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[Mr Moose]

They never spoke about their system again. Mark Cerny never interviewed about it, nor did anyone else from Sony. There was no further information given.

I must've imagined Mark Cernys DF interview.

 

[GymWolf]

I prefer the one that make good games on a regular basis, who gives a fuck about how open or closed they are??

 

[kyussman]

I don't care about any of the bullshit that comes from these business men.....make good games.

 

[GHG]

I think Phil should start an onlyfans.

 

[SmokedMeat]

I think Phil should start an onlyfans.

He’d sell a ton of subscriptions to PlayStation fans. They’re obsessed with the guy.

 

[RoadHazard]

Phil does talk a lot, and a lot of it is pure BS. Not sure that's much better than just letting the games speak for themselves?

 

[Klayzer]

He’d sell a ton of subscriptions to PlayStation fans. They’re obsessed with the guy.

 

[supernova8]

I prefer Sony's approach.

I play games on my gaming console; I don't play executives on my gaming console.

I dunno the way he said "we believe in generations" and then proceeded to show a bunch of games, most of which turned out to be cross-gen (including ones we thought were next-gen only but weren't, including Horizon, Spiderman, and Gran Turismo and then later God of War), still irks me to this day.

Everyone was shitting on Xbox at the time for saying their "true next-gen" games wouldn't be coming til late 2022-2023 and IMO Playstation decided to be liberal with the truth and their wording to capitalize on people's mild irritation toward Xbox.

Fast forward to late 2022/early 2023 and of course Sony is in a better position games-wise (IMO) but back at that very point in time, it feels like a bit of a lie/stretch looking back.

 

[GHG]

He’d sell a ton of subscriptions to PlayStation fans. They’re obsessed with the guy.

Unfortunately for him the playstation guys are too busy giving money to Sony for the games they're producing.

He'll have to settle for the scraps his own fanbase are willing to give him. They claim they love him, but will they prove it? Are they really the pay pigs they say they are?

 

[In Cold Blood]

In Cold Blood is a mix of PR and Xbox fanatism, of course it will be the second, ask him to do a openess thread about sales and he won't for example.

Your answer shows that you are a playstation fanatic.
Nowhere did I say one was better than the other, or that one would be more successful.
I asked which one of those models do think is preferable?
Again, just because Phil is a dev and avid gamer does not mean he will have more success as a CEO.
Only a fanboy would automatically become defensive and think it was an attack on PS.
Sony and Microsoft run their PR very differently.
One gives a shit ton of info, the other doesn't.
Only an idiot would think that one or the other will result in better games, or more console sales.
And why the fuck does everything default to console sales for PS fans?
Question something Sony does the reply is "yeah, well Sony is selling more consoles'. Question Jim Ryan and the reply is "well at least Sony is releasing games".

Howabout you just answer which approach you think is better and why?

 

[DeltaPolarBear]

If MS is open, they should tell us their Gamepass numbers.

 

[Mr Moose]

And why the fuck does everything default to console sales for PS fans?

Something MicroSoft isn't so open with.

 

[In Cold Blood]

I must've imagined Mark Cernys DF interview.

Yep that was another one he did.
However you can compare the amount of information given out by Sony and by Microsoft.
It is the same way they do alot of things.
Hey, some people think less is more.

 

[In Cold Blood]

Something MicroSoft isn't so open with.

Touche

 

[Klayzer]

Your answer shows that you are a playstation fanatic.
Nowhere did I say one was better than the other, or that one would be more successful.
I asked which one of those models do think is preferable?
Again, just because Phil is a dev and avid gamer does not mean he will have more success as a CEO.
Only a fanboy would automatically become defensive and think it was an attack on PS.
Sony and Microsoft run their PR very differently.
One gives a shit ton of info, the other doesn't.
Only an idiot would think that one or the other will result in better games, or more console sales.
And why the fuck does everything default to console sales for PS fans?
Question something Sony does the reply is "yeah, well Sony is selling more consoles'. Question Jim Ryan and the reply is "well at least Sony is releasing games".

Howabout you just answer which approach you think is better and why?

