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Harrison denies Wii influenced PS3 controller, says PCs unnecessary

Sony exec says accusations of next-gen copycatting are "stupid," says the console will render traditional PCs moot in terms of home entertainment.

When Sony revealed the PlayStation 3 controller would be able to sense certain types of motion, skeptics scoffed. That's because Nintendo announced last September that its recently rechristened Wii console would also have motion-sensing controls, leading many to believe that Sony had added the functionality at the last minute as a gimmick. A report in the New York Times didn't help, as it said that some of Sony's own developers were not given the PS3 controller's tilt-sensitive controller until just weeks prior to its unveiling at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2006 in May.

Sony's Phil Harrison

Sony's Phil Harrison

Now, Sony has come out swinging. In this week's edition of German magazine Der Spiegel, Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, aggressively denied his company appropriated the motion-sensing idea from Nintendo. "In a certain way, I understand why people would say [such things], but it is stupid, if you'll forgive me saying so," said Harrison.

Harrison went on to say that the PS3's motion-sensitive controller had been in the works for some time. "We have already worked on it a long time, and Nintendo almost certainly has done likewise with something similar," he said. "It is perfectly natural for two companies to work on [nearly] identical devices. It's like that with technology." He reiterated that the PlayStation 2's Dual Shock controller is the "de facto-industry standard for video games...We define the standard for the man-machine interface for playing games."

Besides defending the PS3, Harrison took time to evangelize the device, which will launch worldwide this November. In particular, he said the Linux-based operating system on the console's hard drive will have enough processing power and nongaming functionalities to render traditional PCs--most of which use a form of Microsoft's Windows OS--moot in terms of home entertainment. "We believe that the PS3 will be the place where our users play games, watch films, browse the Web, and use other [home] computer functions," said Harrison. "The PlayStation 3 is a computer. We do not need the PC."

1075 Comments

  • mjc0961

    Posted May 11, 2010 9:20 pm GMT

    "We do not need the PC."

    We do now that you removed Other OS.

  • osmifura

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 4:44 pm GMT

    oh lord!

  • PS3_MidwestKing

    Posted Jun 3, 2007 8:20 pm GMT

    gr8arm lol i mybe a ps3 fan but that was funny

  • chickmagnet_1

    Posted Dec 11, 2006 10:22 pm GMT

    Oh man. This guy is the biggest piece of arrogant crap ever. It is a "gaming" console. Stop trying to turn it into a PC. We already have PC's. I just want a videogame console that is somewhat affordable. But I guess with the mindset of these jack@$$es, that is too much to ask. Sony, I'm getting more sick and tired of you as time goes on. I hope that you screw up royally some time and Microsoft and Nintendo beat the crap out of you.

  • FiveFist

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 4:09 pm GMT

    Thats just it people, i dont want a PC i have one already i want a gaming console stop bloatin it with all this junk ill never use and lower the freakin price!

  • firebreathing

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 6:31 am GMT

    Apparently aside from loosing his hair he is also loosing his mind. I'm guessing since this perfect console has Linux on it's hd then you can also install linux software from cd's and dvd's since blu-ray is supposed to be backwards compatable. I'd like to see how long it takes the PS3 to render something in Photoshop, Maya, Adobe Premiere or any other media software This is all, of course, assuming the PS3 can install Linux software. Oh yea and since you guys over at sony don't need computers I guess you'll be making all your games and consoles here on exclusively on PS3's. Have fun replacing all your servers with PS3's you moron. You, Baldy Phil Harrison have been pwned

  • gr8arm

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 5:47 am GMT

    This guy is insulting everyone's intelligence. The only thing the PS3 will probably have in common with a PC is the Blue Screen of Death.

  • ultimate_zero

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 7:45 pm GMT

    desanvium, speak for your self, I'm definately buying the PS3. I wonder how this PS3 being a computer thing work out.

