Microsoft might be the platform holder currently storming the 'new-gen' hardware battlements, but it says it's all about games development not hardware.
"Game development is the core of what we do", said Alan Bowman, head of Xbox operations in Asia. "Microsoft is a software company by heart, and we will continue to work with our partners and by ourselves to develop new software for the market."
Bowman also said that there are no specific cost-cutting measures being implemented at Microsoft to deal with the global economic downturn.
Despite both those statements, Microsoft recently decided to kill Ensemble Studios, the developer behind one of its upcoming AAA games - Halo Wars. There would appear to be something of a mixed message there. Maybe Bowman missed a memo?
Perhaps Ensemble can take some solace in another of Bowman's statements. "Any global company needs to be mindful of their costs and money, but that's a combination of good internal controls and effective cost management." Ah, so that's fine then, Ensemble. You're just reaping the benefits of "good internal controls and effective cost management".
It would appear to SPOnG that while Microsoft will continue to work to "develop new software for the market", it's not prepared to do so in genres that fall outside its tried and tested comfort zone. We can't imagine that Bungie won't be seeing any more Microsoft money heading its way, after all.
Anyway, enough talk of Xbox's core business of games development. Microsoft expects to outpace broader market growth in games through 2009. By, you know, bringing in non-core gamers. "So what is really driving our growth momentum right now is how we are broadening our consumer base to include not only hardcore gamers but also individuals who would have previously not thought about buying a game console", said Bowman.
In Asia, October console sales were up 53% on September following price cuts. Microsoft also trumpeted its sales performance in Europe and North America for November.
"Game development is the core of what we do", said Alan Bowman, head of Xbox operations in Asia. "Microsoft is a software company by heart, and we will continue to work with our partners and by ourselves to develop new software for the market."
Bowman also said that there are no specific cost-cutting measures being implemented at Microsoft to deal with the global economic downturn.
Despite both those statements, Microsoft recently decided to kill Ensemble Studios, the developer behind one of its upcoming AAA games - Halo Wars. There would appear to be something of a mixed message there. Maybe Bowman missed a memo?
Perhaps Ensemble can take some solace in another of Bowman's statements. "Any global company needs to be mindful of their costs and money, but that's a combination of good internal controls and effective cost management." Ah, so that's fine then, Ensemble. You're just reaping the benefits of "good internal controls and effective cost management".
It would appear to SPOnG that while Microsoft will continue to work to "develop new software for the market", it's not prepared to do so in genres that fall outside its tried and tested comfort zone. We can't imagine that Bungie won't be seeing any more Microsoft money heading its way, after all.
Anyway, enough talk of Xbox's core business of games development. Microsoft expects to outpace broader market growth in games through 2009. By, you know, bringing in non-core gamers. "So what is really driving our growth momentum right now is how we are broadening our consumer base to include not only hardcore gamers but also individuals who would have previously not thought about buying a game console", said Bowman.
In Asia, October console sales were up 53% on September following price cuts. Microsoft also trumpeted its sales performance in Europe and North America for November.
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Comments
oj 17 Dec 2008 12:52
1/11
xbox sucks
Dean 17 Dec 2008 13:05
2/11
Cant believe Ensemble was closed :(
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SuperSaiyan4 17 Dec 2008 13:08
3/11
If it sucks then why is kicking the ass out of the PS3? And why is the PS3 losing its exclusives to the Xbox?
Anyways moving on to what I wanted to say...
Microsoft always talk about them being a software company yet I have yet to see any game made by MGS all their games are either purchased IP or games made by purchased developers yet I cannot recall the last time MGS actually made a game themselves.
Instead MGS overlooks games made by other companies where the IP has been bought like HALO and PGR and they wreck it as the previous HALO games and PGR games have been utter crap.
Microsoft seem to have a trend of selling hype thats why they sell a lot and they will do the same again with Gears of War 3 which will also probably be crap.
Sony has the ability to create superb hardware and Microsoft has the experience of creating software perhaps the 2 companies should join lol.
