Sony's Ken Kutagari Gone!..PS3 a Mistake!

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Well the other shoe has <b><i>finally</i></b> dropped! Sony amidst a flailing PS3 has Mr. Kutagari has <i>resigned</i>. He may was well since he was essentially fired months ago. Make no mistake he is being blamed for ruining the PS brand. Here is the article from MSNBC: <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18335424/">Sony's PS architect resigns</a>

Here are some key highlights:

Kutaragi's most recent brainchild, the PlayStation 3 console, came out in November but was marred by embarrassing production shortages and a $600 price tag that some Sony fans said was too steep. For the past several months, Sony <i>has resorted to giving away free game titles</i> and other marketing gimmicks to spur sales.


The defeat to archrival Nintendo prompted Sony Corp. Chief Executive Howard Stringer to escalate his turnaround effort. In November, the Welsh-born executive — the first foreign-born CEO of a major Japanese electronics company — demoted Kutaragi by stripping him of day-to-day management responsibilities.


But David Gardner, co-founder of investment group The Motley Fool, said the botched PS3 launch was the most unforgivable mistake.

"PlayStation was their killer app, but the only PS3 title that's good and unique is 'Resistance: Fall of Man,'" said Gardner, an avid gamer and a financial analyst in the sector. "That's driving me crazy. I don't know who is to blame for that, but it's the biggest, most crushing and obvious mistake they've made lately."


So even as the Sony faithful here deny there are problems and say wait for two years to judge PS3, Sony knows it has big problems. They are already calling this a defeat to Nintendo...lol. Maybe they will pull a Nintendo move and do something drastic like drop the price of the console to $200 or something.

Sony is getting just what they deserve. Shaking up the consumer electronic's arena by trojan horsing Blu-ray was a nasty move! Using their control over movie studios to get an unfair advantage against HD-DVD was a nasty move. Trying to get gamers who have done nothing but support the Playstation product to subsidize their Blu-ray dreams was an unforgivable move. Blu-ray should have been a separate product and the PS3 is only worth $300. The PS3 is NOT as technologically strong or superior to the 360, it is barely even equal it seems. This is a gaming machine and if it cannot make superior games it doesn't deserve a superior price. That price is all about Blu-ray and Sony's attention has only been on Blu-ray.

Anyone who believes this was worth it for a razor thin edge in slowly selling HD movies is an idiot. There is no way this was worth it, if PS3 continues fail, I see no way Sony ever get's back on top in this business. They cannot afford to build a machine that could match anything MS could pull off in the next next generation. And, even if they could, they way they have botched the PS3 tells me they no longer have the engineering skill to make a console as good as a MS console. This is a disaster.

[Gamer88]

Even the most optimisitic of sony fans can't spin this one to look like a good thing....actually...they probably can, so we will just have to wait and see. Is this more FUD, or is this a sign that sony actually is capable of making mistakes, and that the PS3 really is biting the dust.

[ilnadmy]

They are already calling this a defeat to Nintendo

No. MSNBC is already calling this a defeat to Nintendo, not Sony.

To be honest I'm sad to see Kutaragi go. So he made mistakes with the PS3, no one's perfect. If he continues making mistakes then you can fire him, but give him a second chance to prove himself. Does the PSOne's and PS2's success count for nothing?

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Even the most optimisitic of sony fans can't spin this one to look like a good thing....actually...they probably can, so we will just have to wait and see. Is this more FUD, or is this a sign that sony actually is capable of making mistakes, and that the PS3 really is biting the dust.

I think a lot of the Sony fans are still unsure of how good or bad a console Sony is and they are waiting for more proof. I've seen all the proof I need to see. PS3 is good but not better than 360. People say well it just takes more time to make a good PS3 game, yeah, that means 360 is better. That means in one year 360 can make twice as many good games than PS3 can. Given the same amount of time a developer can make a better 360 game.

But for a lot of Sony fans I think this holiday season will be do or die. They are looking for Sony to come out and blow away the industry with Wiz-Bang games. And it is just NOT gonna happen. MS is gonna wipe the floor with Sony in terms of game quality this holiday season. Just this year alone when you add up the number of quality titles available on 360 and PS3 by XMAS day, it will be a complete slaughter!

[Gadfly2317]

MS is gonna wipe the floor with Sony in terms of game quality this holiday season. Just this year alone when you add up the number of quality titles available on 360 and PS3 by XMAS day, it will be a complete slaughter!

It's hard not to see a slaughter coming this holiday with Mass Effect, Alan Wake, Halo 3, and GTA4 and much much more coming to a console that costs $200 less.

Seriously, can any sony fan (and I AM a sony fan) tell me why I shouldn't just wait 2-3 years to pick up a Ps3. . . . especially when with only so many hours of gaming time in the day I'm gonna be FLOODED with stuff to do on the DS, 360 and Wii?

I don't want to buy them ALL at full price, and Ps3 is the one to wait for. Come on Last Load, seriously. Why isn't it smarter to wait on the Ps3, on price drops, and just pick up that handful of games like Heavenly Sword, Lair and Little Big Planet used and cheap?

[ilnadmy]

No one is telling you you should buy the PS3 now (well maybe LastWord). Everyone else is saying give it some time. The good games ARE coming. As a PC gamer I've got enough goodies coming down the pipeline to keep me busy that I could probably go this entire gen without buying a console. I still will get a PS3 though, because I know it's going to provide me with the types of console games I love.

[Mochan]

So even as the Sony faithful here deny there are problems and say wait for two years to judge PS3, Sony knows it has big problems. They are already calling this a defeat to Nintendo...lol.

