Greenberg defends fanboyism and his controversial nature
Aaron Greenberg may be one of the most controversial figures of this video game generation, possibly outdoing Peter Moore. Greenberg recently spilled the beans on why he is so controversial when it comes to the console wars between the Xbox 360 and PS3.
In a recent interview with Destructoid, Greenberg was asked what his thoughts were on the fact that fanboy wars ignite whenever he opens his mouth. His response was pretty interesting to say the least.
Greenberg indicated that he doesn’t want to give a cookie cutter response and wants to engage in “thoughtful dialogue†with the readers and media outlets instead.
He stated:
I realize this candor may at times spark emotions and of course I like it better when the emotions are positive ones, but even when they aren’t, it’s great to be part of the dialog. This industry is full of people who feel passionately about gaming, and being part of that conversation is one of the more interesting parts of my job.
Greenberg then gave his sports team analogy once again describing that rooting for a video game console is like supporting a sports team. However, unlike sports teams most people (maybe not all) grow out of being a fanboy once they can afford to own all the consoles. Case in point, does Super Nintendo vs. Sega Genesis fanboyism still exist today?
Greenberg finishes with an interesting statement:
I think this competitive nature is reflected in our products, it is what drove us to push for things like the New Xbox Experience, ‘Project Natal’ and even securing franchises like Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear and Final Fantasy. At the end of the day, I see this constant focus on always being the best we can and giving our owners new experiences as a positive thing in the long-term.
Yes, I have to agree, one thing Microsoft has been good at doing is “securing†franchises like GTA, Metal Gear and Final Fantasy from the likes of the PS3.
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40 Responses to “Greenberg defends fanboyism and his controversial nature”
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January 16th, 2010
LOL… Destructoid:
“We’ve been chatting with Microsoft minister of propaganda Aaron Greenberg, wanting to crack open his head like a big beautiful coconut and gorge on the milk inside… the Microsoft Stallion… I must congratulate Aaron on managing to namedrop Project Natal into nearly all of his answers. This man is good at his job.”
http://www.destructoid.com/greenberg-fanboyism-is-like-rooting-for-a-sports-team-160599.phtml
January 16th, 2010
We call him here the “ever likable and the most charismatic guy on the planet.”
January 16th, 2010
LOL… that doesn’t sound “snide” at all
January 16th, 2010
“Will any of this convince gamers that are angry that Microsoft isn’t simply throwing money around? It’s doubtful. The fact remains, however, that you’ll have to own a Microsoft console if you want to play the newest Modern Warfare 2 content first. That’s a powerful selling point.”
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/01/exclusively-first-microsoft-defends-modern-warfare-content.ars
January 16th, 2010
<3 this guy
January 16th, 2010
He is a sleazy salesman and that’s all.
The guy is a flipping moron.
It’s his job to talk up the 360 and if he worked for Sony he would be spewing the same crap for them.
Honest, the cheque is in the mail and I wont $%#% in your mouth!
Looser
January 17th, 2010
Metal Gear Solid LMFAO yeah right Rising LoL one Final Fantasy dumb down and 3 disc LoL. I give them credit for GTAIV only You see the trend all great franchise are on PlayStation and born there too.
ncaissie:
I agree this guy is a pure moron. And yes he will be saying the saying maybe if he was Sony god.
CarlB:
That quote posted is really not a good thing if think about it. It sounds so weak. Come on it will be better if it was a lifetime DLC or a new IP or new exclusive but timed exclusive DLC is just sad. That’s far from a selling point.
January 17th, 2010
Ivan… it’s so evident… why would anybody pay to play the latest DLC on the record setting, billion dollar best selling game of 2009… lol.
January 17th, 2010
Unlike most of the many enthusiastic volunteers here on the internet, he is being PAID to be a fanboy. I’d do it.
And yes, securing former Sony-only franchises is why Xbox is where it’s at right now, along with Live and the Halo series.
January 17th, 2010
Saber_HAHAha:
Sony owns their own exclusive franchises Microsoft doesn’t which means good news for PS3 owners that might want one of their games. And are you paying me?
So according to you Sony helped Microsoft LoL. Sony is that awesome it even helps the so called rival.
CarlB:
Again new IP and new exclsuives are better then just timed exclusive DLC.
January 17th, 2010
“So according to you Sony helped Microsoft LoL.”
Well you could say that, or you could just say Microsoft raped Sony LoL.
January 17th, 2010
CarlB:
Raped pure exaggeration to the fullest. Wow dude you are so blind by Microsoft is just sad.
January 17th, 2010
I just wonder how many millions Micro Soft spends to get those franchises just to stay in the game.
In some point those Playstation exclusive titles are considered “LOSSES” on Sony’s part just like they were on Nintendo’s back in the old days.
It seems that’s the trend whenever a console king is dethroned.
Micro Soft must always up the ante just to play on Sony’s level and they need this controversy guy to mix it up.
Remember Bernie Stolar?
Man video gaming is becoming more and more like Hollywood every minute.
Speaking of Nintendo & Sega the rivalry, it is still very much alive & kicking butt!
It will always be the timeless classic it was.
The mother of all video game fanboy war has carried on to mascot level- Mario vs. Sonic.
How many Mario vs Sonic content is still up in the internet? And it always as fun as ever a spectacle to behold & it keeps on coming.
January 17th, 2010
Sony basically created the small Xbox brand noticeable. Without Sony they wouldn’t had been an Xbox console and without Sony this awesome franchises that Microsoft is paying millions to get at any loss necessary. They will still be using maybe cartridges Sega and Nintendo, Nintendo might had have a better console then a Wii. Sony is winning money that is. Microsoft spends millions of dollars on DLC and timed exclusives while Sony uses the same tactic on new IP and fund their own exclusives which are always one of the highest rated games.
