Advertisement

Register for free to remove this ad

OP, when you're going to title a post as "Tell the whole story", make sure to do so yourself - like, as many have mentioned, that PS3s have been on shelves for a long time, and that they weren't selling for $1200 on eBay at the time of the interview.

Originally Posted by javeryh Also, if you listen to the EGM podcast where they discuss the interview Shoe explains that he was completely taken off guard with that statement because of the sheer craziness of it (since at the time of the interview PS3s were not hard to find in-store) and that Tretton was completely out of touch with what was really happening if he believed that.

Exactly, I believe what happened was Shoe couldn't call the stores at the time Tretton made the claim. Later, after the interview, Shoe called the stores and found them available and got in contact with Tretton to ask him that question. At least that's what I thought happened.

The "fanboys" thing I agree with; it's nonsense that people in February (when the interview was put online) were saying "I JUST SAW 5 PS3s IN STOCK, WHERE DO I SEND MY BILL" since the article clearly stated it took place in early January of '07.

However, as many here have pointed out, they were certainly available before then - readily available in some cases, so, yes, Tretton was full of shit.

Make no mistake, I ing hate EGM and have detailed why in the past, but the newest issue has a few examples of decent game journalism that make me wonder if they're just not trying most of the time. The follow-up with Peter Moore (from last year's "CONTROVERSIAL" interview) next month will be pretty telling if this is a new trend or if they fall back on the same tired bullshit.

Even back that early in January, the Target I work at ha had plenty of PS3's just sitting around waiting to be sold. It still took a week or so before we would have to get more from the back room, where we had another dozen or so still in the shipping boxes.

Also, if you listen to the EGM podcast where they discuss the interview Shoe explains that he was completely taken off guard with that statement because of the sheer craziness of it (since at the time of the interview PS3s were not hard to find in-store) and that Tretton was completely out of touch with what was really happening if he believed that.


But does Tretton (and people in his sort of position) say such things because they're out of touch or because they're just creating doubt through disinformation*, while boosting morale of the fanfu--err, 'loyalists'--who want to believe, and getting tons of gaming media coverage in the process? I'm of the mind that he knew exactly what he was doing, as we're still talking about this today, well over a week after it broke.

*--He's probably saying that for the newsstand readers, who aren't paying close attention, who might be pushed off of the proverbial purchasing fence by this sort of bold claim.

Originally Posted by KaneRobot the newest issue has a few examples of decent game journalism that make me wonder if they're just not trying most of the time.

Truth be told, I tend to skim through the issue, read the rumors and reviews, and toss it in the recycle bin. This month, I came across the use of "anal raped" in some article (in the all-too-often-overused manner that gamers use to suggest the high cost of something). I don't have an opinion about EGM one way or another, but the flippant use of such a phrase is sure damned off-putting to my PC sensibilities (and it's really lazy prose, too).

Yes, OP, people are looking back and piecing together a narrative explaining why the PS3 and Sony stink (don't forget the PSP and it's zero games!). It's an absurd sort of brand-allegiance (which, if I had one, I'd do so under the auspices of being paid to do so only) and 20/20 hindsight. This idea that the Wii had all these amazing games at launch (which often comes, when pressed, with the caveat that it was really only Zelda, a game that's no different than Ubisoft's recycling of old games with slapped-on wii controls) is phony, and that the 360 is a perfect system is equally foolish.

I take issue with the "PS3 is so freakin' expensive and it sucks!" crowd, but I also don't take them seriously because damn near all of them will own a PS3 by this time next year. Nevertheless, the problem lies with Sony's PR maneuvers, including letting this guy talk.

Is the PS3 still in high demand? Yes. Contrary to what people want to think, the system is selling. They are not collecting dust on the shelves.

Is it in such high demand that they can't stay on the shelves for 5 minutes? Don't be a fool. Of course not. That's Jack Tretton's problem; he took one truism (there is high demand for the PS3) and made it into a silly exaggeration that took the form of a strawman (they don't last for five minutes). It's not a problem in reality, or in the system's sales - it's a PR nightmare because the spin was so off-the-charts wrong and easily deconstructable.

He oughta take Tony Snow's place if he's gonna be such a bullshitter.

Ultimately it's much ado about nothing, and it matters because it's a Sony guy saying it. People who disfavor the PS3 have found yet another piece of treasure helping complete their case that Sony is clueless (all the while ignoring the good things about the PS3, and the fact that it is selling). People who enjoy their PS3 have to cringe at such a damnfool statement, at any rate, because it's the sort of statement that reinforces the "Sony are out of touch" narrative we keep hearing about.

Originally Posted by sonderiaom Calzone'd... took me a second there.

You mean calzOWNED.



And OP, how ironic that you are asking them to tell the whole story, when you yourself leave out the key part: EGM mentioned that prior to the interview, they called up tons of stores and tons of them had PS3s in stock.