Your impasssioned speech may have been more compelling if you didn't make a major blunder here. Sony didn't call it a defeat to Nintendo by any means.

[Mochan]

No. MSNBC is already calling this a defeat to Nintendo, not Sony.

To be honest I'm sad to see Kutaragi go. So he made mistakes with the PS3, no one's perfect. If he continues making mistakes then you can fire him, but give him a second chance to prove himself. Does the PSOne's and PS2's success count for nothing?

I guess Sony felt the major blunder of the PS3, which erased all the good work the PS1 and PS2 did, was enough to can him.

[Mochan]

No one is telling you you should buy the PS3 now (well maybe LastWord). Everyone else is saying give it some time. The good games ARE coming. As a PC gamer I've got enough goodies coming down the pipeline to keep me busy that I could probably go this entire gen without buying a console. I still will get a PS3 though, because I know it's going to provide me with the types of console games I love.

It's true. With a good chunk of the premiere titles on the 360 on the PC anyway, in more or less the same form, sometimes better sometimes a little worse, and with the 360 more or less generally considered as leading the pack in terms of software titles, there is really no motivation to pick up any console. The Wii is the only console that I am even considering getting simply because it's different and offers something I can't get on my PC, but with a dearth of good games for it I can hold my peace for now. The Wii is still the most likely complement for the PC hopefully it can produce games that will make me want to get it.

[silversparrow]

Does the PSOne's and PS2's success count for nothing?

Those successes have turned him in to an arrogant elitist. When asked about the $600 price tag of the PS3 during last year's E3, he replied, "With the PS3, you can have next generation game experiences that could previously not be experienced -- things like next generation graphics and various services via the network. And, as with the PS and PS2, we believe people who like games will, without question, purchase it."

[Dancer O_o]

When things aren't going all that well a company usually tries to find a scape-goat for lackluster sales, Kutagari is exactly the chump Sony needed to lay blame with when PS3 hasn't done the numbers that the Wii has. It's all champagne and cheers over a Nintendy HQ and crying a river at Sony HQ for the moment. The DS is old hardware now and still can't stay on a shelf, the Wii will be exactly the same or better. All the wait and see if the Wii sales slow down has bore no fruit even with hardly any good games on the Wii as of yet, just imagine if Zelda had been a ground up Wii effort and Nintendo had 20 million to sell on day one. Sony would look much worse. I don't see how they can turn it around unless they really listen this time a knock the PS3 price down to 350 bones. Cheaper than 360 and better they can claim. And just a few dollars more than Wii and we got REAL next gen here folks is what Sony can say to that. Sure it would hurt like hell in the Sony's wallet and even ego but there is no doubt that you will not find a PS3 on a shelf at that point. Sony loves to go the knock 50 off the top route, sorry Sony 50 bones discount will do NOTHING to sales, knock a few hundred off and suck it up.

Sony so screwed up again with making hard to develop for hardware, again they refused to listen to developers and thought they knew better and that blame can be squarely layed on the shoulders of Mr. Kutagari. The arogant statements and hype building can again be layed on Mr. Kutagari. The poor public relations image Sony has gotten as a result can again be layed on Mr. Kutagari. The weak idea of UMD movie rape prices may also be his bunden to bare but I do not know. The dropping dualshock is most likely Mr. Kutagari's decision. You are only as good as what you are doing now, not what you have done then. Then is then, now is now....fire the chump and don't look back.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

When things aren't going all that well a company usually tries to find a scape-goat for lackluster sales, Kutagari is exactly the chump Sony needed to lay blame with when PS3 hasn't done the numbers that the Wii has. It's all champagne and cheers over a Nintendy HQ and crying a river at Sony HQ for the moment. The DS is old hardware now and still can't stay on a shelf, the Wii will be exactly the same or better. All the wait and see if the Wii sales slow down has bore no fruit even with hardly any good games on the Wii as of yet, just imagine if Zelda had been a ground up Wii effort and Nintendo had 20 million to sell on day one. Sony would look much worse. I don't see how they can turn it around unless they really listen this time a knock the PS3 price down to 350 bones. Cheaper than 360 and better they can claim. And just a few dollars more than Wii and we got REAL next gen here folks is what Sony can say to that. Sure it would hurt like hell in the Sony's wallet and even ego but there is no doubt that you will not find a PS3 on a shelf at that point. Sony loves to go the knock 50 off the top route, sorry Sony 50 bones discount will do NOTHING to sales, knock a few hundred off and suck it up.

Sony so screwed up again with making hard to develop for hardware, again they refused to listen to developers and thought they knew better and that blame can be squarely layed on the shoulders of Mr. Kutagari. The arogant statements and hype building can again be layed on Mr. Kutagari. The poor public relations image Sony has gotten as a result can again be layed on Mr. Kutagari. The weak idea of UMD movie rape prices may also be his bunden to bare but I do not know. The dropping dualshock is most likely Mr. Kutagari's decision. You are only as good as what you are doing now, not what you have done then. Then is then, now is now....fire the chump and don't look back.


Sony is in such a bad position. Assume they knocked the price WAY down to $400 or $350...everything else being the same I'm still gonna buy a 360 first because that is where all the games are. If Sony is $400 this XMAS, I still only get to play what Lair, Heavenly Sword...on 360 I get everything from Forza2 to Halo3, with stuff like Mass Effect and Bioshock in between not mention new multiplats like GTA and all the old catalog of games that will be low priced like Lost Planet and DeadRising.

Price might be the easiest(though biggest pill to swallow) thing to do, addressing the lack of games, boy they are just so far behind the 8 ball! I mean they are already behind plus the rate at which they produce games is slower, they cannot catch up in terms of good games.

