Sony would consider working with "non-competitor" Microsoft

by Ross Miller { Feb 17th 2006 at 1:30PM }

DigiTimes Systems has reported a rather head-turning quote from SCEA exec Tetsuhiko Yasuda. According to him, "Sony does not regard Xbox as a competitor. Rather, the company may even consider working with Microsoft to develop games together." While the Xbox 360 may indeed suffer from poor sales in Japan, the idea of cooperation among the two industry giants seems wholly unrealistic to the point of mockery. According to Nintendo, the Revolution is not competing with either of the two systems--hence, in the upcoming console wars, none of the consoles are actually fighting each other. One for all, and all for one!

Many of the Joystiq staffers have come to the conclusion that Yasuda, Ken Kutaragi, and Phil Harrison sit in connected Cones of Silence (think: Get Smart) and devise new ways to belittle the competition while simultaneously rubbing each other's backs. Yasuda's comments are somewhat surprising, but they probably shouldn't be, from what we have come to expect from the brass at Sony. To make Microsoft look humble by comparison is an astonishing feat.

See also:
Phil Harrison goes crazy on Nintendo DS
Sony exec: HD era "starts when we are on the market"
"The Kraziness of Ken Kutaragi"

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

gizmondo_hater @ Feb 17th 2006 1:38PM

microsoft and sony friends, ...

lmao!!!!!!!!!!

Regula Blique @ Feb 17th 2006 1:43PM

Yea I think someone wants a piece of Halo Pie.

Regula Oblique

Cyberclaws @ Feb 17th 2006 1:48PM

SoMicroTendo?

MicroTendony?

Nintensosoft?

Uhhhh.... I don't think so! =P

Shad Genki @ Feb 17th 2006 1:49PM

Laughable.

guano @ Feb 17th 2006 1:51PM

Sony keeps saying they aren't competing with Microsoft. Why? What good does it do them? Everyone who knows even a little about the games industry knows that these guys are ALWAYS competing against each other.

dusda @ Feb 17th 2006 1:54PM

I don't think it's so much that Sony wants to work with Microsoft as "We're being our usual, elitist selves and publically acting as though Microsoft is insignificant."

Snake2k9 @ Feb 17th 2006 1:54PM

I think SONY's scared of Microsoft! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mandarin @ Feb 17th 2006 1:59PM

Remember this ?
*

"With the DS, it's fair to say that Nintendo stepped out of the technical race and went for a feature differentiation with the touch screen, but I fear that it won't have a lasting impact beyond that of a gimmick - so the long-lasting appeal of the platform is at peril as a direct result of that."
*

"Nintendo knows its target audience, because it has really narrowed that down; and it's pretty much defined by a boy or girl's ability to admire Pokemon."

I bet you lost a lot of hair with these comments baldy..

Andrew @ Feb 17th 2006 1:59PM

this reminds me of something...

"We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

does anyone else find it ironic that a it's not Microsoft that's saying stuff like this?

ea @ Feb 17th 2006 2:04PM

Why can't we be friends?

Darth Pixel @ Feb 17th 2006 2:16PM

My previous comment all over again...

Plus this:

Sony dreams of a situation where gamers using their online service can compete with, play against/with gamers using Xbox Live.

I think this is a very inspiring idea.

Cyberclaws @ Feb 17th 2006 2:16PM

Andrew,

It still is Microsoft saying that. It's just that atm, they have collided with a technology equal to ore greater than theirs and are trying to figure out how to assimilate it...

Platform Love is HOT @ Feb 17th 2006 2:28PM

Although the idea of companies as fiercly against eachother, as Sony and Microsoft are, suddenly coming together as one is the funniest thing since the UMD...
I must say I really would like a Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo console..we'll call it Micronintensony...then, only game developers would compete against eachother for our dollars, meaning better games for us...
but then EA would assimilate all developers with talent and a nack for creativity...and destroy them...
following this...the end of days

I fear platform love

Regula Blique @ Feb 17th 2006 2:31PM

Actually Sega and Sony were soposed to come up with a network for the ps2 and dreamcast to link online gaming between the two, but it went through.

