View Full Version : Kaz Hirai Launch interview.
http://games.kikizo.com/features/ps3_kazhirai_vidiv_oct06.asp
"In the interview, we quiz Kaz on the hot topics:
* Sony's changed attitude since E3
* Showing PS3 off to consumers for the first time
* "We don't want to make announcements that have no meaning"
* PlayStation profitability - "making huge contributions"
* Losing IP exclusivity on titles like Assassin's Creed
* PS3 a "completely different entertainment experience"
* Sixasis and loss of rumble - why not settle with Immersion
* Input functionality more important than feedback device
* If HD-DVD prevails where is PS3 left for movie playback?
* SCEA not concerned with Blu-Ray, but establishing PS3
* Launch supplies and ramping up production for Holidays
* Strategic delay of the European launch
* Strong platform six or seven years from now
* No Riiiidge Racer or Massive Damage jokes - guaranteed."
Sniff.. I havent hada rep for a long time....
Metal Sphere
10-02-2006, 09:18 PM
Is that last part serious? It'd be good if Sony actually recognized what a f*cking abomination their presentation was and how lifeless/soulless it was, only to top if off with a mindblowing price point.
Either way, they've got to get the other divisions out of their asses, shape up and ship these things out.
^^ Have u already seen the interview? that was quick!!
cliffbo
10-02-2006, 09:23 PM
i agreed with every word in that interview... only sheep follow false prophets... i myself prefer to follow the shepherd...
Metal Sphere
10-02-2006, 09:30 PM
Can't really go by anything from Kaz, this man is a fountain of non-answers. He wasn't helpful during the media embargo, and he's rarely (if ever) given informative answers.
Just the typical U.S.-side puppet for Sony and you can see it in the things he says.
EvilTaru
10-02-2006, 09:47 PM
Can't really go by anything from Kaz, this man is a fountain of non-answers. He wasn't helpful during the media embargo, and he's rarely (if ever) given informative answers.
Just the typical U.S.-side puppet for Sony and you can see it in the things he says.
He's actually not a US-side puppet at all, his job has less to do with PR and much more to do with how successful the Playstation brand has been in the last generation. That said, he's just not someone you want to be doing the PR when there are folks like Tretton and Harrison who tend to be more likeable.
OmniCloud
10-02-2006, 10:01 PM
Well i can't read it right now felllas...but going by all the things listed above..it seems like a pretty good read...I'll post my thoughts later Goku, but here's some rep man.
Metal Sphere
10-02-2006, 10:09 PM
He's actually not a US-side puppet at all, his job has less to do with PR and much more to do with how successful the Playstation brand has been in the last generation.
Wrong, that goes to the marketing and PR folks, one of which left earlier this year. He's a puppet at the top taking the praise, but ultimately what he can and can't say is determined by his bosses (read: Kutaragi).
That said, he's just not someone you want to be doing the PR when there are folks like Tretton and Harrison who tend to be more likeable.
Amen. This man comes across and wooden and insincere/fake. Harrison has too recently, but it's been touch and go wit him.
cliffbo
10-02-2006, 10:13 PM
Well i can't read it right now felllas...but going by all the things listed above..it seems like a pretty good read...I'll post my thoughts later Goku, but here's some rep man.
its a vid Omni :)
EvilTaru
10-02-2006, 10:22 PM
Wrong, that goes to the marketing and PR folks, one of which left earlier this year. He's a puppet at the top taking the praise, but ultimately what he can and can't say is determined by his bosses (read: Kutaragi).
That's simply incorrect, especially when SCEA has a very different philosophy than SCE Japan or SCEE, and Kaz is very much in charge of SCEA, whether you like him or not.
Amen. This man comes across and wooden and insincere/fake. Harrison has too recently, but it's been touch and go wit him.
He's a business exec, not a PR manager, to his credit, he's been running a pretty tight ship for years and it's not like he's been hogging credit either, given the fact that he's relatively low profile. I don't think he's "insincere", he's just not as eloquent, but then english is obviously not his first language. This isn't a personality contest. He has OBVIOUSLY taken a lot of flak for bad PR, when it's the PR manager's responsibility to make sure the right image is presented, but he can't take some credit for the division that he's in charge of, which has been very successful for many years? That kind of thinking is simply devoid of any real common sense.
Metal Sphere
10-02-2006, 10:43 PM
That's simply incorrect, especially when SCEA has a very different philosophy than SCE Japan or SCEE, and Kaz is very much in charge of SCEA, whether you like him or not.
There was no argument as to his leadership of the SCEA, just that he is nothing more than a puppet put in place with plans in front of him for SCEA by the SCEJ and SCEI. There's really no arguing against this. There's no need to defend the man, since that's his job.
He's a business exec, not a PR manager, to his credit, he's been running a pretty tight ship for years and it's not like he's been hogging credit either, given the fact that he's relatively low profile.
He's hardly responsible for the Playstation's success in N/A, as that falls to the people below him. Like I said, it was mainly marketing that did the deed. To sum up his part, he simply ran a tight ship according to the plans and goals laid out to him by SCEI.
Lackeys aren't meant to be characters, that's the difference between the head honcho and the chump.
I don't think he's "insincere", he's just not as eloquent, but then english is obviously not his first language. This isn't a personality contest. He has OBVIOUSLY taken a lot of flak for bad PR, when it's the PR manager's responsibility to make sure the right image is presented, but he can't take some credit for the division that he's in charge of, which has been very successful for many years? That kind of thinking is simply devoid of any real common sense.
