Phil Harrison out at Sony

Not but a few days after some decided anti-Sony Japan commentary by a very frustrated Phil Harrison, the Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios President is out, with his role to be assumed by the monolithic Kaz Hirai. Phil recently expressed his frustration for SCE Japan's resistance to online and social gaming, which, as it turns out, is exactly where Sony needed to be like five years ago. From the sound of things, Phil's departure is a little unceremonious (and, dare we say, acrimonious?), but who's to say what really went down behind closed doors?

Read - Phil pulled his hair out over Sony Japan's conservative nature
Read - ... and now, mysteriously, Harrison is out

[athousandleaves @ Feb 25th 2008 4:59AM]

Sony?
Whos Sony?

[phanbouy @ Feb 25th 2008 5:00AM]

yeah don't they rip off that awesome brand of modestly priced electronics called COBY?

[silverblackvoid @ Feb 25th 2008 9:02AM]

dude its time for you to come out frm under your rock.

[phanbouy @ Feb 25th 2008 10:46AM]

wow, the early morning crowd lacks intellect, ability to detect sarcasm, and humor. how trite.

[cmac322 @ Feb 25th 2008 5:14AM]

Phil is absolutely right. The Japanese tend to be resistant to change and this is another reason why the Japanese economy goes through a boom and bust economy.

[JAmerican @ Feb 25th 2008 8:48AM]

Let's see Major Nelson speak out against Microsoft in such a situation *Cough* 007 *cough*. Will never happen!

[Boostjunkie @ Feb 25th 2008 9:54AM]

Yea, I don't like Major Nelson either, but he's just PR, not a executive. That's PR's job, it's a completely different thing. They got rid of the one guy that is turning around the PS3, I'm starting to wonder if Sony is going to fail this generation. I just bought a PS3, I already have the 360 and wii, and I want it to succeed because I think Microsoft is getting cocky.

[andy @ Feb 25th 2008 2:26PM]

And outing him for being right seems to be the characteristic Japanese management move from what I've seen.


It's how they manage every plant/facility I've ever been involved with anyway. Interesting how they make so much money with that kind of "if I didn't have the idea it doesn't count, and if you have an idea, you'd better credit me for it" kind of philosophy. Seems like it would be counter to a successful overall business model, but they make it work.

[DefPo3t @ Feb 25th 2008 5:19AM]

sony = EPIC FAIL (making some one with brains retire is not gonna be good in the long run)

[GhostDoggy @ Feb 25th 2008 5:22AM]

"CE Japan's resistance to online and social gaming" Interesting. This would tell me, the consumer, that if I want to stick with a platform for online and or social gaming then Sony isn't the answer. Nice to know. I own a PS3, which I got for movies, and this just solidifies my not even thinking about gaming on the PS3 over the Xbox Live effort.

[Jimbo @ Feb 25th 2008 5:47AM]

I too own a PS3 and I have been frustrated with the PSN experience, with the bizarre lack of PS1 titles available (such as Intelligence Qube, available in Japan but impossible to find on disc and not available on PSN to a yankee). I also have been flabbergasted at how long it's taken to get a mere public beta for Home out there.

Could it be that Sony is really unaware that the internet is the key to most technology these days? We need achievements, easy to use friends lists, universal chat features, networking features like Home promises, etc etc etc.

Phil Harrison was a visionary. When he demoed Home or other tech, you really got into it and saw that he was taking this PS3 somewhere awesome. Why the fuck would you fire him? For being critical? The PS3 is doing a lot better now, but isn't it obvious it's had enormous problems compared to the last two iterations? Why not let someone be honest that mistakes were made? How else can I know Sony is getting back to the right track?

Sadly, I have no where else to turn. The Wii is a terrible system with no interesting, original games (Zelda and Mario an Metroid again and again is not my pref) and an annoying controller. The 360 doesn't even work, and MS seems to be pretty unethical, and though it has a lot of games, I don't like FPSs again and again, so it's not really any better than the PS3 for me. (fanboys, I realize this is my opinion alone, and I hope you love your consoles)

So I guess it's back to the PC. Luckily, I can stream my games to my PS3 over my wifi network, and hope that Sony gets back in the grove. Phil Harrison was not part of the problem. This is a baaaaad omen.

[Matsu @ Feb 25th 2008 7:53AM]

Dude have you ever played Wii???

