Kaz Hirai speaks about the shaky PS3 launch at CES
by Nick Doerr 
{ Jan 9th 2007 at 3:00PM }
For those of you who think that Sony always rolls with the punches, spins negative into positive, or act like they meant to catch laptops on fire, you may be interested in some of the things Kaz Hirai spoke about at CES 2007. Yeah, most of it is just that, but he did admit that the PS3 has had a bumpy start. Before we go more into that, though, here are some of the flowery things he said:- "I have heard many people say our competitors' systems are just as powerful as the PS3. That simply is not true. No other next generation entertainment system pushes the envelope on advanced technology like PS3."
- "I have heard people say that a high-capacity game delivery vehicle like Blu-ray isn't necessary in a next generation computer entertainment system. You just can't expect that 9GBs of storage capacity found on today's DVDs are going to have enough space to hold tomorrow's games."
We've actually heard that all before, but words are just words until we see the promises in action -- if a picture is worth a thousand words, think how many words a video game fulfilling a promise is worth! Anyway, Kaz also talked about the launch of the PS3. He admitted it was rough, also saying, "I don't think anyone could have foreseen the difficulties we encountered in the production of the blue laser diode for the PlayStation 3, which ultimately delayed the launch of PlayStation 3." As a final note, he said that if Sony had gone the route of Nintendo, with a mild upgrade in capabilities, the launch would have gone down a lot smoother and a lot sooner. But, he says with his infamous grin, "if we did that every time, we wouldn't be Sony."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Myles @ Jan 9th 2007 3:21PM
*Claps* Now time to show us how better the ps3 is then its competitors.
Naaiif @ Jan 10th 2007 3:18PM
Kaz > Kutaragi
trev @ Jan 9th 2007 6:18PM
I really agree with his final comment. Sony does like to try to push fancy stuff. If the companies were to have themes:
Nintendo would be the nostalgic company, giving you games like Mario and Zelda that you love from forever and a day ago. Not much new in gameplay (I'm not counting the interface as gameplay) but they make improvements as they go.
Sony puts all it's effort into the newest, fanciest things they can do, and while they are more expensive, you're also buying high end stuff to play new sparkle-laden games.
Microsoft is harder to describe in this way because they don't have the fanciest hardware anymore, and don't have really old titles to keep going with. Halo is big, but hardly nostalgic at this point. In the middle I guess.
To justify the "not much new gameplay", take the two new tony hawk games as an example. Downhill on the Wii is any snowboarding game ever. The kind of thing you got from 1080 on the PSX, but with tilt controls for steering. Not new gameplay. Project 8 on the PS3 and 360 you can use the analogue sticks to control the skaters feet independently to do whatever tricks you feel like. First game to do this, as far as I know. New gameplay.
ozymandias @ Jan 9th 2007 9:00PM
"A worldwide launch for any console is quite ambitious. In fact, it has never been done before."
90 days after launch, the wii and 360 could be found in all 3 major regions. the 360 and wii also shipped more units during this 90 day period.
sony should be less concerned about what a few blogs and review sites are saying, and more concerned about their fans. if you say the ps3 is powerhouse, show us a clip of an upcoming ps3 exclusive to back that up. didnt kaz say that killzone actually looks better than the CG trailer? I dont think the 360 can do killzone and make it look like that trailer, show us that the ps3 can. Sony needs to stop saying what the ps3 can do, and start showing what the ps3 can do.
SuicideNinja @ Jan 9th 2007 5:49PM
You know...for once I agree with his last comment. NintendoWiifanboy's got all giggle at that "stab", but he does have a point. The Wii is a Gamecube with a new conroller. If the PS3 was a PS2 with a new controller (and the "emotion engine 1.5"), then their launch would have been 10 fold.
As for his comments about power...let's see what the 2 extra threads the PS3 Cell can run (over the 360 Xenon) will do for us (1 is reserved for the OS or it would be 3).
