Sony responds to online taunt with weak rebuttal
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jan 11th 2007 at 12:00PM }
Yesterday, Microsoft's Chris Satchell and Peter Moore offered up an old-fashioned bitch slap at Sony's burgeoning online service, saying the PlayStation Network was "pretty much a disaster," in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz. The war of words has now been joined by SCEA's Dave Karraker, who told GamePro, basically, "Um, hey, we've sold a lot of systems."
Karraker said the over 200 million PlayStation branded products sold to date were proof that consumers worldwide support Sony's ability to "deliver hardware, software and services to suit this industry." Um, sure, but what do historic sales have to do exactly with a brand new online network? Karakker then trotted out Gran Turismo HD as an example of "the potential of the PlayStation Network and the kind of ground breaking content we plan to offer." Really? Your big defense of your online service is a game demo? Xbox Live has been offering those for over a year now. What else you got?
Apparently not much, at least not much that made it into the "in-depth rebuttal" GamePro printed. If Sony is counting on brand recognition and past sales to carry it through this generation, they've got a long, disappointing fight ahead of them.
[Via GameTrailers, thanks Phil]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Steve @ Jan 11th 2007 12:16PM
Sony needs to fire their entire PR department. Like now.
Perhaps Karakker will win an emmy for his performance?
Snaileb @ Jan 11th 2007 12:33PM
Sony forgot how to keep it real.
Spilt_Milk @ Jan 11th 2007 1:49PM
By "sold" I assume they mean "gathing dust on store shelves".
Diman @ Jan 11th 2007 12:12PM
No I'm not hearing fanboy shiet here, now am I? Better luck next time Joystiq.
copa @ Jan 11th 2007 12:08PM
Please stop reporting facts. They have an anti-PS3 bias.
GoonieGooGoo @ Jan 11th 2007 12:15PM
I wonder what all those people who thought SONY could deliver a free service equal to XBL are saying now? Probably nothing as each PS Store page takes 10-15 seconds to load.....then there's no content to download....and the stuff that there is....well we all know the wait for download 1 thing at a time....then watch it install scenario.
Fix Your S--T SONY!!! PS3 Online should NOT be PS2 Online : THE NEXT GENERATION!!!
Foil @ Jan 12th 2007 2:23PM
@ 1.
Agreed, we need no more facts. Lets live in candy land.
KR @ Jan 11th 2007 12:13PM
Sony reaaaallllly needs to take the road of "ignore your competition," since there's no way they're going to come out sounding good if they're talking down to Microsoft or Nintendo. They'd stop shooting themselves in the foot (and seem more professional) if they'd just shut up.
kris @ Jan 11th 2007 12:14PM
Brilliant!!! Why don't you just write a Post saying "sony are Crap and Microsoft are great".
Its borderline stupid to compare an on line service that has barely started and even more ridiculous to compare it to a service like xbox live which has been around and refined for ages.
Don't claim the Sony execs are making a mistake buy trying to 'sell' there company either. Thata what big-time-execs do. They have a reason to be biased you know!!
I love xbox live and really hope sony get it sorted. At least they are trying which is more than can be said for nintendo. If i get offered to down load one more weather channel. I wanna play wii sports on line!!!
RHR @ Jan 11th 2007 12:15PM
I don't really see how a criticism of a service can be achieved when the service has been running for just around a month. Sure, there are going to be teething errors and things whilst things get set up. Sony's online service is not going to reach the size of xbox live anytime soon, as it's, again, only just begun.
True, xbox live is stronger at the moment, but we've yet to see what the ps3's online service is going to offer after it's been around for 4 years (which xbox live has).
(and by the way I'm a ninty fan :D)
(also im sorry if this post doesn't make much sense, I'm ill)
Bamboo @ Jan 11th 2007 12:17PM
I'm not a fanboy of any system, and may end up getting any one of the top systems out (haven't decided yet), but isn't this talk about it being "pretty much a disaster,", actually pretty premature. It has only been out a little over a month, and I remember how much people were bitching about the 360's Live service problems when it 1st hit. As a matter of fact, people are still complaining about parts of it, and of the Wii's.
Microsoft needs to fix their own wagon though before pointing out other's folks wagon's dents and scratches.
