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Shuhei Yoshida reflects on his time under 'The Father of PlayStation'
Though Shuhei Yoshida now serves as the head of Sony's PlayStation arm, he once worked under former PlayStation CEO Ken Kutaragi – a man who Yoshida praises, while also noting his mercurial nature. In a lengthy look back at the last two decades of PlayStation transcribed by Engadget, Yoshida says that working under Kutaragi was "incredibly difficult," as the executive had a habit of changing course on a dime, demanding his team go in an entirely different direction without any forewarning. "Every week his direction and instructions could change," Yoshida said. Kutaragi was also hesitant to offer his employees direct praise. "I was complimented by Ken twice," Yoshida said. "When I say this to my colleagues, they say, 'Twice? That's a lot.''' Despite Kutaragi's hard-edged management style, Yoshida contrasts his complaints by adding, "But still, we all love Ken." For more from Shuhei Yoshida, take a moment to pore over that Engadget piece. Yoshida is unexpectedly candid, offering insight on everything from his time in school, to the birth of PlayStation, to the launch of the PlayStation 4. Yoshida's version of history is understandably biased toward his employer, but it remains a vital glimpse at the history of the gaming industry. [Image: Wikimedia]
PlayStation creator shares how it all happened in 'Kutaragi's Way'
Former Sony Computer Entertainment chairman and CEO Ken Kutaragi is often referred to as "Father of PlayStation." Kutaragi accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards last week for his contributions to video game development. To chronicle his "role as a young developer," Kutaragi teamed up with the funny folks at Mega 64 for the action-packed video "Kutaragi's Way." Kutaragi's Way includes elements of a typical day in the life of a game developer: Shootings, explosions and a disembodied emotion engine. Kutaragi also appears as the CEO of a certain competitor in the spoof on late 1980s action films. [Image: Mega64]
'Father of the PlayStation' to receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Ken Kutaragi, lead architect of the original PlayStation and former CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award on March 19, during the 14th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards. Respawn Entertainment Community Manager Abbie Heppe will host, while PlayStation 4 lead architect Mark Cerny will present Kutaragi his award. Although Kutaragi is arguably best-known for his role and nickname "Father of the PlayStation," his first contribution to gaming was the development of the SPC700, the sound chip used in Nintendo's Super NES console. Kutaragi left Sony in 2007, but continues to be active in the tech and entertainment fields as President and CEO of Cyber AI Entertainment Inc. "The PlayStation has become a household name, representing some of the biggest and best gaming experiences of all time," said Meggan Scavio, General Manager of GDC events, in a press release. "Its success and longevity is a reflection of the insight, craft, technical prowess and hard work of the team led by Kutaragi-san, the father of the PlayStation." "We're honored to have Kutaragi-san present at the event, and heartened to recognize a true visionary that helped bring about an unparalleled era of growth in the industry." [Image: Macara via Wikimedia Commons]
Ken Kutaragi now External Director at Marvelous AQL
Former Sony Computer Entertainment chairman and CEO Ken Kutaragi has joined Marvelous AQL as an External Director, according to a Nikkei report. Kutaragi played a significant role in the PlayStation's formative years, and later headed up development of the PlayStation 2 and PS3. He retired from Sony in 2007, but remained as an advisor and SCEI's honorary chairman until 2011. Marvelous AQL co-developed the recent PS Vita release Soul Sacrifice, and created 2012's 3DS farming sim Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning. Marvelous subsidiary Xseed recently purchased Atlus Online, rebranding itself as Marvelous USA earlier this month.
Hirai promoted to Chairman of SCEI, House becomes CEO
Just one day after announcing a new board member, Sony revealed a bit more corporate shuffling, this time at Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Kazuo Hirai, formerly President and Group CEO (and chief apologizer), has been promoted to Chairman, effective September 1. SCEE president Andrew House will take over as Group CEO of SCEI, with SCEE Executive Vice President Jim Ryan taking over his old job at SCEE. While this may seem like an inopportune time to reward executives with promotions, the shifts were prompted by the retirement of current Chairman Akira Sato effective August 31. Also retiring: Ken Kutaragi, who left his role as Honorary Chairman of SCEI yesterday, presumably finding the honorary demands of the position too honorarily strenuous. He will remain at Sony Corporation as "senior technology advisor."
