• kaz hirai

    Sony Stresses Importance of Games, Games, Games

    When Kaz Hirai took over Sony Computer Entertainment, the company's outlook changed. The previous head, PlayStation father Ken Kutaragi, kept talking up the PS3's other selling points. It was a Blu-ray player! It was a super computer! It had 4D!! Somewhere along the line, the focus that Sony Computer Entertainment made game machines was lost. Hirai has done a sold job of roping that back in. In an interview with Nikkei, Hirai said:

    The thing that I did when I took over last year was to boast the appeal of games themselves... The main premise of the PS3 is video games. That's the absolutely most important thing that we cannot lose sight of.

    Hirai goes on to say by putting priority numero uno on games that that's how Sony will expand its position in the marketplace. And about Nintendo, Hirai said, "We cannot allow Nintendo run off alone."

    「『任天堂の独走許さない』ソニーのゲーム戦略」〜ゲームが破る閉塞 [NBonline]

    1:00 AM on Wed Oct 15 2008
    By Brian Ashcraft
    5,408 views, 104 comments

    Most discussed rich8606: ky... s whr's r gms? more »

  • kaz hirai

    PS3 Launch Message "A Little Too Zealous"

    The PS3 launch was rough. Real rough. Like, the roughest. After an executive reshuffling (that shuffled PlayStation father Ken Kutaragi out of the company), Sony seems like its on terra firma. Things are turning around! But looking back at that launch mess, current Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai says: More »

    1:00 AM on Tue Sep 16 2008
    By Brian Ashcraft
    12,556 views, 113 comments

    Most discussed hypermog: PS3 is so much less a system than it could have been, for so much higher a price than it more »

  • E308

    Tretton Talks About Kaz's Influence on the Playstation Universe

    Speaking with a group of game writers earlier this week SCEA head Jack Tretton talked briefly about how Sony Computer Entertainment has benefited under the shift from Ken Kutaragi to Kaz Hirai.

    Specifically, he talked about the promise that Sony's regions would be a bit more antonymous under Hirai.

    "There is no question that Kutaragi-san ruled with an iron fist, but it was his vision," Tretton said. "In terms of how we went to market in region, that was anonymous." More »

    3:00 PM on Fri Jul 18 2008
    By Brian Crecente
    4,153 views, 58 comments

  • playstation

    Ken Kutaragi Offers His International Business Skills

    Ever wonder what PlayStation father Ken Kutaragi is up to? After that messy, messy PS3 launch, Kutaragi was elbowed out of the limelight in favor of Sony Computer Entertainment of America honcho Kaz Hirai. Still connected with Sony Computer Entertainment, Kutaragi no longer works for SCE in any active function. More »

    8:00 AM on Thu May 1 2008
    By Brian Ashcraft
    4,047 views, 32 comments

    Latest by onomeister: I'd like to see Nintendo or Microsoft Japan hire him up... The ultimate insult to Sony... more »

  • playstation

    Ken Kutaragi To Be Hall of Famed By CEA

    Ken "the Father of the PlayStation" Kutaragi is set to score another industry honor this year, dragging the former Sony Computer Entertainment exec from the comfort of his pajamas and back onto North American soil for another round of fawning. The Consumer Electronics Association announced that it would induct Ken into the CE Hall of Fame in October, along with 11 of his industry peers, according to a report from GameSpot.

    After receiving similar accolades from the Entertainment Software Association and Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, we're worried Ken might let this all go to his head. Who knows what engineering insanity he could devise if he ventures into mad scientist mental territory?

    Kutaragi finds fame with CEA [GameSpot]

    8:00 PM on Wed Apr 2 2008
    By Michael McWhertor
    762 views, 19 comments

    Latest by fuchikoma: Well deserved. That man pretty much made the Playstation and changed the face of gaming (for better and worse... well, more »

  • clip

    David Jaffe Re-Invisions Mario, Is Going Bald

    Kotaku guest editor and Game Trailers faceman Geoff Keighley talks to David Jaffe about important things like overestimating the audience for small games, the possibility of Twisted Metal for the PS3 and hair loss. There's also a hundred dollar bet whether Ken Kutaragi knows who David Jaffe is. So exciting! Hit the jump for part 2, where Jaffe talks about how he'd do a Mario game. (Hint: DRUGS.) More »

    11:00 PM on Thu Feb 28 2008
    By Brian Ashcraft
    5,315 views, 55 comments

    Latest by dudeman5000: Keighley is a great videogame journalist (see his other work) and imo one of the very best around. Plus I more »

  • business

    Dumb Exec Quote Round-Up Rodeo

    Sometimes game execs say razor sharp things. Those moments we quickly forget. Sometimes they say jug-headed things. Those moments we remember. Forever. Over at Game|Life, they're voting on their favorite foot-in-mouth quotes from game execs. A quick round-up for you to laugh and point at:

    • Former Microsoft exec Peter Moore on Red Rings of Death:
    "You know, things break."

    • Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in May 2004:
    "Customers do not want online games."

    • SCEA boss Jack Tretton on post-launch PS3 availability:
    "If you can find a PS3 anywhere in North America that's been on store shelves for more than five minutes, I'll give you 1,200 bucks for it."

    • Nintendo's Perrin Kaplan on Wii owners running out of memory space:
    "But if your refrigerator's full, you've got to pull something out and put something else back in. I mean, really, are you using everything thing there?"

    • PlayStation Father Ken Kutaragi on the PS3's intial price tag:
    "It's probably too cheap... We want consumers to think to themselves, 'I will work more hours to buy one.'"

    Hey, at least most game execs are not boring!
    Crazy Executive Quote Award [Game|Life] [Image]

    12:00 AM on Thu Nov 29 2007
    By Brian Ashcraft
    3,584 views, 74 comments

    Latest by mcderek3000: Other famous Peter Moore quotes: After the Minneapolis bridge collapse: "cars are heavy'. After appeasing Germany failed and Poland was invaded. "Nazis more »

  • 2007 b.c.

    SCEE Explains PS3 BC Backpedalling

    By now, we're all aware of the price drop and feature drop of the PLAYSTATION 3 in Europe, resulting in a gimped 40GB model of the console. So why, exactly, was backwards compatibility dropped from the PS3? What was once a "core value" and "necessary" according to Sony Computer Entertainment's Phil Harrison—not to mention a boastful talking point when asked about the Xbox 360's BC— is now clearly not at all necessary, with the company's priorities on "developing innovative new features and services for PS3 and not on backwards compatibility." More »

    5:20 PM on Fri Oct 5 2007
    By Michael McWhertor
    11,367 views, 179 comments

    Latest by AgainstOne: @TheIrishNinja: i already did that. it's right here. it's you who've not bothered to read my words. more »

  • ken kutaragi

    ESA Crowns Kutaragi Champion

    Proud papa of the PlayStation and honorary chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment Ken Kutaragi is joining the likes of George Lucas, Howard Lincoln, and Bing Gordon as a Champion Honoree at the ESA's Nite to Unite for Kids charity event, being recognized for his vast contributions to the gaming industry.

    "Ken's contributions to our community and the entertainment lives of ordinary consumers are extraordinary," said Michael D. Gallagher, president of the ESA. "His insight and vision revolutionized in-home entertainment, enabling advancements in creativity, technology, and innovation."
    Good going Kenny! Nite to Unite is a charity organization that donates to children's charities across the United States. This year's event is being held on October 17th in San Francisco.


    'Father of PlayStation' to be Honored by ESA at Nite to Unite     [GameDaily BIZ]

    2:00 PM on Tue Sep 11 2007
    By Mike Fahey
    965 views, 17 comments

    Latest by Kempatsu: wait a minute....Innovation? Innovation? I'm pretty sure he ripped off every idea from Nintendo to funnel into the Playstation...not that I'm more »

  • revenge of afrika

    Kaz Will Kick Off Tokyo Game Show

    Meet the new boss. Hopefully he won't be as dull as the old boss in Tokyo Game Show terms. With Ken Kutaragi for all intents and purposes disowned by the PlayStation family, new SCEI president Kaz Hirai will take his place in kicking off the TGS 07 festivities. While Kutaragi's hour-plus keynote at TGS '06 focused on networking, global mapping data and the Folding@Home application, there's no telling what Kaz will speak about this September. I just hope we get another Afrika trailer this year (and better seats). More »

    3:40 PM on Wed Jul 18 2007
    By Michael McWhertor
    2,411 views, 38 comments

    Latest by Mongoosekun: I actually still play RR7 a good bit. It seems it's the only online game Japanese play on the more »