Microsoft On Portable Gaming: “Never Say Never”

Shane Kim speaks out at DICE

Posted by Staff
Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.
Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.
A portable gaming device for is still a possibility for Microsoft according to Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.

Speaking at the DICE Summit 2008 in an on-stage question and answer session with New York Times reporter Seth Schiesel, Kim said,

"Never say never, (but) launching a portable device is like launching another Xbox 360... you have to really step back and ask, devoting whatever bandwidth and resources you would have to to make the Zune a multifunction device, is that really the best way to go?"


Kim also spoke out about the Xbox's perception in the market place, indicating he would like the platform to appeal to a more casual audience. "We have to fight against the perception that we are a Mature-rated box for hardcore gamers", he said.

On Bungie's departure from Microsoft, Kim dismissed rumours that the developer left because it felt creatively stifled, saying, "I really believe that the root of it is you have a group of enormously talented, creative individuals who wanted to be independent."

On a related note, a Bungie team member said in a recent podcast, “Bungie's next game - that isn't Halo 3 expansion, DLC-type stuff - will be something totally different from Bungie.” SPOnG's glad to hear it. Splitting from Microsoft would have been an obscenely pointless move if the studio was just going to head off and recreate Halo...

He also declared that the console war is not over when asked if the Wii's success has resigned the 360 to second place at best, stating, “The generation has a long way to go, so it's way too early to declare a winner.”

In an interview at the summit±, Kim also had some choice words about a couple of key games for the 360. “Making sure that we own the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV from a platform perspective is really important”, Kim said. Asked, “How do you own that launch?” Kim went on, “I think it really is about marketing, right? We already own it, I believe, from a content standpoint, because we have the exclusive episodes.”

Intriguingly, Kim also said of Halo Wars, the upcoming real time strategy title set in the Halo universe, “I don't think our target audience is the Halo crowd.” Rather, he hopes that the game might bring a new kind of gamer to the fold. “Lots of people know about Halo. But they might not enjoy the first-person shooter game. So this is a different way for them to experience that.”

That doesn't mean that Microsoft's disinterested in the Halo lot. “I do hope that the Halo fans, the Halo nation will give this a try, but not everybody likes strategy games, either. So we're not trying to sell it to the same 8 million people. Hopefully we'll bring more people into the Halo market.”

Source: †Wired, ‡Bungie, ±Wired

Comments

deleted 8 Feb 2008 12:09
1/3
"Never say never, (but) launching a portable device is like launching another Xbox 360... you have to really step back and ask, devoting whatever bandwidth and resources you would have to to make the Zune a multifunction device, is that really the best way to go?"

Sounds like if the Zune had gotten iPod Appeal then we would of seen and Zune/360 portable device, as it hasnt it probly means they having to start from scratch, and i suspect there is some sort of prototype being readyed for launch around the time sony or nintendo announce a new handheld?
Bentley 8 Feb 2008 16:19
2/3
I have one word for you, Microsoft: "never".

Stick to what you are best at, like screwing up PC operating systems, taking advantage of America's blind patriotism; and sucking the penis of Satan. But please, don't subject us to another faulty, rushed-out device in your efforts to take over the entire world with your greedy monopoly.

I'm gutted that they are trying to buy out Yahoo now as well... I've had a Yahoo account for years, since e-mails were invented. Sure, it's crap, and it's mainly used as a back-up e-mail, but at least I knew it was not a Microsoft product. They pissed me right off when they shut my Hotmail years ago because I couldn't be arsed to check it for a bit, and I lost all my messages. I swore then never to go back to Hotmail, and now that they want Yahoo, effectively they are breaking my vow on my behalf. The swines! Christ, they suck balls.
SuperSaiyan4 11 Feb 2008 10:25
3/3
What is amazing is the ZUNE isnt exactly the best music player out there and Microsoft are only selling it in the USA...I mean come on its a music player why not sell it in other countries? Looks like its still being Beta tested in USA only then...

Microsoft are better off dumping the ZUNE and releasing a portable Xbox that allows gamers to be on Xbox Live Anywhere as they originally promised with certain mobile phones...Imagine playing HALO on the go!
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