Joystiq reports that Chairman and group CEO for Sony Computer Entertainment Ken Kutaragi is retiring as of June 19th. The Sony reshuffling of executives late last year left Mr. Kutaragi out of the PS3 nitty-gritty, and one could imagine led to his decision to leave the organization. From SCEI's official statement: "[Mr. Kutaragi] stated that, in the six months since the appointment of Kazuo Hirai as President in December, the new generation of management, led by Mr. Hirai, has continued to develop. With the March introduction of PS3 in Europe completing the successful launch of PS3 worldwide, Mr. Kutaragi has identified SCE's Annual Shareholders' meeting in June as the ideal timing to pass on the torch to the new generation of management. Mr. Kutaragi will now apply his extensive technological knowledge and leadership skills to take on new challenges beyond the world of PlayStation."
What's the true meaning though? Does this mean that Ken was pushed out because of some of the more famous gaffs that he and others made leading up to the launch of the PS3?
It's a bit of a coincidence for him to leave just after the PS3 is confirmed as a total failure (full international release and still way behind the competitors). Clearly shows that inside Sony they're well aware they have a serious problem, and the hilarious press releases about the PS3 are a miserable attempt at damage control, and not simply corporate arrogance.
Consider their fortunes of late, he should be glad they're not making him commit sepuku.
I was envisioning an expensive Sony-brand proprietary Wikazashi(sp?), a blade shorter than a katana that is especially for suicide. That seems more appropriate.
Either that, or he'll be assigned to staring out of a window forever, or maybe that weird white cube-room we saw in the bizarre PS3 commercials.
The sword is called a Wakizashi [wikipedia.org] and it is not repeat not especially for suicide. If you can believe wikipedia the name literally translates as "to wear a sword at one's side" and not "to disembowel oneself to relieve population pressure."
Wakizashi is the term. It was used typically as a shorter alternative/backup to the katana. When indoors, swinging space is limited, thus the need of a shorter blade.
Leaves to spend more time with family - Flat out quit, had to be begged to give some kind of notice Leaves to take on new challenges - "There's the door, don't let it hit you on the ass."
that's because it is Insightful - there are some people out there (i don't know where but i am sure there are) that don't understand them.. we might be able to find this if sony every lets us look at the list of people that acutaly bought a PS3 and didn't ebay it..
Yeah, that's not "Funny," and it's not even "Insightful," it's "Informative."
This is a code phrase for "This guy did a really lousy job and we're finally happy to be rid of him."
If you follow college football at all, this kind of thing is normal. You learn that, for example, the administration making an official statement to the effect of "We stand behind Coach Winsnogames 100%" is pretty much a guarantee that the guy is either about to be fired, or will be if he doesn't win it all the next year. "I committed to this school because of their outstanding academic support" means that someone will take the tests for him. And "I committed to Texas A&M" means the athlete's only committed to that school until a real school offers him a scholarship.
I mean seriously... A&M's had what, 6 decommits already?:)
The PS3 is an amazing machine technically, but it's too hard to develop games on it and unfortunately people still think of the PS3 as primarily a gaming machine, even though Ken and Sony execs would prefer they didn't. And bottom line is people aren't willing spend that much money for a gaming machine; especially one with games whose quality doesn't scale with the extra cost.
What's scary is that they knew the strategy wouldn't work: they'd tried it before with the PSX, which was a PlayStation with media functionality. Consumers didn't take to it because they didn't want to spend a ton of money to get features they wouldn't use.
A visibly distressed Mr. Kutaragi was seen crawling from head offices clutching his crotch. Meanwhile, a victorious looking Mr. Hirai gave an applauded speech at the press statement, explaining how he had been inspired by a battle that took actually place in ancient Japan, and how his new strategies are based on japanese history.