Probably the same reason Xbox fans brings up Gamespass constantly. But im sure your are ok with that.

 

[In Cold Blood]

Meh, close the thread mods. Thought it might have been an interesting topic.

 

[PropellerEar]

It came up in another thread about Phil Spencer being interviewed about the lack of games, and how that he should shut up like Jim Ryan and the head of Nintendo do.

It's an interesting contrast by the three companies.
Microsoft is alot more accessible and open to its customers than either Sony and Nintendo are.
Let's just compare Microsoft and Sony here, as Nintendo is more Japanese.

When both consoles launched, Sony did a couple of wired magazine interviews, and one road to the PS5 video and that was it.
They never spoke about their system again. Mark Cerny never interviewed about it, nor did anyone else from Sony. There was no further information given.

Microsoft on the other hand have been very open.
We had the initial reveal, Digital Foundry got some heads up.
We had Jason Ronald presenting himself for numerous podcasts and interviews.
We then had Microsoft do a presentation at Hot Chips where they went balls deep.and even gave a die shot of the APU. They explained why they made certain decisions like the RAM pool split etc. They showed demo's of of how some of their new tech worked like Mesh Shaders and Sampler Feedback Streaming.

So on top of the hardware side of it we have the difference between Jim Ryan and Phil Spencer as the heads of both companies.
Phil is a gamer. Jim Ryan would know how to turn a Playstation on.
Phil is a developer, Jim is a pencil pusher.
Phil Spencer has made himself available to smaller podcasts like Xboxera for example. Jim Ryan wouldn't think of doing that.

There was another part to the way Xbox heads interact with their fan base.
When Xbox was at its lowest during the Xbox One, there were a number of loyal xbox players who stuck thick like TimDog, Rand Al Thor etc and the heads of xbox mixed with them. They played online with them and to this day they still socialise with a number of them.
There's no way on God earth that Jim Ryan, Mark Cerny or Herman are going to be gaming with their player base or being friends with them.

Two totally opposite ways of doing buisness.

So which one is the better way to go? Do you want the openness and accessibility of Microsoft or the closed shop of Sony?
Do you think either one negatively effects their brand?

I worked for a large US corporation and one day during a sales meeting the manager drew two stick figures on a whiteboard. One tall looking down, and a shorter one looking up. Underneath it he wrote "if you're not looking down on your customers, how can you expect them to look up to you?"

 

[In Cold Blood]

Probably the same reason Xbox fans brings up Gamespass constantly. But im sure your are ok with that.

I mean, I don't rave about GP. I have it because I got three years for $1.
However, GP is a feature where as sales has nothing to do with it?

 

[Riky]

I think it's great the likes of Phil Spencer and Jason Ronald are prepared to go onto podcasts and talk to fans taking questions. Especially Ronald who seems very straightforward and knowledgeable.
At the end of the day delivering next gen exclusives is what matters and that's been poor from all of them, with Hi Fi rush, Redfall, Forza and Starfield MS are leading the way this year.

 

[hemo memo]

I prefer open policy. I prefer transparency. I prefer known schedules and less secrecy.

 

[Klayzer]

I mean, I don't rave about GP. I have it because I got three years for $1.
However, GP is a feature where as sales has nothing to do with it?

Not all PSfans bring up console sales in every topic either.

 

[Nautilus]

Nintendo's approach.

 

[rofif]

shill spencer only talks. Nothing else.

 

[RoboFu]

Well seeing as the best first party game MS has put out in years was to them what seems like a “ throw away shadow drop” it doesn’t look like Phil’s approach is working all that well to me.

 

[Nautilus]

The majority in here are playing on a PlayStation so they gain from both sonys closed choices and Microsoft's open choices.

Don't think so. I think it's evenly split between Nintendo and Sony.

 

[Tommi84]

If MS is open, they should tell us their Gamepass numbers.

and CONSOLE sales numbers.

 

[GHG]

Only a fanboy would automatically become defensive

*looks at rest of post*

Indeed.

 

[Ainem Enamas]

Honesty.

 

[Klayzer]

*looks at rest of post*

Indeed.

