What the hell is MS up to?

[radgamer420]

The answer is pretty obvious. Theyre busy pandering to the casual gamers as they continue to show off their upcoming shovelware for Kinect. I do admit that I'm really looking forward to Halo Reach and Gears 3 but the outlook for other 360 exclusives in the future look mighty bleak as of right now. Unless of course youre a soccer mom who's interested in playing Kinect games with her kids.
http://www.glimpsedog.com/content/39...rosoft-up.html

[Galvanise_]

Codename: Kingdoms is interesting, but its only 20% done at the moment, meaning it won't make 2011.

[LastManDancing]

People say Microsoft keeps their exclusives close to the chest, I'm hoping that's true because the outlook is pretty damn bleak.

At least there's a Mechwarrior reboot coming out.

I hope

[radgamer420]

Codename: Kingdoms is interesting, but its only 20% done at the moment, meaning it won't make 2011.

I agree. It does look very interesting. But also like you said its a long way from being released.

[Roadside]

In what is becoming a worrying trend from Microsoft, the company failed to announce any new exclusives for the Xbox 360 at Gamescom in Cologne last month. After a lacklusture and virtually entirely Kinect based E3 showing, it seemed Gamescom, the second largest gaming industry show in the West, would be the perfect place to announce a couple of new exclusives for 2011. However, it was not to be and with Tokyo Game Show being the last major gaming exhibition this year, many gamers are left wondering what the hell Microsoft is actually up to.

Apart from Halo Reach and Fable III, which both release in the next few weeks, the only major non-Kinect exclusives we know about for the Xbox 360 are Gears of War 3 and Codename : Kingdoms, a game whose details remain scant since its announcement at E3 this year. With both Nintendo and Sony seemingly announcing exclusive after exclusive, it begs the question of what Microsoft have going on behind closed doors. There's the very real and scary possibility that the answer to this question could be 'not much at all'. With EA opting to bring Mass Effect to PS3; Bungie going multiplatform; Robot Entertainment concentrating on the PC exclusive Age of Empires Online; Remedy still unsure to as whether Microsoft even want an Alan Wake 2 or not and Rare concentrating solely on Kinect based games for the foreseeable future, it's certainly possible that next year may not be as exclusive rich for the Xbox 360 as previous years have been.

Disregarding the fact that Microsoft's collection of First Party Studios isn't quite as large as it used to be, there's another possibility as to why Microsoft isn't announcing exclusive games for the coming year. A shift in direction for the company. Perhaps Microsoft's new found interest in the casual gaming market extends beyond simply appealing to all kinds of gamers. Perhaps the company has decided that there's simply more profit to be made concentrating soley on Kinect for the foreseeable future. While core gamers aren't exactly excited for the new motion control system, there are plenty of people out there who are, as seen by the strikingly high pre-order numbers for Kinect. Could it be that Microsoft has abandoned the core gamers that have made the Xbox so popular? While it does seem out of character, at the end of the day, a company is there to make profit, and if Kinect is what brings in that profit, why not go down that route?

There are, of course, several other possibilities that aren't quite so bleak. Perhaps Microsoft are simply keeping tight lids on the development of their upcoming exclusives. However, this seems like a very odd move. Typically, exclusive games are announced at one of the three major gaming shows (E3, Gamescom, TGS), usually over a year before the games actually come out. It's possible Microsoft has a slew of announcements saved up for TGS this month, but that strikes me as odd, considering TGS is, not suprisingly, aimed prodomintely at the Asian gaming market. Surely Gamescom, which took place only a month before TGS, would be the ideal place to announce games aimed at Western gamers. Regardless, pre-show reports of TGS indicate that Microsoft is once again opting to showcase Kinect instead of revealing any major exclusives for the Xbox platform. If this is true, we may not see any major Xbox exclusives announced until E3 2011, which takes place half way through the year. Are Gears of War 3 and multiplatform games really enough to hold core gamers over for that long? I wouldn't bet on it.

Then, there is always option number 3. Microsoft could be pumping all their resources into the sucessor to the Xbox 360 console. Perhaps Halo Reach, Fable III, Gears of War 3 and Kinect are there to simply to keep gamers going until the next Xbox releases, and that the console will arrive much earlier than many suspect. While it may seem a little strange to launch a new console so close to the release of a major hardware addon (Kinect), there's nothing to say that the next Xbox won't have a built in and upgraded version of the motion control system. You've also got to remember, that the people that Kinect is aimed at isn't necessarily the same bunch of people who would buy a new console the year it releases. It's entirely possible Microsoft will continue to support both consoles, using the original Xbox/Kinect as a Wii competitor and opting to concentrate on the new machine for core games.