You know, neither one of those gaffes were uttered by Kutaragi. "Riiiidge Racer!" was Kaz Harai's, and the "Massive Damage" thing was a representative of the company that makes Genji. (Who's name escapes me at the moment.) What Kutaragi actually said when he stepped down was, "Inside this body, is powerful and elegant system!" The reporters weren't quite sure how to take it until he explained that he was working at Sony for far "too cheap". "Is it not nonsense to compare the charge for dinner at the company
This could be a stretch, but at the moment GTA4 seems to be the next killer app that will move it into the public's hands - regardless of cost. The first inkling I had that GTA wasn't just another series was hearing an audience respond - loudly - during the Daily Show back in 2001 during a segment they showed. The sales of couse spoke for themselves. Now - if - and we're talking a big if, IF the Sony PS3 version is appreciably better looking than the Xbox360 version - then I don't see why people wouldn't st
Well, there could also be branding carry-over - people say "GTA" in the same breath they say "Playstation". That REALLY sounds like a stretch - but Hilary Clinton and others keep saying the two together as well so you have that out there in the public. I think the fact there hasn't been a new GTA game (apart from the "stories") in 3 years and a new engine in 6 years, is going to have some kind-of traction. And since I don't expect massive changes in the gameplay - it's going to be the grapics that sell. IF
Now - if - and we're talking a big if, IF the Sony PS3 version is appreciably better looking than the Xbox360 version - then I don't see why people wouldn't step up to the plate to get the most capable GTA platform available much in the same way gamers shop for PC's.
Because it won't change the gameplay? It won't look dramatically better, which is what it would really take.
There are few games that have the power to draw people to a console even when they are exclusives if that console doesn't have a life o
Mr. Kutaragi will now apply his extensive technological knowledge and leadership skills to one of our competitors so, hopefully, they can fail even beyond the world of PlayStation.
Say what youy want about his gaffs with the PS3, but keep in mind that the primary factor that ruined the PS3 was the insistence that it include a Blu-Ray drive, most likely driven from the Media-oriented Mr. Stringer. Kutaragi was forced to support a product that was flawed because its development was driven (and delayed) by motivations that had nothing to do with gamers, and everything to do with promoting a new DRM scheme.
Remove the 6 month delay necessitated by adding the Blu-Ray drive, as well as the expense, and the obvious maneuver to push Blu-Ray into homes using fanboys and loyal customers, and it's an entirely different story... Sony still has a problem with the gaming experience, and the whole fiasco over feedback controllers, but those become minor issues. In making DRM so central to the PS3's strategy (or should I say, making the PS3 central to Sony's invasive DRM strategy) after Sony's horrible anti-consumer behavior primarily in its media divisions has made many of its loyal customers angry and resolute in not supporting the company. It's made them consciously avoid all things "Sony" - from CDs that may install rootkits that open security holes on your PCs, to movies that take extreme measures to eliminate fair use of customers to back up their own movies (while pirates release those same movies on the net days or even weeks before they are released for retail). Until Blu-Ray is added to the mix, one can simply argue that the PS3 is an island in the sea of things wrong with Sony as a corporate citizen; with Blu-Ray, however, the PS3 becomes yet another pawn - a cynical move in an agenda to control consumers' rights and increase control in media markets.
So, here we are, months after the PS3's dismal launch, and we all can agree, game quality issue aside, the PS3 would have sold much better without the Blu-Ray drive inflating the price. All of Ken's crazy words would have merely been a sidenote in a frenzied battle of consoles. It's launch would have occurred 6 months BEFORE the Wii, striking quicker and likely deeper into the market that the Wii got exposure to on equal terms with last holiday season. Can you blame Kutaragi for it all? Would he have agreed to include the Blu-Ray drive if he had not gotten incredible pressure from higher up?
It's no coincidence that Sony's leaders are media people - their media division makes money by the tankerful. What nobody seems to grasp is that those profits are not thanks to those same executives that wield so much political power within Sony's corporate arena.... media sells these days, even crap media. The world is hungry for movies and music - I suppose you could say they at least didn't make so many boneheaded moves that they dragged the company down, but even that's not entirely true - yet they hold the power, and likely forced Blu-Ray upon the PS3.
