Hirai: We're the "official" industry leader News
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Robert Purchese
Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai has dismissed Microsoft and Nintendo as competitors because he sees PlayStation as the "official" industry leader.
"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.
"It's difficult to talk about Nintendo, because we don't look at their console as being a competitor. They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things.
"And with the Xbox - again, I can't come up with one word to fit. You need a word that describes something that lacks longevity," he added with a laugh.
Brandishing Sony's commitment to The Ten Year Plan, Hirai said he wants customers to feel confident their PlayStation console will not "fall by the wayside in five years" - a milestone Microsoft has yet to overcome, he pointed out.
"And," offered Hirai, "unless things go really bad, there's no way that at the end of a life cycle our competition is going have a higher install base."
Hirai also addressed the complex architecture of the PS3, which developers have openly struggled to get to grips with.
"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?" explained Hirai.
He picked God of War to show gameplay changing during long life of the PS2, and said that sort of learning curve will be the same with PS3.
"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.
Wrapping things up, Hirai said the PlayStation 3 "won't radically change" over the next few years in the same way the New Xbox Experience revamped the competition.
He hopes PlayStation Home will help there, by growing to a point where one type of consumer buys the PS3 solely for the virtual world, before discovering that there are are some games on the games console.
"We want to expand the demographics from just a videogaming audience to something that's a little bit more massive," Hirai concluded.
You can read the full interview in the February issue of Official PlayStation Magazine.
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andywilkie35
20/01/09 @ 14:24
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""And with the Xbox - again, I can't come up with one word to fit. You need a word that describes something that lacks longevity," he added with a laugh."
*Sigh* |
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kingnothing12
20/01/09 @ 14:26
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but sir you loosing loads of money..
LA LA LA im not listening LA LA LA Also your multiplatform titles suck in comparison to your competitors LA LA LA im not listening LA LA LA your in third fucking place and thats the way its gonna stay ....im still not listening |
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PlugMonkey
20/01/09 @ 14:27
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your in third fucking place and thats the way its gonna stay
"Maybe in YOUR world. Not in MY world. La la la la la!" |
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""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?" explained Hirai."
Pfft. Y'know, I'd count myself as something of a Sony fanboy, and I do like my PS3, but that comment right there, is just pure stupidity. I'm talking like George W Bush levels of stupidity. /Facepalms /Sighs /Gets back to work. |
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"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?" explained Hirai."
Concentrate on gameplay? Innovate? (Damn, beaten to it)
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most recently on 20/01/09 @ 14:28
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After reading this I thought "how on earth can someone who talks shit like this be in charge of a company as big as Sony?"
Then I realised that it makes sense considering how poorly the PS3 is doing and why they'll never be able to catch Nintendo and Microsoft. Silly bastard, I feel sorry for the poor cunt. He was probably dribbling all over the place whilst giving the interview. |
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PlugMonkey
20/01/09 @ 14:29
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This bit just gets funnier everytime I read it:
"They're a different world (the real world?), and we operate in our world (the Land of Make Believe?) - that's the kind of way I look at things." |
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kingnothing12
20/01/09 @ 14:33
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I jus love the way he thinks, even though they're loosing millions, loosing all their exclusives and still trailing behind M$ and Nintendo he still has the balls to say that they are the official leader in the industry lmao
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>You need a word that describes something that lacks longevity
PS3? >We don't provide the 'easy to program for' console that [developers] want, because 'easy to program for' What????? That must be a fake comment. Seriously.. how do people like that get a job? Ass kissing? If I said that to my boss I would be fired in a second.
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 20/01/09 @ 14:38
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FenderMaster
20/01/09 @ 14:35
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funny stuff!!
his explanation for why the PS3 is difficult to programme for in particular, makes NO FUCKING SENSE!! Ah well, i do't really care as long as there's fgood games to play!! I'd rather have the third place console with loads of great games, than the first place console with nothing but shovelware... |
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lmao im gonna pitch a new film francise to g.lucas its called CONSOLE WARS !
the series goes a bit like this Console Wars I - the xbot menance Console Wars II - Attack of the sony clones Console Wars III - Revenge of the xbots Console Wars IV- A new hope Console Wars V- Microsoft strike back Console Wars VI- Return of the Sony Francise ! A long time ago on a far far away game website ...... the console wars raged on the planet of eurogamer !!! - dramtics music follows- |
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the_dudefather
20/01/09 @ 14:36
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I gather these PR talk stories are like the 'EU BANS FUN' style stories in the Sun followed by everyone fussing and shouting for a few minutes when they read it
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"""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"
Yes, why would you want developers to be able to take advantage of a machine you've manufactured? I think Sony just always wants to be able to hang that "wait until next year" carrot out there for everyone to keep chasing. Possibly one of the single most idiotic things said since this generation began. |
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Won't anyone defend him? Quote sales figures for some obscure region? Bring up the Cell? The fact that it's not been out as long as competitors? I'm not defending him, he's a moron. All that is irrelevant since Hirai is living in some alternate universe where he's not talking bollocks.