January 17th, 2010
Without Nintendo there wouldn’t have been a Sony.
January 17th, 2010
There would be a Sony. Just not a Playstation. Sony weren’t always a gaming company.
January 17th, 2010
@Ivan
“They will still be using maybe cartridges Sega and Nintendo”
That is obviously so wrong. The only carts would be handhelds like the DS, which is fine.
@Carl and oldschool
Props for mentioning the Nintendo and Sony connection lol. We wouldn’t have a Playstation if it wasn’t for Nintendo. So Ivan should be very thankfull for Nintendo.
January 17th, 2010
Carlb
Xbox came around only because Sony was a huge threat.
January 17th, 2010
LoL, yeah i meant there wouldn’t be a PlayStation sorry.
FahKinSuPah:
Yeah they might have been using at least regular DVD.
stopstopp:
Microsoft enter the gaming industry in fear of Sony threatening the PC gaming.
Halo was a PS2 and MAC game announce first just for MAC.
youtube.com/watch?v=6eZ2yvWl9nQ&feature=PlayList&p=1576EFF479808557&index=0&playnext=1
All great franchises have some PlayStation history.
The Halo series was first shown to the public on July 21, 1999, where it was announced at that year’s MacWorld conference. The game began as a large-scale team-based shooter similar to Tribes or Battlefield 1942, and was planned for release on the Mac and Windows. Bungie later announced that Halo would be released on PlayStation 2 in an article in “Next Generation Magazine”, which is now out of print. This was also confirmed by IGN and Gamespy. Before the game was canceled for the Sony console, a video on YouTube showed what would have been if the game was to be released on PS2, keeping in mind that this footage was during the early stages of development.
giantbomb.com/halo/62-2/
January 17th, 2010
Stopstopp,
Sony only brought Playstation into the picture because Nintendo wouldn’t buy their product.
January 17th, 2010
@Carl
Nintendo actually had PARTNERED with Sony to produce a CD add on for the SNES (Like Sega-CD).
That partnership didn’t work out and both sides went their seperate ways.
Sony took the R&D and finished it on their own, thus creating the Playstation 1
January 17th, 2010
“didn’t work out”
Yep, Nintendo didn’t want to hand over all control to Sony for all SNES CD-ROM titles as per the original contract.
January 17th, 2010
@Carl
Which worked out well for us all anyway cause the playstation under Sony was way better than anything that would have come out if they were still partnered with Nintendo.
It’s like the old FFVII ads. They basically dissed Nintendo. Its been so long since I have seen it, but if i remember right it was a 2 page ad showing the Junon canon. And it said something about how it was a good thing it wasn’t comming to Nintendo cause it would cost so much or something cause of the size of the game lol. that was some funny stuff
The people at Nintendo probably still kick their own asses over it to this day. Nintendo will never get back the status it once had in the home console market.
January 17th, 2010
http://www.messageboardchampion.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/finalfantasy7c.jpg
LOL this is it!
“if it were available on cartridge it would retail for around $1,200″
While that amount may have been an exaggeration it was still funny to read it.
January 17th, 2010
Sony seems to be losing their edge, and they’ve already lost their position, but at least they lost the “they’ll get second jobs” saying as well and finally learned to drop their price.
January 17th, 2010
Meh, shit happens, next gen they could be back on top or totally bomb with 3 sales.
For all you know, MS could abandon you next gen like Nintendo abandoned me this gen.
Might have to actually use a Sony product. Careful when you touch it tho, it burns none believers who touch it.
January 17th, 2010
@Ivan
Lol I was talking about Greenberg being paid to be a fanboy, not you if that’s what you’re implying.
January 17th, 2010
@ stoppstopp
“Xbox came around only because Sony was a huge threat.”
Care to clarify? As Microsoft were not involved in the gaming console business before the original Xbox, I can’t see how they saw Sony as a threat.
January 17th, 2010
Early prototypes of Eyepet were a threat to the Paperclip in windows.
January 18th, 2010
What’s with the Eyepet dig Kev? I mean Carl lol
January 18th, 2010
“What’s with the Eyepet dig Kev? I mean Carl lol”
LOL…..that’s all his got to trash talk the PS3.
January 18th, 2010
Sackboy just wouldn’t have sounded as funny, but flying monkey might have done the trick…
Sorry, but saying “Xbox came around only because Sony was a huge threat” is just absurd.
January 18th, 2010
Isn’t it his job to be a little cheerleader for MS?
Sorry, I must be missing something here.
What exactly is he doing wrong? lol
January 18th, 2010
harry sachz:
To PC according to them it was a major threat.
Message was left using the PS3 web browser.
January 18th, 2010
Xbox came around just like Natal.
MS seen Sony was making big bucks and wanted some.
They seen Nintendo is making big bucks on motion and wants a piece.
The same goes for Sony wand.
January 18th, 2010
I love the Pic you used I’m going to use it for my Gravatar Pic.
January 19th, 2010
Ivan
Blo*dy hell, you’re using that sh!te browser are you?
Wow. and why bother?
Haven’t you got the time-travelling Vaio
(sold to him in June 09 with a 500gb SSD as stadard fit, according to Ivan)?
January 20th, 2010
“Might have to actually use a Sony product. Careful when you touch it tho, it burns none believers who touch it”
lmaoo
January 20th, 2010
like him or hate him, Greenburg is a far less of a fanboy than Sony’s Ken Kuturagi, Kaz Hirai or Phil Harrison was.
Gamers never knew what to expect from these guys as most of their promises were later to found to be lies.
At least Greenburg tries to stick to the facts in most cases. Not so with sony’s marketting.
January 20th, 2010
ncaissie – want to count the lies sony’s pr has told? c’mon..should be fun…