Posted Apr 30, 2007 at 09:59PM by Glen D. Listed in: Opinions & Analysis Tags: Microsoft, Sony, Ken Kutaragi, Windows Vista, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Hironobu Sakaguchi
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Sakaguchi - Image 1Renowned game developer and Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi recently expressed his distaste for former Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Ken Kutaragi, criticized Microsoft's marketing strategy in Japan, and expressed no plans to make games for the Nintendo Wii as of yet.

The founder of, arguably, the most successful RPG franchise in history told Electronic Gaming Monthly that he didn't like Kutaragi and his creation, the Sony PlayStation 3. "The machine's architecture is tricky, and I don't like Ken Kutaragi," says Sakaguchi. He offered no explanation as to why he's no fan of the father of the PlayStation line of game systems.

When asked about Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sakaguchi said he found the games in the platform far superior to those of its rival's. Microsoft's problem, he says, is how to reach out to Japanese consumers. He said Gears of War is a great title but nobody knows what it's about. He then describe the Windows Vista commercial as a "terrible" one.

Next on the plate was Nintendo. Amazingly, Sakaguchi had a high regard for the Wii. He said "The system is intriguing, but right now, I have no plans on making a game for the Wii."


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52 Comments


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   by Quixand - 2007-04-30
 » bitter

probably didn't get an invite to the dead goat party in athens.


   Re: Quixand - 2007-04-30
 » morons make stupid games anyway...

for the PS3... if other developers, like kojima, are excited about what the PS3 can do and are looking to maximize it to come up with good and probably legendary games and this guys says that the PS3 is tricky... doesn't really say much about him does it.


   Re: ter t er (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » His exactly right

He knows his stuff, Wii is good, 360 is great but needs better marketing in Japan and PS3 is well just ***** really..

   Re: my.sony sucks azz (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » fuuck you quixand

hahaha the ps3 is gay

   Re: Matt (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » ps3 is good

He's just mad because final fantasy has been ***** since FFX. I agree.

   Re: MII.IS.MII.WHO.ARE.U (Unregistered) - 2007-05-02
 » good 1

lol he didnt get invited to the dead goat party thats funny

   Re: Blue Dragon is better (Unregistered) - 2007-05-02
 » Blue Dragon or stale old Final Fantasy

http://bluedragon.tv/
   by Jin Wu - 2007-04-30
 » this dude needs a hug

too complicated? I thought he was a game developer?

The PS3 is too complicated for me, I don't make games. But I expect that he would be able to figure all that out and make games.

So is that why he left because he was replaced by smarter people? It would seem that way since Squeenix has a boatload of PS3 games coming out.

MS has no idea what japanese people want? There's a big surprise! Here's another surprise, they don't care either! MS thinks because they're who they are, you'll kiss their butts. What? Japanese people require actual games to suit their market? The whole world doesn't play american style games? Give MS time, they'll get sooner or later.

Oh yeah, the Wii is a piece of crap!


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   Re: F.U. (Unregistered) - 2007-05-02
 » wii

HAVE U EVEN PLAYED A WII IF NOT THAN SHUT THE F.U.C.K. UP.DONT JUDGE IT BEFORE U TRY IT. U DONT SE ME HATIN ON PS3 CAUSE I HAVENT PLAYED IT SHUT UP
   by Warrior (Unregistered) - 2007-04-30
 » Weird

He says the PS3 is tricky but FFXIII is coming. He's probably having a hard time or something. Developers should really listen to Factor 5's description of using the Cell.


   Re: PS3 lover (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » yes

Only factor 5 was paid by sony to say only positive things about the cell. That's why they are the only developers to be believed.

   Re: Kill the Plumber (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » What a crying little As_sClown

He has NOTHING to do with FFXIII. He is from Mistwalker which makes games for the time being....only for the 360
Frack him, and Frack Nintendo
The Wee is the biggest farce in the history of gaming.
Maybe Sony should just repackage the PS2 and put a motion control controller and camera and call it a next gen gaming machine.
Yah right, thank you Sony and thank you Microsoft for not doing that.
Frack the Plumber

   Re: Warrior (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » PS3 Lover

You can't be too sure. Factor 5 "may" have been paid to say good things but from the videos and the screenshots their work tells the story.
   by jroder (Unregistered) - 2007-04-30
 » What a wuss

wow, the guy encounters a little trouble and freaks out. He must be under stress.

