Kaz Hirai and David Reeves promoted ... wait, what?
by Nick Doerr 
{ Jul 5th 2006 at 8:30PM }
Kaz Hirai and David Reeves have done it! They've been promoted even further than their positions as presidents and CEOs of SCEA and SCEE, respectively and have added executive vice-presidents of the Tokyo corporate executive group. Now these gents will not only be in charge of the PS3's release in America and Europe, but they will have a very important say in all of Sony's business strategy planning.What does this mean for everyone else? Take into account everything Krazy Kaz has said, and multiply that times ... Sony's business strategies and planning and you get some pretty tedious situations. Not to bash his promotion -- Sony obviously sees something excellent in him and in David Reeves, but with all the negative press being garnered around the Playstation 3, it doesn't look like a good move to us. Again, it's not possible to really say yea or nay to the move, but it kind of evokes a small chortle. Was it really good to put Kaz and Reeves pretty much in charge of planning and strategy for all of Sony? Time will surely tell.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bobeotm @ Jul 6th 2006 3:49AM
In their pre-promotion positions, they didnt have control over alot of choices that ultimately affects the PS3, but in their new seats, the have an immediate connection from policy to result. Instead of factors being over their heads, or out of their control, they actually have a say in these areas themselves.
And lets be honest, none of the negative press would exist nearly to this extent if it wernt for the price. 200 dollars cheaper and you would hear tons of folks talking about how the PS3 is going to own the competition. But tack on 200 bucks and all of a sudden it will explode when you plug it into the wall, and kill your first born. I think handling the Tokyo Game Show well will do wonders for their image. Since the public gets to see it firsthand, it will help significantly to rectify the big stink made over the price.
Vince @ Jul 6th 2006 7:48AM
They can say what they like, wear women's clothes and eat live lizards for breakfast for all I care.
It's about sales at the end of the day.
Most of us are well aware the PS3 is still the most anticipated console ever, the diligence of the Nintendo cheerleaders and the suspect operations of the Xbox camp do a good job to mask this fact, but it's still a fact.
I guess that's why they were promoted, even with the bad "press" (campaign) Sony are still on course to mop up once again.
Paul @ Jul 6th 2006 8:52AM
I dont buy "the most anticipated console ever" comment, I think we over estimate the rest of the world based on our fanboy status. That said- I think this is the second great business move by Sony in the past couple days. Why? Well with all the talk they have been throwing around recently it has put them in a show up or shut up position. They will stop talking out of their asses because their heads will role if this isnt a success.
Sony trusts them (for better or worse, probably better) so as long as they can get their rhetoric under control and can focus on truly performing then things may be ok.
SuicideNinja @ Jul 6th 2006 11:58AM
Reeves yes, Hirai no.
Sony would be better off with different people getting the interviews. Hirai has been out of touch with gamers for a long time. Reading his interview on the PSP pre-launch in OPM reinforces that Playstation prices aren't the only problem. Arrogance and not-caring-about-the-consumer are big issues.
If the PS3 is the most anticipated console ever, then the N64 must have been the most anticpated console ever at the time. They are putting themselves in a similar position as Nintendo at the time (proprietary format, overcharging everyone, etc).
I'm surprised no one has brought it up, but remember how an analyst said that Microsoft should have just charged $700 a console since that was around the average going price on ebay? Then they would have made money instead of lost money (well, I think the high attach rate may have extremely helped though). Then they could lower the price after the rush. Maybe, just maybe, Sony is ACTUALLY doing that. I doubt it, but WHAT IF? =)
Cage @ Jul 6th 2006 1:23PM
If that was true SuicideNinja then wouldnt you feel cheated if you bought one of the first systems? Especially with no AAA games out for it? Sony is losing too much money per console to lower the price anytime soon. They better hope there are that many people that want a BR player...