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[Mibu no ookami]

Here's a list of people from the studio side that you could put in charge of the Studio Business Group and why they wouldn't make sense.

Kazunori Yamauchi - Been with Sony since the 90s, but all he cares about is cars. Polyphony Digital has also had a lot of difficulty technically and getting games out in a timely manner. Gran Turismo had a rocky period on the PS3 and PS4. No evidence that he could manage multiple studios.

Formerly Ted Price - Ted wasn't internal to Sony until 2019, Insomniac is above average technically but not top notch and they've really struggled generating IP.

Neil Druckmann - Has limited experience being studio head and is extremely busy with multiple projects. I could see him replacing Hermen when he's finally done creating games himself, though I'm not sure that will make a lot of people happy.

That's really the whole list...

 

[Mibu no ookami]

This is where I stop reading your post because wtf are you talking about?

Devs and publishers fail at those big open world games every year. Star Wars Outlaws is the latest example of this.

People say things just to say them. I'd be embarrassed to say half the shit they say.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

playstation has 2 studios in japan. 7 in the US. 4 in europe.

If location is important, appointing regional managers would solve that. The move to USA was caused by a cultural shift across the organization. You don't need any further proof than Yoshida's demotion. Some clowns in Sony's Board thought it would be a good idea to turn the PlayStation brand into some kind of "the Hollywood of videogames" so they moved where the real Hollywood is.

The PC ports, the GaaS push, nonsensical studio acquisitions, DEI... all those are direct consequences of moving HQ. Also, copying Microsoft in all their mistakes, believing that "Google is our real competitor" and bullshit along those lines.

Thanks to MS's extreme incompetency, Playstation keeps its privileged position, but they must realize that could change fairly soon if they don't correct course.

Neither Jim Ryan or Hermen had any qualifications for the position of Playstation CEO. Sony needs to appoint somebody with a better "gaming pedigree" and a good eye to spot talent in new markets just like Yoshida.

 

[adamsapple]

Neil Druckmann - Has limited experience being studio head and is extremely busy with multiple projects. I could see him replacing Hermen when he's finally done creating games himself, though I'm not sure that will make a lot of people happy.

No, please. Dear god, no.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

No, please. Dear god, no.

Again, obvious choice to people who aren't crazy.

Put together a list for me, I know you can't, but humor me anyways.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Here's a list of people from the studio side that you could put in charge of the Studio Business Group and why they wouldn't make sense.

Kazunori Yamauchi - Been with Sony since the 90s, but all he cares about is cars. Polyphony Digital has also had a lot of difficulty technically and getting games out in a timely manner. Gran Turismo had a rocky period on the PS3 and PS4. No evidence that he could manage multiple studios.

Formerly Ted Price - Ted wasn't internal to Sony until 2019, Insomniac is above average technically but not top notch and they've really struggled generating IP.

Neil Druckmann - Has limited experience being studio head and is extremely busy with multiple projects. I could see him replacing Hermen when he's finally done creating games himself, though I'm not sure that will make a lot of people happy.

That's really the whole list...

Nobody who has belonged to any PS Studio should become the new CEO. You want someone without ties and prejudices to make hard decisions.

 

[viveks86]

Here's a list of people from the studio side that you could put in charge of the Studio Business Group and why they wouldn't make sense.

Kazunori Yamauchi - Been with Sony since the 90s, but all he cares about is cars. Polyphony Digital has also had a lot of difficulty technically and getting games out in a timely manner. Gran Turismo had a rocky period on the PS3 and PS4. No evidence that he could manage multiple studios.

Formerly Ted Price - Ted wasn't internal to Sony until 2019, Insomniac is above average technically but not top notch and they've really struggled generating IP.

Neil Druckmann - Has limited experience being studio head and is extremely busy with multiple projects. I could see him replacing Hermen when he's finally done creating games himself, though I'm not sure that will make a lot of people happy.

That's really the whole list...

A business person needs to be head of Studio Business Group. You sound like Sony can't hire anyone outside of the heads of individual studios. Not going to argue that Hermen is bad (I agree with most, if not all, of his achievements that you listed). But you can't present a weak list of alternatives here to make your point. Get someone like Jim Ryan (but with good ideas) and the studios will do just fine. Even better if they are Japanese

 

[adamsapple]

Again, obvious choice to people who aren't crazy.

Put together a list for me, I know you can't, but humor me anyways.

No, thanks.

I just don't think Druckmann would be a good lead and not even because of any of the perceived woke stuff.

