Kutaragi given AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award

via Games Industry


The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences has named Sony's Ken Kutaragi the recipient of the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Kutaragi, considered the "father of the PlayStation," will be honoured for revolutionising the global in-home entertainment market with the creation and success of his game console.

The original PlayStation, launched in 1994, shipped more than 100 million units worldwide. Kutaragi retired from Sony in June 2007 after 30 years of service and currently serves as honourary chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. and senior technology advisor of Sony Corporation.

"Ken Kutaragi’s passion, innovative thinking and business savvy sparked a monumental movement that was unstoppable," said AIAS president Joseph Olin.

"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, Electronic Arts' founder and AIAS Hall of Fame member.

"Without Ken, there is no Sony PlayStation, and that is beyond comprehension."

AIAS' first Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Nintendo's Minoru Arakawa and Howard Lincoln earlier this year.

Kutaragi will be honoured at the Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony on February 7 in Las Vegas in conjunction with the annual D.I.C.E. Summit 2008.