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[sonycowboy]

Nice 2 page interview at GameInformer, with some unfortunate smack talking about the 360 (which is going on in interviews all around as Moore has some nice words out there).

And Killzone for 2007? Not particularly interested in it currently, but I know it's a magnet for folks on both sides.

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200701/N07.0108.1833.15034.htm


Some selected excerpts:

...

GI: “Sold in” means the retailers have the units, correct?

Dille: Correct. What the sell-in number refers to is that we’ve shipped it, we’ve sold it to retail, and the fact that we got to a million was possible because we were air shipping these products in. If we had gone with a boat, there was no way we would have gone to a million. So we’re not playing games with the numbers. These were sold into retail, and you can image the retailer’s incentive: If they’re shipped on a plane, they can go up onto the shelves as quickly as possible. And really, as soon as they’re getting there, they’re evaporating. There’s a tremendous demand.

GI: Are you surprised that Microsoft has met their sales numbers of 10 million? What do you think of the early acceptance of Wii and their sales?

Dille: I’m not sure if they had gone to 10 million or if they had announced that they had. I know a lot of people were wondering if they would ever get there. I think initially, their bravado speech was: “We’re going to get to 10 million before they ship.” And then it was: “We’re going to get to 10 million by the time the year is over.” I haven’t seen a new announcement from them, but what we do pay attention to is that month in, month out, the PlayStation 2 continues to outsell Xbox 360. I think you see the consumers voting with their wallets on the PlayStation brand. But also, if people want to go out and buy a 360, their stacked pretty high at retail and yet, six-year-old technology is outselling it. I also think there’s another trend going on. Every Sunday in the paper, there’s a new deal with a free controller or a free game or 100 dollars off all discounting the 360. I don’t think you take those measures if you’re selling as expected.

GI: What’s your road map for addressing some of the PlayStation Network issues that people are experiencing, like download speed, having background downloads or patching?

Dille: It’s all very important to us. What we have said is that the experience on the PlayStation Network on day one is very different than it is on day two and very different on day 102. These are all things we’re working on. I think that our competitor launched with a service that’s quite different today than what it was before. They addressed some of these problems as well. We haven’t talked about timing, but they’re all things we’re working on as well.

GI: If you had to pick one first-party title that would be the killer app here in 2007 and will really blow open the PS3 sales, what do you think that will be?

Dille: I think we have a good first half of the year. Games like Lair that people are really excited about. MLB is coming out and is looking great and is the best-selling sports game from a first-party studio. Motorstorm. Heavenly Sword. And don’t forget you have games like Killzone in the back half of the year. We’re not really saying that there is one game that consumers have to wait for. I think that the content is there now and the content is coming. It’s going to be a steady stream of really great PlayStation 3 content.

...

GI: Are you still on track for Europe in the spring?

Dille: Absolutely. They’re set for March and looking forward to it.

GI: As far as the PSP, how do you plan to reinvigorate the PSP market? You recently announced your sales numbers, but the PSP is being outsold by the Nintendo DS. Do you have a plan to pump more vigor into the PSP?

Dille: What I can tell you is that the PSP had a tremendous Christmas. The consumers really flocked to the PSP in big numbers. We’re really excited about the traction that we’ve seen in the PSP. We feel it’s a great platform and feel it has a great feature potential with what we’ve talked about here today, and there are some great games in development. We think PSP has a really bright future.

 

[Mojovonio]

uhmmm, the PS2 is outselling the PS3 also.

 

[theBishop]

Killzone news is interesting.

I'm getting sick of hearing sony say "we're excited about the PSP" every time someone asks why DS is outselling it. I don't want to hear spin. I want to hear acknowledgment, and i want to hear what they are doing to turn it around. And PS3 connectivity can only be a small slice of the solution.

 

[JB1981]

Wow. Lots of um ... things ... to take issue with in that interview. Killzone vs. Halo 3 Xmas '07 SHOWDOWN. Gaf assplodes.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

Dille: That’s a technical question and probably a little out of my purview. We’ve actually heard it a lot from the gaming press. I think part of that is based on the proliferation of devices you have on your desktops. It hasn’t become a huge consumer issue.

Is this a feasible solution?

 

[duk]

Dille: I’m not sure if they had gone to 10 million or if they had announced that they had. I know a lot of people were wondering if they would ever get there. I think initially, their bravado speech was: “We’re going to get to 10 million before they ship.” And then it was: “We’re going to get to 10 million by the time the year is over.”

Interesting, does he pay attention to his own company's bravado? 2M for launch, 4M by EOY 06, 6M by end of fiscal year (March) or has those numbers changed again.

 

[Surreal]

Wow. Lots of um ... things ... to take issue with in that interview. Killzone vs. Halo 3 Xmas '07 SHOWDOWN. Gaf assplodes.

Please don't let it end up like this. Killzone will get stomped even if turns out to be the second coming of FPSs.

 

[Piper Az]

Ahhh, the good ol' spin of PR!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

 

[soundwave05]

Ooooh he's lays it on Microsoft pretty thick there, lol.

I guess the PSP/DS "war" is over since Sony won't even talk about it anymore.

