Phil Harrison leaves Sony

By Tom Bramwell Published 25 February, 2008

Kaz Hirai assumes responsibilities.

Phil Harrison will resign as president of SCE Worldwide Studios on 29th February 2008, Sony has just announced.

SCEI president and CEO Kaz Hirai will assume his responsibilities in addition to his current duties.

No reason has been given for Harrison's departure, and Sony has said it will make no further statements.

Harrison, one of the most recognisable faces in the games industry, has "made a tremendous contribution" to Sony since joining in 1992, the company said.

"As one of the founding members of SCE, Phil played a key role in the development and growth of the PlayStation business and our industry," Kaz Hirai said.

"It is sad to see him departing from SCE, but I wish to express my gratitude for his many invaluable contributions and also wish Phil the very best of luck in his future endeavours."

Harrison himself said: "The past 15 years at Sony Computer Entertainment has been the defining journey of my life so far. I am grateful to all the PlayStation family for their incredible support, guidance and friendship.

"It has been a privilege to serve as part of the team and be inspired by them on a daily basis. I am so proud of everything PlayStation has achieved and will continue to support its future in every way I can."

No word yet on where Harrison is going, or whether Sony plans to replace him or if Hirai will continue doing both jobs indefinitely.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (101) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Lexx87 #1 4 years ago

    Well that's the end of the PS3 then

    /waits

  • Eraysor #2 4 years ago

    I bet any amount he's going to EA.

  • X201 #3 4 years ago

    As called by an EG'er
    Take a bow JayeM

  • monkie_king #4 4 years ago

    Is this related to his "nobody listened to me!" rant about multiplayer games and Nintendo the other day?

  • 4thVariety #5 4 years ago

    When not in charge, join someone who puts you in charge.

    Congratulations

  • penhalion #6 4 years ago

    Going to EA to join a certain Ex Microsoft man!

    Maybe he's off to Microsoft so they have an excuse to do an XBox720 when he kills the 360!

    Maybe Nintendo want him to bring their Wii sales demand in line with the amount of machines they can produce (i.e. reduce demand for the Wii. Heaven knows they haven't been able to)!

    Maybe he'll split his time between all three of my suggestions.

  • kangarootoo #7 4 years ago

    He is off to Atari apparently.

    http://ww w.gamesindustry.biz/content_pag...

  • sonmi451 #8 4 years ago

    he's joining Marillion to play the spoons.

  • SentientNr6 #9 4 years ago

    @monkie_king

    Well AFAIK it's the first time I heard him critisize his own company and he week later he 'leaves'.
    Join the dots.

  • Eraysor #10 4 years ago

    Nobody can save Atari now.

  • penhalion #11 4 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    Ouch! Even the guys I work with wouldn't wish atari on me and I can be pretty insulting of my fellow devs on occasions.

  • lennon #12 4 years ago

    My boycott of new PS3 games is now officially over. :)

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #13 4 years ago

    Nobody can save Atari now

    They should change its name back to Infogrames and bring back the Armadillo.

    And make every game of theirs use the 3D armadillo logo sequence off of Alone In The Dark 1.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 10:27

  • monkie_king #14 4 years ago

    Aha, he's off to "spearhead Atari's push into the casual space". Bring on the Wii shovelware!

  • myiagros #15 4 years ago

    is a sad day for Sony, but possibly a happy day for Atari if reports are to be believed.

  • miiiguel #16 4 years ago

    Dude, this guy aint a choir boy, he said what he said, knowing it.

    He left because he digs games, and Sony only cares about movies and players and TVs and cell phones.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 10:31

  • kangarootoo #17 4 years ago

    "Dude, this guy aint a choir boy, he said what he said, knowing it"

    What?

    Edit: Thats better :)
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 10:34

  • miiiguel #18 4 years ago

    "... his japanese bosses wouldn't like that so I doubt it was his decision."
    What tried to say was, a guy like this doesn't come to the media saying Sony sucks without knowing he's going to leave to another place.
    Edited by 2 at 25/02/08 @ 10:39

  • kangarootoo #19 4 years ago

    Wasn't it an overheard converstion at a private lunch though? I didn't think PH made those comment in interview or anything.

