Phil Harrison leaves Sony Comments by Tom Bramwell

damn. not good. I liked the big bugger.

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

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.

Damn, Restart beat me to it.

"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"

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

@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

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.

“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.