Ken Kutaragi Steps Down from Sony
Posted: 2007-04-27 04:30am
Source: GamersReports.com
He did give us some memorable quotes recently (for all the wrong reasons). But he is probably the main reason there even is such a thing as a Playstation right now - and there are certainly enough fantastic games for the first two iterations of that console to make me appreciate what he did for gaming. The Playstation brand massively helped (even if it did so obnoxiously at times) to shake off gamings "just for kids" image.
What do you think? Good or bad for Sony?It is with great sadness that we witness the beginning of the gradual fade out of a video game legend today, folks. The father of the rebirth of gaming, Ken Kutaragi, inventor and symbol of the incredible dream machine, the original Playstation, has stepped down from his position at Sony Computer Entertainment International. Kutaragi will pass the torch to the next-generation at the next Sony shareholders meeting on June 19, 2007. No word on just what Kutaragi will do now, he will still serve as an advisor to Sony, and he is quoted as saying:
"It has been an exciting experience to change the world of computer entertainment by marrying cutting edge technologies with creative minds from all over the world. I’m looking forward to building on this vision in my next endeavors.”
Of course, the rumors are going to fly, in the face of the Playstation 3's less-than-spectacular-numbers, but that is to be expected. We are sure that even the staunchest game conspiracy theorists will put their control pads down for long enough to post the latest “Kenny was forced out” conspiracy theory.
Be that as it may, and feel free to flame away, we want to make one thing clear before we begin our downward flame march into the gutter.
Ken Kutaragi, the inventor and main driving force behind the Playstation phenomenon and much of modern gaming as we know it, is one of video gaming's legendary figures, hands down. This man was responsible for many things you know, and likely many more you do not know about behind the scenes in this industry we call the video game business. Whatever you may think of him now in light of the Playstation 3’s performance, keep two things in mind. First, remember just what he did for all of us when he decided to start this “crazy” project back in 1992 or so, a funny gray box called the Play-station. Second, always remember him as the man who was smart enough to realize that his time was over, and it was time to hand the ball off to people who understood things better, and had the correct mentality and mindset to make a successful console (this is our opinion, but we are fairly sure it is a valid assessment). He deserves a basic amount of respect, because of the two reasons we just mentioned. You will be missed, Ken, and good luck in all you endeavor.
PRESS RELEASE
SCEI and Sony announce Executive Management Transition at Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
TOKYO, JAPAN, April 26, 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) and Sony Corporation (Sony) have jointly announced today that Ken Kutaragi, Representative Director, Chairman and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., will retire from his executive position at SCEI effective June 19, 2007, when SCEI’s annual shareholders’ meeting will take place. Mr. Kutaragi will pass on the torch to the next generation, stepping back from his executive management responsibility of the company to serve as Honorary Chairman of SCEI.
With his deep and instinctive insight into future technology, Mr. Kutaragi will also continue to support Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO, Sony Corporation, as senior technology advisor.
Concurrently, Kazuo Hirai, currently President and Group COO, SCEI, will be promoted to President and Group CEO, continuing his responsibility as the leader of the PlayStation® business worldwide.
Mr. Kutaragi, well known as the “Father of PlayStation”, invented and launched the original PlayStation in 1994 and its successor, PlayStation 2, in 2000. Since the introduction of PlayStation and subsequently PlayStation 2, these platforms opened up a vast market of computer entertainment. The two platforms combined now have an installed base of more than 200 million units in homes around the world, with more than 2 billion units of PlayStation and PlayStation 2 software titles shipped worldwide. The third generation of the company’s home computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3, launched in November 2006 in Japan and North America and in March 2007 in Europe, will continue to revolutionize the computer entertainment experience with its immense computational power connected to the network.
After completing the launch of PLAYSTATION 3 worldwide, Mr. Kutaragi has decided to pursue his dreams beyond PlayStation and to accelerate his network vision.
“I am happy to graduate from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. after introducing four platforms to the PlayStation family,” said Ken Kutaragi, Chairman and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “It has been an exciting experience to change the world of computer entertainment by marrying cutting edge technologies with creative minds from all over the world. I’m looking forward to building on this vision in my next endeavors.”
“Ken Kutaragi is a rare combination of a powerful visionary and entrepreneur in one figure,” said Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO, Sony Corporation. “Not only has he created a multi-billion dollar business for the Sony Group, he has brought the industry into a new dimension. Sony has benefited tremendously from his vision, his 2/2 creative genius, and from the very strong team he assembled and nurtured. As Ken moves forward to pursue new opportunities, we will encourage and support him. My support also goes to Kazuo Hirai, who is a terrific executive with a proven track record with PlayStation business in the US. I am confident that he will inspire and lead SCEI to new heights.”
He did give us some memorable quotes recently (for all the wrong reasons). But he is probably the main reason there even is such a thing as a Playstation right now - and there are certainly enough fantastic games for the first two iterations of that console to make me appreciate what he did for gaming. The Playstation brand massively helped (even if it did so obnoxiously at times) to shake off gamings "just for kids" image.