HappyWarmGuns @ Jan 11th 2007 12:16PM
He said somewhere in that speech that Microsoft sits on consoles in Warehouses? Right... At least they do it out of site of the public SONY!! . Your consoles are just sitting in retail stores around the entire world. People walk buy the big stack and laugh at the overpriced Movie Player. Well I guess it CAN download demos of old rehashed driving simulators OMG!!! Color me impressed....NOT. Don't worry Sony Fanboys, you'll get another driving simulator, but this one is super special because...get this.... IT'S IN THE MUD!! WOW ground breaking stuff right there. This company has offended my and every gamers’, intelligence far too much in the past year. Why should we support a company with such disregard for honesty and innovation? I used to love Playstation but not anymore. I will stick with the Wii60 this gen Thanks. Fission Mailed $ony.
Fission Mailed
Kamall Majeed @ Jan 11th 2007 12:15PM
God damn it Joystiq, SHUT THE FUCK UP about the PS3 okay? We know you hate it to death, that its the worst system ever created, Sony will crash and burn and die along with the pathetic, miserable PS3 and anyone stupid to have bought it considering buying it may die an early, slow, painful death. We know the Wii and 360 are our saviors of this generation and Sony is just flat out evil and awful.
Just shut up with this bias, it is absolutely disgusting, god, why the hell do I come here!?
csc @ Jan 11th 2007 12:16PM
OMFG joystiq, u so love 2 hump bill gate$, wtf! Ps3 banged ur mom while u wer bizy LOLZ!
satire aside, really sony fanboys, it isnt hard to be anti-sony, theyve got a giant bullseye on their back and have let down the public too much, some nifty hardware doesnt make up for it. Dont blame joystiq, blame sony for making it so easy.....
And on topic, yeah, nice comeback, the best I've heard since 'youre mom!' I'm sure someone can get close to live, but not without years of trial and error and no money, sorry kids, it just aint gonna happen.
Fubar @ Jan 11th 2007 12:23PM
Hmm. Now I really enjoy kicking Sony when they're down for all the bullshit they've been spinning over the years (just read any of my previous posts for evidence of this), but this article is REALLY unprofessional. It's completely biased.
I can be biased if I like. I can slag off a company for their bullshit. I can even say the sun shines out of some other company's arse if I want to.
You can't.
Why?
Cos you're here to report the news and I'm not.
Stick to the facts, Joystiq. You're really starting to suck.
nick @ Jan 11th 2007 12:17PM
"Brilliant!!! Why don't you just write a Post saying "sony are Crap and Microsoft are great". "
because that would be too obvious.
Ryan @ Jan 11th 2007 8:04PM
These posts have become redundant and annoying. Joystiq supports some terrible writers.
Agent MOO @ Jan 11th 2007 12:19PM
Gran Turismo HD is an aborted game that sony turned into a micropayment magnet to cut their losses.
Justin Time @ Jan 11th 2007 12:21PM
Joystiq.com: "All the negative PS3 news that's fit to print!!!"
I don't recall the 360 getting bashed this much on this site with all of the hardware related problems they've had over the last year.
Slaziman @ Jan 11th 2007 12:19PM
It's not Joystiq being biased, it's that Sony is actually messing up just like you read it. When the 360 was out it got bashed plenty too, and the Wii annoyances are there, a lot of them.
Sony is really this shitty, the sooner you wipe the "Joystiq is bias" from your eyes the better.
On topic, what a weak response. The PS3 is everything the PS2 wasn't: Expensive, good graphics (PS2 graphics sucked ass and you know it), and hated. Saying "zOMG teh PS2 roxxored so u kno we cen deliver!11" is bullshit. The SNES is probably the best console released to date (relative), did that make the N64 a blazing success?
Watership @ Jan 11th 2007 12:23PM
Many PS3 users seem to think that the GTHD demo, was actually a game, like say..Geometry Wars or Uno. "Look what OUR download games are like!"
I had a frustrating conversation in forums arguing that 360 had lots of demos at launch, with lots of XBLA games too. I basically got back "Ya, you got JOUST, and we got Motorstorm and Gran Turismo HD! HA HA"
My eyeballs bled.
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jan 11th 2007 12:23PM
It's hilarious to see the Sony game dynasty come to an end. It's like when the Laker's foolishy traded Shaq.
hellacool1223 @ Jan 11th 2007 12:23PM
Sony needs to hire someone who's got a pair. I could work for Sony because my rebuttal would be to ask them if we [Sony] are so talentless, why did you [Microsoft] get your ass-whupped last generation? Or how was it that we [Sony] took the lead so easily in Japan even though the 360 was available for more than a year? Or that we [Sony] managed to sell more systems in the same time-frame this year as opposed to you [Microsoft] you guys last year? There are many things the this Karrakker guy could have said instead of this crap. BTW, I am not a Sony or Microsoft fanboy, I just think that if Microsoft is going to talk smack about your company, you should talk back. Personally, if Sony has nothing else, Kutaragi or Hirai could just claim that they slept with Moore's wife (that's a Seinfeld joke).
