Journalist's kid gets a PS3, Sony boss's kid doesn't
by Kyle Orland 
{ Nov 6th 2006 at 11:25AM }
File this one in the delicious irony department: the same day Kotaku's Brian Crecente posts a video of his son playing a brand new demo unit of the PS3, SCEA boss Kaz Hirai tells the Associated Press that his 12-year-old son doesn't yet have a system. Despite the younger Hirai's begging, Kaz said that his son "hasn't touched one and he hasn't seen one ... that's only fair for everybody."
Can this possibly true? Do members of the press now rank higher in the battle for new Sony hardware than the president of the company? Or was Hirai's quote a Steve-Ballmer-style "I feel your pain" PR feint designed to mollify gamers hurt by expected shortages? We report ... you decide.
[AP story via VideoGamesBlogger]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Erich @ Nov 6th 2006 11:30AM
I bet he's adopted.
Atilac @ Nov 6th 2006 11:31AM
Next, Kaz will say his kid has yet to use toilet paper.
Mr BoomStick XL @ Nov 6th 2006 11:33AM
Are you kidding me?? Of course it's true, Sony will have to suck up to anyone who will listen at this point to get back some of the lost PR from the disaster that was E3. Kaz's son is'nt getting one because Sony is punishing Big Kaz for all the stupid things he said!!!!
> @ Nov 6th 2006 11:37AM
Ummm.. all those press PS3s are 'Test' kits; so they can run unsigned code for partially completed games off BD-R.
Those were never intended for the general public.
So, why would anyone have a retail PS3?
crono141 @ Nov 6th 2006 11:45AM
Sounds like the "test" machines are the real winners.
No mod chip req FTW (or loss, if your sony)
Paul P. @ Nov 6th 2006 11:40AM
Oh, come on! Don't be a dick, Kaz! Give your son a damn PS3.
Shiro @ Nov 6th 2006 11:42AM
I say make the damn kids wait.
Nothing worse than spoiled rotten children.
bobby @ Nov 6th 2006 11:46AM
oh no joystick now your really sticking it to sony now you haters . posting this stupid link about sony not giving there kids a ps3 early. man now im really not going to buy a ps3 cause there company is full of bad parents! oh i love the 3 positive links about the wii aka the fad . whoevers runs this site is obviously sucking nintendos dick big time.
32_Footsteps @ Nov 6th 2006 11:47AM
Well, you know, Japanese PS3 shipments were cut by 20%. Maybe Sony was fair and cut units available internally by 20% too. And Kaz was slower than Junichiro in the mail room.
Ryan @ Nov 6th 2006 11:49AM
Bobby's dad didn't get him a PS3 early either
Steve2 @ Nov 6th 2006 11:52AM
It's two things.
1. Harai said it as a press thing.
2. Crecente's son doesn't have one, Crecente has one. He just let his son play it. I guess Harai just doesn't let his sone play with his work PS3.
Gamer G @ Nov 6th 2006 12:06PM
Execs aren't allowed them, I remember last year with the 360 launch that a MS exec said he hadn't got one due to the US law not allowing execs free gifts and that he would have to wait until they because available to buy in the shops.
Well either that or Sony are bribing journo's now for good reviews!!
GP @ Nov 6th 2006 12:10PM
Of course it's true, Kaz understands that PS3 is a piece of %@&*, so he bought the 360 for his kid, instead of PS3.
new*allusion @ Nov 6th 2006 12:12PM
Sony execs didn't get PSPs for free either- they had to import them in Europe, infamously from Lik Sang. It'll be much the same with PS3.
The journos only have test/debug kits so far.
robert @ Nov 6th 2006 12:19PM
Sony execs can not get them unless they buy them. If they receive it as a gift then it is illegal. This was the same with Microsoft. Steve Balmer and Peter Moore talked about it when they couldn't get 360's for their kids. It's because of Sarbanes Oxley and other laws.
whatever man @ Nov 6th 2006 12:29PM
No its not that, its just his son is having more fun playing with his wiiiiiiii!!!!
tracked @ Nov 6th 2006 12:36PM
Kyle. I enjoy a good Sony bashing just has much has everyone. But come on. This is ridiculous. This is a new low for Joystiq. Next time you want to bash Sony please do it for something that good. Like Price fixing.
