CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XV - Europeans "don't mind" waiting for Sony products

Alright Sony, this is just getting ridiculous. It's not like you guys haven't been a featured guest in this series before, but we had no idea it was such an honor. The third "CE-Oh no" moment for Sony this week came out of the mouth of SCE World Europe VP, Jamie MacDonald, who was asked: "What would you say to consumers who like Sony and want to buy your products, but perhaps feel that because they're in Europe they're always last in line?" Apparently Jamie feels little love for his whiny constituency, since his clueless response was thus: "European consumers have shown that historically they don't mind that, because they end up buying as many PlayStations, if not more, than the US and Japan. In Europe, it doesn't seem that the release of our platforms after the US and Japan - in the long run - affects how consumers feel." We're not even sure how to respond to that, so we'll continue with more "CE-Oh no" sound bite gold from our pal Jamie. In response to a query about Sony's UMD failure, he stated: "I think you'll find in general the market for movies on discs of any type is not particularly great at the moment." Again, we really have nothing to add, so we'll just hit up one more sound bite for good time's sake. When asked about the Wii60 concept, where prospective next-gen buyers compare the price of purchasing an Xbox 360 and a Nintendo Wii to the cost of the PS3 alone, Jamie further demonstrated his ignorance: "To be honest, I haven't heard that." Not a banner day for Sony PR by a long shot, but at least they're not trying to hide their seeming disdain for consumers and plain logic.

[Thanks, Xavier G.]

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Oct 6th 2006 12:41PM]

> Honestly, does AOL Weblogs/Time Warner (the boss
> of Engadet / Joystiq/ etc) have something against Sony?

Even if it is, that would pretty justified - since Sony have definitely something against us - its consumers.

I was pretty loyal Sony buyer in past - TV/VCR/camcoder - but now I'm franticly looking for another brand to buy new HD stack.

P.S. Lots of my friends have PS2. As huge anime fan I'm definitely want to try video games. Nintendo is bit out of line for out-grown otaku as I am. PS3 seemed right choice - all the games I want to try are already announced for PS3. But since I am living in Europe and now told "that's Ok for you to suck" (c) - Am I supposed to like Sony for such behavior??

[Matt @ Oct 6th 2006 10:58AM]

I am in the EU and I care about it! Perhaps Europeans would end up buy MORE if they weren't left behind?

Anyway - I'll be getting a Wii instead as I suspect most people will.

[Nodnetni @ Oct 6th 2006 11:01AM]

Wow, This guy is a freaken genius...

[Jonathan B @ Oct 6th 2006 11:20AM]

I agree with Matt, I care a LOT about when we get games, and I've ended up ordering a lot of games from other areas because of them taking so long to get here.

I will also be buying a Wii, PS3 just seems to me like a souped-up PS2... Not that the Wii aint just a souped-up GC :p

[theCardinal @ Oct 6th 2006 11:22AM]

I think the thing is that we've become used to getting late, over-priced consoles. We don't remember when things were any other way.

[Dolla Dolla @ Oct 6th 2006 11:29AM]

Sony's PR Team is a joke. They made a promise to Europe, then withdrew that promise, and now they are downplaying it like the delay won't bother consumers? And his UMD comment is priceless. Last I heard, films make the bulk of their money on DVDs, not in theatres. I didn't expect a comment on Wii60, but his other comments were pretty pathetic. Just shut the hell up and show us more PS3 games and exclusives ... cause the exclusives are what will make or break the PS3. And so far, Microsoft seems to be stealing that thunder.

[KilgoreTrout XL @ Oct 6th 2006 11:36AM]

Jamie MacDonald: "I think you'll find in general the market for movies on discs of any type is not particularly great at the moment."

John Q: "Um, doesn't that logic mean my $600 blu-ray PS3 will suffer the cosequences of that market by having a small library of titles that actually utilize your proprietary technology?"

Jamie MacDonald: "?"

John Q: "Jamie. The PS3 has a Blu-Ray player in it."

Jamie MacDonald: "To be Honest, I haven't heard that."

John Q: "You have a dickfor on your head."

Jamie MacDonald: "What's a dickfor?"

John Q: "To pee with."

Jamie MacDonald: "To be honest, I haven't heard that."

[archie91s @ Oct 7th 2006 1:29AM]

lol thats hilarious

[Maff Mace @ Oct 6th 2006 11:39AM]

I don't think the PS3 will do well in Europe, most people over here have now made their minds up to buy a 360 since they bumped the date back

We do mind waiting, it's fucking annoying, we have no choice but to wait, what a tosser

[Xavier Gill @ Oct 6th 2006 11:43AM]

So we buy more consoles than Japan and USA and we pay significantly more (even before tax) for them and we still get f'd over.