Ted Price would be a much better choice but I don't think he's gonna do that.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

A business person needs to be head of Studio Business Group. You sound like Sony can't hire anyone outside of the heads of individual studios. Not going to argue that Hermen is bad (I agree with most, if not all, of his achievements that you listed). But you can't present a weak list of alternatives here to make your point. Get someone like Jim Ryan (but with good ideas) and the studios will do just fine.

Sony has not traditionally brought people from outside the business to lead the business. They haven't done that in 30 years and I don't think they're going to start now. It's pretty important for the leader of the Studio Business Group to have established relationships with the studios and PlayStation Productions.

This makes Neil the obvious choice based on merit and accomplishment.

You said that my list was weak, yet you didn't name anyone yourself. You couldn't name anyone so you fabricated the idea of going external which basically opens it up to anyone and is about as vague as possible.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

No, thanks.

I just don't think Druckmann would be a good lead and not even because of any of the perceived woke stuff.

Ted Price would be a much better choice but I don't think he's gonna do that.

Neil has had tremendous success with Uncharted and The Last of Us and will probably have even more success with Intergalactic. He's had tremendous success with the Uncharted movie and The Last of Us tv show.

Again, outside of deluluverse, Neil's the obvious choice.

Ted Price struggled for years with IP creation. Insomniac tried working with several publishers and never really got ahead. Their most successful game that sits on the same level as other Sony IP is a licensed IP. Insomniac is technically behind Naughty Dog, Bungie, Santa Monica, and Guerrilla...

It's not going to be Ted and it never was.

 

[viveks86]

You said that my list was weak, yet you didn't name anyone yourself. You couldn't name anyone so you fabricated the idea of going external which basically opens it up to anyone and is about as vague as possible.

But your list is weak. Even you admit that your list is weak. You literally explain why they don't make sense (and I agree). That leaves both of us with a grand total of 0 alternatives. If Sony pays me, I'll go head hunting and put together a list of good business heads that would work. Until then, all I've got is Jim Ryan (but with good ideas). And not Hermen. Lol

 

[HogIsland]

If location is important, appointing regional managers would solve that. The move to USA was caused by a cultural shift across the organization. You don't need any further proof than Yoshida's demotion. Some clowns in Sony's Board thought it would be a good idea to turn the PlayStation brand into some kind of "the Hollywood of videogames" so they moved where the real Hollywood is.

The PC ports, the GaaS push, nonsensical studio acquisitions, DEI... all those are direct consequences of moving HQ. Also, copying Microsoft in all their mistakes, believing that "Google is our real competitor" and bullshit along those lines.

Thanks to MS's extreme incompetency, Playstation keeps its privileged position, but they must realize that could change fairly soon if they don't correct course.

Neither Jim Ryan or Hermen had any qualifications for the position of Playstation CEO. Sony needs to appoint somebody with a better "gaming pedigree" and a good eye to spot talent in new markets just like Yoshida.

your thought processes are out of whack, proceed to the nearest brain calibration center

 

[Mibu no ookami]

But your list is weak. Even you admit that your list is weak. You literally explain why they don't make sense (and I agree). That leaves both of us with a grand total of 0 alternatives. If Sony pays me, I'll go head hunting and put together a list of good business heads that would work. Until then, all I've got is Jim Ryan (but with good ideas). And not Hermen. Lol

I never said my list was weak. I said I don't think Neil makes sense today, but I think he could easily make sense in 3-4 years. He's a pretty obvious choice to replace Hermen when the time comes. Let him finish Intergalactic and TLOU P3 and then transition to Business group head.

There are no great options externally, again, you're not going to have anyone with relationships within SIE which are crucial and no one who merits it more than Neil, who has already done great things with IP and transmedia. Pretty sure the job is his if he wants it/when he wants it.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

your thought processes are out of whack, proceed to the nearest brain calibration center

All I said is based on facts, as Sony's recent restructuration illustrates. Your comment is uncalled for and it's pretty telling of your personality so I won't bother any further with the likes of you.

 

[viveks86]

I never said my list was weak. I said I don't think Neil makes sense today, but I think he could easily make sense in 3-4 years. He's a pretty obvious choice to replace Hermen when the time comes. Let him finish Intergalactic and TLOU P3 and then transition to Business group head.

There are no great options externally, again, you're not going to have anyone with relationships within SIE which are crucial and no one who merits it more than Neil, who has already done great things with IP and transmedia. Pretty sure the job is his if he wants it/when he wants it.

Dude, leave Neil alone. I refuse to let him leave Naughty Dog and go further up. Let him just make games for ND till he retires or dies. It's a win-win for the industry. I get the games I enjoy, while the "virus stays quarantined" for all those who hate him.