  • desanvium

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 7:34 pm GMT

    Why are console trying to become computers. We already have computers for that. Just make the damn PS3 work as a gaming system...because right now, you're not making us feel all fuzzy about this new system of yours.

  • Cook66

    Posted Oct 7, 2006 4:16 pm GMT

    Hmmmmmm...


    Can I install Photoshop on my PS3, download brushes and create some fine art which I can upload to my FTP?

    And then can I install both MS office and OpenOffice?

    Can I install dreamworks and work on my webpage? Or can I upgrade my hardware or change to a new OS?

    Can I reformat it and put Windows Vista on it instead of Linux?

    Can I edit system files, or delete or move around the installed game files?

    Can I download another persons savefiles and use those instead of mine, to cheat in a game?

    Can install beta versions or demos for PC only games?

    If only one and I mean ONE or more of these questions are answerd with a "no" then the PS3 is NOT like a PC and DON'T SAY IT IS!

    I have to admit, I've been a PlayStation fan since the release of the PS2

    (I have almost all accecories and 60 games.)

    The delay of the console made me buy a Xbox 360, and this stupid thing about the PS3 taking over the PC is the final straw!

    I can't believe Sony really is that stupid!

    Unbelievable!

  • TheVelvet

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 10:55 am GMT

    PS3 does not equal a computer, it is a gaming console, no more no less.

  • lextexrex

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 5:05 pm GMT

    Hey! someone might homebrew up a 360 for the PS3. PS3 = Emulator Heaven

  • DeathgiverX

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 2:52 pm GMT

    A console superior to a PC? HAHAHAHAHA, so funny. Unless they will be consistently releasing upgrades I really doubt the validity of his statement. And if they want to pit their console against computers then they will definitely lose this console war because guess what $ony? Adding all the useless gadgets in the world to the PS3 still will not give it a chance against a PC and while they waste their time Microsoft and Nintendo will steal their spot.

  • singhellotaku

    Posted Aug 24, 2006 12:44 pm GMT

    How arrogant, when has a console game ever been superior to the pc version, from what i can tell there just finally about equal but that will change soon enough anyway, consoles are cheaper and more user friendly but pcs will always have a place, especially since a pc does way more than play games, all they got going for them is pc is price, my pc cost me my soul i tell you, as to the controller im sure they were working on it but i seriously doubt they would have ever used it not for the response the publics given to the wii's controller. After all it seems like only nintendo has the imagination to make wierd gimmicky things work, i could have sworn the psp would destroy the ds but look how that turned out

  • toxicmog

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 7:26 am GMT

    I cant write code, or use word on my PS3 nor can i play PC games on my PS3 what a daft thing to say. The PS3 is a PC

  • Vicious1Knives

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 1:04 am GMT

    i dont care if the ps3 is a computer, it will never defeat the pc, pcs are upgradeable to stay modern

  • cheesytaco69

    Posted Jul 29, 2006 6:12 pm GMT

    Wii had it first. They will all have it eventually.

  • yoshinatsu666

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 3:14 am GMT

    I know the 500$ is just much, but see what you get. You can do whatever you want. WHATEVER. It replaces a modern-technology PC, technically better that my current PC. PS3 will be able to run, many OS like Windows, Linux even Mac, just like any other application. It replaces everything. Plus the homebrew scene will be evolved. And just imagine any Windows application running on the PS3 (even games!?!?!).
    Yeah, that's what you get. Really now, "We do not need the PC."
    Why not PC games buy a PS3? A blu-ray player, a super-high-quality console and a PC!

  • juan99692k6

    Posted Jun 17, 2006 5:33 pm GMT

    Raiden is the man!! He looks kinda evil though

  • GabrielNHBnyc

    Posted Jun 17, 2006 1:12 pm GMT

    psshhh sure ok, I believe you.