  • Darren #20 4 years ago

    Well Phil Harrison has been very quiet of late as far as the media was concerned (bar the comment about the Japanese last week) so this announcement doesn't surprise me at all. I can't say I was fond of the guy as a spokesman for Sony particularly as I found many of his comments cringeworthy ("rumble is last gen"... yeah, right...), he came across as slightly creepy (LOL) and I rarely believed anything he said anyway. He always came across as too smug and arrogant for my liking, the total opposite of Peter Moore, who wasn't exactly perfect either but at least came across as geniune for the most part.

  • Penguinzoot #21 4 years ago

    Why am I not surprised?

    @Kangarootoo:

    Whether it was an overhead conversation or not, it was um, indiscreet to say the least. Indescretion and disloyalty are not regarded highly in any corporate sphere, let alone a Japanese company.

    Anyway, Phil's been a bit on the quiet side for a long time now. Perhaps that was intentional, I don't know. Either way I don't suppose he'll find it too difficult to get another job ;-)


    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 10:55

  • cw- #22 4 years ago

    Rumble was last gen, it's just expected to be a standard in all current and future gens though, not removed. Silliness..

  • sharpfish #23 4 years ago

    good, with that cockhead gone I can now buy a ps3.

  • syphaa #24 4 years ago

    Bit of a shock!
    Be funny if he went to EA, and teamed up with Peter Moore.
    OOOOH THE CONTROVERSY!

  • monkie_king #25 4 years ago

    Darren: yeah, I think I agree with all of that. This is actually one less thing putting me off the PS3.

    It's going to be interesting comparing the things he says about his casual-market Atari Wii games with some of his PS3-era pronouncements. Sure, he's just a corporate mouthpiece doing his job, but he did consistently come across as an utter arse in the process.

    edit: sharpfish, you too eh?
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 10:54

  • BBIAJ #26 4 years ago

    Bye bye Phil, take your delusions that MotorStorm on the PStriple looks better than the FMV target renders you showed off with you...

  • sanctusmortis #27 4 years ago

    Yay! Shocked it's not to EA, but he's still off to a dev. Never liked him, would like to see Sony hire someone LIKEABLE.

  • Prox #28 4 years ago

    This is bad news for Sony WWS - at least Phil Harrison was very 'pro developer' and gave a lot of creative freedom to the devs. Compared to the rest of Sony management he was a gamer at heart and not an accountant or marketing bod.

    Microsoft are struggling to get a decent foothold in mainland Europe and Microsoft Game Studios are building up their European arm at the moment - it's a possibility they've poached Phil Harrison as someone who could fulfil their need to target Europe with games which are less hardcore (Buzz, Singstar, Eyetoy etc).
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 11:01

  • cw- #29 4 years ago

    would like to see Sony hire someone LIKEABLE.

    They should hire me, I'm likeable..

  • syphaa #30 4 years ago

    RUMOURS ARE ITS ATARI HE'S GOING TO!

  • Weezer #31 4 years ago

    Does the guy really need to work any more? If he didn't make millions off the PS brand I'll eat my own hands.

    With his cash - and the funding he could no doubt raise - I'd start my own games dev.

  • Totoriko #32 4 years ago

    I heard he's replacing the actor who plays Lex Luthor in Smallville.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 11:08

  • SpeedyThing #33 4 years ago

    Despite how he often came across in the media Phil Harrison is one of the main reason the console market has been dominated by Sony for the last 10 years. In recent years he has been their public face, trying to hype a machine he has obviously had little faith and trying to gloss over its glaring problems (because that is what he is paid to do).

    First Ken got disgruntled, then Phil. With all their visionaries gone we now have Mr. Kaz "Ridge Racer" Hirai in charge of the PS3. I'm not sure what it would have taken to get me to buy one but that really wasn't it!

  • El_MUERkO #34 4 years ago

    it's only a matter of time before Reggie Fils-Aime turns up dead

  • Xerx3s #35 4 years ago

    Cue stupid rumours of sony backing out of the console business (as with peter more).