[Kamisamanou Burgess @ Oct 6th 2006 11:45AM]

This is the most carelessness I've ever heard from a single company.

[Deluxe @ Oct 6th 2006 11:52AM]

The title �CE-Oh no he didn't!� gets lamer with every incarnation.Just like 'I, for one'. Wait for it...

[wtf @ Oct 6th 2006 11:53AM]

He's right.

The truth is if you *truly* minded waiting, you wouldn't buy the consoles at all, ever. By buying them, you've proven to them that it is OK it took so long to get to your market.

Do they make less money because they release it later there than they do here in the US? No, not likely. Maybe if there was a new console out every 3-6 months, but not every 3-6 years.

[Wardell Latham @ Oct 7th 2006 12:31PM]

Just because people are willing to or have to tolerate something doesn't mean that they are ok with it. If there were more that 3 major players in the video console market I think Sony would see how much consumers did mind.

[Ena @ Oct 6th 2006 12:04PM]

Sony is Playing a serious Game and might get Bitten .Microsoft Bought Rockstar (Grand Theft Auto)and expanding the Xbox 360, everyone's Looking at Nintendo Wii if they weren’t, I cant see parents spending �500($940) on a console for their kids. Am Bored of waiting, technology is moving fast may the playstation might be old when it is affordable. When it does come out the scape goats that spend their big money will probably be on the phone to Sony support with first generation Problems. I have everything Sony but they are really rocking the boat and am jumping off and looking at the Wii for less disappointment . Something that don’t COST the World.

[Kev50027 @ Oct 6th 2006 12:20PM]

Okay, comon Engadget. I'm getting really really sick and tired of this constant Sony bashing. Why dont you just make a post that says "WE HATE SONY" and get over with it?

What about all of the dirty rumors about Apple suing everybody that ever used the word "pod"? Are you just ignoring those because you are little Apple loving Sony hating fanboys? I've been a huge Endgadget fan for a long time, but this is really getting rediculous and I'm about to forget about this biased blog and all of it's underling commenters who sway any way the poster wants them to. Seriously guys, stop this crap.

[tristanfey @ Oct 6th 2006 1:18PM]

Ummm....

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/no-pod-for-you-apple-keeps-close-tabs-on-brand-name/

http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/24/with-pod-on-lockdown-apple-goes-after-podcast/

http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/04/apple-pays-woman-to-de-pod-her-product/

[HiredGeek @ Oct 6th 2006 2:06PM]

WOW, so how exactly do you blame Engadget for an interview of someone who does not even work for Engadget. Engadget simply linked to the interview.

Engadget, actually had allot of great things to say about the new Sony E-Book reader. So I really do not think they are anti Sony.

Unforunately right now it seems there is some confussion, or something going on over the big Sony building. And many of their customers do not seem to agree with the business decisions that are being made. And with that comes some negative press. Engadget is right there saying how Vista is being delayed, they are not exactly singing the praises of the Zune. When Peter Moore made one of what should be rated as the dumbest comments ever this year saying "Gamers do not care about backward compatibility", Engadget reported on that and for lack of a better word "ripped him a new one.". When apple was over hyping their news confernces, Engadget was right there calling them out on that. So please do not have everyone beleive that they are bashing Sony. Sony has loaded the gun, cocked the hammer back, and plugged the trigger, and now you are trying to blame Engadget for them shooting themselves in the foot.

[flipmyx @ Oct 6th 2006 12:23PM]

Comment:

It has appeared to me in recent months that Engadget has been blatantly giving Microsoft products an unusually positive coverage (i.e. excessive and unecessarily enthusiastic Zune articles) to the point that they appear to this commenter like an extension of the MS marketing apparatus. On the other hand they show an unecessarily excessive critical 'analysis' of comments made by Sony executives, and dismissive tone in 'reporting' details on Microsofts competing product. Not that I expected journalism from this 'blog'/commercial site in blog format but just my $0.02...

Love,
Nintendo Fanatic

[MrOpinion @ Oct 6th 2006 1:47PM]

lipmyx Comment:

"It has appeared to me in recent months that Engadget has been blatantly giving Microsoft products an unusually positive coverage (i.e. excessive and unecessarily enthusiastic Zune articles) to the point that they appear to this commenter like an extension of the MS marketing apparatus. "

Apparently, you haven`t read yet all the zune bashing in here recently from Engadget.

Note: on both account, zune and ps3, I think both deserve the critics.