 

[Zombie James]

Nice little interview.

 

[davepoobond]

uhmmm, the PS2 is outselling the PS3 also.

Sony > Sony?

Sony is doomed!

 

[trancejeremy]

GI: As far as the PSP, how do you plan to reinvigorate the PSP market? You recently announced your sales numbers, but the PSP is being outsold by the Nintendo DS. Do you have a plan to pump more vigor into the PSP?

Dille: What I can tell you is that the PSP had a tremendous Christmas. The consumers really flocked to the PSP in big numbers. We’re really excited about the traction that we’ve seen in the PSP. We feel it’s a great platform and feel it has a great feature potential with what we’ve talked about here today, and there are some great games in development. We think PSP has a really bright future.

So basically, they aren't going to do anything for the PSP

 

[Jonnyram]

Is this a feasible solution?

It's out of his purview, so you can't expect a precise answer.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

Killzone vs. Halo 3 Xmas '07 SHOWDOWN. Gaf assplodes.

oh jesus here we go again... -_-

 

[krypt0nian]

uhmmm, the PS2 is outselling the PS3 also.

You'd be hard pressed to find a journalist to follow up with that bit of truth and get another high profile interview. Remember how long 1up's new hard line interviewing lasted.

 

[Pristine_Condition]

GI: Now you said its 2 million worldwide sold in?

Dille: It’s 1 million in North America. What we’re not talking about today is the Japanese numbers, but we will be announcing those soon in the Sony announcement that will come out of Japan.

GI: “Sold in” means the retailers have the units, correct?

Dille: Correct. What the sell-in number refers to is that we’ve shipped it, we’ve sold it to retail, and the fact that we got to a million was possible because we were air shipping these products in. If we had gone with a boat, there was no way we would have gone to a million. So we’re not playing games with the numbers. These were sold into retail, and you can image the retailer’s incentive: If they’re shipped on a plane, they can go up onto the shelves as quickly as possible. And really, as soon as they’re getting there, they’re evaporating. There’s a tremendous demand.

Are they saying Sony might have already reached the 1 million shipped number in Japan now too?

Wowzers if true.

They've really kicked the factories into gear. Good news for the Euro fans for their launch.

 

[Forgotten Ancient]

You'd be hard pressed to find a journalist to follow up with that bit of truth and get another high profile interview. Remember how long 1up's new hard line interviewing lasted.

Nope. What happened?

 

[Zombie James]

uhmmm, the PS2 is outselling the PS3 also.

As it should be at this point, it's not like Sony pulled a Microsoft and prematurely killed it. And, iirc, the PSX outsold the PS2 in it's first holiday season as well (correct me if i'm wrong).

 

[krypt0nian]

Nope. What happened?

They silently ended it shortly after the che interview with Peter Moore. That was the last time I saw anyone ask a real question, then follow up after the BS PR answer with a hard hitting question.

 

[OverHeat]

Wow. Lots of um ... things ... to take issue with in that interview. Killzone vs. Halo 3 Xmas '07 SHOWDOWN. Gaf assplodes.

Not much of a showdown killzone multiplayer was a joke.

 

[soundwave05]

There shouldn't be much of a supply issue for Europe I think. March is a slow month in North America, they're not going to be selling them by the boat loads here at that price come March.

 

[Mojovonio]

Sony > Sony?

Sony is doomed!

I meant in regard to his technology point.

But also, if people want to go out and buy a 360, their stacked pretty high at retail and yet, six-year-old technology is outselling it.

 

[Y2Kev]

They silently ended it shortly after the che interview with Peter Moore. That was the last time I saw anyone ask a real question, then follow up after the BS PR answer with a hard hitting question.

It was Shoe, I think.

 

[Branduil]

Incredibly softball interview.

 

[jett]

You'd be hard pressed to find a journalist to follow up with that bit of truth and get another high profile interview. Remember how long 1up's new hard line interviewing lasted.

lolz.

 

[Adam Blade]

Wow...someone didn't proofread that interview.

 

[krypt0nian]

It was Shoe, I think.

Not the one I'm remembering with them drinking up beers. Afterwards they shagged and che got the Forza gig.

We were promised at the time by 1up for upcoming hard hitting interviews with Nintendo/Sony post launch. Of course that didn't happen. :lol

 

[Mojovonio]

NPD is going to be legendary.

Also, KZ in 2007 would be suicide.

Let Halo 3 have its time in the sun, then release q1 2008 so you won't have people comparing the two.

 

[Branduil]

But also, if people want to go out and buy a 360, their stacked pretty high at retail and yet, six-year-old technology is outselling it.

The irony. Also, GI doesn't know the difference between "their" and "they're," apparently.

 

[Striek]

Not much of a showdown killzone multiplayer was a joke.

But Liberation is damned good.

I don't think anyone will be choosing anything over Halo 3 though. Especially not a game from a ruined franchise.

 

[sonycowboy]

Wow...someone didn't proofread that interview.

Have you been to CES??? :lol :lol :lol

Longest 72 hours of my life the 3 years I went there. Vegas is a tough town to work in is all I can say. Of course, back in the day, CES itself was a cess pool as well of porn and piracy.

