Apparently, Sony Computer Entertainment - and Ken Kutaragi in person - is to blame for losing exclusivity of both ´GTA IV´ and ´Assassin´s Creed´, respected industry journalist N'Gai Croal reports.
The next installment of Ubisoft's Splinter Cell. Downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto IV. All locked up by Microsoft corporate vice president Peter Moore, his indefatigable team, and Uncle Bill's bottomless wallet.
Moore's job, however, was made easier by the fact that for the greater part of this year, PlayStation chief Ken Kutaragi hadn't finalized the business terms for independent publishers on the PS3. And without that, he was reluctant to greenlight any expenditures on Western third-party exclusives. In previous generations, Kutaragi's slowness hadn't been much of a problem because the first two PlayStations launched in Japan 8-12 months ahead of North America, leaving plenty of time to nail things down with Western publishers. But with the PS3 launching in North America just a week after Japan--and a year after a fiercely competitive Microsoft--Kutaragi's tardiness became a major issue. (...)
While Kutaragi dragged his feet, Microsoft's top brass called these third-parties almost daily, asking each of them, "What would it take for you to publish these games on 360?" Finally, the executives could wait no longer, and both Take-Two/Rockstar and Ubisoft cut deals to make their games available on Xbox 360 as well as PS3.
I seriously cannot believe how Sony appears to be doing everything wrong with the PS3. These two third-parties were willing to give their console exclusivity and Sony failed in merely finalizing those deals. Sony execs appear to be deliberately seeking to damage the console, the brand and the company. Ken Kutaragi needs to resign.
Source: HuGeo,
Thanks to: , PSX Extreme
7 comments:
You're right Falafel, something weird seems to be going on at Sony. There's just so many oversights at launch, and it almost seems like they're not even trying. Maybe Ken is just too cocky.
ThePatient (fellow sage) :)
Sony have become lazy, Microsoft has caught them with their guard down. I still believe Microsoft is one generation away from domination. They have far superior software and integration experience, PS3-PSP conectivity is lame in comparision. At least Sony packed the PS3 with options and functions, most of which people don't need so why pay for them!
I'm so happy Nintendo side stepped this one, they wouldn't have won in a 3 way fight.
I really hope Nintendo are not making the mistake Sony made with the PSP. The PSP does so much that gaming was forgotten. I just hope they don't try to expand the market so much the core gamers are not forgotten. Most gamers will play quirky games like Wario Ware, but a system based on that will wear thin really quick for those people.
By the time i'm finished Zelda i'm hoping for a lot more developer announcements on upcoming games. And please no more mini games!
Hi ThePatient.
Yeah, I don´t know what it is. They really are leaving no possible mistake out. Read the latest posts on Joystiq, Bloomberg or
SeekingAlpha. And read what New York Times, New York Post and TIME magazine wrote... I am an impartial game journalist but I am more and more tempted to admit that PS3 is a catastrophe - and that Sony will invariably fail.
I agree, Falafel.
Ken Kutaragi has been a complete detriment to SCEI, and he continues to hurt their public relations.
Falafel,
I think you are obsessed with Sony somehow I'm afraid.
haha...
how very true.
game, flags flying, Ecco Casual Shoesworld champions. winter boots,
35. You can find a better script than this you?"
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