Millions of gamers and dozens of game journalists were miffed that Sony didn’t show the actual console during its PlayStation 4 press event. From your comments and Google+ messages, I know that a few of you RPadholics didn’t like the move either. Personally, I think people are making a bigger deal out of the omission than they ought to. Either way, people are definitely talking and thinking about the PlayStation 4.
In an interview with Forbes, Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton addressed the matter:
You know, that’s really interesting. I’ve heard that from multiple reporters and shame on me that I didn’t see that as a big issue. They’ll see it soon enough. I’m real proud of the fact that we’re talking about [launching in] holiday 2013 and we’ve already got a lot of detail out there, and a lot of game play, in February. But I was so focused on the content that when I think of the console I think of what comes through the screen, not the device that it emanates from. I just think there’s a lot of natural curiosity: What’s the controller gonna look like? What’s the box gonna look like? We made a conscious decision that wasn’t going to be a part of the first reveal, but I would look for E3 as a time when you’ll get a good look at it. Or sooner.
Check out the full interview for more details on the PS4 reveal. As a longtime Tretton fan (as much as anyone can be a fan of executives that aren’t Steve Jobs), I thought it was a great read.
What do you think of Tretton’s explanation? Does it make sense to you? Or did Sony make an unforgivable mistake (as seem people on the Internetz seem to think) by not showing the box?
I was a bit surprised that they didn’t do a big box reveal. Given the 2 hours filled with games that they did give us though, I am fine with Jack’s explanation. Sony came out swinging. I am sure we’ll all see it by or at E3.
Yawn. Stuff like this makes me think the console is half baked.
Also I hate that they are releasing it Holiday 2013. I’m buying a new iPad already so I guess Sony loses a sale. Seriously, I cannot afford everything new at one time of the year.