[MULTI] PlayStation CEO Bashes Competition

[MULTI] PlayStation CEO Bashes Competition
Remember the days when it seemed like every other day there was some executive or other engaging in verbal attacks on their competitors? While that strategy has become rather subdued in recent years, the inner-politician in PlayStation CEO Jack Tretton has re-emerged, issuing some harsh words regarding the home console and handheld competition provided by Microsoft and Nintendo.

"If you're really going to sustain technology for a decade, you have to be cutting edge when you launch a platform," says Tretton. "Here we are 4 years into the Playstation 3, and it's just hitting its stride. We'll enjoy a long downhill roll behind it because the technology that was so cutting edge in 2006 is extremely relevant today and is conspicuously absent in our competition. They're starting to run out of steam now in terms of continuing to be relevant in 2011 and beyond. I mean, you've gotta be kidding me. Why would I buy a gaming system without a hard drive in it? How does this thing scale? Motion gaming is cute, but if I can only wave my arms six inches, how does this really feel like I'm doing true accurate motion gaming?"

Tretton has similarly ruthless words for Nintendo's handheld strategy: "Our view of the 'Game Boy experience' is that it's a great babysitting tool, something young kids do on airplanes, but no self-respecting twenty-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those. He's too old for that." *Ahem*, I play the DS on the airplane Jack...

Of course this all comes after Sony has taken its fair share of lumps in recent years, from the insanely high launch price of the PlayStation 3 that resulted in slow initial sales for the console to the failure of the PSP to make a dent in Nintendo's firm grasp on the handheld market. As of right now, the PS3 sits third in overall console sales with a still-very-respectable 49 million units, while the Xbox 360 sits at 53 million, both well behind the Wii's 86 million. The PSP has moved an impressive 67 million units in the handheld market, although it pales in comparison to the 147 million DS units that have been sold. That being said, Sony is clearly posturing itself for the PlayStation 3 to make a move in the next couple of years with its strong software lineup and superior technology, while the impending launch of the NGP will surely set a new standard for handheld technology.

We have our fingers crossed for some kind of rebuttal from Microsoft and Nintendo in the near future. Did you hear what he said about your DS Reggie?!

Written by: Mike Glubish

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