 

[HogIsland]

All I said is based on facts, as Sony's recent restructuration illustrates. Your comment is uncalled for and it's pretty telling of your personality so I won't bother any further with the likes of you.

for example: the idea that Japanese people are unconcerned with diverse representation of characters in games is 100% a YOUR BRAIN quirk.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

If location is important, appointing regional managers would solve that. The move to USA was caused by a cultural shift across the organization. You don't need any further proof than Yoshida's demotion. Some clowns in Sony's Board thought it would be a good idea to turn the PlayStation brand into some kind of "the Hollywood of videogames" so they moved where the real Hollywood is.

The PC ports, the GaaS push, nonsensical studio acquisitions, DEI... all those are direct consequences of moving HQ. Also, copying Microsoft in all their mistakes, believing that "Google is our real competitor" and bullshit along those lines.

Thanks to MS's extreme incompetency, Playstation keeps its privileged position, but they must realize that could change fairly soon if they don't correct course.

Neither Jim Ryan or Hermen had any qualifications for the position of Playstation CEO. Sony needs to appoint somebody with a better "gaming pedigree" and a good eye to spot talent in new markets just like Yoshida.

Sony didn't move their HQ to California becuase of Hollywood. They moved because they have Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studios, San Diego Studio and regionally it was close to Bend Studios and Sucker Punch...

No one here likes Japan more than I do, but you guys have this weird unlogical obsession with Japan.

Shuhei Yoshida had a number of failures that you just want to ignore. He made no investments in Japan Studios while he was in charge of WWS. Including not investing in FromSoftware. Team ICO and Japan Studio fell apart under his watch. More importantly, Sony never really had established Japanese development teams outside of Polyphony Digital. They made one AAA game in Legend of Dragoon and that was it.

Had there been more key western leadership earlier, there would probably be MORE of a Japanese presence. It was under Jim Ryan and Hermen Hulst that Team Asobi flourished...

I'm begging people to come back to reality rather than live in their own alternate universe.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Dude, leave Neil alone. I refuse to let him leave Naughty Dog and go further up. Let him just make games for ND till he retires or dies. It's a win-win for the industry. I get the games I enjoy, while the "virus stays quarantined" for all those who hate him.

Name 1 person...

 

[jonnyp]

How Hermen has survived is a complete mystery to me.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

How Hermen has survived is a complete mystery to me.

Because he's doing a much better job than you're able to realize or willing to admit?

Astro Bot won Game of the Year under his watch
Helldivers 2 became possibly the best selling game in Sony history under his watch
Spider-Man 2 was the fastest selling Sony game in their history before God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok was the fastest selling Sony game in their history before Spider-Man
Gran Turismo 7 is probably going to be the most successful iteration in the history of the franchise
His purchase of Nixxes has brought tremendous value to SIE
Brought the studios through a really difficult time with the pandemic


Some people want to judge people only by their failures but in real life, you tend to get judged by your entire body of work.

 

[viveks86]

Name 1 person...

Did I say Hermen needs to go and we should look for alternatives? A lot of people did. But I didn't. I just saw your post that had no good alternatives and a quick conclusion that "Hence Hermen is the best we got". I did not find that convincing, so I called it out. I already told you I don't have a specific alternative in mind. If that's the only direction you want this conversation to go, then I got nothing... May be when someone comes to mind, I'll bring it up

Yo SlimySnake ! This guy won't talk to me if I don't drop names. You got any names?

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Did I say Hermen needs to go and we should look for alternatives? A lot of people did. But I didn't. I just saw your post that had no good alternatives and a quick conclusion that "Hence Hermen is the best we got". I did not find that convincing, so I called it out. I already told you I don't have a specific alternative in mind. If that's the only direction you want this conversation to go, then I got nothing... May be when someone comes to mind, I'll bring it up

You said it was a weak list which kind of implied you could make a better one.

 

[viveks86]

You said it was a weak list which kind of implied you could make a better one.

I didn't intend to imply that

 

[easytekila]

No, please. Dear god, no.

I’d love to see it happen just to see the dribblers get upset.

 

[Felessan]

But your list is weak. Even you admit that your list is weak. You literally explain why they don't make sense (and I agree). That leaves both of us with a grand total of 0 alternatives. If Sony pays me, I'll go head hunting and put together a list of good business heads that would work. Until then, all I've got is Jim Ryan (but with good ideas). And not Hermen. Lol

Bringing outsiders to specific culture environment might be difficult, especially (in my expectation) to japanese one.
Sony brought Howard Stringer as outsider - he almost run their business to the ground.
Lots of little details and specific corporate culture might make it difficult for outsiders to be efficient in managerial role.

