Nintendo’s 3DS is groundbreaking in that it’s the first glasses-free 3D handheld console. However, it seems one of the company’s competitors isn’t even going to pretend to be impressed by Nintendo’s efforts in the console market.
Speaking to Fortune, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, Jack Tretton, said he doesn’t view the DS line as competition, as they appeal to a different demographic.
"Our view of the 'Game Boy experience' is that it's a great babysitting tool, something young kids do on airplanes, but no self-respecting twenty-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those," he says. "He's too old for that."
Tretton also said that he feels the Xbox 360 and the Wii are running out of steam and will struggle to be relevant in 2011 and the years ahead.
"They're starting to run out of steam now in terms of continuing to be relevant in 2011 and beyond," he said, before criticizing consoles without hard drives and motion gaming: "I mean, you've gotta be kidding me. Why would I buy a gaming system without a hard drive in it? How does this thing scale? Motion gaming is cute, but if I can only wave my arms six inches, how does this really feel like I'm doing true accurate motion gaming?"
Aside from bitch-slapping competitors, Tretton talked a little about Sony’s plans for the next year, which include 3D gaming and the new PSP2, aka NGP. He admitted that while Sony 3D currently requires glasses, he believes people just need to try it for themselves before they’ll ‘get it.’
"Conceptually, it's hard for people to put their head around," he said. "But when you put them in front of a 3-D TV and you have them play or Killzone or Uncharted or you let them watch the National Championshiop in 3-D, they get it. Just like with HD, people have to experience it, there has to be content that takes advantage of it, and I think this is going to be a pretty nice breakout year for that."
Of the upcoming NGP, Tretton said Sony has tried to give consumers something they feel is lacking with current devices.
“We looked at every technology out there, every [bell and] whistle, and how can we make those flexible as possible for consumers to experience."
NGP will be available in some markets before the end of the year, though Sony has not provided a more detailed release schedule.
Here's one for you, Jack.
"No self-respecting executive would stoop to pathetic, immature taunts and quips as a means to drum up brand support."
Here's one for you, Jack.
"No self-respecting executive would stoop to pathetic, immature taunts and quips as a means to drum up brand support."
This is just another few sound bites in Sony's continued attempt to be the cool older brother. Sure he'll buy you beer and let you borrow his porn, but after awhile you start wondering why he isn't hanging around people his own age. Actual adults, people that are really mature, will play whatever they want regardless of how others see them. Using a device just for your own self image is for teenagers and Apple fans.
I'm sure Nintendo handhelds do make great babysitting tools.
And the view of Nintendo handhelds he's espousing is pretty widespread and commonplace, sadly. I'm not sure what will change that.
And yes, Sony have always been great at stirring up. It's very effective marketing. A classic example was last year's E3. Good times.
Well, his comments have succeeded in what they were set out to do - stir the pot.
In contrast with these comments, I am looking forward to the NGP.
Now this might look stupid to your grandma but if you've been born with a dildo of that kind in your hand and you've used it all your life, it becomes a lifestyle for a generation. There are still lots of people who are not used to computers but in 30-50 years nobody will be able to imagine life without any kind of electronic gadget bolted to your head.
While I was exposed to computers at a very early age about 7 most of my mates have not touched a computer until their 20s or later. I bet that their children will be used to computers from the moment they can keep their attention to a computer screen for longer than 2 minutes.
I even find that bad and I often give advice to parents I know that they should no give computers and video games to young children and they should not deliberately teach them to play video games. Children should run, play and develop their physic while they are young.
I mean that from my personal experience. Getting a computer that young wasn't the best thing that could have happened to me.
People 40+ love that thing, and as it happends they're the ones that can actually afford the games for it and don't know how to pirate (generalization)
And that is coming from someone who does not own a DS or a 3DS.
Congratulations Jack on making Sony appear to be green with envy for the success of a firm which, quite frankly, has been in the game a lot longer than you have.