Kaz Hirai continues to make confounding statements

[Queasy]

Link - My comments interlaced...

Despite the PlayStation 3's quantifiable third place status in the present-gen console war, Sony Computer Entertaiment chairman Kaz Hirai says the numbers don't matter -- the PS3 still maintains "official leadership" in the industry.

"This is not meant in terms of numbers, or who's got the biggest install base, or who's selling most in any particular week or month, but I'd like to think that we continue official leadership in this industry," Hirai told Official PlayStation Magazine, as reported by consumer site Eurogamer.

Based on.....?

Hirai took a dig at Microsoft and its Xbox 360 when asked to describe its competitive position: "You need a word that describes something that lacks longevity," he said, discussing Sony's oft-stated ten-year plan for the PS3 and suggesting its rival would "fall by the wayside in five years."

Somehow, I doubt that. I see the 360 and the PS3 running virtually neck-and-neck, occasionally swapping places, over the next five years. The 360 will continue where the Original Xbox did not because it is a platform that MS can control the costs with...which they couldn't do with the Original Xbox.

As for Nintendo and its market-leading Wii, Hirai said he doesn't see it as competition. "They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things," he said.

It's stupid when some MS Exec says it. It is no less stupid when you say it Kaz.

He also took on frequent accusations that the challenges developers often find in programming for the PS3 represent an obstacle for the console.

"We don't provide the 'easy to program for' console that [developers] want, because 'easy to program for' means that anybody will be able to take advantage of pretty much what the hardware can do, so then the question is what do you do for the rest of the nine-and-a-half years?"

Yes, God forbid you provide the people that make your games an easier way to make games for your console so they can get the games that make your console popular to market faster, better, and less costly.

Hirai suggested the PS3 would see the same kind of software evolution curve that the PlayStation 2 did, as represented by the fact that God of War 2 was noticeably more sophisticated than its predecessor on the same console.

"So it's a kind of - I wouldn't say a double-edged sword - but it's hard to program for, and a lot of people see the negatives of it, but if you flip that around, it means the hardware has a lot more to offer," he said.

And developers who take the time and effort will continue to get more out of the 360 and even the Wii as well...

 

[nakedfrog]

Can't really find any flaws with your comments to his... er... "well-thought out statements"

 

[Slick5150]

He comes from the same line of Sony execs that have the "this is the way we're going to do it and you're going to like it because its the way we're going to do it" mentality. I mean, even the most optimistic of assessments on the PS3's success should be looked at as a disapointment. Sony went from dominating the market with the PS1 & PS2, to being in 3rd place. Yet instead of acknowledging the faults and working to address them, they just make statements like "They're a different world, and we operate in our world" and "We don't provide the 'easy to program for' console that [developers] want, because 'easy to program for' means that anybody will be able to take advantage of pretty much what the hardware can do."

 

[AstroManLuca]

That's some amazing logic he's using there.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Queasy

As for Nintendo and its market-leading Wii, Hirai said he doesn't see it as competition. "They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things," he said.

It's stupid when some MS Exec says it. It is no less stupid when you say it Kaz.

Sorry, but I agree with Kaz (and this random MS Exec you speak of), at least with this go 'round. The next XBOX and Playstation will venture into Wii territory I'm afraid.

 

[oznerol]

WE JUST GOT KAZERIZED

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: Queasy

As for Nintendo and its market-leading Wii, Hirai said he doesn't see it as competition. "They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things," he said.

It's stupid when some MS Exec says it. It is no less stupid when you say it Kaz.

Sorry, but I agree with Kaz (and this random MS Exec you speak of), at least with this go 'round. The next XBOX and Playstation will venture into Wii territory I'm afraid.

Gotta agree with Queasy on this one.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Did Hirai used to consult for the Iraqi information ministry?

 

[DaveSimmons]

I guess Sony's cost-cutting hasn't reached the executive booze supply yet.

