The flawed logic of MS, a great read. Shows their utter ignorance (new interview)

Just when you think they were ignorant, they show a whole new level of it.

Last week\'s price cuts at E3 marked another step in the escalating battle for supremacy of the worldwide console market. With virtually all profitability drained from hardware, platform providers have renewed their focus on software development. To explain the Japanese side of Microsoft\'s strategy, director Toshiyuki Miyata recently went on record with Famitsu in
Japan.

Famitsu: Three first-party games were available for the Xbox launch in Japan, how were they received by the public? (watch how they jump around the question)

Miyata-san: Each of the games have their own merits. Considering how quickly the Japanese launch was scheduled, I was happy we had those three high quality titles to start. I know how hard the development teams on those titles worked, albeit Project Gotham or Nezmix, they stayed weekends and long nights finishing them. I have nothing but the utmost respect for their hard work. We could spend all day talking about what titles could have been better at launch if we had more time. And, to be honest, games like Nezmix probably would have ended up much different if we had more time. However, we have a responsibility to deliver first-party software with our console, and I firmly believe we fulfilled that role with our three launch titles.

As for Nezmix, it was imperative to have one domestically developed game available for the Xbox at launch. So I made a judgment call to hurry development along in order to meet the launch deadline. We planned to show off the hardware capabilities of the Xbox by rendering the fur of each mouse.
We planned on using a special fur shading process for that but we experienced some unexpected delays in development, which lead to uncertainty amongst the development team. In the finished version we decided to render the mice with big fluffy coats of fur and they look like stuffed animals. However, that allowed us to finish the game in time for launch. (He never, in that whole 2 paragraphs answered the question)

Famitsu: How many games is Microsoft Japan working on for Xbox?

Miyata-san: Ten titles.

Famitsu: Of those then, how many will be released this year?

Miyata-san: Game development often falls behind schedule, so I can\'t say with total certainty. [smiles..] I think we\'ll get most of the games out this year. One of our primary goals is to release our domestically developed games at an equal ratio with those developed overseas. As you know, American titles comprise the majority of Xbox games currently available. I regard software scheduled as having some flexibility. I\'d like to release our titles punctually, but we most have some leeway to improve quality for the consumer.

Famitsu: Of those then games, are any nearing completion and currently being tested?

Miyata-san: Yes, of course.

Famitsu: What games would those be?

Miyata-san: That\'s something I can\'t discuss. [smiles..] Game development is subject to many last minute changes, so I can\'t give you specifics on individual projects yet. Our staff has made considerable progress on several games, but others still require adjustments. So development team members are being moved around to lend support in finishing projects. We have high regard for the internal testing process, and we\'re always looking to develop our games using the latest techniques. Our primary goal is to show off the superiority of the Xbox hardware, albeit in first or third party games (I can see the look on the japaneese gamers face.. "Wow, this game looks pretty, why do I care"). We want to create games that consumers can associated exclusively with Xbox.

Famitsu: Like Mario for Nintendo?

Miyata-san: Franchise characters you mean? Well, we\'re working on several character-driven titles both in North America and Japan. However, there\'s a tendency to imitate other companies by trying to develop trademark characters. I\'m more concerned with developing new games which appeal to players. If a game is high quality, players will embrace it regardless of its main characters. Perhaps the main soldier from Halo will end up as our trademark character. [smiles..] A character that symbolizes your system must embody quality. Our course of action is to develop the best games we can and hope franchise characters emerge from that.

Famitsu: RPGs are extremely popular, is Microsoft working on any first party RPGs?

Miyata-san: Jockey\'s Road (horse racing) is an RPG, although different from traditional RPGs. As for fantasy style RPGs, we haven\'t begun developing any such titles. However, there\'s no shortage of ideas. [smiles..] But its pointless to develop games that lack fresh concepts. Otherwise it simply
becomes a case of - "This is the exact same games as ....," Since RPGs are such a popular genre, I\'d prefer that we proceed cautiously with development in that area.

Famitsu: Do you think its hard to sell RPGs to a worldwide audience?