Chris @ Jan 11th 2007 12:25PM
The point is, you can't say, "Give Sony time, it's not fair, 360 has been out longer". Yes, but PS# has been in development longer and consumers paying $600 should expect the same/better service that the competition has. If you come to market, you better have something to show.
"Give Sony a break," argument doesn't work in business. They aren't your little brother.
MosquitoControl @ Jan 11th 2007 12:33PM
"Don't claim the Sony execs are making a mistake buy trying to 'sell' there company either. Thata what big-time-execs do. They have a reason to be biased you know!!"
No, big-time execs don't insult their clients.
They support their products, they believe them, but they don't make false claims or claims they cannot support, particularly when the clients are savvy to the market.
Sony keeps trumpeting their products in ways that the products do not warrant. Don't get me wrong, the PS2 was a nice piece of machinery, but it did not give us Toy Story graphics, nor did the "Emotion Engine" change gaming as we know it. The PS3 makes nice, high-def graphics, and is next-gen, but that doesn't mean the 360 is less impressive because it isn't the trademarked "true-HD," and it does not mean the 360 isn't next-gen because it is not a Sony machine.
Nintendo and Microsoft sell themselves, and occasionally say something dumb or over the top. But only Sony consistently says ridiculous, absurd things and expects us to take it seriously. The problem is the fanbase, thanks to the internet is too smart (as well as too critical) to let it slide.
Sony needs to learn that being humble is becoming. If they said "Microsoft has a good lead and a good product, but we're working hard, we think we have some good ideas, and think we can catch and eventually surpass them. For instance, we're doing this..." people would be happy. And impressed.
It seems like they're abandoning Japanese humility and trying to market themselves with in-your-face Western methods. Which fail. They always fail.
LaughingTarget @ Jan 11th 2007 12:30PM
Sony is asking people to pay for potential. That doesn't cut it. Does it work NOW? No? Then it is a disaster. Call us back when it works. Microsoft has a point, theirs works, Sony's doesn't, so why should you accept anything less than the best?
Sony had a year looking at Xbox Live, they should have at LEAST met the expectation, instead they've delivered to us something that Microsoft put together in 2002. Sony's online service is 5 years behind and they clearly didn't pay attention to the competition in designing the service. Saying Microsoft isn't your competition and ignoring all the advances they've made isn't a good business strategy.
Civilization doesn't develop when every individual has to figure out everything from the ground up. Same goes with a strong business. If you insist on developing everything yourself from scratch, you're gonna fail.
3rd Gen @ Jan 11th 2007 12:32PM
@5
"Its borderline stupid to compare an on line service that has barely started and even more ridiculous to compare it to a service like xbox live which has been around and refined for ages."
Is it really stupid to compare? Isn't that the reason company's release similar products to compete!? If Sony talks up there online service and it releases a mediocre product when they have had plenty of time to get it up to par (and it's not) they are going to catch alot of heat especially if Sony continues to come off as "arrogant" about there products and themselves.
HappyWarmGuns @ Jan 11th 2007 12:29PM
Good Get The FUCK OUT you stupid racist bastard Fubar. We dont't need stupid ignorant shits like you. "Go Away And Never Return"....line from golem, LOTR. Anyways, yeah go to hell stupid shit. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Fubar @ Jan 11th 2007 12:31PM
There's some arse-hat posting as me, so I guess I'll have to use one of my other 5 names to post as from now on. =)
nick @ Jan 11th 2007 12:30PM
"Sony is awsome
Really AWSOME"
Wow, thanks for enlightening me. With one simple statement you've completely changed my thinking forever. WoW. How poignant and heartfelt your poetic words of wisdom are. Such a graceful pen you write with. I applaud you brother. Yes.. "Sony is Really AWESOME." With deeply researched facts like those, who would dare to differ?
*cough*
KTallguy @ Jan 11th 2007 12:33PM
GTHD & Motorstorm > Any free demo on XBLV.
Tekken DR > Any paid downloadable game on XBLV.
Mr BoomStick XL @ Jan 11th 2007 12:34PM
The BIG problem with Fanboys is that they are sooooooo blinded by hate they can't see when there are wrong and Sony IS wrong with their defense on this!! Thier on-line service is half assed at best!! Sony has always Over Promised and Under Delivered and that's the REAL truth!!
