Kutaragi misquote, or super-evil moment?
by Ben Zackheim 
{ Jan 27th 2005 at 7:04AM }
Tipster striegs, has let us have it for missing out on this story. It's not that we missed it. It's that we didn't
quite know what to do with it.
Almost all indications are that Kutaragi was answering a question about the general design of the PSP, not the square
button, when he took on a very defensive, some would say "high and mighty", tone. There hasn't been much of a
clarification from Sony, so it's open to debate whether or not Kutaragi had a Dr. Evil moment. Man, these Sony folk
have some serious ego issues. Did Kutaragi just get sick and tired of apologizing? His company has been doing a lot of
it recently. Only his therapist knows for sure.
Striegs writes:
I can't believe you haven't posted anything about this yet. Apparently when Ken Kutaragi was asked about certain
PSP design flaws, most specifically the inaccurate square button, he defended with an argument that boils down to the
age-old topic of form over function. Quote: "I didn't want the PSP's LCD screen to become any smaller than this, nor
did I want its machine body to become any larger…the button's location is on purpose. It is according to our
specifications. This is something that we've created, and this is our specification. There was a clear purpose to it,
and it wasn't a mistake."
Certain gamers are up in arms over these comments, accusing Kutaragi of laying the old
double deuce on Sony fans: essentialy, not only does form win out over function, Sony doesn’t even care about the
thoughts of its consumers.
However, accounts differ. Some articles defend Kutaragi by saying that the previous question dealt with the topic of
the PSP’s design in general, while others state that this was a direct response to the unresponsive square button.
Either way, it’s still bad press for Sony, a company which has come under fire in recent years for the PS2’s frequent
tendency to break down. To date, 4800 PSPs have been returned to due to defects, about 0.6% of the amount Sony has
manufactured.
The link goes to Spong (always good for an interpretation), but I’ve referenced facts from several other sources, including CVG, GameSpot, and IGN.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LINEZ @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
you all no that the psp is perfect in evary way so stop bashing it. all you hater who wont like the psp make it sound like it has a problem with buttons and the battery stniks. the guy who desniged the psp is a geinus and nows what he is dooing so leave him alone. if you dont shutup then people will think the psp is dum and maybe not even buy one so be quiet.
Asz @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
He should have said it wasnt't DESIGNED to be a misake, it just happened to be one after assembley and use. When will Sony learn?
Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Sony Computer Entertainment president Ken Kutaragi, acknowledged that the ‘square’ button is less responsive than the others, in part because it's so close to the PSP's screen. There isn't enough room to put the square button's switch directly underneath the button itself, it's off to the right, making it less responsive--and sometimes causing it to stick.
"There may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to."
Kutaragi said, "I believe we made the most beautiful thing in the world. Nobody would criticize a renowned architect's blueprint that the position of a gate is wrong. It's the same as that."
Sorry, Kutaragi; even the best architects are taken to task on things that don't function. You should be too. Despite what you think, the device isn't "the most beautiful thing in the world." It is a device. It needs to act like such.
Don't you find beauty in what your device does? There is a certain beauty in a well oiled machine, in how the pieces work and the motion of the parts, like a fine watch. Where is the beauty in a watch that does not tell the time or a beautiful car that does not run?
You have proven to us all that you, and as an extension, your company, thinks that beauty is only skin deep. You are telling us that the functions of your device don’t receive as much thought as the packaging they come in.
Why you think this inspires confidence in you, your products, or your company is a mystery. Perhaps you can find people who are willing to go out of their way to deal with your short-sighted nature. Perhaps there are people who are willing to pay a premium for the opportunity to deal with your devices shortcomings. I expect more from any device I purchase than an arrogant, egotistical designer at the helm who is unwilling or unable at admit mistakes yet is more than happy to sell me a shoddy product because it looks good in their own eyes.
Indoliq @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
If the president wasn't addressing questions about the square button, then why did he make specific reference to it?
ThePoint @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Aww snap.
This takes the cake. I'va been wanting the PSP less and less over the past few months as I hear more and more about it. The battery, the unprotected discs and now this. Sony, this message sounds like a big, "Fuck You" message to your comsumers. Why the hell would you do that? I'ma take my ball and go home cause you don't play nice.