"Official leader" ? :roll: My 60GB PS3 is a nice console but Sony is now in third place everywhere except Japan, where it's in second place.

And yes, "being hard to develop for makes it better" is an incredibly stupid thing to say.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Jules

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: Queasy

As for Nintendo and its market-leading Wii, Hirai said he doesn't see it as competition. "They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things," he said.

It's stupid when some MS Exec says it. It is no less stupid when you say it Kaz.

Sorry, but I agree with Kaz (and this random MS Exec you speak of), at least with this go 'round. The next XBOX and Playstation will venture into Wii territory I'm afraid.

Gotta agree with Queasy on this one.

The demographics for the Wii and 360/PS3 are far, far apart. "Different world" seems appropriate. The sales of Wii's don't seem to cut into 360/PS3 sales and vice-versa.

EDIT: With as big as the gaming industry is these days, we need to start realizing that there's room for two different gaming markets. It's not just about one machine ruling all anymore. Once you realize it's 2009 and not 2001, then you'll understand what I'm talking about.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

I don't really consider the Wii as a direct competitor to the 360 or PS3 anymore either....everything else that guy said is LOLZ.

 

[TecHNooB]

I smell a raise.

 

[Kromis]

Fifty bucks that Kaz is on crack!

 

[Dumac]

Why don't they give these guys lessons on what to say and how to say it?

 

[Queasy]

heh


old but still good

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: Queasy
heh


old but still good

Classic Sony arrogance

 

[Baked]

Would you rather he talk shit about his own company and fire everybody due to bad economy? :roll:

Yes, maybe Sony should just advertise the PS3 as a time machine like the Wii so people can replay the same games over and over again, and again. And it's all Sony's fault for not unloading ungodly amounts of money on developers for exclusives, and it's also Sony's fault some developers *cough* Bethesda *cough* decided to be half ass about the PS3 port, skipping the DLC, and put out an unpolished and buggy version for Sony's console. Real nice.

I love how you started a thread just to bash PS3 based on a Sony executive's comments. Keep up the good work.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Baked
I love how you started a thread just to bash PS3 based on a Sony executive's comments. Keep up the good work.

Reread my comments again. I didn't start the thread to bash the PS3. I started the thread to bash Kaz's outlandish comments.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: Baked
Would you rather he talk shit about his own company and fire everybody due to bad economy? :roll:

Yes, maybe Sony should just advertise the PS3 as a time machine like the Wii so people can replay the same games over and over again, and again. And it's all Sony's fault for not unloading ungodly amounts of money on developers for exclusives, and it's also Sony's fault some developers *cough* Bethesda *cough* decided to be half ass about the PS3 port, skipping the DLC, and put out an unpolished and buggy version for Sony's console. Real nice.

I love how you started a thread just to bash PS3 based on a Sony executive's comments. Keep up the good work.

I'd rather they just shut up and put out the games. The whole if you build it they will come. put out the games they will come. Put them out in rapid succession. Would it be nice to have polished games sure, but I don't think sony can hold out and wait. force the consumer choose between the 360 and the ps3 or get them to pick one up. Longer the delays is with exclusive ps3 titles more people are inclined to wait to pick them up. People will either look towards the 360 or continue to buy more titles for the 360.

Yes this was for PSM and he's suppose to put out positive spin but no need for this. Same thing with no need to do their whole value angle. People are not gonna being thinking value. they see 199/299 vs. 399. People are not gonna think hmm for a hundred or 200 more I get such and such.

Just lay low, put out the games, hype them(within reason) and let them go to work. Nintendo when they lost their crown didn't go around making stupid remarks. they shut up, took their licks and came back out with the wii and ds and are now killing.

Technically its sony's fault for not buying up developers. They are the ones that didn't want to buy exclusive titles.

