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Why Sony Needs a 'Major Nelson'

Posted by Zonk on Thu Oct 05, 2006 06:47 PM
from the fighting-back dept.
Sony PlayStation (Games)
Microsoft's 'Major Nelson' and executive Peter Moore have been visible representatives of the 360 console for well over a year now. 'Grandfather of Gaming' Shigeru Miyamoto and asskicking Reggie Fils-Aime have have preached the Wii concept through good writeups and bad name jokes. Sony ... well, Sony has Ken Kutaragi, Phil Harrison, and Kaz Hirai. They say helpful things like 'we don't care', and 'disks won't matter', and (my personal favorite) 'the PS3 is a computer'. RPG Site has a compelling argument stating that Sony needs a Major Nelson to cut through this crazy executive talk, and reconnect the company with real gamers. From the article: "While it's not something that appeals to every group of people that play games - the casual market and kids, for example, the existence of these people allows the part of the market that is most opinionated - the core gamers, those who have a very clear opinion on what they want and what is good and bad - to interact with somebody who can actually bring about change. Hell, on a lesser note, it even gives the fanboys someone to worship."
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Why Sony Needs a 'Major Nelson' 50 Comments More /

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  • Sony does need a human face. Recent Sony press conferences and interviewed have showed so much spin I have felt dizzy after reading them. Although my post may reflect some anti-Sony bias, I sincerely hope the PS3 doesn't flop. The console market could use three players.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by vertinox (846076)
      Sony does need a human face.

      I have to ask this... Why?

      If they games are fun and the PS3 doesn't break easy and doesn't have bugs that causes freezes and lockups or have massive DRM lockouts on things you've purchases legit, then why do we need a public spokes person?

      The casual gamer doesn't care and it is only a few hardcore gamers that watch the press conferences.

      I've said this before and I'll say it a again... No matter how well you do at E3 nor how many millions you dump into marketing campaigns... If yo

  • In response... (Score:5, Funny)

    by aftk2 (556992) on Thursday October 05 2006, @06:59PM (#16330221) Homepage Journal
    The PS3 has been quoted as saying, "I'm a computer! Stop all the downloadin'!"
    • I have never cracked up laughing to a comment on Slashdot. You sir...deserver a cookie. Nay! TWO cookies!
  • Major Nelson? Wasn't he the astronaut that uncorked the bottle in I Dream of Jeannie?
    • yeah. could someone explain what a "being a Major Nelson" means? Because all I can think of is a guy who always does spit takes.
      • I was thinking a "Nelson" was someone who needs a swift kick to the balls. That would help Sony tremendously in the idea department. A little Viagra wouldn't hurt.
      • "Major Nelson" is moniker of Larry Hryb, he's the Xbox Live Director of Programming for MS.

        What makes him so special is that whenever there is any confusion over some kind executive double-speak "The Major" is quick to ask the right people within MS and blog about what's really going on [majornelson.com] in plain English without any of the BS. Basically he puts all the hype and confusion into laymen terms. His blog is probably one of the best and most straight-forward sources of info for what's REALLY going on with Xbox
    • I thought he killed himself after he became an oil baron? [wikipedia.org] What's he doing alive and working for Microsoft?
    • So who do they have in charge now? Major Healey? Colonel Bellows?

  • That...that doesn't make any sense. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by justchris (802302) on Thursday October 05 2006, @07:16PM (#16330405) Homepage
    Peter Moore and Reggie Fils-Aime serve in much the same capacity as Kutaragi and Hirai. They have just as much ability to change the future of the console as anyone who speaks for either of the other companies. Having a game designer as a spokesman wouldn't necessarily help the PS3 image. It more depends on who the person is rather than what they do.

    Peter Moore is good because he's enthusiastic about what he does and he's a great speaker. That enthusiasm carries to his audience. Major Nelson is great because, whatever else he may be, he feels like a real gamer, and is osmeone we can all relate to, because he's just as fanboyish as we are. Miyamoto is great because, aside from his proven history, he is really dedicated to games beyond all else. He'll comment on other things, but whenever you approach him, it's all games, all the time. Reggie is great because he's an excellent marketer. He knows how to sell things, he knows his target market, and he knows how to talk to them. Nothing else.

    Sony fails not because of the position of the people who speak for it, but because of their lack of skill in speaking for their company. They just need a spokesman who A) can relate to the customer and B) can keep their foot out of their mouth, even as the ship is sinking. Nintendo had the same problem with Yamauchi, but even then Miyamoto was still a figurehead that anyone could rally around. Ever notice that a bit into the GC lifespan Yamauchi stopped speaking for the company, even before Iwata was promoted to president? There's a reason for that.

      • I don't normally do shows, but I'm willing to discuss the possibilty for a modest fee.

        Although, just for my future benefit, would you mind explaining exactly what was wrong with my statement? Do you think that you, as a developer, could better speak for the PS3? Are you really that talented & personable that you could reverse the PR trainwreck Sony has conjured up? And are those qualities specifically because you're a developer and not merely a company executive?

  • A Major Nelson? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 05 2006, @07:35PM (#16330587)
    I'm familiar with purple nurples, indian burns, nipple twisters, swirleys, etc., but just what is a Major Nelson, anyhow?