  • betahoven #36 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • SBfistfun #37 4 years ago

    "I have been offered an even bigger couch, therefore I must sadly resign"

  • miiiguel #38 4 years ago

    PS3 already reached its goal - the Blu Ray thing. Now lets wait for the real games machine, hopefully PS4.

  • vane101 #39 4 years ago

    "Cue stupid rumours of sony backing out of the console business (as with peter more)."

    That's Sony out of the console business then! :D

  • RexRunti #40 4 years ago

    As much as I disliked the impression I got of Phil I do think he was very good for Sony. Crazy Kaz is taking his job just as things were begining to Sony's way, I can't see how this is a good thing for them.

    Also when Peter Moore went you could see that had been arranged a while in advance, we knew who was replacing him, where he was going etc. He even came up with the typical "spend more time with family" bull shit. I get the feeling Phil won't be as pleasent to his previous employers as Peter was.

  • miiiguel #41 4 years ago

    Sony "thing" isn't games/software, that's clear.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 11:39

  • kincaide #42 4 years ago

    Have that Sony fanbois

  • monkie_king #43 4 years ago

    SpeedyThing: yeah, in fairness to the guy, it was part of his job to talk up the PlayStation brand and gloss over all the PS3's problems. But Peter Moore and Reggie Fils-Aims manage to do the same without becoming huge hate-figures.

    I think the trouble is that he actually believed his own hype. Probably because of the huge successes of PS1 and PS2, like when a band has a couple of successful albums and in their coke-fuelled arrogance thinks that whatever they churn out next will automatically be tinged with genius. He always seemed dreadfully conceited in interviews.

  • BadBoyBonner #44 4 years ago

    You can say what you want about Phil (I know I have in the past - when he has clearly been playing Corporate Mouth Puppet) but it must have been killing him seeing whats happened.

    Anyone who thinks he was desperate for Blu-ray, enjoyed waiting nearly 18 months longer for the machine to launch, having to be the face that stated rumble was last gen (clearly knowing his credibility stock would fall faster than Enron's) and seeing the Playstation brand slip to third place, is clearly wrong.

    I assume he went from feeling he had one of the best jobs in the industry - to thinking why bother, when nobody is taking a blind bit of notice to his opinions (internally).

    Always enjoyed his more candid interviews - which hopefully there will be more of in light of last weeks quotes.

  • Rash' #45 4 years ago

    I don't want to get into a big hoo-ha about this, but shouldn't Harrison be judged on the work he did rather than the comments he made in public? After all the lines he pitched to the media were consistant with company policies, which to me demonstrates an intelligent public face. Harrison saying rumble is last gen and him actually believing it are two very different things. His a respected figure in the industry for the work he did at Sony. Do you guys actually believe that respect is unfounded? I think its a sad day for Sony. Harrison was a coy, composed and intelligent public face for Sony one that I will miss fronting them.

  • pervertron #46 4 years ago

    Sony Europe is fucked. Sorry guys!

  • betahoven #47 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • JediMasterMalik #48 4 years ago

    I thought Harrison was very good for Sony, he seemed like a more outspoken and honest guy compared to most. Could this be the fallout from his comments made on Sony Japan, or did he make them cause he knew he was leaving anyway? Chicken, egg...

  • miiiguel #49 4 years ago

    I'm a utter noob in work experience compared to these kinda guys and I know when I go to some event that I mustn't talk anything bad about my job or bosses..., not at lunch, not at any coffee break... unless I know I'll be moving on.

  • fightman2 #50 4 years ago

    harrison was a thick fucker anyway - he won't be missed. good riddance to the shithead.

  • Dizzy #51 4 years ago

    I think he found out first hand that the number one rule in a Japanese company is to never insult or ridicule the Japanese branch. I guess he is lucky he didn't have to cut of his pinky ;)

  • ProdigyBE_OPM #52 4 years ago

    That Jack Tretton guy is okay.
    Let him have a go at it.

