Ken Kutaragi steps down [Mobile/Archive]

ryanbph

11-30-2006, 12:05 PM

i would say yes, but like mentioned above it is a promotion of sorts

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aPGd5E.YlTR8&refer=japan

also sony's press release can be found here

http://prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-30-2006/0004482553&EDATE=

and joystiq thoughts on the move if it is a promtion or not

What to make of the reshuffling? While the new chairman title is a nominal promotion for Kutaragi, it's hard to see this as anything but a rebuke for the "father of the PlayStation" after the PS3 launch was beset by delays (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/14/breaking-news-ps3-delayed-until-november/) and missed production targets (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/21/ps3-may-miss-production-goals-again/2). Sounds to us like he's been told to go sit in the corner (office) and think about the "big picture." Hirai, who has been the more public face (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYMxpcYrYZE&mode=related&search=) of the PlayStation in America, will now have a more active role in overseeing the PlayStation's worldwide fortunes. Get used to seeing a lot more of Tretton, a Sony veteran who has operated mostly behind-the-scenes until this point.

CocheseUGA

11-30-2006, 12:16 PM

Looks like a really good move for Sony. Maybe we'll see some results instead of more promises?

Kayden

11-30-2006, 12:29 PM

Riiiiiidge Racer!.... Er... PrrrooooooooMooootion!

CocheseUGA

11-30-2006, 12:40 PM

Riiiiiidge Racer!.... Er... PrrrooooooooMooootion!

PMSL...

freezedried74

11-30-2006, 12:42 PM

Riiiiiidge Racer!.... Er... PrrrooooooooMooootion!

Haha that was great!

Dead of Knight

11-30-2006, 12:47 PM

Roufuss

11-30-2006, 01:39 PM

I thought this was awesome news at first, but WHY in the fuck are they replacing him with KAZ HIRAI? He is the second biggest douche in gaming next to Krazy Ken. This might actually be a bad move rather than a good one.

Yea, agreed.

It's like replacing one crazy fucker with a slightly less crazy, but still crazy fucker.

Scorch

11-30-2006, 01:45 PM

So is this a promotion or demotion for Ken?

Roufuss

11-30-2006, 01:47 PM

So is this a promotion or demotion for Ken?

I've got a feeling it's a promotion designed to take him out of the view of the public. He's promoted, yes, but we won't be seeing or hearing from ol Ken anymore.

jkam

11-30-2006, 01:47 PM

botticus

11-30-2006, 03:07 PM

Yea, agreed.

It's like replacing one crazy fucker with a slightly less crazy, but still crazy fucker.At least they made it pretty easy on us. We can just go from Krazy Ken to Krazy Kaz. They're like interchangeable parts.

Bazz

11-30-2006, 03:09 PM

Who cares Sony Excecutives aren't good at hyping up their systems like Nintendo(Reggie , Miyamato , Iwata) and Ms(J.Allard, Peter Moore even Major Nelson(Larry Hyrb).

ViolentLee

11-30-2006, 03:20 PM

You honestly think Iwata -- with his Andy Kaufman's Latka-like delivery -- is a great pitchman? I'm not saying he's better than Ken, but Ken made the freaking PlayStation, so I cut him some slack. Also, keep in mind Nintendo's E3 press conferences always have teleprompters, while the other two don't.

jollydwarf

11-30-2006, 03:24 PM

I'm just wondering what the subtext for Sony and the PS3 of this move, be it up, down, or sideways, is. Desperate measures for desperate times? A move long overdue? Just coincidental timing? I think not.

Kendro

11-30-2006, 03:32 PM

Hiroshi Yamauchi > Ken and Kaz combined.

rickonker

11-30-2006, 04:25 PM

I'm not a big fan of all this PR bullshit, but I have to admit Major Nelson beats the shit out of everybody else, including Reggie.

Let's hope Sony gets totally fucked with the PS3. It'll be good for the future of video games.

Dead of Knight

11-30-2006, 05:28 PM

Sony really just needs a guy who actually understands video games and can be truthful about what they are offering. If the PS3 is so superior to everything else the thing should practically sell itself. Instead we get a lot of bullshit and empty promises. I think they shoot themselves in the foot over there for fun.

Yeah while J Allard is a fucktard at least he generally knows what he is talking about. Reggie doesn't play videogames but he also puts on an air that he is excited about his product and knows what he is talking about. I hope the new guy replacing Kaz is better than him at generating excitement and hype, but I doubt it. We all know the guy replacing Kutaragi is an idiot, so yeah.

rickonker

11-30-2006, 05:56 PM

Props to the first CAG who can name the business principle at work here.