[Dancer O_o]

Sony is in such a bad position. Assume they knocked the price WAY down to $400 or $350...everything else being the same I'm still gonna buy a 360 first because that is where all the games are. If Sony is $400 this XMAS, I still only get to play what Lair, Heavenly Sword...on 360 I get everything from Forza2 to Halo3, with stuff like Mass Effect and Bioshock in between not mention new multiplats like GTA and all the old catalog of games that will be low priced like Lost Planet and DeadRising.

Price might be the easiest(though biggest pill to swallow) thing to do, addressing the lack of games, boy they are just so far behind the 8 ball! I mean they are already behind plus the rate at which they produce games is slower, they cannot catch up in terms of good games.

When MS first announced the 360 coming out and killing off the first Xbox I thought that surely this is a mistake and it pissed me off plenty that a console I bought not so long ago will get no support in the future. I'm still pissed just a bit, but I see that MS was actually smart in forcing this next generation of consoles early. It put Sony in the position of being behind and nobody actually saw that as bad until now. Not even Sony thought it was bad as their assanine statements about next gen starting with us made it clear that Sony thought it was all gonna come up roses fairly quickly. There is a lot of games coming out for the PS3 and a lot of them have caught my eye as something to watch for in the future. One thing that urks me though now that I think back. How could anyone over at Sony have been so sure that the PS3 was gonna sell like hotcakes when they knew that they were skimping on the controller with no feedback, skimping on the HD cables and giving RCA jacks, skimping on the games that were considered launch games when only one good game in truth at launch. And on top of that the PS3 needed an immediate update because you couldn't do something as stupid easy as background downloading, but instead tie a 600 bones machine up for hours on end with downloads that you felt sure were coming in a 14.4 dialup speed. Looking back Sony was arrogant at launch and had absolutely no right to be. Unless riding that PS2 success train so long is pre-detemined to inflate ones ego to lording statis. I'm glad people are helping to cure cancer or whatever for the research they are doing using your PS3s processing power when you are not using it and Sony should be commended, but this is not why I bought a PS3. If you want support I throw you a few dollars and call it a day.

I'm also pissed off that the new Armored Core isn't very good, I downloaded the 360 demo last night and played it a lot. The controls are finally what I would call good, even damned good, but the environments are not so detailed and it's too easy. The reviews all say it's only 30 missions long and the first actual good mission doesn't happen until mission 15 or more...sorry 60 bones are worth more than a half-assed effort of a beloved franchise that has fallen in recent years. The Command and Conquer 360 demo was RTS bliss though, and I'm so very happy they are getting back to cheesy B-movie acting for the cutscenes with real actors. Sounds weird but sometimes the old ways are better.

FADR

[ilnadmy]

Yeah C&C3 is awesome, I've been playing it on the PC for the past few days and it's quite the blast from the past.

How does it handle on the 360? I'm interested in finding out what it's like to play an RTS on a console. I could never, ever do it since I'm used to the precision of mouse and keyboard, but I wonder what they've done to make it playable.

[Gamer From '78]

No. MSNBC is already calling this a defeat to Nintendo, not Sony.

To be honest I'm sad to see Kutaragi go. So he made mistakes with the PS3, no one's perfect. If he continues making mistakes then you can fire him, but give him a second chance to prove himself. Does the PSOne's and PS2's success count for nothing?

CORRECTION: What MSNBC is saying is that NIntendo handed Sony their @$$.

This move with Kutaragi stepping down is typical in the Japanese culture. After the failure of the Final Fantasy-Spirits Within CG movie, Sakaguchi stepped down and resigned from Square. Sakaguchi-san is the man responsible now for MystWalker Studios, the makers of Blue Dragon for the Xbox 360.

[Gadfly2317]

Are Lair and Heavenly Sword actually going to be ready for holiday '07? And like TMG said, even if the price of Ps3 were the same as 360, the software gap is huge.

And like Dancer 0 said, many people didn't think the MS year lead would be that big a deal. I didn't. I thought they cut the Xbox short and many consumers would resent that, launched with mostly crap, and that the extra year time would allow Sony to launch with a couple spectacular titles--a whole extra year for Sony to really get a great launch ready to go.

And really, MS's first year has been--relatively speaking--a yawner. There's been some stuff for the hardcores like Oblivion, and finally, a big mainstream eye-candy game came out a year later in Gears, but damn, it isn't MS's year lead time that's screwing Sony. Sony screwed this up all by themselves. They are getting stomped by a childs toy and a system I still sometimes look at as Xbox 1.5 for offering us nothing but upgraded graphics.

Inadmy responded below to my point about "waiting on Ps3" by saying "no one is saying buy it now." But that IS the problem. The more everyone decides the Ps3 is the system to wait on, the more developers are going to bring their stuff to the other systems. And that makes the Ps3 that much less worth its high price tag.

I don't know what could turn it around for Ps3, but it's going to be something more amazing than "Home" which looks like a rip off of the free PC game "Second Life" except Sony expects you to use it as basically a big mall.

[Dancer O_o]

Yeah C&C3 is awesome, I've been playing it on the PC for the past few days and it's quite the blast from the past.

How does it handle on the 360? I'm interested in finding out what it's like to play an RTS on a console. I could never, ever do it since I'm used to the precision of mouse and keyboard, but I wonder what they've done to make it playable.

