Rumor: Phil Harrison could head to Atari

55 Comments by Justin McElroy Feb 25th 2008 11:00AM
Filed under: Business

Imagine if, as the RMS Carpathia was rescuing passengers from the Titanic, the captain started thinking to himself, "You know, this ship isn't so bad. A little spackle here, a little elbow grease here, I could make it work. I'm going to give it a go!" If you can understand that reasoning, you may just be able to explain to us a rumor that soon-to-depart Sony head Phil Harrison will be moving on ... to Atari.

We can't see how this is an upgrade for Harrison (oodles of money it will take to get him there not withstanding), but it would definitely be a smart move for Atari to get a name like Harrison on board. We'll let you know if we hear something more official.

Tags: atari, phil-harrison, sony

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Jouten: Feb 25th 2008; 11:04AM

Atari needs all the help they can get.

Good luck Phil, if anyone can do it, you probably can.

Co: Feb 25th 2008; 1:25PM

But see, with Atari that's just it: ANYONE can do it.

Ranko: Feb 25th 2008; 11:04AM

Oh man...*Cries tears of laughter at that picture*

Obie: Feb 25th 2008; 12:19PM

Full of win! And soon, full of water!

KayRazy Ken Kutaragi: Feb 25th 2008; 11:05AM

If this is true then he REALLY likes to challenge himself. WOW, he's got a big fat hairy sweaty ballsac, ATARI?

KayRazy Ken Kutaragi: Feb 25th 2008; 11:05AM

If this is true then he REALLY likes to challenge himself. WOW, he's got a big fat hairy sweaty ballsac, ATARI?

Jouten: Feb 25th 2008; 11:06AM

I take it that wasn't a double post because you just like to say, "big fat hairy sweaty ballsac"? =D

Chris: Feb 25th 2008; 11:05AM

interesting but... we certainly arn't interested in gimmicks

Zoesch: Feb 25th 2008; 3:26PM

It was either that or go back to Smashing Pumpkins for him...

severian00: Feb 25th 2008; 11:08AM

Funny how when there was an exodus of big names from MS everyone said, "uh-oh what's going on?" Now you've got Crazy Ken and Phil "Big Hitter" Harrison leaving and there is hardly a word spoken about it. Something is seriously wrong internally over there to make a guy leave and go to Atari. A better analogy might be for a guy to check out of the Four Seasons and then check into a cardboard box snuggling up to the wino that smells of vomit and BO.

vidGuy: Feb 25th 2008; 11:24AM

There's been shakeups at all three companies now. I'd say it has less to do with the consoles' relative success or failure and more to do with where the games division wants to go in the next generation.

Noshino: Feb 25th 2008; 11:25AM

thing is that the MS execs went to a companies that were stable and profitable

Harrison is going to a company that is almost to the point of going out of business, I know that there was a hell lot of cash involved on this, but I would also think that he would like the challenge of bring Atari back from the ashes...

Donald: Feb 25th 2008; 12:49PM

Two people leaving a year apart from each other =/= exodus

Jonah Falcon: Feb 25th 2008; 11:11AM

Just like when that Sony executive went to Sega to promote the Sega Saturn? (grin)

Anni: Feb 25th 2008; 11:13AM

Alone in the Dark confirmed for PS3 exclusive!

Trev: Feb 25th 2008; 11:28AM

Sticky tape confirmed as a PS3 exclusive!

Killer: Feb 25th 2008; 11:48AM

No more like watch out Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo!
Atari is back in the game.
Future Atari Console coming.
(Right after a huge overhaul ofcourse, right Phil?)
Correction: Make that a gargantuan overhaul, Good luck Phil!

mr mobius: Feb 25th 2008; 11:20AM

Wonder will he still be able to bad mouth the major consoles or will he suddenly fall in love with the Wii and its potential to help Atari from the immense cavern it has got itself into.

This is to say that Wii would dangle the rope but Atari actually need to put in the effort to climb.

Korova: Feb 25th 2008; 12:59PM

His new employer is certainly fertile ground for badmouthing. I wonder if that's how he chose them.

Fernando Rocker: Feb 25th 2008; 11:22AM

I don't want that this happens to Reggie =(

Noshino: Feb 25th 2008; 11:29AM

ugh, I don't know Fernando, Reggie is quite overrated, what has he done for Nintendo? (Other than comment against the other consoles?)

The way he is does work on the television industry (after all, he did bring back VH1) but I don't think its as good for videogame one...

I still prefer Iwata or Shiggy over Reggie...

deaftly: Feb 25th 2008; 11:55AM

Reggie is a friggin tool.

vidGuy: Feb 25th 2008; 12:34PM

There may not be a lot of tangible evidence of what Reggie has done, but he was Exec VP of Sales and Marketing when Nintendo was developing the plan for the Wii. Of course he was in America and the plans probably came out of Japan, but who knows. He's also giving an American face and delivery style to NoA's presidency, which probably shouldn't be understated. Even if he were only a figurehead, he's connecting with a lot of core gamers and making headlines in the US.

I'd rather have him around than Krazy Ken Kutaragi. Even though Ken is easily the better businessman, he sucks at PR.

rom: Feb 25th 2008; 11:24AM

Atari? Hmmmm... I was so certain he was going to EA. That seems to be the trend lately.

