Sony's David Reeves

By Ellie Gibson Published 30 January, 2009

On PS3, PSP and what the future holds.

Yesterday Sony published figures for the last three months of 2008. They revealed sales of all three consoles were down year-on-year, with only PS3 software showing an increase. Bad news for Sony, you might think - but David Reeves would disagree.

We sat down with the Sony Computer Entertainment Europe boss to ask why he's happy with the figures, and who he believes is winning the console battle. Plus, when we can expect a price cut, what's next for PSP and whether Sony has started work on PlayStation 4.

Eurogamer: What's your reaction to the Q3 financial figures?

David Reeves: On PS3, the target is still 10 million sell-in. PS3 was the number one priority, and the Corporation is going to meet that target. We're very happy about it overall.

PSP was not hit so much by demand, but by economic factors. I can only talk specifically about Europe, but we've lost volume in Russia. A lot of retailers there have been sucked up by oligarchs, and they didn't have the financial support. They were not able to buy in the product, even though the demand was there.

Also unemployment has rocketed in Spain, and to some extent in Italy. The demand was not there. Not just for us - for Nintendo or Microsoft, it's exactly the same.

Eurogamer: Why do you think sales of PS3 have fallen year-on-year?

David Reeves: We've said it would be 10 million, and it is 10 million. We had a price decrease in the previous year, and we didn't have a price decrease this year. Xbox 360 did, and Nintendo was already quite low.

The plan wasn't necessarily to hit sales, it was to hit a profit target - to do better than break even in Q3. The financial results show a break even in Q3 for Sony Computer Entertainment worldwide. So rather than then going for market share and sales, we went for profit, at least to break even.

'Sony's David Reeves' Screenshot 1

"Xbox 360 is not ahead by a million units... Our installed base now is very close to 8.5 million units in PAL territories. Our numbers show we are absolutely neck-and-neck."

Eurogamer: But the fact is PS3 sales fell year-on-year. Do you think the console might have peaked?

David Reeves: Absolutely not. We're two-and-a-half years into a ten-year cycle. For October, November and December we were in a holding pattern, especially with the pricing. We had to demonstrate we could make a profit with the business model, and that's what we've done.

Eurogamer: In an interview with us in July 2007, you predicted that PS3 would be "far and away the winner" by March 2008...

David Reeves: In March 2008, we were a long way ahead of Microsoft. We launched PS3 six months later [in Europe] than the US, we launched 18 months later than Xbox 360 and we were beating Microsoft in terms of installed base - so that came true.

Eurogamer: How about now? According to NPD, Xbox 360 outsold PS3 2-to-1 in the US last month. Microsoft is claiming to be ahead by 1 million units in Europe. Can you really say Sony is the winner?

David Reeves: I don't want to talk about the competition too much, but Xbox 360 is not ahead by a million units. We sold through 500,000 PS3s in November. We sold through 1.1 million units in December. Our installed base now is very close to 8.5 million units in PAL territories. Our numbers show we are absolutely neck-and-neck.

What happened was, we overtook them, and they dropped the price. It's almost as if we've gone ten rounds as Mohammed Ali and we're still standing, because we didn't drop the price. We held firm.

Now, going into the remaining rounds and the next seven years, we are going to be very strong. The last few weeks have shown we are clearly number two in the market. I'm as confident as I was before.

Eurogamer: Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai was recently quoted as saying the Xbox 360 "lacks longevity". Do you agree?

David Reeves: I'm not going to comment on that. I simply don't know what their plans are. I'm not going to be as arrogant as to comment on either Nintendo or Xbox 360.

'Sony's David Reeves' Screenshot 2

"I simply don't know what their plans are. I'm not going to be as arrogant as to comment on either Nintendo or Xbox 360."

Eurogamer: Do you think what Kaz Hirai said was arrogant?

David Reeves: I don't think so. He was probably misquoted, because I don't think Kaz would say that.

Eurogamer: He also said Sony still has "official leadership" of the industry. Isn't it really about who's shifting the most boxes? Doesn't that sound a bit arrogant?

David Reeves: I look at it differently. In the videogames industry, we've all been winners for the last two years. We've had more people coming in who have never played games before. The industry is not recession-proof, but it has done extremely well.

Eurogamer: But there are more and more stories about people being made redundant and studios being shut down. Just today, for example, Kuju has announced impending redundancies. Is the industry really doing well when people are losing their jobs and studios are shutting down?

David Reeves: It's a function of the economic situation that you are going to find people who are resilient, who do not play with their pricing, who are very efficient. Those people in that particular studio, they don't have a job, but I think in a few weeks you'll find them housed in other studios.

Of course there are going to be some people who fold. But the videogames industry is inherently very healthy. It's not a question of survival of the fittest, it's the survival of people who are professional, and don't just go around cutting their prices and destroying the market.

Eurogamer: Is the PS3 going to remain the most expensive console on the market?

David Reeves: I think it will, yes. I'm not saying there are going to be any price cuts at all in the short term or the medium term. I'm not saying we don't need to do it - we are expensive. It is possible that as the cost [of manufacturing] comes down, we will be able to do it.

But we're protecting ourselves with a very hard shell to get through the next one or two years of an economic situation. If you're experienced, you know you have to go into that mode - it's like being an armadillo. You have to be hard, and then you will come out when the sun comes out.

If, as an industry, we can get through the next six to seven months, we're going to find a massive uplift in September and October. I'm very optimistic about it.

Eurogamer: Let's imagine an average consumer, someone who's not an early adopter, not a hardcore gamer, who doesn't care about Blu-ray. They walk into a shop and see three games machines on the shelf, and yours is the most expensive. At times like these, aren't you concerned the price will affect their decision?

David Reeves: The price will affect their decision. Yes, if I haven't got that much money to spend, I will go for, let's say, the green machine. Because the salesman will say, "Well, it's got all the games," and he wants to sell that machine.

But there are people who come in having done their research, thinking, 'PS3 has got all the games, it's free to go online, it's got a Blu-ray player. I know I'm not going to have to ring up the customer careline saying I've got three red lights.'

We recognised that those numbers would go down because we did not drop the price. But we reached the targets we expected to reach under those assumptions.

'Sony's David Reeves' Screenshot 3

"If, as an industry, we can get through the next six to seven months, we're going to find a massive uplift in September and October. I'm very optimistic about it."

Eurogamer: Will you cut the price of PS3 this year?

David Reeves: As the cost of manufacturing comes down, we will look at it, as we've looked at it in the past. I'm not going to say we're going to do anything short term or anything long term on the price. At the moment, we have a value-added strategy.

Eurogamer: So can we expect to see more SKUs, perhaps with different hard drive specs, sold at different prices?

David Reeves: I'm not going to comment on that, simply because I don't have that detailed knowledge.

Eurogamer: Would Sony ever consider licensing out the PS3 technology? Could we see a Sony laptop or Blu-ray player, or even a machine manufactured by another company, which plays PS3 games?

David Reeves: I wouldn't rule it out, but I haven't thought of it myself. We don't have any plans to do that.

Eurogamer: Let's talk about software, specifically with regard to exclusivity. In the US, GTAIV sold 3.3 million on Xbox 360 and 1.9 million on PS3. When you look at those figures, do you regret giving up that exclusivity?

David Reeves: Those are US figures, right? Well, it wasn't the same in Europe.

I don't think we were in a position not to give up exclusivity. You can't live on exclusivity forever; in the end, you've got to be master of your own destiny. We've invested in studios like Media Molecule and gained exclusivity that way. We've made studios like Evolution and Guerrilla wholly-owned.

At the beginning, we had very few IPs and relied on other people for exclusivity. Now, our strategy is to have 15 to 20 IPs by the time we get to 2009, 2010. We don't have to go to Capcom or Take-Two and ask for an exclusive. And I don't think we could afford it anyway. In the cold light of day, I would do exactly as those publishers have done and go multi-platform.

Eurogamer: So what if, say, Konami came to you and said, 'We want to take Metal Gear Solid multi-platform'?

David Reeves: That's totally their decision. We're not going to fall over ourselves just to try and keep that exclusive. We have to stand on our own two feet.

'Sony's David Reeves' Screenshot 4

"We're not going to fall over ourselves just to try and keep that exclusive. We have to stand on our own two feet."

Eurogamer: So you wouldn't spend a lot of time and money trying to keep MGS exclusive to PS3?

David Reeves: I don't think we would. I'm not ruling it out, but we would sooner invest that money in two years' time, in having another major IP like Resistance or LittleBigPlanet.

Heavy Rain is a good example. That will be, de facto, an exclusive; we haven't just given them a paper bag full of cash, we've built up a solid, long-term relationship.

Eurogamer: Speaking of LittleBigPlanet - did it sell as well as you expected?

David Reeves: It exceeded in the post orders and online. Selling it in, during peak, was quite difficult, but we sold in exactly what we thought we would. Subsequent orders have been very high; LittleBigPlanet has a very long tail.

