Sony Australia says nice things about Wii
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Dec 5th 2006 at 3:30AM }
In an article discussing the repercussions of the Playstation 3's March release date in PAL territories, the Sydney Morning Herald obtains a few interesting quotes from Sony's general manager for Australia and Middle-Earth. Though portraying the PS3 in a positive light is to be expected, the kind words aimed at a competitor's product are somewhat surprising -- especially when they make it sound better than Sony's own product to the uninformed reader."The Wii-type functionality is more just a sub-element of what the PlayStation 3 offers," says Nic Foster, clearly referring to motion sensitivity. "Wii is a core gaming device. It's a more fun, intuitive sort of product to pick up, where the PS3 is a broader entertainment solution; so you can have your fun, enjoyable gaming ... but then you have a whole suite of other applications ... such as Blu-ray media playback, the ability to access your music, access your photos and the interoperability with the PlayStation Portable."
Clearly, the objective was to express the PS3 as a device that encompasses everything the Wii has and more (and there are shades of truth in that), but instead of simply labeling it as such, the Sony man rattles off a bunch of features you're bound to read about on the box. For some, "more fun" might be all that matters in a gaming console and indeed, it's easy to see how straying off that path has made things more difficult for the PS3. Then again, the fact that we had to start that sentence out with "for some" implies that there's some balance to be found between pure gaming and valuable features. Wouldn't you know it, but Foster has a pretty good statement regarding that issue too.
"Gamers are extremely aware of what they're after and what they want. So gamers will already have a very good understanding of what PlayStation 3 offers versus what Wii offers and many of them will probably have both devices."
Well, it seems like we can all get along after all.
[Via NeoGAF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
silkylove @ Dec 5th 2006 3:38AM
Wow. Kind words from Sony about a competitor.
*checks outside window for flying pigs*
Savok @ Dec 5th 2006 4:07AM
It's Australia, we play cricket here.
My point? Sportsmanship.
Miniboss @ Dec 5th 2006 4:07AM
I fully expect Krazy Ken to retort with something to counteract this slightly positive comment.
Internet Troll @ Dec 5th 2006 4:57AM
Man I want that black wiimote, even if it has those Playstation buttons.
Oh, and does anyone know if Ganondorf makes an appearance in TP. I'm not to far in the game (I'm in the Zora's Temple), but the suspense is killing my soul!
hef @ Dec 5th 2006 4:37AM
Sportsmanship?! Haven't you heard of sledging? Now that's a great aussie past-time.
Solidus @ Dec 5th 2006 4:39AM
It's rare when a Sony rep shows some class and says something nice about a competitor. I think that Nic hit it on the button though. Gamers, for the most part, are educated consumers in terms of game systems and know what they want.
As to playing Cricket.....well. Neat?
Dave @ Dec 5th 2006 4:42AM
I thought we were in for some competition this year too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/6206590.stm
@4 We get as good as we give.
me @ Dec 5th 2006 4:46AM
If sony really feels that it's main market is so-called 'hardcore' gamers, then they should realise that true hardcore gamers won't give a flying fig about all the media centre lifestyle rubbish, they will in fact want to PLAY ENJOYABLE GAMES, something which even the sony dude says the Wii is better for.
hef @ Dec 5th 2006 4:56AM
Yeah Dave that's true. Heres one of my faves. During a one day international in Sydney, Warney said to South African batsman Darryl Cullinan "I've been waiting 3 and a half years for you to come back". To whch Cullinan replied "And it looks like you spent the time eating".
FinalDelerium @ Dec 5th 2006 5:08AM
Speaking of the cricket, how good is that ashes win! Was shaping up to be a draw, but flogged em by six wickets in the end!
VerdigriS @ Dec 5th 2006 6:25AM
#9 - Not to the end myself, so no spolier worries here...
but it IS a traditional Zelda storyline... so what do you think? Of course he's going to be there!
VerdigriS @ Dec 5th 2006 6:27AM
Now to make a post relevant to the topic...
