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[Metalmurphy]

I have to say that I've always wondered why Harrison was so liked. The things I remember the most are his retarded comments about the DS and his calling the motion sensors in Sixaxis a "fantastic innovation".

If those are the only things you remember then no wonder you're left wondering...

? unless I'm missing something, Sony kicked everybody's ass at last years GDC.

Yep.

 

[Joni]

I'm gonna miss him. He was a likeable chap when he wasn't trying to sell the PS3.

 

[deepbrown]

?

Why did you capitalise my name? It's deep, lower case d >_<

PS3 has no games as of today.

 

[Future PhaZe]

Sometimes I think Sony would be better suited with a woman in charge of PR.

Console war over if so :lol

 

[deepbrown]

Harrison wasn't PR, he was software

 

[Joni]

Harrison wasn't PR, he was software

Indeed, did a lot of PR too though. (Compared to Hirai and Kutaragi)

 

[Dante]

so phil's next game will be dragon ball z

awesome

Krillan will now be 7 feet tall.

 

[Bizzyb]

Stage 6 by far imo.

Stage 6 going down is the worst thing to happen to the internet since rule 34.

Wait, wha!?!

Stage 6 is going down??

 

[Firewire]

Harrison wasn't PR, he was software

Yeah, some of us just started talking about Sony's PR though, I mentioned Sony might be better off with a woman in that role.

Perrin Kaplan was mentioned formerly from Nintendo, whom I personally like. And now we have a Jade Raymond lover in this thread.

 

[kbear]

What the fuck? Where did this come from? This is absolutely devastating news. I'm stunned.. Phil was doing an amazing job with the software. Was it because of the comment directed towards Sony Japan? He must've gotten forced out for his departure to be so abrupt like this. Man, this is ridiculous.

 

[grandjedi6]

As jstevenson pointed out, the thread title should be changed - GI.biz says they got mixed up, and are reporting that he's actually going to Infogrames.

In 2003, Infogrames Inc. licensed the Atari name and logo from Atari Interactive and changed its name to Atari Inc

Yeah, I thought so too, but according to GI.biz they're different entities again.



I dunno though, maybe the difference doesn't matter.

 

[Classic_Gs]

Bummer

 

[Firewire]

Yep.

That was classic.

He certainly looks pissed after the LBP announcement.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Harrison wasn't PR, he was software

Yeah, quite a few people seem to think he was only some PR guy, he was PR by proxy of his role which he had given off the most level headed outlook among the company, that's like saying Kaz and Kuturagi were just some PR guy. His gig was huge, head of SCEE and then head the SCE Worldwide Studios, people! It's right there in the thread title.

 

[speculawyer]

 

[Haunted]

Yeah, quite a few people seem to think he was only some PR guy, he was PR by proxy of his role which he had given off the most level headed outlook among the company, that's like saying Kaz and Kuturagi were just some PR guy. His gig was huge, head of SCEE and then head the SCE Worldwide Studios, people! It's right there in the thread title.

The comparisons with Peter Moore and Reggie are apt.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

What a bummer I always found him to be one of the more charismatic and genuinely likable people in the Sony camp.

 

[Kittonwy]

What's the deal with the Japanese studios? It seems like they have nothing in the works, outside of Polyphony and Ueda's Team. Is the talent not there or are they just sitting on their hands?

A lot of them were unready for current-gen, Media Vision was finishing up Wild Arms 5 when the PS3 LAUNCHED, it seems essentially they were a whole development cycle behind. God knows when they'll ever get up to speed on PS3 development.

You look at SCEA Santa Monica, they're a whole development cycle behind as well (yeah blahblahblah they're talented they don't want to waste their PS2 engine OH WAIT YOU WON'T HAVE FUCKING JACKSHIT OUT UNTIL 2010 HOW FUCKING RELEVANT ARE YOU? NOBODY OTHER THAN YOU CAN PLAY YOUR SHIT WHILE IT'S STILL IN DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEXT TWO FUCKING YEARS!).

I just want to know whose idea it was to let Santa Monica do God of War 2 on the PS2 when they could have had AMPLE time to make a great game on the PS3, was it Shuhei? Allan Becker? Phil? Because I doubt anyone wanted to move on to a new platform but IT HAD TO BE DONE, and it should have been done much earlier rather than much later, which is what we have now with Santa Monica.

Ueda doesn't have a big team, perhaps they could have hired more people to get them moving faster, god knows when Level 5 wants to release their game (playing that "wait for the userbase" game?).

