CE-Oh no he didn't! Part X - Hirai tired of Microsoft copycats

We're quickly learning that the real gold mine of our CE-Oh no he didn't! posts is Sony, home to blustering executives prone to spewing a seemingly never ending stream of pithy, entertaining commentary on the industry as their flagship game and media device lapses further and further into delay. Up on the chopping block today is Hirai-san, SCEA President who told PlayStation Magazine the following:

"Every time we go down a path, we look behind and [Microsoft is] right there - we just can't shake these guys. I wish that they would come up with some strategies of their own, but they seem to be going down the path of everything we do. If you look at their strategy in other business areas as well, they tend to do that."

Really, Sony? Microsoft follows you around? Wait, didn't Sony shun Microsoft's tiered console pricing scheme, only to adopt it in the PS3? And wasn't the PlayStation originally only a response to their failed partnership with Nintendo? And wasn't the PSP merely a response to the hegemonic success of the Game Boy? And what about the new motion controller developers told us was a last minute feature creep to counter Nintendo's Wiimote? And the PS3 online service, slated for introduction long after Xbox Live? Sorry guys, you're not winning any hearts and minds when you try to pull the hype-woven wool over the everybody's eyes.

[dc @ Jun 28th 2006 11:01PM]

Well, I wouldn't be so sure. Remember, the PlayStation 2 was the first system to support a HardDrive(or at first release it was.). And actually, the PS2 wasn't a gaming console, it was an entertainment system. What other competitor had DVD playback? They were also the first to introduce online gaming that was good... and free. As for the PSP, Sony isn't playing with puppies on it... its playing Movies, Games, Music, and browsing the internet for big kids. but wait a minute... how odd it is that the 360 supports the PSP? and the Ipod? Id say thats tailgating off success. As for the price points, we all know were going to see PS3 on Ebay for $1500 dollars or more. someone going to make money on the PS3, sony might-as-well rip off the people who are going to rip off other people. And the motionsensor... well, Sony is still big dog on the gaming, er, interactive home computer business... so they can do what they want.
thank you and keep an open mind.
DC (an XBOX 360 owner, just so ya'll dont think I'm biased.)

[Mike Mick @ Jun 28th 2006 11:02PM]

What was this in reference too? How was he saying that Microsoft was copying them? I don't see how they could be talking about the Xbox 360 since it came out a year before the PS3 is supposed to launch. So, what was he referring to?

[Mike Mick @ Jun 28th 2006 11:06PM]

DC,
Xbox came with a hard drive. PS2 later came out with an external hard drive after the Xbox was released. And to say any console brought in online play better than the Xbox did, you'd have to be kidding yourself. I'm not even a Microsoft fan, and I can clearly see that.

[BeAnS @ Jun 28th 2006 11:08PM]

In a sense, they did follow them into the gaming industry, if that's any consolation

[orionone @ Jun 28th 2006 11:11PM]

I wonder if they're using the PS3 as a bot to generate the infamous comments..

[Shaun B @ Jun 28th 2006 11:13PM]

Well we all know what this is going to turn out to. Some big Fanboys of the Xbox360 saying a bunch of crap about the PS3 and how Xbox is the best. Come on now we've heard that many times already just stop. I am also an owner of an Xbox360 ( it is no lie ) and it is one great system. The playstation is great as well. The PS3 seems great from many pcitures, videos, and news abou it. I am looking forward to the PS3 and its capabilities such as the internet browsing. That could be ideal for people who dont have a computer or maybe just want to browes on the gaming system itself. So overall I am saying every system is great i mean come on now... there just video game systems.. were'nt they just made to have fun?.. and not argue about which system is the best..

I liked what "dc" said i agree with him.

[mike @ Jun 28th 2006 11:25PM]

this sounds like the blathering of a scared little man. microsoft has long since passed sony, at least in the US; what he is seeing when he looks behind him... i dunno. i remember the ps2 launch quite well, and as far as games, reliability, and value for the money, the 360 launch makes the ps2's look like a joke. it's a pity that japan is so nationalistic when it comes to consoles, if they weren't, this console war would be over already. kinda reminds of how americans were in the 70's when japanese cars were first beginning to sell over here. people didn't want to buy them but when it became obvious that they were a superior product, they took over and american cars still can't compete. but make no mistake, microsoft will win north america this time, even if they can't make a dent in japan. i have a 360, i love it, and i have yet to see anything on ps3 that makes me want to buy one.