Do you think he thinks he's in the Matrix if he says "We're the winners!" with enough conviction it'll become reality? |
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BTW Sony will include this programming API in their next PS. Just to make sure devs have something to do.
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He hopes PlayStation Home will help there, by growing to a point where one type of consumer buys the PS3 solely for the virtual world, before discovering that there are are some games on the games console.
Unless he is courting some fuck awful stupid customers. I'm not sure how an environment whose sole function seems to be leg humping is gonna sell even a single PS3! |
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BillyBrush
20/01/09 @ 14:50
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It's Official!
we put maze puzzle in front of all the power, so that developers can't unlock the puzzle until 5 years, pwoviding us with another 5 years exxtra power in the backend!....this is how it works stupid official magazine readers, honest, beleive it....they don't get better at developing more game on same power...nooo...cos we hid it, they find it, the hidden powa...banzai! |
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@Dizzy:
I prefer Whitespace and Lolcode :) Also, as a programmer who codes for the PS3 on a daily basis I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Kaz for his appreciation of game developers. Wanker. |
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ryohazuki1983
20/01/09 @ 14:51
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"They're a different world, and we operate in our world - that's the kind of way I look at things."
LOL, everybody is no1 in their "own world". Reality is a different matter...... |
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Petulant_Radish
20/01/09 @ 14:51
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Cilit Bang is good, but not as good as plain old vinegar. Who’d have thought it?
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BillyBrush
20/01/09 @ 14:57
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@Radish
Barry Scott does not lie or overhype Cillit Bang in any way, he's not saying in a couple of years that coin will be clean because Cillit Bang has untapped potential...no, he say Bang!, and the dirt is gone Do not being Barry Scott into this |
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Norfolk'n'Clue
20/01/09 @ 14:57
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"And," offered Hirai, "unless things go really bad, there's no way that at the end of a life cycle our competition is going have a higher install base."
/Hirai sticks head in sand. |
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Petulant_Radish
20/01/09 @ 15:01
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@Billy
Hey hey hey, I was not calling Barry Scott’s integrity into call here. I for one was initially amazed at the cleaning prowess of Cilit Bang, it cleaned through worktop grease like nothing other. Bathroom stains vanished under it’s militant foam. But then one day an old witch cackled vinegar at me while I sat on my toilet. At it occurred to me I should try it on my shower’s water stained screen door, where previously Barry Scott’s champion had failed, vinegar prevailed, BOOMSHANKAH! Who gives a fuck about consoles, cleaning products are where it’s that, schizzle. |
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"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?" explained Hirai."
What a stupid, stupid, stupid thing to say. Stupid. |
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jack_klugman
20/01/09 @ 15:07
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Hirai, the two "official" metrics of success are sales and profit. How is the PlayStation brand doing on those two fronts, both in terms of hardware and software, compared to your TWO DIRECT COMPETITORS, Microsoft and Nintendo?
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While I'm more than happy with my PS3, I can't help but remember the hours Sony spent at past E3's. reeling off chart after diagram after graph of PS2 installled user base data, when all I wanted to see was PS2 game previews. But I guess it's worth crowing about when you're out in front.
So in all actuallity, Kaz should just STFU until they attain that level of success again, or until he's something sensible to say. |
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Kaz: I've got it...
Sony Board: What, what? tell us Kaz, we need your leadership, your vision. Tell us! KAz: I'm going to talk shit for ten years then we can hit Microsoft and Nintendo for massive damage... Sony board: We don't understand... Kaz: No, YOU don't understand! Sony Board: Yes, we don't understand... Kaz: RIIIIDDDDGGGGE RRRAACCCER! Sony Board (whisper): He's lost it. Kaz: RIIIIDDDDGGGGE RRRAACCCER! Fuck off Kaz. |
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It's not only moronic, if this is in fact Sony politics it is very disturbing. If you look at the movie industry, major innovative and artistic leaps were made in the 1960's. This was because cheap, lightweight equipment was invented, making it possible for a lot more people to make movies, making experiments less risky because of lower costs and making it possible to film everywhere because of the less demanding equipment. The moment technology becomes more accessible, innovation grows, and what he is basically saying here is that Sony has been holding back innovation with one hand, just as it has promoted it with the other. And I'm sure Factor 5 and Free Radical are delighted at these remarks.
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mrmonkey1980
20/01/09 @ 15:10
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You have to give the guy credit for putting a positive spin (or trying) on the obvious fact that they are losing the console war. And I could be inclined to agree with that he says if there was any chance that they aren't just going to make a PS4 in 5 years time and render PS3 near obsolete.
Truth is PS majorly fubar-ed their chances this generation. They really should have thought about developers when making the console. It's like making a technically perfect movie but forgetting to engage the viewer's emotions or intelligence. |
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