  • BadBoyBonner #53 4 years ago

    Jedi

    I think the chicken and egg situation is easily answerable - in over 15 years he has never said a single derogatory remark against his pay master; the first time he does he leaves a week later.

    We aren't talking about the Newcastle manager here so clearly there has been plans put in place and this was a considered decision, his remarks merely a little frustration + wine + cavalier "I'm leaving" attitude, finally allowing him to let of a little of his personal discontent.

  • JediMasterMalik #54 4 years ago

    That's what I was thinking, I doubt someone in his position could be let go of so easily for some passing comments, so I think you're right.

  • TheDifficult3rdAlbum #55 4 years ago

    And let's put a straight man in charge this time, tired of english Gayishas....

    /presses homophobic-comment alarm button
    /abandons ship

  • monkie_king #56 4 years ago

    "And let's put a straight man in charge this time, tired of english Gayishas...."

    Wear you out, do they?

  • monkie_king #57 4 years ago

    well, it looks like we have irony well covered, at least.

    (edit: so tempted to ruin it all now with a "backward compatibility" gag).
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 12:33

  • pervertron #58 4 years ago

    pervertron, why is Sony Europe fucked? Do you even know what Harrison's job was?
    Erm.. yes *cough* I used to wor.. *cough*.

    Phil Harrison becoming head of the Sony Worldwide Studios was a good sign for Sony Europe - a way of readdressing the political balance between Sony Japan's "We'll do what the fuck we like - and you're gonna have to take it" and Sony Europe/USA. I wouldn't be suprised if part of his leaving was due to the lack of support from Sony Japan he was getting towards his vision of the PS3 (whatever that may be - good or bad) - especially after the comments he expressed at GDC.

    I do hope this doesn't have a big knockon for all the guys/gals working on Home - they're a talented bunch that has been pushed around a lot. :)

  • Rich72 #59 4 years ago

    Fucking great, now how about a price drop, rumble as standard and i'm sold!

  • monkie_king #60 4 years ago

    pervertron: any thoughts on the timing of this? I would have thought he'd stick around to see Home launched and maybe LBP. He talked UGC a lot, that seemed to be a big thing of his.

  • pervertron #61 4 years ago

    monkie_king: any thoughts on the timing of this?
    Hrm, I do wonder if Home is going to be delayed - but that's pure speculation. Time will tell.

    As for Phil's pushing of UGC - I don't think he was doing that entirely because it was his idea, I think he pushed it as a way of defining PS3 as a different market entity from Wii and XBOX 360. It may well be that the bubble has burst on that front - especially seeing as Singstar PS3 hasn't been making any waves (or maybe I've missed them) with it's youtube approach.

  • miiiguel #62 4 years ago

    Wax, lol!

  • RandolphScott #63 4 years ago

    "Usual moron who can't take any joke and see discimination everywhere. Don't worry your politically correct free of homour society is what u deserve."

    I put this into babelfish. Still no idea...

  • Killdare #64 4 years ago

    Seems like baaaad news for Sony to me. Wasn't it Phil Harrison who managed to turn around the disastrous pre and post launch publicity for PS3 with his keynote at last year's GDC (not to mention overseeing the marketing that helped console gaming become "cool" in Europe with the original Playstation and PS2)? As others have said, it was Phil Harrison who backed up European developers - the people who've come up with Home & LBP as opposed to the slew of shooters, racing games and sequels from America and Japan that have so dominated the XBox. If the way of the future is Kaz "Riiiiiiiidge Racer" Hirai then I think we're entitled to query the direction that PS3 is sailing off into.

  • Empedocles #65 4 years ago

    French to English and then back again

    "Weak usual which cannot take any joke and see the discimination everywhere. Do not worry your politically correct free of the company of homour is what U deserve"

    Man I have too much time on my hands..............................

  • monkie_king #66 4 years ago

    I especially enjoyed the Freudian slip:

    "free of homour"

  • drumbaby #67 4 years ago

    The guy needs a haircut.

  • kangarootoo #68 4 years ago

    "good, with that cockhead gone I can now buy a ps3"

    Childish nonsense.

