Kutaragi's retirement a step back, not a step down, says analyst

[Doctor Setebos]

Next Gen has word (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5405&Itemid=2) from an IDC analyst that claims the media is making more of Ken Kutaragi's retirement (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29054) from SCEI than is actually going on. He sees the movement as a re-focusing of Kutaragi's abilities rather than a punishment for PS3 poor initial launch performance.

“The popular press scenario [which] casts the PS3 as Sony's folly has journalists suggesting that Kutaragi's retirement is a dressing down for a failed PS3 launch. IDC believes this is a facile, myopic perspective. The negative on the PS3 is that the console is a late bloomer.

“IDC believes that Mr. Kutaragi's considerable talents are needed behind the scenes developing next generation technology rather running a business unit. Kaz Hirai is the best choice for executing the strategy and tactics to turn on PS3's afterburners."I'm almost afraid to ask, but....thoughts?

[Joestar]

I would say no a few weeks back, but after reading an article about him on next-gen.biz, this guy is actually pretty good. What he actually needs is someone that could veto him on some of the designs of the next Playstation to make it easier to develop for.

[Paranoia]

How about making the next Playstation console AFFORDABLE?

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

The guy is/was a visionary. He said some goofy things, but I believe he advanced gaming significantly.

[Kamalot]

The phrase, "Biting Off More Than You Can Chew" comes to mind when I think of Ken.

It isn't a step back, or a step down.

Its just a jump to the left, and then a step to the riiiiiight.

[Baron Samedi]

Can somebody please convince me that Krazy K was really all that?

[Citizen Philip]

I believe his energon reservers are low and is thus seeking out the Quintessons and asking for succor.

[jpublic]

Said IDC Analyst is hoping for some sweet Sony swag and as such is being convinced to paint a man being retired because of his poor decisions as something less than what it is.

K2 was a fundamentally delusional man in a corporation that seems to encourage such flawed thinking, and was retired because SOMEONE stopped drinking the funny Kool-Aid for a week and woke up to the damage he was doing.


Edit: And you know, before the PS3/Blu-ray I actually thought Sony was great?

[bean19]

Can somebody please convince me that Krazy K was really all that?

The PS1 with it's CD-Rom drive advantage over the N64 and it's processor's focus on 3D rendering (polygons) as an edge over the Saturn, made it the technology leader in a console race where all of the contenders had relatively equal game libraries and Sony was the new kid on the block.

The Playstation's lead and the inclusion of the DVD-drive for the PS2 made it the early and clear leader in the last-gen of the console wars, giving Sony an unprecedentedly large chunk of the market-share (unless you include the Atari).

His Playstation 3 is a disaster due to the Blu-Ray albatross that makes the device $200 more expensive to it's competitor. As well as being super-expensive, the adoption of HD televisions is not high enough yet that people see the HD movie player as value-added. Many consumers that have seen how similar the games on both consoles are in graphical quality but who were told that the PS3 was more expensive because the hardware would create better game experiences feel betrayed, and many informed gamers that would normally early adopt every console are planning not to pick up the device for several years. Meanwhile, the small stable of exclusive titles that were planned for the PS3 is eroding as more and more titles go cross-platform.

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

The phrase, "Biting Off More Than You Can Chew" comes to mind when I think of Ken.

It isn't a step back, or a step down.

Its just a jump to the left, and then a step to the riiiiiight.
Don't forget down, and backward in time. Ken is fully 4D compliant.

[Dirty Harry]

The phrase, "Biting Off More Than You Can Chew" comes to mind when I think of Ken.

It isn't a step back, or a step down.

Its just a jump to the left, and then a step to the riiiiiight.
So kamalame, do you base this off of fact that you and only you know, or out of your own personal opinion? cause if you cant back up what you say with hard facts about this situation, then i really don't think you are qualified or that you should make any type of opinion on these situations because it appears all you have is opinion, which is not fact... kthxbyb.

[jpublic]

The PS1 with it's CD-Rom drive advantage over the N64 and it's processor's focus on 3D rendering (polygons) as an edge over the Dreamcast, made it the technology leader in a console race where all of the contenders had relatively equal game libraries and Sony was the new kid on the block.


Don't you mean the Saturn, not Dreamcast?

[Kamalot]

So kamalame, do you base this off of fact that you and only you know, or out of your own personal opinion? cause if you cant back up what you say with hard facts about this situation, then i really don't think you are qualified or that you should make any type of opinion on these situations because it appears all you have is opinion, which is not fact... kthxbyb.
Sorry you missed the Rocky Horror Picture Show reference.

[Gorvi]

Sorry you missed the Rocky Horror Picture Show reference.
Worst. Movie. Ever.