Lol. Constant self owns by these guys. Exclusives don't matter, forced online for single player games are bad, etc.

 

[MrA]

I prefer the one that make good games on a regular basis, who gives a fuck about how open or closed they are??

This is all that matters and all that matters to the average consumer , well this and where are my friends play cod/fifa/nba/current hit

 

[MH3M3D]

They should do less talking, more game producing. Xbox haz no gaymz

 

[SmokedMeat]

Well seeing as the best first party game MS has put out in years was to them what seems like a “ throw away shadow drop” it doesn’t look like Phil’s approach is working all that well to me.

You’d rather they start with a teaser trailer four years before it’s ready?

I think those blindside releases of games we knew nothing about at the absolute best.

 

[RoboFu]

You’d rather they start with a teaser trailer four years before it’s ready?

I think those blindside releases of games we knew nothing about at the absolute best.

I’m sure the developers would have liked some advertising for their game.

That shadow drop was not some sort of brilliant plan. It was throwing out a bone to Xbox users with a game they lacked faith in and didn’t want to spend money in advertising it.

 

[BbMajor7th]

Your answer shows that you are a playstation fanatic.

Your OP spells out your own bias in foot-high italics:

Phil is a gamer. Jim Ryan would know how to turn a Playstation on.
Phil is a developer, Jim is a pencil pusher.

A quick Google search says that Jim Ryan started out in international finance and he's been with PlayStation since the beginning. A balanced comparison would've highlighted that - you loaded the conversation for console warring in your opening salvo and then made out that other people we're being biased.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I prefer a consistent output of good games.

One and done.

 

[Klayzer]

I’m sure the developers would have liked some advertising for their game.

That shadow drop was not some sort of brilliant plan. It was throwing out a bone to Xbox users with a game they lacked faith in and didn’t want to spend money in advertising it.

Totally agree. Typically, publishers don't shadow drop games they truly believe in. Though, its a very good looking title.

 

[MasterCornholio]

He’d sell a ton of subscriptions to PlayStation fans. They’re obsessed with the guy.

But gamepass is only available on Xbox.

 

[MasterCornholio]

And why the fuck does everything default to console sales for PS fans?

I like playing games more even if they are from last gen. Currently going through Farcry 5. Might pick up Farcry 6 afterwards since it's dirt cheap right now.

 

[mrmustard]

I’m sure you could take a wild guess why.

I knew the people in this forum lean towards Sony, but this is not the kind of thread where i expected that nearly all the answering people feel the need to have a dig at the op and Microsoft.

 

[Mokus]

I bought both Nintendo's and Sony's consoles never thinking about the people who run these companies (and what are they doing). Same with many other products.

 

[Pelta88]

Looks at the lengths Microsoft has gone to hide XBOX financials in their quarterly financial reports, since 2013.

Looks at Sony and Nintendo showing, in detail, the viability of their gaming business in their quarterly financial reports.

Me, when I realize OP is really talking about Phil Spencer's utterly meaningless PR sound bites, like they're some type of win

,

 

[Spaceman292]

Endlessly lying about "this year being the best in Xbox history" doesn't count as being transparent. This year guys, I mean this year. This year for sure. Next year. Last year sucked. This year.

 

[Umbasaborne]

Microsoft often doesnt have the substance (gsmes) so they talk alot to compensate. Sony and nintendo let the games talk for them. I dont think the two are mutually exclusive mind you however. The ps brand was much more exciting during the ps4 era under shawn layden

 

[The Tourmaline Gorilla]

I love how everyone just ignores the question and turns this into a "you-can't-have-one-without-the-other", as though they're mutually exclusive. Lol. The silliness of some members in Gaf has no end, huh?

The OP didn't ask if you preferred less game output and more open discussion with users vs more game output and no open discussion with users. The OP asked, do you prefer more open discussion with users or less? It would surprise y'all to know that, you can have both; it just so happens that we don't, at the moment and that might and could change. In other words, let us suppose both Sony and Microsoft had the same game output; which style of fan interactions would you prefer; Phil's and Xbox or Jim and Play Station? Granted, you can believe, just for an instant, that the game output has nothing to do with their ability or lack of ability to interact with their fans... God forbid.

