Kaz Hirai says "Thanks" to Microsoft

by Adams Briscoe { Jun 6th 2006 at 12:15PM }

It's been no surprise that whenever Sony is faced with the accusation of copying Microsoft's online strategy, they talk about progressing the industry as a whole and broadening the scope of the business. Kaz Hirai has furthered that mentality by going on the record saying "thanks" to the software giant.

"Thank you, Microsoft, for helping us in taking consumers online," he said to Mercury news. "The most important thing for us is to make sure online is an integral part of the experience. It's not a 'nice to have' feature. It enables new businesses."

Even though the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will soon be going head-to-head, it's obvious that Sony and Mr. Hirai believe that this is a collective endeavor all the same. Think of it as competitive synergy. Of course if that's not the case then at least he's putting on a good poker face.

Tags: 360, gaming, hirai, kaz, live, marketplace, microsoft, online, playstation, ps3, sony, xbox

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SuicideNinja @ Jun 6th 2006 1:24PM

"It's not a 'nice to have' feature. It enables new businesses."

This is why I don't like this guy. He talks to gamers, yet everything he spews is business-talk. All he talked about when the PSP came out was how it was business and money and taking over and blah. The gamer doesn't want to hear that. The gamer wants to hear that it enables new features, makes gameplay better, provides replay value, etc.

I'm glad it enables new business for you to take all of our money...really. Lighten the load and tell us how WE benefit.

Let's see some more of the PS3 in action, Hirai.

hyp36rmax @ Jun 6th 2006 1:33PM

Hirai-San deserves a lot of respect for saying what he has said. Thanking your competitors instead of heathing a battle in a furious content. Much props to Sony for this. The truth that Microsoft did start the online console ring it will bring further business. You know what they say competition brings further innovations. I wonder what the next step will be...

sputnik @ Jun 6th 2006 2:19PM

heeeehehaahaha ah ha ah ah ahhhhhhahahahaha heeehaha ah ah

The Guru @ Jun 6th 2006 2:30PM

Just one of the many "Thank you's" Sony needs to be giving out.

Cage @ Jun 6th 2006 2:45PM

"The most important thing for us is to make sure online is an integral part of the experience"

Wasnt it stated by Sony that games online was not an issue? It wouldnt become mainstream? Flip the script...

Fan @ Jun 6th 2006 3:39PM

Wow this has to be the worst place to come for Ps3 news. Its filled with flaming morons and the mods do nothing about it.

No wonder engadget switched off their comments, its because of people like Cage, Guru, sputnik and ninja. Way to go guys. Your unbelivable lack of insight has brought this site down to new lows and its now useless. You won, now go troll and ruin some other site.

Fan @ Jun 6th 2006 3:44PM

Anyone interested in actually discussing information about the console and not just endless jerk off flamewars visit these sites:

http://ps3forums.com/
http://www.ps3portal.com/

Both are good and have a decent community unlike this site.

Meastro @ Jun 6th 2006 3:55PM

Lol ps3forum is full of idiots that think the PS3 is 2x as powerful as the Xbox 360. (Which is wrong, I don't even think the PS3 IS any powerfuller at all)
They try to justify the outrageous price. WRONG. No one wants a $600 console, shut up.
They're all blind by the fanboyism, pathetic site.

Paul @ Jun 6th 2006 3:56PM

smart now all the trolls know where to go... good idea. HOWEVER, though i think they are trolls they have valid points

Fan @ Jun 6th 2006 4:09PM

"i think they are trolls they have valid points"

Yes great points like for example:
"heeeehehaahaha ah ha ah ah ahhhhhhahahahaha heeehaha ah ah"

What a great contributing point right there. Or how about:
"Wasnt it stated by Sony that games online was not an issue? It wouldnt become mainstream? Flip the script..."

What is this? 1994? Or how about:
"This is why I don't like this guy. He talks to gamers, yet everything he spews is business-talk"

Well no shit sherlock maybe he is a BUSINESS MAN since consoles have to MAKE MONEY. WTF?????

"smart now all the trolls know where to go."
I hope they go there maybe they will educate themselves and not be ignorant in every single comment.

Meastro @ Jun 6th 2006 4:34PM

Im sorry about the comment above. Im such an idiot for posting such nonsense about those other sites. Im just a blind fanboy and i cant help it.

boots @ Jun 6th 2006 5:08PM

Give me your penis.