[AcceptableRisk @ Jun 28th 2006 11:32PM]

They guys down in Sony's design department are just a bunch of biters. They see something good, redress it in a pretty box, and throw a bunch of marketing dollars at it. It's worked pretty well for them so far, but people are beginning to see through their garbage. I'm not so confident they can keep it up.

[Jimmay @ Jun 28th 2006 11:36PM]

"They were also the first to introduce online gaming that was good... "

You've got to be kidding me. I don't think I even have to argue with that, I think the people reading this will get what I'm saying without explaining it.

".. and free"

not really, you have to pay for the network adapter

[David @ Jun 28th 2006 11:38PM]

PS2 was build with the idea of an HD so even though Xbox had noe at launch doesn't mean it was theer idea. As for internet I'm going to say that Dreamcast was the first. Remember PSO?? I miss that game so much haha.

[dc @ Jun 28th 2006 11:40PM]

Mr. Mike,
Let me clear up my comment just a lil bit. Yes, XBOX had a HardDrive built in, BUT do you remeber the original PS2? Where there was a GIANT hole? That was for the HardDrive, it never came to be. Instead they put a modem for the internet. Sony was originally going to have HD's to buy seperate to reduce cost... hmm, sound like a 360. Only you got a choice, 20 gigs... or none. As for the modem. you got me. I wasnt about to pay Microsoft to play Madden online, but i did get a lateral in online GAMEPLAY with the PS2. Sure, I couldn't track stats. All I cared for was the gameplay.
like i said, open your mind.
dc
(BTW- just something for the mind. Im not going to ask if any of you have an Ipod. Im sure more so than not that you all do(including myself). Rather, how many do you have? How much did they cost? They play music, video, and display pics. now. What do you think of the PS3 price point? Even the 360 price point? These system do a lot more than an Ipod. So is the price realy that bad?)

[Andrew @ Jun 28th 2006 11:41PM]

@DC:
I think you should probably actually know what you're talking about before you say it...
First of all, just so I don't have to repeat what he said, I agree with Mike Mick fully; he's absolutely right.
"Sony isn't playing with puppies on it... its playing Movies, Games, Music, and browsing the internet for big kids."
What the hell... clearly most of the consoles already have support for these features, you don't grade a console on whether or not it can play a fricken movie... it's not only about what it can do, it's also about how it can do it. It's not all like, "Holy crap! That's revolutionary... we have a console that can play movies, games, music, and the internets! OMG! They're really bringing out the 'big guns.'" Give me a break, we saw that shit already in systems (PSP + DS, and Wii's gonna have it too) with half the power.
"we all know were going to see PS3 on Ebay for $1500"
Ummm... we all know we've already seen the xbox360 on eBay for that price already... and Sony's not the one selling system's for $1500 on eBay... they're selling it for $600, which is not a rip-off considering Blu-ray players are selling for $1000 (which is rediculous) and they're going to be in the PS3's when they ship.
"how odd it is that the 360 supports the PSP? and the Ipod?... ...tailgating off success."
Umm, tailgating off of success... alrighty then. Microsoft's just supporting more products. Tailgating? I don't see how Microsoft is benefiting from the success of iPods... really who buys an xbox so they can listen to their iPod songs on it?

[Alex @ Jun 28th 2006 11:45PM]

"how odd it is that the 360 supports the PSP? and the Ipod? Id say thats tailgating off success."

Oh come on now. At the very least, it is complementing those products. With all the talk about DRM, you should be happy that a MS product is allowing non-PlaysForSure products on their console. What are you going to say next, that Xbox 360 tailgated off the success of the internet gaming?

[Xbox fanboy sarcasm]
Let's look at stats. Xbox 360 has sold millions of consoles. PS3 has sold, that's right, zero. Millions > 0. Can't argue with numbers ;).