[Hired.Geek @ Oct 6th 2006 2:14PM]

I follow this blog probably at least five times a day. I look over every post, and read quite a few, and I even listen to the Podcasts regularly (or at least when they are done regularily - kind of a jab at Ryan Block and Peter Rojas - but they have been doing pretty good lately). I have not heard or read excessive praise for the Zune, at all. In fact they seem to cover the product quite well, but really I have not seen anything increibly possitive about it.

As for the Sony thing, honestly the Sony execs have made statements and decisions that have landed them on the negitive side of the press and many consumers right now. Basically imagine all the big Sony execs in a swimming pool and quite of few of them pee in the pool how is that you blame Engadget for the pee in the pool!

[surfer @ Oct 6th 2006 12:26PM]

well since we've all waited about 5 years we might as well wait another 6 months AFTER the european launch just to freak em out a little! By then the Americans and Japanese will have paid the 'early adopter' premium and Sony crapping it cos no europeans are buying should then drop the price to a reasonable level..

[disciple83 @ Oct 6th 2006 12:39PM]

I am going to stick to my original, and current for that matter, plan which includes just waiting until PC technology stabilizes for a bit and upgrade then. Consoles have become too overhyped and underdelivered for me to even consider one. That doesn't mean I won't use one when I see it, cuz my girlfriend has already preordered a Wii, she thinks games that involves weapons and "pointless killing" and an eventual plot ending, (beating the game) are a waste of time. But it will be fun to make her regret that decision about beating the game when she loses to me. And when she doesn't wanna talk to me after that, I can always jump online with a decent PC game, or do some video or photoediting, or 3d rendering, of media ripping, or whatever.

[JJ @ Oct 6th 2006 12:49PM]

I'm from Europe and:

Do i mind waiting for good products?

Yes, i do mind. I want them now!!

Do i mind waiting for sony crap?

No, no i don't. Take all the time you need.

[Mr Fantastic @ Oct 6th 2006 1:00PM]

sureley they should reward us for out buying japan or the usa
im sure sony realy do hate us europeans
and after all we have done for them
BASTARDS

[european who does not mind @ Oct 6th 2006 1:06PM]

Well, I don't mind at all, since I wouldn't buy a gaming console anyway. I play the good games with good controls (mouse) on the PC. Yay!

[JinKazama @ Oct 6th 2006 1:17PM]

Yikes...Sony may need to adopt the STFU until it's released philosophy of apple.

Sad thing is he's right...the numbers don't lie. The PS2 is a runaway success no denying it, and let's
face it; if the PS3 lives up to all Sony claims it to be, bad PR or not, we'll gobble that up to.

I just wish they weren't so arrogant about it.

[obm @ Oct 6th 2006 1:33PM]

The thing mysteriously missing in these recent posts is: What hapenned to PS3 linux? Anyone should remember the "More than console: Entertainment center and PC" line. Well!? If a fully operational linux can be installad on that thing, not the shame of a kernel ps2 linux, I will be buying no matter how late it comes. Cell computing on the cheap, I just need a (cross)compiler and networking, I already have my parrelized molecular dynamics. But, as I suspected from the beginning, due to fear of "homebrew" I do not think it will happen, if it happened IBM would not be that happy also. They are selling cell "accelerators" for quite a sum of money.
Bah! Better wait for those hacker guys tampering with the machine, maybe they can enable unencrypted execution and acess to MCU.

Otherwise buying a console is just like replacing your kitchen with a fast food chain restaurant: you still eat, but can do nothing of your own and choices are severely limited.

By the way, engadget is becoming ad-centric. I hope this does not go much further, I hate "commercial breaks".

[John Sununu @ Oct 6th 2006 1:46PM]

I, for one, welcome our �CE-Oh no he didn't!� title writing Engadget overlords.

[Thinker @ Oct 6th 2006 1:48PM]

I own a PSP. So does my wife. So does her sister. We all love it! And now at $200, it�s a steal! I refused to buy UMD movies because they were way overpriced at $30 a movie. If they sold the movies at $10 a movie it would have been a big success. Great product (PSP), great concept (UMD movies), and killed by lousy marketing (HIGH PRICE). Sony should sell UMD movies online for $10 each and they will find a large market. It�s not too late. Look Sony, the same people buying UMD movies are still going to buy DVDs, and they will then go and buy Blu-ray Movies.

[Robin @ Oct 6th 2006 1:49PM]

I think he's right. Although it sucks to wait, by the time the products are released overhere the bugs are already fixed (or posted on every blog so we don't have to buy shitty products :) ).

[Kev50027 @ Oct 6th 2006 2:52PM]

Okay, you make a valid point, but then why did they have to put Sony's name in the title, and bash Sony in the first 2 words on the post, continuing on to call them "rediculous". I'll admit, from reading Engadget for years I know well that they are far from unbias, but this is pushing it too far. They are mentioning the PS3 as a failure before it even comes out, and even noting Sony's business mistakes in posts that are completely unrelated.

