Jack Tretton calls PS3 "steak", Wii "lollipop", 360 "unreliable cook"

by Nick Doerr { Jul 18th 2007 at 7:00AM }

We're going to put Jack's quote front and center because it's so hilarious, then we'll talk about the interview with Gamepro. "I think the PS3 is the Surf 'n Turf, the PS2 is your favorite burger restaurant... [Wii] is a lollipop, and I'm too old for lollipops. And the [Xbox 360] I get sick from once in a while because the cook isn't always reliable." We can't really argue with the quote, because each have their own ingredients of truth. We're giggling, because we added on to the joke. We're so clever.

Anywho, the interview itself dives into everything Tretton -- his thoughts on the PSP and PS3 as well as some personal anecdotes we nodded our heads to. We've started to incorporate a lot of our electronic devices into the PS3 -- all our pictures are on it via those fun memory stick slots. We stream all our music from our computer directly through the PS3 and out that nice stereo system. If we were to download any movies or television shows, we also stream those. After converting them (painfully). Tretton believes that educating the masses to all these uses will draw in sales and he believes that process has begun. We'd like to believe so, too. It's a really fun interview to read, we promise, so check it out!

Tags: jacktretton, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris @ Jul 18th 2007 7:16AM

not to mention that 60 gig harddrive can hold alot of porn

ck @ Jul 18th 2007 7:32AM

[insert PS3 grill joke here]

humpty @ Jul 18th 2007 7:49AM

"We've gotten it out there to the tune of 25 million consumers, and with our software offerings and pricing, we're starting to reach down to a younger consumer. I think it's much easier to reach down than to reach up."

Great quote.. Nintendo has abandoned the core gamer.. how are they going to get them back after they've released their big 3 nintendo franchises and you get nothing from third party devs but mini-games.

jam @ Jul 18th 2007 11:47PM

This guy is an idiot. I'm no fanboy. I like all 3 systems but you have too many executives now a days trying to get too much attention by saying cocky and stupid statements like this. How old is this guy again??? You can tell a guy is nervous and lacks confidence and faith in his product when he has to bash his competitors CONSTANTLY!

Xiru @ Jul 18th 2007 8:25AM

Jack is gaining my respect more and more. He feels exactly the way I do. And humpty you are also right. Nintendo has abandoned the core gamer, their original fanbase. They say they haven't but after seeing the showing at e3, I see where thier loyalty lies. It will be an interesting year in 2008 to see exactly what Nintendo has planned. At least with Sony I don't have to worry about my favorite types of games not existing anymore. Anyway, Jack rules. Great quote, plain and simple.

Tom @ Jul 18th 2007 8:31AM

Lollipops are friggin' sweet! PWNED!

Xiru @ Jul 18th 2007 8:40AM

Can you survive off lolipops? Be my guest... And he doesn't constantly bash his competitors. That would be Peter Moore. Get the facts straight. Even Nintendo's Reggie was bragging about how awesome they were at e3 and Sony was easily the most humble. Sick of ignorant people posting ignorant posts. :(

aceofblitz @ Jul 18th 2007 8:42AM

Wii = Starbucks
Xbox 360 = Mcdonalds
PS3 = That 5 star restaurant that serves you 2 peas and a soysauce drawing on a plate as a main course for $40

Leatherface @ Jul 18th 2007 9:13AM

Jack Tretton is an idiot.

borland502 @ Jul 18th 2007 9:43AM

@jam: "when he has to bash his competitors"

Well, he's no different from Peter Moore or Reggie in that respect. Didn't good ole' Pete just lack some smack talk down?

They're just our elders trying to reach the hip young generation...no more.

GRT @ Jul 18th 2007 9:54AM

Hey Nick:
"After converting them (painfully)."

Not so, my friend. Check out TVersity (www.tversity.com). It transcodes on the fly. I downloaded 100+ wmv trailers from Gametrailers.com during E3 and streamed them to my PS3 effortlessly and without needing to convert anything.

I use my PS3 constantly, actually. For both blu-ray and upscaled dvds, to stream video and music, and of course for playing games.

upz @ Jul 18th 2007 9:55AM

Cut the guy some slack. He was asked by Gamepro to compare the consoles to food, a ludicrous analogy now made witlessly relevant in light of Kojima's comments.

That said, he's still spinning like a top, but I'd take this guy over Peter or Reggie any day.

thebigfatj @ Jul 18th 2007 10:28AM

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to characterize the PS3 as a restaurant where you can only order a few items that weren't served by the Xbox cook last year?

But, hey, at least there are more than just a few items now even if most of them were better at the Xbox restaurant last year.

I like his immature dig at the Wii. It's for kiddies, get it? LOL! Oh, by the way, we don't allow manhunt on our platform either because it's for adults. LOL

alexy @ Jul 18th 2007 10:29AM

@12.
Thats funny I never ATE an unreliable cook before...
and I'd take peter and reggie anyday...