I think maybe Sony is starting to realize that Nintendo really is going after a different demographic of gamers. This quote just shows that they know that the Wii is going to take off, but they also know that their product is in no danger with the majority of the "hardcore" gamers.
BTW does anyone else hate that word? Hardcore gamers...
Surur @ Dec 5th 2006 6:59AM
He is just trying to counter the Wii60, and trying to stop gamers from settling for a 360 which is available now. He clearly things the Wii is a limited device, and thinks that people who buy the Wii now will buy an other console in a few months (hopefully his) while some-one who buys an Xbox 360 will be much less likely to buy a PS3 too.
Its a strategy of desperation.
Zachary Hinchliffe @ Dec 5th 2006 7:19PM
Whoa whoa whoa. He mentions accessing photos as one of the PS3's exclusive features.
*coughcoughphotochannelcoughcough*
Kyle @ Dec 5th 2006 7:34AM
Desparate to what? sell more units (that they don't currently have). It's a comment from an exec and given most comments by sony, a rather well put and welcome change from the baseless accusations of both sides.
Izzy-B @ Dec 5th 2006 4:16PM
Screw all the Wii fans here get over it.
Surur @ Dec 5th 2006 7:51AM
Its a desperate attempt to stop people from buying a 360, which is available now. He is trying to delay gamers purchase of a HD console until the PS3 actually becomes available, by offering up the Nintendo as a SD sop.
x876543 @ Dec 5th 2006 8:22AM
If enjoying the Wii means that I'm not a "hardcore gamer" then call me newbsteak.
FuzzyPickles @ Dec 5th 2006 8:21AM
Wii: Australian for PS3.
lowallyn @ Dec 5th 2006 8:22AM
blu ray is a joke like sony's beta max lost to vhs because of porn. and then sony makes sure they get porn for blu ray this time. but wait its on the internet for free. another media format nobody gives a shit. more graphics and do other crap like watching movies. hmmm sounds alot like a PC might as well get a decent one of those and a projector considering most the ps3 games coming out are fps with the exception of mgs4 and dmc4. and those graphics for the ps3 suck ass did anyone see that motorstorm comparison or that gundam game on the launch. well done my rant. sony go rot in hell. srew over the world and offer crap that wouldve been decent last gen
Evan @ Dec 5th 2006 8:23AM
"... but then you have a whole suite of other applications ... such as Blu-ray media playback, the ability to access your music, access your photos and the interoperability with the PlayStation Portable."
The Wii has 2 out of 4 of those "applications" - the Wii has a photo channel and is designed to be interoperable with the DS. Plus the Wii has news and weather channels. He tries to paint the Wii as a console that only plays games, but it seems to me that the Wii is as much a "broad entertainment solution" as the PS3.
32_Footsteps @ Dec 5th 2006 8:27AM
I know people are going to attempt to parse the sentence into some mangled, shambling mess.
But note how Sony Australia's rep calls the Wii "more fun" than the PS3. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for me to buy the product.
ngs @ Dec 5th 2006 8:39AM
"BTW does anyone else hate that word? Hardcore gamers..."
No, in fact, that's a perfect term. Some people get home from work and sit down in front of the TV as soon as possible to catch such-and-such episode or spend the entire night in front of the TV. They record the espisode even though they are watching it in case they want to rewind it. Some people get home, go out to the garage and work on their car all night. It doesn't mean one person is better than another, it just means we all have different likes and dislikes. I could say that the person watching "Lost" or "American Idol" every night is a hardcore TV watcher, or the guy out in his garage is a hardcore wrencher. It just means that your really into something. Nintendo is targeting the person that sees gaming as a side hobby, not their main interest in life. Is that bad? No. You bring more people to the market. You may even bring more money into it as well. Sony/MS are targeting that gamer that probably never watches TV anymore unless there is rendered CG on it. I'd even venture a guess that some of these "hardcore gamers" don't even come to Joystiq because it interferes with their game time and their hobby. They may come here for news every now and then (and probably get wildly mis-informed [Thanks Joystiq!]) but they are in and out. They are not going ot spend their entire night posting how great _____ system is or spend an extreme amount of time trying to find the truth in the post comments. [again, thanks Joystiq!] That's just a fact. There's nothing wrong with being "hardcore" though.