SMMM

11-30-2006, 06:03 PM

You honestly think Iwata -- with his Andy Kaufman's Latka-like delivery -- is a great pitchman? I'm not saying he's better than Ken, but Ken made the freaking PlayStation, so I cut him some slack.

No. He didn't make the PlayStation. Outstanding third party support made the PlayStation.

Bazz

11-30-2006, 06:24 PM

Strell

11-30-2006, 06:27 PM

Steps down?

Off what, a step stool?

Apossum

11-30-2006, 06:34 PM

Props to the first CAG who can name the business principle at work here.

Demote people who suck at their job but aren't bad enough to fire?

rickonker

11-30-2006, 06:36 PM

Demote people who suck at their job but aren't bad enough to fire?
No, and anyway this was technically a promotion.

Kayden

11-30-2006, 06:54 PM

Props to the first CAG who can name the business principle at work here.

Find the most imcompotent schumuck in your company and promote them so far up the corporate ladder that they can't actually fuck anything up. Too many smart people at the top makes a mess.

rickonker

11-30-2006, 06:56 PM

Find the most imcompotent schumuck in your company and promote them so far up the corporate ladder that they can't actually fuck anything up. Too many smart people at the top makes a mess.

This is actually correct! Do you know the name for this?

Kayden

11-30-2006, 07:04 PM

This is actually correct! Do you know the name for this?

SOP.

Standard Operating Proceedure. :lol:

jollydwarf

11-30-2006, 07:06 PM

I'm not a big fan of all this PR bullshit, but I have to admit Major Nelson beats the shit out of everybody else, including Reggie.

That's funny, I find him to be kind of a diva with a 'fruity nerd' voice that is evasive as hell and whose podcast is only as good as his guest/conference audio he throws up there. It's an important position, I think, but he's just not the right guy for the job. (And you just know his constant mention of his love for his "Dee-Esth Lite" are strictly to build 'cred' with reluctant and cynical gamers.)

Let's hope Sony gets totally fucked with the PS3. It'll be good for the future of video games.

No, actually it won't.

epobirs

11-30-2006, 07:18 PM

No. He didn't make the PlayStation. Outstanding third party support made the PlayStation.

And you think the third party support happened by accident? A lot of work went into that and even then it took somebody who saw exactly how to leverage Sony's advantages over the competition to offer publishers a better deal.

This book reads like a Sony blow job in many parts but offer good coverage of the details
http://www.amazon.com/Revolutionaries-Sony-Playstation-Visionaries-Conquered/dp/0071355871/sr=1-16/qid=1164928950/ref=sr_1_16/104-9804676-7939952?ie=UTF8&s=books

epobirs

11-30-2006, 07:21 PM

Props to the first CAG who can name the business principle at work here.

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Principle-Laurence-J/dp/1568491611/sr=1-1/qid=1164929084/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-9804676-7939952?ie=UTF8&s=books

rickonker

11-30-2006, 07:24 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Principle-Laurence-J/dp/1568491611/sr=1-1/qid=1164929084/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-9804676-7939952?ie=UTF8&s=books

Props for knowing what the Peter Principle is, but the correct answer is something else...actually closely related to the Peter Principle. It's basically what Kayden said.

epobirs

11-30-2006, 07:50 PM

Props for knowing what the Peter Principle is, but the correct answer is something else...actually closely related to the Peter Principle. It's basically what Kayden said.

Perhaps you're thinking of a certain Blake Edwards movie.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0083015/

rickonker

11-30-2006, 07:58 PM

Perhaps you're thinking of a certain Blake Edwards movie.
http://imdb.com/title/tt0083015/
No, it was first introduced in writing if that helps. I'm seriously surprised no one got it instantly after you mentioned the Peter Principle...especially since Kayden was so spot on with his description.

Spades22

11-30-2006, 08:01 PM

So basically...you've taken two crazy people and promoted them...nice

Graystone

11-30-2006, 08:03 PM

No. He didn't make the PlayStation. Outstanding third party support made the PlayStation.

The CD format made the playstation. followed by outstanding 3rd party support.

Reality's Fringe

11-30-2006, 08:29 PM

No, it was first introduced in writing if that helps. I'm seriously surprised no one got it instantly after you mentioned the Peter Principle...especially since Kayden was so spot on with his description.

I've heard people call it the "Dilbert Principle" before.

rickonker

11-30-2006, 08:46 PM

I've heard people call it the "Dilbert Principle" before.
Ding ding ding! There we go.

epobirs

11-30-2006, 08:52 PM

The CD format made the playstation. followed by outstanding 3rd party support.

