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Griking
04-05-2005, 08:56 AM
(AP) Ken Kutaragi, whose name is often paired with "geek" and "genius," seemed to many a logical choice to take Sony Corporation's helm as it struggles to turn around its stumbling electronics business. He is, after all, known as "Father of the PlayStation" for siring the industry's most popular video game console.

And Kutaragi's latest creation, the handheld PlayStation Portable, is hot. An estimated 3 million been sold since it was released in Japan in December and the United States last month.

But instead of ascending in the dramatic management reshuffle last month that put Howard Stringer in the chief executive's chair, Kutaragi was demoted.



Full Story (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/04/tech/main685464.shtml)
WanganRunner
04-05-2005, 09:43 AM
Weaksauce

Kutaragi got robbed.

Say what you will about Sony, their hardware, evil empire jokes, whatever....Kutaragi is still a genius, and he deserves to run that company.
hezeuschrist
04-05-2005, 10:43 AM
Weaksauce

Kutaragi got robbed.

Say what you will about Sony, their hardware, evil empire jokes, whatever....Kutaragi is still a genius, and he deserves to run that company.

I'm not so sure anyone who has told their customers to piss off in so many words can ever be described as a genius.

Kutaragi-san is a haughty asshole.
Jibbajaba
04-05-2005, 01:06 PM
Weaksauce

Kutaragi got robbed.

Say what you will about Sony, their hardware, evil empire jokes, whatever....Kutaragi is still a genius, and he deserves to run that company.

I'm not so sure anyone who has told their customers to piss off in so many words can ever be described as a genius.

Kutaragi-san is a haughty asshole.

Im sure that's why he was demoted. He turns people off. I think that a lot of people that have a problem with Sony have it because of him and his attitude. That's bad for sales. It's cool that he designs all of this cool stuff, but if he drives customers away then what's the point?

Chris
shvnsth
04-05-2005, 02:28 PM
although i side with nintendo, hes cocky, has every reason to be, and i like that
cr0n0
04-05-2005, 03:46 PM
Wether he is cocky or not should not matter. He has put SONY on the console map and on the minds of every gamer in one way or the other. I doubt he "turns people" away with his attitude. He has brought millions to Sony's side, so I don't see how that is seen as turning people away. I don't give a damn how some designers attitude is, so long as his creation does its job. He is a genius in my opinion, and last I heard, you don't demote people like this. Anyone think he'll leave Sony? I would.
squidblatt
04-05-2005, 04:14 PM
What he said about the PSP button is no worse than MS pretending that they've never heard of any defective Thomson (Tompson?) drives. But I can see him being somewhat of a tyrant if placed in a position of authority.
InsaneDavid
04-10-2005, 06:10 PM
I don't give a damn how some designers attitude is, so long as his creation does its job.

Preach on! Thomas Edison was an idea stealing asshole and look at all he accomplished.


He is a genius in my opinion, and last I heard, you don't demote people like this. Anyone think he'll leave Sony? I would.

I dunno, an example has to be made. No matter what he does it's not his company just yet. If you ask me the higherups were teaching him a lesson in an attempt to keep him in line. I think he knows as well as anyone that no other company would let him work on the things he wants to work on and back him like Sony.
GaijinPunch
04-10-2005, 11:07 PM
Gentemen: Every Sony game machine release has had some massive problem (PS, PS2, PSP) or just flat out sucked (PSX). Even though it's not exactly his fault directly, the lawsuit couldn't help. Someone has to take the fall if they want to change their image. I just hope his replacement doesn't bullshit people like Kutaragi did.
swlovinist
04-11-2005, 12:45 AM
Sony is not out of hot water yet, I totally believe that is why he got demoted. The PSP may be hot overseas, but it is just doing OK here. His track record speaks for himself saleswise, but if that lawsuit against sony goes through, they are Fzucked.
GaijinPunch
04-11-2005, 01:12 AM
That lawsuit will not make or break Sony by a long shot. 90 mil is nothing to them. They can take a crap and make that.

I personally don't think that any one person, even the CEO, is resopnsible for something so big as Playstations' success. By the time the first PS got so popular, they could've put out crap and made a fortune. Some would argue that they did.
XxMe2NiKxX
04-11-2005, 01:23 AM
Sony's getting sued from all directions, but I doubt they'll lose enough money to even put a dent in their console status.
swlovinist
04-11-2005, 09:42 AM
It is not the money that will hurt Sony, it is the Dualshock Lawsuit that could really hurt them. If they loose the appeal, then they have to stop selling PS2s with a dualshock controller design. That could really hurt them, considering that right now is their bread and butter system making them all of their money. A recall put on that magnitude could be a disaster for them.
gepeto
04-11-2005, 09:51 PM
I agree if the results of verdict hold the fallout would be staggering. In business people's mind guilty is guilty. Sony would not only be guilty in court but also guilty of stealing ideas and that is a wall st no no. sony spent almost 10 years building a strong dual shock product brand. I believe that is why ken was demoted he gambled on sony winning the lawsuit on appeal but things are looking bad. I also believe sony was blindsided and will have to spend millions redisigning the ps3 controller so if they lose next gen system wont be pulled and possibly have to redesign ps3 so no dual shock technology is integrated into the ps3 system. Sony bigwigs are pissed because this is the year of the unveiling of the next gen system. I bet sony is holding a system Ps3:) 95% complete not knowing if it will see the light of day due to the lawsuit.
I Am Humanoid
04-11-2005, 09:55 PM
Too many lawsuits going on

and not enough hand-to-hand combat

like the good ol' days.
GaijinPunch
04-11-2005, 10:21 PM
I agree. These suckers need to focus time on making good games, and not on getting shit pattented.
Necromutant
04-12-2005, 02:25 AM
It is not the money that will hurt Sony, it is the Dualshock Lawsuit that could really hurt them. If they loose the appeal, then they have to stop selling PS2s with a dualshock controller design. That could really hurt them, considering that right now is their bread and butter system making them all of their money. A recall put on that magnitude could be a disaster for them.

I disagree, if they lose they will just negotiate with the company that is suing them, pay a fat licensing fee and continue to sell games and hardware as they have... it won't be good for them by any means, but it will not hurt them too much. IF it would, don't you think they would be coming out with a new 'improved' PS2 bundle with a 'sweet' new controller? :P
poloplayr
04-12-2005, 09:38 AM
He's not a corporate leader, he's a hardware guy and should remain behind the scenes. That PSP comment of his made it a LOT easier not to pick up a PSP.
GaijinPunch
04-12-2005, 07:40 PM
He's not a corporate leader, he's a hardware guy and should remain behind the scenes. That PSP comment of his made it a LOT easier not to pick up a PSP.

I must've totally missed that one. What was this comment?
xaer0knight
04-12-2005, 08:42 PM
Well, after hearing that Sony is not going to honor some retailers of there PSP handheld, because of the dead pixels and what not.... Fine just tick off ever parent for buying one for there kid or even i would be ticked if the button was off or dead (white) pixels. Nintendo must be laughing there butt off, hope there sales are going up. After all i have never heard a story were a DS had 3-5 dead pixels and couldnt be returned because of it. I hope Sony learns from there actions but competition is good, and yes Ken Kutaragi is a Jerk.... i dont recall Itawa being like that :D