Eurogamer: What did you think of the reaction to PlayStation Home? Do you think the release came at the right time?

David Reeves: I would have liked to introduce the open beta at the beginning of September. We wanted to make some modifications so gamers could take more advantage of things like Trophies that were in place, but weren't tested.

Now we're trying to sprinkle the dust over. We've got avatars, pavilions and spaces, and now you're going to see the content. It's still only open beta, it's not a full launch. I don't know how long it will remain in open beta, but we're now starting to get the rich content.

You talked about people going into stores - I've heard people in GAME say, "But this one's got Home. I've heard of that, I'll buy that." I don't know how many people buy PS3 because of Home, but I'd like to think it's a lot.

PR Executive: We've got 1.5 million unique registrants in the SCEE areas for Home, and more than 3.4 million worldwide.

David Reeves: Between 13th December and 13th January, there were over one million dollars' worth of micro-transactions in Home. So don't forget, it's a commercial venture as well.

Eurogamer: How's the software line-up looking for Christmas 2009? Have you got many big titles still to be announced?

David Reeves: There are a couple. You can probably guess, but we have not formally announced them. They will most likely be announced in the next four to six weeks. They may even keep some for E3 or Cologne.

Eurogamer: Moving on to the PSP - also back in July 2007, you said it needed "better and more original games". Do you think that need has been met?

David Reeves: No, I don't.

Eurogamer: Why do you think that is? What could Sony be doing to solve that problem?

David Reeves: The competition has been such that publishers have had four consoles, plus PC, to publish for. They did not put their chips on PSP, certainly in the US and Europe.

In Japan, a lot of publishers put their chips on PSP. So games like Monster Hunter, Phantasy Star Portable and Dissidia have caused enormous spikes for PSP in Japan. But there haven't been big platform drivers in Europe.

Now I can look you in the face and say, the line-up for PSP in 2009 is two or three times stronger than it was last year. We ran out of steam on games around August, September last year. We didn't have a Monster Hunter or a Dissidia. But probably from March to July, you're going to see that type of thing starting to kick in.

'Sony's David Reeves' Screenshot 5

"The competition has been such that publishers have had four consoles, plus PC, to publish for. They did not put their chips on PSP, certainly in the US and Europe."

Eurogamer: I did a quick search of all the announced games on Games Press the other day. There are 44 listed for PSP, and 185 for DS. That's a worrying margin of difference, isn't it?

David Reeves: I don't know. It depends on the quality of the games, doesn't it? People come out on DS and want to compete against Nintendo first-party, and that's a tough thing.

It's like when you watch six year-old boys play football, and they all follow the ball right the way across the field. Sometimes developers and publishers do that, and that's what they've done with DS.

Eurogamer: Publishers have even stopped doing PSP versions of their biggest titles. The most recent Tomb Raider, Call of Duty and James Bond games didn't come out on your handheld - but they all came out on DS. How concerned are you about that?

David Reeves: I worry about it, but it comes back to how thin they have to spread the butter. It would have been nice if some of those had come out, and I think they will eventually, but they can only place their chips on so many slots.

Eurogamer: The iPhone and the App Store are doing very well at the moment. How do you plan to compete?

David Reeves: If you look at the statistics, more than 80 per cent of those games come in through telecommunications, as opposed to being downloaded. We are not planning to have any SIM card in any of our devices, so we have to think whether it would be as successful if we did something similar.

Eurogamer: There do seem to be some issues with your download service. For example, when LocoRoco 2 came out, it was cheaper to buy the boxed version from Play.com than to buy it as a download from the PlayStation Store.

David Reeves: I was not aware of that... How do we anticipate how much the retail trade is going to discount? That's an art, not a science. It may be that we have to have differential pricing.

Eurogamer: Shouldn't the prices be different anyway? If you buy the download version of a game, you're not paying for the production of a disc, box or manual, nor are there any retailer overheads. Shouldn't you be getting it cheaper?

David Reeves: You could argue the same with iTunes. You don't have to get in your car and go out, queue up at the store, buy it and come back. You can just download it, and there it is. That's what children do all the time. If we have to think boxed products, I think we're dinosaurs.

'Sony's David Reeves' Screenshot 6

"How do we anticipate how much the retail trade is going to discount? That's an art, not a science. It may be that we have to have differential pricing."

Eurogamer: Back in 2007, you said it was "definitely possible later" that we could see a PSP with a built-in hard drive. Now it's 2009, are we talking sooner rather than later?

David Reeves: It's still possible, but it's going to be later rather than sooner.

Eurogamer: Not this year, then?

David Reeves: No, I'm not saying that. You didn't give me your timeline - whether it's minutes, weeks, months or years...

Eurogamer: Is it minutes, weeks, months or years?

David Reeves: There is no timeframe. I stand by what I said. It is possible, yes, to have a fixed hard drive or flash memory. But what's happened is, the rate at which memory stick prices have come down have surprised everyone.

Eurogamer: You were recently quoted as saying Sony's priority for 2009 is to "start making money". How do you plan to do that?

David Reeves: Europe certainly will make money this fiscal year, from Sony Computer Entertainment's point of view. We are already on track to do that. Even with the recession we've got to ramp it up, to keep that install base and that momentum going. The priority now is still to make money, or at least to get to break even.

Eurogamer: Have you had your first meeting about PlayStation 4 yet?

David Reeves: I have never even heard it mentioned. I think people are concentrating so much on what's happening now that they're not even thinking about it.

David Reeves is president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (165) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • Darren #1 3 years ago

    It's the recession innit so people don't want to be spending £300 on a games console when they can pay half the price for a competitor's system and play 90% of the same games on it. It's as simple as that.

    Sony need to drop the PS3 to below the "magic" £200 price point if they want sales to pick up. In the current economic climate it doesn't really make much sense to be selling your console at twice the price of your competitors. Sony need to be more competitive even if it means taking losses in the short term.

  • DFawkes #2 3 years ago

    Sometimes, it's really like Ellie takes the questions out of my head and asks them. She's like a psychic Paxman with nicer hair.

    Also, "Heavy Rain is a good example. That will be, de facto, an exclusive; we haven't just given them a paper bag full of cash, we've built up a solid, long-term relationship."

    So now it's a CONFIRMED FACT- They gave Konami a paper bag full of cash to keep MGS4 exclusive*

    *May be a complete lie I made up based on twisting his words
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 14:34

  • Burkey123 #3 3 years ago

    But there are people who come in having done their research, thinking, 'PS3 has got all the games, it's free to go online, it's got a Blu-ray player. I know I'm not going to have to ring up the customer careline saying I've got three red lights.'

    Harsh but fair.

  • rodpad #4 3 years ago

    Nice grilling article there, I like.

    More of this and less "celebrity" nonsense please.
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 14:36

  • superjag86 #5 3 years ago

    Yeah really good interview - especially liked the question on why it costs more for a download than it does for a retail copy, shame Reeves skipped the question though...

  • Nasty #6 3 years ago

    Get Ellie to do the next Age of Conan interview please kthxbye

    David Reeves: It's still possible, but it's going to be later rather than sooner.

    Eurogamer: Not this year, then?

    David Reeves: No, I'm not saying that. You didn't give me your timeline - whether it's minutes, weeks, months or years...

    Eurogamer: Is it minutes, weeks, months or years?

    David Reeves: There is no timeframe.

    LAWL
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 14:41

  • secombe #7 3 years ago

    Great interview, some tough questions asked which he appeared to struggle with (or basically ignore!)

    Loved the "I heard some kind in GAME say..." bit, some proper market research there!
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 14:41

  • YobRenoops #8 3 years ago

    Why did you ask him questions in relation the US/NPD figures? That makes no sense. He's here for Europe where things are much closer. That's just ridiculous.

    I'm going to ask the Sony US man about the Sony Japan figures in how the consoles doing in the US? Get a clue! And they've never grilled Microsoft like this.

  • DFawkes #9 3 years ago

    "I was not aware of that... How do we anticipate how much the retail trade is going to discount? That's an art, not a science. It may be that we have to have differential pricing. "

    Endwar at £39.99? Since when has the RRP been almost £40 for ANY PSP game? Try again.

  • YobRenoops #10 3 years ago

    I should point out, other than that wrong use of the statistics, it was a good interview. Asking the hard questions, even if the guy dodges them, is most welcome. I'd like to see the same with Nintendo ("Why are most of your games wank and the VC criminally missing some console classics? Are you going to update the Mii channel? Or Update anything?!) and Microsoft (Whats the fail rate now? When can we guarantee Jaspers for everyone? How much is exclusivity costing you?) for a good new years grilling.

  • pommak #11 3 years ago

    Surprisingly good answers with minimal bashing. Great questions too!

  • strelok #12 3 years ago

    I wish EUROgamer would live up to their name and finally ask the question about the unavailability of the Playstation Store in most of Europe...