An interesting fact, that may or may not back up the idea of a new Xbox being announced shortly, is the fact that Steve Balmer, CEO Microsoft, is scheduled to present a keynote at CES 2011 in January. If you'll remember, the original Xbox was revealed at CES in 1999 during interviews with Bill Gates, so it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to see something similar happen in January.

Whatever the reason, it's clear that Microsoft's lineup for the coming year is not as strong as previous years or as its competitors and only time will tell why. What do you think? Is it a lack of first party developers, a change in direction towards Kinect or a new console on the way that's the cause of this minimalist 2011 lineup of core exclusives?

It's very well written and it sure does make me wonder what the hell Microsoft is up to, if anything.

[Galvanise_]

Its clear they are very Kinect orientated internally. We'll probably see them leaning on more 3rd parties for exclusives, or at the very least getting a lot of exclusive DLC to make up for the lack of core content (if very little more is announced).

[Roadside]

Exclusive DLC is a very poor substitute for exclusive games.

[Galvanise_]

Exclusive DLC is a very poor substitute for exclusive games.

I agree, but the GTA, Fallout 3 and other timed exclusive DLC has served them well in the past.

[LfCpS3]

If kinect is a success then can we expect less 360 hardcore big titles?

I hope not since i dont want MS to concentrate and make many kinect type games which could happen if kinect is a big success.

[unicron7]

This is the main reason I gave up on Microsoft. It took me four years to figure this out apparently. Stupidity on my part. They release around two exclusive titles a year and expect their fanbase to be happy with it. Usually Gears, Halo, Fable, and Splinter Cell. Those are the only big titles I have bought in the last 4-5 years. The rest of the multiplats I buy for my PS3. They need to stop this and actually release something ELSE. Stop depending on your big titles to carry you for a year. I have the feeling they are depending on Reach to carry them as well. I'm sure I'll be playing it for a while....but I would like some quantity and flavor added to my collection.

[Bitbydeath]

MS's fanbase are pretty loyal.
Surviving through the RROD fiasco is an amazing feat.
I don't think this is any worse, they are just fishing for more money since their sales are not up on par with the others.
As soon as Kinect dies down a bit im sure they'll go back to supporting their core base.

[radgamer420]

If kinect is a success then can we expect less 360 hardcore big titles?

I would say without a doubt. And I'm pretty sure Kinect games are alot cheaper to make as well. As I've said before MS will just rely on 3rd party games and exclusive/timed exclusive DLC to take care of the core gamers.

[Boogie Woogie]

The Gears, Fables and Halo reservoirs are running dry. Bungie gone, Gears coming to an end, Fable series not quite delivering. Its clear MS needs new killer IP's. I'm going to trade my 360 Slim for a PS3 Slim even if my 360 S is only 5 weeks old. PS Move, GT5, Killzone 3 are just too yummy to pass up.

[radgamer420]

The Gears, Fables and Halo reservoirs are running dry. Bungie gone, Gears coming to an end, Fable series not quite delivering. Its clear MS needs new killer IP's. I'm going to trade my 360 Slim for a PS3 Slim even if my 360 S is only 5 weeks old. PS Move, GT5, Killzone 3 are just too yummy to pass up.

I'm sure we'll be seeing more core gamers starting to do the same thing as time goes on and Kinect continues to be MS main priority.

[Galvanise_]

I don't think people should jump ship yet. At least wait for a few more announcements and get an understanding of their 2011 line up.

[Roadside]

I agree, but the GTA, Fallout 3 and other timed exclusive DLC has served them well in the past.

But I don't care about their exclusive DLC. None of it replaces exclusive games.

I don't think people should jump ship yet. At least wait for a few more announcements and get an understanding of their 2011 line up.

How long do we have to wait? GamesCom was a perfect opportunity, and we've already seen the TGS line up. It's all about Kinect, just like E3.

[Galvanise_]

But I don't care about their exclusive DLC. None of it replaces exclusive games.


How long do we have to wait? GamesCom was a perfect opportunity, and we've already seen the TGS line up. It's all about Kinect, just like E3.

I would imagine/hope they'll have something for the Spike Awards in December. After that. . .GDC? I don't know.