There are plenty of cool games(current and in the pipeline): No more Heroes, RE Umbrella Chronicles, Fire Emblem, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Okami, Mario Kart. You may think that it is a terrible systems but critics and consumers disagree with you. It is outselling both PS3 and Xbox360.

As for the XBox not working: It works just fine, and not all the games are FPS you know.

[KarlW @ Feb 25th 2008 8:36AM]

I totally agree with Jimbo. The PSN needs some serious improvements. I like the 3rd party games, which allow for some pretty interesting innovative gameplay (see Echochrome), but much more needs to be done. Especially when it comes to synchronising regional updates (I'm in Europe, we get it the worst).

The Wii is innovative and fun, for all of a few weeks. After that, the games get boring (how many times can they make a Wii tennis game?) and the control schemes get irritating. Things like Wii Fit just make me think that nintendo had a spark of creativity and vision with the Wii, then just lost it and are now trying too hard to get that impression back.

I never liked the 360 much. MS's marketing just never appealed to me. It seems to all be about a handful of games (GoW, HALO), and they're all FPS games. I don't like the idea of paying for Live either. And I don't like the technical limitations (DVD9). Every year at Microsoft's developers conferences, you get scores of developers begging for the ability to put their games on HD-DVD. That'll probably stop now, but when games like Mass Effect have to be scaled down and require much more effort to fit on a DVD9, it doesn't look good for the future.

[rodsky @ Feb 25th 2008 10:33AM]

360 doesn't work!?!?!?! then who the fuck put this ps3 in my 360 shell cuz the games look badass, oh its just a 360 fooled you, guess it does work

[Boostjunkie @ Feb 25th 2008 9:58AM]

Saying the 360 doesn't work is pretty silly. I have all 3 systems, and yes, I had a 360 fail. But the rest my over 2 years with it have been great. It has a warranty, fantastic online, and great games. I recently got the PS3, and boy are some things about it frustrating. The online is ridiculous compared to the 360. If you don't own a 360 you really don't understand online community the way it's supposed to be. Boy is the PS3 quiet though.

[Magallanes @ Feb 25th 2008 10:21AM]

I don't known how we jumped from blame ps3 to blame xbox360 or wii.

KarlW :do you own or has played a wii?.

FYC :there are several games for wii outside wiisport and wiiplay. Just take notes that Wii users are pretty different to xbox360 users or ps3 users, Wii users are most likely adults and childs that don't want/care to learn special combos and don't have the time (or the expertise) to play any game online and spend many hours leveling their character.

[superted @ Feb 25th 2008 5:49AM]

another classic sony public blunder...

[Ethan @ Feb 25th 2008 6:07AM]

LittleBigPlanet's the most exciting thing on the ps3, and it's exactly what Phil's talking about. I'll miss the lil bald maverick, but I imagine he'll pop up somewhere else important sharpish.

[Pro Kid @ Feb 25th 2008 6:22AM]

First Ken, now Phil...

[Semi @ Feb 25th 2008 6:29AM]

haha, i knew he made the comments coz he knew he was on his way out,

all these sony haters, get a grip, competition is good for consumers!

[Liam Billington @ Feb 25th 2008 6:30AM]

Phil - Go work for Microsoft and make great games for my Xbox like you did for Sony. Phil Harrison - A true British legend. If it wasn't for Phil, the Playstation brand would not be a success as it is today.

[Killer @ Feb 25th 2008 7:33AM]

I was thinking the same thing, watch as microsoft hires him. It would be a nice addition to have him on the xbox live team.

[Liam @ Feb 25th 2008 7:40AM]

Could not agree more. This is Sony's loss, and the gain of whoever hires him next (I doubt he'll be looking for too long). Bet he got a huge payoff too.

[Ellianth @ Feb 25th 2008 9:33AM]

I guess he wasn't being paid ot have opinions :(.

[Liam Billington @ Feb 25th 2008 10:01AM]

He is one of those execs who actually deserves a HUGE pay off. I am a Microsoft fanboy and they better snap him up quick!

[Teetdogs @ Feb 25th 2008 12:04PM]

Except he is probably under a non compete claus esspecially if he got a buyout.

[Homeboy @ Feb 25th 2008 6:50AM]

MS Game devision would be more than happy to have another Lex Luthor on their team.