Anyways moving on to what I wanted to say...
Microsoft always talk about them being a software company yet I have yet to see any game made by MGS all their games are either purchased IP or games made by purchased developers yet I cannot recall the last time MGS actually made a game themselves.
Instead MGS overlooks games made by other companies where the IP has been bought like HALO and PGR and they wreck it as the previous HALO games and PGR games have been utter crap.
Microsoft seem to have a trend of selling hype thats why they sell a lot and they will do the same again with Gears of War 3 which will also probably be crap.
Sony has the ability to create superb hardware and Microsoft has the experience of creating software perhaps the 2 companies should join lol.
Steviepunk 17 Dec 2008 14:29
4/11
"Microsoft always talk about them being a software company yet I have yet to see any game made by MGS all their games are either purchased IP or games made by purchased developers yet I cannot recall the last time MGS actually made a game themselves."
Probably would have been Midtown Madness (if you can remember that far back!), or Microsoft Flight Simulator (but maybe they bought that...)
Probably would have been Midtown Madness (if you can remember that far back!), or Microsoft Flight Simulator (but maybe they bought that...)
Joji 17 Dec 2008 14:33
5/11
I never agreed with the canning of Ensemble, let alone their aquisition, because it can easily end like this. This culture of buying instead of breeding your own talent can be a dangerous one.
IMO MGS needs to be searching out their for new talent, in a similar way to Valve perhaps, through building a community of gamer/game devs, like XNA and Community Games.
Better yet, how about MGS opening the first western school dedicated to game design and development. This would also be a great way of finding new talent, just like they do in japan.
IMO MGS needs to be searching out their for new talent, in a similar way to Valve perhaps, through building a community of gamer/game devs, like XNA and Community Games.
Better yet, how about MGS opening the first western school dedicated to game design and development. This would also be a great way of finding new talent, just like they do in japan.
blake 17 Dec 2008 18:39
6/11
xbox rocks, i sold my xbox or a ps3 and now im selling my ps3 and going back to xbox.... theres a lot of games on xbox and better prices too. now i also have my 3rd blu-ray player, so i wont miss the ps3 anymore...
bigd 17 Dec 2008 21:33
7/11
Microsoft better get some games in development then coz theres nothing that looks good coming in 09, all the good games are hitting PS3 now.
JaggedSac 18 Dec 2008 04:26
8/11
^^That is what they said last Christmas.
SuperSaiyan4 18 Dec 2008 08:58
9/11
bigd wrote:
Microsoft better get some games in development then coz theres nothing that looks good coming in 09, all the good games are hitting PS3 now.
What you mean like Street Fighter 4? Oh wait thats on the 360 as well
What you mean like Final Fantasy 13? Oh wait thats on the 360 as well
What you mean like Tekken 6? Oh wait that is on the 360 as well
So where are all the PS JRPG's? Oh yes on the 360.
Every developer even Square Enix have praised the 360 and what do the PS fanbabies say? The developers are lazy, so if that's the case then why the f**k dont all the PS3 fanbabies get off their own asses and go develope some unlazy games? Or maybe just maybe it aint that simple?
Halo 3 >>> 23 Dec 2008 06:36
10/11
Xbox 360 has the best games this gen, Ps3 has the best hardware, and the wii...well the wii has nothing but a legacy, mario etc, everyone knows mario, thats why Nintendo make nothing new and original, they can't lmao
OptimusP 23 Dec 2008 14:42
11/11
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
So where are all the PS JRPG's? Oh yes on the 360.
No they aren't... Microsoft just bought a few and a few followed, in reality they stayed on the PS2 (case in point: Persona 4), moved to the DS(god don't make me type a list) and are now moving to the Wii (Fragile, Dragon Quest XI, Arc Rise Phantasia, the next Tales ect.).
And what does Nintendo has? well it has the best structure, skill and value set to kick Sony and Microsoft out of the market if both do not act properly.