  • BillyBrush #69 4 years ago

    Soo is this one a sign that Sony are planning to exit the console biz in 2yrs time?

    *buzzzz*

    No, that's my dad on the intercom and he tells me you can only sucessfully make people beleive conspiracy theories when they concern MS, Sasquatch and UFO's

    There was me hoping it worked both ways, dammit

  • Xerx3s #70 4 years ago

    I think that Harrison leaving sony is a bad thing. Imo, he is responsible for getting a lot of European devs onboard (giving sony a european face works wonders - see Peter Moore for that). I fear now that Europe will completely drop off the map again for the japanese.

  • Garulon #71 4 years ago

    "I don't want to get into a big hoo-ha about this, but shouldn't Harrison be judged on the work he did rather than the comments he made in public"

    You mean the string of high-profile, multi-years-in-development expensive flops?

  • Kenshin001 #72 4 years ago

    I would say 80-90% of people who bought a PS3 have never heard of Phil Harrison. Still sad to see him go. I kind of liked the days of Peter Moore and Phil Harrison. Mattrick and Kaz seem like grey moneymen and just don't have the same spark.

    Oh and those saying Phil leaving is a reason to get a PS3, that is the lamest most transparent excuse to jump on a bandwagon I've seen.

  • Apostle #73 4 years ago

    I have nothing to say about my leaving Sony, yet I hope it does not delay Home.

  • kangarootoo #74 4 years ago

    "You mean the string of high-profile, multi-years-in-development expensive flops?"

    What, like EyeToy and SingStar? Perhaps you mean The Getaway? Hmm, maybe God of War? Forumula 1, Wipeout, maybe? Buzz?

    Nope, I'm stuck, you'll have to help me.

  • Luvbeers #75 4 years ago

    RIP Phil :-( Does anyone know if he had a wife and kids?
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 14:02

  • seasidebaz #76 4 years ago

    ea bought him out for $2billion

    shares in phil harrison have just gone through the roof

    coming soon: gta home! prostreet 2009...

  • Yossarian #77 4 years ago

    Phil Harrison is good people and one of the best public speakers in the industry. He will be missed.

  • Garulon #78 4 years ago

    "What, like EyeToy and SingStar? Perhaps you mean The Getaway? Hmm, maybe God of War? Forumula 1, Wipeout, maybe? Buzz?"

    No, I'm thinking more games released withing the last three years, you know: Lair, Uncharted, R&C, HS, SingStar PS3, Folklore etc. etc. cratered out the box, the lot of them.

  • SeesThroughAll #79 4 years ago

    That Jack Tretton guy is okay.

    That Jack Tretton guy is the one who started the KZ2 in-game bullshit. Not sure if that's such a good idea.

    Harrison was the European guy for PS, he's the one who got the PSN started with the "quality over quantity" policy and stimulated companies like That Game Company to flourish. And this is without mentioning LBP. Can't really imagine Kaz wanting to invest in that concept.

    Arrogant he might have been, but he actually was less corporate than most in Sony.

  • manic_mouse #80 4 years ago

    "he came across as slightly creepy (LOL) and I rarely believed anything he said anyway."

    Too right, everything he has ever said was carefully cooked bullshit. I'll not miss him, one less smug propagandatard to pay attention to.

  • agparrot #81 4 years ago

    Phil was doing so little that Kaz can now do his own job, and Phil's, at the same time?

    Not sure I have any feelings about it - for every comment that Phil made that seemed to come from the heart of a gamer, there was another formed by the corporate shill.

    Good luck in his future endeavours, I say. Like Peter Moore, it is nice to at least *have* personalities, rather than whats-his-name.

    Not sure I'd waste my millions on starting up a company, Phil, better to retire to the sunshine and get involved in posting on the EG forums. You know - answer your critics! Call people c****!

    You know you want to.

  • kangarootoo #82 4 years ago

    Most of the games you mention are very well regarded by critics all round, and if sales are low in some cases its due to the lower installed base of PS3s than anything else.

