Microsoft Lawyer: We Respect Sony

So do Microsoft and Sony hate each other? "Not exactly" according to Microsoft's Game Studio's attorney, as he's stirred the hottest rivalry this generation. Don McGowan made news a few days ago with his comments regarding the Master Chief mod on Sony's PlayStation 3 running on Unreal Tournament. In response to whether or not Microsoft had a problem with it, Don explained the content usage rules did not forbid users the right to create such content if they are not making money from it. He went on to describe how proud Microsoft were that Master Chief was so popular that gamers from the other platform wanted to play with the character, and then proceeded with a low blow - "And no one is taking characters from PlayStation games (do they even have any games?)"

He made an appearance on Major Nelson's blog to explain his comments and admitted that because he's a lawyer himself doesn't mean he's untouchable, as he waits to be "spanked" because of the controversy.

Listen from the 49th minute mark on the Podcast.

[BilI Gates]

Take it from me guys we don't hate Sony but business is business.

[VaeVictus]

since the 360 has a closed online system that doesn't allow for mods.

[kevoncox]

I think it's more like politics. Odama and Clinton don't hate each other but when debating you have to rub the other guys face in it to make you look better. I believe that Sony does a bi more of the rubbing since e305 but both sides do rubbing....

Bubbles please. I will dance for bubbles.
Fanboys have stolen my bubbles.

[kevin1122]

kevin, you would be wrong. Microsoft has done a boatload more than sony did.

[Nevers]

Microsoft doesn't hate Sony (or vice versa) nearly as much as fanboyz hate fanboyz... both companies are rakin' in the $$$$$$$$$ hand over fist.

[Bloodwar]

It must have gone over your head. What he was saying is we don't see anyone creating mods of Sony characters for the PS3.

[VaeVictus]

is a UT3 mod. Bungie created Master Chief, M$ bought the rights to it. Squaresoft created Cloud, Sony bought the rights to it. Same thing, so yeah, maybe you should so more research. ;)

[Meus Renaissance]

I really enjoyed listening to what he said, very interesting. I like how he is aware of his own "scope and breadth of evil". "We will crush you". My god, if we had attorney's on N4G the server would die within hours.

[Hagaf22]

"its not hate, we just respectfully hate, so in a since we respect, but deep down, we hate."

[meepmoopmeep]

lmao. bubbles for that.

[Brian5247]

Join forces? =O

[Hagaf22]

youve just been banished to the deepest realms of hell for that comment, you get a seat next to bill gates and hitler now, phil harrison would have been there too but he cross the line to devinity.

[DJ]

Funny quote.

[ascendantofrain]

"And no one is taking characters from PlayStation games (do they even have any games?)"

I believe Super Smash Brothers Brawl took Solid Snake from the Playstation.

[The Wood]

it shows that these are on the game sites and forums like us. Best way to know whats hot and whats not i suppose. They would love to put snake in a game. arh well only on ps3

[Iamback]

Solid Snake is not Sony character, its Konamis and Solid Snake appeared on other platforms before SSBS. Sony has nothing to do with Snake.
Master Chief is MS character, owned by MS, not some other studio/publisher.

Deep down MS enormously respects Sony, same goes for Nintendo. just like Peter Moore said after living MS for EA. "You dont sell back to back over 100 million (PS1 and PS2)units and just utterly fail(talking about future of PS3), Sony will be fine".

Everyone respects Sony in industry, they have done the most for gaming industry and basically made it into what it is today, only some fanboy or noob is going to deny that.
if there wasn't for Playstation success do you really think MS would be in this industry? Hell no. Kids would be still playing Sega and Nintendo consoles on most likely catridges. But Sony expanded industry beyond anyones expectations, made billions and MS saw potential to make a lot of money. Problem is Sony is to strong in this industry and WAY MORE EXPERIENCED. Has largest number of first party studios (over 2400(people) developers working in Sony owned studios. No one has that potential, no one!

