Phil Harrison Leaves Sony
February 25th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Did he look at the road ahead, see a future where all he was talking about for the next year is the recently-displayed Motorstorm 2, and run away screaming?
We’ll probably never know the exact details (employment issues usually work out that way), but yeah, Phil Harrison is resigning from his position at Sony Computer Entertainment. Kotaku’s got the details in the form of a press release, a statement from Harrison, and more.
There’s a lot of speculation about the move, with plenty of it claiming that Harrison’s frustration at the way Sony’s Japanese arm operates led to the move. He’s been a little vocal about that in the past. If that’s the case, he certainly wouldn’t be the first guy to throw up his arms and say “I can’t work for a Japanese company ever again!” Though most of my experience on this subject comes from the world of Public Relations. I’ve heard plenty of stories of people unable to deal with Japan’s business practices, which can seem awkward and slow-moving to outsiders.
Phil Elliott, intercontinental playboy and editor for GameIndustry.biz, has an interesting follow-up to this story, which cites “sources” who say that Harrison is headed to Infogrames, the parent company of Atari. Regardless of what you call them, Infogrames hasn’t exactly been putting out oodles of quality product lately. Perhaps Harrison’s up for a challenge, then?
Either way, Phil Harrison always seemed like a very key asset to Sony, as their best public speaker, and as someone who always seemed genuinely passionate about the products, not just the business. While there were probably plenty of internal clashes that we’ll never be privvy to, this seems like a short-term loss for Sony.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Gonna be quite strange seeing Sony keynotes without Phil being up on stage, but Kaz Hirai seems capable enough in his absence.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I can imagine that job has been way difficult particularly if Phil really did has some significant differences with how the company was being run. It would be hard to do an interview with people repeatedly asking about silly quotes or missteps and having to defend the company repeatedly when you’re thinking in your head “Dude I know this is crazy!”
February 25th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Harrison is definitely Sony’s best speaker by far. i like his presentations more than the others. it’s too bad he’s leaving cuz the Sony press conferences are gonna suck now.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Yeah, I read that a few hours ago.
Sorry to hear that; He seemed like one of the few sane people working for Sony… I wonder if it had anything with his comments about pushing social gamming and Sony Japan being stubborn about it.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I think console company’s are racist against bald(ing) people. Phil, Peter, JAY. It just makes them more aerodynamic, why hate?
February 25th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Japanese business looks ahead in decades, not months like the West. Unless you can wrap your head around that and see what they’re up to and try to illustrate that to the masses, you’ll feel like the only sane person in the asylum.
One last time Phil, Motorstorm.
February 25th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Well, I certainly didn’t see that coming. Although, in retrospect, Harrison hasn’t really been that vocal about the Playstation since he announced Home a while back, which wasn’t really a good sign.
As for dealing with Japanese companies, I think a certain knowledge of different cultures is essential, in order to deal competently with members of such cultures in a business situation. This is especially true in Southeast Asia: It’s not that the Japanese don’t get things done, they just do it differently, and sometimes better that Westeners. You just have to know how to approach them, and speaking Japanese would help.
February 25th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I think Phil Harrison is a pretty cool guy eh leave Sony and doesnt afraid of anything.
February 25th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
FANBOIS WARRRR!!!!!
YYAARRRGGGGHHH!
February 25th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
NOOOOO I loved Phil, It was always great to hear a fellow british accent at all press conferences
…motorstorm.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:58 am
“I may be dumb, but I’m not a dweeb/OHayWoah YEaAAaaHH, OHway, yeAhahhah.”