[Wasib]

The writing is on the wall. Focusing on NXE Avatars, XNA Indie games that can be ported over to casual Windows Phone 7 devices and now Kinect. Microsoft made this decision deliberately. It explains why many of its top executives (in the Xbox Division) have left also. Money and sales are what matters. Microsoft is figuring this is the way to do it.

In terms of the core gamer there is nothing here. Sales wise there could be something though. Plenty of people I can see picking up Kinect, then playing casual XNA games which they can play on their Windows Phone 7 (although the latter is highly debatable). Long-term however strategies like this may not pay off. They also leave the core market now completely open to Sony to take. What happens as Sony brings its AAA games line-up? 360 owners jump to the PS3, see what Microsoft have done, and choose Sony as the next-gen default choice. And that has a direct knock-on effect to the core of the Xbox division - those hardcore gamers who-prop up Xbox Live. With no new Epic, Bungie and Valve games how is Xbox Live going to fair in the next decade? Let us be in no doubt - a lot of its success was built upon Halo, Gears and Valve games...makes you wonder.

Microsoft are clearly making an effort now to make their system a casual one. Be in no doubt.

[unicron7]

From what I have gathered, their business strategy seems to hinge on the initial sale of their product, and then after that, they really don't seem to care about keeping you as a customer. Their shoddy hardware for the first two/three years and lack of exclusive content showed that, and I get the feeling it will be the same for the Kinect. I hung onto it throughout the years, blowing off dust for the occasional exclusive. Had I known that it would have been like this in 2005....probably wouldn't have spent $400 on it. They focus on sales numbers and not on customer satisfaction.

[UkHardcore]

How long do we have to wait? GamesCom was a perfect opportunity, and we've already seen the TGS line up. It's all about Kinect, just like E3.

Thought you already had a PS3?

[Roadside]

Thought you already had a PS3?

No, I don't. But with all the exclusives, I'm certainly thinking about it.

[UkHardcore]

No, I don't. But with all the exclusives, I'm certainly thinking about it.

Your just waiting on Galvinese to give you the green light?

[FinalEvangelion]

From what I have gathered, their business strategy seems to hinge on the initial sale of their product, and then after that, they really don't seem to care about keeping you as a customer. Their shoddy hardware for the first two/three years and lack of exclusive content showed that, and I get the feeling it will be the same for the Kinect. I hung onto it throughout the years, blowing off dust for the occasional exclusive. Had I known that it would have been like this in 2005....probably wouldn't have spent $400 on it. They focus on sales numbers and not on customer satisfaction.

I agree. I've always thought MS has been too focused on the competition rather than improving their own offerings. For the first part of the generation, they focused all energy in trying to kill of Sony. Nintendo had it's "casual" revolution and MS probably thought that Nintendo wasn't a real threat in the home console industry. Now, I think MS is turning the war more towards Nintendo with Kinect.

The problem with this strategy is that they have had to dwindle down their own franchises down to only what their extremely loyal gamers want (Halo, Gears, and Fable as far as MS published games are concerned). MS had much more appeal to me at the beginning of this generation with Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Tales of Vesperia, etc.

After this TGS, I think my decision will be made about MS. I guess it doesn't help that the games I liked on the 360 weren't exactly popular with the fanbase (Alan Wake, Lost Odyssey, Tales of Vesperia, Blue Dragon).

It's to be seen whether their casual push with Kinect will go like their jRPG push at the beginning of the generation. I think the FPS (mostly America / UK) fanbase will be the main group that will stick with MS no matter what they do. I think MS will keep catering to them as well. Even people, because it was the cool thing to do, that pledged their hatred toward Sony and the PS3 at the beginning of the generation are slowly warming up to it.

As Wasib said, the hardcore mostly non-FPS market seems to be for Sony's taking more and more every day.

[cpitt]

I agree, but the GTA, Fallout 3 and other timed exclusive DLC has served them well in the past.

GTA 4 left a bad taste in my mouth so I wasn't to eager for tales if liberty city, but I still ended up picking it up on the ps3 brand new for 19.99. Funny thing is that I still haven't played it yet to busy sniping people across the map on MAG

[mynd]

I dont know, I look at what has confirmed release dates and I really dodt see much of a difference.

Next 6 months
360
Halo:R
Fable 3
Gear 3

PS3:
LBP 2
GT5
KZ 3

We still dont have release dates for Motorstorm 3, Infamous 2, The Last Guardian, Socom 4.

Yes we know they are coming sometime, but my guess would be, by the time they do get here, MS will have others out for themselves.