[The Wood]

you KNOW what i mean. I know the history of snake an all that.

[Forgranted]

Cloud is a playable character in UT3... you may say that the character belongs to square enix, but i think he is heavily correlated with playstation

[7h3ultim8p00]

Lamback, actually, it is Nintendo you should be thanking, not Sony. Sony has not made very many console innovations in the game industry; they just copy what others do and improve on it. That's what Sony does. Nintendo innovates, Sony copies, MS throws money at everything.

[IntelligentAj]

I disagree. Granted Nintendo innovated plenty in the industry and everyone is indebted to them but they would have kept the N64 running had it not been defeated by the PS. The PlayStation opened the way for Disc based gaming and also made it's way into pop culture, which Nintendo didn't do on the same scale. PS made gaming popular among the masses. While they do copy innovations, who doesn't? If I copy something of yours but make it better, isn't it still better, although you owned the original design? Everyone in the industry does it and if you don' believe so then you should do some more research. Hell XBL is a perfect example. The dreamcast had a pretty cool concept for online gaming and MS took that and expanded it to the juggernaut that is XBL now. They copied someone else's idea but improved upon exponentially. Would you still fault them for not creating the original idea?

[kevin1122]

I cant believe, i think he is the first nintendo fanboy on this site lol.

[RecSpec]

Playstation took Solid Snake from NES which stole it from MSX. Get educated.

[texism]

IntelligentAJ, you fail at two points.

First off, Microsoft did not copy from sega's online system because they MADE sega's online system. They were the one's behind the it. They even gave the Dreamcast Windows CE compatibility.

Secondly, the CD was not a Sony thing. Sega started that with the Sega CD and this little console called the Dreamcast?

So you fail

[rbanke]

As much as people seem to want their to be hate, these are businesses. Businesses all have one goal, make money. Hate doesnt come into the equasion

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

Everyone is united when there is money to be made!!!

It's just that simple....

[DRUDOG]

Bullsh!t. Tell that to Hershey and the Mars Corp. Those guys do hate each other and it's been well documented. Sometimes big businesses go beyond just competing for market share. Do I think that people at MS hate Sony and vice versa? Hell yeah. Besides, a little (very little) hate in your life is healthy...

[Kholinar]

The problem is that Hershey and Mars don't have any non-competing products. Whereas Sony and Microsoft work together all the time. MS makes a lot of money off of licenses for Vaios. If microsoft had such bitter hatred they'd refuse to sell Windows to Sony at all.

So no, they don't hate each other. Now, would either of them destroy the other completely if they could without harming themselves in a large way? Absolutely, but that's because it'd be profitable.

There are probably people at MS that hate Sony, just like Balmer throws chairs when Google is mentioned or just like Mars and Hersheys, but overall it's just business.

[bootsielon]

Idiot, is there even an exclusive game on Xbox 360 that allows for character creation? Even more, would it be relevant to make a Kratos on an FPS the way Master Chief is relevant on an FPS like UT3? A moronic lawyer that doesnt even know jack sh1t about the companies he works for.

[HuntTheWumpus]

Well he sure seems to know how to p!ss you off.. chill out.. Dislodging that huge hunk of black plastic from your arse would be a good start.

[ravinshield]

haha that funny even lawyers think the ps3 is wack as sh!t

[DreDawgg06]

If these two can get along than I know you sony fans and and xbox fans can too.

[longduckdong]

360 fans and PC fans go hand in hand kinda sorta. Whoever made the mod with 360 characters probably doesn't even own a PS3.

[d3l33t]

you fail

[PR0F3TA]

Thats right MS, Respect your elders

[Kaz Hirai]

This "Don McGowan" fellow is not fit to lick Emperor Kutaragi's shoes clean! I shall END his miserable existence! You had better watch your back, DONALD!

MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!