Luke @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Well, what makes it worse is if they really do have a "Design over Function" mentality, then more than likely other "corners were cut". So in about a year we might find that other parts of PSP don't work the way they should.
Although people take care of their handhelds, the fact remains that handhelds do need to hold up to more bangs and scratches than home consoles. I just hope Sony kept this in mind when they designed the PSP.
Shockwave @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Pass this on to your friends. True friends don't lie their friends by total crap.
Dorkus Malorkus @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I love reading all the commentary (bashing) by those who don't have one of these things. I love my PSP. I don't have problems with the buttons (though all I have right now is Ridge Racers), the thing plays my music, the photo slideshow function is awesome, AND there's potential for software upgrades to the PSP itself). The video playback function is underdeveloped and it's a pain in the ass to get video onto the PSP... for now.
Instead of buying a second Japanese game, I spent my money on a 512mb memory stick duo. As a result, I use the PSP probably 10 times as much as I would if I used it just for games.
Sony isn't going to acknowledge design flaws publicly (marketing people like to call it "diminishing the public's perception of a product"), but by the time they makes a few million PSPs (read: by the time you can buy one at Target), you can bet that the inner part designs will have changed plenty.
Like any other company, Sony's perfectly aware of what people are complaining about. There's all sorts of effort in hardware industries to cut manufacturing costs and reduce return/refund/repair numbers as a product matures. Hell, the PS2 was at revision *7* when I got around to buying one.
/I don't work for Sony
The Point @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
If Sony plans on fixing this, why didn't they just say that they planned on fixing it? Nobody would be calling Sony's president a jackass for, well, for being a jackass.
JagerMech @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I have a PSP and I have noticed the same problem with the button. I thought it was just my PSP and I was out of luck, having imported. Now I see it is all of them and that's a shame. You CAN learn how to use the button more effectively, but it does not feel the same as the others and sometimes sticks.
I am sad that Sony won't fix this. Aside from the battery, this is my number one complaint. I may get a game or two for the system, but now that I have the PSP, I realized I don't go anywhere where I really need a portable game. Sure it is cool to have and all, but I don't take the train or bus anywhere so I end up playing at home where I may as well just play my Xbox.
Danny Lewis @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
And to think... they could have added just another 3mm (estimate) to the length to fix this...
If I ever get a PSP, it will be a newer revision with better battery life and better design.
Almasy @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
"There may be people that complain about its usability, but that's something which users and game software developers will have to adapt to."
In other words, expect a lot of games to not use the square button, or at least have the option to change the button config. to have the squre button be the least used button (camera angle or something).
I own both a DS and PSP, the PSP is more of 'spoiled son'. I have to be real careful when carrying it around because it seems so fragile compaired to the DS.
Dan @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
People not buying Sony's flawed product is something Sony will just have to adapt to.
JagerMech @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I also have trouble using the 'analog' stick and the left shoulder button. The 'analog' stick is put in a gawd-awful place. Why isn't it in the spot where the + pad rests, right under your thumb?
SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
People forget that Sony said the same thing about the battery life to developers.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=4667
And to pimp my site a little, I made a comic about it at the time.
http://www.ministry-of-fun.com/comic/comic037.htm
AznFX @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
@ Dorkus Malorkus
do u play RR w/ the "analog stick"?
have to say JagerMech beat me to it...
its just like the PS2 controller's insensiblity, like it doesnt want u using the analog stick, and on the PSP, it slides around instead on being analog...sony has to fix this in PS3 at least, best if it makes PSP
and im sure the square is never used, and if u are using auto transmition, neither are the circle and triangle, also it would be nice for buttons to have letter names instead of describing them
i found RR and DynastyWarriors nice, but i dont have one, if wut people say about secret revisions is true, then i'll get one after price drops, public announcements of revisions, and a few more killer apps (if there are any right now)
transparent cover on all the face of PSP that needs a wipedown after all the fingerprints, i can see why RR cant outlast 4 hours, b/c theyre scared the oil from our sweaty hands will dry and make their BEATIFUL PSP forever dirtied
ds needs a killer app and a little less white plastic but look at the support for the bad LCDs