    Uhh, not that I have anything against giving one to Sony. Feel free to give them a few swirleys or whatever until they learn their lesson.
    • Major Nelson [majornelson.com] (aka Larry Hryb) is the Xbox Live Director of Programming. He's also the main community liason for Xbox and runs a personal blog and does weekly podcasts. He's a really great, genuine guy (I've met him on a couple of occasions), and he really is interested in trying to give gamers what they want. Think of him as the human face of the Borg, kinda like 7 of 9 but not as curvacious.
  • This is definately something Sony needs asap.

    Major Nelson's podcast I quite enjoyed for a while around 6 months ago approximately.
    It definately "works" I was thoroughly hyped for the X360 (6 months ago was launch time in Australia, where I am bear in mind)
    It's also great to get MS specific news and information, he presents the podcast well and it's slick.
    I ended up no longer listening to the podcast because it felt too "markety" too me and my interest in the X360 has waned due to other reasons.

    Now on the So

  • Let's not forget the other Sony greats, Like... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Quarters (18322) on Thursday October 05 2006, @07:49PM (#16330729)
    * Applications for the cell have to be written to a high level language or else a world wide system crash could occur. * The PS3 will take your current movies, work with other PS3s and digitally enhance them. It's not upscaling, it's digital aging, like a fine wine. * Real time weapon switching * Genji 2 is based on actual historical Japanese facts. Hit the giant enemy crab's weak spot for MASSIVE DAMAGE!" * Ridge Racer. RIIIIIIIDGE RACEEEER!! Ridge RACER!!
  • I think what Sony is going to get instead is a Full Nelson(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_nelson [wikipedia.org]) from Nintendo and Microsoft.
  • That Sony doesn't have such a person but they only speak in Japan? To Japanese gamers?

    The Japanese seem to
    Who is Xbox's Japanese leading man??? Japan is a market about as big as the U.S. right?
    • Who is Xbox's Japanese leading man???
      I don't know his real name but his GT is "Strawberry".

      Japan is a market about as big as the U.S. right?
      I can't find any real figures but my impression is that it's somewhat smaller, but not hugely so.
  • Why Sony Needs a 'Major ...what? [slashdot.org]'
  • "The PS3 isn't designed to lean towards games." A million Sony fanboys cried out in terror and then were silenced. Right here: http://games.slashdot.org/games/05/05/25/1758219.s html?tid=233&tid=212 [slashdot.org]

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by DrXym (126579)
      Good. If I spend $500 on something (or $400), I want something that can do more than play games. As the PS3 looks from all impressions to be able to play music, pictures, and video clips, and to stream them throughout the house if you wish and have a web browser, and play HD content, and support bluetooth & USB devices, and still be a kick ass console, I'd say the thing is going to do very well. I expect that Sony intends to gain revenues not just from games but from bluray disks, and music & video
        • UMD is fine for games, it failed miserably for video because Sony thought they could sell UMDs for more than DVDs. Utter stupidity. I couldn't care less that it's a proprietary format (all console discs are proprietary to some extent to prevent piracy), but I'd have to be insane to pay 20 euros for a movie than I can buy for 10 on DVD. On the plus side, the PSP has excellent support for playing music and videos so you can rip and play your own content.

          I expect that Sony would love people to buy movies onl

  • Major Nelson? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Megane (129182) on Thursday October 05 2006, @11:51PM (#16332709)
    Hell, I doubt if even Jeannie can help Sony out of the mess they're in now.
  • Forget that!

    Sony needs a Full Nelson... RRRrggh!!

  • Sony doesn't need somebody to make the fanboys happy. Sony needed to (1) get their box into the stores in volume by Xmas (2) at a price comparable to the competition and (3) with some games that were visibly better than anything on the PS2. So far they've blown (1) and (2). We'll have to wait and see about (3).

  • I thought it was Admiral [wikipedia.org]?

  • lol (Score:3, Funny)

    by hb253 (764272) on Friday October 06 2006, @07:54AM (#16335095)
    <Larry Hagman voice ON/>

    Jeannie!!!!!

    <Larry Hagman voice OFF/>

  • Sony Needs an American Spokesperson (Score:3, Insightful)

    by tbannist (230135) on Friday October 06 2006, @08:46AM (#16335639)
    I suspect that Sony doesn't specifically need a "Major Nelson" but rather that they need an "American Major Nelson". I think much of what Sony's talking heads say makes sense from a Japanese point of view while they just appear dumb from an American point of view. Sony says "It's not a game machine, it's an entertainment machine" and the American audience only hears "It's not a game machine".

  • Wrong Title (Score:4, Funny)

    by Ctrl-Z (28806) <tim.timcoleman@com> on Friday October 06 2006, @12:52PM (#16339035) Homepage Journal
    Sony doesn't need a 'Major Nelson'. What they need is a 'Full Nelson [wikipedia.org]'.
    • I agree that the PS3 may eventually be as successful as the PS2 but when the PS2 launched in Japan it sold 980,000 in the first two days. How many are getting shipped to Japan for launch this time? 100,000? It sure is off to a slow start.