This is the guy that owns penny arcade cash isn't it?

GRT @ Jul 18th 2007 10:35AM

BTW, to the haters out there who probably didn't bother to read the article, here's a quote:

GamePro: How would you describe each current game console if you had to describe it as a meal or food?

Tretton: I probably couldn't do it objectively.

GamePro: You don't need to be objective!

and then the quote mentioned here. Credit where credit is due: he admitted upfront that he wasn't able to be objective about the topic.

And it was a dumb question, but if he'd refused to answer it then you'd all be slashing him for not answering.

OrganicShadow @ Jul 18th 2007 10:40AM

As much as I really want to poke some fun at this Kojima-like quote, I have to agree with Jack.

PS2: I guess it's a hamburger. It's cheap, sells a lot, and it's an "old favorite" I guess you could say. It's a proven thing.

PS3: A steak is what I guess you could call it, as it's pricey and worth the money, but steak prices don't slowly go down, so maybe that's not the correct food item. Plus, does a steak do a lot of different things? Ehh, maybe a different food item, or even category altogether.

Wii: DEFINITELY a lollipop, or perhaps a BLOWpop. Good for those first 2 months after buying it, but after that you're pretty much done with it. A blowpop doesn't last too long and neither will the Wii in my book, especially if they can't get some new big time franchises out there and draw in more people than just the classic-mascot-lovin-fanboys.(no offense, i wish i had that kind of savage love for something) And yes, it STILL seems like a kids machine. Just like that one fatty with glasses on the 1up E3 preview said, Nintendo tried to tell me what I want, but I discovered that it's NOT what I want. I want meaty, epic, hard ass, mature titles. I don't want fitness and happy funtime smiley games.

360: Not only unreliable on the hardware level, but also with software in my opinion. Yes, it has a crapload of games coming out for it all the time, but how many of those games are actually REALLY good. Not AAA good, but just "great" and borderline must-haves for the system? Everyone hyped up Shadowrun and now there are so many mixed feelings on the game it's ridiculous. I haven't heard anything on that game in a month or so, so maybe it's been given a free pass of some sort. Halo 3 beta got the same mixed feelings and so did many other games. The 360 fannies always tell PS3 owners like me to stop hyping up the PS3 games in case they fail to meet the hype, but maybe they should take that advice too.

Flameshield ACTIVATE!

Curmeo @ Jul 18th 2007 10:40AM

lol he's spot on. when MS replaces the unreliable cook (RRoD units) with more reliable one (65nm version), the new cook's steak will taste just as sweet.

as for Wii, its gonna remain a lollipop, aside from the occasional bubblegum inside.

i'm lovin Sony's "arrogance". the fact that US gamers generally hate Sony makes me enjoy watchin' them keep their heads up and show their pride. long live PlayStation!

RPG @ Jul 18th 2007 11:06AM

@aceofblitz

I don't understand most of the menu at Starbucks and there's so much grease in anything at McDonald's that it makes me sick.

;)

shase @ Jul 18th 2007 11:50AM

Well the last time when Moore jumped ship dreamcast failed... i guess mayb history is repeating itself??? Anyway, Moore already said that the "ring of death" comes from many problems and a smaller chipset is definitely going to help but unless many other things are changed the problem might still be there...

coplice @ Jul 18th 2007 12:52PM

"As for good exclusives how about Dead Rising, gears of War, Lost Planet, Command and Conquer, Forza, Saints Row, crackdown, Condemned..."
why do you name games that are also on PC...
Lost Planet, C&C
or will soon be on PC
Gears of War, and eventualy Halo 3
3 shooters and 1 STR, 2 types of games that play well with a keyboard and a mouse :o

why xbots come here!!! i dont go in your xbox blog!
its locked at my work lol

Ninegauger @ Jul 18th 2007 1:25PM

Yeah... there's no reason to defend the "honor" of the Xbox or Wii. Tretton can talk all he wants but the 360 and Wii are both beating the PS3 (both overall and month to month so far as I can tell).

I think Sony's going to learn why the PS2 won last generation: one year head start. The only time I remember a console coming from behind to win a generation was the Super Nintendo over the Genesis but the current generation is most similar to the last one (one console a year early, two more a year later) but the difference is that one of the late consoles is really flourishing (not the PS3).

He thinks he's such a cool guy because he's too old for lollipops? I still like candy... I probably eat candy more often than I have steak... I don't know if that's a great analogy.

Also, I've never heard of Surf'n'Turf... is it regional or something?

allmodcons @ Jul 18th 2007 2:03PM

Wii - In-N-Out Burger
360 - dry aged USDA prime
PS3 - Kobe steak

My beef blog:

http://beefaficionado.blogspot.com/

Dahk @ Jul 18th 2007 2:25PM

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm kobe beef.