[Concura @ Feb 25th 2008 11:33AM]

Yes, but Lex Luthor was evil. Phil is more of a legend around here.

[davedrastic @ Feb 25th 2008 7:29AM]

That's a shame Phil, oh well, sod 'em. Doesn't bode too well for Sony in my opinion, like when Mike Gascoyne got sacked from Toyota F1 and Toyota went from an up and coming team to virtually the worst team on the field. Give Nokia a call and give them some much needed guidance.

[xSushi @ Feb 25th 2008 7:33AM]

They must of found his Xbox 360 hidden under his desk with an HD-DVD drive attached, I hope they don't ban his account like they did to Hitler :P

[Scout @ Feb 25th 2008 7:46AM]

Rumor is, he's joining Atari. Wait...ATARI?

[Jherez @ Feb 25th 2008 9:47AM]

To create a new system.....O_O

[Matt B @ Feb 25th 2008 10:51AM]

Well, having a non gaming wife and 3 kids under 7 kind of makes gaming alone the only option to not gaming at all. At least my multi player gaming on my PS3 is free even if the PSN isn't as robust as XBL at this point.

[Luigi193 @ Feb 25th 2008 10:58AM]

If you would expand your gaming horizons (or something less corny) you could see some great games on wii...

It between the release of galaxy game great games like, super paper mario, Fire Emblem, Zack and wiki, battalion wars 2, Wario ware, the virtual console games and Metroid prime 3...

Maybe if you don't just think only of the HUGE blockbuster games, you could see some smaller games, that I've played more the galaxy that got great reviews...

[MosquitoControl @ Feb 25th 2008 9:53AM]

Actually critics agree. Look at the rating of most Wii games. Terrible.

We bought our Wii just over a year ago. We played it for a month, until Wii Sports got old. It then sat around untouched until Mario Galaxy came out. That bought it another 2 weeks. It has not been turned on since November now.

That'll change for the new Smash Brothers, but I had been a Nintendo guy until this generation, but right now the Wii is bringing nothing interesting. At all.

As for Sony's reluctance to attract groups: duh. The PS2 had two controller ports. The internet is part of the future, but as the Wii is proving, the couch is more important. The couch is really all that I care about. Halo 3 wins out over CoD4 because I can have three people on my couch and still go online. Before that the Gamecube ruled the day because of its split-screen goodness. The N64 dominated the PS when I was in college due to its ability to put four of us on at once.

I have never owned a Sony system. The PS3 hasn't changed that. I do the vast majority of my console gaming with other people and Sony has just never embraced that. I don't want to spend hours on the couch by myself. If I'm alone I'm doing something more productive. Gaming is a social experience, not a solo one.

[John McPoop @ Feb 25th 2008 8:23AM]

I do not have anything against Phil on a personal level but he should have known better than to bash the company in public. He was also the most negative of all the Sony big wigs. Good riddance, Phil.

[AoMoe @ Feb 25th 2008 9:29AM]

The problem with Phil is that he does not know Japanese culture, and should have found a better was of airing his grievances that in public. He public embarrassed Sony Japan, and these are the people that pay his check. It will not be hard for him to find a job, but in his spare time he should consider reading a book on Japanese culture.

[Boostjunkie @ Feb 25th 2008 10:02AM]

Did you ever think that he said that not because he doesn't understand Japanese culture, but because he does, and he realizes it's killing the PS3. Perhaps as hard as it is to believe, he actually cares about the PS3's success, and is passionate about it. It should tell you something about the company that he would be so frustrated he would make a job ending public statement like this.

[Poom @ Feb 25th 2008 8:36AM]

I just read the article in the first read link... What's shocking is this...

"Sony Europe already had three products on the market designed specifically to encourage social gaming in the living room before the Wii was even released – the EyeToy, SingStar and Buzz – but Japanese execs didn't believe in the concept of families enjoying gaming together."

Wow... If Sony had pushed this further... It could have been even more popular than Wii currently is... It's so sad to see that Phil's abilities and efforts have been wasted because of those Japanese execs. It's really really depressing.

[Squee @ Feb 25th 2008 8:53AM]

Phill Harrison is absolutely right !

[giantenemycrab @ Feb 25th 2008 9:09AM]

"Phil's departure is a little unceremonious (and, dare we say, sanctimonious?)"