Ah well... they sweep Ken out the door and play it up as a "shake up" between the lines, it looks like SCE is making moves to improve the PS3 situation, but in reality, it does nothing to solve the underlying problem of a system tied down with a 50-ton boat anchor. It will satisfy the stockholders, many of whome have no idea when it comes to gaming consoles, only that that division has lost money for the last 5 years and is losing money at a rapid pace (even though others might realize it's a strategy to lose money on every PS3 sold).
I have a PS3, and as a game system, I think it sucks. Over 50% of the games currently out for the system are made by SEGA, and each and every one of them I hate. In fact, I find it funny that the only highly rated games for the system are ports from successful PC games. The reviews are high, but they all say the same thing - "If you played this on PC, there's nothing new here." So why shell out $60 more for something I played 1-2 years ago?
I'll buy GT5, White Knight (if we see it here), FF XIII... that's
I think someone at SEGA understands Schadenfreude [wikipedia.org]. If it wasn't for Sony they'd still be in the hardware business.
Of course this comment parallels both the Xbox and 3DO though in both cases some of their best exclusives were also ported to the PC (Gex,Halo,etc).
I have a PS3, and as a game system, I think it sucks. Over 50% of the games currently out for the system are made by SEGA, and each and every one of them I hate.
In fact, I find it funny that the only highly rated games for the system are port
The thing is, the games were ported *TO* the PC, not *FROM* the PC.
I agree that the system is difficult to program for, and it's a shame they are losing their exclusives. IMO those are where the games and hardware could shine. Rather than program for the lowest common denominator, they could focus all their energy on getting the most out of the awkward APIs and doing something great on the PS3.
What it boils down to is this - until a truly next gen exclusive comes out (see my previous post for the ones
All consoles suck for the first year, why whould the PS3 be an exception? When the PS2 launched you had Ridge Racer 5, Tekken Tag Tournament and little else, but that turned out OK in the end.
There was less competition in the prior generation. Dreamcast was killed at least in part by Sony's fraudulent claims of performance. (Not only could the system actually not push as many triangles as they originally claimed, but it CERTAINLY couldn't push that many triangles in anything but a demo.) Gamecube was still
There was less competition in the prior generation. Dreamcast was killed at least in part by Sony's fraudulent claims of performance. (Not only could the system actually not push as many triangles as they originally claimed, but it CERTAINLY couldn't push that many triangles in anything but a demo.)
I think you over state the case. The PS2 can indeed push a lot more poly's then the DC but they are of a somewhat lower quality. You'll see in games like FFXII that it is indeed a decent machine. Compare it to a
I'll just get branded fan-boy for this, but I don't think the PSP is any better looking than the SP or DS... Only difference is the PSP seems to have a slightly nicer screen and is black.
As far as the new consoles go.. I think I'll only be getting a Wii (when I can find one..) I can't stand the evil empire, and the PS3 is just.. well, too expensive. That leaves Nintendo.
I'll just get branded fan-boy for this, but I don't think the PSP is any better looking than the SP or DS... Only difference is the PSP seems to have a slightly nicer screen and is black.
Actually, I agree. If the PSP is 'teh Sexy'... then apparently it just isn't my type. I like the sleek industrial design of the DS Lite over the PSP, and even taking the games out of consideration (which we know is the reason to buy one in the first place) I simply think the DS Lite is a much better design.
Well I guess the GBA SP design is up for debate and I'd certainly follow if it's more about the games than the design, but come-on, the PSP look WAY better than the GBA SP (or DS for that matter).
