Sony's Stringer: PS3 games "infinitely more fun" than Wii

Joystiq just noted a peach of a sound-bite from Sony's quip hero, Sir Howard Stringer. In an interview with The Guardian he started by saying, "I'm happy the Wii seems to be running a bit short of hardware." He then chest-thumped a prediction that the PS3, "will come into its own because its [high-end games] are infinitely more fun, demanding and exciting." A theory to be known henceforth as Stringer's Bloated Hyperbole Postulate.

[Via Joystiq]

[Alex Whiteside @ Dec 14th 2007 8:34AM]

Yeah, it's a lot more demanding... financially! Ho ho. Oh, wait, they cut the price. That joke doesn't work so well now I guess. Damn. Anyone want some cake?

[Kamokazi @ Dec 14th 2007 8:43AM]

Yeah, you can get a PS3 now as cheap as you could get a 360 two years ago! What a deal...

[Safety Dancer @ Dec 14th 2007 9:31AM]

THE CAKE IS A LIE!

[Kelmon @ Dec 14th 2007 10:36AM]

Unless you can land a Wii at retail at the moment then one will cost you more than a PS3. Bonkers prices for them on eBay but that's supply/demand for you.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 14th 2007 11:00AM]

It doesn't matter. He's the CEO. Of course he's going to say his system is funner than the competition. It would be stupid to say: "Well, our system isn't as fun as their system."

This post and the person/people spreading it around the net as some Anti-Sony propaganda are stupid for not realizing this. Including he who posted it here.

(Damn spam filters blocking certain words?)

[Stephen Lang @ Dec 14th 2007 2:16PM]

@Andir3.0,

Actually, no. There's ways to talk up the company platform without looking like a fool to anyone who actually knows anything about video games.

But yeah, this is standard corporatespeak we're talking about here. Sony could do it a bit better though (shades of "you'll want to work extra hours to afford it.")

On a side note, how can our personal standards of behavior not be affected when we are so nonchalant about corporate spin that we dismiss it with a "that's what he should say, he works for them', etc.? Stringer's comment is actually not a big deal at all, I'm talking about the more insidious stuff that we all give a free pass to every day.

[Joseph @ Dec 14th 2007 8:35AM]

Hey, they can't decide which game is more fun... Me i find that the PS3 is boring compared to the Wii... What do they gonna do ??? !!!

[ray @ Dec 14th 2007 8:46AM]

Haters vs. Fanboys
Round 1
Fight!

[soul7963 @ Dec 14th 2007 8:54AM]

You missed several zero's from the number of rounds there!

[zebcarlson2007 @ Dec 14th 2007 8:54AM]

I think that's the smartest comment i've read on Engadget all year! That phrase sums up pretty much every post on engadget for the past year or so, Haters vs. Fanboys.

[Tim Brown @ Dec 14th 2007 10:12AM]

Round 5,236,375,209, Fight! I'm only counting this weeks battles, that's why the number is so low ;)

[Gun Barrier @ Dec 14th 2007 11:04AM]

lmao

[jon @ Dec 14th 2007 8:48AM]

Funny how ps3 owners infinity bitch about their system more than Wii owners..... ps3 has infinitly more games that are exclusives, OH wait theyve left sony for the white lover known as microsoft.....Hmmmmm guess its not true that once you go black....youll see what it lacks

[Silverfrog @ Dec 14th 2007 9:04AM]

"once you go black"

The 360 has a black version. point, set, match.

[jon @ Dec 14th 2007 11:22AM]

Oh yea good point forgot about the Elite, but you understood where i was going with that.

[austin @ Dec 14th 2007 1:36PM]

and the ps3 has a white version.
idiot.

[B @ Dec 14th 2007 2:14PM]

it looks like everyone understood where you were going with this, that's why you're low ranked

[coolertech @ Dec 14th 2007 8:48AM]

Who's paint shopped his specs?

[NHAnimator @ Dec 14th 2007 9:03AM]

No one. Those are real.

[sgt_easton @ Dec 14th 2007 9:35AM]

It's an infinite symbol....and you call yourself a geek?

[Rich @ Dec 14th 2007 8:49AM]

As much as I loathe to agree with such an obvious gaming "expert", my Nintendo Wii is sitting under the TV gathering dust.

Beyond a few notable exceptions (SMG & MP3), there's nothing worth playing on the Wii. The vast majority of the games are shallow cash-ins. I'd imagine most Wii owners don't even look past Wii Sports.

[Frank @ Dec 14th 2007 9:07AM]

Yeah I agree! I'm giving my Wii to my nephew and I'm waiting to get a PS3 when the price drops again next year. The Wii graphics are barely that of a high end GameCube game. Sony should offer free online gameplay for the PS3... that would bring back the Playstation fanboys!

[Anwa123 @ Dec 14th 2007 9:15AM]

@Frank: Errr, they DO offer free online gameplay, microsoft is the one that charges per year. Sony just needs a few more games, which happen to be coming out next year, and they'll be good.