The controls to pan the camera around the environment are super fast and work quite well, I wish you could zoom out the camera just a little more to see jsut a bit more battlefield, but like I said the camea is so fast that repositioning it to get good views is easy and fun. I like how you now build a squad and not just one lonely trooper. I can't seem to find a way to draw a marqee box around troopers to select them like on the PC, that frustrates a bit and make console limitations obvious at times. The graphics are better than expected as everthing is bumpmapped and textures are good. I don't know if my PC will run this game or not, the specs say yeah but in my experience RTS games bog down when the action gets heavy, to the point of ruining the experience somewhat. Otherwise I would already have and beaten C&C and Supreme Commander by now..I hope that one comes to PS3 actually and we could use a wireless K&M.

[ilnadmy]

C&C3 actually has very low computer requirements and plays very well on relatively older systems, so you might want to download the demo and try it out.

[Mochan]

Take note though that 2nd Life is only free if you just intend to wander around checking out the sights. The moment you want to get a house, put stuff in it and decorate, things get expensive.

[slade]

Are Lair and Heavenly Sword actually going to be ready for holiday '07?

Yes, Lair is only three months away.

[folken001]

I honestly feel bad for the guy. Yes, he might've gone the wrong direction this time. In my opinion, we don't really even know that. No one knows. Sony just couldn't wait until the end.

He brought in Sony so much and made them so much $$. In the end, he was so easily let go. Sony had a reason, but I dont' see why other people would have problem with him either. Was PSX no good? Was PS2 no good? Yet, so many joked at his expense. That's just sad and retarded.

[thelastword]

You know what, analysts can only give their take or do so in an attempt to spark debate, but in this case this analyst has very little knowledge of what's gone on at Sony. This is basically fodder for guys like TMG and DTM but has no base on facts, and that's understood, because that's all that's needed.

As for Ken Kutaragi, he basically proposed his resignation to the board, he wasn't fired, but then seeing how things have been going with him from the time Springer came in, he felt he should withdraw himself from the main roost. Kutaragi will still
be an honorary chairman at SCEI, he'll still be Springer's top technical adviser, but then he'll be independent to do his own thing just the same.

Personally, Ken is my hero, a brilliant visionary with a mind that supercedes that of many top engineers put together, he stayed focused on his vision even moreso than Eulynidus and his 300. This is not a joke, when you're a great mind, you're guaranteed to have many foes, it's just the way it is in life, some people will just hate your guts and that applies to many areas and fora. Just look at J allard, who said that "his motivation for coming to work everyday is to someday see Ken's resignation letter framed on his office wall". That tool is no longer in charge of the xbox division where he bled billions of dollars, he's now working on the effin Zune (the proposed ipod killer). How about Sakaguchi the bitter tool who said that he hated Ken Kutaragi in the most recent copy of EGM, I mean it's just the way it goes. Success and a hardhitting personality will return you some uneven waves in life, but these waves are represented as chaff in the grander scheme of things, like feeble men trashtalking Kratos in rage mode.

Kutaragi is singlehandedly responsible for the place this industry is today, a great visionary with two consoles that has made the competition look non existent. Many people including myself would not be gaming without the shift in content and direction the playstation brought gaming. Now I can understand that Sony wants to concentrate on software, so Kaz might be the better man for software relations, it's not like Sony ever suffered on the software front, but I'm cool with the idea to press that advantage further. I think that Kaz and Phil will do great things for Sony in that regard. Software without hardware means nothing though, and I'm glad that Ken was bullish enough to conceal additional expenses from Springer on R&D for the PS3. It might not be right company policy, but you know what, that piece of hardware (Sony's PS3) will be the catalyst that will spring Sony the most success it's ever seen in the future.

Some people are too shortsighted and it's unfortunate, what I'm saying here is that I'm glad Ken is still there to guide future iterations of the playstation machine. It will be quite shameful for Sony if he continues his vision elsewhere and becomes a competitor to them in the process, but I don't think that will happen. He's already has a vision for PS4, 5 & 6 and has already given a roadmap for PS3's cost cutting methods. PS3 is already at 65nm and 45nm is on song for the slim.

All the success Sony is seeing now, in terms of profits, stock, a profitable PS3 by the end of this financial year, is all because of Kutaragi. He's given everything to Sony, the roadmap to massive success down the line. Who has reinvigorated Son'y Lcd line? Mr Kutaragi San, the man who's vision exceeds many and all in this business. So let fanbots run with every lame out of context jokes and interviews, he has been the competiton's worst nightmare. I hope it's not over after PS3, but even then, when the PS3 starts to rake in massively, people will finally see him in his true light after all is said and done.


Here's some words from Ken himself on the issue, no anlytical BS;

TOKYO — Playstation inventor Ken Kutaragi, who will retire as chairman and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. on June 19, is already thinking ahead to Playstation 4 and beyond. In an exclusive interview with EE Times, Kutaragi said: "As a matter of course, I have the vision of Playstation 4, 5 and 6, which will merge into the network."
Thursday's (April 26) announcement (http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=Y4VEZSHSC2Q1QQSNDLSCK HA?articleID=199201944) of Kutaragi's "graduation" from SCEI was widely viewed here and across the consumer electronics industry with surprise. Kutaragi said he proposed his resignation to Sony's board of directors on Thursday.

Kutaragi said he previously turned over to Sony's PS3 design team his vision for reducing costs along with design models extending about two years into the future. "Now I'm ready to start working with a much wider world," Kutaragi said.

The outgoing Sony executive said he will maintain an amicable relationship with Sony, but added that future projects will be largely independent of Sony.
From its inception, Kutaragi said he had a vision for the Playstation franchise. The roadmap that led to PS3 was always clear in his mind, he said. But when introduction of PS3 was delayed by a blue-violet laser shortage, (http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192600057) "I could not talk about the next step. We've introduced PS3 in Europe, so now I can openly talk about" future plans, he said.