[Sir Ken Kutaragi 2]

Listen to the PodCast??? I'd rather watch PAINT DRY!!! ;-D
(It would be MORE INTERESTING!!!) ;-D
Boring Micro$oft
Boring xBox 360
Boring Bill Gate$
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
+With your good work King Kaz;) you will DESTROY them!!! ;)

[HuntTheWumpus]

Wow, what a collection of fine PS3 fanboys you have here.

It's like the "Burning Man" of console wars with everyone dressed up as their favorite asshat.. Bill Gates, Kaz, Ken, Phil.. LOL why are they all Sony fanboys? What a sorry bunch.

[Phil Harrison Mklll]

Er because its the BEST Console on the Planet!:)

[LarVanian]

You seem to be a very sorry person yourself, since you actually take the time to fight back with us, clearly showing how easily annoyed you get. Thanks for the regards man. Me, Kaz, Krazy Ken and Phil will continue to piss you (and all the other sad pathetic XBOTS crying over their RROD driven consoles) off since it is very easy.

[ben hates you]

you all need to get a life outside of gaming

[d3l33t]

of course they don't hate each other. Unlike what most fan boys perceive, this is no elementary school yard feud, it's business. And yes you may not embrace your competitors, but you most certainly don't disrespect them. It's basic business ethics.

[Lord Vader]

Sony & MS are concerned with the bottom line & how they can get more of your hard earned cash.

Businesses don't hate...

Fanboys Hate.

[cam2030]

C'mon Sony :D, make those master chief mods on playstation 3. Microsoft copied and cheated why can't sony also? :D and it's such BS that microsft respects sony, they respect noone!!!

[foodbox]

Please take your spam to the open zone. Thanks.

[IntelligentAj]

How did MS cheat? Please explain that further.

[DiabloRising]

That was a low blow. I'm sorry but aren't most of the biggest Xbox characters, Master Chief aside, 3rd party characters? Marcus belongs to Epic, Ryu Hayabusa belongs to Team Ninja. That's right, they are! Sony's teams have created just as recognizable characters in my opinion, including Kratos, Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, Sweettooth, the Helghast, Ico, and Drake. So sorry if they aren't plastered on MOUNTAIN DEW.

Give credit where it is due.

[Varsarus]

Sony should buy M$ HAHAHAHAHA.

[foodbox]

Sony (JP:6758 ) has a market cap of $39.88 B
Microsoft (MSFT) has a market cap of $264.13 B

What were you saying?

[Varsarus]

and I guess you never heard of a joke?, although Microsoft are in a bit of a mess atm lol.

[DRUDOG]

Is that a picture of the "guy in question"? What is it with guys with thinning hair and the quasi mullet thing goin?!? Quit the combovers and shave it all off...

[undacovabrothe]

Ps3 owners/Sony ppl cant make mods the PC fanbase does that and we just benefit off it to act like we WANTED this content is dumb. Its nice to have and enjoy but its not like omg MASTERCHIEF IS SO COOL GOT TO HAVE IT... and like the lawyar said no1 can sew Epic for their created user content because they not making money off it.

[LarVanian]

"""And no one is taking characters from PlayStation games (do they even have any games?)"""

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
God of War
Kratos
Athena
Zeus
Ares
Gaia
Chronos
Atlas

Jak and Daxter series
Jak
Daxter
Samos
Keira
Sig
Krew
Torn
Baron Praxis

Ratchet and Clank
Ratchet
Clank
Captain Quark
The Plumber

Uncharted: Drakes Fortune
Nathan Drake
Elena Fisher
Sully
Atoq Navarro
Gabriel Roman
Eddy Raja

Resistance: Fall of Man
Nathan Hale
Captain Parker
The Chimera

Killzone
Jan Templar
Rico
The Helgast
Seth

Final Fantasy
Cloud
Tifa
Aeris
Sid
Squall Leonhart
Sifer
Lighting
Rikku

Heavenly Sword
Nariko
Kai
King Bohan

Syphon Filter
Gabe Logan

Sly Cooper
Sly
Murray
Bently
Carmelita
Clockworth

Medievil
Sir Dan Fortesque

Kingdom Hearts
Sora
Rikku
Kaire
Ansem
Xeonhart

Stolen ones
Crash (Started out on PlayStation and was stolen by both Microdick and Nintendo)
Spyro (Same thing happened with Crash)
Dante (Same thing with Crash and Spyro)

