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Sony Launches DSi Tirade
SCEA’s John Koller has apparently opened an extraordinary attack on Nintendo’s latest handheld, the DSi.
According to a press release issued to technology blog Engadget, the SCEA Director of Hardware Marketing said that “if Nintendo is really committed to reaching a broader, more diverse audience of gamers beyond the ‘kids’ market that they've always engaged, there isn't much new with the DSi to support that.”
Koller’s position seems to mirror that of the vocal Wii consumer-base, who have in recent times slammed Nintendo for drawing away from its core fanbase.
“Significant gamer demographic groups are being ignored,” he said “and there continues to be limited opportunities for games from external publishers to do well on the DSi.”
Koller, of course, chose to make favourable comparisons between the DSi and Sony’s own handheld. “We have many blockbuster franchises from our publishing partners launching this year, representing a wide variety of genres and targeting diverse demographics.”
Following this, Koller listed of some promising upcoming PSP titles, such as Rock Band Unplugged, Assassin's Creed and Dissidia Final Fantasy. He added that the handheld will see its own LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm titles, “and we're also planning a steady stream of downloadable games, both new titles and PSone classics, to add to the content that PSP owners can already purchase wirelessly through PlayStation Store.”
The validity of the outburst remains in dispute, as the press statement has seemingly only been sent to a single news outlet. The validity of the release is also questioned due to its method, as such barefaced criticisms of competitor hardware is surely another insult to a gaming demographic which is in dire need of being freed from the shackles of puerile, meaningless one-upmanship.
SCEA could not be reached at the time of going to press.
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Please read the last paragraph of this article which starts with "The validity of the outburst remains in dispute". There appears to be a 50/50 chance that the man never uttered any of this, so don't get all twisted about it yet...
how does this help Sony's image at all?
reminds me of "SEGA DOES WHAT NINTENDON'T"
and now sonic is on the wii.
The line was, "Genesis, does, what Nintendon't." And considering that the Genesis went on to steal over 50% marketshare from Nintendo during it's life time, I do not see the connection between some of the smartest marketing in gaming history, and this tirade by yet another Sony exec.
Unlike SEGA at the time when they created that marketing tagline, Sony is getting beat down by every competitor in the business right now. So they have been lashing out at everyone for a while now. They have even gone so far as to recently start lashing out against future competitor, OnLive. So there is no connection. When SEGA marketing came up with that line back in 1990, they went on to pimp slap Nintendo, the NES and the SNES, by cutting Nintendo's 100% marketshare in half.
Sony on the other hand, are just sore losers. And they do not have even the dignity to go down with any semblance of dignity about themselves.
The real shame comes in the fact that despite it being a pathetic cry for attention from yet another Sony exec, is that he is right about the DSi, and for that matter, all Nintendo products, being a complete letdown to in software support to the core gaming demographic. For all the new features coming to DSi, I can just buy an iPhone 3G and get better versions of the same features, for a few dollars more. And the Wii, don't even get me started. Until MadWorld came out last month, I had not even turned on my Wii since beating Ōkami last year. Eleven whole months, and not a single good game on the system to entertain the core gaming demographic. That is piss poor by any standards.
So yeah, it is completely pathetic that yet another Sony exec is getting all emo about how the competition is selling better than Sony is - hard times, huh. But in this particular case, despite being a crybaby, Sony is right. Nintendo is effectively becoming the Fisher-Price of videogames. They sell a lot of hardware, but they do not make much of anything that entertains core gamers. But since good games are still few and far between on the PSP, Sony is not in any real position to complain either.
You gotta be fair though... it wasn't the "Fisher Price" kids that made the two Brain Age games, Vision Training, Professor Layton, Common Sense Training, Personal Trainer: Cooking such huge successes. It was the adult crowd. Which really hurts Sony's case to pigeon-hole the DS as a kiddy console.
To core gamer, the DS has been awesome. As I look at my DS library, I don't think anyone can argue that Fire Emblem, Dragon Quest IV, Dragon Quest V, Valkyrie Profile: Covenent of the Plume, Dementium: The Ward, or GTA: Chinatown Wars are aimed at anything other than the core gamer. If you can't find core games on the DS, you're justnot looking hard enough.
It's easier to complain then to look
Someone jealous that their portable's games eat ass.
I must say I agree with a lot of comments on here. THough the PSP is a superior (technical) console, the DS has hundreds of great games for it and is more fun!
It just kinda makes SOny look like idiots - which they don't need right not. Still, I wouldn't call this a tirade...if you're going to make bitch statements like this, at least do it properly - slag of the consumer base or something, really go for it!
he dosent realise what makes a good handheld. the psp has failed because when buying a handheld you dont look for power or graphics you look for good software. the umd disk is ridiculous, with a handheld you want to turn it on and play straight away for a few minuites and then turn off so a handheld with load times will not sell well. Also, why is he saying the DS dosent get third party support? explain why the PSP got absolutely 0 games last year.
Even though the PSP is clearly a superior piece of hardware, I find myself more interested in the DS. I don't have a handheld yet, but really am leaning toward the DS. Its the sheer variety of different, weird, against the norm, type Nintendo games that attract me.
No diss on Sony, but maybe they should take more risks with the PSP. Established genre's and big titles are great, but the really creative stuff is what attracts me. So far that seems to be Nintendo........though Sony may really do some good this year with the PSP
Very good points, Chotus. I have both, but find that I play the DS far more than the PSP. It does seem like Sony is finally starting to understand where the PSP should go though and hopefully the next iteration won't be saddled with the UMD drive which should allow for more "risky" download-only games.
These comments resemble lemons...........both are bitter.
Oh dear, if true this put him right up there with Aaron Greenberg in the industry cocks category. Seriously what is it with NA industry heads?
LOL, comparing him to Goonberg is like the ultimate dis. Nicely done!
Chrish Kohler over at WIRED had a few things to say about this as well if you can believe it: http://blog.wired.com/games/2009/04/sonys-ludicrous.html#more
I think everyone is in agreement that Koller's statement is ridiculous and he just basically comes across as being very, very bitter.
Koller conveniently forgets that the difference between the various DS configurations and those of the PSP is that the DS actually sells games. Even mature games sell better on the "kiddie" DS than the "mature" PSP. I can't remember the last time a PSP game broke even the top 20 sales charts in NA, let alone the top 10.
jealousy hurts...