MYPS3KilledMy360 @ Jul 18th 2007 2:56PM

@8 but your still willing to drop that money on the table arent you. it wouldnt be a five star restaurant if nobody went there. Wow you most not keep up with the PS3 as of now xbox live and halo 3 are keeping the 360 a float :). while PS3 owners are busy trying to find away to by all the games that are coming out exclusives and non exclusives and thats over 10 games. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ now its a buffet a 5 star buffet.

upz @ Jul 18th 2007 3:08PM

"I think Sony's going to learn why the PS2 won last generation: one year head start."

That seems to be a common misconception among us gaming blog reading folk. PS2 was not the first out the gate last generation. Everyone always forgets the Dreamcast. So if we're really splitting hairs, PS2 actually launched one year later than the competition. Competition that sold 10 million units, didn't play next gen movie discs, and had Peter Moore as head of marketing. Hmmm...

"He thinks he's such a cool guy because he's too old for lollipops? I still like candy... I probably eat candy more often than I have steak..."

Quit being such a girl. Men eat steaks so raw they still moo.

Scott @ Jul 18th 2007 3:12PM

I'll keep this short and sweet.
I would have to say I agree %100 with TheSh0wstopper. I am in his same position, and if they want to compare ps3 to steak, well doesn't it have to have a lot of meat for it to be a good steak?

MYPS3KilledMy360 @ Jul 18th 2007 3:25PM

Im sorry again for double posting @19 you only bought crakcdown for the halo 3beta other wise you wouldnt buy it, Gears of War released a year after the 360 came out, saints row was good... a good copy of GT series. Forza 2 dude? how long did it take to come out dumass a year and 3 months maybe more, lost planet was ok a little boring but ok. I dont even like RTS's i dont even think its that popular in the sony fanbase. and reasons for the better multi platform games is because developers had there hands on the 360 longer if you want a fair battle lets try comparing games that came out in the first and second quarter of the 360 release date STFU i thought so and the 360 failer rate seems to be going up not down not only on new systems the ones they so called fixed 2. your safe bet would be with the PS3 but 360 has nice games 2, right now the PS3 is playong catch up an they are doing it well i might add. there are so many games that look and sound good that i dont even have the money to by them and there all releasing from the 3Q to next year 2Q can i name of few B4 you say what games. Heavenly sword, Unreal tournament, Haze, Uncharted, Tekken6, Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone2, Final fantasy 13 and versus 13, Grand tourismo 5, little big planet,WarHawk, Socom, Darkstalkers.hmmm? they just about hit every genre, Unreal might not release for the 360 march and Haze might become exclusive Wow good stuff plus home wich will be the most immersive network known to consoles. O and by the way most games that are going multi plat are starting to be built for the PS3 first sounds good doesnt it. at E3 guess what COD4 was being run on most of the time guess go ahead....................... the PS3

upz @ Jul 18th 2007 3:27PM

allmodcons, that is just about the best site I've ever seen. Why didn't I think of that?

allmodcons @ Jul 18th 2007 3:52PM

Thanks for the compliment upz. I came up with it by thinking with my belly instead of my head.

never$$hort @ Jul 18th 2007 4:16PM

Gamepro asked Tretton the dam question and he answered it to his best comedic ability without being harsh on the competition, so cut the guy some slack, he did a good job. Don't be mad cuz the 360's unreliable, defective with rates 33%+, and now one of your idols Moore is jumping ship before it completely sinks. History DOES repeat itself and lifespan of the 360 will fall short within the next few years (my prediction).

dradiant @ Jul 18th 2007 5:29PM

I really think Sony has hired an inept idiot in Jack Tretton, people in the industry are laughing at the PS3, there is so much development behind the scenes that is being put on hold or completely cancelled for the PS3 and a truck load of new development for the wii.

Using the food analogy, ps3 may be surf and turf but the waiter that is serving you is a complete prick, the food is overpriced, and someone has jizzed in your garlic mashed potatos.... eat up sony tools.

PS3>Milkbox60 @ Jul 18th 2007 5:49PM

@33
And eat up we will. I am now enjoying this delicious PS3 Kobe steak,and a Wii lollipop for desert. Oh,and waiter? I dont want that Milkbox360,it's raw and broken anyway. :)

ryano @ Jul 18th 2007 8:14PM

heheh, this is a cute thread. you are all winners in my book.

i look at it like this: wait for the price drops next year and then enjoy your 3 course meal.

until then, buy a PS2 and Nintendo DS. those are reliable alternatives to this next-gen mess.

hmmm, this thread needs garlic...(i am so gosh, darn cute!) *total sarcasm*

never$$hort @ Jul 19th 2007 1:02PM

@36 TheSh0wstopper says: "Currently the 360 is a SUPERIOR GAMING MACHINE. I'm not saying that wont change in the future, Hell I hope it does."

-Sorry I fail to see how a defective system with failure rates of 33%+ is a superior gaming machine. It is going to change, 360 is going down in flames just as fast as it sold at release time (with no competition mind you). Moore jumped off the bllion dollar losses sinking ship and more will follow suit. M$ get ready for the lawsuits!!