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Jim Ryan inducted into the 'Variety 500' 2022 edition, being recognized for his accomplishments in Business. (Bungie Acquisition, Sony pictures, etc.)

Eddie-Griffin

Eddie-Griffin

Banned
https://variety.com/variety-500/

Welcome to the sixth annual edition of Variety500, an index of the 500 most influential business leaders shaping the global media industry.

Updated Dec. 28, 2022, the Variety500 reflects the accomplishments of its members over the previous 12 months. They were selected by the Variety editorial board, which conducted extensive research for its selections.
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Jim_Ryan_v4.png

While not as colossal as Microsoft’s planned $69 billion Activision Blizzard buy, Sony’s $3.7 billion acquisition of “Destiny” publisher Bungie completed in 2022, giving SIE some live-service ammo as Ryan readies the release of the PlayStation VR 2 headset in early 2023. The company has continued to make strategic investments, acquiring 14% of FromSoftware and injecting $1 billion into Epic Games, and has also objected to the Activision Blizzard deal, which the FTC is now attempting to block. PlayStation 5 is still outselling Xbox Series X/S nearly two to one, but Xbox’s domain over subscriptions prompted Sony to overhaul PlayStation Plus in June, offering a greater library of titles to gamers. Sony Pictures also got in on SIE’s action in 2022. “Uncharted,” the debut feature of PlayStation Productions, net $400 million globally, and HBO’s TV adaptation of “The Last of Us” is due in January.
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Congratulations Jim Ryan for being chosen in the Variety 500.

While some gamers give him flak, from a business perspective regarding returns, cutting costs, and adding new revenue streams he's been ahead of the pack.
 
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vivftp

vivftp

Member
SIE has grown and expanded massively since he took over in 2019. I like this new direction and am curious to see what SIE will look like by the end of the gen. PlayStation Productions, the PC push, the live service push, the upcoming mobile push, massive studio acquisition and growing existing studios, appointing Shu as head of indies... a lot of big moves here.
 
Gamer_By_Proxy

Gamer_By_Proxy

Member
mckmas8808 said:
I HATE HIM WITH EVERY BONE IN MY BODY!!! But I have to admit that he's proving me wrong at every turn. I don't know how he keeps getting away with this. He's a good CEO, that has no charisma, no creative juices in his mind, and doesn't even seem to love gaming.

Yet everything he does keeps winning. How, I don't know.
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Cause you don't need to like video games or be creative to be a good CEO that knows what to value. He just has to keep the train on the track and he's doing fantastic at that, and growing the train. After seeing Phil getting like 200 hours into Vampire Survivors in 2 weeks, maybe it's better if they're not into video games . . .
 
remember_spinal

remember_spinal

Banned
Gamer_By_Proxy said:
Cause you don't need to like video games or be creative to be a good CEO that knows what to value. He just has to keep the train on the track and he's doing fantastic at that, and growing the train. After seeing Phil getting like 200 hours into Vampire Survivors in 2 weeks, maybe it's better if they're not into video games . . .
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Never understood the “not a real gamer” critique of jim ryan lol

Like do people think all the CEO’s of these gaming companies are sitting around playing games all day? They are business men that understand the business of selling games not playing them, thats for the studio heads to figure out
 
DeepEnigma

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
remember_spinal said:
Never understood the “not a real gamer” critique of jim ryan lol

Like do people think all the CEO’s of these gaming companies are sitting around playing games all day? They are business men that understand the business of selling games not playing them, thats for the studio heads to figure out
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It's the Phil Spencer marketed persona that got into people's heads.

Jack Tretton wasn't "a gamer" either, but we all loved that smooth talker.
 
killatopak

killatopak

Gold Member
Buying gets you awarded? What?

Tbf though I don't know the criteria of these awards especially if they're more business oriented and not gaming oriented which is what I'm more familiar with.
 
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mckmas8808

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Gamer_By_Proxy said:
Cause you don't need to like video games or be creative to be a good CEO that knows what to value. He just has to keep the train on the track and he's doing fantastic at that, and growing the train. After seeing Phil getting like 200 hours into Vampire Survivors in 2 weeks, maybe it's better if they're not into video games . . .
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No way this is real lol.
 
mckmas8808

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
DeepEnigma said:
It's the Phil Spencer marketed persona that got into people's heads.

Jack Tretton wasn't "a gamer" either, but we all loved that smooth talker.
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But Jack understood the worth of all the gaming franchises that Playstation had. Jim doesn't understand why someone would want to play Gran Turismo 4 on a PS5.
 