Read above. I'm done here, there's no defending the man whatsoever. While you may feel some need to do so, it's simply not worth it.
EvilTaru
10-02-2006, 10:52 PM
There was no argument as to his leadership of the SCEA, just that he is nothing more than a puppet put in place with plans in front of him for SCEA by the SCEJ and SCEI. There's really no arguing against this. There's no need to defend the man, since that's his job.
Ok, now that's just BS especially when SCEA runs things very differently than SCE Japan, both hardware and software strategies are very different, and Kaz is the one who makes those ultimate decisions whether people agree with them or not.
He's hardly responsible for the Playstation's success in N/A, as that falls to the people below him. Like I said, it was mainly marketing that did the deed. To sum up his part, he simply ran a tight ship according to the plans and goals laid out to him by SCEI.
He's in charge of all those people, and when all is said and done he is responsible for SCEA and how the Playstation brand performs in North America, and he is held accountable for the performance of the SCEA branch.
Lackeys aren't meant to be characters, that's the difference between the head honcho and the chump.
You're confusing your hate for the man with whether he is actually good at his job or not, and calling him a "lackey" and a "chump" is simply ridiculous, because that's not what he is.
Read above. I'm done here, there's no defending the man whatsoever. While you may feel some need to do so, it's simply not worth it.
You are? Well, if that's the case then don't reply.
OmniCloud
10-02-2006, 11:20 PM
Well i think he talked pretty normal:huh: didn't get any phony "i don't care" vibes from him at all. He sees the competition as Real competition but think the hardware of PS3 will make better software. He simply states that they think Tilt is better for gaming than rumble-and eludes to then coming out with a version that supports both later on. (He says due to price but I think Sony is just not as good as Immersion of course-lol) Overall, great Interview. I think he reiterated more of what Phil Harrision said and I think he put a big question mark-on just how GTA will turn out for PS3 compared to 360. Whatever the case-I know many of my gaming will be done of SOny's system once again-he's convinced me to put my money into Sony's pocket-so he can't be all that bad eh?
masteratt
10-02-2006, 11:50 PM
Ah, of all the obvious reasons why the controller had tilt without rumble- Not many people mentioned they didn't put both in because of price. Why didn't Sony themselves say that? tsk tsk. Instead of some BS "collision of technology" that not many people believed anyway.
Great interview, some wonderful questions asked and answered truthfully (i felt they were anyway).
I liked how he kept bringing eveything back to Content (games). Even when a question had no relation to it, he kept linking everything back to games. That's the kind of attitude a console needs.
He didn't seem to mind too much about Blu-Ray failure. I know he said his job doesn't concern that but I expected some kind of worry IF Blu-Ray failed. I guess Sony just can't see that happening.
+rep for bringing this great interview to us.
VG Aficionado
10-03-2006, 12:14 AM
+rep for bringing this great interview to us.I found it before he did (http://forums.e-mpire.com/showpost.php?p=1255439&postcount=191) :cry2:
masteratt
10-03-2006, 12:18 AM
Oh good. I couldn't be bothered to Plus Rep him yet anyway due to EXTREMELY slow site today.
Very well, YOU'LL get the rep VG ;)
Domination
10-03-2006, 12:28 AM
http://games.kikizo.com/features/ps3_kazhirai_vidiv_oct06.asp
"In the interview, we quiz Kaz on the hot topics:
* Sony's changed attitude since E3
* Showing PS3 off to consumers for the first time
* "We don't want to make announcements that have no meaning"
* PlayStation profitability - "making huge contributions"
* Losing IP exclusivity on titles like Assassin's Creed
* PS3 a "completely different entertainment experience"
* Sixasis and loss of rumble - why not settle with Immersion
* Input functionality more important than feedback device
* If HD-DVD prevails where is PS3 left for movie playback?
* SCEA not concerned with Blu-Ray, but establishing PS3
* Launch supplies and ramping up production for Holidays
* Strategic delay of the European launch
* Strong platform six or seven years from now
* No Riiiidge Racer or Massive Damage jokes - guaranteed."
Sniff.. I havent hada rep for a long time....
Great find!
I thought he gave a good reason for rumble being omitted from the controllers. Just like the Wavebird, hopefully an alternative will become available later on down the line.
The entire interview was well put, IMO.
I found it before he did (http://forums.e-mpire.com/showpost.php?p=1255439&postcount=191) :cry2:
I love you, and I will rep you my son. (sorry for stealing your fame)
VG Aficionado
10-03-2006, 01:06 AM
ROFL! A good whimper works from time to time! +rep to both of you ;)
Garfunkel
10-03-2006, 02:24 AM
+rep to you both for this great interview. i found it funny the way Kaz sailed around the Q of BD failure completely
yoshaw
10-03-2006, 04:58 AM
For fellow dialup users onboard,
4MB mp3 audio only file of the Kaz Hirai Interview.
http://savefile.com/files/126986 (9min 36sec, 3.84MB, mp3 22Khz 56kbps)
PUNK em 733
10-03-2006, 05:15 AM
I think kaz did better than what some would have you believe.
Garfunkel
10-03-2006, 05:34 AM
even a 4MB for poor dialuppers that is 30mins worth nearly!
Kaz is cool but he sort of destroyed his day with a certain popular racing game....
edoshin
10-03-2006, 05:39 AM
Oh My God!!!! Did Somebody Actually Credit The Success Of Sony Simply To The Pr And Marketing Department!?!?! Oh My God!!!
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