Or maybe he is just mad that Square Enix is ruining his franchise with a billion Final Fantasy games coming in the next year


   Re: PS3 Fantard (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » well,

Maybe he doesn't want to waste his time making games for a console most people can't afford.

If I spent years of hard work making a great game I would want more than 3 million people worldwide to be able to play it.
   by jroder (Unregistered) - 2007-04-30
 » All Developers love Wii

And of course he has high regards for the Wii. Its the same as Gamecube. He can port one of his DS games and make billions!

Thats the main reason why devs love the wii. Because they already know how to program for the Gamecube and the Wii is exactly the same with a different controller. Thus is a heck of alot cheaper and easier to make a game for it.

Also with 98 percent of Wii games being DS ports, they can just make a DS game and bring it out for Wii as well. Double profits!


   Re: 54134557 (Unregistered) - 2007-04-30
 » Yeah right

Well if it's so cheaper and easier to develop games for the Wii then why do they charge 50 bucks for almost all Wii games on the market right now. I mean shouldn't they pass some of those savings onto us. Game developers are always saying that they saved a lot of money and time making a Wii game but still when the game comes out you are charged full price for it. I believe Wii games should cost 37 dollars or lower. Shouldn't be a problem right? I mean after all they are saving a lot of money.

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: Destroyer (Unregistered) - 2007-04-30
 » yep

@ 54134557 they charge 50 bucks per game because they can and because stupid people buy it, that's why.

   Re: MisterAV (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » that explain all

I see another stupid DS game for 50 bucks: TETRIS

   Re: ??? (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » Good Point 54134557

Also why the hell do I have to pay 40 bucks for a DS Game that looks like it could have been done on the GBA "cough Pokemon cough" Anybody remember when Nintendo 64 games were 75 bucks each one. That's Nintendo for you they say they are the ones with the cheaper console. But when you buy a Wii with a couple more controllers and a couple of games and some accessories plus some classic games and you are already looking at the price of a 360 or PS3. Also why do I have to pay 60 bucks for a full controller of the Wii.

   Re: Barakku (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » Somebody doesn't own a DS...

Pokemon looks like a GBA title? ...really? Last time I checked, the GBA didn't support 3D environments...
Sounds like someone's basing their opinion on some screenshot.
And you have to pay 60 buck for a controller for the wii because of all the extra technology in there, since they didn't take the cheap way out and just make a wireless version of their last gen's controller, al a MS.

   Re: ()?() (Unregistered) - 2007-05-05
 » @ Barakku

Are you crazy? Pokemon on the DS is a mix of 3d and 2d. Big difference. If a person were to say that a game on the PSP like for example Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops was a full 3d game then yes that person would be correct. Because games on the PSP like MGSPO are full 3d games. The DS isn't really that well suited for 3d games because of the lower processing power. Pokemon on the DS is Pseudo 3d not a full 3d game like pretty much all the ones available on the PSP.
   by jroder (Unregistered) - 2007-04-30
 » And about Microsoft in Japan

And the reason why Microsoft fails in Japan is not because of their marketing strategy, it is because the Damn Japanese Consumer is so Egotistic that they would never buy an American Console regardless of how good it is.



   Re: Quixand - 2007-04-30
 » man get over it...

why are guys so upset if japanese don't want to buy it??? it's their choice!!!

americans aren't buying that much PS3s anyway and them japanese don't hold any grudges cause they aren't like most XBots who are just dying to add more numbers to their XBox sales that they get frustrated with the japanese...

and excuse me if i'm being honest... the 360 is not a good product... if americans really want the japanese to like the quality of US products then they should be happy that the japanese are skipping these generation of XBox... bad impressions last.

   Re: Konjima (Unregistered) - 2007-04-30
 » kon ba wah

I am Japanese and I live in Japan.

The reason why Xbox 360 not selling well here is we dont understand. The slogain for the XBox 360 here is roughly translated as "Go Go Go" which doesnt make sense.

And we do not get idea on any great games for Xbox 360 here. They come from the west and we do not hear about them until they come here. Gear of War, see it is a great game, but no one in japan hear abouut it until it is in the store to buy. So we do not know what it is or if it is good.

We are not Egotistic, Japanese would buy the Xbox if they will market it right instead of "Go Go Go". Most of us do not like Playstation3 it is too expensive and it loads slow. Of course we like Wii. Xbox 360 is in the middle, some of us get one and spread the word.

   Re: Quixand - 2007-05-01
 » konjima-san

hey i'm from japan too!!! you can call me Igasaki if you like...

i think you get the point.