I'm not saying the PSP doesn't look good. I'm saying it looks like a toy. So does the DS, but not the DS lite. The DS lite and the GBA SP look like they could be travel alarm clocks or something, except for the much better fit and finish than you usually find those sorts of things with. They look like just another
The PS3 isn't an exception. People are really hot to call it a failure though... and while I think the machine is great, with the games available right now, it most certainly is not a game console in my eyes.
Meaning? (Score:1)
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"Here, YOU start bailing water. I'll take my chance in the ocean."
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Yokoi? (Score:3, Funny)
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I was envisioning an expensive Sony-brand proprietary Wikazashi(sp?), a blade shorter than a katana that is especially for suicide. That seems more appropriate.
Either that, or he'll be assigned to staring out of a window forever, or maybe that weird white cube-room we saw in the bizarre PS3 commercials.
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I think something should be missing... (Score:4, Funny)
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I suppose it depends on your definition of success.
Re:I think something should be missing... (Score:4, Funny)
Yep, but so did the Challenger.
Parent
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Yep, but so did the Challenger.
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No, what I meant was that both the PS3 and Challenger technically "launched," but were equally unsuccessful. See also: "Titanic."
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By that comparison, 3D0, the Sega CD, Atari Jaguar, and the Intellivision II all had successful launches.
Re: Long live the Vasa! (Score:2)
The Vasa! [www.abc.se]
Well, it's about time. (Score:2)
Rob
"His decision to leave the organization?" (Score:5, Insightful)
Anyway, thanks to Ken, for one of the most entertaining business dramas I've seen since 3dfx.
Re:"His decision to leave the organization?" (Score:5, Insightful)
Leaves to spend more time with family - Flat out quit, had to be begged to give some kind of notice
Leaves to take on new challenges - "There's the door, don't let it hit you on the ass."
Parent
Mod parent up (Score:1, Insightful)
Wow. Just wow. If only I had mod points.
If I did, however, you'd probably get "Insightful" rather than mere "Funny".
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Re:"His decision to leave the organization?" (Score:4, Interesting)
This is a code phrase for "This guy did a really lousy job and we're finally happy to be rid of him."
If you follow college football at all, this kind of thing is normal. You learn that, for example, the administration making an official statement to the effect of "We stand behind Coach Winsnogames 100%" is pretty much a guarantee that the guy is either about to be fired, or will be if he doesn't win it all the next year. "I committed to this school because of their outstanding academic support" means that someone will take the tests for him. And "I committed to Texas A&M" means the athlete's only committed to that school until a real school offers him a scholarship.
I mean seriously... A&M's had what, 6 decommits already?
Parent
Heads continuing to roll at Sony (Score:2)
I guess Gabe Newell (head honcho at Valve) had it right all along [destructoid.com].
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My question is.... (Score:5, Funny)
RIIIIDGE RACER (Score:5, Funny)
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A visibly distressed Mr. Kutaragi was seen crawling from head offices clutching his crotch. Meanwhile, a victorious looking Mr. Hirai gave an applauded speech at the press statement, explaining how he had been inspired by a battle that took actually place in ancient Japan, and how his new strategies are based on japanese history.
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The reporters weren't quite sure how to take it until he explained that he was working at Sony for far "too cheap". "Is it not nonsense to compare the charge for dinner at the company
Goodbye Krazy Ken... (Score:1)
This is not the first time Kaz has replaced Ken. Remember, remember, the 30th of November [wikipedia.org]
GTA4 (Score:1)
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Because it won't change the gameplay? It won't look dramatically better, which is what it would really take.