wiibouy @ Jan 9th 2007 6:16PM
but he dosnt have a point REal world performance and real world experiance the gamer has is what matters
PS3 "truths"
1,long loadtimes
2,poor out dated controls
3,poor hardware design
hyped graphics the wii is far far more powerfull than any gamecube dev kit lournch game shows and ps3 is les than the hyped pre rendered marketing lies
so minus the hd modes there not much in it yet wii DESTOYS PS3 AT
1,LOADING SPEED, FAR LESS LOAD INTERUPTIONS
2,GAMEPLAY AND CONTROLS
3,PRICE
4,ONLINE SERVICE WII CHANNELS 48 OF THEM GINIUS
5,link up with its better and more suited handheld the ds (with its touchscreen and mic)
6,backward compatabillity that acually works and dosnt ruin the older games
7,a download virtual console service WORTH USING
all i see in the ps3 is a machine with out dated poor build qoality controls
long loadtimes
hardware issues
SO IN REAL WORLD EXPERIANCE WHAT EXACTLY HAS CHANGED NOTHING ITS PS1 PS2 ALL OVER AGAIN
CARNT PEOPLE SEE THE OVIOUS WHEN IT HITS THEM IN THE EYEBALLS
so please explain how the envalope has been pushed
WII PUSHES THE ENVALOPE ITS ALL NEW AND ALL RETRO AT THE SAME TIME AND OFFERS WIFI SERVICES THAT ARE COOL FUN AND A REFRESHING CHANGE
eddyk @ Jan 9th 2007 6:42PM
Quote :
"I have heard many people say our competitors' systems are just as powerful as the PS3. That simply is not true. No other next generation entertainment system pushes the envelope on advanced technology like PS3."
He we go again with the arrogance !! Give us proof ! Show us the power for god sake, or shut the F**ck up ! Stop talking to say nothing !
About the blu ray, on PS1 (the best console ever), many games where multi-CD, FFVIII, Metal Gear Solid, Residend Evil 2, etc ... that was not a nuisance to the gaming experience, who cares having game on multi disc ?
Ciaran @ Jan 9th 2007 6:52PM
well now Gears of WAr, Oblivion and Saints Row are prime examples that normal DVD's are fine.
PS3 has yet to show anything that actually puts the extra space to GOOD use.
And until I see solid evidence or figures (screenshots etc.) then I'm convinced that the PS3's graphics/power is not any better (or not much better) than the 360.
Caramella Bongo ... how are you today? @ Jan 9th 2007 6:53PM
lol... i'll bite, just for funny..
1,LOADING SPEED, FAR LESS LOAD INTERUPTIONS
Yea, well when you're offloading N64 era game assets, things move a bit faster. Ha ha, go back to your Excite truck wiitard.
2,GAMEPLAY AND CONTROLS
Umm.. look up reviews for FarCry, RedSteel, Splinter Cell, any FPS for that matter, E Truck, monkey ball.. haaha . no gameplay, no controls, no graphics, no sound, what do you have?
3,PRICE
If you consider $250 for an upgraded gamecube, cheap.. hahaa. Go home.
4,ONLINE SERVICE WII CHANNELS 48 OF THEM GINIUS
Which wii game is online? None. Lol.. you lose again. And, wii channels is a lap-boy term for menu options. Are you a lap-boy?
5,link up with its better and more suited handheld the ds (with its touchscreen and mic)
Yes, the PS3 doesnt link up with the DS.. boohoo. But, it links up with every other PC peripheral.
6,backward compatabillity that acually works and dosnt ruin the older games
Ummm.. so you can use your SNES, NES, and N64 cartridges on the Wii? No. Moron. You have to buy those games again. Go give Nintendo more money for stuff you already paid for.
7,a download virtual console service WORTH USING
See response to 6 above.
lol.. that was fun. Anything else to add?
NeverSage @ Jan 9th 2007 7:09PM
The Wii just being a gamecube with a new controller argument is getting a little old. Yup, the graphics aren't as good as the PS3 or the 360. But the Wii is still more powerful than the original xbox. The new controls more than make up for whatever the Wii lacks in pure graphics power. The way I see it, if a game is released on multiple platforms, don't buy it for the Wii. The graphics will suck and the controls will suck since they would just be tacked on. But a lot of the games made specfically for the wii will be a lot of fun, whether or not they're displayed in 1080p.
ed @ Jan 9th 2007 7:52PM
RIIIIIIIIIIDDDDGE RACEEEEEEEEERRRRR!!!!!!!
whosmav @ Jan 9th 2007 10:03PM
-SuicideNinja
Your comment is totally retarded.
whosmav @ Jan 9th 2007 10:15PM
-Caramella Bongo
Your comment is also retarded.
I do love seeing Sony-boys bitch and whine. The FACT is that the PS3 is dead. Software companies like to actually make money on games. It won't be much longer before the really bad predictions start coming in. I bet the PS3 won't sell 10 million. Or even close for that matter. Just wait until FF 13 gets announced for 360. A game like that has to sell a lot. We all know Metal Gear will coming to 360.
