Phil Harrison Quits Sony
President of SCEWW Resigns After a 16-Year Career at Sony
Harrison resigns from Sony. Sources have him pegged to join a former EA executive at Atari Games. Lack of Social Gaming acceptance at Sony may be the cause of departure.
The web is abuzz with news of Phil Harrison's resignation from Sony. The president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios will leave his post at the end of the month and for many gamers the timing couldn't be worse.
Harrison began his career with Sony in 1992, just in time for the release of the original Playstation console. He signed on as part of executive management but eventually served as vice president of 3rd part relations and research and development from 1996 until 2000.
In September of 2005 Sony unified its product development efforts into a global structure. Harrison was appointed president of the new organization. Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios managed development operations for 13 studios scattered around the globe.
Harrison was also the man behind the global product strategy and a regular speaker at development conferences. For many he was the heart of Sony’s gaming division and his resignation on February 25, 2008 which is effective as of February 29 is troubling considering Microsoft and Nintendo's recent successes.
Just days prior to the announcement Harrison worked his way around the GDC defending the PS3 which has been toted as a global failure in regards to sales in comparison to the all-mighty PS2.
A blog post at ps3fanboy website by Andrew Yoon on February 25 stated that Harrison said "The past 15 years at Sony Computer Entertainment has been the defining journey of my life so far," said Phil Harrison. "I am grateful to all the PlayStation family for their incredible support, guidance and friendship. It has been a privilege to serve as part of the team and be inspired by them on a daily basis. I am so proud of everything PlayStation has achieved and will continue to support its future in every way I can."
Both Harrison and Sony have remained tight-lipped regarding the reason behind the resignation and the resignations seemingly speedy effective date is not doing anything to quench the rumors that are flying about.
Harrison’s statement reads much like a PR announcement for a celebrity divorce. They’ll always stay supportive won’t they? Sony has not done much to give a definitive reason behind the resignation and it is likely that the answer will not be evident for awhile.
Monsters and Critics website reported on February 25 that Games Industry gaming website has sources that have indicated that Harrison is heading to Atari and the overwhelming majority of gaming blogs and websites are picking up on the rumor and running with it.
Atari is considered a casual gaming company. Recently Phil Harrison lamented about Sony’s hesitance to move more casual games into the market. Along with the statement just mere days before his resignation a move to Atari, a notoriously casual gaming entity, seems a solid fit for the freed mogul.
While Harrison appeared supportive during public meetings a story published on February 22 by Matt Martin for Games Industry website paints a different picture during a private lunch. Martin states that Harrison has been quoted as saying, "It's a very interesting and frustrating thing for me to experience because I have been banging the drum about social gaming for a long time, with SingStar, EyeToy and Buzz," Harrison allegedly continued by say, "And our Japanese colleagues said that there is no such thing as social gaming in Japan – people do not play games on the same sofa together in each other's homes. It will never happen. And then out comes the Wii."
Harrison is the man behind some of Sony’s more recent social game innovations such as SingStar, EyeToy and Buzz, claimed Martin.
Wherever Harrison heads, his natural inclination to churn out hits will surely follow him.