    You got any sales figures, with attach rates if possible. I'd be surprised if Uncharted and R&C sold poorly in relation to the number of PS3 owners out there.

    As for SingStar PS3, that is simply the next gen extension of a franchise that has been the very essence of successful. If it hasn't sold well yet, its simply a matter of time.

    I don't want to seem like I am holding a torch here, but (as usual) it grates when internet posters just spout "knowledge" from the hip when they have no real clue what they are on about. Phil Harrison would simply not have held the jobs he has held at Sony if he wasn't extremely good at what he does (same goes for most of the guys at his coporate level at Sony, Nintendo and MS).

    There is something just slightly ridiculous about EG posters acting like they could do any of these high level jobs for even half a day, let alone do it actually better than the target of their critisisms.

  • SeesThroughAll #83 4 years ago

    Uhm what if EA buys pretty much everything they can possibly buy and makes the usual deals with sport federations and then MS buys EA

    Two words: not good.

  • Garulon #84 4 years ago

    "You got any sales figures, with attach rates if possible. I'd be surprised if Uncharted and R&C sold poorly in relation to the number of PS3 owners out there. "

    Well neither charted, which is bad. Compare and Contrast Gears, which did several million at the same point in it's parent console's lifecycle.

    I missed out on Warhawk, which was especially bungled, to the point where GameStop in the US sent out enough to the stores to fill pre-orders then rang Sony to come over to the warehouse and cart the unsold copies away. Phil's "Electronic Distribution Initiative" has done nothing more than piss off retailers and allow the PS3 fanbois to fudge sales of games like Warhawk (going by retail it tankered horribly, but who can tell for sure?)

    Then of course we can get to The Lies, most of which sprang forth from Harrison's slit-mouth: KillZone 2 at E3 2005 is running on PlayStation 3, Rumble is a last-gen feature, backwards compatibility is so important to Sony because Playstation is a format not a console etc. etc.

  • Garulon #85 4 years ago

    "There is something just slightly ridiculous about EG posters acting like they could do any of these high level jobs "

    Ah, "better than you can do". I don't claim I could do a better job running a worldwide game studio, just that from the outside looking in Phil Harrison's job seemed to be burning millions on games that tanked and lying to the public.

  • kangarootoo #86 4 years ago

    "Well neither charted, which is bad"

    Charted overall or charted in a PS3 sales chart? If they didn't chart compared to other PS3 games then fair enough, but without a context of sales compared to installed base you can't really judge the titles in isolation.

    As for "The Lies".... don't get me started. I have always said that was just the madness of an army of grumpy internet posters. What you are describing is marketing spin, and it is the same for every other games company and every other industry that sells you stuff.

    Your cat does not really prefer Kitty Kat, Nescafe will not enable you to shag your cute neighbours, a nice car will not make traffic disappear from the roads when you go out driving.

    Sony are really no more guilty of marketing than anyone else, except that off the back of the PS2 they were the top dogs and so became the obvious target. I'm not saying marketing spin is great and we should all have two bowls of it for breakfast each day, I'm just saying that anyone with an iota of intelligence could always see the spin for what it was and make up their own minds.

    To take your Killzone 2 example, nobody but nobody could actually BUY the game when that footage came out, so whilst I absolutely agree that suggesting it was real time was a bit cheeky and a mite foolish, seriously who gives a f*ck for more than about 20 seconds whether it was real or not. What does it matter? WHAT DOES IT MATTER?

    I looked at that footage, thought to myself "no, you can tell by the way it moves that isn't in game" and then went and had a cup of coffee. Seemingly everyone else (although obviously it wasn't everyone else, whingers just shout louder) acted like their only water supply had been poisoned with mercury and cat shit.

    I mean no one ever suggests they were fooled by the spin, they just whine about being confronted with it, like it makes any difference to them AT ALL. People continually act as if they HAVE to spend their money. I have no time for that sort of thing I'm afraid, its just the playground talk of a bunch of self created victims who should just get a pair and (in the words of Arnie) stop whining.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 15:59

  • urban #87 4 years ago

    NO!