Face the facts, its blown up in they're face. I couldn't be happier. At least Nintendo gives a crap about the industry and doesn't hang they're fate on shoving some unaccepted new medium down our throats. Why would someone jump on blu-ray? You see what happened to UMD.
I'm just rubbing it in. I don't need to say all this...but its fun.
Back to Zelda.
mechanicalbox @ Jan 10th 2007 3:06PM
Given the nature of the post I'm replying too I think it's time for this to be said. Sony and the staff at PS3 Fanboy can learn a thing or two from the white house press team (though they too are imcompetent in their own right).
The best way to diffuse negative press is to completely ignore it. I see too often news posts here inciting the very backlash which it complains about. As a studying journalist I can say academically it is innapropriate to appologeticly backpedal or plant deffensive statements in any news piece. News and press related items ideally are ideally cfomposed of the 5 w's and nothing else (who, what, when, where, and why).
The truth of the matter is that the heated debates over the console war, and on a smaller scale the PS3, are evidence of a healthy market. It is a sign that there are many avenues which Companies such as Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo may exploit to stay viable.
Jettic @ Jan 9th 2007 11:09PM
You all are pitiful people, why don't we all just go back to playing your respective systems that you support and stop flooding all the videogame blogs with your useless arguing and negative comments, if your going to stick it to sony fanboys' face then stick it to yourself and stop wasting everyones time (same for the sony fanboys that wanna gloat)
I miss the days when everyone would just support the console they liked and didn't throw useless comments about the other system.
It's sad that a 15 year old has more maturity than some of you adults on this blog.
Go play your respective systems and shut the hell up!
james @ Jan 9th 2007 11:49PM
#14 good point
Deth @ Jan 10th 2007 12:11AM
^ Jettic- This is a message board for people to write comments. Whatever comments they want. Why don't you stop acting like a "grown-up" 15 year old and actually mature to a level where you can accept people with a different point of view?
Cheers!
warble @ Jan 10th 2007 12:25AM
"I miss the days when everyone would just support the console they liked and didn't throw useless comments about the other system."
Those days never existed. Before this, the Sony fanboys were on the xbox sites talking trash and making fun of Microsoft. Now the shoe is on the other foot and you can't handle it. What goes around, comes around.
PS3 fans. They can dish it out, but they can't take it.
JD @ Jan 10th 2007 12:42AM
Jettic, thank you. I come on this site everyday to read up on PS3 news, to check on the latest games, etc. But no matter what the topic is, there are always trolls roaming around this blog licking their lips, just waiting for anything they can pounce on like a bunch of rabid monkeys.
Never have I ever went over to any Xbox360 or Wii blog to troll. Why? Maybe because #1. I'm not a douchebag, #2. I have a life, and #3. I really don't care about Xbox or Wii. Very seldom do I see a game on either of those systems that interest me. So as simple as that, I just don't visit their sites.
I apologize to PS3Fanboy because there have been many many entries that have interested me enough to want to make a comment, but I don't. Because when I try to do so, I find a bunch of non-constructive, irrelevant, and just plain ignorant comments and so I'm no longer in the mood. Why bother? Baboons can't even read, let alone comprehend what I was about to say anyways.
Personally, I've always liked Sony as a company. They're prestigous and they push the technological envelope. I don't think anyone can really deny that. Sure, they've introduced several failed formats in the past, but at least they're putting in the R&D (that's research and development, for all you idiots that have actually made it this far into my comment) to introduce new technologies that may further advance society - even if it is at a cost.
I know that the concept of time is different for lower species of life on this planet, but things change with time. In time, the rest of the world will move onto HD media. In time, developers will learn to make games (and that's for ALL systems) faster, look better, sound better, play better, do everything better. No company in their right minds right now will tell the world, "We've made the ultimate game right here, and we're going to show it to you right now." Why is that? Because that means that the limit of their console as already been reached. And what you see now will be all you're going to see for the next 5 or more years. How depressing is that? Things are going to improve (and again, I mean for ALL systems), and you'll just have to wait and see how things pan out. You can still run your mouths all you want, but the rest of the educated world knows you're only talking out of your ass. You're not going to get any respect from anyone who's worth his salt in the corporate world. He'll still try to milk you out of your money though.