Lex @ Dec 5th 2006 9:07AM
Just when I started to believe that no one working in a Sony PR department knew anything about subtle manipulation.
Todd @ Dec 5th 2006 9:53AM
The PS3 isn't really that fun. The games look great. The games are somewhat dull. Now if MotorStorm reflected the look from E3 then I'd be a ton happier.
mgroves @ Dec 5th 2006 10:03AM
"such as Blu-ray media playback, the ability to access your music, access your photos and the interoperability with the PlayStation Portable"
Well, no the Wii doesn't offer Blu-Ray, but it can access music and photos. And it can't "interoperate" with the PSP, but I imagine it will (or should be able to interoperate with the DS). So basically, he's saying "our PS3 is just as good as the Wii, AND it has Blu-Ray!" I'm not sure I want to pay all that money for an unknown quantity like Blu-Ray.
Baconbitz @ Dec 5th 2006 10:06AM
Were soon to say goodbye to this guy. Sony doesn't like people that are nice to there competitors to work for them.
akugel @ Dec 5th 2006 10:31AM
Great point by Nintendo Australia. The console industry is entering a schism. While Nintendo has this classic, nostalgic perception of what gaming is -- emphasis on gamers and other gamers -- Sony & Xbox perceive gaming as a natural progression.
I'd like to belive in Wii, but imagine the possibilities on the ps3. eg what if Namco (of Ace Combat fame) made a Star Wars great air battle game. Cool!
SM @ Dec 5th 2006 11:34AM
to 17. you are a newbsteak LOL
i have all 3, and after playing wii sports & zelda and red cell through thanksgiving w/family and a couple of times with my g/f I resort on playing RFOM on PS3 and GoW on 360.. the wii is just collecting dust
Omega2k3 @ Dec 5th 2006 11:44AM
You people are pathetic. What he said was a refreshing change of pace, and it makes sense. I have a Wii. The photo channel is pretty much only good for puzzles, and I have yet to figure out how the hell to even get a .mov or mp3 on my system.
Other than that, you can... Well, make Mii's... But that's pretty much a game in itself. Sure, I'll use the Internet Channel when it comes out, but only for doing useless stuff when playing a PC game.
Really, just accept that the Wii is for gaming, and the PS3 is for a multitude of things. Neither one is superior, they're made for different things.
Blue Sam @ Dec 5th 2006 2:32PM
it gonna be extra cost to buy remote to play on PS3 :o
Pince @ Dec 5th 2006 2:43PM
I think that might not have come out the way he wanted it to. That is, I highly doubt he meant to say that the Wii is "more fun", he was just trying to highlight the differences between PS3 and Wii and made it sound like the PS3 is not as fun (whether or not that actually turns out to be true).
His wording is spur-of-the-moment and is just a little off, but his comments are honest and intelligent. He gives the general focus of the two consoles (conveniently ignores mentioning the 360) and concludes, smartly, that gamers aren't stupid - they know what they want.
It would be nice to see this kind of honest and nonpatronizing rhetoric (sans questionable word choice) out of more people in his position in the industry. There is plenty of marketing spin to go around, but there is something to be said for respectability as well. If Sony's reps all talked more like this guy, I feel that they would get a lot more respect from the gaming community at large.
Fandango @ Dec 6th 2006 1:08AM
No, he says the PS3 lets you access photos. Nothing about exclusivity, but I doubt anyone would actually use Wii as an entertainment system, that's not what they're paying $250-350 less for.
Most of you are just looking for an excuse to beat on Sony because its the cool thing to do. Get over yourselves.