    You see, Europe isn't only UK.

  • solidSnake04 #13 3 years ago

    brilliant. i look forward to some MS comments or MS execs interviews.

  • Thunderbolt #14 3 years ago

    I imagine it must be quite uncomfortable at Sony right now as they are not used to losing.

    Last year I could think of £300 of a reasonable price however this year its a fortune.

  • Les #15 3 years ago

    Good interview. Nice to see a gaming industry executive not acting like an adolescent twat for a change.

  • Spekingur #16 3 years ago

    Economic recession in the world, right? Still, didn't the MS X360 division post a profit? (Wii division surely did.)

    This guy seems to be Sony's Prime BS Guy That Can Still Look Sensible.
    He was asked about numbers GTA4 sales in the US. He ignored that and went on to talk about sales in Europe. He didn't give any figures. Can we get the figures and view them alongside what he said?

    He was also just talking out of his backend about iTunes and boxed products. Boxed products 'normally' lift up the price of the comparable digital version. Not the other way around.

    But there are people who come in having done their research, thinking, 'PS3 has got all the games, it's free to go online, it's got a Blu-ray player. I know I'm not going to have to ring up the customer careline saying I've got three red lights.'

    Right. If I had done the research I would probably just go for a PC. PS3 does not have all the games, the PS3 game library is smaller than the X360's - fact. However, there are many good recent multi-platform games.
    Free online. Good.
    Blu-Ray player. Good. If I was interested in Blu-Ray movies and if I had a HD TV. Which would probably be unlikely with the groups of people he pointed out in the start of the article.
    He also takes a cheapshot at the X360. Anyone with any knowledge would know that the RROD problems are now quite alot fewer and far between, especially with the new Jasper machines. Someone who would ahve done their research, as he puts it, would also know that.
    Edited by 2 at 30/01/09 @ 14:53

  • neonxaos #17 3 years ago

    A stellar interview. Reeves was evasive, but seemingly very honest, even though the questions were tough. Perhaps SCEE aren't doing so bad?

  • B0MBJ4CK #18 3 years ago

    "But there are people who come in having done their research, thinking, 'PS3 has got all the games, it's free to go online, it's got a Blu-ray player. I know I'm not going to have to ring up the customer careline saying I've got three red lights.'

    But I WILL have to call them if I get a the ol' blinking yellow/red light combo...

  • ps3owner #19 3 years ago

    good interview, but on that Game store question... Consumers are idiots and they don't research shit, they go in an buy either the Wii, because their kids/mates have it and they want it. or the Xbox because it's cheap and has all the games anyway. (well, apart from a couple that is). Just today I had a colleague at work banging on about that he bought a PS3 for his son (who turns 6 in a couple of weeks... yeah). this bloke thinks he's always right but when I told him that the PS3 had no backward compatibility he turned slightly purple... hm, that's the research out the window then ey.

    Sony have to lower the price, otherwise they are not going to break even anytime soon, or make a profit.

  • presh #20 3 years ago

    That was pretty good, and some decent questions that I think have been swirling round many people's heads of late. But there was too much evasion, when he disagreed with quoted figures he (or the PR person with him) didn't counter with any figures from Sony, and there were a couple of answers that were absolute bollocks. The comment about 'hearing' someone in Game buying a PS3 'because it has Home on it and I've heard of that' - rubbish. Doesn't sound even slightly believable. Also the answer about the iPhone - that didn't make sense at all.

    But generally OK.

  • menage #21 3 years ago

    "You talked about people going into stores - I've heard people in GAME say, "But this one's got Home. I've heard of that, I'll buy that." I don't know how many people buy PS3 because of Home, but I'd like to think it's a lot."

    I seriously doubt anyone would buy a PS3 for home.

    Nice interview though, pretty civilized altogether. Would have liked more of a kicking on PSN or it's lacking support here though.
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 15:15

  • lambtron #22 3 years ago

    "David Reeves: In March 2008, we were a long way ahead of Microsoft. We launched PS3 six months later [in Europe] than the US, we launched 18 months later than Xbox 360 and we were beating Microsoft in terms of installed base - so that came true."

    Genius.

  • Mr_Dodger #23 3 years ago

    Good interview overall, as usual form Ellie.

    I wish she had asked the question specifically about EndWar. £40 is incomprehensible. Is it Sony or Ubi that's driving that price point?

  • crispyduckman #24 3 years ago

    "I don't know how many people buy PS3 because of Home, but I'd like to think there's a lot of barefaced moronic suckers in the world."
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 15:15

  • mikeck #25 3 years ago

    "Endwar at £39.99? Since when has the RRP been almost £40 for ANY PSP game? Try again. "

    Very expensive and over-priced, but Sony don't set the prices for 3rd party content, it's the publishers who set the prices. Perhaps your point should be aimed at Ubisoft not Reeves and SCEE.

  • stepneg #26 3 years ago

    " I don't know how many people buy PS3 because of Home"

    I'll take a wild stab in the dark and and go with no one.

    " but I'd like to think it's a lot."

    LOL

  • Rash' #27 3 years ago

    Spekingur, someone who did their research would merely have a look at the RROD thread on the forums here to know the problem is still prevalent.

  • DrDamn #28 3 years ago

    Decent interview with some honest answers at least implied by Mr Reeves. Sony need more like him and Yamada and fewer like Kaz.

  • schnide #29 3 years ago

    "Straws! Lovely straws! How short and slightly out of reach you are! Yet, grab at them I must!"

    Sony do still have some arguments on PS3 - yes, it's more powerful and yes it plays Blu-Ray. But how many people who don't read Eurogamer every day know about the red ring of death? Microsoft have done an amazing job of keeping that PR disaster quiet. In the meantime, Sony did far too little, far too late to make their latest console a success and now they might be living on borrowed time.

  • local_celebrity #30 3 years ago

    Sony's steadfast refusal to drop the price of the PS3 is insane. They're like a kamikaze pilot, flying to their doom.

    I said this before, and I'll say it again. Reduce the price to £200 and I will buy. And so will millions of others. Carry on down this path, and you'll end up as the next Matsui. Or even the new Amstrad.

    With people getting shitcanned left, right and centre, you'd have to mentally ill not to drop the price.

  • Kenshin001 #31 3 years ago

    I've said this before but it goes ignored everytime, next time EG have an interview with a Sony exec please give us prior warning. I'm sure there are a lot of questions PS3/PSP owners want answered and most of them have little to do with console wars shit. Would like to see the distinct lack of communication with SCEE addressed for a start. PSN cards? Games on US store, not on the Euro store? Virtual region locking of Home? That interview told me little.

  • Widge #32 3 years ago

    I really hope they do put a bit of focus into Mr PSP too. Its not just all about the PS3.

  • secombe #33 3 years ago

    I like the fact that Sony gain exclusives by good relations rather than cash. unlike some other company.

    Yes, they are quite angelic, as mega-corps go ;)

  • canIdoyabombsforya #34 3 years ago

    but we've got blu ray and free online.................
    but we've got blu ray and free online.................
    but we've got blu ray and free online.................
    but we've got blu ray and free online.................
    but we've got blu ray and free online.................

  • Skeletor #35 3 years ago

    Sony's refusal to drop the price to GBP200/€300 really surprises me. They invest serious money in games like KZ2 and LBP but then hinder proper sales of those titles by building a wall in front of their potential customers - the current price of the system simply doesn't work. It must be extremely frustrating for devs like Guerilla to release a game that many people won't be able to buy/play because Sony refuses to do now what they're sooner or later will have to do anyway.

  • jonsaan #36 3 years ago

    'David Reeves: I was not aware of that... How do we anticipate how much the retail trade is going to discount? That's an art, not a science. It may be that we have to have differential pricing. '

    Try going into shop dude:)

  • Xerx3s #37 3 years ago

    "Spekingur, someone who did their research would merely have a look at the RROD thread on the forums here to know the problem is still prevalent."

    Err...no. It's hardly as active as it used to be and remains mostly dormant. You should ask psycho as he's the only one that keeps a cross forum record of all machines declared dead.

  • Rash' #38 3 years ago

    Which part of "the industry isn't recession proof" did some of you not understand? The price will drop with the lowering of manufacturing costs. And no company would jeopardise their current sales by projecting their pricing strategy just because of a little internet anxiety.

  • Thunderbolt #39 3 years ago

    Hey Evil,

    'I like the fact that Sony gain exclusives by good relations rather than cash. unlike some other company.'

    Yes, I see what you mean, I consider the Kaz interview the epitome of good relations. LOL

    "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.

  • kangarootoo #40 3 years ago

    "But how many people who don't read Eurogamer every day know about the red ring of death?"

    Well, 60% of customers in the first year as I read it (I own a 360 - my third - and like it very much, so don't let your head explode).


    Anyway, good interview I thought. Some tough questions, met with some relatively candid answers (quite honet commentary about console pricing and not being able to afford some paid-for exclusives).