And I have both a PSP AND a PS2, so don't say I'm biased because I'm not :D.
[/Xbox fanboy sarcasm]

[David @ Jun 28th 2006 11:51PM]

I can't believe someone said the 360 makes the PS2 look bad, how many years newer is it?? That statement is so obvious that it's retarded. Still best internet first was DREAMCAST.

[Andrew @ Jun 28th 2006 11:58PM]

um... "I couldn't track stats. All I cared for was the gameplay."

See, that's YOU... the rest of the world wants to track stats and have an expansive online community with people online and friends you can play games with... with the PS3 you just play a round and that's all you get out of it. With xbox live you can compare stats, play games with friends, get matched with people of equal skill, and enjoy the social network. If it wasn't for xbox live with stats there's no way in the world I would be playing Halo 2 as much as I do today. You might not care about community, social networks, and shared excitement for games; but the rest of the world does. Don't expect your opinions to be shared with the rest of the world.
My Opinion:
PS2's version of online play lacked the support it should have had from Sony, it was poorly done, and just overall couldn't hold a candle to xbox live.

Oh, and as a side note: how much does Andrew C just sound like a crazed Sony fan boy that needs a grammar lesson or something? geez.

[Veritas II @ Jun 29th 2006 12:22AM]

Meh, I disagree on the online bit. Some people have no use for online play at all. So that's really only a subset of the gaming community, not the rest of the world, Andrew.

[Crazylink @ Jun 29th 2006 12:24AM]

I find this article very humorous. I shall send it to my fellow Nintendo fanboys.

[T.H. @ Jun 29th 2006 12:37AM]

Hrm...disc drive for your game console that you can download content to...where the heck have I heard that before...couldn't be on the SNES...nah...couldn't be. And free online networked play? We on the PC side think this is a totally original idea. I kid you not.

[Matt D @ Jun 29th 2006 12:47AM]

"They were also the first to introduce online gaming that was good"?

Most ridiculous statement I have ever read.

[bigmiz @ Jun 29th 2006 12:52AM]

nintendo had the dd which was a rewritable drive

[Rob @ Jun 29th 2006 12:55AM]

Subset? Not the rest of the world?

Since Xbox Live’s online gaming network launched in November 2002, gamers have spent over 1.5 billion hours on the network playing games online with their friends around the world. This is equal to 65 million days of gaming or close to 200,000 years.

[tiremfej @ Jun 29th 2006 1:18AM]

Hmm, well last time I checked it was about games, and having fun. All this venom towards other console users, I just don't get it. Who really cares if people like MS, who cares if people like Sony? I personally don't get the Nintendo thing, but that's my opinion. Imitation is the fondest form of flattery, isn't it? So who cares, as long as the companies continue to innovate through competition, I say keep it going!

[Cars @ Jun 29th 2006 1:27AM]

I can think of one major model that Microsoft completely rip off of Sony, and this is sole reason why the xbox is still alive. Sony was the first company to create a business model to sell consoles for a loss and profit from the software. Nintendo doesn't do it, and Sega didn't do it until the Dreamcast, which cause the company to die because of piracy. I don't think Nintendo will do it any time in the near future, but xbox1 survived because of it, and so will xbox2. So please be less cruel to the CEO when you don't know what you're talking about.

[eugene @ Jun 29th 2006 1:27AM]

come on guys lighten up. this kind of smack-talking occurs all the time in any business, especially those related to entertainment. every company - yes, including nintendo - has had representatives who've said ridiculous things; there are no angels outside of a fanboy's eyes. you can't expect a company to just roll over and say something like "we adopted this stance/configuration/technology because we can't think of something better ourselves". and it's not as if we, as consumers, make it any easier; successful products beg imitation because no one wants to buy unsuccessful ideas. there's a reason why, for example, almost all the top 40 songs have the same chord structures and melodic/thematic motifs. none of us are surprised by this, are we? so let's move on, hope for some good competition from all three companies, and reap the consumer benefits.

[Earl @ Jun 29th 2006 1:28AM]

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!

[Nukes and Candy @ Jun 29th 2006 1:30AM]

Wow. Good comeback Ryan!! I like when these CE-Oh my god I steped in dog shi.. get their nuts kicked.

Ryan for president!!

.

