14 DAY TRIAL // The fact that Ken Kutaragi has stepped down from his position with Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. doesn't mean that the man launching his career in 1975 by joining Sony Corporation's research lab isn't still recognized as The Father of PlayStation. In fact, blokes over at the The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) wanted to let the man in on everyone's gratitude towards his work and so they're granting him the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kutaragi will see the coveted 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony on February 7 at Red Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in conjunction with the annual D.I.C.E. Summit 2008.
"Ken Kutaragi's passion, innovative thinking and business savvy sparked a monumental movement that was unstoppable," said Joseph Olin, president, AIAS. "If it wasn't for Ken and his concept of the original PlayStation, there wouldn't be the billion dollar industry there is today. His contributions have clearly set new standards for developers, publishers and consumers worldwide."
"Ken Kutaragi is the smartest guy in the history of the video game business," said Trip Hawkins, founder, Electronic Arts and AIAS Hall of Fame member. "Without Ken, there is no Sony PlayStation, and that is beyond comprehension."
Kutaragi was named president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc in 1999, on the heels of the PlayStation launch success. Under Kutaragi's lead, the company has seen more than 120 million PlayStation 2 units sold, making it the best-selling in-home game system in history. The success wasn't replicated with the PlayStaion 3 however, and that's when things started to go downhill for Sony and Kutaragi implicitly. Of course, the PlayStation 3 has only been out for a year so it couldn't have possibly lived up to the success of its predecessor, but the console's status as a poor selling system hasn't changed much from its first month in the wild (starting November 11, 2006) to present time.
Kutaragi announced his official retirement from Sony after 30 years of service in June, this year, and now serves as honorary chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., and senior technology advisor of Sony Corporation, where he applies his extensive technological knowledge and experience. Congrads Kutaragi and thank you for blessing our childhod with the best gaming systems ever developed. This one came right from the heart man!