Another Sony star jumps to Atari: SingStar's Paulina Bozek

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 8th 2008 at 10:00AM }

Looks like the French games company is targeting proven Sony stars. Their high-profile acquisition of former Worldwide Studios giant Phil Harrison took the industry by surprise. Many of us were shocked to see such a successful reign at Sony Computer Entertainment move to a company with a track record like Atari.

The exodus may be far from over, though. Today, it's been revealed that the gorgeous Paulina Bozek, creative director of Sony's popular SingStar franchise, is also finding a new home at Atari. She will head a new studio, based in Hammersmith, London, that will focus on developing other mass-market games for "online-enabled devices," including PCs and consoles. "I am very excited to be joining Atari at this pivotal time for both the company and the industry," said Bozek.

Phil Harrison, Bozek's former boss at Sony, added: "This is a significant step in expanding Atari's online game development capability. Paulina is one of the industry's most respected creative leaders with an outstanding track-record of commercial and creative success and I'm delighted that she will bring her unique vision, consumer insight and proven ability for creating amazing entertainment experiences to Atari."

Tags: atari, paulina-bozek, phil-harrison, singstar

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jerses @ Sep 8th 2008 10:30AM

Phil Harrison and this MILF should know Atari is a sinking ship since 1987. I havent heard of any new game from atari that its worth the buy... only does dragon ball games that are the same every year they just add extra characters. Does anyone find strage that she has a thiny body but her head is so big?

dave @ Sep 8th 2008 11:12PM

It's never too late for Atari to produce quality games. In fact, with Phil and now Paulina jumping on their wagon, they're in a much better position.

I agree, her body and head look out of proportion in the photo. I hope it's just a bad picture. It's somewhat disquieting.

qo_op @ Sep 8th 2008 10:33AM

Maybe now the US Singstore will be worth a damn

Deaddy @ Sep 8th 2008 10:47AM

Considering that in her last interview she equated "US-centric" with "English language" songs, I am glad to see her go.

El Stefio @ Sep 8th 2008 10:50AM

Seriously Jerses - do you even play computer games?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari,_Inc_(Infogrames)#Major_products

Jerses @ Sep 8th 2008 11:08AM

i was talking about good games...Fahrenheit and Unreal Tournament 2004 are the only games that i would rescue from them. Did you read the page you send?

On May 9, 2008, It was revealed that Nasdaq will be removing Atari from the Nasdaq stock market.

Its a sinking ship..no one likes theyre games so they are noy buying them

ZeroCorpse @ Sep 8th 2008 10:58AM

As a journalist, you may want to avoid using a term like "gorgeous" to describe a Sony Creative Director. It rings of sexism when you qualify a female businessperson as "gorgeous" but don't make such a personal statement about the male ones. . . Unless you plan to write up a story where you describe Ken Kutaragi as "The dreamy Ken Kutaragi".

I don't have a personal beef here. I'm just pointing out that Ms. Bozek didn't get where she is because of her looks, and she deserves the same sort of respect that you'd give to a male counterpart when writing about them.

This isn't about political correctness. This is about respect for her skills, talents, and achievements and refraining from singling her out as a woman when you wouldn't do the same for a man.

I'm male, and yes, she's pretty. It just has nothing to do with why she is leaving Sony.

This isn't Stevie Case we're talking about, after all.

Andrew Yoon @ Sep 8th 2008 11:05AM

I've met with Paulina before, and I've told her outright that she is a remarkably beautiful person. I don't think it's particularly sexist to comment on that, especially if we acknowledge her success as the director of one of Sony's biggest franchises ever.

Also, Ken Kutargai is not "dreamy." Kazuo Hirai is far more handsome.

r.crisp @ Sep 8th 2008 2:57PM

Sorry, I can't hear you properly from all the way up there. It is an awfully large beast, isn't it?

j.howlett @ Sep 8th 2008 11:49AM

i've read plenty of man crush type descriptions of phil harrison and peter moore

sw @ Sep 8th 2008 11:52AM

Stop repeating what the TV tells you to.