HSG5 should have had better online support and they should have started work on that AGES AGO instead of having to patch things.

Judging by Genji 2, Game Republic certainly was still in the mode of PS2 development.

They "can't" crank out another PS3 Ape Escape or they just don't want to and wanted to keep milking the PS2? And why should Phil let that happen?

Why was Polyphony Digital spending resources on Tourist Trophy when there's a new console coming and they needed to start PS3 development?

Where is Team Soho and what have they got to show so far?

The gaming division is a business, you have to be on top of your projections both in terms of budget, marketing and hitting your milestones (and if you're not hitting even one of those, you got to examine and find out why), and always plan ahead, as good as people think of Phil as a spokesperson, he's supposed to manage these guys, and turn SCEWW into a well-oiled machine, maybe nobody is up to the job of managing these guys, or maybe this is simply too big for one person to oversee.

First-party games are supposed to build the userbase, not wait for the userbase to build itself because things don't happen by themselves and third-party sure as hell aren't going to be the ones doing it, and judging from what Santa Monica is doing, it just seems that way of thinking still persists. We're in the second year of the console cycle and still not everybody is on-board.

If the teams aren't where the blame should be placed then ultimately it would be Phil, he's where the buck stops.

 

[Wollan]

The comparisons with Peter Moore and Reggie are apt.

Neither of those guys have software backgrounds.

 

[Madman]

What the fuck? Where did this come from? This is absolutely devastating news. I'm stunned.. Phil was doing an amazing job with the software. Was it because of the comment directed towards Sony Japan? He must've gotten forced out for his departure to be so abrupt like this. Man, this is ridiculous.

No, it was probably the opposite. He said that because he was leaving. Those comments are days old. Things like this don't happen in a few days.

 

[BeEatNU]

shyt doesn't make sense, why would he leave and goto a company who is barely afloat....

 

[Niks]

Console war over if so :lol

Whatever happened to Jade after the whole Assasins Creed/Ubisoft internet drama? Does she still works there?

 

[kbear]

No, it was probably the opposite. He said that because he was leaving. Those comments are days old. Things like this don't happen in a few days.

Good point.

Also, reading the thread... SolidSnakeX, you're putting way too much weight in those GDC comments.

 

[Livin_Lovin]

Harrison will be missed. One of the great minds behind the Sony Gaming Divi...

Stage 6 by far imo.

Stage 6 going down is the worst thing to happen to the internet since rule 34.

WTF?! VADERNO.GIF

Goddammit. Fuck. SHIT! FUCK! SHITTY FUCK! Such bullshit. GODDAMMIT! Fuck youtube so hard. It's their fault, it just HAS to be.

 

[kenta]

Dag nabbit I seriously thought this was a prank, Phil was the best

 

[Choke on the Magic]

WORLDWIDEWII: Home is very, very likely to release this spring. Everything is coming together.
Also, supposedly there will be a Sony Gamers Day event in May.

Sony Gamers Day = HOME? That would be epic!

 

[Operations]

shyt doesn't make sense, why would he leave and goto a company who is barely afloat....

I'm surprised most in these thread do not comprehend such a decision. Good execs such as Phil are lured to companies in need or deep trouble (like Atari) to steer the boat.

 

[perfectchaos007]

What the hell is Infogrames? That job can't pay more than his job at Sony

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Harrison will be missed. One of the great minds behind the Sony Gaming Divi...



WTF?! VADERNO.GIF

Goddammit. Fuck. SHIT! FUCK! SHITTY FUCK! Such bullshit. GODDAMMIT! Fuck youtube so hard. It's their fault, it just HAS to be.

Yeah, when it rains it pours.

 

[-viper-]

WTF. Sony are fucking stupid.

 

[Elbrain]

Well this sucks ass, I guess he got fed up that they didn't understand his point of view. Now wonder this would have LBP and Home happened if he wasn't there?!?!?

 

[OldJadedGamer]

A lot of them were unready for current-gen, Media Vision was finishing up Wild Arms 5 when the PS3 LAUNCHED, it seems essentially they were a whole development cycle behind. God knows when they'll ever get up to speed on PS3 development.

You look at SCEA Santa Monica, they're a whole development cycle behind as well (yeah blahblahblah they're talented they don't want to waste their PS2 engine OH WAIT YOU WON'T HAVE FUCKING JACKSHIT OUT UNTIL 2010 HOW FUCKING RELEVANT ARE YOU? NOBODY OTHER THAN YOU CAN PLAY YOUR SHIT WHILE IT'S STILL IN DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEXT TWO FUCKING YEARS!).

