Microsoft: Sony is less supportive of creative staff

  • Posted December 3rd, 2008 at 05:41 EDT by
  • 50 Comments

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?"

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  1. Odium_Generis_Humani

    • 5:44am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    yawn.

  2. BlueDragoon0 | Lionheart0

    • 5:45am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    The man should research a little game known as Killswitch.

  3. abhi93

    • 5:45am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

     Blah.... blah...

  4. LilSciz | LilSciz

    • 5:52am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Newsflash. MGS stands for Metal Gear Solid, sorry that just bothered me. It came before Microsoft Game Studios anyways. Regardless, i hope he enjoys his new job but he is missing out on what the future holds via the PS3.

  5. darthrazorback

    • 5:52am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Someone want to tell him that Gears did not invent the cover system...

  6. dukelord | KillZone3000

    • 5:55am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    this a big fat lie!!!!!

    MS is not creative at all.

    they only know copying others....

  7. Anim3Fr33K | Anim3Fr33K

    • 6:09am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Inovation and creativity  ..... LBP any one? Dont try to tell me sony hasnt given support for LBP and its crew.

  8. iHustle- | iHustle-

    • 6:14am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Microsoft must be paying him alot..so thats y he's staying there.

  9. iNigel

    • 6:26am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

     OK, he hasn't actually proven that Sony is less supportive. It is just his impression based on the great time he is having at Microsoft.

    That is a misleading title.

  10. graphixmaster | mcx

    • 6:36am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Lets just make a list

    LBP, Echochrome, Eden, The Last Guy, Flow, SuperStar Dust HD, LocoRoco, Patapon,

    Just a few that I like...  Sure most of them are PSN titles but there is strong support there... 

    I know Tsunoda is trying to refer to Big Buget titles but MS is in the same boat as Sony.   But there is nothing "creative" about Gears2.   I did like Def Jam ICON and I was pissed at EA for closing down there studio.  

  11. hesmanes | hesmanes

    • 6:50am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    he prefers MS over SONY without having worked at SONY? how can he say SONY wouldn't do the same or better what he does at MS? It's like saying POO tastes better than choclate without even tasing it!

  12. jigglespsu

    • 6:51am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    more bs from microsoft employees ... I swear they have a as redmond pr cr@p newsletter that says if you are talking to reporters, diss sony by saying ..."bl@h".

    If you work for MS then you've already sold out to the cloak and dagger and obviously for the price of both your brain and your soul

  13. supamariobrotha | supamariobrotha

    • 7:14am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    what was that i couldn't hear him probably because he has microsofts d**k in his mouth

  14. Staticneuron | Staticneuron

    • 7:43am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Honestly, why does MS allow thier employees to spout of nonsense in print for everyone to see and remember?

  15. -CroatianMetalMan-

    • 7:57am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    @13 : LMAO !!!  this idiot in article can STFU. MS creative??  what creative games do they have?!   idiot.

  16. Funeralfog | blksabbath

    • 8:09am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    so this man is a reason the xbox has NO innovative games?

  17. irtz09

    • 8:36am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    yeah xbox does not have any great game its only is famous due to microsoft name and only 2 games halo and gears of war while there are many games on ps which are exclusive and ps is popular due to that

  18. area51employee | pitofskulls

    • 8:53am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Microsoft just wants anybody to work for them that can turn out crappy games because M$ believes that anybody will buy their stuff because of the name.

  19. MAX PAYNE | RoaringHawk

    • 8:59am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    He's totally right. The NXE and the avatars are totally innovative and were M$'s idea from the start. Also, they never steal ideas from other developers (LIPS).

    So Sony is less supportive. What aboutQ Games and thatgamecompany?

    I'm not a fanboy, but this is just ridiculous.

  20. grayfox1471 | SaintGeorge14

    • 8:59am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Microsoft is all about making new and innovative games. Like Halo 3 and Gears of War.... and Halo 3 again (Recon)........ and Gears of War 2..... and Halo Wars....and...... uh......... lemme think..... there's....... ummmm...... did I say Halo 3 yet?

    If he wants to make new IPs and original ideas... why start on a sequel that adds very little new gameplay? Guy sounds like a P.O.S. This headline is very misleading. The man didn't bash Sony, he just praised his new employer. And who doesn't do that?

  21. unreal310 | Loy310

    • 9:23am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Sony: Kudo Tsunoda is inhaleing MS wood right now so he has no choice but to talk out his butthole.

  22. GunTeng

    • 9:28am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    He is just talking up his job & trying to promote MS as a company that supports fresh ideas etc etc. No harm done and no real statements made as to SONY's creativity.

    This is all about MS and their attempts to be seen as competing with SONY of creativity & developement. Take it with a pinch of salt.

  23. svtschmidt

    • 10:04am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    What a shame that Microsoft doesn't even have a creative staff.  Yes they may have a staff, but based on what they keep putting out there, it's not like that are pioneering any new areas.  I have to laugh when people make comments like that.  This guy just comes off sounding like an idiot.

  24. Fiddlesworth

    • 10:10am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    LMAO Kill Switch, SingStar, Buzz, they've copied it all and more. And oh look, we don't have Oddworld Inhabitants anymore because Microsoft gave them the middle finger then EA did a crap job promoting Stranger's Wrath and it bombed.