Ricardo @ Jan 11th 2007 12:34PM
Why the people keep defending SONY about their system just recently being released so all the games and services get a pass because it is new. They had a whole year to see what the 360 had to offer and failed to match it. Most games had months of development after the 360 version yet they weren't any better. Then I hear well is the first time they worked on the PS3 well most games on the 360 where made for the first time on the 360 including the kick ass Gears of War ( http://gearsforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=560241 ) so that excuse is pretty lame. There are no good games untill March for the PS3 which gives MS and Nintendo plenty of time to build their install base. Once those games come out for the ps3 there will be even more games coming out for the 360 as well as a price drop hopefully. Bottomline is people need to stop making excuses for SONY and just hope they can work things out in the future like those retarted analysist think.
nick @ Jan 11th 2007 12:35PM
Honestly you almost have to feel bad for Sony. Until they actually PROVE to us that their system is bigger and better they will continue to get beat up like a red headed step child in the press and in public opinion.
Realistically, they are not going to have anything near "proof" until the end of Q4 most likely. Almost a whole year from now. And that's a year that Microsoft is not going to be just sitting on its hands waiting for Sony to best them.
That's a long time to bear out tongue lashings and brow beatings . I'm glad I'm not in their seat.
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jan 11th 2007 12:37PM
PSN Online really should have been in development for over a year. It should have had more, really. It's just sad because MS has been crowing about what Sony was going to do in the Online world since E3 2005. And Sony has fallen flat on their face.
Anyone bashing Joystiq is just self projecting their true anger for Sony and using Joystiq as the scapegoat. It's sad really. Sony let you down, bottom line.
Slaziman @ Jan 11th 2007 12:39PM
Joystiq is a blog, not a fucking newspaper, they can add opinions if they want, and if you think that sucks, GET THE FUCK OUT.
Besides, it's not "blind bias", the writer makes good VALID points on why the rebuttal was weak, not just the "LOL PS3 SUCKS SONY SHOOTS SELF IN FOOT AGAIN!" Xbot mantra.
IlayLowFoshow @ Jan 11th 2007 12:37PM
This is what kills me about this site....When they report something GOOD about the PS3..you love joystiq..but when a Bad article comes out, now they are MS fanboys and swing from Bill's Nutts and the "was your mother raped by a PS3 type" BS starts...
This is a Video Game News Blog, they report the NEWS...now not ALL news is GOOD news..if Sony was POSITIVE press, tell them to do some POSITIVE things..right now the negative outweighs the positive, and who's fault is that? SONY'S fault...stop the ignorant fanboy comments and look at it for what it is and not what you THINK it is...
MosquitoControl @ Jan 11th 2007 12:39PM
Also, why should we give one product time when we have better options available right now?
When the Xbox came out no one said "give it time," they stuck to the PS2s. And, I might add, the graphical/internet superiority of the Xbox were immediately apparent, unlike the PS3.
With time the PS3 might improve, true.
But with the same time the 360 might improve just as much, keeping the same margin between the two.
It's unlikely the PS3 won't improve, nor that the 360 will improve as much, if only because the PS3 is absolutely nothing right now - it's one game. It's an awful purchase, to say the least. It will not always be an awful purchase. Some games will come, the price will fall.
But will it ever be as good a purchase as the 360? The 360 already has games and a good price. More games will come, and the price will fall as fast. Odds are it will always have at least as many games as the PS3, and odds are it will always be cheaper.
Dave @ Jan 11th 2007 12:42PM
I think there are many reasons for this anti-Sony sentiment. The PS2 was out before XBox. The greatest argument against the XBox, which had better graphics than the PS2, was...games. More games.
Now look:
1) Xbox 360 came before PS2 and has more available games--not counting the previous generation games.
2) PS3 was supposed to be FULLY backward compatible with all PS2 games...but then we find the visual quality isn't what it should be. They looked better on a PS2.
3) Sony put on an amazing show with what turned out to be largely pre-rendered game footage. Although it's still new, no released games have even come CLOSE to matching the quality of those early "demos". This creates a feeling of disappointment and betrayal for some gamers. The few games that are available are comparatively mediocre at best.
4) Sony claimed that their system was "True HD" and the the 360 was not because PS3 was all about 1080p--and then they release games at 720p.
5) The controllers lack the rumble feature.
6) The PS3 isn't able to scale to accomodate older sets--forcing some HDTV owners to play at 480p.
7) Their network service is still behind Live.