Please, Engadget, just get your objective hats on and give us the news, not why you think some guy that happens to work at the company you diss every day is full of crap.

[Godsmurf @ Oct 6th 2006 2:21PM]

I dislike Sony a lot, but I have to admit that they're showing so much contempt for their own customers these days that it's starting to make them kind of cool. You know like rock stars who insult their own fans during a concert because they don't give a shit about anything? That kinda cool.

[Wardell Latham @ Oct 6th 2006 2:18PM]

It seems like Sony's lack of PR is spilling over from its PMPs to its video gaming system.

[MrOpinion @ Oct 6th 2006 2:25PM]

That`s also called 'arrogance'.

[Daveoc64 @ Oct 6th 2006 2:26PM]

I can assure you that people in Europe do care about waiting - especially when most things cost more than in the US and Japan.

[Bigredend @ Oct 6th 2006 2:26PM]

I'm a huge Sony fan , I used to think they could do no wrong, there products are , on the whole the Best money can buy, but I have to respond the the comments made by SCE World Europe VP, Jamie MacDonald,

I'm from England and yes we are used to playing second fiddle to USA and Japan,when it comes to the latest " Thing ", do i like it ?

No ! In fact it really pisses me off !

"European consumers have shown that historically they don't mind that,

Yes we do mind , it's just that we have little say in it.

"because they end up buying as many PlayStations, if not more, than the US and Japan. "

Then why treat your biggest market with so little respect ?

In Europe, it doesn't seem that the release of our platforms after the US and Japan - in the long run - affects how consumers feel."

How very very wrong you are.

[MilesTormani @ Oct 28th 2006 4:05PM]

A blog? Objective? Don't make me laugh.

Engadget is no more a blog than the rantings of a LiveJournal are. There are no real standards to hold them up to, and claiming otherwise simply gets you laughed at. Therefore, I am here, laughing at you

PS3 isn't out yet in US either and I'm already passing them off as a failure as well. I'll stop doing so when they prove me otherwise with a game OTHER than MGS4. (Sonic 'Next'? Oh, that's right. It's already a demo on Xbox Live for 360. It MUST be an exclusive to PS3!)

[Thesnapple @ Oct 6th 2006 3:28PM]

bought a 360 instead... so im not left behind anymore...

[boynamedsue @ Oct 6th 2006 4:04PM]

"I own a PSP. So does my wife. So does her sister. We all love it! And now at $200, it�s a steal! I refused to buy UMD movies because they were way overpriced at $30 a movie. If they sold the movies at $10 a movie it would have been a big success. Great product (PSP), great concept (UMD movies), and killed by lousy marketing (HIGH PRICE)."

Lavish praise: Check
Inconsequential area of dissent: Check
Water: Check
Soil: Chek

Plant.

[dave @ Oct 6th 2006 5:25PM]

the europeans got the ceramic white psp! i still want one.

damn eurotrash, my psp's a shiny black brick and yours is a shiny white gaming console.

[Dwaine @ Oct 6th 2006 8:41PM]

Engadget doesn't make news they are just writing about it. How is it their fault that Sony has a lot of problems? Why blame them for microsoft making advances? get a life fanboy.

[TheWakeUpClall @ Oct 7th 2006 6:07AM]

That should put that guy's job on a line, if not give him a warning.

[Abnorm @ Oct 7th 2006 1:59PM]

Those marketing guys totally suck nuts! of course we mind waiting for ps3, though we'd buy it anyway. what happens the day we europeans actually make a console you other guys gotta wait for ? bet it'll start the 3rd world war :p

[Steve @ Oct 7th 2006 3:14PM]

Right, and us in the UK and EU don't really care about buying Sony products then.

They want to be like that, I wont pay the �699 it will probably cost anyway.

I'm sorry but any company that thinks that a half grand games console is marketable deserves to get a huge profit drop.
Their main market is kids for Xmas, and now they're even going to miss out on that in EU. Stupid ****s.

[Trent @ Oct 9th 2006 2:27PM]

Sony has been, and will continue to be, irrelevant until they remember who pays the bills.

Hint: the consumer

[Heppie @ Oct 26th 2006 12:23PM]

When Sony did this with the psp i was pissed now they doing it with the overpriced ps3 i say screw 'em. I will not buy a sony product ever again out of the principle they dont give a monkeys about europe so they shudnt get my money. Ive got a 360 and will be getting a wii which i know will be cheaper than 1 ps3. BOYCOT SONY!!!