Creating a new world on the network is the next challenge Kutaragi has in mind, following the desgin and development of computer entertainment on the Playstation. "The design concept of the Cell processor (http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=5ZNTT3ZQWCA24QSNDLPSK HSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=194400567) is the network processor," he stressed. When the PS3 was introduced last year, Kutaragi said the network environment was not ready for a net-based game console.
"Now it has become possible, so why not enter?" he said.
Link (http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199202196)

[T.Tashi]

Well I don't feel sorry for the guy. He probably has more money than I'll see in a couple of lifetimes and I'd take his career history in a second. But Sony basically overpromised and underdelivered and they'll have to ride that out. But all the apocalyptic soothsaying about the demise of PS3 is retarded. But it's a popular bandwagon to jump on these days. Ironic since the MS Game division ain't exactly sittin' pretty.

[Gadfly2317]

Yes, Lair is only three months away.

That's good news. I'm honestly no hater and hope to see Sony turn it around for the Ps3. I don't know if Lair is the type of game to do that, but its the type of game I want--which usually isn't a good omen. But anyway. . . . I hope its polished, and not pushed out the door too soon because of the dearth of Ps3 software.

Lair just looks totally sick. It was these guys and how great they did the Star Wars game that had me picking up a GC at launch--my first "at launch" console. For awhile before the system came out, I'd stand there at demo kiosks playing that one mission over and over where you take out the Death Star, and it just felt like I was playing the movie. The promise of Pikmin and Eternal Darkness helped seal the deal, but Rogue Squadron was the day 1 title that made the GC worth picking up, and I have HIGH HOPES for Lair. And the graphics on Lair, and hopefully the gameplay, will make Rogue Squadron seem like an antique.

[Gadfly2317]

Kutaragi said: "As a matter of course, I have the vision of Playstation 4, 5 and 6, which will merge into the network."


How is that even possible when you have no idea what tech will be around? 10 years for Ps3, so a vision for 4, 5, and 6? What's he basing his gaming vision on for 15 to 20 years down the road? Could he, like maybe expand on this a little? I think these are the words of a delusional egomaniac, not the words of a visionary.

No wonder he was demoted. Isn't Sepuku normally how this situation should have been handled in their culture?

[folken001]

Well I don't feel sorry for the guy. He probably has more money than I'll see in a couple of lifetimes and I'd take his career history in a second. But Sony basically overpromised and underdelivered and they'll have to ride that out. But all the apocalyptic soothsaying about the demise of PS3 is retarded. But it's a popular bandwagon to jump on these days. Ironic since the MS Game division ain't exactly sittin' pretty.

Yeah he is rich. But, I don't think money is the issue here. When a kid gets bullied at school, I would not feel any less bad about it just because his dad is super rich. Well, it's just me.

About this sony hating bandwagon thing.... I find it odd that it's happening mostly here in America. I've read chinese gaming boards and no one hated ps3 there. While they did say PS3 is too pricy to get but most of them did agree that they will get one when the time is right. Over here, in America, it's like you aren't cool if you don't hate on Sony. Sony is arrogant. It's a fact. Apparently, it's only a fact here in America. No one really talks about it in the Asian boards. Or, I never read anything about it.

[Gamer88]

He's given everything to Sony, the roadmap to massive success down the line

Jesus gave me a roadmap to the afterlife, and eternal success. Wait, if he did, I threw it away, cause I gave up my religous vows. Anywho, just say it TLW, heck, i'll say it for you

Ken is the Jesus of the Videogame World.

[thelastword]

How is that even possible when you have no idea what tech will be around? 10 years for Ps3, so a vision for 4, 5, and 6? What's he basing his gaming vision on for 15 to 20 years down the road? Could he, like maybe expand on this a little? I think these are the words of a delusional egomaniac, not the words of a visionary.

No wonder he was demoted. Isn't Sepuku normally how this situation should have been handled in their culture?True sentiments from a "short sighted" supporter. Perhaps Ms should get you on the bandwagon for the 720 in two years time.

[slade]

Personally, I would have liked to see Kutaragi head up Sony if only because he would have brought the PS3 in under 400 dollars. Because of pressure from Kutaragi, the PS3 costs 430 dollars in Japan. It would have been a gamble and considering the losses, it may well have placed Sony in financial jeapordy but that's the type of risk you gotta take if you want to end up on top.

[thelastword]

Everything will fall into place though, as it stands, Sony has already shrunken on PS3 development costs significantly 6 months in. So such a price point is not too far off IMO. It might just be more appropriate to do so when the software charge is on later in the year.

[slade]

I've read about the shrink to 65nm coupled with the cost cuts on the Blu Ray diode. At most, Sony has dropped the price of the console by 100 dollars but even with that, they are losing money on the console at six hundred dollars. Remember, they lose 200 dollars per console. Sony is more likely to pocket the change and keep the PS3 price at 600 for a while longer. Forget about seeing any price cuts till mid next year at best and even then I doubt they'd go lower then 50 dollars.

[ilnadmy]

Gaddy, these people are paid very well to know what's coming down the pipeline in terms of technology. They don't build the PS3 with the present in mind. Hell, they started planning the PS3 when the PS2 launched, so basically they were planning for the tech in 2010 way back in 2000. These things happen.

[Mochan]

In the Philippines nobody hates Sony. We are Sony nuthuggeres here. Only the USA hates Sony.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

I think certain people here get confused between hating sony and not liking the PS3. Sony is cool with me. I'm no fan of the PS3 though.

