PS3 Developer Fired For Comments

Next Generation reports on the unfortunate fallout from one PS3 developer's unflattering comments. Early in January, a developer made comments on his feelings regarding the Xbox 360 and its power/design ease vs. the PS3. Thanks to widespread internet reaction, he has been fired from his development position. From the article: "I can't believe how out of control everything got ... It's absolutely absurd how the Internet can take something relatively harmless and turn it into something so insane... Did I knowingly break NDA? I absolutely did not. I would never do that and I would never want to hurt Sony Online. Did I dance in the grey area by even opening my mouth? Yes I did and I was fired for it. So I guess the new rule for me is, don't ever say anything at all about anything. Ever...ever."

He does'nt seem to upset about it.

[giblfiz]

Here's an interview with him about the whole thing:
http://www.ps3week.com/blogs/ps3week.php?title=tit le_6&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 [ps3week.com]

So I'm very fortunate to have all the opportunities I've had. I had four or five job offers the same week I was let go. Ultimately I'll be making even more money, I'll have a better title at the end of my name and I'll be very near the beach. So it's a bit hard to complain I suppose.

And yes, I'm karmawhoring.

The subconscious mind.

[Song for the Deaf]

This has happened to me several times...where I've deleted a relationship, business or otherwise, by being brutally honest about it. The truth is that I always, deep down, wanted the relationship/job to end because I couldn't stand my internal bullshit meter going off every three seconds. Of course the opposite is also true, anything I truly want to be a part of will be afforded all maner of clemency.

Maybe this guy just knew that coming up with games for this thing was going to be an ordeal and his subconscious pre-empted him.

Then again, maybe this guy got fired because he is simply a classic dumbass.

Either way, you're now free to go make those soon-to-be-classic-Xbox-360-games now, former Sony developer guy.

Is he maybe a MS spy?

[Anonymous Coward]

Sent to cause FUD from the inside? ;)

I take a different lesson from this

[aminorex]

Specifically, don't *ever* work for Sony.

Re:Double standards: or, how Slashdot sold out

[Anonymous Coward]

There is a huge gigantic difference between a private entity restricting speech and a government entity restricting speech. Stupidity anyone?

Re:Welcome to the Real World

[Anonymous Coward]

This is true, but it also depends on the envirnment. In Corporate America, yea. Shut up, put your head down and get to work. In the Small Business Market, this is a different story.

I started working for a startup WISP, and was on the front-lines designing, engineering, building, and installing the network. Being in that position, I knew a HELL of LOT MORE than the owner about what was and wasn't going to work. It also helped that my co-worker saw eye to eye on the wireless network implementation, but the point needed to be made that Management DIDN'T know what was best. We made this terribly aware to them as often as possible, with suprisingly little repurcusions, looking back on it now.

Point is, it depends on the environment. And in this guys case, the environment was big. You take a household namebrand like Sony, who is highly visible (on all fronts as of late; see rootkit), and throw out an opinion for all to read out of the NET expecting no repurcussion? Its almost laughable ...

If he really felt such a need to express these opinions, why didn't he express them to his superiors, and those up the ladder? Or is this public expression supposed to lead us to precisely ask this question?

interview with a vampire

[Anonymous Coward]

Should he have kept his mouth shut? Yes.

Is he right about the lack of quality in games coming out for the PS3 compared to the Xbox 360? Yes.

Should his bosses have listened to him and attempted to improve the quality of the product they were working on? Yes.

Did they listen to him? No.

Are the games still going to be shit? Yes.

Did they fire him cause he revealed their incompetance? Yes.

Did he deserve it? Yup.

Do his managers deserve to be fired for hiring people who are producing crap and are going to ruin Sony's image and sales? Yea.

Are they going to be? Nope.

Is this fair? More or less that's the way it is.

Was I going to buy a PS3 before I read this article? No, never had plans to.

Has reading his opinion make any difference for me? Nope, just confirms what I already understood.

Am I buying a 360? Not anytime soon, I've been dumping money into upgrading my computer.

If I had to buy a console, which would I buy? 360.

Does anyone on slashdot give a shit about my self-interview here? No.

Am I that guy? No.

Why are you anonymous then? Cause I'm lazy.

Are you going to stop this? Yes, now.