[karak]

The PS1 with it's CD-Rom drive advantage over the N64 and it's processor's focus on 3D rendering (polygons) as an edge over the Dreamcast, made it the technology leader in a console race where all of the contenders had relatively equal game libraries and Sony was the new kid on the block.
What...the Dreamcast?

[Sandman]

Analysts are stupid.

[Dag-Sabot]

Worst. Movie. Ever. I agree whole heartedly. Although it serves as a reminder of a time when Susan Sarandon was "Hot".

[reimomo]

Worst. Movie. Ever.

It's really a viewer participant performance piece, not a movie.

[Sazime]

Sorry you missed the Rocky Horror Picture Show reference.
I got it! I got it!

Oh, and from my last comment in the other thread... (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29139)
We'll miss him? WTF? He didn't leave Sony, he just changed positions.
Take that, bitches!

[Dag-Sabot]

Yes like someone who changes positions in the army after being caught with the genreals wife, reassigned to a more challenging position, peeling potatoes on the north pole.

[drakkarim]

just like in politics, nobody is ever at fault and nobody is ever held accountable for anything, they just move to a different office.

then again, maybe that's more applicable to religion...

[TheFlyingOrc]

I'd say it's more of a "you're really annoying, but have done some good things, go look for a job somewhere else"

[Sazime]

Yes like someone who changes positions in the army after being caught with the genreals wife, reassigned to a more challenging position, peeling potatoes on the north pole.
That, is awesome.

[mister_slim]

This is what Sony needed, to put Kutaragi somewhere they can tap his strengths without his lack of management skills hurting them. Removing him from the spotlight is also a plus.
Can somebody please convince me that Krazy K was really all that?
He built the SNES sound chip, a truly beautiful piece of hardware, in his spare time without the knowledge of his superiors at Sony. That's all that really needs to be said.

[ElPresidente]

So kamalame, do you base this off of fact that you and only you know, or out of your own personal opinion? cause if you cant back up what you say with hard facts about this situation, then i really don't think you are qualified or that you should make any type of opinion on these situations because it appears all you have is opinion, which is not fact... kthxbyb.

Holy McCrap... this is a fact board? Not an opinion board? :eek:

Someone better make an announcement!

Worst. Movie. Ever.

Death is too good for you. :P

[bean19]

Don't you mean the Saturn, not Dreamcast?

Yes. Of course. :) thanks.

[dirtbag]

So kamalame, do you base this off of fact that you and only you know, or out of your own personal opinion? cause if you cant back up what you say with hard facts about this situation, then i really don't think you are qualified or that you should make any type of opinion on these situations because it appears all you have is opinion, which is not fact... kthxbyb.

Who died and made you the Lord of Opinions? Besides, since when has anyone on this board not been talking at least partially out of their ass? :rolleyes:

[Zanzibar]

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2937/iwataxy3.jpg

[Chimpbot]

So kamalame, do you base this off of fact that you and only you know, or out of your own personal opinion? cause if you cant back up what you say with hard facts about this situation, then i really don't think you are qualified or that you should make any type of opinion on these situations because it appears all you have is opinion, which is not fact... kthxbyb.


Somebody must have had a big heaping bowl of Bitchios this morning...

[DaedalusFolly]

Somebody must have had a big heaping bowl of Bitchios this morning...
I'm personally more partial to hater-tots, but whatever. Bring the ruckus.

[Herald42]

Pancakes > hater-tots.

Anyway, with the backing of the CD-Rom and the DVD-Rom, Sony made good decisions. They took an untested technology and charged a large sum for it -- I remember something like $400 for the PS2 when it came out. K-squared figured the same would happen with Blu-ray, and it would have worked if it weren't for those meddling kids and their damned Wii.

Also, Microsoft.

[Kamalot]

Pancakes > hater-tots.

Anyway, with the backing of the CD-Rom and the DVD-Rom, Sony made good decisions. They took an untested technology and charged a large sum for it -- I remember something like $400 for the PS2 when it came out. K-squared figured the same would happen with Blu-ray, and it would have worked if it weren't for those meddling kids and their damned Wii.

Also, Microsoft.
CD and DVD were already tested and established mainstream technologies available in the marketplace when they appeared in PS1 and PS2. Bluray isn't an established mainstream technology and could very well end up as the next Laserdisc format.

Nobody wants to buy the next Laserdisc. Therefore, Bluray is a liability to the PS3 in the eyes of wary consumers, especially if a similar gaming experience can be acquired for much less $.

[Roc Ingersol]

c'mon. let's be real. It's arguable whether he deserved it, but Sony's stockholders obviously aren't happy and Krazy Ken took the hit.

The press can spin it however they like, but it's undeniable that Wall Street punished Ken for the state of Sony.