[thelastword]

I've read about the shrink to 65nm coupled with the cost cuts on the Blu Ray diode. At most, Sony has dropped the price of the console by 100 dollars but even with that, they are losing money on the console at six hundred dollars. Remember, they lose 200 dollars per console. Sony is more likely to pocket the change and keep the PS3 price at 600 for a while longer. Forget about seeing any price cuts till mid next year at best and even then I doubt they'd go lower then 50 dollars.I agree, but If Sony has to price the system more competitively, they do have the option to do it this year and not bleed so badly. So yes, arguing from that perspective, it is feasible. Personally, I don't think a price drop is warranted yet though. I think the upcoming holidays with it's influx of quality software should indicate to Sony what type of steam is raised on account of that software push. However, if Sony is going to give a price cut this year, the holidays would be an ideal time.

[T.Tashi]

Yeah he is rich. But, I don't think money is the issue here. When a kid gets bullied at school, I would not feel any less bad about it just because his dad is super rich. Well, it's just me.

About this sony hating bandwagon thing.... I find it odd that it's happening mostly here in America. I've read chinese gaming boards and no one hated ps3 there. While they did say PS3 is too pricy to get but most of them did agree that they will get one when the time is right. Over here, in America, it's like you aren't cool if you don't hate on Sony. Sony is arrogant. It's a fact. Apparently, it's only a fact here in America. No one really talks about it in the Asian boards. Or, I never read anything about it.

Hmm... well... I think the real shame is shareholder greed and their addiction to short term profits. I don't think he was bullied perse. I think from a cultural perspective, after all the grumblings from investors, he did what any Japanese executive would be expected to do. He committed seppaku, symbolically that is.

Most things I read and hear from people who have a PS3 is that they are quite happy with it. They've no complaints.

A lot of those complaints from investors was about Sony's demographic and expanding it beyond the typical young male hardcore gamer... so I have to give Nintendo all the credit in the world who is managing to do just that with the weakest tech out the bunch.

I went to a Halo party the other weekend. One group played Halo and the other group played Wii. The Halo group always includes Halo vets, is firecely competitive and includes lots of cussing and while noobs are accepted to play they mainly just run around and get killed. Wii on the other hand (and I've seen this happen several times) a person who has never gamed or has little gaming experience picks up the wand, easily gets talked through the motions (and are pleasantly surprised to learn that there's no buttons to memorize) and instantly they're playing and roughly an hour later, they want a Wii of their own.

I'm inclined to say this fad is gonna play itself out, but I seriously don't know. Nintendo just might own this generation... hence Sony investors are pissed.

[folken001]

I don't think I can ever perform a seppaku. It hurts too much. Plus, I don't like pain. If I do it, it would be long and painful. I rather someone else does it for me. At least, it'll be much quicker.

But, you are right. It's just too bad investors won't forgive him for losing 500 millions when he made billions for them in the past years. And, now, the word on the street is that NIntendo is interested in hiring Ken. If that happened and Ken came up something and made Nintendo #1, then, Sony really had no one else to blame but themselves.

I recently made a decision of not buying a wii. I have a Wii in my hand right now and I can have it modded at any given time. But, I look at it, I really can't see myself playing it much at all. Seriously, wiimote is one giant pos. It's too heavy to play with for a long period of time and it's hella inaccurate. Then Nintendo is ripping people off on those VC games too. I read all the money they get from those titles are pure profit. Seriously people stop buying those 20 years old games when you can download them for free.

People probably buy wii because nongamers can get into it rather easily. The problem is I've been playing games for long enough and Wii really don't offer me anything that I really care for. Hence, my budget goes to my next PC instead of a Wii + modchip.

[Dancer O_o]

I don't think I can ever perform a seppaku. It hurts too much. Plus, I don't like pain. If I do it, it would be long and painful. I rather someone else does it for me. At least, it'll be much quicker.

But, you are right. It's just too bad investors won't forgive him for losing 500 millions when he made billions for them in the past years. And, now, the word on the street is that NIntendo is interested in hiring Ken. If that happened and Ken came up something and made Nintendo #1, then, Sony really had no one else to blame but themselves.

I recently made a decision of not buying a wii. I have a Wii in my hand right now and I can have it modded at any given time. But, I look at it, I really can't see myself playing it much at all. Seriously, wiimote is one giant pos. It's too heavy to play with for a long period of time and it's hella inaccurate. Then Nintendo is ripping people off on those VC games too. I read all the money they get from those titles are pure profit. Seriously people stop buying those 20 years old games when you can download them for free.

People probably buy wii because nongamers can get into it rather easily. The problem is I've been playing games for long enough and Wii really don't offer me anything that I really care for. Hence, my budget goes to my next PC instead of a Wii + modchip.

Hire him for what? Nintendo already has all the talent they need right now. Maybe they could use him to over develop a console and put Nintendo 900 zillion in the whole like his last job did. You can't hold a Wiimoto for 2 hours without feeling the pain? Makes my 70 hours of Zelda feel manly then, strong like bull.

[ilnadmy]

Sony is cool with me. I'm no fan of the PS3 though.

That makes you a racist, so now all your arguments are irrelevant.

I win.

[folken001]

Hire him for what? Nintendo already has all the talent they need right now. Maybe they could use him to over develop a console and put Nintendo 900 zillion in the whole like his last job did. You can't hold a Wiimoto for 2 hours without feeling the pain? Makes my 70 hours of Zelda feel manly then, strong like bull.
I go to the gym for almost 2 hours everyday lifting weights and stuff. Yet I can't last more than 1 hour of playing bust a groove bash. My arm gets tired. I don't know how you do it. You must be a monster.

I don't know what Nintendo could hire him for. But, I bet sony didn't know he would turn PS into what it is today either.

