Sony Executive Recommends Wii As Second Console

By Terrell Chambers / Sunday, 14 May 2006

GamePro sat down with Sony Computer Entertainment executive Phil Harrison at E3 earlier this week, where he re-iterated a sentiment made by Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Interactive Entertainment Peter Moore, where he said that buyers of of a next-generation console should also buy Nintendo's Wii system. "I think Peter Moore is exactly right," Harrison said. "I think Nintendo will be the second system consumers purchase after PlayStation 3. I haven't had a chance to check out the Wii myself, but Nintendo has a great history of innovation and has always done great things for gaming and long may they do so." The high-profile Sony executive also took note of Peter Moore's subtle jab at the PS3's 500 to 600-dollar price tag, where Moore said that Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Wii could be bought for the same price as one of Sony's next-generation consoles. "I know what Peter [Moore] was getting at with his price point issue," Harrison admitted, "but he's not comparing apples to oranges. He's not even comparing the same kind of food products at all. It's clearly a case that PlayStation 3's price is justified by PlayStation 3's value. That's what consumers base their purchasing decisions on -- value." While it may seem perplexing that both of Nintendo's market competitors are telling consumers to buy Wii as a complimentary system to their own next-generation offerings, one explanation could be that these two opposing executives are using Wii's drastically different approach to gaming as a way to discourage consumers from buying either an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, which are directly competing with similar features and higher price tags. The Wiire will bring you more on this and other awkward marketing tactics as they happen. Source: GamePro