Xbox could change management, Phil can leave... A 100% suit could take the helm, and we end up with a leadership style similar to Jim's. And vice versa; Sony could take a new approach to help bolster positive PR (whether they need it or not isn't the point), by having more open/transparent fan interaction. Who knows; Jim may want to retire soon. What about five years from now, or ten years from now; maybe the new person in charge of Play Station might be an avid gamer like Phil, and might be more open to engaging with and interacting with the gaming community... Who knows?

To answer your question OP; I prefer Xbox's style of fan interaction. In fact, I think if Jim was a gamer himself, or interacted more with the fans/users, it can only be a plus for Play Station, and their supporters. How is that a bad thing, really? Of course, one can argue that if you stay out of the front lines, you don't have to worry about bad publicity, or "saying the wrong things", as Phil is often called-out on. But still, there is some measure of mutual respect and appreciation that gamers may have for a fellow gamer. People wonder why anyone believes Phil, or why people like him, and I'd argue it's because of his personality, and the fact that he's an avid gamer.

I'll prove my point with simply this - imagine if Xbox took the Sony approach to fan engagement/interaction... That perceivable low game output, followed by silence in every realm of gaming news, media and entertainment. Like it or not, Phil's and Xbox's approach helps public perception, at least in terms of making the company seem more...human or humanized. There are people (myself included) that have played matches with/against Phil and even chatted with him briefly online. Imagine being a huge fan of Play Station and being able to get into a match with Jim Ryan, and having a small but personal chat about a game both you guys just finished playing. It can only add to player/user perception of the brand. Or, if not the brand, the leader.

But, I look at all these responses and see so many people not being able to separate the two things, as though they genuinely believe it has to be one or the other: either the leader is sociable and they make zero games, or either they're not sociable at all and make all the games.

No wonder why I've seen people call this place Sonygaf. Smh

 

[Clear]

Personally I much prefer the restrained approach to PR/announcements that Sony have taken in recent years.

Its very corporate, but to be honest I find the more folksy "human" approach taken by MS to be so transparently manufactured I think it kinda works against them on the whole.

Reality is that anyone with half a brain knows they are both as laser focussed on turning a profit as each other; they don't "love" us, they just want to sell us products and services! So why maintain the charade?

 

[Quezacolt]

I prefer the door that gives me better games, and not just services.

Sure, MS is a lot more open, but at the same time, they jave been promising stuff for years and not delivering.

The "this year will be xbox biggest year" wouldnt have become a meme if they actually had kept their promises.

honestly, i think the only thing keeping xbox alive is gamepass, and to me personally, that has zero value.

 

[GHG]

Like it or not, Phil's and Xbox's approach helps public perception, at least in terms of making the company seem more...human or humanized. There are people (myself included) that have played matches with/against Phil and even chatted with him briefly online. Imagine being a huge fan of Play Station and being able to get into a match with Jim Ryan, and having a small but personal chat about a game both you guys just finished playing. It can only add to player/user perception of the brand. Or, if not the brand, the leader.

Is this just a case of hero worshiping or cult indoctrination?

 

[damidu]

prefer the one, that’ll make me see less of phil’s hollow pr statements on repeat

 

[The Tourmaline Gorilla]

Is this just a case of hero worshiping or cult indoctrination?

Where was I worshipping Phil? Where's the cult, exactly? Being objective is now considered worshipping? We're talking about styles of fan interaction here, are we not? Can we focus on that? Or would you prefer if I derail the thread and OP, by talking about all the things I think Phil is doing wrong, when that's not the topic? I mean, I have no problem pointing out my issues with Phil, but his level of fan/supporter engagement and interaction isn't one of them. And, it just so happens, that that's the topic.

You're more than welcome to make a thread about what we think Xbox/Phil is doing wrong, or has done wrong, and I'd be more than glad to participate in that one as well - I have a list, if you can believe it.

Until then though, learn the definition of objective and leave well alone.

 

[MikeM]

I just prefer games. Whichever gives them to me gets my money.