Hirai says 360 lacks longevity, won't top PS3
by Justin McElroy 
{ Jan 20th 2009 at 10:54AM }
Sony and the PS3 have taken their lumps in the media recently, but leave it to Kaz Hirai to stand by the big black box even in the toughest times: Hirai recently told Official PlayStation Magazine that in order to describe the 360, he needed a single word that meant "lacks longevity."But even that semi-burn wasn't enough to appease the Hiraicane's appetite for destruction. He added, "Unless things go really bad, there's no way that at the end of a life cycle our competition is going to have a higher install base."
OK, so maybe he's not providing any actual justification for his claims, but it's still nice to see that Sony still has fight in them.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 10:56AM
Bring in the ShitStorm!!!!
el serpiente @ Jan 20th 2009 11:10AM
Uh-oh, the joystiq page hits must have dipped below the acceptable threshold.
DYING TIME IS HERE!!!11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hQC3nkftrk
kbomb1upc @ Jan 20th 2009 12:51PM
Yo el Serpinte, is that Sho'nuff from The Last Dragon...
"Am I the meanest? Sho'nuff
Am I the prettiest? Sho'nuff
Am I the baddest mofo low down around this town? Sho'nuff
Who am I? Sho'nuff"
...lol, Love the pic man
el serpiente @ Jan 20th 2009 12:54PM
KISS MY CONVERSE!
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 10:57AM
I click back to the front page and now its gone???
Whats the Deal Justin?? lol
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 11:05AM
well it wasnt there when I went back........oh well......back now....smh
copa @ Jan 20th 2009 11:06AM
I think there's an Aggie joke in here somewhere.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 11:08AM
Grrrrr??
bustin98 @ Jan 20th 2009 10:59AM
And the life cycle doesn't end till Sony says so.
Misfit Toy @ Jan 20th 2009 11:02AM
This is the kind of smack talk that Sony is famous for. This is how I see Sony and Microsoft settling this match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIxNDWNr7QQ
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 11:04AM
CLASSIC!!!!!
lol
Alien Lord @ Jan 20th 2009 1:07PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfmBzllkbUM
Mitochondria @ Jan 20th 2009 11:03AM
Holy shiznit, I'm speechless. Good thing I'm typing.
Sony is lame, they release these special edition PS3s in Japan when they are already well off there instead of focusing on increasing there install base here in the US. Not only this, but its not so much about this system as the games on the system. I mean look at dreamcast, people still play on it.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 11:07AM
Truthfully most of those special edition Systems in Japan won't do much in sales here....that why they arent released.......although I suppose if they did a "Limited" release of some of them here it might stir up a few extra sales......but not much
and sure people still play Dreamcast with BOOTLEGGED GAMES....
I got my Dreamcast from a guy in my dorm freshman year.......paid $40 it, 3 controllers & 10 games.......
then I continued to just borrow games and copy them.....
copa @ Jan 20th 2009 11:05AM
"Unless things go really bad..."
Mr. Hirai, the 2008 Holiday sales figures are in.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 11:10AM
why do people act like they were THAT bad......
the 360 was half the price and did twice as good......that was expected...
I mean Honestly.....did anyone REALLY expect a $400 PS3 to do anything in sales in this economy???
I'm actually curious as to how well the Elite 360's sold......
copa @ Jan 20th 2009 11:17AM
You're not a Texas Aggie, are you?
Either way, pace yourself. Even Killjebus and Vidkron know not to reply to every single post on a PS3 flamefest. You'll burn yourself out at a young age.
You have to run a much more measured, even astroturfing campaign if you want to become one of the Fanboy Legends.
Marty @ Jan 20th 2009 11:19AM
Why does it matter which SKU sells more, though? In the end, it's the number of machines in people's homes that counts, no matter what the hardware configuration.
RIP R.L. Causton - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED @ Jan 20th 2009 11:35AM
He just said he was curious about how many elites sold. MS would probably prefer to sell Arcades anyway because it leaves more room for HDD sales. I thought they had canibalized the more profitable elite and pro SKUs until I actually looked at the numbers. In the end the Arcade is their most profitable SKU assuming the customer purchases extra periphrials.
As for astroturfing (defined as - the disguising of an orchestrated campaign as a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion) MS pretty much has that on lock down through the control of media leaks and by proxies charading as legitimate sources of information. They had that technique refidned after the anti-Netscape Navigator campaign. That's discounting the anti-linux FUD during the XP days. Apple has done a good job of reversing that trend now with it's media onslaught against Vista.
Not even the most furvent PS3/Sony fanboy would try to spin this PR blunder by Kaz. It was a huge mistake and though there could be some truth in what he says the point is lost in translation. It's hard to focus on a legitimate point when it's delivered in the guise of an insult (360) and/or back handed compliment (wii).
Highlar @ Jan 20th 2009 11:38AM
So, if its all about the number of hardware in people's homes, then we can all agree the Wii wins it all, hmm? hehe... :-P
Mr Khan @ Jan 20th 2009 11:46AM
Wait, so Vidikron's a Sony fanboy now?
Funny, I had him pegged as a neutral
Knight Marquise @ Jan 20th 2009 11:58AM
RIP RL Causton~
"Not even the most furvent PS3/Sony fanboy would try to spin this PR blunder by Kaz"
Killjebus, El Serpiente, McPoop, and Now with more Kool-Aid then before"........." PSN: Aggi_CEO.
All say "HI".