    No doubt this thread will decend into childish nonsense, and then we will wonder why interviewees in the future aren't as frank.

  • Rash' #41 3 years ago

    Xerx3s, next you'll be telling me that the rate of failures is acceptable...

    :)

  • kangarootoo #42 3 years ago

    "Could Eurogamer be anymore hostile !!! Wow"

    Nothing wrong with strong questioning, so long as it is applied evenly to all comers.

  • kangarootoo #43 3 years ago

    "Xerx3s, next you'll be telling me that the rate of failures is acceptable..."

    Thats just a strawman.

    The initial failure rate WAS unacceptable.
    The current failure rate is NOW much reduced.

  • #44 3 years ago

    ** sigmagoat
    Could Eurogamer be anymore hostile !!! Wow

    ****


    Thats exactly how that interview came across to me.

  • iago71 #45 3 years ago

    I have to say I really cant see the PS3 being a 10 year machine TBH. Unless they mean that it will be around for that long and co exist with the next Sony console whenever that may be released.

    I guess if we are to believe all this about it being practically untapped in terms of power then perhaps it could be but I dont really see any evidence of that right now. Its a great machine and Im glad Ive got one but Im not convinced its got any more metal than my 360.

    We'll see I guess but I wont hold my breath........

  • Mr-Bozzey #46 3 years ago

    that was a decent read. its good but did feel the questions was well tough he would say 1 thing then next question would question him on what he said seconds before like about K.H being ignorant .

    and another thing i noticed was he wasnt securing anything down with dates which should keep the hype train from speeding up again.

    and anything he didnt know he didnt know which was nice he didnt make up stuff or fact or dates for it he was honest

    he was very fair in my veiw he did have small pops at MS red light comment was in there but then again thats a fact you can comment on because it is true didnt seem to go over the top.

    i think coming months ps3 may just improve a tiny bit more im still happy with my machine and the way it's run then again im 1 of very few ps3 owners that doesn't demand way to much or get sucked into the hype of everything.

    nice read it was tough but the questions were what we all needed to hear and he answered them very honest and very mature.

    nice 1 ellie.

  • #47 3 years ago

    360s new rrod shocker

    I hope not!!! (although my sons did have this problem, but none since MS fixed it)
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 15:46

  • floppylobster #48 3 years ago

    That was brutal. We've come a long way when someone can show that amount of disrespect to Sony and get away with it.

    So in in a 10 year life cycle I would expect 1-2 years to get established. 3-4 of peak production, maybe 1 final golden year, then a 3-5 year slow drawn out death (like the PS2). So we're in the peak right now?

  • sneetch #49 3 years ago

    I like Ellie's interviews, her Paxman-like dogged repetition or rewording of evaded questions is good. :)

    @Les
    Good interview. Nice to see a gaming industry executive not acting like an adolescent twat for a change.

    Indeed, a rare level of maturity shown there, sly dig at RROD aside.

    I don't quite buy his "keeping the price high during the recession will be a good thing" idea, Sony know that people facing into an uncertain economic future will be less likely to buy a PS3 than a Xbox or Wii for significantly less, only time will tell whether or not those people number enough to significantly hurt the PS3 as a platform.

    I really wish MS would drop the live charges as again and again I see it used as a stick to beat them with. It's a barrier to entry for many people and I dare say it's cost them more in games sales and goodwill than it has ever made them.

  • gabsta69 #50 3 years ago

    I still dont see it being value for money in the UK. With the recession they could do with knocking the cost down by 50-100 gbp, I think the confidence of the public with the playstation brand will be restored.

    I am an xbox 360 owner and I have absolutely no confidence in the machine lasting until the xbox 720 is released, whereas my friends, playstation 3.....no problems of course. I think its all about confidence.

  • kangarootoo #51 3 years ago

    "That was brutal. We've come a long way when someone can show that amount of disrespect to Sony and get away with it."

    What is this, a religion? Get a grip.

  • Rash' #52 3 years ago

    Xerx3s and kangaroo, this is the last i'll say on this: i appreciate the 360 may have served you well but when you guys start defending the RROD it just makes you look like fanboys which i know isn't the case. i'm not disputing measures have been taken to lessen the fault but what the system needs is a complete redesign. It is faulty by design and therefore is, in its current state, a liability.
    Edited by 4 at 30/01/09 @ 16:14

  • Mr-Bozzey #53 3 years ago

    i think the whole idea is if sony are doing tough things like keeping there machine price high and not lowering it then there need to be tough questions for it and ellie showed that today.

    sony have there own fish to fry by the sounds of it

    they set out dates for themselfs as a company

    i kinda relised this sony have set dates like 10 million units now thats not aimed to beat MS or nintendo in console sales thats aimed to keep sony up and going,every aim and objective they set is for sony to expand the company and for the " greater good" of sony.

    this shows in some in the interveiws while ms are wavering facts and stats and adding comments " more than ps3 " sony are using stuff like " well we sold so many units and thats what we expected and needed for sony"

    haha hope ya get my drift...

  • kangarootoo #54 3 years ago

    @sneetch and gabsta69

    I think he was suggesting that not dropping the price yet is good for Sony. Its all very well talking about how we the gamers would like £50-100 off the price of the console, but we have to remember that they are a business and they have to make wise decisions.

    This how many millions of PS3 are sold, and then multiply that by your £50-100. That is a hell of a wodge of dosh to spend over a few months. Given the current state of the economy, it seems reasonable that a company want to manage its books a little more carefully.

    Of course dropping the price would expand the installed base, but the cost of doing so is an investment which would take time to recoup. Perhaps now is simply not the time to risk making that investment?

  • floppylobster #55 3 years ago

    "What is this, a religion? Get a grip."

    That's what it used to be like. Sony would completely control their interviews and just refuse to accept certain questions. They don't have that power these days.

  • GamesConnoisseur #56 3 years ago

    David Reeves: I'm not going to comment on that. I simply don't know what their plans are. I'm not going to be as arrogant as to comment on either Nintendo or Xbox 360.

    Eurogamer: Do you think what Kaz Hirai said was arrogant?

    David Reeves: I don't think so. He was probably misquoted, because I don't think Kaz would say that.


    But but but....Kaz did say that?! However, Reeves did come across as a more grounded guy and an interesting interview! More like this please. And no I dont think it was outright hostile, I mean in the UK Mr Paxman is well known for asking hard questions and trying to get straight answer.

    We gamers deserved straight answer but wished asked more on European front, especially what happening with PSN?!
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 17:11

  • sneetch #57 3 years ago

    @floppylobster
    That was brutal. We've come a long way when someone can show that amount of disrespect to Sony and get away with it.

    Ellie showed "disrespect" to Sony? Outrageous! Rest assured, sir, that she won't "get away" with it! We'll have her flogged at once.

    Jesus mate, this is the twenty-first century, the time when people would tug their forelock and mumble into their chest just because someone wore a nicer suit than them is long gone: there were some tough but pertinent questions and in no way disrespectful.

    Edit: ah, pardon me, you weren't suggesting that she should have shown "respect" and "deference" to him. My bad.
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 16:04

  • kangarootoo #58 3 years ago

    @Rash'

    What is wrong with your eyes? Let me write it again for you.

    The initial failure rate WAS unacceptable.
    The current failure rate is NOW much reduced.

    Did you see the bit where I said it was unacceptable? I'm not defending anything, I'm stating two independant facts. Two independant facts which you would prefer to squash into one big ball that you can load into your fanboy cannon.

    I deal in facts and I don't give a shit about your petty fanboy nonsense. Did you also see the comment in this thread where I poked fun at the initial fail rate being 60%, or did your fanboy goggles filter that out for you.

    I own both a PS3 and a 360. They both have their strengths and their weaknesses. I just call it as I see it because I am old enough not to have some other bonkers agenda. I know its hard to realise from there inside your head, but some people simply don't care about that "taking sides" stuff.


    "i'm not disputing measures have been taken to lessen the fault but what the system needs is a complete redesign. It is faulty design."

    What on earth do you actually know about industrial design? The RROD occurred because of a single design flaw, which by now is well documented. What else would you suggest is wrong with the XB360?


    Clearly it winds me up a bit when fanboys suggests I could ever be as mad as they are.

  • Widge #59 3 years ago

    The current failure rate is NOW much reduced.

    Is it now acceptable?

  • kangarootoo #60 3 years ago

    @floppylobster

    Ah, I didn't quite understand your comment. Sorry dude, I was a bit snappy with you there. Some of the other comments have clearly got me a touch annoyed. Apologies :)

  • Oscarpiggy #61 3 years ago

    he should just admit that the ps3 and psp is not doing well

  • floppylobster #62 3 years ago

    @ kangarootoo / @ sneetch
    No worries. I edited out "The 90s must be truly over" at the last second. That probably would have made my intention more clear.

