Microsoft can't stop copying us - Sony boss

PS3 News | "I wish they'd come up with strategies of their own."

In an interview published in the latest Official PlayStation Magazine, SCEA boss Kaz Hirai has gone on the offensive again, this time accusing Microsoft of copying Sony's ideas. "Every time we go down a path, we look behind and [Microsoft is] right there - we just can't shake these guys," harrumphed Hirai. "I wish that they would come up with some strategies of their own, but they seem to be going down the path of everything we do."

Hirai was equally unimpressed with Microsoft's decision to launch a HD-DVD drive as an optional extra. "You're not going to be asking me, 'So, talk to me about this Blu-Ray add-on that you have. Does it work for games? Is it just for movies?' That's exactly the kind of pitfall you fall into if you launch something that's too early, too premature..." he said.

Hirai's accusations may well be viewed with slight cynicism in some quarters, however - Sony has been accused of copying competitors in the past, with the motion-sensing PS3 controller allegedly influenced by Nintendo's Wii remote controller. Meanwhile, the very existence of Xbox Live Marketplace and Microsoft's launch strategy of bringing out two versions of the Xbox 360 (a move that is to be mirrored by Sony when the PS3 launches) hardly helps Hirai's argument.

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37 Comments

realitybites

5 years ago

Um, yeah. Trying hard not to be condescending.

Sony knows being last to market is "bad" so the best defense is offense.

I'm pro anti-**** but it would just crack me up if blu ray missed the nod on acceptability in the home market.

Problem is mainstream gamers won't ever see this byplay so realistically 80% of the sudience wouldn't have a clue this "tit for tat" actually goes on. Bit like seeing you first televised conference on parliament.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

I just don't understand how Microsoft have copied Sony? As the article says there are a few things Sony are copying off Microsoft not to name the hdd add-on they introduced into their ps2 (which pertains to the blu-ray/hd-dvd analogy).

dymsim

5 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

Well remember the PS2 launched with HDD capability. I believe they didn't want to FORCE the peripheral onto the consumer, so they made it an add-on to reduce costs.

More or less, I think Sony is targetting Microsoft for not taking a stance on next generation media storage, for not backing a side. If Microsoft took up HD-DVD, they would find themselves in possession of an unfinished product. Sony, however, have thrown their support behind Blu-ray and are waiting patiently for it to be finished.

Zarnoss

5 years ago

So is this the start of the HD-DVD vs Blu-ray battle?
Kind of like VHS vs Beta in the old days.Funny because Beta was the superior format but lost out to VHS.
Hope history doesn't repeat.

hmmm.

ObsoletE

5 years ago

i wonder who's father can beat which other's father.

Spanca

5 years ago

dymsim wrote

ugh the boot wrote

Why do they need to? Blu-ray is expensive, and something most consumers don't need or want. I'd take a guess that 95-99% of Australian households don't own an HDTV, so why push a HD movie format upon consumers when DVDs are fine.

LeonJ

5 years ago

If Sony's online solution is anywhere as good as M$'s I would be very surprised.

M$ may have borrowed some ideas, but what have Sony done that's so amazing in the industry. They just copy Nintendo anyway!

renegadesx

5 years ago

Ok its no secret that Microsoft knows nothing about innovation, but come on, Sony is just as bad, or worse, knowing nothing about innovation. They have Sony imitates the competition and markets it, just like Microsoft. They have NO right to complain about an industry they never really got an invite to join in the first place. Despite what people are saying about new game wars, its all ****, Sega vs Nintendo was the game wars back in the early 90's because back then innovative **** was happening. Since then its been nothing but graphics enhancements, that CAN be called progress, but not somthing new. My stance is that after playing the Xbox 360 i have chosen not to even reckonize it as a NextGen console, coz even there are major graphics improvements, the rest of the console stinks just like its predecesor

There has been NOTHING special and NOTHING about games over the last decade, just some fatter internet links and improved graphics. So sony claims they are being copied? copying what? its the same old stuff! theres nothing now TO copy except the Wiimote. Format wars in gaming is nothing but data capacity, HD? go tell somebody in 2010 where somebody gives a flying **** and live gaming services? not a new idea, just more bandwith allows more data. Get real people there is NO copying between Microsoft and Sony because there is NO innovation in the industry bar using a touch screen as a controller and motion sensing controller and we all know neither Sony nor Microsoft the so called 2 major players didnt come up with somthing like that

ObsoletE

5 years ago

^ go have a lie down before you burst a blood vessel.

838 La

5 years ago

How ironic.

DancesInUnderwear

5 years ago

Ah, Sony, just when I thought you had started to pull yourself out of your hole you do this and end up deeper than you were.

Sure, Microsoft have copied people before. So have Sony. So have Nintendo. So have every single game company ever.

LeonJ

5 years ago

I for one think M$'s online component is next gen. It's a fantastic interface and basically has everything you could ever want. That and the gamerscore which is the best idea since sliced bread. It actually motovates you to complete the games 100% or close too.

My money is on Sony having a "SonyPoints" system or something similar. Then lets see who is copying who.

renegadesx I think you need to have a lie down. M$'s console is fantastic (as I suspect all the next gen consoles will be), and I for one am enjoying it very much. Try firing up a Xbox or PS2 after playing GRAW or DOA4 in HD.

