Ridge Racer Fanatic Kaz Hirai Reportedly Sony’s New President

I hate PR ...

after denying it happened ... NOW they are all "hey, guess what! Kaz is our new Prez!"

this is so ridiculously stupid ...

they better give all their money to From Software because thats the only worthwhile dev they got

@patrickklepek:

@patrickklepek said:

@DarthOrange said:

Is that a typo or is it supposed to say 2009 and 2001?

That's my bad.

Or is it your baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad.

Did i do that right? i didnt pay attention when that riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidge raaaaaacccceerr thing haaaaaaaaappenned.

Stringer was a Brit who cared about $$.
Let's see of kaz has the vision to bring all of Sony's resources together

Kaz is a total baller. Good job Sony!

Isn't there a difference between president and CEO. Perhaps both will coexist, but who knows.

Well Im glad hes the president now.  Hes a really likeable person

Once Kaz becomes CEO all Sony products will be Ridge Racer oriented.

It's ridge racer. RIDDGGE RACCERR!

Congrats Kaz.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss?

*GUITARRRRSSSSSSSSS*

Hip hip, Hirai? *crickets*

@ptys said:

Sony's really in the shit. I don't think I'll buy another Playstation till they make some big changes. In saying that I probably won't buy the next Xbox either, hopefully someone else will come up with a better consumer product for the next gen.

Explain please your thoughts on how sony is in the shit? The vita is selling ok in japan, it has yet to launch here, And if they are smart they will fix the UMD to DL crap with the excessively high prices. The Ps3 also has practically sold the same amount of consoles as Xbox has since launch and Microsoft is having the Hacking problems now while sony is fine. I am not seeing how they are in the shit -.-

@BulletproofMonk said:

Kaz Hirai is the smoothest motherfucker.

Yes.

Hey, do any of you guys remember that one E3 years ago where Kaz Hirai shouted "Riiiiidge Racer!" incredibly loudly? Am I the only one?

The new model of Playstation Move controller revealed in that photo :)

Any Ridge Racer fanatic has my vote for executive office any time, any day.

So wait, Playstation birthed Ken Kutaragi?

Congrats Hirai and good luck!

They can't get rid of the Token American CEO. That'd be ridiculous. I've
heard American CEOs have been a trend for Japanese companies for
awhile now.  Maybe the fad has waned?

and well be using ATNT. Crowd sigh's

I never really was aware of Kaz before this past E3 (never knew where the Ridge Racer joke came from) but from what I've seen of him recently he seems like a very likable guy. Whether he has good business practices I don't know but at least he's fun to watch.

You've let him in your house, now he can't be stopped!

So I'm guessing next is president of the world?

the playstation brand is the best thing about sony. i think this is great.

Sony's really in the shit. I don't think I'll buy another Playstation till they make some big changes. In saying that I probably won't buy the next Xbox either, hopefully someone else will come up with a better consumer product for the next gen.

@Jazzycola said:

I wonder if Sony stockholders thinks this is going to make things any better for the company. Sony is losing money with Howard Stringer and I don't see it changing with Kaz Hirai. Just look at the last 6 years of what Kaz's department has produced. Lackluster PS3 launch(which for the most part still exists in the US), PSP not really going anywhere, Vita not really selling, and this isn't including their tv's which have slowed to a halt as everybody now owns a HDtv(I don't know if this is actually his department). Suffice to say, I don't think having more of the same is going to help them. Just cause he had success 10 years ago doesn't mean that he'll be successful in the future. The industry has changed and evolved but Sony hasn't.

Both the early life of the PSP (which still sold really well, although mostly was a super-hit in Japan) and the weird PS3 launch were before Hirai's time as boss. Ken Kutaragi handled SCE in those days. I also don't think Hirai is responsible for the TV's, that should be a different division.

So we can blame the Vita on him, perhaps. I'm not really sure how much it's selling. I'm buying one, I like what it seems to be about.

I hope this works out well for Sony, they've made a lot of quality products and stuff. Sadly, this is probably gonna mean less Kaz Hirai at E3 and stuff..no more Riiiidge Raaacer!

EDIT: Realized I had written that before Kutaragi was boss, Kutaragi was boss. Doh. Meant Kutarai was boss before Hirai.

I'm not familiar enough with the inner workings of Sony, so I won't comment on whether this is actually a good thing or a bad thing. But I do think Sony desperately needs new blood and ideas in the upper levels of management, so i'm at least happy to see that guys are moving up.

Besides, Kaz is a very likeable and charming guy in person and in his interviews, a good face for Sony. I wish him well.

Kaz is such a lovable dude. I'm cool with this move.

@iAmJohn: bawk

@CashBailey: I dunno aside from the 2006 mess that was ridge racer and $600 I find Sony normally has the best unless Nintendo shows something crazy. I find microsoft tries too hard while sony just has Jack Tretton giving you the business.

To be fair though I have a weird man crush on Jack Tretton. I love listening to that man talk.

Kaz Hirai has had to eat so much shit onstage because of Sony's embarrassing (but piss-funny) trade presentations it's nice they finally throw a brother a bone for playing their fool for so long.

Kutaragi, on the other hand, was quite insane.

I dunno. I miss Kutaragi.

@Game_Baron said:

Don't know if this was said: What will happen to Jack Tretton?

He's the CEO of SCE America. So I guess he has a new boss?

Don't know if this was said: What will happen to Jack Tretton?

@DarthOrange: It wouldn't be a Patrick news update without a typo! Not trying to start hate but seriously someone should proof read his shit before it goes out.

@SlasherMan said:

@Sinful said:

Pat Klepek..typos...who would of thought?

Winner winner chicken dinner.

Ridge Racer branded TV's. I'm calling it.

I wonder if Sony stockholders thinks this is going to make things any better for the company. Sony is losing money with Howard Stringer and I don't see it changing with Kaz Hirai. Just look at the last 6 years of what Kaz's department has produced. Lackluster PS3 launch(which for the most part still exists in the US), PSP not really going anywhere, Vita not really selling, and this isn't including their tv's which have slowed to a halt as everybody now owns a HDtv(I don't know if this is actually his department). Suffice to say, I don't think having more of the same is going to help them. Just cause he had success 10 years ago doesn't mean that he'll be successful in the future. The industry has changed and evolved but Sony hasn't.

riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

I wonder if Sony stockholders thinks this is going to make things any better for the company. Sony is losing money with Howard Stringer and I don't see it changing with Kaz Hirai. Just look at the last 6 years of what Kaz's department has produced. Lackluster PS3 launch(which for the most part still exists in the US), PSP not really going anywhere, Vita not really selling, and this isn't including their tv's which have slowed to a halt as everybody now owns a HDtv(I don't know if this is actually his department). Suffice to say, I don't think having more of the same is going to help them. Just cause he had success 10 years ago doesn't mean that he'll be successful in the future. The industry has changed and evolved but Sony hasn't.

At last. Destiny has been fulfilled.

@RetroVirus said:

Ridge Racer branded TV's. I'm calling it.

This!

@SlasherMan: Good thing I'm not working for a website and getting payed for it. I just bask here like a troll.

Something something massive damage?

Idk why, but this news pleases me.

He's a cool guy, PROPS SONY

Neeeeeeeew President!

I thought he already was. Shows how much I pay attention to these things.

@ajamafalous said:

...Anyway, what is Jack Tretton's position at Sony?

CEO Sony Computer Entertainment of America

Wow. Kinda makes me wonder what's happening at Sony. So many promotions. Fast tracking the best?

I don't think that's the correct use of "brainchild". Maybe "mastermind" is what you were after there?