  • juan99692k6

    Posted Jun 17, 2006 10:43 am GMT

    hey guyz, I recommend you to download the Metal Gear 4 trailer in High definition is huge (like 166 megs compressed ) but it looks awesome!! that's one of the reasons that are gonna make me buy a ps3 . lol

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Jun 14, 2006 11:20 am GMT

    Either way you look at it Sony and the sony fangirly boys got owned! Nothing they say will ever be able to make up for their embarassment biggest failur they will probably ever face! Unless they are that foolish...are that that stupid??? I guess so!

  • PhillipsJ2

    Posted Jun 14, 2006 11:11 am GMT

    Nothing will ever overtake the PC apart from Apple... Anyway, aren't the GAMES developed on a PC?!?!? Sony are just being arrogant and vain

  • fantasticlink

    Posted Jun 14, 2006 10:59 am GMT

    HAHAHA, Sony just got themselves killed.

  • mil-key-lik

    Posted Jun 14, 2006 6:35 am GMT

    Phil Harrison looks like a doosh.

  • juan99692k6

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 9:55 pm GMT

    evilyoda, i'm not trying to convince anyone about buying the ps3 i know that no matter what i say they wont change their minds . If you love your xbox 360 is ok with me. you guyz could dizz and complain about the ps3 all you want. Anyways , we ain't getting paid for doing this do we ? . you know i could take criticism with no sweat , i'm just telling you why I love it and why i think is the best. You are free to tell me why you think Xbox 360 is the best . Lets just talk and argue this like civilized men we are . that's all peace

  • ognikan

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 9:43 pm GMT

    evilyoda861= i dont know what the hek im sayin

  • ognikan

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 8:47 pm GMT

    juan99692k6 = voice of reason

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 6:47 pm GMT

    Wow juan you think that will make anyone rethink the 360? Get real. I love my 360 and play it literaly everyday for atleast an hour. I am never bored. Just because he gets bored does not mean others do. The 360 has proven itself a great system and with games like Star Trek Legacy they will have Trekies like me that have not gotten the 360 flock to it and get the system for the game which if you have looked at it looks better than any of the games I currently own and of course a lot better than all of the games on the ps3 since their is no hint of any good amount of ps3 games coming out. The ps3 is super boring. The most boring system on the planet.

    Halo3 alone is going to be epic. Sorry juan but yoru system failed you. You mine as well stick to your ps2 and for the next gen get the Wii or the 360 instead. I bet you made that up anyways.

  • juan99692k6

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 6:10 pm GMT

    without Halo and a couple of more games the 360 sucks!! . i have a friend he bought a 360 since it came out and he has it picking up dust in his room. The other day he asked me if he could borrow my ps2 cuz he was bored with the 360 . there was nothing really exciting to play for it.

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 2:24 pm GMT

    Yep PS3 could have been a great system but they ruined their chance and now they are feeling it. If it was more like 400 dollars I would get it, because it is basicaly the same graphics as the 360, but since they are not just trying to be a great system they are trying to make pc's moot, I doubt we will see many games worth even considering. They tried, but they failed. I am sticking with my 360 that I am very happy over, and I am eager to get the Wii system which shows a lot of great things. I'll never trust Sony including the fact that they dont really have anything to show how great their games are. Nothing.

  • jlwalker1007

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 1:25 pm GMT

    yeah right - i bet that's true . . . these guys are so arrogant, and it all has to do with how you'll spend your money. I've been buying games for 15 years and have never been treated like such a consumer. It feels too much like politics - mud-slinging in video games? Pretty soon there'll be a debate on Fox for the CEO's.

  • rwgober92

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 12:31 pm GMT

    yeah, no reason to make up "stupid" , if youll forgive me, excuses for being behind and using other companies ideas...*sigh* i never beleived in u anywayz, so im not disapointed.... knew this would happen

  • nader911t

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 10:23 pm GMT

    i'm not suprised. this is the same company that said "the next generation will not start till we say so"!!!give me a break. i think the next generation is here and it's good (360). the PS3 has potintial to become just as good, but you still have to pay more. IMO, Sony is in trouble...and the Japanees market is thier only saveir.