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 11:58AM
nope.......North Carolina A&T State Aggie sir......
and I dont much care about pacing myself.......I'm a little hype right now With the Inauguration.......and I'm not trying to be a legend......what good does being a Legend on Joystiq do anyways??? lol
but yea I was just curious as to how many Elites sold because I was simply curious......hell the Arcade may be $200 but MS makes a KILLING off of upgrades......I'd much rather just buy an Elite and avoid the headache/cost of buying a bigger HDD later.....not to mention the Black box is just THAT much better looking to me......
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 12:00PM
@Marquise......Where did I try to Spin this???
hell if you look at other comments I did say that he is being too fuckin cocky.....its really uncalled for........
Mr Khan @ Jan 20th 2009 12:00PM
@ Knight Marquise
RIP RL Causton (PSN Johnnie#5, alias Sack o' Lantern) is also our former commenter John McPoop
Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jan 20th 2009 12:14PM
It seems like Joystiq doesn't know how to pace either because despite their constant slip-ups when it comes to real and interesting news, they can always dig up three consecutive flamebaits within seconds after their hits-per-second counter falls down.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 20th 2009 12:18PM
I'm Chaotic Good if you want to know.Funny I wanted to be Legal Evil but apparently you need Power and Money to do that *sigh.
Knight Marquise @ Jan 20th 2009 12:20PM
Kahn...
Thanks for the heads up on RIP..I guess I should start paying attention to the profile numbers. I never think of changing my "name", as my GT is Knight Marquise and PSN is Knight_Marquise.
Actually I have also considered Vid fairly neutral for some time.
el serpiente @ Jan 20th 2009 12:52PM
-signs autograph for Knight Marcheese, makes it out to "my biggest fan!" XXOO-
Leo McKelvin @ Jan 20th 2009 1:04PM
Knight -
I am McPoop. I didn't spin it at all. Pre-emptive strike?
RIP R.L. Causton - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED @ Jan 20th 2009 1:08PM
What?
I am Mcpoop! @ Jan 20th 2009 1:10PM
See I am McPoop!
I can also be knight marquise.
Knight Marquise @ Jan 20th 2009 1:12PM
now I'm Knight Marquise
RIP R.L. Causton - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED @ Jan 20th 2009 1:15PM
This is getting awkward :slowly backs up towards the door:
tmacairjordan87 @ Jan 20th 2009 1:45PM
For once I wasn't included in that list. I'm so happy you people are finally getting where I stand.
RIP R.L. Causton - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED @ Jan 20th 2009 2:00PM
I never thought you were a ps3 fanboy tmac. I think it was vesper who called you that.
Markez (Sandwich Eating Crew) @ Jan 20th 2009 11:21PM
You're not so much a fanboy as just a ridiculous Nintendo troll.
B3astofthe3ast @ Jan 20th 2009 11:06AM
They don't seem to realize that the PS3 isn't the PS2, I think.
Scooter @ Jan 20th 2009 11:07AM
Isn't the competition on top already? Very rarely (if ever) is there a major shake up in the order.
Louis @ Jan 20th 2009 11:08AM
Really? No way that Sony's "competition" has a higher install base? In typical Sony PR speak, the Wii has been deemed unworthy.
As for the 360, I can think of a few ways the 360 has a higher install base. One, keep doing what you are doing Sony.
Robotochan @ Jan 20th 2009 1:10PM
Like the Wii, Sony have decided that the 360 is not a real console so the PS3 does in fact have the highest install base, much higher than it's competitors... the 3DO and the Virtual Boy
MegaSnort @ Jan 20th 2009 11:11AM
FLAME WARS!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwkUosiayRA
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 20th 2009 11:35AM
No commercials,NO MERCY!!
NaeemTHM @ Jan 20th 2009 11:10AM
Well he's kinda got a point...360's only last a few months! Oh me...
But seriously, 360 has already topped PS3. I mean it's been separated in sales by 9 million consoles for the past 2 years. WTF is Hirai smoking this time?
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 11:11AM
Error "E 74" says Hello......
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 20th 2009 12:12PM
hmmmm
seems my comment has disappeared into oblivion.......
oh well.......
once again.....to agree with you.....
E 74 says hello.......
kavendano14 @ Jan 20th 2009 11:12AM
Sony' been talking shit since the beginning: "You're going to want to work overtime to get the PS3, etc." I think it's time for Sony to shut the fuck up and start slashing prices left and right and buying exclusive or at least wait to see how it unfolds without opening their mouths.
NaeemTHM @ Jan 20th 2009 11:16AM
My favorite comment ever from Sony is:
"The next generation doesn't start until we say it does!"
Then they got left in the dust lol.
offday @ Jan 20th 2009 11:41AM
Exactly.
I don't understand how the system that actually has games is the one lacking "longevity"?
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 20th 2009 12:15PM
In a way, it didn't really start until PS3 got there. But I dunno if it was because Sony said so.
Look at the number of games that came out for next gen the year before PS3 and the year after. I had a 360 during that time, we had to play GRAW for months because there wasn't anything else worth playing.
Once PS3 became ready, developers were able to place their bets, and many of them placed their bets on 360, which I'm sure angered Sony.
I don't think it's fair to say either console lacks games now. All the major releases except for Left 4 Dead hit both platforms and PS3 has had at about as many exclusives as 360 (maybe even a few more) this year.
Still, right now, in sales, 360 is kicking PS3's ass. There's no two ways about that. With PS3's stranglehold on Europe lost this Xmas, I can't see how it will catch up to 360 on sales. If it does (as Kaz says), it'll be only at the tail end of the generation when the shine is off (think of PS2 right now) and few games command a premium price and thus it will generate little profit for Sony.