 

[Akia]

The Hard Ball interview w/Peter Moore from Dan Hsu:

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3147131

The Penny Arcade comic after the interview was published:

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

NPD is going to be legendary.

Also, KZ in 2007 would be suicide.

Let Halo 3 have its time in the sun, then release q1 2008 so you won't have people comparing the two.

Halo 3's reign, if Halo 2 is any indication, is going to last for a few years

 

[AAK]

Killzone revelation any time soon?.... Armaggedon is upon us.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Sony > Sony?

Sony is doomed!

:lol

 

[Mojovonio]

Halo 3's reign, if Halo 2 is any indication, is going to last for a few years

But the hype will have subsided, if only enough to let Killzone get the proper reviewing it deserves. If it sucks, it sucks. But I don't want to hear how its sucks because its not Halo 3, like Resistance with Gears of War.

 

[Strike]

oh jesus here we go again... -_-

Tell me about it. I hope they aren't serious. With Halo 3, GTA, and MGS coming out around the same time it'll be like 2004 all over again. I don't think they would make that mistake again and throw away $20 million.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

But the hype will have subsided, if only enough to let Killzone get the proper reviewing it deserves. If it sucks, it sucks. But I don't want to hear how its sucks because its not Halo 3, like Resistance with Gears of War.

It's inevitable

 

[krypt0nian]

Little flashback to january of last year: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81015

I thought EGM asked excellent questions and didn't let up, and I thought Moore's answers were excellent as well.

Great interview all around.

Which is fine if this is their new tactic with everyone. But you know it won't be.

Next bit of MGS4 will fill their bellies and make them happy again. :lol

Shouldn't you wait and see if whether or not that's true? After the PS3 and Rev launches will be a good time for harder questions.

Oh SSX. You had high hopes!

 

[sphinx]

It was very wise from this guy to avoid commenting about the wii...

no crow for him come the next months.

 

[Mojovonio]

It's inevitable

Yeah, but at least they could hold off till Halo 3 isn't being mentioned in the press everywhere. I still say q1 2008 would be the best choice. Killzone really isn't a popular franchise, so you don't have mainstream gamers excited for it. Release it in the summer when you don't have many games out so more attention gets diverted to it.

I just want the game to have a fair chance. Cause if it comes out in 2007 and its a damn good game, but not AAA, it'll get ripped apart.

 

[theBishop]

Killzone revelation any time soon?.... Armaggedon is upon us.

man, gaf really will explode the first time we see Killzone in real-time.

 

[Y2Kev]

I have a lot of hope for Killzone. Liberation was excellent.

 

[kenta]

Killzone news is interesting.

I'm getting sick of hearing sony say "we're excited about the PSP" every time someone asks why DS is outselling it. I don't want to hear spin. I want to hear acknowledgment, and i want to hear what they are doing to turn it around. And PS3 connectivity can only be a small slice of the solution.

I remember an interview with Kaz during the 2006 Gamer's Day and the interviewer asked him what they learned from their mistakes with the PSP and Kaz actually gave a very honest and frank answer, I was really impressed. Can't remember exactly what he said, all I remember is rolling my eyes at the question and expecting a typical response like you see here from Dille but being really surprised by Kaz's respose.

 

[sonycowboy]

But the hype will have subsided, if only enough to let Killzone get the proper reviewing it deserves. If it sucks, it sucks. But I don't want to hear how its sucks because its not Halo 3, like Resistance with Gears of War.

The first one got the reviews it deserved. If it's a great game, it'll sell. If not, the franchise was just the great white hope and deserves to go away.

 

[Mojovonio]

I have a lot of hope for Killzone. Liberation was excellent.

I HATED what I played of Liberation, but I still have hope for Killzone 2. Killzone is a great idea, but it was their first game and they screwed it up royally. They have a bigger staff, bigger budget this time around, so I'm hoping for the best.

The more good games, the better.

 

[Rhindle]

But the hype will have subsided, if only enough to let Killzone get the proper reviewing it deserves. If it sucks, it sucks. But I don't want to hear how its sucks because its not Halo 3, like Resistance with Gears of War.

Kind of a lousy place to be, if you're constantly having to plan around avoiding your competitor's releases so your games don't look too bad in comparison.


I wouldn't read too much into the Killzone comment. With Sony, its always "Everything's on track, right on schedule, coming right up" until the last possible moment.

 

[kenta]

If it's a great game, it'll sell.

Then explain Mega Man Powered Up

 

[Mifune]

Sony and Microsoft people should know better than to take potshots at each other. I mean, they do know they will be joining forces next generation, right?

 

[Mojovonio]

Kind of a lousy place to be, if you're constantly having to plan around avoiding your competitor's releases so your games don't look too bad in comparison.


I wouldn't read too much into the Killzone comment though. With Sony, its always "Everything's on track, right on schedule, coming right up" until the last possible moment.

Its a necessary evil at times. You have to realize that Killzone has no traction whatsoever at this point, while all you have to do is mention Halo 3 to get even mainstream gamers excited. If Killzone 2 is released at an optimal time to gain that traction, it will be much much better perceived.