Miyata-san: No, not at all. Microsoft is working on Xbox RPGs in America, and plans to release them here in Japan as well. (I think we see where those games are going, and where they will also stay.. on the japaneese store shelfs) And they\'re actively encouraging our feedback in development process. With our domestically developed titles, our goal is to deliver games which appeal to the Japanese audience (of which has certainly worked well thus far). Whether those games find favor overseas is secondary (Ok, then just admit you don\'t care about the japanesee market). Potential international appeal
isn\'t a decisive factor in selecting first party games to develop (It should be if you want to have a chance to do well). A prime example of that philosophy is a game I just mentioned, Jockey\'s Road. The horse racing genre is much different in Japan than America, and I doubt an overseas audience would find it interesting. So we\'re not planning to release it worldwide. We\'d rather develop games which appeal to the Japanese player,
giving them the attention and respect they deserve. On the other side of the issue, we must consider what American developed games to release here in Japan. Perhaps I shouldn\'t say this, but we\'re not
under any pressure to deliver foreign games. Regardless of the popularity of a game in America, if we don\'t think Japanese players will embrace it, the game won\'t be released here (Perhaps the sales of every xbox game thus far has shown them this?). Microsoft is keenly aware of Japanese consumers (see sales of less then 200k in several months), and the American side understands our perspective on the software issue. They\'re carefully monitoring our feedback, and in that sense, we feel we have
a great relationship.

Famitsu: Xbox is involved in a fierce console war now. Are there any internal policies guiding development because of that?

Miyata-san: People have been coming up with many ideas, but now its a matter of boiling down everything to a key concept. At this point, I think our greatest strength is that we\'re not intimidated [smiles..] We took a lot of criticism for the disc scratching problem here in Japan, and that taught us a lesson about this market (What lesson? to get a product that works?). At each step we learn more about the nature of our consumers, which allows us to proceed accordingly in the future. As Mr. Oura has said, whether it takes 10 or 20 years we\'re confident we\'ll succeed (If it don\'t happen in 2 years it won\'t ever happen). That\'s the attitude we all share (Nice to know you will be ALL waisting lots of cash). It\'s impossible for any new venture to succeed immediately. Other companies in this market have built their audience for years, and we\'re not going to steal them away easily (and may I mention, they built them much faster in japan.. and at this rate the xbox won\'t outsell the 3do?). As we confidently persevere we will begin to overtake our competitors (lol, no comment on that part). Management is resolved to succeed, and I\'m certain we will.

Famitsu: Any definitive battle plans?

Miyata-san: Software is the key. Specifically, unique Xbox-exclusive games are the answer. We most continue releasing as many high quality games as possible. (Lets hope their deffinition of quality has changed recently)

well, pathetic is all I have to say

Good god, they speak of Nezmix as if it was a "good" game. I\'ve heard the world would probably be a better place if that little tech demo had never been released as a game. And it did VERY poorly in Japan BTW.

_________________
well, pathetic is all I have to say
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Yes you are.  For once we agree.

Well they got a few things right. Xbox needs its own exclusive content for Japan in order to go anywhere there. And the time frame needed, 10-20 years. Not that it\'ll do any good...

Chrono, will you ever cease in your relentless razzing of xbox?





















me/ hopes not

Man, it seemed to be an informative interview, unfortunately marred by the editor. I don\'t see how they are being ignorant.

The only one being ignorant is you Chrono.

Originally posted by ThisTopicSucks
Man, it seemed to be an informative interview, unfortunately marred by the editor. I don\'t see how they are being ignorant.

I have a feeling that he only registered and went through that work just to say this.

What gave you that idea snake hehe.

Im sorry but he is right.  The comments are funny though.

The guy mention Project Gotham racing
as a good launch title and that game sucked.

It\'s understandable that the director is trying to sound best, but the smarter thing for him to do would be to just face the facts and just realize the mistakes.

Having the Microsoft name is not a good thing.  Whoever has been screwed by MS (almost anyone who used their products), does not help ur console.  Dropping ur price 33% is not good for ppl that bought Xbox at 299.  Not fun watching ur console plummetting in value.  Plus shows serious lack of confidence.

Having just another FPS shooter as launch title, when PC FPS games piss on it is not good.

No RPGs, pathetic fighting game, no strategy games, a good racing game and just a bunch of truly pathetic games.  My friend got Xbox (gave PS2 away to a friend) and I would rent games and they just sucked.  Sometimes I woudlnt be able to play them for more than an hour.

MS needs to get some games and spend money on that.  Get some real customer service, fix their damn bugs and somehow compensate the ppl that gave them a chance just to see the console drop to 199 in 6 months.  How long do they plan to make some damn 10 exclusive games most of which will suck as already seen.

And what MS fails to realize is that:  What the hell do they know about gaming, electronics and hardware?  And dont they know that Japanese electronics are way superior?

* Nu grumbles.

Another FPS that\'s getting a review score average of 94.9%... A fighter that nobody bothers to play beyond 4 or 5 rounds...

Meh... Forget it. I\'m gonna start lurking again. :o

Im sorry but he is right. The comments are funny though.