Joseph

5 years ago

Come on, Sony are the last ones to talk... Okay M$ are the LAST ones who can talk. Sony are second though.

dymsim

5 years ago

Spanca wrote

Even if you don't have a HDTV to watch the HD movie format, you can still have 50GB worth of game storage on one disk. With the graphics that the PS3 can push out, it's going to need all the space it can get (ie: storing textures, sounds, maps, etc)

I'm no Sony fanboy, but the 9.8gb max of the Xbox360 is really going to hinder it's performance when developers unlock the hardware's full potential.

Xamerkapsy

5 years ago

dymsim wrote

Spanca wrote

Because we've never heard of game makers using a second disc before.

The GCN's inability to store a whole resident evil game on a single disc totally ruined RE4.

And besides, how many games are really taking up that much room? Surely developer costs would max out before the capacity of a DVD would?

Cerebral

5 years ago

I keep saying this, but if games like Oblivion that have many, many hours of recorded dialogue and a sixteen square mile gameworld can fit on the one disc, 9.8 gigabytes should suffice. There is nothing that cannot fit onto a single DVD in terms of textures or graphics. When we start filling it all up with superflouous FMV, thats where we start to have troubles.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

dymsim wrote

Well to my knowledge the Ps2 launched with an add-on port....not specifically a HDD port. This port could've allowed for another console if it wanted....so technically it was Microsoft who were first to the market with the hdd.

The Xbox 360 is first to the market so if any of the Ps3 components use USB you could technically say "Oh Xbox360 already came out with a port that supports that! They're copying Microsoft!" ...It just doesn't work like that!

Jim Dash

5 years ago

Microsoft copying what, exactly?

Sony copies Wii's motion control.

Sony copies (or is copying) Xbox Live.

And claims Microsoft are copying them? With what?

Sony execs act like a bunch of asses, man. I can't believe the crap he talks!

dymsim

5 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

The PS2 Add-on port was designed specifically for the HDD, as was stated on the original spec sheet that started floating around in 2000.

It's a bit hard to say one person copies another. I mean, if no-one did that then no-one would make anything new. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get your statement on the USB port (sorry if it sounds offensive). Both the PS2 and Xbox had USB ports, and both the PS3 and Xbox360 do (or ... will), as they're using a patented technology made by another company.

In the same sense, no-one can prove that Sony copied Nintendo with the motion controller. Nintendo don't own the patent for a motion controller. In fact, if you search hard enough you can see Sony have been planning one since 1999 (the link has long since escaped me).

Matt3

5 years ago

you know what!!!!....you know what!!!....... i really dont care. they are just as bad as one another.

~DESTROY~

5 years ago

Quote: Leonmc
renegadesx I think you need to have a lie down. M$'s console is fantastic (as I suspect all the next gen consoles will be), and I for one am enjoying it very much. Try firing up a Xbox or PS2 after playing GRAW or DOA4 in HD.

This is very much my opinion, the games feel very 75% like your missing out because your not playing them on Hdtv especialy DOA4
which is beyond any glory tekken 5 has to offer when on hd.
My point though is that because I was missing out on 75% enjoyment........ I went out and bought a Hdtv, im not sure how many other 360ers did this, but Just goes to show a case of how MS pushed another number into the HD era.

David

5 years ago

dymsim wrote

ugh the boot wrote

The PS2 Add-on port was designed specifically for the HDD, as was stated on the original spec sheet that started floating around in 2000.

Erm, no. The original Japanese PS2s didn't even have that port, and require an external hard drive. Sony added the port to the US and PAL models after the announcement that the Xbox would have an internal hard drive.

Back on topic, it's pretty stupid for the Sony guy to say that MS 'copied' their High-def movie idea. The main reason (although there are obviously others) the 360 didn't have an HD DVD drive from the start is that HD DVD hadn't launched when the 360 did. If I were Sony, I would avoid throwing stones. Whatever anyone believes, their motion controller is first degree grand theft, espescially after Nintendo spent two years running around telling us they'd 'have to show the Revolution controller later' because otherwise everyone would copy the idea as they had in the past.

I can't wait to watch Sony apologists try and pretend that it was all Sony's idea when they launch a touchscreen based PSP 2 next year.

celerystalksme

5 years ago

David wrote

I can't wait to watch Sony apologists try and pretend that it was all Sony's idea when they launch a touchscreen based PSP 2 next year.

I so want to see this happening. As much as i want either M$ or Nintendo to kill them off with sales...sony killing themselves would be much more enjoyable =D

k1dcharm

5 years ago

Jim Dash wrote

In the game CONSOLE industry, it's you copy me, and I copy you back.

Sony highly promoted 3D graphics in PS1
Sega follow suit in Saturn
Nintendo further enhance 3D graphics in N64

Nintendo came out with Analog stick (& rumble pack) in N64
Sega followed by having Analog stick for Nights
Sony followed (and improve) with Dual Shock 1
Sony futher improve with Dual Shock 2
Nintendo copy back to add dual analog stick in GC
MS re-arrange the buttons and came up with Xbox controller
MS add a button to access the panel (don't know the actual terms)
Sony (looks like) is going to copy that button

Sony came up with Eyetoy
MS (looks like) is going to have something similar to Eyetoy

Sega started internet gaming on Dreamcast (on cosole)
Sony follow, but didn't do much
MS took the idea and make great improvement with Live
Sony tries to mix Live & it's own idea for PS3

Sony came up with the idea of HDisk on PS2 (optional to cut cost)
MS make the HDisk compulsory on Xbox
MS make HDisk optional for Xbox360 to cut cost
Sony is going to make HDisk compulsory on PS3

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