  • kangarootoo #88 4 years ago

    I don't mean you specifically Garulon btw :)

  • Garulon #89 4 years ago

    "To take your Killzone 2 example, nobody but nobody could actually BUY the game when that footage came out, so whilst I absolutely agree that suggesting it was real time was a bit cheeky and a mite foolish"

    He wasn't suggesting it was real time, he came right out and said it. I read it in Edge and everything. Coffee came out of my nose.

    "I mean no one ever suggests they were fooled by the spin, they just whine about being confronted with it, like it makes any difference to them AT ALL. "

    So if someone lies and you don't believe them it's OK?

    I guess it's OK if you run NeoGAF, something like 50% of the posts are based on things Phil said :)
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/08 @ 16:22

  • kangarootoo #90 4 years ago

    "So if someone lies and you don't believe them it's OK?"

    I never said it was ok. In fact I quote (myself)

    "I'm not saying marketing spin is great and we should all have two bowls of it for breakfast each day, I'm just saying that anyone with an iota of intelligence could always see the spin for what it was and make up their own minds."

    My point is that it doesn't really matter that much. We can anecdotally find specific incidents all day long, but my point is that all companies do that and its NOT a big deal. Seriously, it just isn't.

    So some company fibs about the details of an advert, for a product that doesn't even exist yet. I'm NOT saying its ok, I'm really just saying I don't much care. Everyone gets so damn emotional about it all, and for what? Think of your blood pressure if nothing else :)

  • belziah #91 4 years ago

    Garulon

    We all know that in reality you're distraught.

  • Scimarad #92 4 years ago

    "it's only a matter of time before Reggie Fils-Aime turns up dead"

    Oh, please! PLEASE!

  • Restart #93 4 years ago

    Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiidge Racerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! !!!!!!

  • lockload #94 4 years ago

    Rumours are he wont be the last to leave sony, all is not well in the worldwide studios, lots of dissatisfaction about everything still having to go through japan

  • MeBrains #95 4 years ago

    damn. not good. I liked the big bugger.

    comes as a surprise too. would it really be the comments the dude made?! O_o

  • SeesThroughAll #96 4 years ago

    I wish I knew who started saying that it was Phil who came up with KZ2 real-time bullshit.

    It wasn't him, it was Tretton.

  • VMerken #97 4 years ago

    Damn, Restart beat me to it.

  • Garulon #98 4 years ago

    "I wish I knew who started saying that it was Phil who came up with KZ2 real-time bullshit."

    EDGE magazine E3 2005 quotes him saying all of the demos - all of them - were on "Playstation 3"

  • fungaloid #99 4 years ago

    """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""
    Everyone gets so damn emotional about it all, and for what?
    """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""""""" """""

    I'd agree that it's not worth the amount of emotional distress it seems to cause some people. However marketing isn't always about the product is it? It's all about lifestyle and defining who you are through their products. That's why there are so many fanboys who have their self worth tied up with the products they use. It's a direct result of the psychological manipulation employed by companies. It's what they want. So if a company wants to profit by building an emotional connection with people, by building loyalty and trust to their brand it shouldn't be surprised if people get emotional when they abuse that loyalty and trust.

    So while I don't personally agree with the degree of melodrama, I think it's an inevitable consequence of the actions taken by the company. Reaping what they sew, live by the hyperbole die by the hyperbole etc. Personally I'd rather get rid of this whole nasty lifestyle, brand loyalty, one big happy clappy family business but that would need to happen on both sides, not just one.

    There is something else you said which I.. well I don't disagree with. I just have a different take. It's all well and good saying anyone with intelligence can see through this but the fact is not everyone is intelligent. I'm sorry if I've misread you but the implication of that statement seems to be it's ok to exploit people if they can't see what's happening?

    Another thing I noticed was that when someone said they can buy a playstation again now that PH has left, you called it childish nonsence. Yet in a post after that you say: "People continually act as if they HAVE to spend their money". So it seems like you are criticising people for not buying a product if they don't like the companies spin, yet you are also criticising people who do buy a product when they don't like the companies spin. So you're damning people who do and damning people who don't. A tad unfair no?
    Edited by 1 at 26/02/08 @ 12:04

  • kangarootoo #100 4 years ago

    @fungaloid

    I understand your points and thanks for the decent response. I initially it felt like one of those "its not people's own faults, it society" type arguments, but I see there is more to it than that.

