Fanboys aside, anyone actually interact with industry folk..

[Diatribal Deity]

While it's amusing to see all the favoritism, bias, and financial status being discussed (in quite often admirably intelligent ways) about Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony (listed alphabetically so nothing should be inferred), I wonder has anyone here actually met reps, buyers, developers, suits or other persons directly linked to these companies?

Personally in my limited capacity in the past, I have dealt with reps (not those that just come into stores and know very little), buyers, and a few suits.

Impressions believe or not are pretty reflective of overall perception.

Microsoft reps and buyers tended to be younger, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic and most importantly actual players of all systems.

Nintendo reps and buyers were younger, knowledgeable, and players but mainly of Nintendo only products.

Sony reps and buyers tended to be older, tight-lipped, calculating and pretty much unenthusiastic.

Suits were well...suits but all had vision and numbers at their disposal which is pretty much the most you can ask for I guess.

Before you try to infer anything from these encounters, remember they were very limited. But I do think it reflects a certain attitude each company reflects when dealing within the industry.

This goes back a few years, but I'm wondering if their are others out their with similar or different experiences.

[Ed Oscuro]

Fascinating. How large a sample are we talking about for each group? Would like to hear more :)

Aside from DPers, I know a scant few people in the industry, good folks. These are people who do art stuff (one is level design, another works for Ubisoft, I think, doing graphic design).

[Emuaust]

Well here in Australia i am a manager of an indie store
and I can honestly say that all the reps are not anything
like what you described, Sony reps = young, microsoft
reps = old booze hags.

Although Sony suits are by far the most difficult people to
deal with, i could tell you a lovely story about the psp and
sonys christmas bundle/deal here is aus.

[poloplayr]

Regularly as an investment banker, which I do for a living.

[SamuraiSmurfette]

I've been dealing with Sales Directors, VP's, Account Mangagers, Marketing Managers, and other exec's for years now. Did you have a question, or just want to make a survey?

ps. Anyone else met Ron Bertram (VP Nintendo Canada)? If you think Reggie Fils-Ames kicks ass, you got another thing coming. Last time I saw him, he was wearing a Donkey Konga shirt that said "Bang Me"... Truly one of the coolest guys in the league.

[pacmanhat]

As an assistant/tutor for my school's game design program, I answer to several folks who are in the business, including a technical Emmy winner, a lead designer at a local developing studio, and the designer of the world's largest indoor waterpark. Some of these probably don't sound game related (and I suppose they aren't), but the people behind all of them have a good deal of experience in the gaming industry in one way or another.

[googlefest1]

my exposure has been only with sony - but as a technology developer not the games people

edit: and those people were the same as from any other tech company