Ken Kutaragi Steps Down

[Wedgy]

http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/783/783728p1.html

Ken Kutaragi will step down from his position as SCEI's representative director, chairman and Group CEO on June 19, Sony has revealed. He will be replaced by Kazuo Hirai, current president and group COO, who will take on responsibility as leader of the PlayStation business worldwide.

According to the press release issued by Sony, Kutaragi is leaving to "pursue his dreams beyond PlayStation and to accelerate his network vision", whatever that means. Talking about the years he's spent building up PlayStation, Kutaragi said, "I am happy to graduate from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. after introducing four platforms to the PlayStation family. It has been an exciting experience to change the world of computer entertainment by marrying cutting edge technologies with creative minds from all over the world. I'm looking forward to building on this vision in my next endeavors."

Kutaragi will continue to work with Sony as a senior technology advisor and will support Sir Howard Stringer, chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation. Stringer said the company had benefited tremendously from Kuturagi's visions and will continue to be encouraged and supported by Sony.

He added: "My support also goes to Kazuo Hirai, who is a terrific executive with a proven track record with PlayStation business in the US. I am confident that he will inspire and lead SCEI to new heights."

Kutaragi - known as the 'Father of PlayStation' - launched the original PlayStation in 1994 and has been the driving force behind each of its subsequent successors.

Stepped down or made to leave i wondoer

Well thanks for the Playstation

But dont trip over that PSP on your way out

[majin]

if anyone read that big interview by time magazine (i think it was time) with stringer then you will see that it was probably over the ps3 that hes got demoted, ken did things without consulting other departments in sony and basically was a "rebel" in stringers words, he also added in the hdmi to the 20gb unit without even asking anyone else. he even wanted a price cut recently as the fans were ****ed about the price but stringer said no way until they cut the price down as it wasnt feasible to lose that much money for the company as a whole.

this is why you saw the 20gb unit scrapped and them agressively pushing to lower the price by taking out ps1/ps2 parts and trying to move to 60nm cell, they need to make up for kens mistakes.

also if you didnt know, sony could of had gta/assassins creed both exclusively (timed most likely) if ken had actually got back to those companies when they contacted him about them but instead he totally ignored them, i think this is good for the playstation as a whole, him stepping back from running things, as he really didnt have much business sense...