More inter-company slinging of the mud lately, as Microsoft and Sony essentially devolve the games industry into a slightly less spectacular episode of The Jerry Springer Show.
Responding to comments from the inimitable Peter Moore that Microsoft is interested in possibly pursuing an initiative similar to Sony's Folding@Home scheme, Tretton questioned the Xbox 360's ability to undertake such a task, and went on to say that he'd be "very disappointed" if Microsoft are just looking for PR.
"I think to look at it as a marketing platform is something that a company certainly wouldn't want to do. I'm certainly not insinuating that's Microsoft's motivation, but I'm not even sure how relevant it is to what we're doing. Would they be even having this conversation if we weren't doing it? I don't know."
So of course this is hypothetical disappointment in a situation that is certainly not being implied. He'd never dream of claiming that he thinks Microsoft are a bunch of parasitic ambulance chasers who'd leech credit for helping medical science in a fashion similar to Sony.
"It's really ugly territory to get into, but let's take fighting a disease and see if we can get some credit for that ... It's not a cool game to play one way or the other so I don't want to even give the impression that that's our motivation, and I'd be very disappointed if they're looking for PR value or to try to suck off some of the goodwill that we're doing."
[Via Eurogamer]
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Contest:
8:17 AM on 05.18.2007
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You know. Just as Sony is.
I like the pretending though. As if both companies weren't bloodsucking parasites.
"sony is, first and foremost, a hardware company and as such, their technological applications drive sales of new items. their R&D is huge."
Folding@Home is a relatively simple piece of software that can be run on a multitude of systems. To suggest that incorporating Folding somehow helps Sony's R&D isn't just misinformed, it's ridiculous.
You don't think they id it for PR? not wanting to be blunt, but they are a corporation here, it's almost legally impossibly for them to do anything which doesn't directly lead to them making (or attempting to make) more money. They know that by doing things like Folding at home it will improve their image, simple as that.
M$ shouldnt even hesitate if this is going to bring them money or not, bill gates donates millions each year to homeless kids and orphanage, this cost them nothing, just let the program run on the xbox and open the doors those who would like to contribute.
I would like to see those desicion makers in M$ see if they get some sort of cancer and let them think if this was a good idea or not.
Stanford isn't paying my power bill at the end of the month, so while I'm all for charity and such. My computer, my Xbox 360, etc, stay OFF when not in use, and I prefer to keep it that way. Keeping them on is cost prohibitive given the efforts involved. If my energy company would be willing to waive X amount of kWh off of my bill for providing charitable services, then we'll talk. Running my xbox 24/7 would end up costing me about an extra $15 a month. That's on top of running my laptop, my imac, and a PC in the house. I'd rather not. I'll just be charitable through monetary means.
On the other hand, the sweet PR juice of "helping a good cause" does give a bit of pause as to which way to go. I'm sure they're in their "How can we not look like losers as much as possible if we do this?" stage.
no one obligating no one to leave their system on for that long, not even me. but even 1 unit rendered out of a entire year, which is 7h render, is a help to find different cure's for cancer. not even $1.
You guys sure don't think about monthly bill when u play your xbox or ps3 games eh? but its ok, thats just how people take things for granted, like health.
Hey waitaminute. . . . M$ had a platform running Folding long before the PS3, yet they're "stealing buzz" if they put it on the 360?
Also, cocks. (This means you, Jack.)
The publicity stunt aspect of it is a pretty healthy part of the motivation for both companies, but if you can get a huge company to do something to help *anyone*, take what you can get.