  25. SamuraiClarke

    • 10:29am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    I understand what the guy is saying. I just wish the Microsoft Game Studios could make quality games. There are some talented deveolopers there.

  26. hush404 | hush404

    • 10:46am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    LMAO. OMG. What a tar.

  27. Shacks | Shacks

    • 10:53am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Even if Gears did invent the cover system... why fix what isn't broken? Now all games from here on out should make you stand around and be shot, because Gears already has the cover system?

    When people think like that it is so ignorant!

  28. Whitman | Whitman

    • 10:54am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    hahahhahaaa...LMAO!!!  is it me or is MS like a cult?! do all employees have to swear unflinching allegance to Bill upon hire?!  there must be a performance clauses in their contracts that they get bonuses for coming up with such dribble...

  29. biron_w

    • 11:14am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

     Did his input into gears 2 include the horrible match making system and stupid ranking system that loads of people dislike?And which has made loads of people actually stop playing gears 2 online?

  30. lordAlucard | Sympozium_666

    • 11:26am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    All Hail Bill Gates the creator of Migraine Windows and Xbox with poor design 2.5

  31. MMDs | MMDs

    • 11:27am GMT - December 3rd, 2008

     Guys seriously, this guy is being controlled by Steve Ballmer, we all know what would happen if this guy didn't talk like this, Ballmer would throw Tsunoda's Desk and chairs around no doubt. 

  32. Gomersoul | Gomersoul

    • 12:04pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    yeah cos gears 2 is nothing like unreal 3, and the xbum avatars are nothing like what the other consoles came up with before them, this guy's proper nuts. bet he gets tea bagged by bill gates

  33. mixpix7212 | Gomersoul

    • 1:18pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    "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?"
    The toilet?

  34. mikeghtmare | mikeghtmare

    • 1:41pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    If Microsoft is so INNOVATIVE why do they keep buy off existing games that Sony brought to life with the Playstation brand???

    Just a tought.  This MS guys don't know when to quit.

  35. stovich | TasteLikeBurning

    • 1:50pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    I've been harping on the gears cover mechanic being pilfered from kill.switch since gears came out. How come nobody else made the connection until now?

  36. ryuken

    • 2:19pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    what a dope just a new guy talking up his new employer.  side note: ms sucks

  37. Firista

    • 2:19pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Lol. Troll.

    I especially love this when you look at the games Microsoft have actually developed themselves.... ripping off every popular Sony/Nintendo popular title... Ah yes, 'Creative'.

  38. zombieking36

    • 2:37pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Excuse me sir, but have you ever heard of Little Big Planet? Resistance 2's multi-player? Killzone 2 as a whole? inFamous? Home? Uncharted: Drake's Fortune? Warhawk? The Eyetoy games? and so much more...

    But to be fair I'll state your side... Lips, oh wait sorry Singstar came first. But theres the Avatars! Oh wait... Mii's and Home were announced years before...

    Really the only innovation I've seen on the Xbox's was Live, and PS has domination this time around, especially as it gets  all the 360's stuff and much more. And its all free...

  39. Girugamesh | Shidousha

    • 4:40pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    lmfao, lololololol

  40. edward_moffet | edd

    • 6:44pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    FUD FUD FUD, all developers say the contrary

  41. NICKKELANIUS | NICKKELANIUS

    • 7:17pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    we're less creative in the art of overheating

  42. darthrazorback

    • 7:17pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    The only MS exclusive that I wish we had, or had a game similar to, is Forza 2.  Sadly, I don't think even GT5 will be as good as Forza 2.

  43. ultramega

    • 7:26pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Ahahahahahahaha. I have ignorant fanboys.

  44. ladellb

    • 8:02pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    Right. He's just nice and cozy at MS, but he's never worked at Sony so he has no clue witch one is a better creative environment. I have a hard time thinking MS has more support for creatives tham Sony, unless "support" means endless finiancial resources.

  45. kalitos

    • 8:22pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

     This is  called  PROPAGANDA!!! 

  46. Lp47PS3 | Lp47

    • 8:48pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    lbp???

  47. J1gs4w | d3v1ldr1v3r

    • 10:11pm GMT - December 3rd, 2008

    LBP?  Uncharted?  I am so very sorry that MS is pumping you full of so much money you cant think straight, but I would kill for a job at SCEA, And if they were that bad to their employees, something would have been said by now.

  48. Pablo0620 | Pablo0620

    • 1:03am GMT - December 4th, 2008

    Wow even this tard thinks that Gears was the first game with a cover system...and how is Gears 2 innovative or creative??? And how is LBP not one of the MOST innovative and creative games ever...not to mention the enormous RISK taken by Sony to actually go with an idea like LBP

  49. Arnekun | Arnekun

    • 2:35am GMT - December 4th, 2008

    Apparently his only real job is saying good stuff about MS since I don't remember any innovation in Gears of War 1.5.

  50. Stew122 | Stew122

    • 3:47pm GMT - December 4th, 2008

     o tru im glad he gets to fulfill his creative abilities like the completely original xbox avatars never before seen on any console i agree microsoft is a very innovative company look at windows vista it is completely fresh and new there has never been an operating system with features like that ...

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