[T.Tashi]

I don't think I can ever perform a seppaku. It hurts too much. Plus, I don't like pain. If I do it, it would be long and painful. I rather someone else does it for me. At least, it'll be much quicker.

But, you are right. It's just too bad investors won't forgive him for losing 500 millions when he made billions for them in the past years. And, now, the word on the street is that NIntendo is interested in hiring Ken. If that happened and Ken came up something and made Nintendo #1, then, Sony really had no one else to blame but themselves.

I recently made a decision of not buying a wii. I have a Wii in my hand right now and I can have it modded at any given time. But, I look at it, I really can't see myself playing it much at all. Seriously, wiimote is one giant pos. It's too heavy to play with for a long period of time and it's hella inaccurate. Then Nintendo is ripping people off on those VC games too. I read all the money they get from those titles are pure profit. Seriously people stop buying those 20 years old games when you can download them for free.

People probably buy wii because nongamers can get into it rather easily. The problem is I've been playing games for long enough and Wii really don't offer me anything that I really care for. Hence, my budget goes to my next PC instead of a Wii + modchip.

If a samurai is commanded to or otherwise is committing seppaku and they hesitate or pause from the pain, their fellow samurai would yell at them to suck it up and do it right. :lol: Ancient Japan (in my eyes) is really really bizarre. It's interesting so much of that pervades their corporate culture. But in terms of cars and electronics they do kick the crap out of most everybody else. At present I'd never buy an American car. Although I hate Chrysler for personal reasons I give the 300 a lot of props. That's a nice ride.

I feel the same about the Wii. I do realize how jaded I am when I see other people play Wii. I guess I really am part of the 'hardcore gamer' problem. :p I play it now and then tho, (it's great at parties) but the wife is happy with it and that what counts...... I guess.

[Dancer O_o]

I go to the gym for almost 2 hours everyday lifting weights and stuff. Yet I can't last more than 1 hour of playing bust a groove bash. My arm gets tired. I don't know how you do it. You must be a monster.

I don't know what Nintendo could hire him for. But, I bet sony didn't know he would turn PS into what it is today either.

I admit, the Wii at times made my arms ache a bit, it would take a few hours. Sometimes when i was real tired after work i would just play Oblivion, other days when the yang was up it would be Wiitime.

[NEO-360]

Well the other shoe has <b><i>finally</i></b> dropped! Sony amidst a flailing PS3 has Mr. Kutagari has <i>resigned</i>. He may was well since he was essentially fired months ago. Make no mistake he is being blamed for ruining the PS brand. Here is the article from MSNBC: <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18335424/">Sony's PS architect resigns</a>

Here are some key highlights:

Kutaragi's most recent brainchild, the PlayStation 3 console, came out in November but was marred by embarrassing production shortages and a $600 price tag that some Sony fans said was too steep. For the past several months, Sony <i>has resorted to giving away free game titles</i> and other marketing gimmicks to spur sales.


The defeat to archrival Nintendo prompted Sony Corp. Chief Executive Howard Stringer to escalate his turnaround effort. In November, the Welsh-born executive — the first foreign-born CEO of a major Japanese electronics company — demoted Kutaragi by stripping him of day-to-day management responsibilities.


But David Gardner, co-founder of investment group The Motley Fool, said the botched PS3 launch was the most unforgivable mistake.

"PlayStation was their killer app, but the only PS3 title that's good and unique is 'Resistance: Fall of Man,'" said Gardner, an avid gamer and a financial analyst in the sector. "That's driving me crazy. I don't know who is to blame for that, but it's the biggest, most crushing and obvious mistake they've made lately."


So even as the Sony faithful here deny there are problems and say wait for two years to judge PS3, Sony knows it has big problems. They are already calling this a defeat to Nintendo...lol. Maybe they will pull a Nintendo move and do something drastic like drop the price of the console to $200 or something.

Sony is getting just what they deserve. Shaking up the consumer electronic's arena by trojan horsing Blu-ray was a nasty move! Using their control over movie studios to get an unfair advantage against HD-DVD was a nasty move. Trying to get gamers who have done nothing but support the Playstation product to subsidize their Blu-ray dreams was an unforgivable move. Blu-ray should have been a separate product and the PS3 is only worth $300. The PS3 is NOT as technologically strong or superior to the 360, it is barely even equal it seems. This is a gaming machine and if it cannot make superior games it doesn't deserve a superior price. That price is all about Blu-ray and Sony's attention has only been on Blu-ray.

Anyone who believes this was worth it for a razor thin edge in slowly selling HD movies is an idiot. There is no way this was worth it, if PS3 continues fail, I see no way Sony ever get's back on top in this business. They cannot afford to build a machine that could match anything MS could pull off in the next next generation. And, even if they could, they way they have botched the PS3 tells me they no longer have the engineering skill to make a console as good as a MS console. This is a disaster.

My all time Ken Kutaragi favorite ass-clown quote was"The PS3 isnt a videogame console, its a computer." Well so far it appears he was telling the truth. :D

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Actually Seppuku is Honorable. If a Samurai were to fail he would ask is Master for the privilage of commiting Seppuku so he would die with Honor. Getting fired or being asked to resign and let's not kid ourselves this is what happened doesn't seem to be the same thing.

[ilnadmy]

Maybe if he tried to jab a pen into his abdomen then it could be considered Seppuku...

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Another thing about traditional Seppuku. Other Samurai wouldn't stand around and tell him to suck it up. There is two person method. After the Samurai makes the intial cut into his abdomen the other one chops his head off.