If you're so adamant still, I would like to see every one of you Wii and Xbox fanboys who apparently want to see the death of the PS3 so much, to never buy a PS3. That means when all of your favorite movies come out on Blu-Ray and you're stuck between a standalone BD player and a PS3 (regardless of their price), to go ahead and buy the BD player. You might not realize it yet, and heck, I could totally be wrong, but I think Sony's going to put a PS3 in your living room, even if it is next to an Xbox and a Wii. Like I said, you're not going to get any respect from anyone who's worth his salt in the corporate world, but he'll still try to milk you out of your money.
Deth @ Jan 10th 2007 3:34AM
JD- I was going to read your comment, but then you called me an idiot (as well as anybody who wanted to hear what you had to say). Remember that this is a public message board. You will get lame comments on any public forum. Simply ignore the crap and comment on what you want to. You do not need to reply to trolls! It is people like you and Jettic that perpetuate the communist and fascist mentalities. Freedom to speak what you want >>>>>Being too scared to say what you think.
Cheers!
yes, I see the irony in my statement... ;)
Deth @ Jan 10th 2007 4:04AM
sorry if my comment appears twice. It does not seem to be posting.
Cheers!
sean @ Jan 10th 2007 4:51AM
who gives a crap. if you like your systems so much then stop bitching about the other ones and go play yours.
shase @ Jan 10th 2007 8:48AM
I love my PS3. Sure it doesnt have many games on it but thats expected... what does the Wii have.... the multiport Zelda? Zelda is what i hear when people want a Wii... except they are stupid not to realize its on Gamecube too... Its like me saying I want PS3 for Madden when i can perfectly get it for PS2. And for the multiple discs go... ever heard of Blue Dragon? Its got 3 DVDs and I doubt 2 DVDs are filled with "bonus content". The reason GOW didnt need so much space is because its so damn short! Put a few more things in there and i bet it would go over the cap.
I dont call myself really a "fanboy" because I know the only things that are causing me to buy PS3 are the games in development and out. Resistance, RR7, Heavenly sword, MGS4,Motorstorm, VF5, White Knight, FF13s and much more. For 360 there's Lost Odyssey, fable 2 . As you can see I am really not a FPS/Sports gamer- a genre plagued on the 360. I dont worry too much about Lost odyssey because it will be ported to PS3 just like Blue Dragon due to abyssimal sales in japan. If those games i mentioned suddenly go to the 360 with SAME QUALITY then I would get a 360.. but right now even though people say "get a 360, you are stupid if you dont it because its cheaper and have better games"- well thats all a matter of oppinion , i can spend 400 and buy it and wait till Lost Odyssey or play some online Ridge Racer.
Weymaster @ Jan 10th 2007 11:41AM
I don't like Kaz nor Kutaragi but it is not a requirement. I care about what the congress says, not what a CEO says. Have you ever bitched about what Mark Hurd says? I didn't think so.
Quit being offended by what this guy says and enjoy whatever console you prefer. It's sickening to read so much bitching for whatever reason.
This is a PS3 related website. In Joystiq, people have excuses to being assholes, not here!
He dicho.
Jettic @ Jan 10th 2007 8:12PM
I agree, sean, people should stop complaining about other systems and play there own. I mean, im not saying don't post on the blog, but people need to stop hating and being ignorant.
Xiru @ Jan 11th 2007 8:54PM
I can't seem to go anywhere without seeing trolls and fanboys bashing the PS3. I also never go to Wii or 360 boards to just start fights. I can understand some of the negativity towards sony, they do say some stupid stuff. But look at it from their side. They were the best with the ps2 and now they are facing trouble and everyone is ganging up on them. They are trying to give us the most powerful system that will last the longest, which is the cheapest in the long run(don't have to buy a new system in 4 years). I own all 3 systems and find both the 360 and PS3 great but don't like my Wii all that much. I honestly don't see why there is such a craze, but I might be getting old or just losing touch with what people want in games these days but the PS3 has it. A lot of the PS3 games have my attention, but the wii and 360 don't. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but I just can't see how anyone can justify the wii being better than the ps3. I'm gonna get flamed, and its sad because this is a ps3 website but I have to be heard. Sony's negative image is stuck in everyone's mind and no matter if they make good games or not, people will bash them because they are scared that sony will take this generation too. I hope they do because they have had an impact on me with the PS1. I think MS has a chance to take it, but if Nintendo wins this generation I see it as a failure. They are reselling dated hardware with a new controller. Rayman and Red steel looked horrible for a new gen or next gen system. Graphics aren't everything but they are something. Sorry for ranting, flame away!