No, if CD was the big win in of itself, numerous earlier platforms would have done far better. Using CD-ROM in a way that only Sony was themn in a position to do was the big difference.

The secret phrase of the day is 'inventory management.' Sony gave this to publishers and retailers in Japan in a way that was previously only a dream.

epobirs

11-30-2006, 08:54 PM

Crazy though they may be, I just don't see Hirai or Kutaragi as the PHB.

rickonker

11-30-2006, 09:02 PM

Crazy though they may be, I just don't see Hirai or Kutaragi as the PHB.

I think Kutaragi is as incompetent as the PHB when it comes to PR at least. Maybe that "get a second job so you can afford a PS3" shit flies in Japan, but it sounds dumb as hell to me.

psiufoxx2

11-30-2006, 09:14 PM

Fixed:...I'm not saying he's they're better than Ken, but Ken Nintendo made the freaking PlayStation, so I cut him them some slack...

ViolentLee

11-30-2006, 09:20 PM

At least Iwata and Nintendo know how to put on an event. Every time I was a Sony Press Confrence it's 45 min of Kaz & a stupid Pie chart. Yeah I know your investor need to see some stuff , but the investors want you to hype the shit out of your product so people buy it also.
Point taken. I remember a few years ago, a chunk of Sony's press conference was about incorporating AOL and Real Player into PS2. Not only was it boring crap nobody cared about, it was boring crap that never even came to fruition.

However, at this year's E3, I really think Microsoft had the best press conference, especially with all the playable stuff at the Roosevelt across the street afterwards. They usually do it up right -- except the first year, when the Xbox Gates had wouldn't even turn on.

Bazz

11-30-2006, 09:26 PM

epobirs

11-30-2006, 09:58 PM

I think Kutaragi is as incompetent as the PHB when it comes to PR at least. Maybe that "get a second job so you can afford a PS3" shit flies in Japan, but it sounds dumb as hell to me.

Nutty perhaps, but until Sony's game business has really stalled badly I wouldn't call him incompetent. His division has sustained the company appearance of profitability when nearly every other division was awash in red ink.

Crazy or utterly full of crap only equals incompatence when the bottom line comes up short a few zeros to the left of the decimal.

Old Man Yamauchi at Nintendo was utterly batshit crazy for his last 20 years in office, if you went solely by the press coverage. Business reporters in Japan revered him as unto a god because he was such an unending stream of wild quotes. But no matter how far removed from realty his trash talk got, the company made tons of money.

It's the difference between crazy and eccentric. Crazy is the hobo talking to imaginary people while going through your garbage. Eccentric is the same guy with a shower, shave, and a suit in the executive suite.

rickonker

11-30-2006, 10:01 PM

Nutty perhaps, but until Sony's game business has really stalled badly I wouldn't call him incompetent. His division has sustained the company appearance of profitability when nearly every other division was awash in red ink.

Crazy or utterly full of crap only equals incompatence when the bottom line comes up short a few zeros to the left of the decimal.

Old Man Yamauchi at Nintendo was utterly batshit crazy for his last 20 years in office, if you went solely by the press coverage. Business reporters in Japan revered him as unto a god because he was such an unending stream of wild quotes. But no matter how far removed from realty his trash talk got, the company made tons of money.

It's the difference between crazy and eccentric. Crazy is the hobo talking to imaginary people while going through your garbage. Eccentric is the same guy with a shower, shave, and a suit in the executive suite.
I agree with your overall point, which is why I only called him incompetent when it comes to PR. I wouldn't judge his success at PR by Sony's bottom line.

epobirs

11-30-2006, 10:11 PM

Point taken. I remember a few years ago, a chunk of Sony's press conference was about incorporating AOL and Real Player into PS2. Not only was it boring crap nobody cared about, it was boring crap that never even came to fruition.

However, at this year's E3, I really think Microsoft had the best press conference, especially with all the playable stuff at the Roosevelt across the street afterwards. They usually do it up right -- except the first year, when the Xbox Gates had wouldn't even turn on.

Omigod, I remember that Sony yawnfest. Sony had this running obsession about becoming the new Apple in personal computers. There was a blowjob article in WIRED where Sony spent a small fortune to bribe a reporter, who really knew better, to write all sorts of fawning bits about what the company was doing. A big part of it was devoted to an OS that was supposed to change the industry. Hilariously, one of the amazing features was that the OS could be made to understand how to use devices that were part of the original design. Thats right, in 2002 Sony claimed to have newly invented the driver. You know, like we'd been using in computers since the 70s.