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 8:33 pm GMT

    I find it funny how desperate sony fanboys defend Sony. Yes Sony was pretty cool when the ps2 first came out but the PS3 is a mistake. They are going the wrong direction for this. Calling us stupid for the controller is not smart, and saying it will make the current pc's moot...wrong again! I didn't even read juans overly long post. I shouldn't have to. Sony was alright up until this point. PS3 they only thought about themselves. Now the people they turned their backs on will be the death of them. Maybe not dead dead, but their System surly wont be in any history books besides the worst system out of the three. A joke. An expensive joke. PS3 ruined them.

  • NoFear87

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 8:10 pm GMT

    The motion sensitive controller is in no way new. You could even buy one for PSX several years ago

  • juan99692k6

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 7:27 pm GMT

    people can talk crap all they want I don't care. All i know is that i'm buying a ps3 and no one is gonna change my mind. the system hasn't been relased yet and people are saying crapp give it a chance and you will see. I don't see any future in the gamecube (is mostly dead already) neither i see in the first xbox as they barely make any games. the ps2 is been selling strong guyz common , even more than the 360 or any other system . Sony is a great company! , when the ps2 came out the dreamcast had already been out for a year and half and it buried sega for good and is crazy because the dreamcast had more graphics than the ps2 and it more peripheral support ( in other words you could connect mad devices or contollers since it had 4 ports) on the other hand , the ps2 only had 2 gameports, and no internet gaming when it came out you had to buy to a multi-tap for 4 people to play (which is NOT gonna be a problem with ps3) the dreamcast had all this advantages over the ps2 and the ps2 still buried the dreamcast!, And sega has not come out with a game console ever since(they're probably too embaressed to try to make a console again) xbox never made or never will make a multi-million dollar company stop doing what they did best i mean common, most of us grew up with the sega genesis and we thought it was the best thing ever! we look at sega now and we think its GAY!!!! (THANX 2 SONY) and nintendo hasn't come out with
    anything good since mario (lmfao) no other company has come out with a console that actually stayed with us for TEN YEARS!!! XBOX would of done the same thing 2 the dreamcast but the ps2 out sold xbox in games and consoles. Micro-soft is good for one thing and one thing only and thats cpu progaming and operating systems like windows..micro-"SOFT" depends on other companies to make the computers. They wouldn't survive
    unless they where feeding off of other companies like a parisite...sony even helped micro-bich out by coming out with there own line of computers, which
    of course would be useless without the windows program, microsoft is a big company because of the computer programing bich GATES stole from his friend in college...sony on the other hand does not depend on anything else but game progamers and designers to make games everything else sony has covered because sony has come out with so many other products everything from plasma screen T.V.s to home audio devices like surround souds witch realy compliments the ps2 or any game console for that matter real good they've come out with car audio hi def t.v.s and man the list can go on for days you cant say that about microsoft..now
    finally for my last revalation...the nintendo revolution OR (the gayest name in history) the "WII" first of all WTF!!!?? thats how you know there won't be anything new i mean c'mon they couldn't even get a good name your going 2 tell me they are gonna come out with good games? thay where going to name it "the dolfin" what are parents going 2 think when there kid comes up and say "mom can a wii?" the hell was wrong with the guy that comes up with the name? he was probably smoking "WII" when sony and xbox came out there second console and didn't find a good thay just put some numbers in front of the orignal name why colden't nintendo do that i mean they've just been puting mario in front of every game that has ever came out if wait long enuff there will probaly be a mario FPS (lol) now for the remote...
    the remote looks very similar 2 the remote that controls my sorround sound(made by sony of course) so whats up with that? that was the only inovative thing thay have done in years and it sucked.also what ever thay make is only for kids..my bottom line sony by its self is the best company ever when thay gave birth 2 the ps it just added 2 there greatness and the ps2 was an even better addtion so you tell me if lieing if the ps2 was with us for ten years then i can strongly same that the ps3 will be here for another 15+ years thanx for reading

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 4:41 pm GMT

    Yes it is. They call us stupid and you think we are going to go "Oh Sony our bad I'm sorry I am stupid!" **** Sony bunch of jerk offs they just cant stand the fact that their PS3 is going down so fast. They need to take their thumbs out of their asses.