8) Price.
9) From what I understand, the PS3 is difficult to develop for--and the available tools are still lacking.
Of the above statements, which is "bias"?
There are some things Sony did right with the PS3--but a LOT has gone wrong. It's possible that things will change for Sony with regard to the PS3 at some point in the future--but I don't see how.
Fhaze @ Jan 11th 2007 12:41PM
Who really bought the PS3 based on its online capabilities? If this didn't factor into a persons decision when buying the console.
Who cares?
KineticOnline @ Jan 11th 2007 12:44PM
Lol, great comeback.
Microsoft: "Your online service sucks, and your console is overpriced"
Sony: "yea, yea, well we sold a shit of of PS2's"
Microsoft: "Thats so last gen!"
Sony: "Actually we say when the next gen starts"
Microsoft: "What? Is that when you finally get around to selling the piss3 in europe?
Sony: "They dont mind waiting"
GoonieGooGoo @ Jan 11th 2007 12:42PM
@30.....
Seriously....if you had a 360 (and a PS3).....that could be the stupidest statement ever made....
Heck even Wii VC Store is better than the content on PS Online....
Motorstorm US Version better be fixed....because the Japanese version...in a word....SUCKS.
SuicideNinja @ Jan 11th 2007 12:58PM
I just want to point out that you can hate sony without being a MS or Nintendo fanboy.
Sony has sucked for quite a few years now. Not only because of the floppy PS2 hardware, but horrible lasers in other products, bad audio, bad PCs, ridiculously priced flash media, DRM scandals, etc...
Microsoft sucks in it's own ways, too. Most of it has to do with Windows and Internet Explorer, but their warranty service is questionable and they've gone a bit too proprietary in the 360 hardware.
Nintendo hasn't been very supportive of online play, and they really are scamming us by selling us a Gamecube (in a new box)....AGAIN. Somehow, we still want it. At least they are nice about it.
hollywooda @ Jan 11th 2007 12:49PM
All of you, take the time to read your comments & the comments of others like yourself..... it's sad isn't it?, Sony nor Microsoft are gonna slip you a cheque in the post thanking you for all of your online efforts in defending their great company. Let Sony & MS battle it out, the only real winner is us guys, as long as they spend time trying to prove who's got the bigger teeth, we'll continue to get better products.
Remember when gaming was for fun?.
MosquitoControl @ Jan 11th 2007 12:52PM
"Remember when gaming was for fun?."
This IS fun.
And discussing the economic situation of companies, especially the impact of its leaders, is more entertaining than gaming.
Justin Time @ Jan 11th 2007 12:57PM
Seriously, have any of you geeks ever kissed a girl?
Rob Holiday @ Jan 11th 2007 12:55PM
@ 19 - Fubar.
Have you ever heard of a BLOG??? Do you know what a BLOG is??? If you want to read a news site, go to MSN, CNN or MSNBC etc. A BLOG is not here to just report the news, but comment on it as well. You know comment? Where you state an opinion??
ChronoZaga @ Jan 11th 2007 1:33PM
First let me state for the record that I'm one of those (broke) gamers that owns all 3 systems, so I'm not exactly a fanboy.
Anyway, I remember when the Xbox360 was launched that it's downloads weren't done in the background, you had to leave your system sitting and not in use. Also, the selection wasn't nearly as robust as it is now. Microsoft has done a great job of leveraging their head start against their competition, but the PS3 is just starting out. If (and this is a big IF, considering Sony's track record with the PS3) Sony simply plays catchup and copies Microsoft's advantages, they could make up the differences in their online offerings in no time at all.
The sad thing is that Sony is all talk and little action, as usual. They've gotten used to being the top dog, and are letting that blind them to the very real fact that Microsoft is overtaking them. It's like the tortoise and the hair.
Justin Time @ Jan 11th 2007 1:05PM
Cmon answer me geeks. If your answer is no, than maybe you'e be interested in kissing me. Cause I listen to Justim Tiberlake and Love MEN. MEN MEN MEN~!!! OMG COme to me my men. IM SO GAY AND MY NAME IS JUSTIN TIME HEHEHE,
nick @ Jan 11th 2007 1:07PM
Dude, you are nuts to say Nintendo is "scamming" us by selling a gamecube in a new box.
You must not own a Wii or you would know better than that. The only thing even slightly gamecube about the Wii is the graphics, and even those are a bit improved and widescreen to boot.
Gameplay wise the Wii is NOTHING like any system ever released to date, which is hardly a "scam."