I just want to know whose idea it was to let Santa Monica do God of War 2 on the PS2 when they could have had AMPLE time to make a great game on the PS3, was it Shuhei? Allan Becker? Phil? Because I doubt anyone wanted to move on to a new platform but IT HAD TO BE DONE, and it should have been done much earlier rather than much later, which is what we have now with Santa Monica.

Ueda doesn't have a big team, perhaps they could have hired more people to get them moving faster, god knows when Level 5 wants to release their game (playing that "wait for the userbase" game?).

HSG5 should have had better online support and they should have started work on that AGES AGO instead of having to patch things.

Judging by Genji 2, Game Republic certainly was still in the mode of PS2 development.

They "can't" crank out another PS3 Ape Escape or they just don't want to and wanted to keep milking the PS2? And why should Phil let that happen?

Why was Polyphony Digital spending resources on Tourist Trophy when there's a new console coming and they needed to start PS3 development?

Where is Team Soho and what have they got to show so far?

The gaming division is a business, you have to be on top of your projections both in terms of budget, marketing and hitting your milestones (and if you're not hitting even one of those, you got to examine and find out why), and always plan ahead, as good as people think of Phil as a spokesperson, he's supposed to manage these guys, and turn SCEWW into a well-oiled machine, maybe nobody is up to the job of managing these guys, or maybe this is simply too big for one person to oversee.

First-party games are supposed to build the userbase, not wait for the userbase to build itself because things don't happen by themselves and third-party sure as hell aren't going to be the ones doing it, and judging from what Santa Monica is doing, it just seems that way of thinking still persists. We're in the second year of the console cycle and still not everybody is on-board.

If the teams aren't where the blame should be placed then ultimately it would be Phil, he's where the buck stops.

One really does have to wonder what the heck is going on with SCEJ and their game development for the PS3. And Kittonwy is right, the buck stopped with Phil. When Sony plugs a ton of money into a game like Lair and it fails miserably on all levels, at the end of the day, he is the one who gave it the green light.

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

One really does have to wonder what the heck is going on with SCEJ and their game development for the PS3. And Kittonwy is right, the buck stopped with Phil. When Sony plugs a ton of money into a game like Lair and it fails miserably on all levels, at the end of the day, he is the one who gave it the green light.

Yet no one wanted to hold him responsible for it. Or the bar Resistance quite miserable launch line-up for the Playstation 3. So, mission accomplished for Sony and its "Phil of and for the people" program.

 

[Kittonwy]

WORLDWIDEWII: Home is very, very likely to release this spring. Everything is coming together.
Also, supposedly there will be a Sony Gamers Day event in May.

I wonder what they're releasing between now and this fall, it just seems they've missed the march window, they're just not timing their releases to have games available all year. Last year perhaps the excuse was "they were not ready", but they can't simply bank on fall and winter like that, they need to drive console sales via software ALL YEAR and it just seems like they keep letting things drag on. They don't need a Gamers Day event in May, they need to release GAMES in May, the marketing effort should be starting NOW.

 

[methane47]

Wow ... i just saw this thread

No more phil...

Now i'm worried

 

[lynux3]

Very disappointing. I really liked Phil. I hope stays in the industry and continues to entertain.

 

[Haunted]

Neither of those guys have software backgrounds.

True, but in terms of responsibilities and importance, he was not "just a PR guy", like he, Moore or Reggie got labeled sometimes.


edit: WAIT, STAGE 6 IS GOING DOWN? WHO THE FUCK CARES ABOUT PHIL, THAT'S HORRIBLE!

 

[Choke on the Magic]

Why did you capitalise my name? It's deep, lower case d >_<

PS3 has no games as of today.

mistake. and the ? for the quoting of the "." with a ".", I found it hilarious.

 

[kaching]

What the hell is Infogrames? That job can't pay more than his job at Sony

Considering that Sony also announced that Kaz is absorbing Harrison's job without indication that they're searching for a replacement, it's quite possible compensation was a factor. Without announcing a search for a replacement, it seems like they're consolidating positions which leads to the possibility that they weren't all that willing to compensate that greatly for the SCEWWS leadership position.

 

[Kittonwy]

Wow ... i just saw this thread

No more phil...