The guy mention Project Gotham racing
as a good launch title and that game sucked.

It\'s understandable that the director is trying to sound best, but the smarter thing for him to do would be to just face the facts and just realize the mistakes.

Having the Microsoft name is not a good thing. Whoever has been screwed by MS (almost anyone who used their products), does not help ur console. Dropping ur price 33% is not good for ppl that bought Xbox at 299. Not fun watching ur console plummetting in value. Plus shows serious lack of confidence.

Having just another FPS shooter as launch title, when PC FPS games piss on it is not good.

No RPGs, pathetic fighting game, no strategy games, a good racing game and just a bunch of truly pathetic games. My friend got Xbox (gave PS2 away to a friend) and I would rent games and they just sucked. Sometimes I woudlnt be able to play them for more than an hour.

MS needs to get some games and spend money on that. Get some real customer service, fix their damn bugs and somehow compensate the ppl that gave them a chance just to see the console drop to 199 in 6 months. How long do they plan to make some damn 10 exclusive games most of which will suck as already seen.

And what MS fails to realize is that: What the hell do they know about gaming, electronics and hardware? And dont they know that Japanese electronics are way superior?

You are just as ignorant as Chrono.

You Think the guy is stupid because he said Project Gotham was good and you think it sucks? I hate to tell you but that\'s just your oppinion. I happen to really enjoy the game, not as much as GT3 granted, but I think it is a great game.

Have you never gotten a bad product from Sony, from Panisonic, from any company at all? Just because all of what they put out isn\'t 100% good doesn\'t make them a bad company. And no it\'s not good for people to buy something at certain price and then have it drop in price soon after, but that\'s the price you pay to be the first with the new technology. You say it shows a lack of confidence, but do you seriously think they should let their product do poorly if they can do something about it.

And yeah, it isn\'t rich in games of all genres, but neither is any new console. It takes time. And what can I say, if you don\'t like the games that your problem. There are plenty of great games out there. And you can play them all if you would just get rid of your fanboy mentality.

Tell me what bugs you speak of? Maybe they had some to begin with but they\'re long gone. And they will compensate no one for the price drop. For what reason should they? Microsoft didn\'t make them buy it, it was their choice. They want the technology, they pay a price.

"And what MS fails to realize is that: What the hell do they know about gaming, electronics and hardware? And dont they know that Japanese electronics are way superior?"
Im not even gonna touch this....How stupid can you be?

Why do we still debate over which system is better, it\'s over, it\'s been over, there is no way either GCN or XB will overcome the PS2, COMBINED.

I\'m sick and tired of this year headstart excuse too, who\'s choice was it for M$ to release the XB a year after, why it was M$\'s choice.

For heaven\'s sake, there\'s no use beating the dead horse.

Originally posted by Tetrad

You are just as ignorant as Chrono.

You Think the guy is stupid because he said Project Gotham was good and you think it sucks? I hate to tell you but that\'s just your oppinion. I happen to really enjoy the game, not as much as GT3 granted, but I think it is a great game.

Have you never gotten a bad product from Sony, from Panisonic, from any company at all? Just because all of what they put out isn\'t 100% good doesn\'t make them a bad company. And no it\'s not good for people to buy something at certain price and then have it drop in price soon after, but that\'s the price you pay to be the first with the new technology. You say it shows a lack of confidence, but do you seriously think they should let their product do poorly if they can do something about it.

And yeah, it isn\'t rich in games of all genres, but neither is any new console. It takes time. And what can I say, if you don\'t like the games that your problem. There are plenty of great games out there. And you can play them all if you would just get rid of your fanboy mentality.

Tell me what bugs you speak of? Maybe they had some to begin with but they\'re long gone. And they will compensate no one for the price drop. For what reason should they? Microsoft didn\'t make them buy it, it was their choice. They want the technology, they pay a price.

"And what MS fails to realize is that: What the hell do they know about gaming, electronics and hardware? And dont they know that Japanese electronics are way superior?"
Im not even gonna touch this....How stupid can you be?

/me hugs tetrad, says hi!! to Nu, then throws something sharp in Chrono\'s direction...

I\'m beginning to regret sticking up for 420blunt...you seem to be anti-xbox which in turn makes you anti-ginko. you will suffer large

Chrono,

How do you find the time to crap on MS so much? You should get paid for your time.

I never ask for anything around here but how about a forum for rational thinking members. Let\'s see, I think I can count maybe ten of us.

Hmm, never mind, it\'ll never work.

Ace

Thanks for the appreciation Ginko.