Sadly, given half a chance, it’s possible for some major company CEOs to come across as arrogant, ignorant blabbermouths. Not that Jack Tretton, head of SCEA, makes such an activity a particularly regular one, mind, but then again you only need to do one such interview and that’s your comments all around the internet: like this one, when he spoke to Fortune recently, which spread like vitriolic wildfire.
It’s not like Joe Blog was selectively grabbing snippets for their own barbed agenda, either, it wasn’t necessary – even the original article went with the headline “PlayStation chief: Nintendo makes ‘babysitting tools”‘. And that’s Fortune, not the latest N4G bait – but whilst some of Tretton’s later comments come across like an angry schoolchild, at least at the start he’s talking more sense than nonsense.
“If you’re really going to sustain technology for a decade,” he said, “you have to be cutting edge when you launch a platform. Here we are 4 years into the Playstation 3, and it’s just hitting its stride. We’ll enjoy a long downhill roll behind it because the technology that was so cutting edge in 2006 is extremely relevant today and is conspicuously absent in our competition.”
[drop]Ah, the ‘competition’ – it was all going so well. We’re well aware that companies like Sony (and the rest) enjoy a bit of so-called ‘smacktalk’ here and there, but from here on in, Tretton seems adamant that talking down said competition is the best way forward.It makes for uncomfortable reading for someone apparently so confident in his own platform, one that – for the most part – can quite happily sing its own praises.
“They’re starting to run out of steam now in terms of continuing to be relevant in 2011 and beyond,” he says, referring to the 360 and, for the rest of the sentence, the Wii. “I mean, you’ve gotta be kidding me. Why would I buy a gaming system without a hard drive in it? How does this thing scale? Motion gaming is cute, but if I can only wave my arms six inches, how does this really feel like I’m doing true accurate motion gaming?”
Why would you buy it? Perhaps you wouldn’t, but a lack of a hard drive doesn’t stop everyone else buying it. Sure, the hard drive’s been a blessing to the PS3, but aside from running as a media centre, on a personal level mine’s full of four and a half gig installs of games that still load slower than the equivalent ones on the ‘competition’ – even the one without a hard drive. And the comments about ‘waving my arms six inches’ baffles me completely.
But what stings the most are the comments about the DS. “Our view of the ‘Game Boy experience'” – his words – “is that it’s a great babysitting tool, something young kids do on airplanes, but no self-respecting twenty-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those,” he says. “He’s too old for that.”
Last time I checked, the DS was being marketed (incredibly successfully) by Nintendo across all age groups. Sure, there’s a considerable focus on games for kids, but there’s a similar campaign based on older age groups, particularly with the puzzles and book collections that receive heavy, and frequent, television promotion. And then there’s people like myself, that have been playing Nintendo games since forever. I can’t remember the last time I caught a bus, but I’ll happily take out my 3DS (or otherwise) on a train – and I like to think I’ve got plenty of self respect.
I honestly don’t know what Tretton was trying to accomplish with that remark. Am I supposed to now doubt myself when I’m trying to perfect Pilotwings? Is Pokémon really just for schoolkids?
The other issue is whether or not the 360 is “starting to run out of steam” – Microsoft, of course, would vehemently deny this, and I’m surprised they haven’t responded themselves yet, never shy of a public scrap. What do they have lined up for 2011? Well, we’ve asked that before and – for the moment at least – little has changed. Yes, there’s Gears of War III, a new Forza and hopefully a new Halo (even if it’s a remake) but anything else is being kept tightly under wraps.
But we’re betting that the 360’s got plenty of steam left in the engine, it’s still outselling the PS3 worldwide and Microsoft aren’t about to give up on it. As for “2011 and beyond” – well, E3’s just around the corner. But one things for sure, Jack Tretton has managed to wind up a good few gamers with that interview: let’s hope what he’s got for PS3 and NGP backs up his confidence…
E8_BALL_
“If you’re really going to sustain technology for a decade,”
or keep old tech for a decade, ps3 browser runs with flash player six i think.
was visiting one site & got msg “ur browser is ten yrs old, please upgrade.” PS3 meant to be an up to date multi-media system, get with the program sony! (please… flash 10 would be christmas come early.)
E8_BALL_
edit… Sony has integrated Flash Player 6 into the PlayStation Portable’s web browser via firmware version 2.70 and Flash Player 9 into the PlayStation 3’s web browser in firmware version 2.50
still need f.10 to use browser effectively.