[Sp00ks @ Dec 14th 2007 9:44AM]

well, I agree, sort of. For the longest time, my Wii was sitting there gathering dust, I never even finished Zelda, but between Mario Party 8 (great drinking game, btw) and Galaxy, I've brought it back out and won't let myself play Galaxy again till I beat Zelda. I mean, I don't play the Wii for graphics, and I'm not a PS3 hater, I just don't feel the need for 3 consoles and PC at this time. I would like to play some R&C and Warhawk though, hmmm.

[Jonyah @ Dec 14th 2007 9:52AM]

I couldn't agree more. The Wii games all seem like they were created in less than a week and have no more than a day or two's worth of playing time. As someone with access to nearly 100 Wii games, my PS3 gets 90% of the playtime. The Wii definitely is a better fit for my 6 and 4 year old since they don't have to reaaly have that much dexterity to wave a wand around. These systems target different audiences and both do their targeting very well.

I understand there are a lot of PS3 haters (mainly those that just can't afford it), but it's undoubtably the superior gaming system. While Microsoft will have to eventually bring out another xbox, the ps3 will have years ahead of it. Considering the total lifetime the PS3 will have, it'll actually be the bargain of all three consoles in the end. The Wii will continue to be what it is now, which is just a novelty with a few decent games (Mario Galaxy is about it right now, Zelda wasn't even that much fun).

[deedeedee @ Dec 14th 2007 11:26AM]

haha so true, my girlfriend's wii's been sitting in front of her TV along with the PSOne in a competition to which will collect more dust within a month! But her little cousins come over sometimes and ruin the competition...

Nintindo's really smart on this, they say F**k the serious hardcore gamers, casual gamers are the way to go and make cash from, and they are right, little kids and older crowd love this thing! cuz its easy, no matter what we serious gamers think, but they dont want complicated games, make sense. If I have kids, I definitely get them a wii, and hide the PS3 or xbox360 in my bedroom lol

[VP @ Dec 14th 2007 8:03PM]

Could not agree more. The Wii is fun for the first few weeks. After that it get monotonous. The game selection is limited. PS3 will in time get much better title and the graphics are just spectacular.

[Allan @ Dec 14th 2007 8:54AM]

I'm surprised this isn't a CE-Oh No He Didn't...

[Allan @ Dec 14th 2007 8:55AM]

Er, except for the not a CEO part. It's still stupid to say.

[Ray-- @ Dec 14th 2007 9:57AM]

hate to break it to you but howard's been featured in more CE-OH-No articles than anyone else. And he is the CEO...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Stringer

http://www.engadget.com/tag/howard%20stringer/

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 14th 2007 12:14PM]

This should have been a CE-Oh no my god it's him again article... Hey this could be a new series with the likes of Ballmer and the Palm guy featuring extensively

[Attillia @ Dec 14th 2007 8:55AM]

Personally, I think the PS3 is a great console for single player and online multiplayer gaming, however the Wii is very good for group and party games.

I have a Wii and I never pick it up unless I am with friends by I am always playing my PS3 or watching Blu-ray films ;)

[austin @ Dec 14th 2007 1:40PM]

i think the ps3 is best for single player games.
the 360 is best for multiplayer, nothing beats XBL.
the wii is, like you said, great to play around with with friends but not to get involved in games with.
this is coming from someone who owns all three.

[Attillia @ Dec 14th 2007 4:14PM]

Well put Austin but I hope the PSN (with the introduction of Home and -hopefully- in game XMB)will overtake XBL.

[shanoboy @ Dec 14th 2007 8:59AM]

All the hating between various fanboys is really sad. If you like a product, buy it, enjoy it and shut up.

I love Nintendo and always have. I've owned everyone of their consoles, but I also own a PS1 and 2. And if Blu Ray wins out the format war I'll be buying a PS3. Heck, I'll probably buy it either way once that price tag sinks down a bit more.

Who cares? All 3 of the major consoles kick ass in their own ways!

You do have to admit though, this guy's argument is pretty weak.

[Sp00ks @ Dec 14th 2007 9:48AM]

I wonder if the Ferrari, Porche, and Lamborghini fanboys all have their own forums too, where they post about whos prick is tinier.

I too don't get all of the hating, each console has different things to offer, and I think I'll be getting a PS3 at some point. Some games for it are decent and then I could combine my HD collection into HD-DVD and Blu-ray, cause I don't see the format war ending anytime soon.

[Poom @ Dec 14th 2007 10:39AM]

I agree with most of your post... but... all three kick ass in their own way? I think XBox360 and PS3 are pretty much similar...

Actually, I hate Microsoft for coming into the game. While the Wii targets different audience, the PS3 and XBox360 have the same group of audience. This creates two parties of exclusive, both offering similar type of games. That's why I think Microsoft should not have entered the war in the first place with their XBox.

[Andrew @ Dec 14th 2007 11:04AM]

Why do people expect a winner in this format war? Optical drives are not a premanent solution, and everyone knows that. Digital downloads are going to be the real winner. Who's investing more into that? Microsoft.

[shanoboy @ Dec 14th 2007 11:11AM]

@Andrew

I think everything will go digital sooner or later too but I don't think optical drives are going anywhere. There's always going to be a need for physical media and there's always going to be people who want a physical, store bought copy of movies! Especially people who don't have access to super high speed internet to download all these huge files.