Yes! We get to write about Ken Kutaragi again!
1999 "You can communicate to a new cybercity. Did you see the movie The Matrix? Same interface. Same concept. Starting from next year, you can jack into The Matrix!" 2000 PlayStation 2 launches. 2005 "The PS3 is not a game machine." 2005 "[We want] consumers to think to themselves 'I will work more hours to buy one'. We want people to feel that they want it, irrespective of anything else." 2006 "It's probably too cheap ... This is the PS3 price. Expensive, cheap -- we don't want you to think of it in terms of game machines. Because the PS3 is like nothing else." 2006 PlayStation 3 launches. 2007 "As a matter of course, I have the vision of PlayStation 4, 5 and 6, which will merge into the network." 2007 Ken Kutaragi forced into "retirement" by Sony Computer Entertainment 2009 Ken Kutaragi forms his own company: Cybereye-Entertainment, for "next generation Internet service". True, this isn't entirely gaming-related, but who knows when we'll be able to write about Ken's exploits again! And, to be honest, we've ... we've missed him. He's been out of the spotlight for over two years and no public video game figure since has mastered the unique art of the Kutaragism. [image]
Ken Kutaragi to lecture at Japanese university
Retired PlayStation creator and SCE president Ken Kutaragi is quite a successful business man (he's even got a lifetime achievement award to prove it). It's for that reason Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan is offering him an honorary lecturing position to educate MBA students. Starting in April, Kutaragi will be guest lecturing in business and he'll be doing it for a year. His reign as a professor will end in March 2010, so if you want to sit in his class, better make plans now.[via Kotaku]
Some prices halved at the PSN Store
People come up to me and they say, "Ken, ol' buddy, aren't you doin' anything since you gave Kaz your old gig?" and I tell them, "Friend, I don't know how I still have enough hours in the day!" So, what's been keepin' me busier than a classroom of dung beetles on a field trip to the doody factory? Well, just findin' the best video game savings and passin' 'em on to you, the consumer. Why just today, I checked the PSN Store and it's is just crammed with games that simply must go to make room for our 2009 stock. People think that digital games don't take up space and I think those people are idiots who don't have the sense that god gave an avocado. But God bless 'em, I'd still sell 'em a copy of Echochrome or PixelJunk Eden for $4.99! I hear you sayin', "But Ken, what if I don't want those games? What if I want something different?" Well, friend, I may think you're dumber than a bag of hammers, but I'll still sell you something else from my stock at half price, there's plenty to go around! Have you heard about these before? Sure! But never let it be said that Ken Kutaragi would miss an opportunity to move a couple extra units. You can see my whole stock, just just come out to Krazy Ken's Digital Distribution and Tanning Salon, just 4 miles past Purcellville off the I-64 Turnpike. Or, you know, just click on this link. Either way, just remember what we always say: "If It Don't Say Ken, You Probably Overpaid For The Product You Purchased!" ... Yeah, we're still workin' on that.
Ken Kutaragi joins the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame
Ken Kutargi has long been named the "father of PlayStation," and that name has earned him a growing number of accolades. Most recently, he's been added to the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame. He'll join other notable inductees, such as the team that developed the first mobile phone and the "father of DVD." Not a bad list of people to join.With over 200 million PlayStation-branded systems sold worldwide so far, it's clear that the lives of many people have been enhanced by Kutaragi's vision. Congrats to a well-deserved nod to his contribution to the world of consumer electronics.
DICE Summit <3 Ken Kutaragi, father of PlayStation
From Crackle: Ken Kutaragi Honored at D.I.C.E. We love you Ken Kutaragi, or as we like to you call you, Crazy Ken. You were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at DICE, and this video explains your incredible accomplishments. Called the "father" of PlayStation, Kutaragi is responsible for redefining what games are meant to be -- away from their "toy" moniker into something more mainstream. PS3 is the culmination of his vision, and we'd be out of a job without you. So thanks.