Regula

Eric @ Feb 17th 2006 2:35PM

I agree that the comment was likely meant to demean the 360, but I think he's also speaking towards the differences between Microsoft and Sony's goals. Plus, it's not a totally out of the question scenario when looking at it from a complete business perspective. Both Sony and Microsoft are in this to make money and control the living room.

There is a very good article on team xbox that reviewed Sony's potential with the PS3 and an online media service. Bottom line is that Sony is trying to create an all-in-one media device coupled with a portable player (PSP). On the other hand, Microsoft chose to make the 360 a Media Center Extender to push sales of WMC or Vista. Had they included WMC in the 360 the devices would be much more similar. What gamers need to realize is that the next generation of devices are about a LOT more than gaming. Both of these companies realize you have money and want that money not only in the systems and games, but also in downloads, music, movies, etc.

If you watched the DICE panel discussion on Gamespot the comment is made (not a direct quote) stating that gaming has taken the consumers time from hollywood and now they want to take your money from hollywood. That's what this whole thing is about folks. As much as we might want to think its about making great games, it's not. It's about making a profit. And, making a profit is something Microsoft isn't doing with the Xbox. I certainly don't see the two working together this round, but if Microsoft continues to loose billions on the 360 this round and Sony struggles with the "HUB", what's to stop them from combining forces and putting Xbox Live on the PS4? They'd be splitting download revenues, but combined they would be a stong competitor to iTunes, Google, telecom/cable companies, and the myriad of other companies that will be in the download business in 5 years.

SuicideNinja @ Feb 17th 2006 2:48PM

I think Microsoft is doing well with the media and the Xbox. Their attitude is much less elitist than Sony's with the Playstation. Interviews involving the 360 are much more interesting than interviews about the PS3 because they talk about *gasp* gaming! Sony doesn't seem to get that part; they are too busy being a flash in the pan about their hardware. Am I the only one that notices that Microsoft says, "Let's play games," while Sony says, "We are better than everyone...we own you!"?

Now if only Microsoft could afford to carry this attitude over to Windows...

Nintendo is the only odd one out realistically. Sony and Microsoft already work together in sorts, just not with gaming consoles. Sony has other products that rely on Microsoft operating systems.

Thank God that the DS is getting Opera instead of Internet Explorer though...that's a collaboration none of us need. What's worse is if they wanted to, Microsoft could dissolve the competition by simply making a Windows Vista version specifically for the XBox 360. The PS3 may get Linux, but we already know what most consumers want. $400 gaming computer? Let's hope of course that doesn't happen and we get to keep our gaming and computing separate.

They are all competing, but Sony and Nintendo just don't want to directly say it that way so they can attempt to separate themselves from the crowd. I support what Nintendo is doing with the Revolution, and care not if its specs aren't inline with the other two. Someone has to have the standard "power system", and it will be either Sony or Microsoft. On attitude alone, I vote for the latter. Based on games, we'll have to see.

Sloopydrew @ Feb 17th 2006 2:48PM

Microsoft isn't competition? Sounds just like what Nintendo said. The difference? Nintendo said it first. Seriously, is there any strategy, device, game, etc. that Sony won't steal from its *ahem* competition?

B1gC72 @ Feb 17th 2006 2:48PM

Maybe all of these companies have been secretly working together all along to plot and pilage our money and split the profit...........hmm......only in America

Ryan @ Feb 17th 2006 2:49PM

I sure wish something would shut Sony up. They talk a big game, but all I ever get from them is talk. No results. They never (read:NEVER) deliver 100% on anything they promise and they're starting to act like a past version of a video game company we all know and love...here's a hint, the name starts with Nintendo. Yeah, we all know how humbled they were when they lost their grip on the home console market.

Furio @ Feb 17th 2006 3:02PM

what's to stop them from combining forces and putting Xbox Live on the PS4?

Federal anti-trust laws would probrably never allow it.

Also it is important for all of us to remember the competition is ALWAYS good for the consumer. Even MS/Sony/Nintendo working together would be profitable for all involved, it would screw all the gamers because the need to improve/innovate would be gone. They could put out any crap they wanted without the fear of loosing market share they have now. Kind of in the same way Madden's monopoly on the NFL will stifel innovation in Football games.