   Re: Shatterdome - 2007-05-01
 » Yeah...

MS is dumb...they are not making new commercials or marketing for Japan, only translating directly from Western commercials....which is not good.

However, the western commercials are pretty stupid too :P However, they should at least try to make commercials for Japanese. Although Japan is not the biggest market, we should give them respect for bringing gaming to the point that it is now....

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: joe (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » not?

not the biggest market? japan has a product line just for itself, games are released only in japan, there are more releases in japanese than the rest of the world... are you sure? my bet is that micro$oft is treating japanese costumers as if they were americans, simply pushing the same crap over a totally different culture. --> wrong advertising, wrong response, wrong business.. typical micro$oft.

   Re: Shatterdome - 2007-05-01
 » Yeah...

Same could be said about us with FPS's and RTS's, those are NA's own type of games.

Also, with NA having over double the population of Japan, Yes, we are a bigger market....twice as big to be exact...

   Re: Warrior (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » Hey Fake Kojima

Your full of S***.

   Re: wiiwii (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » ur stupid

theyre not egotistical they just dont understand how good it is yet microsoft never showed them the quality of their product mabey a commercial but thats it.its like if a new game company were to come out of no where would u want their games the second u saw the trailer or wait till u played a demo to decide.its like GTA people didnt like 1 or 2 but when 3 hit the shelves people were all over it.what im tryin 2 say is that it will take some gettin used to.kinda like goin from ps2 to psp or wii.
   by dflek (Unregistered) - 2007-04-30
 » Fanboy action

A lot of fanboy action going on down here huh?

I think everyone should get their preconceived ideas out of the way and take a look at the relative strengths of the different consoles and also have some context based on what Sakaguchi was saying.

No-one "liked" Kutaragi... There were lots of reports from Sony Japan that he ran the place like a dictatorship. That doesn't mean he didn't do a great job or anything else, just that he rubbed some people the wrong way.

As far as different consoles and their success, make sure you've played them all before polarising your opinions. The Xbox 360's online system is awesome. It's definitely the most streamlined and accessible online system available today. The 360's lack of success in Japan IS disappointing, as Japanese sales have traditionally driven console growth and therefore pull bigger games in. At the same time you can't discount the POTENTIAL of the PS3. I have only played one briefly and it was kind of fun, but it had control issues and lacked a killer app. That said, you only have to look at the PS2 to see the sort of heritage that Sony has with game consoles to see that they'll definitely have some great games in the future.

In summary.... be objective. And fanboys, f@ck off.
Peace.

   by fio (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » waaahhh!!!!

Everybody likes Wii now waaahhh, It'll pass 360 sells by summers end waaahhh, PS3 still selling like crap waaahhh. You know what.... Sony had its time, 360 had it's 15 minutes of fame. Everything moves on circles...so it's Nintendo's turn Again. Change your diapers and live on!

Damn I should have money in Nintendo stocks before DS AND Wii come out!!!


   Re: Quixand - 2007-05-01
 » whoa man!!!

think it over first...

who do you think wears diapers??? the XBox fans? the PS3 fans? or the morons that buy a wii???!!!! who actually started their post with "waaahhh!!!"...

stupid.

stick with ur wii and don't go near the PSN or Live where people with actual braincells go and gut it out with REAL games...

you can go and grab any grandma walking by and play bowling.
   by Motoyama (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » So wrong

Hi
I live in japan and you are all so wrong about microsoft in japan- Japanese people LOVE MICROSOFT- If you say you have vista everyone will jump on you and ask you about it and such- But the reason the 360 doesnt sell much is that there is no comersial about it hehe- The Wii and the Ps3 has soooo many commersials all the time on the tv on the walls-

Most people love ps3 but the price is to high- I got a playstation 3 and if i tell anyone they would come to my place to play it no mather what- Everyone like ps3 just the price that is too high! But everyone likes the wii too but if the ps3 was cheaper it would sell more than wii-

So please dont speak about japan if you dont know anything about it- Japan loves the american culture more than any other culter-


   Re: heath (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » thanks

Thanks for posting here and I hope you keep posting.

