Resident Evil producer trashes Sony, Square

Perfect Stu · 04-25-2003, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Shinji Mikami, producer of Resident Evil and Devil May Cry, strongly criticized Sony and Square in a recent radio interview in Japan.

Mikami accused Sony of purposely designing their consoles to break easily so that gamers will have to buy a replacement. He also said that Sony's high sales figures are helped by the fact that many gamers, himself included, have had to buy a second PlayStation and PlayStation 2.

From there, Mikami went on to accuse Sony of doing the same thing with their line of PCs, Walkmans, and cell phones. He asked why no one has complained about this and said that it was almost like cheating and committing a crime. The radio DJ tried to interrupt Mikami and shift the conversation to another topic, but when Mikami was asked if he thought Sony's customers are foolish, he replied, "Yes."

Next, Mikami said that Kingdom Hearts' strong sales are due to "aura purchase," meaning that customers are buying the game because their friends have bought it or like it, regardless of whether they like the game themselves. He said that Kingdom Hearts does not deserve its 780,000 sales or 6800 yen price tag.

Finally, he apologized to Square, saying he is upset that Kingdom Hearts has sold more copies than Biohazard for the Gamecube. He said that Biohazard is the better game, but Kingdom Hearts is not a bad game either.

That's really quite sad. Damage control +++.

BreakABone · 04-25-2003, 11:16 AM

Well, this interview is about 8 months old, and in a bit of irony I guess, the man was recently demoanted from his position.

bobcat · 04-25-2003, 11:55 AM

Happydude · 04-25-2003, 12:35 PM

lol...thats just funny...

Perfect Stu · 04-25-2003, 12:57 PM

I really like

Quote:

Finally, he apologized to Square, saying he is upset that Kingdom Hearts has sold more copies than Biohazard for the Gamecube. He said that Biohazard is the better game, but Kingdom Hearts is not a bad game either.

I can see it now...

"Sorry, Squaresoft...I'm just pissed off because your game owned mine in sales. But my game is so much better than yours! And my dad could probably beat up your dad, too! Oh, and for the record (because my lawyer is making me say this), your game isn't THAT bad. *holds back laughter*"

And I also find it funny he took so many pot shots at Sony...purposely designing their products so that they'll break?

I have a SONY portable CD player, and I listen to CDs as I fall asleep...after I fall asleep, I've knocked the CD player off my bed and onto the wood-panelled floor countless times and the thing still never skips, even when I shake it (to test its quality). I'm also on the same PS2 I've had since launch and I've only had a handful of disc read errors which were simply temporary.

And I'm glad Mikami got canned from his position...I saw more maturity when I was in pre-school.

tarakan69 · 04-25-2003, 01:14 PM

Well I did go through 3 broken PSXs last gen... but my PS2 has been working faithfully since launch. Somehow I wouldn't like to generalize my experience with PSX for EVERY damn PSX owner. So I say that statement is bull.

Also people he has the full right to diss Kingdom Heart... He's the director... If he believes his Resident Evil games are better... then it's his opinion. Let's no forget if not for the presence of FF characters Kingdom Heart the game was so verrryyyy average.

The Duggler · 04-25-2003, 02:12 PM

I like this part:

Quote:

Mikami accused Sony of purposely designing their consoles to break easily so that gamers will have to buy a replacement. He also said that Sony's high sales figures are helped by the fact that many gamers, himself included, have had to buy a second PlayStation and PlayStation 2.

And it's a little bit true too

tarakan69 · 04-25-2003, 02:22 PM

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Originally posted by Ranzid
I like this part:

And it's a little bit true too

Sony too minimize production costs used the cheapest parts they could get. Just like Nintendo, just like Microsoft.

It would be non sense... PS2s sold at a loss for the first 1.5 years.. so they wouldn't be making any $$$ on it. It's rubbish.

Now this would make sense for Nintendo... since they sell GCNs at a profit...

... you getting the way it's going??

Companies don't want to produce faulty hardware... end of story.

TheGame · 04-25-2003, 02:32 PM

Sombody was sipping a little too much hatoraide...

DarkMaster · 04-25-2003, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tarakan69
Let's no forget if not for the presence of FF characters Kingdom Heart the game was so verrryyyy average.

well, thats your opinion I guess, so meh...

anyway, I remember reading this article a long time ago, in fact I remember talking about it to Crono back in September or something.

I still can't believe Mikami was such an asshole. Oh well, whatcha gonna do.

and btw, he wasn't demoted (at least not from what I've read) he stepped down as producer to work as a developer so he could have a bigger influence on how his games would turn out.

meh...

Perfect Stu · 04-25-2003, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ranzid
I like this part:

And it's a little bit true too

no, it's not. if you think Sony is purpously designing faulty systems then you're as thick-headed as Mr. Mikami.

And Mikami wasn't the director of Kingdom Hearts....was he

DarkMaster · 04-25-2003, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Perfect Stu
And Mikami wasn't the director of Kingdom Hearts....was he

Tesuya Nomura (sp?) was the director of Kingdom Hearts. He was also the character designer (as well, he was the character designer for FF7,FF8, and FF10)

The Duggler · 04-25-2003, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Perfect Stu
no, it's not. if you think Sony is purpously designing faulty systems then you're as thick-headed as Mr. Mikami.

And Mikami wasn't the director of Kingdom Hearts....was he

No not purpously, but still. I have heard a few times that some people bought more than 1 PS1 and more than 1 PS2. Not that often but still. I never heard of somebody buying more than 1 nintendo (from it's generation)

tarakan69 · 04-25-2003, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ranzid
No no purpously, but still. I have heard a few times that some people bought more than 1 PS1 and more than 1 PS2. Not that often but still. I never heard of somebody buying more than 1 nintendo (from it's generation)

On this I agree... PS2 do seem to breakdown more often... but maybe that because their are just some many of them out their. Some are bond to die... or be diffective.

Lets no forget nearly every X-Box/GCN owner has a PS2 but not PS2 owner has a GCN/X-Box.

Stonecutter · 04-25-2003, 05:40 PM

I used to work at a Mail Boxes Etc. and over a course of about a year I think I sent maybe 20 or 30 PS2's back to sony.

Xboxes sent to microsoft = 0
Gamecubes sent to nintendo = 0

Not to say those systems NEVER break but I know with xbox the in store polices for returns (which are usually set by the companies) are always more leniant than those of the ps2.

And nintendo, well hell, those things are bulit to last.