[ilnadmy]

Yeah I saw that in The Last Samurai. Good movie that.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Was that the Tom Cruise Movie? I never watched it the thought of a White guy being the last Samurai turned me off. Even though that may have not been the point of the movie. I just never watched it.

[Gadfly2317]

Was that the Tom Cruise Movie? I never watched it the thought of a White guy being the last Samurai turned me off. Even though that may have not been the point of the movie. I just never watched it.

It wasn't just that it was a white guy being the last Samurai, it was that is freaking Tom Cruise. And it's not that I won't watch a movie with him in it or deny he's had the occasional succesful performance. But it was hard to imagine him being "The Last Samurai."

Maybe I should give the film a chance if I am channel surfing and it happens to be coming on. Definitely not going to go out of my way to see it.

[T.Tashi]

Another thing about traditional Seppuku. Other Samurai wouldn't stand around and tell him to suck it up. There is two person method. After the Samurai makes the intial cut into his abdomen the other one chops his head off.

Read Hagakure by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

[Renzatic Gear]

I saw The Last Samurai, and Tom Cruise wasn't the last samurai. The boxart, posters, and previews might make it seem that way, so it's no surprise you're all thinking that. But the movie is actually about his character knowing the last true samurai, and being inspired by him.

It was a pretty decent flick. Not the best I've seen, but far from being the worst.

[ilnadmy]

Yeah I was just going to say he isn't really the last samurai. It's a decent movie, and probably rates in my top 10 faves.

[Mochan]

Now I feel left out not having seen The Last Samurai.

So it's like The Reaping. The Reaping tries to make it out that the little kid is Evil's Savior, but actually when you think about it the savior is Hilary Swank.

[ilnadmy]

My friend wanted to go see The Reaping yesterday. I told him no way. So we went to see Happily N'ever After.

Yeah that was a mistake.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Read Hagakure by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

I'll look for it (I've been looking for something to read lately). Fiction or non fiction? Another good book is Shogun by James Clavell (sp?) and Gaijin as well. Shogun was actually made into a week long miniseries I've never seen it but can't imagin it being too good being how violent and sexual the book was. It is over 1200 pages though and Gaijin tops out over a 1000 as well. Infact any of Clavelles asian saga books are worth the read.

Gadfly good post your thoughts sum up my feelings about the movie. My last comment probably came off pretty racist.

But I may go check it out now. Since you guys are saying I pegged the movie wrong though.

[Mochan]

Not a fan of Clavelle's stuff. I tried reading Shogun but fell asleep and threw the book into the gutter. I especially hated the heroine she was so annoying.

[Dancer O_o]

I'll look for it (I've been looking for something to read lately). Fiction or non fiction? Another good book is Shogun by James Clavell (sp?) and Gaijin as well. Shogun was actually made into a week long miniseries I've never seen it but can't imagin it being too good being how violent and sexual the book was. It is over 1200 pages though and Gaijin tops out over a 1000 as well. Infact any of Clavelles asian saga books are worth the read.

Gadfly good post your thoughts sum up my feelings about the movie. My last comment probably came off pretty racist.

But I may go check it out now. Since you guys are saying I pegged the movie wrong though.

Shogun was definately a mini-series NBC movie that Richard Chamberlin starred in. It was pretty good for a old seventies made for TV movie, and yes it was a week long event, 10 hours. They even boiled the crew for all to see and cleaved a head right off the shoulders of a peasent so as you could see the stump, good stuff for prime time television.

[T.Tashi]

I'll look for it (I've been looking for something to read lately). Fiction or non fiction? Another good book is Shogun by James Clavell (sp?) and Gaijin as well. Shogun was actually made into a week long miniseries I've never seen it but can't imagin it being too good being how violent and sexual the book was. It is over 1200 pages though and Gaijin tops out over a 1000 as well. Infact any of Clavelles asian saga books are worth the read.

Gadfly good post your thoughts sum up my feelings about the movie. My last comment probably came off pretty racist.

But I may go check it out now. Since you guys are saying I pegged the movie wrong though.

Nonfiction. Yamamoto Tsunetomo was a real samurai in the 18th century. He was forbidden by his retainer to commit suicide so he sorta retired and lived like a monk. The way of the Samurai was sort of in decline so suicide was out by then. The book is a series of conversations some guy named Tsuramoto had with Tsunetomo. You might see it as "the Book of the Samurai." I'm not sure how definitive it is though. It's Tsunetomo's opinions pretty much, but it's funny as hell in parts. Forrest Whittaker quotes it a lot in Ghost Dog, which I would recommend over The Last Samurai anyday.

[DrunkenThumbmaster]

Shogun was definately a mini-series NBC movie that Richard Chamberlin starred in. It was pretty good for a old seventies made for TV movie, and yes it was a week long event, 10 hours. They even boiled the crew for all to see and cleaved a head right off the shoulders of a peasent so as you could see the stump, good stuff for prime time television.


Sh!t that sounds sweet. I wonder if I can track it down.

Mochan as usaual hates every thing :D

Thanks for the info Tashi. I read a wiki on it. Didn't get much info. I'm looking for the book now. Local Library doesn't have it. May have to buy it online.

[T.Tashi]

Sh!t that sounds sweet. I wonder if I can track it down.

Mochan as usaual hates every thing :D

Thanks for the info Tashi. I read a wiki on it. Didn't get much info. I'm looking for the book now. Local Library doesn't have it. May have to buy it online.

Cool if you find it lemme know what you think. I was required to read a bunch of philosophy books, and Bushido and Book of Five Rings bored me to death. Hagakure was the only entertaining one out the bunch of Japanese books. I find it odd it's so obscure compared to the others.