Also without competition there would be less need to price competitively so it would cost us all more to do what we do now but with less choices.

FIDDO @ Feb 17th 2006 3:03PM

SuicideNinja:

I remember reading an article all about the xbox 360's dashboard, thats all it was about. No games just dashboard

The ZeroCorpse @ Feb 17th 2006 3:07PM

Ha ha! Shots at a company's honor don't work the same in western culture!

By implying that Microsoft would need Sony's partnership, he was insulting the Xbox 360's honor, and in Japan that would be a "polite insult." Over here, we just scratch our heads and say "WTF?" when Sony heads say things like that.

It would be the equivalent of Sony- if they were an Iranian company- giving Microsoft the "thumbs up." Over here, that would be "good job!" or "Everything's cool." but in their culture it means "Screw you."

Cultural insults are funny.

SandraCisneros @ Feb 17th 2006 3:08PM

This is so screaming for a webcomic or animation with the three consoles as the Three Musketeers that it's not even funny.

N'Revolution, his eye moist with gratitude though beaming with joy, went back to PS3, whom he found still at table contemplating the charms of his last glass of Malaga by the light of his lamp.

"Well," said he, "they likewise have refused me."

"That, dear friend, is because nobody is more worthy than yourself."

He took a quill, wrote the name of n'Revolution in the commission, and returned it to him.

"I shall then have no more friends," said the young man. "Alas! nothing but bitter recollections."

And he let his head sink upon his hands, while two large tears rolled down his cheeks.

"You are young," replied PS3; "and your bitter recollections have time to change themselves into sweet remembrances."

sam @ Feb 17th 2006 3:10PM

Oh man, that's pure genius. Here's what you do. Sony says they are going to make high profile games for PS3 and 360. Make the 360 yversion look like crap and the PS3 version look reall sweet. Claim it's hardware limitation on the 360 side. Thereby "proving" how superior your system is. This is an awesome idea.

S

32_Footsteps @ Feb 17th 2006 3:23PM

I'm really curious as to why Microsoft and Sony keep saying statements like this. I'm beginning to think they're getting to be a bit too pretentious about their hardware. "It's a multimedia center! It's an entertainment hub!" Get over it guys - it's a freaking video game console (or a portable game device, in the case of the PSP). Accept your position and be happy with it.

It's like there's some underlying shame to video game machines for companies. No wonder society at large thinks poorly of video games and video gamers - the companies directly responsible for making games act embarrassed about them, too.

Evil Inside @ Feb 17th 2006 3:25PM

Is this a sign that the vicious Console Wars of the 21st Century may be over?

Could it be the beginning of a partnership between 2 world powers that were once ememies, forming a new alliance that benefits both userbases?

Is the Xbox 360 the A-bomb that could take down the giant from the east?

What does this all mean?

bearattack79 @ Feb 17th 2006 3:39PM

If you cant beat them, join them.

Truf @ Feb 17th 2006 3:40PM

Sony's arrogance could potentially be thier biggest weakness going into the next generation.

I personally am trying my hardest to stop looking at the computer game market as a war, as opposed to a competitive industry.

I think nintendo are right, in an age where there is a huge untapped market and the core game players are willing to by all 3 consoles, you stand to earn more by not competing directly

More so when this direct competition has potentially driven costs up and creativity/innovation down. While in most situation competion is good for the consumer, people are failing to see where this competition has not been potentially bad for the consumer

Whatever sony wants to 'claim' they are in direct competition with microsoft, from both a feature and potentially price. And they are in indirect competition with nintendo.

Theres no getting around it.

Lone Starr @ Feb 17th 2006 4:58PM

Competition is always good, especially when it comes to video games. If what Yasuda says is true (which is certainly debatable), it would seem that any such partnership would be fairly short lived.

Ross Miller @ Feb 17th 2006 5:37PM

SandraCisneros--

For being the only person to say anything about my latest installment in horribly bad photshop jobs on this site (and, actually, I was kind of proud of this one--not as shoddily done as the others), I give you a star. No worries, I've given out other stars on this post already, I just forgot already which.