...what?

[lee @ Feb 25th 2008 10:21AM]

Does he mean acrimonious?

[Kspraydad @ Feb 25th 2008 9:55AM]

Phil joins Atari and works with EA on the one console future.

[Magallanes @ Feb 25th 2008 10:33AM]

I'm still don't get it the attitude from some "oriental" companies. For example RPG, there are several online RPG sold only on Korea, China and Japan but the rest of the world. I known that there are a cost involved with the localization but in many cases they don't care about "foreign" market even if the cost involved a translation was marginal in comparison with the potential market they can achieve with it.

American market is the opposite, a lot more viral and global that oriental products.

[Jouten @ Feb 25th 2008 10:44AM]

There's no freedom of speech in Japan. Well, there might be, but you will have to find another job. If what he says is true, they pay him to heed his advice/feedback and to use his guidance. It almost seems that their attitude was, "Your not Japanese, so your opinion doesn't matter", to the point where he gets frustrated enough to make a statement like this in public. Nice culture ;)

[Jouten @ Feb 25th 2008 10:46AM]

'you're', edit button FTW! =P

[OneLove @ Feb 25th 2008 10:54AM]

whats up with the glamor shot? (hand on chin?)

[ChadWarden @ Feb 25th 2008 11:09AM]

Sup bechez, sup becheez!

It's ChadWarden here.

Soone Japan thought online play was just a figment of their imaginination.

Guess whos wrong!

[rickane58 @ Feb 26th 2008 12:32AM]

did somebody say bay cheese? gotta love that packer head gear

[Iridium @ Feb 25th 2008 11:10AM]

Getting the Japanese to change is like trying to pilot an ocean liner on a small lake. The one thing that really mattered is that Phil was not Japanese. Sony, or almost any Japanese company, does not recognize a non Japanese as having the authority to comment about the company in public. Those under the emporer do not speak out unless told to speak out. Still sad to see him go.

Although I do think online has a place I do agree with Sony that it should not be the main focus of the system. I was really into online PC gaming for a couple years but the novelty quickly wore off. Yes there are a few million people who love to play online FPS after online FPS. Trouble is that they are really all about the same and the experience never really chages. There is no story or objective other than kill or be killed. Capture the flag was fun in Quake. Zones got played out in Battlefield. It just isn't fun to me anymore. Once online play becomes the objective of a game it is no longer worth $50 for me. That coupled with a normal ping rate of 185 or higher due to location and internet connection, online play just isn't worth it. CoD4 is a perfect example. The game is great but was far too short to warrant a purchase. I've played online a few times and it seems like that was the main focus of the game. Even though the scenery has changed the experience is just like any other online deathmatch, 8 year old swearing at you, people yelling "Boom Headshot", and people who spend far too much time playing the game to have anything resembling a social life outside of a console.

The focus on online play may have got the 360 a quick start with hardcore gamers but it is not going to bring the console anywhere near the levels that the PS2 sold. If online play was so important than the Wii would not be selling well at all. The Wii still has not proven that the social focus of the console is a viable platform. Much of the Wii's success has been based on hype built up by the media and scarcity of the system. If you don't have 4 people to play with all the time, the appeal of the Wii wears off. There are just not enough compelling single player games to keep the system going as a main form of entertainment.

There are many more people out there that still play games alone than those who primarily play online or in a social enviroment. These people may still play a few online matches, but it is not why they buy a game. The PS2 sold over 100 million consoles with a single player focus. Sony isn't going to change that until proven otherwise. The Xbox 360 did worse in terms of hardware sales in its second year on the market. While software sales are very good they are really only good in the FPS genre. Games with a single player focus do not seem to do very well on the system. There will be the rare exception, GTA4 for example, but the main focus of the 360 is to recreate the PC gaming experience on a home console. Something that has not proven to move more than 20 million consoles.

For all of the talk about how much the PS3 is failing, there isn't much proof. With a price tag much higher than the competition and two other systems to fight off, the PS3 still nearly matched the first year performance of the 360. The PS3 is also poised to have a far better second year than the 360 managed to pull off. For all the Game 3.0 talk out there it is really just marketing BS to try and bring us the next great thing. Trouble is that maybe the mass enjoys what they have far more than what someone else tells them to enjoy.