[flamer's grill @ Jun 29th 2006 1:33AM]

Andrew C posted the most pertinent comment so far: competition is good. In this case, aggressive and hateful competition is best. Microsoft does something? Sony tries to top them. Sony comes forward with a new idea? Microsoft responds with something they think is better. Who wins?

YOU DO. Because no matter which console you choose, you will be getting a great product from a company that is trying to innovate instead of a complacent company resting on its laurels.

Still; $599 is a LOT of money....

[Brett @ Jun 29th 2006 1:39AM]

I can't freakin believe you're all arguing about which console was first to be most like the PCs I've been gaming on for the last twelve years. Give me a break...

[Timbobsteve @ Jun 29th 2006 2:03AM]

This is getting tiring. I mean I love a good console war as much as the next person... but c'mon! Fanboi'ism is just getting out of hand. If you are so dedicated to your conosle of choice I want you to prove it by getting the console symbol tatooed to your forehead! I love games, but not that much. Just listen to yourselves... its really scary.

I like inovation, and all three companies are inovating with their new systems. All three consoles will be great to play for different reasons. No ONE console is going to be the best in the world and no ONE console is going to stop further inovation in the future.

[bazald @ Jun 29th 2006 2:05AM]

I'm not going to argue whether anyone is copying anyone else's stuff or not, but to say that the PSP was introduced with the sole purpose of attacking the "hegemonic success of the Game Boy" is quite absurd.

[CUBS-BEARS-BULLS-RULE @ Jun 29th 2006 2:07AM]

sony psp copied off of the ipod and nintendo with out copying there would be no copmitition. also, sony is going to copy off of xbox live. dreamcast had a internet browser and online gaming and peter moore worked for sega and know works fow microsoft. the only thing that would make me buy a ps3 is faster load times and blue ray but no good games at launch except maybe one i am going to wait cuz i went through this with the 360 but its not a bad system i love xbox live. i will wait for a good library of games fo sony and if there games r more than 360's games hell i won't buy it at all i am pissed that i have to pay $60 for 360 games. i will just buy a Wii cuz thats system look cool and fun and not expensive.
360($400 with wireless internet adapter($100) a year subscription of live($50) external hd dvd drive($150?)
2 games $120

total=$820 if u want a choice of what u want and not a computer which i already have

ps3($600) 2 games($140) if u want a computer with good graphics

Wii($250) 2games($330) if u want a fun system

i will eventually have all 3 but i will first have a 360 and a Wii cuz ps3 will have not enough game as 360 and its $600 and Wii is not expensive at all

[CUBS-BEARS-BULLS-RULE @ Jun 29th 2006 2:19AM]

BULLSH*T xbox copied off them thats not nice the ps3 is copying off of 360 with live and a guide button and nintendo with motion sensing controller. ALSO, sony copied the world wide launch off of microsoft and 2 different options with $300 and a $400 bundle which sony said that was a horrible idea and they won't do it wait a minute the are go against what they aid and copying micosoft. sony also i putting a harddrive in there system more and more copying. THIS is why nintendo has have so many secrets that they tell u later and they tried to hide their motion sensing controller but they didn't hide it long enough i feel sad for nintendo. THIS is why i love microsoft and nintendo

[dc @ Jun 29th 2006 2:21AM]

@1st Andrew,
First off, know YOUR facts(of what I wrote). you quoted me saying,
"Sony isn't playing with puppies on it... its playing Movies, Games, Music, and browsing the internet for big kids."
umm. i did say "as for the PSP." meaning that my comment was geared towards the nintendo comment on the news story ,buddy.
and
I wasnt attacking anyone with my PS3 price point comment. i was just making a note of how many people are complaining about the price when you have other products with a high price tag in comparison to the PS3. I AGREE it is a good price for what you are receiving.
also andrew
My comment about the tailgating the tech from other products; It was towards the story posted. where microsoft is "stealing" ideas from sony. more or less i wasnt aiming for the "stealing" part, but the connectivity. we have all heard about the Ipod killer that microsoft s planning... thats another point for another topic...
NOW @ Alex.
even with sarcasm. a million to zero. hit me up NEXT June and lets compare "stats" on growth increase from when a product was released. how many PS2s have been sold compared to XBOX? yea, not fair.
Last, @ Andrew.
Yes, i lost the internet point. but when i first got my network adapter, i had no money and dial up AOL. now ive upgraded... but im still not convinced on XBOX live. if sony had free online... i dont care how many bells a whistles Live has. FREE is always going to be the better bang for my buck... well, you know what i mean.
Social networks? Friends? i just made a few right now on Engadget. Whad up Andrew? Whad up Alex? see, i didnt have to pay for friends, their like most great things in life, free.
OPEN MINDS PEOPLE!
dc
(ps- Earl has a good point. the Wii is gunna be awesome. Have you guys played Mario Soccer? i dunno what is called, but it is one fun game. ima give it 5 stars! ;P )