  • Xerx3s #63 3 years ago

    "Thats exactly how that interview came across to me. "

    Not hostile enough for me. I fucking hate these PR muppet interviews that really say nothing because the muppet just spins everything and the interviewer doesn't put pressure on him. Those interviews are a waste of time and effort. At least this tries to go somewhere.

  • Rash' #64 3 years ago

    Widge, that's the million dollar question that's conspicuously lacking a response.

  • Psychotext #65 3 years ago

    "I used to be a contender"

  • miiiguel #66 3 years ago

    "Could Eurogamer be anymore hostile !!! Wow "
    Oh, come on... these guys do not need for us to defend them when comes to PR, it's their job. If it's pity is disrespectul, if it's religion it's weird.

    Good interview, and the dude did good as well, imo. The lights thing was odd, but... expected.


  • kangarootoo #67 3 years ago

    @Widge

    As I understand it, yes it is acceptable. I didn't think any of the new systems were suffering RRODs. If they are, I'm happy to educate myself (but I could use a link, rather than someone just telling me so).

  • Rash' #68 3 years ago

    Farty, Some things are as guaranteed as the passing of day, like that response. Bless you.

    :)

  • kangarootoo #69 3 years ago

    @Rash'

    "Widge, that's the million dollar question that's conspicuously lacking a response."

    If that is a reference to the question I just answered..... seriously dude. Some of us have other things to do than pore over these pages 24/7. I'll try to do better in future, ok? ;)

  • kangarootoo #70 3 years ago

    @Rash'

    The fact you might agree with farticus about something tells a thousand stories.

  • des #71 3 years ago

    Kaz Hirai-we lead
    Reeves-we are second

    Ship is sinking very fast,only loonies are still abroad.

  • mingster #72 3 years ago

    But what about the Sony 'Traffic light of death'?
    Everyone ignores this, how many PS3's are affected by it?

  • Eighthours #73 3 years ago

    Also unemployment has rocketed in Spain, and to some extent in Italy. The demand was not there. Not just for us - for Nintendo or Microsoft, it's exactly the same.

    Now, going into the remaining rounds and the next seven years, we are going to be very strong. The last few weeks have shown we are clearly number two in the market. I'm as confident as I was before.

    I hate to say this, but he's being a massive liar here.

  • gyak #74 3 years ago

    Dear Sony,

    How about a Hungarian PS Store, or just allow Hungarians to pay for your s**t??
    Sony just lost the plot this gen (not that the competition would be any better). When you don't allow WHOLE countries to pay for your things then you're either plain stupid or just don't care anymore.

    FYI: Hungarian people don't have a PS Store PLUS they're not allowed to buy from any other regions from Sony.

    There's even a little sticker on your console in Hungary which informs you about the situation. And we're supposed to be Europeans.

  • Rash' #75 3 years ago

    kangaroo, Wow completely missed your rant directed at me. relax. i didn't say you are a fanboy (and distinctly said i know that not to be the case). i tell you what, i would appreciate it if you educated me with your knowledge as clearly you know something i don't about all this. is that fair?
    Edited by 2 at 30/01/09 @ 16:34

  • kaya08 #76 3 years ago

    Its fair enough to be harsh to an interviewee who bring along his PR babysitter and doesn't answer a single question he's asked isn't it.
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 16:35

  • ronuds #77 3 years ago

    If he represents Sony's views, then I'm sorry to say but their head is buried pretty far in the sand. Guys like Kaz and Ken, you always knew were out in space, but Reeve's seems to more represent Sony as a whole.

    Reeve's did a good job for the most part, though. Not cuntish at all! :D

  • SAH1977 #78 3 years ago

    You have to admit, after all the stick Sony have taken, the PS3 now looks an extremely attractive proposition with great exclusives and price cuts imminent. The 360 has had a good run, but looks to be running out of steam ever so slightly.

  • miiiguel #79 3 years ago

    "The 360 has had a good run, but looks to be running out of steam ever so slightly. "
    Last year, in the beggining of I read the same thing. Was it you ?

  • drumbaby #80 3 years ago

    but we've got RROD expensive online, and no Blu-Ray.................
    but we've got RROD expensive online, and no Blu-Ray.................
    but we've got RROD expensive online, and no Blu-Ray.................
    but we've got RROD expensive online, and no Blu-Ray.................
    but we've got RROD expensive online, and no Blu-Ray.................

    There, 5 times should make it true.

  • Obli #81 3 years ago

    Hello Eurogamer!

    Nice interview but I wish some questions were asked, such as:

    + Are you aware of the SCEE Equality Appeal? [link url=http://www.sceeea.com
    ]http://www.sceeea.com
    [/link]
    + What is happening about an EU Official Blog? Are we going to get one? If not, why not? Why is communication with the SCEE customers lacking?
    + What is being done to reduce the delays the SCEE region stores suffer compared with the US and Japan?
    + Why aren't you looking at the prices of retailers and matching them for downloadable content?
    + What is going on with Super Streetfighter 2 Turbo HD Remix?
    + Why are you holding back English titles released in the US when they could be released simultaneously?
    + What exactly do you do?

  • SniperZoz #82 3 years ago

    Some interesting points in the interview ... some good answers.... but some really bad ones ... overall I think the Sony execs. are out of phase with reality ... or they want us to think they are!?!?

  • Toadie48 #83 3 years ago

    @SAH1977
    "The 360 has had a good run, but looks to be running out of steam ever so slightly. "

    I think you'll find your wrong, with Halo 3 ODST, Allan Wake, Bioshock 2, romours of Xbox live price cut, rumours of Killer Instinct on XBLA, this is gonna be another great year for Xbox owners!!!

    http://uk .xbox360.ign.com/articles/946/9...

  • Toadie48 #84 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    "It. Doesnt. Matter.

    It really doesnt matter. If the 360 keeps providing the great gaming it will continue selling as it is right now. RROD has been around for years. It's now no longer an issue for new units but that's irrelevant.

    It's still selling.

    Like it or loathe it that is the only fact that matters."

    +1, nicely said ;)

  • kangarootoo #85 3 years ago

    @Rash'

    Shit.

    You've done the ol' switcharoo on me now.

    /has a think

    It was this bit that set me off.

    "this is the last i'll say on this: i appreciate the 360 may have served you well but when you guys start defending the RROD it just makes you look like fanboys which i know isn't the case. i'm not disputing measures have been taken to lessen the fault but what the system needs is a complete redesign. It is faulty by design and therefore is, in its current state, a liability."

    Curses, I didn't actually see the bit at the end of the first sentence where you said "which i know isn't the case". The red mist had obviously come down by then. Regardless, what got my goat and caused the misting was the suggestion that I would "defend" any company on the basis of anything other than fact and reason.

    I made the distinction between the reliability of the 360 as it used to be, and the way it is now. To try and have that labelled as me "defending RRODs" just ticked me off.

    Life is full of shaes of grey. The 360 reliability WAS bobbins, now its not so bad. The console has SOME design issues (hw and sw), but the entire platform is not faulty by design and there is certainly no rational reason to give it a "complete redesign".

    This continued and blinkered "with us or against us" attitude that pervades gaming as a hobby is just depressing, because it is the most base of human attributes. Putting up walls, forming teams, and flinging poo at the "opposing side". The same basic human need to find an enemy that we see here is the same attitude that gets people killed elsewhere in the world.

    Whenever anyone suggests that I myself would get involved in such things, I get pretty ratty, as you can tell. Don't get me wrong, I love a good discussion. And debate between opposing points of view is the reason I am even here. But I like to think I am never too big to be corrected, because in my heart I will only argue for something I believe is correct. If I find out it isn't correct, I will change my view and consider myself educated.

    When people selectively ignore the facts that contradict their (for some reason) heart felt view, I find it hard to be civil with them. There is just something inexplicable about people getting so attached to a point of view, that they will shout down anything that disagrees with it. Where does the fear come from? What is wrong with just going "ah, didn't realise that, fair enough" and changing opinion?

    Blah blah blah, etc :)

  • kangarootoo #86 3 years ago

    Christ, what is going on today?!? I have farticus on ignore, but now someone has quoted him.... I actually agree with his last comment about RRODs not mattering anymore. Its the end of days!

  • moggsy #87 3 years ago

    I think Mr Reeves came across as a bit of a cock, out of his depth even.

    Good questions though Ellie.

  • Goodfella #88 3 years ago

    I think you'll find your wrong, with Halo 3 ODST, Allan Wake, Bioshock 2, romours of Xbox live price cut, rumours of Killer Instinct on XBLA, this is gonna be another great year for Xbox owners!!!

    So another great year based on 3 games, one of them an unknown quantity, and a couple of rumours?

  • kangarootoo #89 3 years ago

    @Nick_

    /sigh

    With all that bluster you could have blown up a handful balloons and maybe had change for a round or two of blow football.

    Was it really worth it? Was it?