 

[HogIsland]

Bringing outsiders to specific culture environment might be difficult, especially (in my expectation) to japanese one.
Sony brought Howard Stringer as outsider - he almost run their business to the ground.
Lots of little details and specific corporate culture might make it difficult for outsiders to be efficient in managerial role.

Playstation game development is overwhelmingly American and European. Who's an outsider?

 

[viveks86]

Playstation game development is overwhelmingly American and European. Who's an outsider?

I think he means outside the organization. Not their race or nationality.

 

[SlimySnake]

Did I say Hermen needs to go and we should look for alternatives? A lot of people did. But I didn't. I just saw your post that had no good alternatives and a quick conclusion that "Hence Hermen is the best we got". I did not find that convincing, so I called it out. I already told you I don't have a specific alternative in mind. If that's the only direction you want this conversation to go, then I got nothing... May be when someone comes to mind, I'll bring it up

Yo SlimySnake ! This guy won't talk to me if I don't drop names. You got any names?

Ted Price.
Shannon Studstill (for SSM studio head)
Shu Yoshida

 

[mdkirby]

I am absolutely astounded hulst still has a job

 

[Felessan]

Playstation game development is overwhelmingly American and European. Who's an outsider?

They all insiders with decades of work inside Sony.
Being American or European in a corporation heavily infected with customs means nothing. Headquarters values very often seeps everywhere, especially when you have to have close communications with them (like high-level manager jobs).
I have a friend that work for a French bank in Japan - guess what - there is a French culture inside for the most part, not Japan.

 

[viveks86]

Ted Price.
Shannon Studstill (for SSM studio head)
Shu Yoshida

Thanks man! Shu would've been my pick. But I ruled him out since he retired (and seemed to want to do less and less over time)

Wish I knew more about Shannon Studstill. I was actually googling SSM studio head just so I can satisfy Mibu no ookami and prove myself worthy.

But fuck Ted. Until he proves that he has nothing to do with hiring the writing department for all his games, I don't want him anywhere near the other studios. Lol

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Ted Price.
Shannon Studstill (for SSM studio head)
Shu Yoshida

viveks86 it's always interesting when someone puts together a list of people who are already gone and people who haven't achieved anything outside of Sony or hadn't achieved anything in a long time with Sony. It's like people just think of names they might know and stop there.

You look at Shannon's list of games she was involved in and it's not a great list. Lots of failures that Hermen would not be forgiven for including God of War Ascension.

It's always fascinating seeing who gets a pass for things and who doesn't, but a general theme is hate whoever is here currently and praise whoever has left.

 

[viveks86]

viveks86 it's always interesting when someone puts together a list of people who are already gone and people who haven't achieved anything outside of Sony or hadn't achieved anything in a long time with Sony. It's like people just think of names they might know and stop there.

You look at Shannon's list of games she was involved in and it's not a great list. Lots of failures that Hermen would not be forgiven for including God of War Ascension.

It's always fascinating seeing who gets a pass for things and who doesn't, but a general theme is hate whoever is here currently and praise whoever has left.

My revolver had one bullet and that was a SlimySnake. I surrender!

 

[nial]

If location is important, appointing regional managers would solve that.

You're like 20 years late to the party, that's exactly how WWS used to operate for 14 years.

The move to USA was caused by a cultural shift across the organization. You don't need any further proof than Yoshida's demotion.

Yoshida, in particular, is a weak example as he was coming on from the game development division of SCEA. Despite being Japanese, you could clearly notice how Sony was putting more focus into American development early during his era, while leaving Japan and Europe as a side note.
Case in point, Japan Studio output in 2008 vs. 2012:

Coded Soul: Uketsugareshi Idea (February 7, 2008)
MyStylist (February 28, 2008)
Echochrome (March 19, 2008)
Nippon no Asoko de (May 1, 2008)
Bleach: Heat the Soul 5 (May 15, 2008)
Siren: Blood Curse (July 24, 2008)
Afrika (August 28, 2008)
Aquanaut's Holiday: Hidden Memories (September 25, 2008)
What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? 2 (October 15, 2008)
Bleach: Soul Carnival (October 23, 2008)
Derby Time Online (November 13, 2008)
Patapon 2 (November 27, 2008)
LocoRoco 2 (December 4, 2008)
White Knight Chronicles (December 25, 2008)

Gravity Rush (February 9, 2012)
Tokyo Jungle (June 7, 2012)

As for why SIE moved its global headquarters into the US, I think there are more (and better) explanations than your dumb Holywood idea. It's also pretty late to point out people to blame from this as neither Kazuo Hirai nor Andrew House are part of Sony these days.
The rest of your post is gibberish.