 

[Fardringle]

Despite the PlayStation 3's quantifiable third place status in the present-gen console war, Sony Computer Entertaiment chairman Kaz Hirai says the numbers don't matter -- the PS3 still maintains "official leadership" in the industry.

This is my favorite part of the interview. Here's what he's really saying:

"I say we're the best. Since someone important (me) said we're the best, then we must be the best, regardless of the facts about profits, sales numbers, or market share."

As for Nintendo and its market-leading Wii, Hirai said he doesn't see it as competition. "They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things," he said.

While it's true that the PS3 and XBOX360 aren't directly competing for the same customers as the Nintendo, they are competing for dominance in the console market and are clearly lagging behind Nintendo and Microsoft. It's a lot like a basketball coach saying this after their team loses a game by 50 points:

"I know the final score says that we lost, but we really weren't competing for the same points, so we won because we got that one basket that we really wanted."

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: Fardringle

As for Nintendo and its market-leading Wii, Hirai said he doesn't see it as competition. "They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things," he said.

While it's true that the PS3 and XBOX360 aren't directly competing for the same customers as the Nintendo, they are competing for dominance in the console market and are clearly lagging behind Nintendo and Microsoft. It's a lot like a basketball coach saying this after their team loses a game by 50 points:

"I know the final score says that we lost, but we really weren't competing for the same points, so we won because we got that one basket that we really wanted."

:thumbsup:

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Fardringle
While it's true that the PS3 and XBOX360 aren't directly competing for the same customers as the Nintendo, they are competing for dominance in the console market and are clearly lagging behind Nintendo and Microsoft. It's a lot like a basketball coach saying this after their team loses a game by 50 points:

"I know the final score says that we lost, but we really weren't competing for the same points, so we won because we got that one basket that we really wanted."

That's a horrible analogy. A better one would be saying that Nintendo is in another division than the XBOX/PS3, and Sony saying they don't care what Nintendo's dominant record is, because they just want to focus on winning their division right now before thinking about the Super Bowl.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Baked
Would you rather he talk shit about his own company and fire everybody due to bad economy? :roll:

Yes, maybe Sony should just advertise the PS3 as a time machine like the Wii so people can replay the same games over and over again, and again. And it's all Sony's fault for not unloading ungodly amounts of money on developers for exclusives, and it's also Sony's fault some developers *cough* Bethesda *cough* decided to be half ass about the PS3 port, skipping the DLC, and put out an unpolished and buggy version for Sony's console. Real nice.

I love how you started a thread just to bash PS3 based on a Sony executive's comments. Keep up the good work.

:laugh:

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Hirai took a dig at Microsoft and its Xbox 360 when asked to describe its competitive position: "You need a word that describes something that lacks longevity," he said, discussing Sony's oft-stated ten-year plan for the PS3 and suggesting its rival would "fall by the wayside in five years."

Somehow, I doubt that. I see the 360 and the PS3 running virtually neck-and-neck, occasionally swapping places, over the next five years. The 360 will continue where the Original Xbox did not because it is a platform that MS can control the costs with...which they couldn't do with the Original Xbox.

He may actually be right here. MS dropped the first XBox like a rock while, OTOH, Sony supported the PSOne and now/soon the PS2 for [surprise!] about 10 years. That infamous 10 year quote is taken out of context all the time. They didn't mean they wouldn't release a new system for 10 years, but rather that they would support the PS3 for 10 years... and their track record shows exactly that. Of course, the PS1 and PS2 had enourmous install bases that made them financially viable for that long, the PS3 doesn't look as though it will be in the same position, so we'll see how it pans out this time. I'd imagine that Sony is hoping all the people still buying PS2s will be PS3 purchasers down the road.

 

[abaez]

Originally posted by: Baked


Yes, maybe Sony should just advertise the PS3 as a time machine like the Wii so people can replay the same games over and over again, and again.

Yea, cause final fantasy thirteen, god of war three, ratchet and clank (whatever it's on now) are not games that people replay again and again?