Microsoft can't stop copying us - Sony boss

PS3 News | "I wish they'd come up with strategies of their own."

In an interview published in the latest Official PlayStation Magazine, SCEA boss Kaz Hirai has gone on the offensive again, this time accusing Microsoft of copying Sony's ideas. "Every time we go down a path, we look behind and [Microsoft is] right there - we just can't shake these guys," harrumphed Hirai. "I wish that they would come up with some strategies of their own, but they seem to be going down the path of everything we do."

Hirai was equally unimpressed with Microsoft's decision to launch a HD-DVD drive as an optional extra. "You're not going to be asking me, 'So, talk to me about this Blu-Ray add-on that you have. Does it work for games? Is it just for movies?' That's exactly the kind of pitfall you fall into if you launch something that's too early, too premature..." he said.

Hirai's accusations may well be viewed with slight cynicism in some quarters, however - Sony has been accused of copying competitors in the past, with the motion-sensing PS3 controller allegedly influenced by Nintendo's Wii remote controller. Meanwhile, the very existence of Xbox Live Marketplace and Microsoft's launch strategy of bringing out two versions of the Xbox 360 (a move that is to be mirrored by Sony when the PS3 launches) hardly helps Hirai's argument.

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37 Comments

ObsoletE

5 years ago

i still don't believe people get hung up on this sh!t.

it's business, people take other people's ideas all the time and either evolve them, make blatant copies, or make inferior versions.

and it's not limited to the game console industry.

seriously. who cares?

ugh the boot

5 years ago

dymsim wrote

The PS2 Add-on port was designed specifically for the HDD, as was stated on the original spec sheet that started floating around in 2000.

It's a bit hard to say one person copies another. I mean, if no-one did that then no-one would make anything new. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get your statement on the USB port (sorry if it sounds offensive). Both the PS2 and Xbox had USB ports, and both the PS3 and Xbox360 do (or ... will), as they're using a patented technology made by another company.

In the same sense, no-one can prove that Sony copied Nintendo with the motion controller. Nintendo don't own the patent for a motion controller. In fact, if you search hard enough you can see Sony have been planning one since 1999 (the link has long since escaped me).

What I was trying to say is that just because the ps2 has a port which can support a hdd doesn't mean it was the first to the market with hdd, but as David stated the Japanese Ps2 launched without the hdd port so that disregards your whole argument anyways.

And the ps2 USB port is absolutely useless! Atleast the Xbox 360 can support most current USB devices. Also the original Xbox didn't have a USB port.

So my question still stands....how have Microsoft copied Sony?

Frozencry

5 years ago

Bah..It's just the typical thing companies do with each other..point fingers and accuse, however hypocritical it is.

How about we all just ignore these moron marketting guys and wait for ps3 to come out, and then perhaps make a legitimate judgement upon it?

ObsoletE

5 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

And the ps2 USB port is absolutely useless! Atleast the Xbox 360 can support most current USB devices. Also the original Xbox didn't have a USB port.

actually i had no issues with the USB ports on the PS2, worked exactly like i expected them too =/

Jellyfish

5 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

Also the original Xbox didn't have a USB port.

Actually the original Xbox had four USB ports (the controller ports), they were just reworked for some reason.

Qbert

5 years ago

Xamerkapsy wrote

The GCN's inability to store a whole resident evil game on a single disc totally ruined RE4.

Sorry, but that's the funniest thing I've read in a while.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

nikack wrote

Actually the original Xbox had four USB ports (the controller ports), they were just reworked for some reason.

ObsoletE wrote

actually i had no issues with the USB ports on the PS2, worked exactly like i expected them too =/

Ok firstly I know they're reworked usb ports but they're not used for traditional usb devices.....so they're not normal usb ports!! I don't see your point!?

Secondly can you name me some popular devices that you could use with the ps2 usb port? I had no idea you could plug in digital video cameras, mp3 players, keyboards, mice etc.

EDIT: Also I think Xamer was being a little sarcastic about RE:4 being ruined.

ObsoletE

5 years ago

i use Keyboard and mouse through my PS2 fairly often.

there was a phase where a LOT of games supported mouse and keyboard input.

this was dropped on later games though. =/

ugh the boot

5 years ago

^ No that's cool I didn't realise it actually supported the devices. I know they could plug in....but there's a huge difference in actually being able to use it. I know with the Xbox 360 you can listen to mp3s, plug in digital cameras and digital video cameras, use the mouse and keyboard....hell you can even plug in the psp. I actually thought the ps2 one was there for show....or just for the eyetoy or something.

That's actually better than the xbox 360 in mouse/keyboard support cuz to my knowledge the 360 supports it in the menus and stuff but not in games (yet).

ObsoletE

5 years ago

oh there's no disputing that the X360 handles the ports better than the PS2 did, and i don't know if any peripherals used the ports since i never bought any.

i had a few games that supported USB Mouse/Keyboard controls, mostly all FPS games. but then PS2 Network went live (oxymoron, i know) and they all stopped supporting it.

i guess it was probably for the best, since Mouse > Control Pad anyday for FPS games.

ugh the boot

5 years ago

^ ah yea...that explains why it was taken out...cuz the mouse/keyboard users would've owned, schooled, raped...etc.

Still that's heaps better than what I initially figured cuz I thought it was only for like the eye-toy and a few other select sony peripherals.

Deus Sceleris

5 years ago

I don't really care about if these companies copy "technologies" off one another... So long as they take someone's technology (revolutionary or not) and make it better/more fun/cheaper... The only ones realy losing are the companies when (or if) they lose business because of it... There's no real negative for us, we get better and better "Toyses" to play with >____>

My only real beef(s) with Playstation-san now is their price (empty wallet +1) and their super-magic "Limited Motion Sensing" "add-on" for their almost-identical-to-their-past-controllers controller... Unfortunately i'm quite bias when it comes to the Playstation controllers... I can't use them, their uncomfertable, make me look retarded while playing and are too small for my hands >___>

I wonder if M$ will retaliate... I really hope they try and make fun of Sony and see:

ObsoletE wrote

who's father can beat which other's father.

InvivnI

5 years ago

I thought you folks might get a kick out of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVVHGvGAm5o

I'm not saying anything about copying here, this controller here was actually based off the motion sensing PC controllers that were briefly, and i mean really really briefly, all the rage back in the late 90's. Now it seems odd that motion sensing never caught on then, doesn't it Sony and Ninty? Food for thought there....

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