SuicideNinja @ Jun 6th 2006 5:23PM

Fan, stop being a hypocrite. I've seen plenty of blatant fanboyism from you, so acting like you've been wronged is silly. You rage on anyone who says anything good about the Xbox 360 and anything bad about Sony. Sony is making a lot of mistakes lately, and you'll just have to accept that. Microsoft and Nintendo have done the same in the past, and they've received their share of complaints as well.

"Well no shit sherlock maybe he is a BUSINESS MAN since consoles have to MAKE MONEY. WTF?????"

Hirai still talks like that when he talks to gamers. Journalists for gamer mags are gamers. The people who read the articles are gamers. E3? Gamers. We don't care about how much money Sony is going to make, or how they are forcing us to buy into their proprietary formats. Treating your customers like you treat your investors is a mistake. Obviously, you missed my point entirely. Pay attention before you fly off the handle.

The PS3 will has some exclusives that I want to play. That's what I'm interested in. But that doesn't mean I have to abide by the ridiculously fallible claims that come out of Hirai or Kutaragi.

boots @ Jun 6th 2006 9:00PM

Fan, you are so right about what you say. Just look at how trolls keep using my nickname such as above and the mods don't do ANYTHING about it. Where are their negative stars to distinguish these copycats (or to ban them)? They have our mails for warnings anyway, so I don't know why aren't they acting. Obviously someone posted for "Meastro", just as someone did it for me.

Don't lash against Suicide Ninja though, he sometimes says something interesting, even when he has an obvious preference.

LongshotX @ Jun 6th 2006 9:30PM

PS3 is going to destroy all of the competition. Kutaragi and Hirai know
how to market the most powerful console in gaming history. With the
power of Blu-Ray and Cell behind it the machine is indescribably
unmatched. Nothing including the PC can match its power. Crysis? Fuck
that! MGS4 owns! And Blu-Ray is the largest optical format to ever
grace the console scene. 25GB to 50GB will load quickly thanks to it's
light speed 36Mbps read/write speed www.blu-ray.com/faq/. The Cell is
also beyond anything imaginable. It hosts the most difficult
architecture to program for yet it has the potential to blow the pants
off of any console presently or in the future once it's power is
finally grasped. It's ability to stray away from general purpose
processing like the Xbox 3Shitty and focus on constant predictable data
streaming is unparalleled. And forget that crappy Wii. I mean it's
called Wii, enough said. Everyone in here needs to get a life and save
about 700 bucks and get a PS3 and some Blu-Ray games. PS3 owns and deep
in you guys tiny little brains you feel that this is so true.

boots @ Jun 6th 2006 11:55PM

You forgot that the PS3 BD drive has a 72Mbps speed for reading, that I'm going to get all three consoles, and that my favorite of all three is the Wii. But nice try though, I almost fell for it!

Night Elve @ Jun 7th 2006 12:16AM

@Meastro

And what you stated is not certainly a sign of a Fanboy on yourself right?

The Guru @ Jun 7th 2006 12:44AM

I am in no way a troll. I don't flame. While I do have preference, I don't troll sites.

I will discuss something with you, however, and if that makes someone a troll, then I guess I would have to say I am one using that definition.

And I stand by my previous statement:

Just one of the many "Thank you's" Sony needs to be giving out.

Pit @ Jun 7th 2006 6:28AM

I could name 200 friends right now that have a console and PC and have never gamed online.OR ever will.
My tv's are at the opposite end of the house and wireless barely reaches and im not stringing an ethernet cable that far from my PC connection.
I will not pay to play a game online when i've already paid for the game.
I do not want to play online the odd time aginst some geek who has nothing better to do than be online all day and kick my ass.
The only online gaming i've ever bothered to do was/is quake 3 and unreal tournament (original) because i burnt them for free & the online services are free.
What happened to psp's online games?I can only think of maybe 3 worth playing.
Online is not the way forward except for the few core gamers. :?

Paul @ Jun 7th 2006 9:53AM

Pit you may be right and you may be wrong, but i think that this day in age you have to hedge your bets that without internet, you are dead in the water (at least in the US). Connectivity is expanding at a rapid rate, gamers, at least on 360, are appearing to demand it and I would be vrey dissapointed if we didnt get that opporunity on ps as well.