There are few games that have the power to draw people to a console even when they are exclusives if that console doesn't have a life o
Shareholders (Score:5, Insightful)
aka. poisoning the water supply. (Score:2)
That's me birthday! (Score:2)
Gunpei Koto (Score:3, Interesting)
Ken's a scapegoat (Score:4, Insightful)
Remove the 6 month delay necessitated by adding the Blu-Ray drive, as well as the expense, and the obvious maneuver to push Blu-Ray into homes using fanboys and loyal customers, and it's an entirely different story... Sony still has a problem with the gaming experience, and the whole fiasco over feedback controllers, but those become minor issues. In making DRM so central to the PS3's strategy (or should I say, making the PS3 central to Sony's invasive DRM strategy) after Sony's horrible anti-consumer behavior primarily in its media divisions has made many of its loyal customers angry and resolute in not supporting the company. It's made them consciously avoid all things "Sony" - from CDs that may install rootkits that open security holes on your PCs, to movies that take extreme measures to eliminate fair use of customers to back up their own movies (while pirates release those same movies on the net days or even weeks before they are released for retail). Until Blu-Ray is added to the mix, one can simply argue that the PS3 is an island in the sea of things wrong with Sony as a corporate citizen; with Blu-Ray, however, the PS3 becomes yet another pawn - a cynical move in an agenda to control consumers' rights and increase control in media markets.
So, here we are, months after the PS3's dismal launch, and we all can agree, game quality issue aside, the PS3 would have sold much better without the Blu-Ray drive inflating the price. All of Ken's crazy words would have merely been a sidenote in a frenzied battle of consoles. It's launch would have occurred 6 months BEFORE the Wii, striking quicker and likely deeper into the market that the Wii got exposure to on equal terms with last holiday season. Can you blame Kutaragi for it all? Would he have agreed to include the Blu-Ray drive if he had not gotten incredible pressure from higher up?
It's no coincidence that Sony's leaders are media people - their media division makes money by the tankerful. What nobody seems to grasp is that those profits are not thanks to those same executives that wield so much political power within Sony's corporate arena.... media sells these days, even crap media. The world is hungry for movies and music - I suppose you could say they at least didn't make so many boneheaded moves that they dragged the company down, but even that's not entirely true - yet they hold the power, and likely forced Blu-Ray upon the PS3.
Ah well... they sweep Ken out the door and play it up as a "shake up" between the lines, it looks like SCE is making moves to improve the PS3 situation, but in reality, it does nothing to solve the underlying problem of a system tied down with a 50-ton boat anchor. It will satisfy the stockholders, many of whome have no idea when it comes to gaming consoles, only that that division has lost money for the last 5 years and is losing money at a rapid pace (even though others might realize it's a strategy to lose money on every PS3 sold).
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In fact, I find it funny that the only highly rated games for the system are ports from successful PC games. The reviews are high, but they all say the same thing - "If you played this on PC, there's nothing new here." So why shell out $60 more for something I played 1-2 years ago?
I'll buy GT5, White Knight (if we see it here), FF XIII... that's
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Of course this comment parallels both the Xbox and 3DO though in both cases some of their best exclusives were also ported to the PC (Gex,Halo,etc).
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There was less competition in the prior generation. Dreamcast was killed at least in part by Sony's fraudulent claims of performance. (Not only could the system actually not push as many triangles as they originally claimed, but it CERTAINLY couldn't push that many triangles in anything but a demo.) Gamecube was still
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I think you over state the case. The PS2 can indeed push a lot more poly's then the DC but they are of a somewhat lower quality. You'll see in games like FFXII that it is indeed a decent machine. Compare it to a
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As far as the new consoles go.. I think I'll only be getting a Wii (when I can find one..) I can't stand the evil empire, and the PS3 is just.. well, too expensive. That leaves Nintendo.
Re: DS Lite FTW. (Score:2)
Actually, I agree. If the PSP is 'teh Sexy'... then apparently it just isn't my type. I like the sleek industrial design of the DS Lite over the PSP, and even taking the games out of consideration (which we know is the reason to buy one in the first place) I simply think the DS Lite is a much better design.
The GBA SP
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I'm not saying the PSP doesn't look good. I'm saying it looks like a toy. So does the DS, but not the DS lite. The DS lite and the GBA SP look like they could be travel alarm clocks or something, except for the much better fit and finish than you usually find those sorts of things with. They look like just another
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