Batzarro: Feb 25th 2008; 11:24AM

Is it April yet?

aaron_k7: Feb 25th 2008; 11:26AM

I have to hand it to Phil; he seems to thrive on adversity. He has stuck with the PS3 through very hard times; now the PS3 is entering probably its most promising year thus far and he pulls out. I guess he thrives on the challenge of bringing companies back from the brink!

severian00: Feb 25th 2008; 11:45AM

Or he was forced out by Kaz like I believe Kuturagi was. Kaz wants to take all the credit for turning the PS3 around, just watch.

aaron_k7: Feb 25th 2008; 11:49AM

I haven't really heard that anywhere; seems a bit too childish to be true. Phil could work anywhere he wants (probably), and yet he chooses to go with Atari. I think he's looking to go where he can he can have the most impact. Right now Sony's approaching cruise control; he might just be bored.

FidliousWong: Feb 25th 2008; 11:52AM

Actually, isn't it Sir Howard Stringer that's the glory hound? After all, it was Stringer that forced Kuturugi out, not Kaz. Kaz was just suddenly thrust into a much higher position of power.

Noshino: Feb 25th 2008; 12:16PM

Stringer forced him out? I thought is was Idei the one that had set him up to fail....

Noshino: Feb 25th 2008; 12:16PM

Stringer forced him out? I thought is was Idei the one that had set him up to fail....

JohnMazz: Feb 25th 2008; 11:29AM

How long did you search wiki to find the name of RMS Carpathia? eh? ADMIT IT! lol...

Justin McElroy: Feb 25th 2008; 11:39AM

Actually no, I didn't. Because JUST last night I saw it mentioned on TV. That's probably what put it into my head, come to think of it.

Killer: Feb 25th 2008; 11:37AM

The only way I would ever take that job is if you gave me the whole company to run. Well Phil, go for it. If its only a lower occupation job in the company. Run! Change can't happen at the bottom, only at the top.

Matt B: Feb 25th 2008; 11:48AM

I always liked Billy Corgan...erm... Phil Harrison.

Good luck Phil!!

deaftly: Feb 25th 2008; 11:51AM

Atari? He might as well just go straight to the unemployment building.

gLitterbug: Feb 25th 2008; 11:52AM

Maybe Atari will let Phil do the casual games Sony never allowed him to. Or he simply is the real big boss over there instead of getting told "no your visions won't come true, nobody ever going to play those casual games at home with friends on a couch" from some guys above.

FidliousWong: Feb 25th 2008; 11:56AM

Well, partially he's right and both MS and Sony have been negating splitscreen joy to be had. Sony has been making up for it as has MS but as a whole, there is still a focus of "want to play with your friends? Go online."

But also to make comment and cry bullshit, PS3 can handle up to seven controllers. Where is the game that supports it? Why didn't NBA Street support 3 on 3?

Shmil: Feb 25th 2008; 12:01PM

the next iteration of pole racer better be damned good

Synner: Feb 25th 2008; 12:07PM

Dude, it's Phil Harrison, you are confusing "racer" for "smoker"

el serpiente: Feb 25th 2008; 3:26PM

OOh, a gay joke...classy.

Synner: Feb 25th 2008; 12:06PM

Yeah, maybe he'll bring atari to number one soon like he did with PS3 --- oops

He's still a douche.

Can't wait to see Asteroids with 4d graphics.

Noshino: Feb 25th 2008; 12:12PM

and I thought he was the one that pushed forward to invest on LittleBigPlanet, Home, EyeToy, SingStar, etc...

How fast people forget huh?

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Feb 25th 2008; 1:19PM

You know, none of those things you mentioned are considered successful. LBP is unreleased, as is home. Eyetoy was a flop, and singstar sells only to a very specific market.

el serpiente: Feb 25th 2008; 3:28PM

Singstar has probably sold more than 99% of xbox games on the market. Nice try though, keep practicing.

Synner: Feb 25th 2008; 3:49PM

I really don't like singstar though. The only thing they got going for them is the disc swapping. Karaoke revoltuion is more fun, like actually playing a game.

Singstar is like karaoke in a dive bar without a smokey haze and the barflys.

soul899er: Feb 25th 2008; 12:08PM

Yay! maybe their will be a Next-Gen Dragonball z: Budokai Tenkaichi game! xD i hope... i dont like that crap game Burst Limit it looks like an improved shin budokai, and i want alot of charcters and online xD i hate Budokai but i Loooove Tenkaichi! here we come :D

NATO_Duke: Feb 25th 2008; 12:28PM

I think it’s strange that people act as though someone leaving a console company is like a fanboy jumping ship and abandoning their only love. They don't work there because they are fanboy gamers - it’s a job, and people move on to new jobs that offer more.

Just because Atari is in trouble, it doesn’t automatically follow they will be out of business. (See bankruptcy courts filled with airlines and major corps that still serve you today.) A team can come in and rework their business model and the company could turn profits again. You want to be that person to turn them around because there are going to be incentives to do it. Its business and business includes risks for many.

He isn't leaving a plush hotel for a cardboard box - he is taking on a company that will allow him more rewards and opportunities should they pull themselves together.

Binaryfiend: Feb 25th 2008; 12:39PM

I think he is probably leaving because he has some good ideas and Atari is willing to foster them while Sony was not.

bigd7387: Feb 25th 2008; 2:12PM

Joystiq, just so you know your paragraph doesn't make sence. The Titanic had sunk when the Carpathia arrived so the Captain could not have been thinking what you suggested. Anyways, good for Atari, I want them to stay since I was an Atari 2600 Fanboy way back when.

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