Eric @ Feb 17th 2006 6:19PM

Why do the missing confirmation e-mails always happen on the long posts. Oh well, I'll try again...

I don't disagree that competition is good for us, but the real competition (and the competition that means the most for us) in video games is not between Sony and Microsoft, but between the game developers. The hardware itself is only a portal to their product and largely a roadblock for developers. How many developers struggle financially because they can't support all the different systems? They end up choosing one system to give them the best shot at success, which due to the customer base is usually the PS2. Developers and gamers would benefit from a unified system because one game could reach a much larger amount of customers. Imagine Halo 2's sales would have been had the game been available for both PS2 and Xbox owners...that's the power of a combined system for developers. And, again, the fugure of these systems is a lot more than just games. A combined online service would be a huge competitor for Google, iTunes, etc. I can't stress enough how huge digital delivery is going to become in the next 4-10 years...which is exactly why that's central to both the 360 and PS3. A combined PS4 with Xbox Live would give Google, Apple, etc. a huge incentive to continue improving their offerings.

kizza @ Feb 17th 2006 6:46PM

Maybe sony are the ones smart enough to realise that a unified online universe is the only way to take online console gaming forward. Obviously 1st party & exclusives excluded, but all multiplatform releases in my mind should all be linked together online, to allow everyone to play everyone, regardless of which console they own. Tis will up the longevity of some of these games that seem to did early deaths in regards to online numbers.

Imagine having a ps3 & being able to play madden, or burnout or timesplitters against, cube, 360 & phantom players.

I say phantom because the chances of this happening are about as good as the phantom console ever being more than a picture.

One unified online service is the only way console online gaming can ever be revolutionised, all that 360 new service has done is evolutionise & will continue to only offer gimmicky features you'll use twice, & excuses for developers to make half arse unfinished games to get out on schedule, so we'll have to keep d/loading patches to get a proper game.

I think it was a bit of sony shennanigens, humour & rib poking to MS. But nonetheless it was more of sony's genius marketing ploys. I dearly hope I'm wrong & they do try unifying the console online world to be one, as this is the way pc's work & why there success makes live pale in comparison, popualrity wise. If pc players had a dell & were only allowed to play other dell owners, I'm sure you'd find it would be less popular & ridiculed more than it is. So why should consoles be any different, if we buy the console & pay our isp rates, then why should we have to pay more for a restricted, limited online service. Because ms has brought the mentality in that this is the way console online play should be, & is their attempt to monopolise online gaming.

I can't get why nobody has mentioned this huge negative about ms's live service. And these ms fangirls are the same ones saying sony screwed over its ps2 customers with a shit online service, that was free of charge mind you, & had some of the best games on its service (yes socom). I have live, & apart from things like friends lists (which I never really used that much), it had no real gming edge for me. It suffered from lag just like ps2's FREE service, it suffered from comms problems, just like ps2's FREE service.
It suffered from only allowing one handle, unlike sony's FREE service that allowed you to have 3 handles & change all 3 handles 3 times a year. Not bad for FREE hay.

If I do have to pay for sony's next online service, I just hope that tey have a similar handle policy without extra charges, unlike 360's new $20 charge for handle changes.

Lynk @ Feb 17th 2006 7:21PM

Think back to the PS1 vs N64...

Luke @ Feb 17th 2006 7:43PM

I wonder how Halo would play on the psp. They could adopt a control sceam similar to the early PSone or N64.

Truf @ Feb 17th 2006 8:25PM

I meant to say "has potentially been bad for the consumer" Is there anyway my earlier post can be corrected and this one deleted??

Fan @ Feb 17th 2006 11:20PM

Its because Sony wants Microsoft to put blu-ray tech in the 360. Sony is thinking marketing not console wars ffs.

Sony wants to make a ipod for the living room so people will buy music films etc from them. If they make it they will be payed through blu-ray and download sales.

Games is what i want so ill get one if it provides a good cpu capable of tons of destruction and a decent gpu making shit look good. I may get one just for the sexy hd browsing or bluetooth goodness i dont know. For more fun games ill have to get a revo, im thinking ping pong and condemned would be fun games to play.