Kutaragi to receive lifetime achievement award
Despite retiring as CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment earlier this year, Ken Kutaragi is still being praised throughout the industry. A couple months ago, Kutaragi was honored at the Entertainment Software Association's "Night to Unite" event, and now the Father of the PlayStation has been given the Academy of Interactive Arts & Science 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.The honorary SCE chairman will receive the award at the Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony Feb. 7 for his "contribution to the global in-home entertainment market with the success of the PlayStation, according to Gamasutra."Ken Kutaragi's passion, innovative thinking and business savvy sparked a monumental movement that was unstoppable," said AIAS president Joseph Olin. "If it wasn't for Ken and his concept of the original PlayStation, there wouldn't be the billion dollar industry there is today. His contributions have clearly set new standards for developers, publishers and consumers worldwide." Although many gamers like to joke around at all the crazy things Ken has said and done throughout the years, no one can deny his important role in pushing the industry to new heights.
Kutaragi claims honor from ESA at "Nite to Unite"
While Ken Kutaragi is no longer involved directly with Sony, he's still an important figurehead and often turned to for advice from other Sony executives. At the "Nite to Unite for Kids" event, the ESA honored Ken Kutaragi. This event is basically the biggest fundraiser for the gaming industry, benefitting children's charities across the globe.The president of the ESA issued these statements regarding our beloved Krazy Ken: "Ken's contributions to our community and the entertainment lives of ordinary consumers are extraordinary ... His insight and vision revolutionized in-home entertainment, enabling advancements in creativity, technology, and innovation." We can't really deny that, we guess. He helped to rocket the Sony platform to the top of the mountain over the last ten years, so he definitely deserves a bit of honor.
Ken Kutaragi officially throws in the towel, retires from SCE
The father of the PlayStation, Ken Kutaragi, has officially retired from Sony Computer Entertainment. Previously, following a corporate re-shuffle, Mr. Kutaragi stepped down as CEO of SCE, replaced by Kaz Hirai. Now, Ken Kutaragi is relinquishing his Sony duties further, stepping down as SCE's Chairman and Group Chief Executive while remaining on board with SCE in an advisory role. Perhaps Sir Howard Stringer can assist with Ken Kutaragi's early retirement by quickly issuing restraining orders against him on all things Sony PlayStation-related. After all, earlier reports show "Krazy Ken" Kutaragi clearly doesn't know "when to say when" as he proceeded to inflate the PS3's budget until it exploded in everyone's collective faces, causing fallout from a few layoffs to a huge quarterly loss. Except now without Kutaragi in the limelight, how are we going to get such beautiful mock-ups of the PlayStation grill?
Kutaragi officially retires from Sony
We've known about it for months but today it becomes official -- Ken Kutaragi, the father of the PlayStation, is stepping down as chairman and chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. He will still have an advisory post at the gaming unit but his days of crazy press statements as one of the public faces of Sony are over.The storied engineer's long career at Sony hit some stumbling blocks with the PS3 launch, leading Kutaragi to be relieved of his day to day duties as president of the company late last year. Some say he was squeezed out to make room for new blood, but officially Kutaragi "has been considering this decision for some time" and considered today's shareholder meeting "the ideal timing to pass on the torch to the new generation of management."Next for Kutaragi is a post at Sony/Namco/Bandai partnership Cellius, which will focus on content designed for the PS3's Cell chip. We wish him all the best, and personally hope that the train of public gaffes doesn't stop running.
Sony's Ken Kutaragi steps down
We knew it was coming, but we can't help but shed a tear at the retirement of the man who took consoles out of the cartridge era and into the extravagant and multi-billion dollar polygon war currently taking place in our living rooms -- for better or worse. Ken Kutaragi, father of the PlayStation, is calling it quits today at the ripe old age of 56. It was pretty clear he was on the outs when he left his post as president of SCE last year, with Kazuo Hirai taking his place in most operational duties. Ken announced he was leaving his positions as CEO and chairman in April, and now he's making good on his promise, with little more clarity if it's of his own accord or due to internal Sony pressures for a changing of the guard. As previously announced, Kutaragi will be sticking around in an advisory role, but from here on out the expectations of a struggling company and a few million fanboys will rest squarely on Kaz to steer the faithful through this console generation and beyond. And yes, this also means we're retiring the 'shopped PS3 pic to the right of this post. It will be missed most of all.