Now i'm worried

I'm not worried about not having Phil, what I want is someone who can step in and get these games out. GET THE FUCKING GAMES OUT SO PEOPLE HAVE SOME STUFF TO PLAY, they still think in the whole "march maybe, oh wait let's release the game in Christmas, oh shit crowded market, next spring, oh wait maybe next Christmas" mentality, IT IS FUCKING POISON.

 

[Byakuya769]

I wonder what they're releasing between now and this fall, it just seems they've missed the march window, they're just not timing their releases to have games available all year. Last year perhaps the excuse was "they were not ready", but they can't simply bank on fall and winter like that, they need to drive console sales via software ALL YEAR and it just seems like they keep letting things drag on. They don't need a Gamers Day event in May, they need to release GAMES in May, the marketing effort should be starting NOW.

March is the month of their portable pillar! (Crisis Core, Patapon, GoW). I mean they brag about their npds by combining all three systems, maybe they think of them as one big platform.. so who needs ps3 games?

Spoiler

me

 

[AmMortal]

:lol that won is awesomeness in a can for portable survival use.

 

[Wollan]

I wonder what they're releasing between now and this fall, it just seems they've missed the march window, they're just not timing their releases to have games available all year. Last year perhaps the excuse was "they were not ready", but they can't simply bank on fall and winter like that, they need to drive console sales via software and it just seems like they keep letting things drag on. They don't need a Gamers Day event in May, they need to release GAMES in May, the marketing effort should be starting NOW.

Well they have games all spring.
March: Hot Shot Golf, MLB the Show (+ three best PSP games ever in same month)
April: GT5P, GTA4, Home?
May: MGS4, SingStar (US)
June: WipEout, EchoChrome

I'm guessing a Platinum lineup will release during this perios as well.
In regards to MGS4, they should have started marketing already I agree.

 

[Eteric Rice]

God damn it, the one guy I like at Sony resigns. Wtf.

 

[Kittonwy]

March is the month of their portable pillar! (Crisis Core, Patapon, GoW). I mean they brag about their npds by combining all three systems, maybe they think of them as one big platform.. so who needs ps3 games?

Spoiler

me

Just because you're releasing games on your handheld doesn't mean you don't have to release games on your home console system, their home console teams (other than Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Incog and San Diego) need to step da fock up.

 

[Byakuya769]

oh I agree, kittonwy.. I was kidding. Though I wonder if I'm not that far off from their thinking.

 

[Kittonwy]

Well they have games all spring.
March: Hot Shot Golf, MLB the Show (+ three best PSP games ever in same month)
April: GT5P, GTA4, Home?
May: MGS4, SingStar (US)
June: WipEout, EchoChrome

I'm guessing a Platinum lineup will release during this perios as well.
In regards to MGS4, they should have started marketing already I agree.

MGS4 and GTA4 have absolutely nothing to do with Phil, and it's pretty clear now that Sony cannot rely on third-party publishing to save their hides, they shouldn't keep banking on MGS4 when it's been delayed over, and over, and over again.Their own first-party studios need to step up and provide quality software while Konami is still playing games with its franchise.

PSP games aren't PS3 games.

HOME is not a game.

HSG5 was out in Japan LAST YEAR and should already be out in NA.

Wasn't SingStar out in Europe already? What's the hang-up?

We're looking at a line-up that was basically last Christmas' line-up.

I'm not disagreeing on MLB 08 The Show 08, they've made tremendous progress and god willing they'll deliver on-time.

The line-up is still way too fall/winter-heavy and too thin at the moment, and god forbid if they let Infamous slip to 09.

What they need to do is have software available this year, they've already been burned TWICE by banking too much on their so-called third-party development partners. A lot of these teams have had more than three years to work on a game, it's not a matter of "when it's ready", it's a matter of "it'd better damn well be fucking ready".

 

[grandjedi6]

:lol that won is awesomeness in a can for portable survival use.

I have no clue what you just said but, Thanks?

 

[Wollan]

Well, it depends how you want to view that spring lineup. Was it random luck or did they see ahead how the pieces would fall, waiting with the rest until after E3.

 

[BeEatNU]

I'm surprised most in these thread do not comprehend such a decision. Good execs such as Phil are lured to companies in need or deep trouble (like Atari) to steer the boat.

It's not that I don't comprehend, its just extremely surprising for Sony to let go of one of there more important people. He was one of the publicly liked people out of their group. if anyone needs him, Infogames needs him.