Crocadillian
This kind of talk is disappointing from a CEO of a large company to say. Surely considering his knowledge and experience he would know better than to speak so childishly about the competitors the company faces, when many people that he misjudged in his comments use competitors products and exist in the market as potential customers. Im sure their dedicated customers see the many flaws the PS3 and other Sony products have, ones that continually get ignored by the company. This just shows a great deal of ignorance.
stonyk
I thought the PS3 had now outsold the 360. If so (or at least equal) then it would make sense to claim 360 had run out of steam as it is no longer out in front and doesn’t offer much ahead of the competition other than it is slightly cheaper for a base model (without internet access/hard-drive).
Still think he sounds a bit of a pr%ck making these comments though.
Watchful
No, the 360 still has a worldwide sales lead. If the PS3 has a really good year it may overtake it but I wouldn’t place any bets on it.
stonyk
I thought thats what this was:
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/03/31/ps3s-worldwide-active-install-base-passes-360s/
but I guess it’s active install base (whatever that means!?!)
Watchful
“whatever that means!?!” Exactly. It’s a meaningless, headline-grabbing estimate from an analyst. A million miles away from cold, hard sales data.
Juelz345
Without internet access? You do know that all models now come with built in wireless and all models have always been capable of wired internet right? And as pointed out by watchful, the PS3 has not outsold the 360.
stonyk
didn’t know that. Thought you had to buy something expensive to get it to find wireless networks (You did when I had one). Knew it could connect by wire as I had to have a massive cable running through the bedroom, down the stairs and into the phone line. The Mrs wasn’t impressed! Guess it’s improved.
quinkill
Jeez, He’s a bloody PR man!! Of course he’s going to smack talk the competition. And with regards to the DS comment, isn’t he setting up the Sony position ready for the NGP launch. He’s trying to stop the key demographic, 20-somethings, from buying a DS or 3DS i.e. ‘you’re not a kid anymore you need this…(enter NGP)’ I’m amazed at how this article and the last one about Tretton is so surprised by his comments. He’s gona twist the truth, he’s gona be selective with sales statistics, you know what he’s gona lie. BIG DEAL! you’re giving him too much space on this website IMO.
Juelz345
But people b*itch when MS does it and it’s no bif deal because MS are the devil right?
The gameboy comment was insulting to the people that use it. The 360 running out of steam (obviously not fact, but opinion) was a little excessive but like you said, it’s PR and to be expected. Fair play.
But telling me that i have no self respect because i enjoy playing my DSi (and soon my 3DS) it too far. You don’t attract more customers by insulting them. The NGP looks to be an amazing device (and i’ll certainly be getting one as well). Sony should try marketing it on it’s stengths, not by trying to make people ashamed of enjoying the competitons device.
quinkill
Look, Microsoft can do it all they want too, they’re both as bad as each other. Nintendo stays quiet and still kicks the competition in the nuts at every turn. But in terms of the DS comment, yeah it went a bit too far (as I said he and other PR people are gona twist the truth) but he’s blowing a point way out of proportion that those that buy a DS or 3DS (in my experience) are younger kids and women who want Brain Trainer or something similar. I know very few hard-core gamers with Nintendo handhelds or any kindof handheld device that they consider hardcore and that they take on the plane etc etc (obviously members on this website are part of that 20-something ground who do consider it hardcore and play nintendo a lot). At the end of the day he’s trying to be controversial and maybe even insulting (not saying that’s right) to get on the blogs or websites. All he’s doing is shouting “SONY IS STILL RELEVANT, THE COMPETITION IS FOR BABIES AND THEY ALL SUCK!” You think we’d be discussing this if he was being reasonable and balanced, accepting that the PSP was a failure and that Nintendo portables are great…?
a inferior race
I think if he stated that the PSP was a failure, that would be much bigger news and would probably spill over for a week.
quinkill
Fair enough it would be big news, but that’s kind of my point he’s not going to say that to get into the press/media, he’s gona smack talk the competition.
E8_BALL_
Forza and hopefully a new Halo (even if it’s a remake)
id rather remakes, than dumbed down, poorly restructured prev great franchises. socom4, r.faction cough.
OneShotWook
These articles must be gold for the guy giving the interviews.
quinkill
exactly what i’ve been thinking