Kutaragi already planned PlayStation 4, 5, 6 and cold fusion
Even though Ken Kutaragi is "retiring" from Sony (it saddens us to imagine security walking him to the front door, while he carries a cardboard box full of his belongings), he had already "envisioned" the PlayStation 4, 5, and 6, and probably also helped solidify his "graduation" by cornering people and going on about his PlayStation master plan for world domination.His next project appears to be working on a net-based game console, which sounds both kooky and smart at the same time. But, does he mean a console that uses processes similar to the SETI program and Folding@home? Or does he mean some sort of a console that just lives online and all games are purchased online? He could possibly even be hinting at a Giant Crab Network that will specialize in, well ... you know.Either way, it's all old-hat for Kutaragi, you had to have been integral to the design of the PlayStation 9.
Engadget Podcast 108 - 04.29.2007
Sure, our Podcast is a little late going up from this weekend, but where else are you gonna hear Engadget editors ramble on about the latest developments in gaming with the Xbox Elite, and Sony's loss of Kutaragi? Also up this week: AT&T misfires on the N75 launch, and find out more about how you can win a Wii. Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [RSS OGG] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in OGG) to your RSS aggregator. Hosts: Peter Rojas and Ryan Block Producer: Trent Wolbe Music: Solvent - Instructograph (Ghostly International) Program: 01:07 - Xbox 360 Elite coverage roundup -- are you getting one? 10:42 - Sony's Ken Kutaragi leaving SCE chairman and CEO spots in June 19:58 - Sony, Immersion in talks to get SIXAXIS rumbling 22:32 - Fuh Yuan retracts $299 Wal-Mart HD DVD statement 28:27 - AT&T botches Nokia N75 launch, pulls from site 30:25 - The debacle continues: AT&T pulls LG CU500v, too 35:49 - The Engadget mascot contest: win a Wii! LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt com
Iwata invites Kutaragi to work for Nintendo? Hell no!
We can't confirm the statement, but if you're inclined to believe GoNintendo's report, apparently at a financial press conference Nintendo head Satoru Iwata invited Sony's departing Ken "PlayStation" Kutaragi to join up with the Wii-maker. The irony is, of course, rich. Besides being bloody rivals for over a decade, Ken Kutaragi was also the dude who hooked Nintendo into its fabled (failed) late-80s partnership with Sony to add CD-ROM capabilities to the SNES; the eventual demise of that business relationship resulted in the original PlayStation, and Nintendo's biggest single competitor since. So will Kutaragi join up with the 117-year-old upstart from Kyoto? Something tells us probably not, but man, would that first day of work ever be aaawkwaaard.[Via PS3 Fanboy]Update: Our Japanese bureau had a crack at this one, and they found the story is pretty wrong, to say the least. According to a Bloomberg report, Iwata-san was asked whether Nintendo would make a bid for Kutaragi; the answer, which we found to be a little more realistic, had Mr. Iwata saying, "I don't think that will happen." Sorry Ken, doesn't look like anyone wants you right now. Have you thought about Microsoft?
NPR hails Kutaragi and smacks PS3
National Public Radio on Friday's episode of All Thing Considered did a piece on the "retirement" of Ken Kutaragi. In less than thirty-seconds into the piece focus shifts from Kutaragi leaving to the PlayStation 3's less than stellar sales.NPR beats the same drum as every other media outlet at this point. Finding a group of gamers in a GameCrazy store, it turns out that none of them own a PS3. When NPR asks the men why the PS3 isn't selling well, one responds, "Its just the price, the only thing that kills it is the price. Six-hundred, seven-hundred dollars out the door, that's a lot of money. If it was the price of the Xbox -- I'd get one." Another gamer says that all the good titles aren't exclusive to Sony and that all the games he likes for PlayStation are all on the PS2. NPR tempers it all by saying we're only six months into a cycle that'll last many years.
Kutaragi looks forward to PlayStation 4, 5, and 6
Everyone reading now is likely to be significantly older (and thusly worse at video games) by the time they're actually released, but the legendary departing Kutaragi-san told EE Times, "As a matter of course, I have the vision of Playstation [sic] 4, 5 and 6, which will merge into the network." Proud father of some of the best selling game consoles of all time apparently looks forward to seeing his ideas for PlayStations 4, 5, and 6 all come to be; obviously specifics were nil, and not much more than that to be heard since we're sure it's still all conceptual, pie in the sky stuff right now. But it's still kind of funny to imagine what the PS6 will be like, and just how accurately it will replicate sensory perception over its SIXSENSIS neural-link compared to those totally obsolete last-gen 2020-era consoles.