    First off I'm not saying any company should be able to do what it likes without comeback from its customers. Perhaps what I am asking for is a little more dignity from the customer base in the way they express their disatisfaction.

    I mean what can any of us think of someone who writes something like "Phil was a cock and looked liked one". My first thought, right or wrong, is immature chav thug kid who is likely to end up stabbing someone in the park one day. I know its an exageration, but seriously, is that the way we construct our thoughts? It reminds me of the opening scene of 2001 on these threads sometimes.

    I am all for personal responsibility over hand holding, though I agree there are shades of grey. And I concede that actually I don't agree with myself when I suggest the following, in your words.

    "I'm sorry if I've misread you but the implication of that statement seems to be it's ok to exploit people if they can't see what's happening? "

    I suppose I don't think that really, its just a bit of venting on my part. Maybe I divide my opinion based on the conduct of the person in question. If someone is politely fooled by spin then they have my pity, but if the person being fooled also happens to be an anti-social inarticulate troll... I guess I consider that they get what they deserve, rightly or wrongly.

    "So it seems like you are criticising people for not buying a product if they don't like the companies spin, yet you are also criticising people who do buy a product when they don't like the companies spin."

    I don't think my post was that clear in this respect. What I am saying is that people continually use terms like "they are forcing us to X" and "we have no choice but to Y", and I just think oh please take some responsibility. We are customers, so we hold the final power as to whether we buy something or not. Maybe I hope that if people actually grasp that concept they won't need to winge on so much as they will realise it is far more energy efficient to simply speak with their wallet.

    If someone complains vehemently but buys something anyway they are a fool or an addict, and if they don't buy the product they have done the thing they are best equipped as a customer to do. Now to those who decide not to buy I would say by all means complain so the company knows why they lost your sale, but do it with the voice of an adult instead of the voice of an immature nutjob.

    The root of all my grumpiness is that we eternally harp on about how gaming is a serious hobby, how it deserves respect, how it is not just "for kids". And then I read a thread full of people unable to stay calm long enough to articulate a sentence and think "anyone looking at us will just have their fears confirmed. Far too much Sunny D and not enough sunlight is their problem. Best stay away from video gamers, they are all idiots".

    We make ourselves look like imbeciles the way we go on. I mean, can you imagine BMW customers responding in the same way when they discover the satnav in their new 3 series isn't very good? Perhaps they would, if an I gave a crap about cars I might vent at them also :)

    So, before I ramble on forever, what I am saying is that getting "all emotional" is simply an unecessary part of the process. The kangarootoo 3 step plan to not sounding like a rabid game playing lunatic is as follows.

    1. Vote with your wallet.
    2. Provide useful feedback to companies whose products you don't like.
    3. Talk like an adult instead of a hyperactive ill mannered kid.

    Its not rocket science really, its just "growing up a bit" :D

  • Garulon #101 4 years ago

    "Garulon

    We all know that in reality you're distraught. "

    Well yeah, he was throughbred clown shoes and amazing fun to hammer brickbats at. Which industry figurehead I haven't even met am I going to insult on a public forum now? Yves Guillemot? I can't even spell him, much less insult him.

  • Les #102 4 years ago

    “I think it's an inevitable consequence of the actions taken by the company. Reaping what they sew, live by the hyperbole die by the hyperbole etc. Personally I'd rather get rid of this whole nasty lifestyle, brand loyalty, one big happy clappy family business but that would need to happen on both sides, not just one.”

    Not going to happen, ever (not with us humans anyway and I highly doubt natural selection would favour getting rid of this trait…). Marketing works because it gets to the core of human nature: We’re social animals driven by emotions that we then rationalize.

    “It's all well and good saying anyone with intelligence can see through this but the fact is not everyone is intelligent.”

    Furtermore, it’s just not true.