the Spring, we’ve seen Criterion (Burnout Paradise) establish a presence on the blog, as well as Capcom. We’re working on a number of partnerships as well. In fact, a number of household names working on blockbusters just came up in conversation today. Of course, with SCE’s huge stable of content.
While we’re based at SCEA, we speak almost daily with SCEI, SCEJ, or SCEE when appropriate. That’s something we’re exploring currently. Again, trying to find out the best way to handle that, so that readers don’t get inundated with info that doesn’t apply to them.
Actually, with our platform (WordPress) we *can* change anything, and frequently do. So wishful thinking + time = reality. I’ve got a great team here, and we’ll continue to refine the experience.
Well thank you Anthony. I don’t know if this blog is an inspiration, per se, but maybe there are some good practices to learn from. Really, for me, the love of games is my inspiration.
I’d imagine that those who have purchased a PS3 and are happy with it certainly have.
Well I do love a good taco, but most of my favorite foods are Chinese/Cantonese. I love dim sum, and go for at pretty much every week. You should try it if you’ve never been.
NP, thanks for reading!!
Sev and Jeff at King Taco. Photography by LinuxGuru
No Responses to “PlayStation LifeStyle Interviews Jeff Rubenstein”
I like Jeff. He’s a koo guy. Even if he is unbelievably good at Hot Shots Golf. lol
Thanks Jeff for all the hard work you do at Sony. And Sev for Lifestyle. I have fun going between the two to see who gets the news out first, sometimes it is a toss-up to who gets it out before the other but I would say that the PS Blog has been a good place to start.
Why did I picture Sev to be skinny and less… like me only not balding and more attractive XD. Great work.
I wish PS Blog was a little bit more informative sometimes there are days where there are no updates what so ever and my thirst for knowledge is unquenchable. Of course it’s days like today with the whole “Activison is forced to play nicely with the other games and not force people to pay to use their instruments on competition’s games” thing that made my day today.
I was worried about Activision pulling a GH 3 again. Its something like that which MAY make me decide to buy Guitar Hero World Tour eventually.
nice interview Sev. Ive always thought you look like Liquid Ocolet.
my vision has been forever shattered. 
JK 
I was hoping to read in the interview a question about the ID tag and friends list being implemented on the psp. Good interview, a nice read. Thanks Sev & Jeff.
@ kingofthedead
It wont be long until I do look like Ocelot, I noticed more gray hairs today.
I use the sig, because I prefer villains over heroes, and because I am the “older, wiser” one here… lol
Nice pic
Good interview!
what the! is that you sev? your icon has tricked me!
Who do you guys think is cooler?
Jeff Rubenstein vs. Eric Lempel…
Hard choice! I think it would have to be Eric cuz he is usually very confident in his videos showcasing firmware and such, but Jeff seems more outgoing in some vids i’ve seen with him. hard choice lol.
Good interview
Way to go sev
you did that interview when you went to LA huh, at that taco restaurant?
@ Devon,
Nope, King Taco was too fun for interviews, or business. Only gaming and some of the best tacos I ever had.
Good interview. I agree the blog inspired a lot of people to start playstation blogs/websites.
Lovely interview sev, good work.
I really like the initiative of the SCEA blog ,and of course jeff.
Again, good work man.
Also… thats a ‘rad’ t-shirt you have there sev ! :p
Jeff,
Thanks for the interview! You are the man!
Doublesix, Q-Games, Jeff Rubenstein of SCEA. All within about a week.
Also looking forward to CAPCOM’s John Diamonon, SCEA’s PAIN Producer Travis Williams & folks at Idol Minds, etc.
Hope you all are enjoying the new direction of the site!
I want to play PixelJunk Eden on Jeff Rubenstein’s shirt.
@ stalkingsilence
I want to as well, it would be pretty cool
Anyways Trav is confirmed to do one for you guys? If so thats tight.
He’s a good guy though and I’ve talked with him in the past. We’re trying to work out something official right now.
@Stallone
Eric Lempel because he does alll the firmware update videos.
Very nice interview sev. If you are interviewing people like this, you have taken this blog to a new level. Can i get a hand clap for sev and who whole PSLS editorial team? What do we have to do to get some of those shirts eh?
Hey Sev, you should also interview Eric Lempel, you know the guy with the firmwares, it would be nice to let him speak out, without some PR guy behind him.
@Stallone
Notice how Jeff is kinda taller then Eric, yet Eric is cooler, but Jeff is less serious and strict looking, the Eric.
@ Prolo
Thanks for saying that “we have brought the blog to a whole new level”
Thats exactly what we were trying to do. All part of the new direction PSLS is taking.
Insider info is great, but it makes interviews, and thing like that impossible.
So guys, who would want a PSLS T-shirt?
awesome interview….Jeff is a very tall dude :O
“So guys, who would want a PSLS T-shirt?”
Me me me me me……
I asked first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hahahha, sorry guys, I dont have any to give away just yet, (unless you want a used XXL that says Sev1512 on the back).
But I was thinking that may be a great idea for a contest.
When I saw that shirt I instantly wanted one. I think they would be a nice hit among our readership.
I know I’d buy a few.
[...] This means that it is definitely coming, and this could mean at any time. Hopefully it comes soon, as once this happens, more features can come on the way. Sony have promised that more features are coming on the way. With time, you can expect features like sending messages, receiving messages, comparing/viewing trophies and a portable Profile that will showcase your trophies and PSN level, etc. Let us know what you think in the comments, and don’t forget PLAYSTATION Lifestyle’s interview by clicking here. [...]
I’m 6 feet tall, bout u Sev? I wanna see in comparison to Jeff
BTW, I did post this interview on our site and you’re back on the blogroll
.
I am working on getting this to N4G, will post link when it’s up