  • moggsy #90 3 years ago

    Here's Ellie's MS boss interview for those who missed it. Just as tough a line of questioning I think you'll agree.

  • MrScruffier #91 3 years ago

    If you buy the download version of a game, you're not paying for the production of a disc, box or manual, nor are there any retailer overheads. Shouldn't you be getting it cheaper?

    "You could argue the same with iTunes. You don't have to get in your car and go out, queue up at the store, buy it and come back. You can just download it, and there it is. That's what children do all the time. If we have to think boxed products, I think we're dinosaurs."

    What does this even mean? It sounds like something Sarah Palin would say

  • miiiguel #92 3 years ago

    "That's the beauty of the review. They were trying to catch him out, but he did great and just made the interviewer look cheap and inexperienced. Priceless. "

    Lol, you must have a picture of the guy in your wallet. There's this aura of religion within some PS3'ers which is amazing.

  • mikeck #93 3 years ago

    @ Obli - why would they ask those questions, it's a small vocal group that keep on and on about these points, and I think most people aren't that bothered to be honest. I know I'm not, I've got loads of great games for my PS3 and will happily keep playing them, and it's very rare that I'll download games from the PSN Store, and whilst I appreciate the store, it's not the reason I got my PS3.

    Same with my 360, hardly use the marketplace and care very little about it.

  • Toadie48 #94 3 years ago

    @Nick_

    Wow! Take a look at this right Here: http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/micros... and stop being a pathetic Sony fanboy - that'll complain about anyone just saying the name Playstation with a slight critique in their tone.

  • miiiguel #95 3 years ago

    "So another great year based on 3 games, one of them an unknown quantity, and a couple of rumours? "
    I'd say I expect another great year based on the previous two years. Like... it did happen. It's real.

  • kangarootoo #96 3 years ago

    @MrScruffier

    I think he is agreeing with the interviewer, that games SHOULD be cheaper if you download them, jsut as songs are cheaper on iTunes. And he sees digital distribution as the future, and boxes as being on their way out.



    I don't even know who said this...
    "That's the beauty of the review. They were trying to catch him out, but he did great and just made the interviewer look cheap and inexperienced. Priceless"

    But that is just weird. Get a room ffs.

    This thread fails.

  • zuljin #97 3 years ago

    @xXBrombeerXx
    "Excuse me, but my PS3 died THREE times you arrogant twat..."

    Surely considering that you've had 7 360s, wouldn't that still make it the better option?

    Actually no don't answer that I'm fairly certain what your response will be...

  • Rash' #98 3 years ago

    kangaroo, i admire your honesty. i try not to be too pig-headed with my views so i can listen to reason and logic. i accept that maybe the system isn't completely flawed, and maybe that the fault has lessened, but after 2 or 3 unsuccessful revisions can you really blame anyone for being sceptical? you say the problem is now acceptable. i genuinely what to know what makes you so adamant of that. you say you're concerned with facts so you must have good reason... No?
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 17:39

  • Goodfella #99 3 years ago

    Sorry, Brombeer but the facts are that the PS3 is a far more reliable piece of hardware overall, it's well within acceptable fail rate percentages. Just unfortunate you had problems with it.

  • Goodfella #100 3 years ago

    You can't please all the people all the time, it's simply not possible..

  • zuljin #101 3 years ago

    @xXBrombeerXx
    Well, lets put in the original figures that you touted back when you were on your old handle, of 12 failed 360s.

    Seriously dude, your ps3 has not broken three times from three games, just like back then your 360 had not broken 12 times from however many games you claimed back then. You're rapidly making a name for yourself alongside Farticus/Apologie.

  • SAH1977 #102 3 years ago

    EG has set the interview benchmark, now every interview with execs should be equally tough. It will be interesting to see how MS and Nintendo execs handle it.

  • MasterNameless #103 3 years ago

    @xXBrombeerXx

    You don't keep your PS3, or Xbox 360, near a massive subwoofer or speakers do you? I've already seen a few people with lots of failed consoles in a row who keep their consoles next a hugely magnetic device that's just bound to kill them in time! Otherwise, that really is a rather incredulous number of fails, for either console.
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 17:47

  • Goodfella #104 3 years ago

    Lacks quality games? Oh please, still using that one are we. Sure, that knee jerk response was fine 18 months ago but it's a bit different now. I'm not going to list them but there are plenty of quality PS3 games. Maybe not to your particular taste but they do exist.

    Also, how on earth is the 360 a third of the price?

  • ps3owner #105 3 years ago

    granddad brombeer is back in the house :)

    how's it going ?

  • zuljin #106 3 years ago

    @xXBrombeerXx
    You're already taking things out of context. Congrats.

  • Eighthours #107 3 years ago

    Typical Eurogamer, go after Sony with a rabid dog. Handle Nintendo with mittens, handle MS with puppy dogs. We all know you hate Sony. Why don't you tell the readers how MS gave you free Xbox live accounts and goody bags with the Halo 3 review?. You give games like Fable 2 10/10, then mark down Little Big Planet to 9/10 even though you admit its your GOTY and better than Fable 2.

    The stench of MS money hats is to strong around these parts, and they way you grab ankles when interviewing Nintendo is disgusting. You don't ask them any hard questions about their shitty line up for Wii in 2008.

    Basically you suck and are a puupet of MS and Nintendo, you used to treat Sony with a bit of respect, I guess MS payed you a lot of money to turn into ignorant fucktards whenever the word Sony is mentioned.

    And yet the E3 2005 headline for Sony's PS3 conference was "The Real Next Gen". There's no bias.

  • Goodfella #108 3 years ago

    So, during Christmas you could get the supremely inferior arcade console for ALMOST a third of the price of a PS3?

    That is a genius argument right there.

  • ps3owner #109 3 years ago

    excellent, you should buy yourself another Ps3, Killzone 2 bundle, even out the numbers. btw, re-reading the post under this thread. looks to me as though you've had 2 ps3, since the sony support center wasn't able to fix them properly. That is a bit shit, no question about it. My blu ray diod broke as well, send it it, got it back 2 days later. still under warranty. fingers crossed it won't happen again though :)

  • kangarootoo #110 3 years ago

    @Rash'

    "you say the problem is now acceptable. i genuinely what to know what makes you so adamant of that."

    I don't mean we can forget past ills, or pretend they didn't happen. I am just saying that if (as I am led to believe) the mass scale RROD issue is a thing of the past, then that is the current state of play. I am not saying it was acceptable at the time, but I AM saying that pretty much everyone who buys a 360 today will find it RROD free in the months or years to come and THAT is acceptable.

    I am sensing some element of forgiveness (or the lack thereof) is part of the equation here. That perhaps the fact the RROD issue was so bad in the early days, we should continue to dislike the 360 on that basis. I don't tend to care about that sort of thing when it comes to electronic goods.

    I am on my 3rd 360 now, but the current one has been fine for ages and I don't forsee any issues. Yes it was a pain in the butt when I had to drive back to PC World yet again to get it swapped over, but I don't hold that against it now. Its just plastic and metal, it doesn't deserve any ill feeling from me so as it run games realiably (which currently, it does).

    Of course, all of my commentary is based on the belief that the RROD system is not an issue for new 360s as it was a year or so ago. If that belief is wrong then by all means point me to a source.

  • ronuds #111 3 years ago

    "So, during Christmas you could get the supremely inferior arcade console for ALMOST a third of the price of a PS3?"

    Supremely inferior just because it's missing an HDD? Still plays the same games, innit?

  • Chaz_uk #112 3 years ago

    Is this Eurogamer or USgamer? All the talk of NPD and nothing of our market?
    Well done Eurogamer.

  • Ryze #113 3 years ago

    Go Ellie, Go Eliie, Go Ellie, Go! Go! Go!

    /does a desk dance

  • Goodfella #114 3 years ago

    Yeah, that 256mb memory card you get with it is all you need.

  • ps3owner #115 3 years ago

    but brombeer, killzone 2 and Resistance 2 cover the full spectrum as we all know by now :) (+ the COD series is MP anyhow).

  • ps3owner #116 3 years ago

    "Still the supremely inferior Arcade handles multi-plat games better than the the supremely expensive PS3...go figure... " which is mostly down to the fact that the Xbox is the lead platform for the MP games, difficult to port sadly.

  • ronuds #117 3 years ago

    "Yeah, that 256mb memory card you get with it is all you need."

    For some people, certainly.

    Stop being such a elitist. Before the 360/PS3, there were no HDD's or downloading entire games to HDD's or any of that. And, guess what, we were still able to enjoy playing games! Yeah, it's nice to have the extras, but MOST CERTAINLY isn't necessary. Most of these extras are for everything but playing games.

    You're coming off as a bit of an arrogant tit. Sorry...