Not that Microsoft always gets it right. Were you at the press event where they made a big deal about getting EA Sports to support Xbox Live and trotted out a bunch of current and former pro athletes? The guest of honor was Muhammed Ali but he was in such terrible condition it made the whole thing kind of creepy. The young football guy standing next to him was plainly worried and ready to support him if he collapsed. Viewing the longterm effects of Rope-a-Dope did not put a positive spin on the evening.

MadFlava

12-01-2006, 01:23 AM

Talk about too late. The PS3 is suppose to save Sony and it had such a horrible launch. Not enough units out there to push software sales. Its easy to buy any of the games because no one has the system. I think the 2 SKU copy of Xbox launch was a mistake. The Global launch was a dumb idea. They should have launch in Japan in the Spring.

The PS3 is missing a bunch of features that they announced a year earlier like improving the graphics on PS2 games. And upconvert features for the DVD playback.

lokizz

12-01-2006, 06:57 AM

well if he did get a weird kind of demotion at least it wasnt as bad as the guy who created the gameboy got after he made the virtual boy.

epobirs

12-01-2006, 09:38 AM

well if he did get a weird kind of demotion at least it wasnt as bad as the guy who created the gameboy got after he made the virtual boy.

Hey, that was an accident and nobody can prove otherwise!

trq

12-01-2006, 01:05 PM

Hey, that was an accident and nobody can prove otherwise!

:lol:

ViolentLee

12-01-2006, 02:43 PM

Omigod, I remember that Sony yawnfest. Sony had this running obsession about becoming the new Apple in personal computers. There was a blowjob article in WIRED where Sony spent a small fortune to bribe a reporter, who really knew better, to write all sorts of fawning bits about what the company was doing. A big part of it was devoted to an OS that was supposed to change the industry. Hilariously, one of the amazing features was that the OS could be made to understand how to use devices that were part of the original design. Thats right, in 2002 Sony claimed to have newly invented the driver. You know, like we'd been using in computers since the 70s.

Not that Microsoft always gets it right. Were you at the press event where they made a big deal about getting EA Sports to support Xbox Live and trotted out a bunch of current and former pro athletes? The guest of honor was Muhammed Ali but he was in such terrible condition it made the whole thing kind of creepy. The young football guy standing next to him was plainly worried and ready to support him if he collapsed. Viewing the longterm effects of Rope-a-Dope did not put a positive spin on the evening.

Was that in '04? That's the one Microsoft press conference I missed, as I drove to the Sony one myself (Sony studios is like a 1.5 miles from my place), and valet took forever to get my car back, so I was like screw it.

I also, sadly, missed the Nokia press conference pre-N-Gage, where they trotted out some tart with the price emblazoned on her stomach.

A few years back, we were staying in the same hotel as Nintendo's presser. After the conference (where a key fell through the floor in Wind Waker's demo), I saw Miyamoto, tailed by a half-dozen lackeys, angrily chastizing one of them. You don't see Mr. Nintendo that pissed very often.

fred_h_haddad

12-01-2006, 02:49 PM

Sony == Sega, circa 1995? (i.e. poor console launch & doomed)

trq

12-01-2006, 03:08 PM

Sony == Sega, circa 1995? (i.e. poor console launch & doomed)

I doubt it, personally, but according to some people.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6162560.html

epobirs

12-01-2006, 03:23 PM

Was that in '04? That's the one Microsoft press conference I missed, as I drove to the Sony one myself (Sony studios is like a 1.5 miles from my place), and valet took forever to get my car back, so I was like screw it.

I also, sadly, missed the Nokia press conference pre-N-Gage, where they trotted out some tart with the price emblazoned on her stomach.

A few years back, we were staying in the same hotel as Nintendo's presser. After the conference (where a key fell through the floor in Wind Waker's demo), I saw Miyamoto, tailed by a half-dozen lackeys, angrily chastizing one of them. You don't see Mr. Nintendo that pissed very often.

The N*gage launch event was a classic. The two execs running the show were both very tall Aryan types. The woman had been an Olympic swimmer in her teens, someone mentioned. So out comes John Romero and, well, I'd never seen him in person before and had never heard mention of him being rather short. Standing between the Nokia execs he looked like a dwarf. I suspect a lot of others in the crowd were similarly surprised because there was a constant undercurrent of nervous laughter.

After the presentation they let us out in the foyer to use the demo stations. I ask a Nokia guy carrying a unit to show me where the game cards went into the unit. He said he couldn't because he didn't want to pull out the battery. I was a bit dismayed. Was this a prototype or some other excuse? No, he told me, that is the way they designed it.

That was when I knew they were doomed.

rickonker

12-01-2006, 06:12 PM

What?? You mean side talkin' couldn't save the N-Gage?