TheH2s @ Nov 6th 2006 12:35PM
I'm sure just like everyone else his son saw the "crybaby" PS3 commercial and it scared him away from it.
PS3 make baby cry. :(
miguel @ Nov 6th 2006 9:13PM
He probably just doesn't want to burn his OWN house down.. haha chk chk blam! boojahkashaaa! Miguel one sony fanboys zero!!
Steve2 @ Nov 6th 2006 12:47PM
That stuff Ballmer said was just snow, just like when Harai says it.
There's a zillion ways a company can give a gift to an exec, even under Sarbones-Oxley. It just has to be listed as compensation for tax purposes.
And if they didn't feel like it showing up as taxable income to him, they could just "loan it to him for evaluation purposes".
They're just trying to put on a face that "we're all suffering a little here".
Paul P. @ Nov 6th 2006 12:52PM
OK, how did a guy with comments like that get two stars? Seriously, this site is starting to get worse than Gamefaqs with fanobyism from the commentors. I really like your actual articles though. I wish you would ban/negative star more people when they say something stupid though.
In this section alone comments 8, 13, 16, and 20 are all nothing but blatant idiocy. I tell you, on the internet you have to handle this stuff with an iron fist, be almost totalitarian.
Goodbye Lik-Sang @ Nov 6th 2006 1:10PM
Let's face it. Sony sent these kits to all the major game sites early because of all the bad press they've seen so far.
This is how to control journalists....just give them free shit and they'll love you. Kotaku has turned into a Sony-Love site now and a Nintendo hate site (constantly posting negative viewpoints and edited information).
SecondChance @ Nov 6th 2006 1:11PM
His son can't salvage the PR trainwreck that has been the PS3; a journalist might be able to. I don't see why the son woudl complain though, he probably has all the PSP stuff he can get his little hands on. Oh wait...
Bohemian Problem Drinker @ Nov 6th 2006 2:15PM
If you believe that his son doesn't have one then you're and idiot.
b igmiz @ Nov 6th 2006 1:27PM
microsoft execs said the same thing last year...
lordroba @ Nov 6th 2006 3:16PM
He doesn't need a PS3, because he's obviously already got a PS4. He is Kaz's son, afterall. :P
edhe @ Nov 6th 2006 3:29PM
And the kid still preferred the 360 (watch the vid..) ;)
some person @ Nov 6th 2006 10:23PM
you guys messed up on that pic, kaz hirai (the one with the PS3) doesn't look sad
Pince @ Nov 6th 2006 5:03PM
no man. his son don't even want no PS3 becuz he knows that sony is teh suxxor. man he want a virtualboy.
virtualboy FTW
the next generation of gaming does not start until virtualboy says it starts. The next generation is not 1080p or 1080i or bluray or HD-DVD.
The next generation is all RED! RED LINES are the next generation!
And talk about REVOLUTIONARY control, you actually stick your stupid face into these goggle things and um...control it. Its totally revolutionary! GOGGLES!
KillerSlinky @ Nov 6th 2006 5:12PM
@ 29
I thought thats what the kid said.
"Do you like this better than the thumbstick, or do you like the thumbstick better?"
"I like the 360s..."
What I love about the SIXAXIS is that fact that I have an old PS1 controller that has motion tilt in it, AND rumble, but I never use it cause it handles like ass.
Arkon @ Nov 6th 2006 6:39PM
Perhaps he wants or has a 360 (or Wii) instead.
Just a thought.
Revo @ Nov 6th 2006 8:15PM
I'd just like to point out that if Kaz *had* given his son a PS3, there would probably be complaints about the unfairness of the spoiled little brat getting one before everybody else.
Deez Nutz @ Nov 6th 2006 11:31PM
Gotta say, the part when the kid says he's done a 360 and dad asks "do like the thumbsticks better?" and the kids says "I like 360's!!" is priceless. I know the kid is talking about doing donuts in the game, but the fact that he's holding a PS3 controller and proclaiming that he likes 360's in gold!