DeepEnigma

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
mckmas8808 said:
But Jack understood the worth of all the gaming franchises that Playstation had. Jim doesn't understand why someone would want to play Gran Turismo 4 on a PS5.
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Because we have the far superior GT7 version in every way. I would not play GT4 either when the driving model/physics/graphics, etc. are light years ahead.

And he was talking about GT1 with that quote. Why would you play pixelated texture warping and flickering when you have better graphics. Isn't that why the vast majority buy new machines? To keep in the upgrade cycle of tech, visuals, gameplay, etc..?
 
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Rac3r

Rac3r

Member
I don’t love or hate Jimbo, he’s a solid CEO, and I actually like how he quietly goes about his job (unlike others in the industry…)

The only stain on his resume for me is his closing/breaking up of Japan Studio; but in the long run, it might have been the right move. Asobi is extremely talented and gets more focus for their games, and XDEV Japan continues to support for 1P & 3P titles.

I would’ve preferred if Ryan made a third team though. So much talent left under Ueda (before Jim) and Toyama, as well as people who worked on Bloodborne.
 
vivftp

vivftp

Member
Ronin_7 said:
Jim Ryan & Sony Pictures? What the fuck has Jimbo to do with that division 🤣
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PlayStation Productions began just after Jim Ryan took over. That new division was SIE utilizing the experience and infrastructure of Sony Pictures to bring their video game IP to film and TV via faithful adaptations where the game studios get to be involved and have a say in what happens.

They've got over 10 projects currently underway.
 
feynoob

feynoob

Banned
Gamer_By_Proxy said:
Cause you don't need to like video games or be creative to be a good CEO that knows what to value. He just has to keep the train on the track and he's doing fantastic at that, and growing the train. After seeing Phil getting like 200 hours into Vampire Survivors in 2 weeks, maybe it's better if they're not into video games . . .
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It's off topic.
But when you have the system ready for you, it's easy to do your job, compared to a sinking ship.

It's still off topic, so I would stop here.
 
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P

Physiognomonics

Member
Because he bought things? that's not worthy.

One of his notable actions since he came around in 2019 was adding PS+ services (Extra, Premium) and this has actually failed badly according to their own numbers.
 
Gamer_By_Proxy

Gamer_By_Proxy

Member
feynoob said:
It's off topic.
But when you have the system ready for you, it's easy to do your job, compared to a sinking ship.

It's still off topic, so I would stop here.
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Well Phil was there for the highs and lows, and MS is trying to change the system. Jim has an easier job because it's just expanding business as usual. Not sony's fault MS is trying to change the game.
 
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Men_in_Boxes

Men_in_Boxes

Snake Oil Salesman
His multiplayer pivot was the single greatest piece of strategic brilliance since the Envolopment of Stalingrad. He has no peers in the games industry. A man amongst boys.
 
mckmas8808

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Gamer_By_Proxy said:
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THIS IS INSANE!!! LOL! He played more games in 2 weeks, than I do in 2022.

DeepEnigma said:
Because we have the far superior GT7 version in every way. I would not play GT4 either when the driving model/physics/graphics, etc. are light years ahead.

And he was talking about GT1 with that quote. Why would you play pixelated texture warping and flickering when you have better graphics. Isn't that why the vast majority buy new machines? To keep in the upgrade cycle of tech, visuals, gameplay, etc..?
Click to expand...

Like Jim, you're missing the point. Yes the tech, visuals, sound, etc is better with today's games. But keeping classics alive is super important. We don't do this when it comes to TV shows, movies, or music that came out on inferior tech. We shouldn't do it with games either.

Physiognomonics said:
Because he bought things? that's not worthy.

One of his notable actions since he came around in 2019 was adding PS+ services (Extra, Premium) and this has actually failed badly according to their own numbers.
Click to expand...

PS+ has gotten better since he took over. That's not my opinion. It's a fact.
 
DeepEnigma

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
mckmas8808 said:
Like Jim, you're missing the point. Yes the tech, visuals, sound, etc is better with today's games. But keeping classics alive is super important. We don't do this when it comes to TV shows, movies, or music that came out on inferior tech. We shouldn't do it with games either.
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About that. Especially with streaming services and segmented film/TV or stuff you can't even get on those services anymore. Hell, some VHS releases still have never made it to modern times.

I understand the preservation aspect, hence why the emulation community is what keeps those games alive, and the very reason MS also dropped their OG Xbox and 360 programs. There is no ROI in it after the initial PR win.

Their jobs are to make money ultimately. Not "sticking up for him," but the reality of the situation as a CEO. He just called it like it is initially, and did not sugar coat with a slow kill PR game.

PS4 going forward they can control with BC, and will within their ecosystem. Anything prior is eaten up by the emulation community, on all 3 of the big console/handheld makers.
 
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