Jack Tretton @ Sep 8th 2008 12:35PM

"I've met with Paulina before, and I've told her outright that she is a remarkably beautiful person."

How in the hell did you rationalize making a comment like that to the woman? Were you talking shop in a conference room or trying to pick her up at a hotel bar?

You come off as a little bit of a creep. No offense.

Justin @ Sep 8th 2008 12:49PM

Actually, I have to agree with Zero here. I know this is a blog, but the use of "gorgeous" did seem out of place for something that is journalism. That word would be cut immediately if you were writing for a newspaper or if this was part of a newscast. Well, maybe Access Hollywood or Entertainment Tonight might use it, but do you really want that comparison? And I'm about as far from PC as you can get, but if you're not going to use adjectives to describe the men (and I really hope you don't start), you probably shouldn't do it for her as well. I don't see what that has to do with her level of success in the industry.

On a related note, you just out of the blue told her you thought she was gorgeous when you met her? That seems like an odd thing to do, especially if you were meeting her as part of a work-related function. Probably also a little uncomfortable for her. "Uh, okay, thanks?"

Not trying to jump all over you since I've been reading your posts for months and am only commenting for the first time today. Just think of it as constructive criticism from someone who has had to write way too many documents that don't allow me to use adjectives.

ill trooper @ Sep 8th 2008 3:04PM

I agree with ZeroCorpse, I read that adjective and I thought "Why the fuck am I reading that in an article about a career change?"

It just makes video gamers look childish when this sort of thing is written. No doubt she's attractive, but why discuss it? It's the journalistic equivalent of staring too long at the cute woman at the end of the bar.

ZeroCorpse @ Sep 8th 2008 3:20PM

My post asking for some journalistic standards (cutting unnecessary adjectives) gets voted down, but the guys calling her "ugly", ""skating by on her looks", and other such things are hunky dory?

Wow.

Some of you guys will have a really hard time when you get into a professional situation and think that you can single out women like you do here. This sort of attitude is a great way to end up on the business end of a lawsuit or receive a discrimination-related termination from your job.

Call it politically correct if you want, but it's the way of the world now, and making excuses now will just land your ass in a six-hour, company-funded seminar, at the very least.

Been there. Done that. All because one of my employees couldn't resist telling female coworkers that they looked "sexy" in their work clothes.

Just wait. Some of you guys will have the powerful, career-controlling male manager or CEO of your company put his arm around you and tell you that you're gorgeous, and then it will all click into place and you'll understand why women don't appreciate being treated that way at work.

In the professional world, you can't act like you're at a nightclub. In journalism, you can't single out a person's gender or looks if they have nothing to do with the article.

I don't make the rules, but by all means, shoot the messenger.

NwrksBigBoss @ Sep 8th 2008 4:34PM

WTF this is a blog and he is not a journalist, he can say whatever the hell he wants, and yea she's a MILF!

JaseH @ Sep 8th 2008 8:34PM

I disagree with all of you. Calling a woman gorgeous on a blog is not sexist at all. You don't have to say the same thing about a person of the same sex (in which you are not attracted to) gorgeous to be able to call a woman that.

It's a form of introducing... they do the same thing on talk shows & stand up. "Please welcome... the lovely, Sarah [insert last name here]"... or "Give a round of a applaus for the very beautiful Jessica Albaaa"...

I also notice women do the same. Especially on entertainment shows & talk shows. For example... "I'm pleased to introduce, the very handsome, George Clooney"... ect. ect.

ZeroCorpse, I think you overreacted a bit here, and jumped to silly conclusions. Its obvious Andrew meant no offense to her gender at all, and to go all feminist on him when he obviously meant well is a little childish.

It's such a nitpick, get over yourself. Created something out of nothing.

___________________
JaseH.

gtfreak1985 @ Sep 8th 2008 11:05AM

well i guess he doesnt. Cause test drive unlimited is an awesome game on pc. the xbrick 360 doesnt count. Since u cant use a logitech wheel in 900 mode with clutch :) but atari does need help in its online department. atari is now a publisher like ea is. they arent the actaul dev teams. Like eden games makes most of the big titles, alone in the dark, test drive series etc.