 

[nial]

When was SCE purely Japanese, anyway? I think it's kinda crazy that no one ever points out that its first instance of global management (Worldwide Studios) was put under the charge of someone called Phil Harrison.
When SCEI established its Japanese development division (Japan Studio) in mid 2005, to drift those operations away from the sales and marketing division (SCEJ), they put Tomikazu Kirita in charge.
The first thing Ken Kutatagi told Kirita was that he will need to report to Phil fucking Harrison.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Am I wrong though? Generally, Jim Ryan and herman hulst have been disliked by playstation fans for years. Concord was shat all over by playstation fans. Xbox fans were almost idolising Phil spencer during the entire xbox one era. Its only after going 3rd party have some finally acknowledged his failure. Only some though. Most still can't speak against their idol. Also xbox fans making up shit like xbox tax and the media being biased ibstead of just admitting the games were mediocre! No wonder xbox is dead! You accepted mediocrity! You were one of the chiefs among them mate!

Hey, I just like Xbox and the eco system. The controller. I have no shame in admitting that.

I admit that I was a shit member here for some time. I've had my warnings. Taken my lumps and I'm moving on. People can evolve and I hope i win you guys over into thinking...yeah he's a dirty green rat but he's level headed overall. Lol.

while I think what you say is true to an extent there are those extreme sony guys on here too, but i don't even get angry at those guys. They love what they love and that's fine.

I hope we can all learn to do an eye roll at some people's posts, take the piss and move on. I bet most of us are pushing 50. It's not worth properly warring with each other anymore. MS have thrown in the towel. Sony won. It's time to enjoy all the games.

 

[TheGodfather07]

Hey, I just like Xbox and the eco system. The controller. I have no shame in admitting that.

I admit that I was a shit member here for some time. I've had my warnings. Taken my lumps and I'm moving on. People can evolve and I hope i win you guys over into thinking...yeah he's a dirty green rat but he's level headed overall. Lol.

while I think what you say is true to an extent there are those extreme sony guys on here too, but i don't even get angry at those guys. They love what they love and that's fine.

I hope we can all learn to do an eye roll at some people's posts, take the piss and move on. I bet most of us are pushing 50. It's not worth properly warring with each other anymore. MS have thrown in the towel. Sony won. It's time to enjoy all the games.

I agree with you but we should always make it known if corporations try to fuck us over or get lazy and not listen to fans. They need us, we don't need them. What would PlayStation be without the fans who support the brand? Nothing! That's why they deserve all the shit for their live service push. The fans never asked for that shit. Look at them trying to backtrack now. These corporations actually listen when there's pushback. Like how Microsoft reversed the xbox live price hike or sony reversed closing the PS3 store down. My point is, not to be rabid loyal fanboys but actual true fans who will criticise bad decisions. For all that loyalty xbox fanboys showed to Microsoft, where did it get them?

 

[Hypereides]

I wouldn't want Neil spearheading PS studios either. Just contain him at his position at ND and his creative work there. He already has a history of some... pretty predisposed ideas. I'm inclined to believe Hulst lend an ear to what he had to say and he had some influence over the current trajectory we see Sony has taken with their current output/games. Its best to avoid letting it continue to trickle down into their creative workforce/studios.

Honestly, seeing the mentioned candidates thus far, I really think none of them fit the bill outside of seniority. They need an imaginative, visionary candidate with an eye for fresh, pure and unique ideas.

 

[Sonik]

Because he's doing a much better job than you're able to realize or willing to admit?

Astro Bot won Game of the Year under his watch
Helldivers 2 became possibly the best selling game in Sony history under his watch
Spider-Man 2 was the fastest selling Sony game in their history before God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok was the fastest selling Sony game in their history before Spider-Man
Gran Turismo 7 is probably going to be the most successful iteration in the history of the franchise
His purchase of Nixxes has brought tremendous value to SIE
Brought the studios through a really difficult time with the pandemic


Some people want to judge people only by their failures but in real life, you tend to get judged by your entire body of work.

Wow, 2 lucky sideprojects Sony itself didn't expect to be nearly that successful because they're incompetent and a bunch of sequels. My God, what a leader!

 

[nial]

B-but it was all luck!