[CUBS-BEARS-BULLS-RULE @ Jun 29th 2006 2:37AM]

@dc
millions of other gamer i bet disagree with online gaming with xbox live it more easy to use on xbox and xbox 360 but i agree with ps3 with geting more for ur money but $70 most likely and a $600 system. when people go into store they will see a price tag of $600 or $500 for ps3, $300 or $400 for xbox 360, and $250 for the Wii which most people who gamers who are not extremely into games like extreme gamers will pick the cheaper one's like u said if its free and cheaper thats what i will get. Don't come back at me saying ps3 u get more for ur money crap cuz u just said if its free why would u pay for xbox live(cuz its easier to use and better).ps3 is the one that copys by the way

xbox copied off them thats not nice the ps3 is copying off of 360 with live and a guide button and nintendo with motion sensing controller. ALSO, sony copied the world wide launch off of microsoft and 2 different options with $300 and a $400 bundle which sony said that was a horrible idea and they won't do it wait a minute the are go against what they aid and copying micosoft. sony also i putting a harddrive in there system more and more copying. THIS is why nintendo has have so many secrets that they tell u later and they tried to hide their motion sensing controller but they didn't hide it long enough i feel sad for nintendo. THIS is why i love microsoft and nintendo

360($400 with wireless internet adapter($100) a year subscription of live($50) external hd dvd drive($150?)
2 games $120

total=$820 if u want a choice of what u want and not a computer which i already have

ps3($600) 2 games($140) if u want a computer with good graphics

Wii($250) 2games($330) if u want a fun system

i will eventually have all 3 but i will first have a 360 and a Wii cuz ps3 will have not enough game as 360 and its $600 and Wii is not expensive at all

[Joe Smith @ Jun 29th 2006 2:48AM]

The thing I don't get about all this is what Sony's PR machine thinks it is gaining by putting out nonsense like this. All it does is make Sony look totally deluded and arrogant. Kaz comes off as about as in touch with the real world as Bush.

[mb @ Jun 29th 2006 2:54AM]

Regardless of what Sony says, Microsoft hasn't really been an innovator for a long time.

It's been their business strategy for a long time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend_and_extinguish

[CUBS-BEARS-BULLS-RULE @ Jun 29th 2006 2:58AM]

nintendo is the best inovater(with Wii and ds and fun games) xbox and ps2(both using dvd as a format and xbox/xbox 360 for perfecting onlining gaming with friends ranking and a guide button

[dc @ Jun 29th 2006 3:00AM]

@ Chicago Fan,
Im not changing my words. I just make a request of what is know. If the PS3 does offer "live" like subscribtion service, you have no ground to say Live(on the 360) is better, better than a PS3 that hasnt ben released. Can we agree that Live is the best Subscribtion out there? As for the PS2 online service, whats not to like? FREE!
and not fighting for whats better. im just saying who did it first.
yes, dreamcast. umm... i heard somewhere that "666" was read upside down... well, segas 9-9-99 release wouldnt have 3 digits... but it sure was cursed, not even halo couldvesaved it.
alright. im done. all my words were either towards the POST(the story) or to direct people. please, dont take me words for fighting, just debating.
OPEN MINDS
PEACE!
dc

[CUBS-BEARS-BULLS-RULE @ Jun 29th 2006 3:15AM]

@DC
alright ur saying cheaper is better than paying a higher price the what i am saying people will buy the cheaper systems gamecube was cheaper the xbox and ps2 i know but what i am saying ps3 vs. 360. i know dreamcast was 1st with online gaming which peter moore worked for sega back then and know wprks for microsoft and xbox/360 has perfected online gaming

