Speaking to Kikizo, Microsoft Games Studio’s General Manager Kudo Tsunoda has made a few provocative remarks about the Redmond giant’s rivals. Tsunoda, who joined Microsoft in January to help shape Gears of War 2, feels that his new employer offers more creative support than any other publisher.
"Every new game I’ve worked on I’ve tried to bring some innovation to the title, and not just be making something that’s like a knock-off of some other game," he said. "And I think that’s why I would want to come to MGS, and also why they would want me to work here. I think they’re just always looking for people who can bring really innovative design ideas to the table."
"For some people working in games, it’s so much easier to either knock a game that’s already out there," he went on. "Or take pieces from a game and assemble it into something else. It’s just like all the people who’ve copied the Gears cover system: "wow there’s something that worked really well, let’s put that into out game.""
His example might have been stronger had Epic Games not filched that very same cover mechanic from Namco’s Kill.switch, which hit PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2003.
When asked if he had been "tempted" by Sony, Tsunoda was adamant that Microsoft Games Studio offered a more nurturing environment. "Out of everywhere, I felt like this was the best place… like, when you have an idea in your head, where’s the best place to be working where you can get all of the cool creative ideas into the final shipping product? MGS is really nurturing and supportive of creative people, so it’s like, why the heck would I not want to come and work here?"