Granted, everything I watch and listen to is completely digital, all downloaded off the net via bittorrent and streamed to a media center pc hooked up to my TV. I don't even have a use for a DVD or CD player anymore. But if I had no access to high speed internet that would all change.

[Joseph @ Dec 14th 2007 9:02AM]

I had a Wii and a PS3 and I wound up selling my Wii on eBay last year because after Twilight Princess (which I loved) I could not find another game that I found fun. I guess I would have loved Mario Galaxy too if I had held out but one good game a year just isnt enough.

The PS3 is not exactly flush with great games either but I have really enjoyed Oblivion, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Heavenly Sword and Ratchet & Clank. Now I am catching up on the PS2 classics as I wait till the next few great games come out.

All in all, I would not recommend the Wii to an adult friend. I would have to recommend the PS3 or the XBOX360.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Dec 14th 2007 9:34AM]

Au contraire, I would recomment Wii to "adult friend" who isn't gamer. Which is about 95% of my friends. Rest 5% already have what they like - PC, PS2, Xbox360, Wii, etc. Notably, none of my friends has PS3 yet.

...Well, I'm lying - I will not recommend Wii. It is impossible to recommend PS3/Xbox/Wii/etc - over DS which right now king of gaming having something literally for everyone.

[nivz @ Dec 14th 2007 9:17AM]

Wii's good for 10 year olds, and for occasions where four 50 year olds gather together and want to act like 10 year olds. for everything else, get a 360, or a ps3.

[Magallanes @ Dec 14th 2007 11:16AM]

Yes but... no!.

xbox360 are from 13-17 years.
Remember that the power of xbox360 is their online features and hardly a mature adult (universitary or worker) can spend a whole weekend leveling their player on a online game.

ps3 from 15-30 years, specially blu-ray users and ex-ps2 owner.

And wii for the rest, from kids that want to play with pikachu to "grown up kids" that want to play a easy and funny game. And no, wii is not just party games or child games, for example Golf, Trauma Center and such.

Even when i own a wii, i think that ps3 will success in a near future over wii and xbox360 together.

[machineiv @ Dec 26th 2007 4:23PM]

Has anyone tried comparing the grammar of those "adults" defending the PS3 by lashing out and stating that the Wii is only for children and the elderly? I'm an adult, I have a damned good job, and I love my Wii. Metroid Prime: Corruption is phenomenal, Resident Evil 4 was an amazing overhaul, and there are a handful of other amazing titles that have no good comparison elsewhere. If the Wii is for school-aged children, maybe those lashing out should consider joining them in their English classes; it might give them another chance to preach the gospel of their overpriced hunk of inferior sales.

[Kiwi616 @ Dec 14th 2007 9:22AM]

I owned the Wii and although at first I enjoyed the new sense of playing ability, when it comes to gaming the PS3 and xBox are far superior and I am not just talking about graphics (i.e. HD capabilities, and further enhancements etc.)

If your the ages of 4 through 13 get a Wii

All else get a PS3/Xbox!

Those Wii kids will grow up eventually and purchase a real gaming system (no pun intended....okay I meant it).

[Sp00ks @ Dec 14th 2007 9:54AM]

well, good point, but I completely disagree there. When was the last time that you had four people playing at once? I'm not a Wii fanboy by any means, I'm more of a PC gamer if anything...but the Wii is one of the most engaging systems for any age. I've play Mario Party with more people over the age of 25 than I have with people under 20. I think it's a system for older people, not younger. The NES generation is growing up and nintendo is going back to it's roots. Dropping graphics (which aren't terrible) for better gameplay for more people. Again, I say those who haven't used MP8 for a drinking game, do it.

[TomDeal @ Dec 14th 2007 9:24AM]

Did anyone noticed that there are only sony-defending comments in here? Maybe the Wii Owners are playing...

[Kiwi616 @ Dec 14th 2007 9:31AM]

Nahh, there are just home from school while we work. :)

I wouldn't mind being a Wii owner...if I could be 10 again!

[DJ @ Dec 14th 2007 9:42AM]

I was in our local Best Buy yesterday and there were easily 150 to 200 PS3 80GB boxes lining the aisles, walls and shelves. And they weren't simply display boxes, they had consoles in them. At $500 a pop, that's nearly $100,000 of inventory laying around on the floor in just ONE store!I have to believe that given that amount of unsold inventory this close to Christmas, there has to be another price cut coming, if not before Christmas, then immediately after.

In the half hour I was in the store, I didn't see a single person stop and look at one or pick one up. Yet I did hear two people ask a salesperson if they had any Wii's.

Sir Howard can say all he wants to about the PS3 being more fun, but the buying public doesn't believe it.

By the way, I have a question for Sir Howard....."Where the hell is my 70" Bravia XBR LCD? You told me it would ship by the end of November and it's almost the end of December? Hmmm???"

[DAZA @ Dec 15th 2007 9:39AM]

70" XBR's have been out for a while, I have access to them and I believe they are in stock (in Australia at least :). Never mind they go for approximately $50-60,000 though..