Sony CEO: "Wii is wonderful!"

by Ed Stasick { Mar 17th 2007 at 10:30AM }

In an interesting interview on the show CEO Exchange (which has not yet aired), Sony Chairman CEO, Sir Howard Stringer, lets loose on a myriad of Sony's challenges and recent failures. Here's a sampling of the more interesting topics that Sir Howard comments on:

Sony failed to capitalize on the Walkman for domination in the digital music world (they apparently had an iPod and an iTunes equivalent 5 years before Apple, but they weren't software-centric and were scared of digital distribution being one of the world's largest publishers of music).
HD DVD is a "transitional" technology that is in a losing battle to Blu-ray... they only have one thing going for them: an exclusive with Universal. "Good luck to them."
The Wii vs. PS3 debate isn't really comparing apples to apples. "Wii is a wonderful device, but has a different target audience. If we fail, it is because we positioned PS3 as the Mercedes of the video game field. PS3 is after a different audience and it can be whatever it wants - a home server, game device, even a computer." The article does not mention arch enemy Microsoft or the Xbox 360.

Hey, Howard, what's with this "If we fail" commentary? Failure is not an option... time to burn the boats. You can read the full article over at Smarthouse.

Tags: ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Pizuorno @ Mar 17th 2007 10:51AM

i think that the ps3 is for another users that wants more tech... other things that i think is thast you can use the pps3 for whatever you want and i thinks that the wii is for another market.

Arno @ Mar 17th 2007 12:29PM

Yea, but why does he look like a douche?

subsonicwaveUK @ Mar 17th 2007 12:40PM

if you was as succesful as him number 1 would you give a f**k, this comment as is yours was a complete waste of time

ibrouk @ Mar 17th 2007 1:19PM

i think he meant "When we fail"

Mr Khan @ Mar 17th 2007 3:02PM

So THAT's Sony's CEO, the equivalent to MS's Bill Gates, i always wondered who that was (never bothered enough to actually find out, though)

And they say that whole "apples to apples" thing NOW, when they only have a 3rd of the Wii's worldwide sales

If they ever surpass the Wii, they will stop using that excuse,

Likewise, if Nintendo ever becomes certain that they will win, they too will stop using the whole "It's not fair to compare them" schtick

Jason @ Mar 18th 2007 10:13AM

Mercedes of the video game field my ass, who are they fooling.

Warren Frame @ Mar 18th 2007 11:09AM

One of the few Sony people I wouldn't wish a horrid death upon. He had a great article in the WSJ regarding the infighting between departments, and Kutagari being a douche.

Omar @ Mar 18th 2007 1:09PM

With Sony, failure isn't an option; it's a way of life.

wav @ Mar 18th 2007 11:22PM

I agree with the statement that comparing Wii with the PS3 is not comparing apples to apples. In my opinion, the battle is more between the XBOX360 and the PS3.

Lots of people are currently looking at the short term prospects of the Nintendo Wii. Yes, its a great console, great price, great company ethics, but what of the future? Games? It needs a great deal more support from 3rd part devs before it even becomes competitive. The whole "archive" is an impressive strategy, but they lack the "blockbuster" games i.e. Halo/Resistance/Gran Turismo/etc.

The next-gen "console war" is not won now. Wait until HDTV really penetrates the market and people can utilize the graphical advantage of the 360/PS3.

Sometimes i really wish the senseless bashing of the whole company Sony can stop. Sony is a huge MNC and some its divisions definitely deserve better than what its receiving right now. It's mainly certain individuals/beliefs which are ruining the whole company image.