Microsoft's PR blunders caused Sony to re-write E3 PlayStation 4 script [E3]

mocoworm

Member
Old?

Full article with more info at the link:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-07-09-microsofts-pr-blunders-caused-sony-to-re-write-e3-playstation-4-script

Speaking at the Develop 2014 conference in Brighton today, Sony Computer Entertainment boss Andrew House said that he had re-written portions of Sony's script after reading concerns that PlayStation would eventually copy Microsoft's restrictive policies at some point - whether at the console's launch, or further down the line.

"It made us feel a little bit clearer about our message," House said, "when a lot of the negativity was emerging around DRM issues and used games. I remember reading an article literally the weekend before E3 that was basically saying that this is the direction Microsoft was taking and that it was only a matter of time before Sony adopts the same approach.

"That sort of put me on the back foot and I went and re-wrote portions of my E3 presentation script that weekend and we re-crafted the presentation because there was now an onus on us not to be seen to be going down the same path."
 
This shouldn't really come across as a surprise for anyone.

Sony got really lucky with the sick burn. Microsoft pretty much handed it to them on a silver platter.
 
So the whole villainy shared is villainy halved thing was true after all. I guess we should be thankful the backlash to MS was so swift and strong.
 
This shouldn't really come across as a surprise for anyone.

Sony got really lucky with the sick burn. Microsoft pretty much handed it to them on a silver platter.
Yep
Microsoft pretty much wrote their script for them. All they had to say is what they *werent* doing and the better price and they would win that E3...
Which is exactly what happened.
 
This shouldn't really come across as a surprise for anyone.

Sony got really lucky with the sick burn. Microsoft pretty much handed it to them on a silver platter.

Seriously.

It was if MS handed Sony a claymore and put it's own head on the block. Sony would have been stupid not to take their head.
 
So the whole villainy shared is villainy halved thing was true after all. I guess we should be thankful the backlash to MS was so swift and strong.

...are you trying to suggest that they *were* planning it? Because it comes across more like they rewrote it to capitalize on the backlash, not changed their design.
 
This shouldn't really come across as a surprise for anyone.

Sony got really lucky with the sick burn. Microsoft pretty much handed it to them on a silver platter.

Not really.

The article continues:

Sony's policies did not change at any time, House stressed, but it had become clear Sony would do well to state its position more carefully.

"All it did was make us come out and state very clearly 'the status quo has been good to us, consumers like the choice and the balance that achieves'," he concluded. "It wasn't a shift in strategy, it was just a feeling of a necessity to go out and communicate something that we just took advantage of."
 
Too me it sounds less like they decided to remove DRM etc. and just changed their presentation to highlight that they didnt have DRM. To get the advantage over MS with their presentation
 
I hope people don't misunderstand the quote into thinking Sony had DRM planned and switched it off in a week lol

Its about the script. They clearly tailored it to embarrass MS.
 
It sound like they wanted to make it explicitly clear at the conference that Sony would not be following Microsoft's approach, rather than a change of heart with regards to implementing DRM.
 
Was pretty obvious from the presentation itself... parts were very obviously pointed responses to media/general speculation about Sony's stance on various things in the wake of the public airing of MS's plans.

These were things that would never have been in question had it not been for Microsoft's moves, but once it was put in question it both required a response and presented an opportunity.
 
"It made us feel a little bit clearer about our message," House said, "when a lot of the negativity was emerging around DRM issues and used games. I remember reading an article literally the weekend before E3 that was basically saying that this is the direction Microsoft was taking and that it was only a matter of time before Sony adopts the same approach.

They read Kuchera's article?
 
You'll have to explain a bit there, bud.

Unless you mean last year's presentation.

E3 2014: Nintendo > Sony > Microsoft bud.

that's off topic though.

look does anyone actually believe that Sony quickly fixed their DRM? Sony just changed some stuff in the presentation to take advantage of the beating Microsoft was getting.
 
You'll have to explain a bit there, bud.

Unless you mean last year's presentation.

Probably referring to the copious amounts of CG at MS conference.

Sony's was bad only because of pacing. Content wise they spent as much as MS on games and had a better showing, imo.

As long as they continue showing the same amount of games (1 1/2 hours), I don't mind too much if sneak other segments here and there, especially since Sony normally goes for 2 hours
 
So the whole villainy shared is villainy halved thing was true after all. I guess we should be thankful the backlash to MS was so swift and strong.

No. Sony wasn't planning on going in that direction, and seeing the backlash against MS gave them both the need to reiterate their vision as well as the opportunity to capitalize on the backlash. This all came out far too late for Sony to actually change their plans.
 
Wasn't this previously known? They aren't really the gaming saints we thought they were. They were able to dodge the public black eye. And doesn't the pricing of ps now show that they're out of touch?
 
I remember reading an article literally the weekend before E3 that was basically saying that this is the direction Microsoft was taking and that it was only a matter of time before Sony adopts the same approach.

Sony Too™.
 
Wasn't this previously known? They aren't really the gaming saints we thought they were. They were able to dodge the public black eye. And doesn't the pricing of ps now show that they're out of touch?