  • ps3owner #118 3 years ago

    I certainly prefered Resistance 1, that's true. But I currently just play COD4 online all the time, good laugh :)

    enjoy your B-Day
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 18:07

  • Goodfella #119 3 years ago

    Indeed. Multi platform games are generally better on the 360. Ports will always be inferior on the PS3. Burnout proved that with the PS3 version being superior.

  • Goodfella #120 3 years ago

    You're coming off as a bit of an arrogant tit. Sorry...

    The verbal abuse begins, last bastion of hope for people with no argument.

    Elitest? *laughs*

  • bad09 #121 3 years ago

    Good interview. Didn't really addresses the things I want to know though.

    1. You could have asked why Sony are still forcing me to pay more money for a working PS2 (it will be my 4th PS2 Mr Sony) thanks the them screwing late adopters of PS3?

    2. When are poor Europe getting the Video store, will it be this year as promised or will they pull a Sony?

    3. Is there any chance Sony might stop the Karaoke B/S and get back on The Getaway?

    4. G-Police and Colony Wars where are they? Been missing for nearly two gens you muppet Reeves!

    Ask him these when you see him next please Ellie!



    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 18:28

  • Rangerwave #122 3 years ago

    Another slice of PR pie. It just gets more and more boring listening to all these guys talk. Very rarely do they answer the question asked. I would like to see Eurogamer be much tougher with their questioning.

  • Rash' #123 3 years ago

    kangaroo, it seems neither of us can offer the other a credible source to back up their claim. I therefore remain rooted in my scepticism, a suspicion reinforced by the number of failed attempts to resolve the problem.
    Edited by 2 at 30/01/09 @ 22:36

  • -Hex- #124 3 years ago

    Legend, a guy that doesn't suck at PR

    " I'm not going to comment on that. I simply don't know what their plans are. I'm not going to be as arrogant as to comment on either Nintendo or Xbox 360."

  • ronuds #125 3 years ago

    "The verbal abuse begins, last bastion of hope for people with no argument.

    Elitest? *laughs*"

    Verbal abuse? Hardly. I normally don't insult people, but those who seem to be acting purposefully ignorant. I also don't see how mine was a non-argument, as there's really nothing about it you can argue with. The Arcade is a perfectly capable console for those looking to play games. The Wii doesn't have a bunch of fancy bells and whistles and look at how many people are enjoying that. So, what is your point already - and please justify it with something more quantifiable than "ARCADELOL" because it's not working, nor is it very convincing.

    And, yeah, elitist. Consoles are mainly for playing games. You're coming across like if they don't do as much as a fully-capable media machine then they're worthless. Well, that's an elitist attitude and one that before this generation didn't exist.

  • Goodfella #126 3 years ago

    I don't have a problem with the consoles, it's the people who attempt to compare them all and think this is some sort of war. Who the fuck cares if the arcade is a third of the price of the PS3, we may as well argue why a Ford Focus is a third of the price of a Jag.

  • ronuds #127 3 years ago

    See, I agree with the car comparisons in relation to the Wii and PS3/360 - because it plays different types of games and is aimed at different types of players (for the most part).

    Not so sure the same can be said of an arcade 360 to a PS3, though. They play the same games! A Ford Focus and Jaguar certainly don't have the same engines - an arcade and PS3 do. One just doesn't have leather seats, but for a small upgrade price, you can get those too. :)

  • Goodfella #128 3 years ago

    Jesus, that wasn't a comparison, it was a rough example of the juvenile arguments over consoles. One you seem happy to perpetuate.

  • ronuds #129 3 years ago

    But you started the juvenile argument.

    You're making my head spin with your double talk and I gladly retract from this conversation. O_o
    Edited by 1 at 30/01/09 @ 19:29

  • niteninja #130 3 years ago

    Sony have taken the opposite route to microsoft,M$ hands cash over to third party studios to secure exclusives they have had mixed results with that so far.
    Gta lost and damned looks intresting but all the rubbish jrpgs that square made have been shite.
    Sony are focused on their own studios heavy rain,killzone2,uncharted2,the agency,god of war3,mag,gt5 and infamous.
    There is no doubt about it the ps3 by far has the strongest line up of games this year it just comes down to if you can afford one.
    I can see the visual gap between sonys first party games and everything else getting wider this year.
    Not to mention team ico new game which is going to be shown at E3.
    Edited by 4 at 30/01/09 @ 19:46

  • miiiguel #131 3 years ago

    @niteninja :
    Come on mate, just say it, we know you want it: "This is the..." :D

  • TheNinkyNonk #132 3 years ago

    If they really do have another 7 years in the PS3 (which I kind of hope they do) they'll make the money in the end.

    If the Xbox 3 comes out in the next 2-3 years, the PS3 is going to be the cheaper option for a number of years and by that time BluRay is probably going to be pushing 50% sales of digital disks.

    Who knows: maybe they will get the last laugh.

    I know I don't want to part with mine.

  • Spekingur #133 3 years ago

    Someone can probably answer me this:
    At the beginning of 2008 was MS announcing all kinds of game titles or was it just like now?

    Also, I know exactly what one of the three console companies need to do to basically 'break the market'. Make a simple console MMO game and start rumours just before release claiming "it is just like WoW!". This will not only shift game copies but also shift consoles. The game wouldn't even need to be good - so basically same as WoW >:D

    On the RROD issue. I don't see Teh Internets(tm) set ablaze with that issue - so MS is doing it right even if the issue still exists on the new Jasper machines.
    And to the one who told me to ask my local store about failure rates - I can't. They won't give anyone the numbers and they would probably lie in any case. You see, my country doesn't have an MS Entertainment section in their MS offices. In fact, the MS offices here only serve companies, there is no service for individuals. Heck, the MS offices are just a division out MS Denmark.
    Sony, however, is quite big here. For example, PSP has outsold the DS here probably somewhere between 2:1 and 3:1. Yes. Playstation even outsells Nintendo. We should probably rename our country to Playstationland and make it one big theme park.

  • Pasco #134 3 years ago

    Wow, a Sony spokesman who seems less stupid than stupid. Of course he was evasive at times but I didn't feel insulted just by reading what he has to tell. This is a first.

  • ronuds #135 3 years ago

    "I can see the visual gap between sonys first party games and everything else getting wider this year."

    lol, wide"er" - saying that there's already a gap? Maybe "less wide" is the better term?

    "At the beginning of 2008 was MS announcing all kinds of game titles or was it just like now?"

    Normally MS announces their games closer to release than Sony. Gears 2 was announced something like 5 months before being released.


  • TRUTH #136 3 years ago

    Free PS3 online but it's crap compared to Xbox Live

  • HermitArcader #137 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • bad09 #138 3 years ago

    "@bad09 having new Pysgnosis era games would be great, no need for the insults mind, and besides Sony Liverpool have said they wish to do something else than Wipeout in an interview, so you never know, also the forthcoming No Gravity for the PSP might appeal to fans of Colony Wars, I'm certainly interested in the title. "

    Vertical Stand gives bad09 hope again, the tiniest of hopes not seen in years that one day...one...day...bad09 thanks him for it :)

    oh, and it wasn't THAT insulting....

    / looks down kicks the floor sheepishly

  • frankfurter209 #139 3 years ago

    "I like the fact that Sony gain exclusives by good relations rather than cash. unlike some other company. "

    Funny how GTA4's ended exclusivity contradicts this bullshit. Your fanboy company isn't a fucking saint; none of them are.

  • TheComedian #140 3 years ago

    Fantastic interview - even made him comment against his own people and go against what he said.

    I have to admit though, the guy impressed me a lot - and I've more respect for Sony now after reading that. (Not neccessarily the PS3 though :p)

  • TheComedian #141 3 years ago

    'Good interview although I cannot remember Eurogamer ever giving Microsoft such a grilling.' - MS don't give the interviewers room to grill them tbh.

  • HermitArcader #142 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • napalm68 #143 3 years ago

    Yeah, that was a good read.

    And I must say, I'm impressed with the Sony responses. And what they are doing. Being financially responsible rather than just going for quantity.

  • bad09 #144 3 years ago

    @ Vertical Stand

    Ah well done mate you reminded me I've still got to pick DD up off PSN! \o/

  • El-Dev #145 3 years ago

    Why was the head of SCEE asked a load of questions about the USA on a site called EUROgamer?

    He gave reasonably good answers when possible, she tried to give him a grillin' but he done alright.

    What amazes me is that people continually rhyme on about the sales lead the 360 has, in 2 years the PS3 has sold 20m while in 3 the 360 sold 28m. So if the average continues the ps3 will have sold 30m in 3 years. Thinkin the EPICFAILSONYLOL is slightly overdone to be honest. It hasn't set the world alight like expected but neither has the 360 even with the price cuts.

  • bonker #146 3 years ago

    "Also unemployment has rocketed in Spain, and to some extent in Italy. The demand was not there. Not just for us - for Nintendo or Microsoft, it's exactly the same. "

    I'm afraid this BS about Spain & Italy (does the gaming spend of these countries combined get anywhere near the UK or Germany??) kinda set the tone for this interview.

