Kaz Hirai Would Rather Get Shot Than Have 360 Exclusives

In the 8 and 16-bit era of video gaming, there was a lot of cloak-and-dagger business going on behind Mario’s big jolly facade and Sonic’s confident smirk.

The game industry remains competitive. It’s not a Church picnic footrace where everyone can be told “Hooray, you’re a winner!” just for participating. Nevertheless, things don’t feel as fierce as they used to be; Sony and Microsoft aren’t exactly one-trick companies and Nintendo prints money. There’s no jaded Atari owners to win back. The game industry is stable. We are in an era where developers and companies can confidently compliment each other’s product.

But Kaz Harai is still wearing his battle gear and hiding in a foxhole. Will someone please bring the poor guy up to speed?

In an interview with Swedish daily Aftonbladet, Harai said he’d rather take a bullet than port an exclusive Xbox 360 title to the Playstation 3. Does he really hate life that much?

Aftonbladet: If you had to choose ONE exclusive Xbox 360 title and launch it for the PS3 instead, which game would it be?
Hirai: I don’t think I have to choose any…..
Aftonbladet: You have to pick one.
Hirai: Again, I don’t think I have to pick one because we have such a fantastic lineup of games.
Aftonbladet: But if someone is holding a gun to your head and you have to choose one. Which game would it be?
Hirai: Okay.. then they have to shoot me, because I really don’t think we need any.

Wow, I don’t think I even saw things get this extreme during the heydey of the SNES/Genesis wars.

Tip for Sony: a muzzle is never a bad investment.

(Image from Superstock.com)