Jump to main navigation, main content

Archived entry | Matt Wilcox .net

Sony: We Didn't Steal Nintendo's Idea

It’s no secret that I find Sony equipment to be of less appeal than a cold over-brewed mug of tea, made with sour goats milk and spit. However, putting my personal opinion of that company aside, lets digest Sony’s current tantrum - which is in regard to the widespread opinion that “Sony stole its motion-sensitive controller idea from Nintendo”.

In a way I understand why people say [we stole Nintendo’s idea], but it is a little stupid, if you forgive the remark.

Phil Harrison - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

First off, I do not forgive you for calling people stupid because they reach a rather obvious conclusion. It is my opinion that Phil is rather stupid for using such language when dealing with the public. I trust the Sony PR department had some choice words to deliver over this little faux-pas.

When we brought the PlayStation to the market in 1994, we introduced real time 3-D graphics for the first time,” … “When Nintendo launched its N64 in 1996 it also had 3D graphics, did we say, “Nintendo stole our idea!”? Obviously not.

Phil Harrison - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

Two things to point out:

Sony did not “introduce real-time 3-D graphics for the first time”. The Super Nintendo was doing it with accelerated hardware before PlayStation was, nor was the Super Nintendo alone in its ability to deliver real-time 3D gaming. I remember the Atari ST and C64 had Stunt Car Racer back in 1989.

What a childish tit-for-tat playground comment. Way to sound like a grown up Phil. Apart from non-diplomatically involving the Nintendo brand in your already inaccurate and fallacious comparison, the point could have been delivered with a little more tact. Though even tact wouldn’t fix the claim that Sony “introduced real time 3-D graphics for the first time”.

We’ve been working on [motion-sensing technology] for a long time and Nintendo has certainly likewise already been working on something similar.

Phil Harrison - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

While this sounds like it has a grain of truth in it, there is only one possible explanation for why Sony had only two games in its E3 line-up that took advantage of this controller feature - it probably wasn’t destined for release any time soon, and the clamour from the public over Nintendo’s controller pushed it to a priority. If it had been in development ‘for a long time’ you would imagine you might make some games for it. As opposed to retro-fitting two rather standard looking games to ‘work’ with the new controller feature.

Sony are playing the ‘me too!’ card and bitching about it because they aren’t getting the attention or acclaim. It is my opinion that Sony as a company just dont ‘get it’. They have a way of displeasing me in all manner of ways, and in each and every instance they’ve ticked me off, it’s been because of their poor treatment of their customer base, and ignorant attitude. Just go away Sony, I’m getting a Wii, and you can keep your £600 George Foreman look-a-like PlayStation 3. Get in touch when you grow up.

From the archives

Other enteries filed under:

Of The Moment

Site information

Built with valid XHTML and CSS, designed with web standards and accessibility in mind. Best viewed in a modern browser [Firefox, Safari, Opera]

This domain and all content is a copy of my old website, for historical purposes only.