MGS
Solid Snake
Liquid Snake
Naked Snake
Octacon
Roy Campell
Meryll
Revolver Ocelot

Little Big Planet Sack Boy
And a f**k load more

Lets see what MicroPenis has now
Marcus Fenix
Master Gay
Mass Effect guy
WOW A WHOLE BUNCH OF SPACE MARINES!!!! Well done Micro-brains you have not only proven that you are hypocrites but you also have no variety in your characters.

[Xbox is the BEST]

put your heart and soul in this don't you?

[LarVanian]

Only because I know you will put your heart and soul into answering me. ;)

[HuntTheWumpus]

Shhhhh..

Gaming nerd at work, do not disturb.

[LarVanian]

Gaming nerd?
You seem to be talking about almost every member at N4G.

[ravinshield]

yea but all those characters are G@y

[power of Green]

Really!?, WoW. Go shoot up a mall geezzzzzz.

[LarVanian]

Why don't you explain in full detail how all those characters are gay. Maybe you are just gay yourself but are afraid to admit it so you blame it on other people.

Power of Gayness- Why would I want to shoot up a mall, all it would do is make me look like a d!ck, like you.

[SL1M DADDY]

That would be because nobody has an editor that is capable of it like the PC and none that can be used like that same editor but on the PS3. It's a low blow and an ignorant one since Snake is used in a Ninty game. My guess is that they used Master Chief due to his lack of identity and it is easier to create a faceless character than it would for somebody to make a real Snake or Ratchet for some editor on any other system.

[PSWe60]

who knows if they hate one another, but the fanboys hate one another more than enough...with that said, FUKC the stupid puto X-bots!

[ravinshield]

dont be coming in here cursing in spanish you damb bean**.go watch some blue-rays

[PSWe60]

damb?

[ErcsYou]

The only reason anybody wanted 360 characters in the PS3 version of UT3 was to use it as ammo in the "fanboy wars"

Cloud was a Mod for UT3 before that Green Guy

[JAKESPLACE_]

open up ur freakin system M$

[foodbox]

XNA Community and XNA Games. Forge. XBLA.

The system is plenty "open".

[devilhunterx]

If Xb2 ever get user created mods, we would be seeing the likes of Kratos, Ratchet, Gabe, Snake, Cloud, Helgast etc

Imo, Helgast looks 10x cooler then the guy in green bmx suit

[Asurastrike]

lol, GTAIV, DMC4, Ace Combat 6 they were Playstation titles they wanted to much they payed millions.

[Mikey_Gee]

I would love to see SONY and MICROSOFT come together and build the ULTIMATE GAME CONSOLE that blows our minds.

Now that would be cool !!!

Worst part is then without competition, all the control is in the hands of the new "X-Station"

[DarkSniper]

If you want to see two companies that dont respect each other, Dark Sniper strongly suggests that you do your research on the 16-Bit console wars between Sega and Nintendo. That marked the peak of bitter rivalries between two companies and their supporting fanboys.

It makes absolutely perfect sense for Microsoft to mutually respect Sony at such a high magnitude. Microsoft needs to ensure a smooth business transition once their intellectual property for the XBOX division is bought out by Sony.

$niper

[PimpHandHappy]

from MS sounding like a d!ckweed

its the culture of pirates

[buddyro]

mod something that was not shipped with the game so it's nothing they can do. I personally think Microsoft tried to sue thats why the Lawyer not the PR is speaking out on this matter. The respect that he is talking about is the respect how Master Chief looks on the Playstation Hardware we all know how it looks on 360.

[jinn]

fire the lawyer