  • anthonym45

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 3:47 pm GMT

    They motion sensitive is way difrent in the two conrollers and its really not as big a deal as people are making it

  • Brainy142

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 1:53 pm GMT

    Right... so... uh.... i use computer for games... so uh whats with sony like shiesh even nintendo had a playable demo uh are they delaying whats coming to them or they have gone crazy shiesh i don't see them saying it's going to play pc games so.... yea, tough luck sony hahaha

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Jun 12, 2006 12:38 pm GMT

    lol the Sony fanboys know the PS3 just got its ass kicked harshly and now they are trying to kiss it to make it feel better. You guys lost. The 360 and Wii will stand tall while the PS3 dies and is remembered as a joke. Go cry somewhere else. Why else do you think there are so many people that hate the system? Because it sucks! Yes they did copy the Wii controller. Say we are stupid for believing that only makes us laugh harder and hate them more.

  • spf1senough

    Posted Jun 11, 2006 1:42 pm GMT

    The PS3 is the replacement to the Vaio? alright tool...

  • DiNaMiTiZ

    Posted Jun 11, 2006 8:38 am GMT

    i see a handful of negative reactions.. Personally, the statement makes me more curious-anxious, but i was and i am going to buy a ps3 anyway.

  • RADCRASH02

    Posted Jun 11, 2006 8:27 am GMT

    This guy is like that one person in high school that knows he has a small dick but still acts really conceded

  • RADCRASH02

    Posted Jun 11, 2006 8:26 am GMT

    This guy is like the guy in high school that knows his dick is smaller then everyone elses but still needs to be conceded lol.

  • kmanza

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 5:35 pm GMT

    Hey, the reason the PS2 is not even under $100 is because it is still a marketable commodity. The demand is still high and people is still buying it. Unlike the Gamecube which you cannot give away. You charge what the market will bear and makes profit. That's just good business. When the demand soften there will another price cut and sales will upsurge again. The same goes for PS3, even at $600, the first six million units will still sold out. Expect the first price cut when sales reach ten million.

  • Death_Masta187

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 5:16 pm GMT

    the PS2 is not even under $100 yet and it came out October 26, 2000...
    almost 6 years ago! just think how long it will take the PS3's price to drop even to 150.
    PS2 Price history.
    $US$299.99 (October 26, 2000, Launch Price)
    $US$199.99 (May 14, 2002)
    $US$179.99 (May 13, 2003)
    $149.99 (May 11, 2004)
    $ US$129.99 (April 20, 2006)

    So maybe by 2009 I will consider getting a PS3
    So if sony could maybe backup once ounce of what they say. they would stop useing Windows on the PC that the make... in this day in age no one would buy a PC that didnt have windows on it. so once again sony cant back up what they say... Also most people who want some forum of UNIX on their PC will just build the PC them selfs and not waste the money on the OS because 99.9% of unix based OS's are FREE! sorry sony i wont be buying any PS3 to replace my PC that already out prorforms it...

  • iowasevenk

    Posted Jun 10, 2006 10:30 am GMT

    Foohls!
    Ok, Lynix have failed to replace the PC already. Now they wana do it again with a console? WTF?

    And Btw Sony, PC users do more than play games, wach porn n media... You realy think were gunna do anything like game design/college work/art work etc etc on a PS3? You think Im actualy gunna pay £400-500 for a PS3?

    Sony have had their day. Just RIP already n let microsoft eat you alive (and the Wii is gunna rock too!)

  • juan99692k6

    Posted Jun 9, 2006 7:13 pm GMT

    I have to agree with you on that one they over did it

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