   Re: lala (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » a real man

good post

   Re: Mleep (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » doo doo doo

What about the Doo Doo Doo? +p

   Re: someone (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » .

as mr crazy ken said... if you want a PS3, you got to work hard and earn it (which i did btw and totally paid off cause i'm now beta trialing Home :D)
   by Xbox is the best (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » keep posting Japan

more japanese gamers should post here and on other popular american game sites I got a real insight on how japanese people view my precious xbox 360 plus they make a lot of sense unlike some dumb sony fanboys saying the japanese are bias or hate xbox 360 please more japanese guys continue to post you guys are welcome to post anytime


   Re: Quixand - 2007-05-01
 » how the tides turn...

weren't the Xbox fans the ones who condemns the japanese for not buying the Xbox 360??? saying all those stuff about the culture and how americans who buy Sony are traitors and such... the the japanese only likes cute pokemon games which they say sucks... that japanese are egotistic and close-minded... somebody even brought up the bombing of japan by america for crying out loud... and everybody here in Qj knows it!!!!

Sony fans never had a problem with the japanese!!! it the XBots who keeps on mouthing off about them... as i said the americans don't buy a lot of PS3's either but you don't hear the japanese people complaining and saying sh*itty things about the americans... it's just the XBots who are just dying to add a few more numbers to the 360's sales figures that they get frustrated by the japanese for not buying the 360... and now one japanese posted and the xbots are just ki*ssing his ass when just a couple of articles ago you guys were ready to bash japan, the people, and the culture.

   Re: another guy (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » ^^

tru dat
   by lol (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » Gears of war..

is only hard to understand cos there are no wide eyed freaks and goblins casting magic and *****.

   by freakrule21 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » well....

well said Quixand! u are right. plus why would sony fanboys bash japan? the ps3 is from japan... unless it is secretly made by Microsoft *sarcasm* for those xbots who dont understand. and why the hell would xbots care if it sold well in japan!? if u are TRULEY HAPPY WITH GEARS OF WAR OR U XBOX360 GO PLAY IT U STUPID *****. o yeah that's right it sux. ps3 fanboys dont care about sale cuz they're happy playing their awesome games and watching there Blu-Ray movies

   by hah (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » hah

Hardcore gamers are the minority and choose PS3/360. Babies and old people choose the Wii. That doesn't mean its good. Just means that there are more babies/old people than hardcore gamers. Look at the ipod. It sucks hard and is $300 but everyone buys it cause its the hot item to own. Just glad I don't wear diapers yet like the post above me. Waaaaahhhh!!

   by AnubisHorus (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » System Spesifics

this is utter crap...people are taling about how much better a system is because of the market of people its targeted too...well i think people like the systems more for the games they are more spesifically attoned to. Take the 360 for example, it is more of an FPS, adventure, action system; while the PS3 and all sony systems before it have been RPG and fighting consoles; as for the Wii, it is just now getting into more gory games but since the dawn of time its been coming out with games target tward small children and puzzle games. Don't hate systems because of the company that makes them but hate games that come out for a spesific system. Im kindof tired of listening to everyone talk about how much the system they don't have sucks.

   by whaaaaa (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » Saka-douche

How many millions did this guy cost Square with that crap called Final Fantasy: Spirits Within? He was fired and Sony had to save Square financially. This guy is a douche.

   by tomba (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » final fantasy sucks anyways

f^ck final fantasy its a pretty garbage week whake game i don't know y u people spend your money on it

   by ld_ruiz69 - 2007-05-01
 » tricky?

So he doesnt like PS3 because its architecture is tricky? Wow

   by WII OWNER (Unregistered) - 2007-05-01
 » the wii controller

the wii controller remote and nunchuk together cost $40 idiot. and about games not all are $50 some are 37 or below but not under 20 so 360 and ps3 games cost $60 and your ps3 controllers cost more than a ps2 1 and at least ps2 1s have rumble functionality and so does wii and 360.


   Re: +!() (Unregistered) - 2007-05-05
 » Hey dumb.s.h.i.t

Yo dumb.a.s.s. You retarded or just plain stupid. Did you fall off the stupid tree and hit every dumb branch on the way down. Maybe in your dumb retarded mind Wii controllers cost 40$ including the nunchuck. Out here in the real world Wii controllers including the nunchuck cost 60$ dollars. You say some Wii games cost 37 or below. Really? Again this must be on your mind because I have never seen a brand new Wii game costing that much at launch. I haven't even seen a used Wii game cost that much. Who the hell gives a damm about rumble in their controller. I don't. I could care less about rumble in my controllers. I only found rumble useful in survival horror games. Besides I like the motion sensing in the SIXAXIS better because it is optional and the controller still has all of its buttons.
   by trytry (Unregistered) - 2007-05-02
 » Final Fantasy is old and stale Blue Dragon if new and fresh

http://bluedragon.tv/



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