Not Sony's David Reeves Interview

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Eurogamer: Also on the forum thread, there was quite a lot of goodwill for you personally, which I didn't necessarily expect - not because you're not lovely, you understand, but because gamers are often hostile to console executives. How will you look back on your relationship with the gamers themselves?

David Reeves: Well I've always, you know, whether we've been in Leipzig or E3 where there have been quite a lot of gamers or gamer days and things like that, I've always identified with them, and I will always try to put myself in their position because it's their passion. The Japanese call them 'otaku', and my wife's nephews are both otaku and they often give me the questions before I get them from the gamers - so I can empathise with those people.

Eurogamer: Do you think at this stage people are giving PlayStation 3 enough credit for its achievements?

David Reeves: In the PAL markets, yes, because we are doing well. I think they have. I think the analysts know very very well what's held it back a bit, which is simply the pricing is still an issue.

Eurogamer: Presumably you have one though. I imagine it's got pride of place in your living room next to an enormous Sony television. What's in the disc drive these days?

David Reeves: I've been playing all the Pro Evolution Soccer games with my neighbours.

Eurogamer: Not FIFA then? You haven't switched?

Otaku! Well, not really, but you wouldn't want actual pictures of them.

David Reeves: I have to say - and I shouldn't really say it, because someone from EA's going to read this - but I guess I played Pro Evo from a way back and I'm stuck to it. The neighbours like it as well!

Eurogamer: I had the same thing, although I was converted by the last one. The latest FIFA I would recommend giving a go.

David Reeves: I would have to say, for the FIFA Interactive World Cup, it actually worked very, very well, and thank you to EA for bringing that out.

Eurogamer: Don't worry, I think Peter Moore will let you off that one. So are you the sort of person who plays PSP games on the train? Do you actually get trains, or is it all helicopters and luxury yachts and things like that these days?

David Reeves: I come in on South West Trains. I get the 7.31 from Oxshott station. Well, I have done - I've taken it for the last time, I guess. You do see a lot of PSP users on the train, and sometimes if they're having a problem or they look puzzled I'm tempted to go and sit next to them sometimes and see if I can sort it out for them!

Eurogamer: [Is nudged about making this the final question] I guess the last thing is, what's your favourite memory from your time at Sony?

Someone still believes then!

David Reeves: I'll tell you a very funny story, and it was when I was the managing director in Germany, and it's a funny memory, and it was one of the earliest memories. I was in the sixteenth floor, it was my first day, and I actually hadn't even really properly started. I came in in jeans and a T-shirt and I'd been just moving boxes in and out, and I suppose I looked like the caretaker, and I didn't know her, but [one of my future colleagues], a German lady, she said the ladies' toilets were dirty and could I clean the toilets out for her? I said I'd get round to it.

The next day, we had the first management meeting, and there was I sitting behind the desk, the same face but in a suit, and she was sitting in front of me and saying, 'Mmm, did you clean the toilets?' And then she said, 'Oh by the way David, we need to change to winter tyres, could you help me with that as well?' I knew from that time we'd hired the right people.

There are many other funny stories as well, but that is a funny one. The lasting memory I think is the people, and that we've always managed to have great, great people here, and that I think they've all interacted very, very well with you guys. I think that's been very important. You guys are part of our success.