    He sounds like a guy under real pressure; very evasive and a little narky too. Can't blame him though, there's not much going right at Sony Towers and it must be real tough there. I don't agree with the "it was too tough an interview" vibe that others seem to have picked up on - if not much is going right in the uber wide breadth of Sony's world then any decent interview is going to sound harsh, it's just reflecting reality - the big S is struggling, severely ... One thing's for sure - when a top exec flatly refuses to comment on what another top exec has said then there's trouble ahead ...

    Oh and yes, the comment about Game/Home was excruciating ...

    Last point: Give it a rest about a PS3 price cut will you FFS? They haven't cut the price because they are *desperate* for cash in the short-term, i.e. *now*. A decent (£50 tops) price cut will come within a month of the end of the KZ2 sales spike ...
    Edited by 3 at 30/01/09 @ 23:17

  • coolbritannia #147 3 years ago

    I thought he did well but the holes in his logic were pretty obvious at times. Nice guy, but he's in the gaming equivalent job of the Iraqi Information Minister, Comical Ali.

  • Nige #148 3 years ago

    I think Sony's major problem is that they are historically pretty poor at reading a market, and responding to it. That's not to say they never get it right, they do from time to time - but let's be honest, for every Sony success story there are several impressive failures.

    Instead of recognising that the games market was reaching critical mass and trying to broaden the appeal of the device, they just made it more niche in the hope that they'd convert every PS1 and PS2 owner into a sale. Instead of coming up with something to appeal to a fresh market (like Nintendo) - they bet the farm on a marginal 'hi-def' upgrade, and they didn't restrict this strategy to the gaming division.

    They nearly missed the Hi Def boat (and are still playing catch up on LCD) - and I think they over-reacted to this near miss. Throwing money at strategic manufacturing partnerships with Samsung and now Sharp, snapping up OLED long before anyone else thought it could be viable, and bolting on HDMI ports to as many devices as they can (even ones which don't even support native HD) and it's looking like some kind of panic strategy to convince everyone they need Hi-Def and they need it now. Meanwhile in their home market they haven't managed to convince the lion's share of punters to upgrade their VHS recorders to SD-DVD players.

    They bet far too much, on too thin a proposition. They're doing extremely well to ride it out as well as they have. It's all about saving face and staying in business right now, that's why they're too scared to drop prices and are instead creating 'value propositions'.

  • tomnol #149 3 years ago

    And, yeah, elitist. Consoles are mainly for playing games.

    Yes, Cellphones are mainly for making calls. Computers are mainly for calculating spread sheets. TVs are mainly for watching cable TV...People who use TV sets for playing games or computers for watching cable TV or cellphones to organize their schedules are fucking elitists.

    The only time the elitist rule shall not apply is when outspoken Xbots post in PS3-related discussion threads.

  • actionfitz #150 3 years ago

    what a slippery fucker.
    (not that im comparing him to any angelic figures on the competitor side - I own all three consoles atm)

    When faced with a difficult question he stonewalled it with 'No Comment'.
    All in all to be expected in fairness.

    But the facts are that to enjoy the features of a PS3 you need a HD tv to play it on. otherwise what's the fucking point of owning a Blue Ray player? its not like you can play your old PS2 games on it. well i cant... thx Mr Sony. I'll never finish Shadow of the collosus now since my aged PS2 is bricked. Cunts. /cry

    I enjoy my PS3 when I have excuse to use it. But its a luxury item... at a time where people are keen to trim costs the xbox is just plain better value.

    im sick of sony execs trying to defend their untenable position on the shitty price point.
    They deserve a bloody nose this generation. same as they gave Ninty when they launched the PS1 and caught them with their pants around their ankles.
    Hopefully they will wise up and bounce back like Nintendo have.

  • Moonprince #151 3 years ago

    lol Zedfragg, lol.

    At one point I feel sorry for you, at another I just think it must suck so hard to be you.

  • SchumiF1 #152 3 years ago

    The PS3 rules and everyone should just admit it. That simple!

  • Les #153 3 years ago

    Sad to see that the deluded fanboy mind can even turn a comments section on a pretty decent interview into the next flame war... The parallels between fanboys and religious people are stunning.

  • Collymilad #154 3 years ago

    Haha.

    1 word: DENIAL.

    Also, some total idiot said that in 2-3 years blu-ray will account for 50% of disk sales? Lay off the LSD.

    What's happened is GAMERS are finally starting to realise that if they can only have 1 console, the 360 is by far and away the best option.

    I might be the only one to say it here, but I can't be the only one mildly enjoying watching Sony's failure. They were arrogant and ignorant for nearly 10 fucking years, as far as I'm concerned they are just getting what they deserve.
    Edited by 1 at 31/01/09 @ 12:36

  • dryden555 #155 3 years ago

    not sure he's telling the truth in that last sentence.

  • mikeck #156 3 years ago

    "What's happened is GAMERS are finally starting to realise that if they can only have 1 console, the 360 is by far and away the best option."

    See I don't see it like that...my 360 has sat unused for about 2 months, my PS3 however has been on pretty much every day (or every other day) in that same timeline. I love both consoles, but barely touch the 360 now. The game line-up this year for PS3 in my eyes (you can say they are blinkered if you wish) is much better.

  • SexySquirrel #157 3 years ago

    Sorry but anyone claiming he has heard people walking into GAME and asking for a PS3 because HOME is on it .. his words are worthless ... Bottom line is Sony are victims of a) the recession , I used to own a PS3 , it's a far better built machine than the 360 , quieter and has blu ray / wifi built in blahdy blah but too expensive .. and b) their own arrogance .. the interviews with this drone and especially Kaz Hirai last week are scary in terms of how deluded they are ... they have gone from the most successful console in history to struggling against a newcomers second effort and losing comprehensively to the last gens 3rd place company .. ( please no one claim " oh nintendo are not competitors " ... we are in a global recession , most people are not buying 2 consoles .. most rightly or wrongly are going either with Wii or 360.

  • Sunyavadin #158 3 years ago

    Is this man actually existing in the same dimension as the rest of us?

  • Shrike #159 3 years ago

    Aw. For about 90% of that I can't help but think he's a tosser and then there's the bits where he struggles with allegories and it becomes adorable.

  • davisorle #160 3 years ago

    Bottom line is... He agrees that PS3 IS expensive even if it's a matter of production costs, that they do NOT have money to spend for exclusives, that Home isn't even close to being ready and yet they ALSO make so much money already out of something so useless and unfinished atm...

    Conclusion: I don't give a crap about MS nor Sony but i do give a fuck when I see everyone focused saying about MS wanting monopoly and everyone's money when Sony is empting wallets for a console and a Home that's not worth jack shit atm simply cause ppl still go buy it even if it's too expensive. Yeah, if i had a product and all the morrons go buy it at a high price and make me rich still OFC I'd keep selling it expensive. What he says is< as long as they still can back up their pricing point and keep selling they will drain as much money as they can cause they plan on fedding u on PS3s for the next 8 yeas. So either stop paying for that shit so they drop the fucking price or keep getting analy fucked.

    Cheers

  • captain-future #161 3 years ago

    I really think David Reeves is a sympathic chap... but all he did in this interview (decent questions EG!) all he did was evasive action.

  • local_celebrity #162 3 years ago

    David Reeves logs on.

    "Nice lady, that Ellie. Though she did give me a grilling. All the same, thought I discharged myself admirably under the circumstances. Stiff upper lip and all that.

    Better check on the comments thread. See how it flew with the B1 and C2s.

    What’s this? Bit of a cock? Slippery fucker? Cunting twat?"

    * tightens fist *

    "Those UNGRATEFUL FUCKING HERBERTS!"

  • Obli #163 3 years ago

    I wanted to see more questions about SCEE and what is changing:

    the PSN Store - delays, what is being done, where are PSN pre-pay cards, are we getting an official blog or being integrated with the US Blog?

    Also, visit the SCEE Equality Appeal and sign the petition! :) http://www.sceeea.com
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/09 @ 18:38

  • StooMonster #164 3 years ago

    Eurogamer: Have you had your first meeting about PlayStation 4 yet?

    David Reeves: I have never even heard it mentioned. I think people are concentrating so much on what's happening now that they're not even thinking about it.

    Charlie Demerjian of The INQUIRER is claiming an exclusive that Sony have chosen Intel's Larrabee for the GPU for PS4, and it's likely the entire architecture will be x86 (makes sense if the GPU is a bunch of little x86 processors).

    So much for "teh power" of the Cell, and no meetings on PS4. Also looks like launch of 2012 is in order for PS4 and Xbox3.

    [link url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inqu irer/news/851/1050851/intel-design-playstation-gpu
    ]http://ww w.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news...[/link]

  • StooMonster #165 3 years ago

    xXBrombeerXx: it's my birthday on Sunday too.

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