ViolentLee

12-01-2006, 07:39 PM

The N*gage launch event was a classic. The two execs running the show were both very tall Aryan types. The woman had been an Olympic swimmer in her teens, someone mentioned. So out comes John Romero and, well, I'd never seen him in person before and had never heard mention of him being rather short. Standing between the Nokia execs he looked like a dwarf. I suspect a lot of others in the crowd were similarly surprised because there was a constant undercurrent of nervous laughter.

After the presentation they let us out in the foyer to use the demo stations. I ask a Nokia guy carrying a unit to show me where the game cards went into the unit. He said he couldn't because he didn't want to pull out the battery. I was a bit dismayed. Was this a prototype or some other excuse? No, he told me, that is the way they designed it.

That was when I knew they were doomed.
Craziness! It's true Finlanders (my ancestors) are a tall breed. I'm kind of surprised Nokia didn't pack it in with the N-Gage at that point. I'm glad they didn't, as I made some decent money covering the platform for GameSpy. I still use my fancy N-Gage backpack on almost every trip I take, and own about 50 games. Their second presser was a very low-key affair.

fred_h_haddad

12-02-2006, 11:20 AM

Sony == Sega, circa 1995? (i.e. poor console launch & doomed)
I doubt it, personally, but according to some people. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6162560.html

It did take more than one mistake (Sega Genesis 16-bit addons + poor Saturn launch + poor DC launch) to bankrupt Sega. If Sony makes just one mistake but handles everything else well, they'll survive.

rickonker

12-02-2006, 04:55 PM

Even if the PS3 is a total failure I think Sony may try again at least once, so as much as I might not want a PS4, I have to admit it will probably happen.

mikeohara

12-02-2006, 11:26 PM

This ladder ... is TOO CHEAP!

also, I'm glad we don't have to hear from Krazy Ken anymore ... he's being turned into Baghdad Bob for gamers.

epobirs

12-03-2006, 11:20 AM

Craziness! It's true Finlanders (my ancestors) are a tall breed. I'm kind of surprised Nokia didn't pack it in with the N-Gage at that point. I'm glad they didn't, as I made some decent money covering the platform for GameSpy. I still use my fancy N-Gage backpack on almost every trip I take, and own about 50 games. Their second presser was a very low-key affair.

My Nokia backpack fell apart quickly, as did my most recent Nintendo shoulder bag aka man purse. The quality of the giveaways really went downhill in recent years.

Worse, I'm starting run out of shirts in good enough condition for wearing out in public. I'd gotten so used to having my shirt needs covered by trade shows that the idea of having to buy some shirts is hard to accept.

ViolentLee

12-03-2006, 09:53 PM

My Nokia backpack fell apart quickly, as did my most recent Nintendo shoulder bag aka man purse. The quality of the giveaways really went downhill in recent years.

Worse, I'm starting run out of shirts in good enough condition for wearing out in public. I'd gotten so used to having my shirt needs covered by trade shows that the idea of having to buy some shirts is hard to accept.
I'm bummed by the fact that I get some kick-ass shirts (Tony's Project 8, Rainbow Six Vegas, even Fable) that are XL. I end up giving them to bigger friends. That's the default size for game journos. Damnit, we're not all that big. Hoodies aren't a huge deal in that size, though -- I got Konami, Batman Beyond, and Marc Ecko hoodies that are all nice.

GizmoGC

12-03-2006, 11:06 PM

It did take more than one mistake (Sega Genesis 16-bit addons + poor Saturn launch + poor DC launch) to bankrupt Sega. If Sony makes just one mistake but handles everything else well, they'll survive.

So you mean having only 200k units at the PS3 US launch (less in Japan), Blu-Ray discs not selling, UMD being a complete failure, the PSP being left behind in the dust next to the 'gimmicky' Nintendo DS, and, hell, just for fun, a NINTENDO 'kiddy' console crushing them in sales. Yeah, Sony will be alright.

fred_h_haddad

12-04-2006, 12:45 PM

PS3 = a probable mistake

The other stuff like the UMD & Bluray are not going to kill-off Sony anymore than the failure of Beta, DAT, or Minidisc killed-off Sony. Standards come and go w/o much effect on the bottom line.

BUT if they release PS4 and it flops
that will probably kill Sony's videogame division
(as happened with Sega's Saturn/Dreamcast bungle).
It takes more than one mistake to kill off a giant corporation.
I'm bummed by the fact that I get some kick-ass shirts that are XL and I give them away.

Those "XL" shirts are often smaller so their actual size is L.
Wash them in hot, hot water & they shrink to an M.
I wear S so it's an almost perfect fit.

[P.S. I wouldn't wear them to work, but they're fine for a college campus or casual summer wear.]