[CUBS-BEARS-BULLS-RULE @ Jun 29th 2006 3:22AM]

my prediction for the consule war is Wii WILL DOMINATE JAPAN COMPARED TO PS3 CUZ THEY LIKE SMALLER SYSTEMS. THEY ALSO LOVE THERE DS/DS LITE COMPARED TO THE EXPENSIVE AND NONINTOITVE PSP. XBOX 360 AND PS3 WILL SELL SIMIMLIAR CUZ NINTENDO WILL DO GOOD IN JAPAN AND DECENT IN USA AND EUROPE

[GamerG @ Jun 29th 2006 4:09AM]

These sound like the quotes of a worried man to me

"Every time we go down a path, we look behind and [Microsoft is] right there - we just can't shake these guys. I wish that they would come up with some strategies of their own"

Sounds like he's been having nightmares of a big 360logo chasing him around!.

Its clear to even the most fool hardy that its Sony that are the ones copying ideas from their other companies afterall how can MS be accused of copying Sony's ideas when their console came out a year before and Sony's isn't even out yet???!!!!

[Luke @ Jun 29th 2006 4:13AM]

As a debator i say A-MEN to that to true sony PS is very sucessful but to claim they didnt copy well thats just being ignorant, then again ignorance is bliss.

[ishtar @ Jun 29th 2006 5:02AM]

Aaa, there is nothing like a healty dose of fanboyism in the morning! ;)

I don't have to read the company names to think it's funny when a "CE'doh" of a big one goes out of his way to blame some other company for something they do them selves!

[Dave @ Jun 29th 2006 5:08AM]

There are more JPG images than there are BMP images. This proves everything.

[Tom @ Jun 29th 2006 5:09AM]

Commodore 64 r0xorz! Okama Gamesphere is teh l33t haxor 2! Allz thedm grrr blat blat blat wanka bars! Ataristation 3 suxorzzz mad evil kitten jappan!

[Dan @ Jun 29th 2006 6:12AM]

This Hirai guy reminds me of most car salesmen - don't know what the hell they're even talking about. Appear to be full of knowledge, when in reality they're full of crap.

Why wouldn't you copy someone else's product? It would only further your own product, and especially if you have features that are better than a competitor's along with the same features that they have, who has the better product?

Now on the other hand, copying someone else and then claiming that they copied YOU, is stupid. Sony rarely was ever the first at ANYTHING. Sony never made the first gaming console, never made the first portable gaming device, never made the first TV, etc. etc. the list goes on. However, Sony did introduce firsts in data formats; MiniDisc, BetaMax, and UMD! Riiiiiight, moving along now.....

A SNES, PSX, N64, PS2, XBOX, XBOX 360 and DS Lite owner, at one time or another.

[Nuno @ Jun 29th 2006 6:55AM]

People are always complaining about the price.

let´s see, 300$ for a an ipod: i like to hear music and a 30gb external disc is useful for me --> well spent money.
1000 or 4500$ for a dslr : i like fotography ---> well spent money.
250$ or 600 for a consol: are you f******* crazy? ---> what a waste of money.

See? i don´t like gamimg so, even if a console costed 50$ i wouldn´t buy it.

My point is: don´t bash the price, for you it may seem like a bairgain for others expensive.

(sorry about my ingrish)

[lettcco @ Jun 29th 2006 7:19AM]

well $ony, I sure as hell hope M$ don't follow your stupid decision to put in rootkit.

[Mee @ Jun 29th 2006 7:55AM]

Woaw...

God knows i don't really like Microsoft and actually i agree they copy others far too often but... Sony said that ? the same copany that copied Nintendo so many times (from the playstation 1 to the motion sensing pad) ?

Did Sony PR becam a circus or what ?

[JinKazama @ Jun 29th 2006 8:04AM]

"Earth to Sony and all Sony bashers..." welcome to the free market system. Everybody copies everybody. There are very few original ideas when it comes to consumer products these days. If you have a good idea that is fairly successful your competitor is going to introduce a competing product, plain and simple.