Do people believe this? its not a war for your soul. Its a buisness. Sonys plan going into 2013 E3 was the same as the PS3 as far as DRM is concerned. Microsofts DRM plan was a huge disaster. Sony looked at themselves and said heh, might as well kick them while they are down. Simple as that.
 
Not really.

The article continues:

I don't see how this refutes my point. If Microsoft never tried to swerve around the issue, it would have been treated as common sense not to include that kind of restriction on a console. Instead Microsoft made a screw-up so colossal that it allowed Sony to basically say "we're doing the same thing as last gen in regards to DRM" and it's basically the biggest news of the week.

In any other context that info wouldn't have gotten anywhere near the amount of praise it did. That's not a critique against Sony obviously, because it's good that they actually put their foot down. But to say that they weren't lucky in regards to taking advantage of Microsoft's terrible handling of the situation is kind of silly.
 
Wasn't this previously known? They aren't really the gaming saints we thought they were. They were able to dodge the public black eye. And doesn't the pricing of ps now show that they're out of touch?

They never removed DRM in response to the MS conference. They changed their conference to highlight that they never had DRM in the first place. To take advantage of MS fuck up.
 
Wasn't this previously known? They aren't really the gaming saints we thought they were. They were able to dodge the public black eye. And doesn't the pricing of ps now show that they're out of touch?

I don't understand the lack of reading comprehension skills at play on this thread
 
E3 2014: Nintendo > Sony > Microsoft bud.

that's off topic though.

look does anyone actually believe that Sony quickly fixed their DRM? Sony just changed some stuff in the presentation to take advantage of the beating Microsoft was getting.

I need that Dude pic here.

In any case, my opinion is heavily skewed towards Microsoft's favor in nearly all cases. My definition of "fanboyism" is a bit different than most, I would imagine.

As in I take the position of the guy that wants to see them do better, doesn't have much care for the competitors, like, at all, and am not afraid to shit on them if they're being complete morons.

Probably referring to the copious amounts of CG at MS conference.

Sony's was bad only because of pacing. Content wise they spent as much as MS on games and had a better showing, imo.

As long as they continue showing the same amount of games (1 1/2 hours), I don't mind too much if sneak other segments here and there, especially since Sony normally goes for 2 hours

Meh. I actually like CG, but that's mainly because I tend to fall head over heels in love with blatant, over-the-top action.

Hell, that's the kind of stuff I want to make when I get into the industry after college.
 
Wished Andrew would have re-written this year's E3 script as well.

Why? They showed a lot of games and only had 1 CG trailer (and we still saw gameplay footage within 24 hours). They should have mentioned some of games in their booth though. What surprised me is that GG Xrd didn't get any mentions when it's only coming to their consoles and it's the only fighting game coming out on a next-gen console this year while arty indie games got at least 1 minute of showtime.

If you're talking about the powers portion, I'd rather end up with a 5 min comic book thing than 3 CG trailers of 2016 retail games.
 
So the whole villainy shared is villainy halved thing was true after all. I guess we should be thankful the backlash to MS was so swift and strong.

Wasn't this previously known? They aren't really the gaming saints we thought they were. They were able to dodge the public black eye. And doesn't the pricing of ps now show that they're out of touch?
Even when 'Sony too!' gets refuted for the 100th time, there are still people who believe it. Incredible.
 
...are you trying to suggest that they *were* planning it? Because it comes across more like they rewrote it to capitalize on the backlash, not changed their design.
This. Keep reaching for that rainbow, fellas

I don't understand the lack of reading comprehension skills at play on this thread
Hello and welcome to the forums. How long have you been in attendance?
 
Sony did not plan on using DRM. The article says they just changed the script to make it clear that they did not plan on using DRM and follow MS.
 
So the whole villainy shared is villainy halved thing was true after all. I guess we should be thankful the backlash to MS was so swift and strong.

Wasn't this previously known? They aren't really the gaming saints we thought they were. They were able to dodge the public black eye. And doesn't the pricing of ps now show that they're out of touch?

Read the OP and stop embarrassing yourselves.
 
Who can blame them? They would have been foolish to ignore the opportunity to do so. But what makes it weird for me is that I was spewing just as much venom as anyone at Microsoft and swore up and down that I would never buy an Xbox One. 7 months later after all of the hype and marketing dust has settled, it ended up being the system that I chose to go with first. With mistakes corrected, there is just more substance than hype there for me. Funny how things work out.
 
E3 2014: Nintendo > Sony > Microsoft bud.

that's off topic though.

look does anyone actually believe that Sony quickly fixed their DRM? Sony just changed some stuff in the presentation to take advantage of the beating Microsoft was getting.

In your opinion N > S > M. I am not sure Nintendo connected with gamers that are not already big Nintendo fans which can only be learnt by sales numbers post E3.

Proclaiming winning on GAF / IGN or any other forum is just showing how well E3 resonated with Nintendo owners. We shall see.

Back on Topic always thought it obvious Sony changed the presentation to capitalise and make clear their stance. Never gets old watching Jack at E3 13....
 
Top Bottom