    • Re:I'll Take 100+ Million Consoles Over FUD (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Irish_Samurai (224931) on Thursday October 05 2006, @08:30PM (#16331177)
      A) Astroturfing shouldn't be done as an AC. I know - I employ astroturfers as a job function.

      B) Read my previous post [slashdot.org] on why Sony should worry about its fanbase. While completely anecdotal - it is nonetheless the truth about a growing contingent of Sony gamers.

      C)Sony does need a human voice. The targeted demographic for game machines is now the 25-30 year old grouping. We have enough disposable income to make these purchases and also have the biggest interest in them. We use blogs and 3rd party information sources to evaluate our purchases. The days of big media dictating consumption are coming to an end. Second wave gamers(read:people who had PS1's during their early teens)look up to their older siblings and hip media (read:non large corporation) sources for information.

      While I can understand your references to previous attempts at FUD and misinformation, this is not the case on this turn. The field is wide open. Nintendo is betting on evolving gaming with a novel, and unfulfilled, interface with a lower price. Microsoft is offering a unified online experience with next gen resources. What does Sony have to offer to differentiate itself? Final Fantasy XIII?

      Let's be real here. While Sony and Nintendo haven't released product yet, making all of these discussions academic at best, there is a real reason for concern. Microsoft has a head start. Nintendo has a better price and unique functionality to overcome it technical (in the relative) shortcomings.

      First party development is not significant. Almost all games are cross platform. It would be a bad business decision to do otherwise. Final Fantasy games are exclusive, but they are changing their formula with their last (next) PS2 outing- FF XII, what are the reprocussions of that move? We don't know.

      There are too many variables up in the air to call out the naysayers as fools, they have legitimate arguments this time. This is an admitted Sony fanboi saying this.

      From the press that I have read, and the information I have been able to gather through my own research, Sony's saving grace may be that a significant chunk of Japanese 3rd party developers don't want to give Microsoft an advantage in their national video game market.

      Let's let it play out before we begin the vitriol.
      • Let's let it play out before we begin the vitriol.

        Wasn't that a big part of his goddamn point...?

        Anyway... Historically, all the stupid bickering and fighting leading up to console releases has meant fuck all.

        • Umm...no. He was just spouting off Sony fanboi diatribe, making vitriol a large part of his post.
          • Pointing out FUD from past releases, and comparing it to now, is "Sony fanboi* diatribe" and vitriol?

            Interesting.

            And then you continued on and on about how Sony is doomed... and then at the end say "Let's let it play out...?"

            Interesting.

            * Please don't use that ridiculous spelling. It is quite irritating.

            Basically what we have is MS and Nintendo pulling out all the marketing tricks, and Sony doing its best to ignore the vitriol... Every goddamn story posted by Zonk is full of anti-Sony FUD and vitriol, yet
            • BTW, I find it extremely interesting* that supposed nerds(ie. /.ers) are calling for more marketing... When did it happen that supposed "nerds" needed marketing to base decisions on?

              On one hand, we have MS, who has stuffed everything they could, sans a monster of a power brick, inside a case with similar dimensions as the PS3. 3 CPU cores, a monster GPU. Running a port of Windows XP, part of MS's testbed for their DRM efforts, no less. On the other, we have Sony, who stuffed similarly specced crap insid
            • You need a reading comprehension course.

              I never said Sony was doomed, I said there was reason for legitimate concern. I also acknowledged that product hasn't been released yet, so the arguments were acedemic.

              The vitriol statements were refering to the choice use of colorful language.

              The fanboi* reference was to the head in the sand attitude that the poster was displaying. There are real issues to be concerned about, and they can be discussed in a manner thats not FUD.

              Jesus, people here just like to read the
              • You need a reading comprehension course.

                So do you. The OP was quite mild mannered considering, labelling any of it vitriol was pretty extreme, IMNSHO.

                The vitriol statements were refering to the choice use of colorful language.

                Because he used the word "bullshit?" That's hardly colorful. His choice to use a colloquial tone and language in his written response to an article lacking any sort of professionalism is quite appropriate. And his criticism is perfectly justified in response to the absolutely endle
                • That is laughably ridiculous. First party development is not significant? That is absolute folly!

                  Yeah, it is a pretty ridiculous statement. I really should have written "First party development is not as significant"

                  Because as you stated, third party dev is what makes things happen.
    • I've heard of this, it's called battered fanboy syndrome. It's ok to talk now, you're in a safe place. Where did Sony touch you? Are there any bruises? Oh, I see; they used a sack full of oranges.
    • What Sony really needs is for Apple to buy up most of their consumer electronics/hardware divisions. Apple (Jobs) has a unified (sometimes a bubble of distorted reality) vision of delivering a product in hardware AND software, and keeping the unified architecture as it adds on and obsoletes your new fancy 6-months old hardware (as both do a lot of).

      If anything, Apple IS Sony without the massive hardware clout nor resources, and without Sony's massive software integration blindspot. Just look at iTV; anoth
    • Exactly. If sony was going to copy something from microsoft I would suggest they spend their money on buying slashdot editors like microsoft has.

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