Microsoft has TGS plans

By Robert Purchese Published 30 August, 2007

Showing "new elements".

Jeff Bell has said Microsoft is planning to show off some unseen bits and pieces at the Tokyo Games Show next month.

The silver-tongued Xbox marketing chief was responding to questions from Canada.com about the rather hushed 2008 line-up for the console, and said that although most revelations will wait until after the holiday, "the Tokyo Games Show will be a place where we show off new elements".

Unfortunately, what exactly these will be is still up for grabs, with Microsoft craftily and unwittingly dodging our calls so far without even knowing it.

Bell then went on to puff his chest and fall back on the impressive 360 holiday line-up, using words like exclusive and not many third-party big names left to capture. Even Nintendo and its success with Wii was a cause for celebration, viewed as an ally rather than a competitor.

"If it does grow the market, good for all of us," said Bell. "I don't see any problem that has both a Wii and a 360. In fact I would expect you'd see that, as they are very different experiences."

"I think there's more than enough room for everyone, but we definitely want to win. [And] Let's be honest, there's only two major franchises that are talked about not appearing on our platform: Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid."

Emerging monster-brands like Viva Pinata and the new Party Animals spin-off will apparently give Mario creations a run for their money, and Bell reckons the inherent similarities between PC and 360 will help sway developers and publishers worried about committing to exclusive projects.

"The real standard we need to be able to own is simultaneous launches on both platforms for ourselves and third parties. That's our commitment long-term but we're not there yet," continued Bell.

"We want people to develop once and publish twice. If you develop with our code we want you to get two bangs with one buck."

We'll be at the Tokyo Games Show next month to bring you our thoughts on Microsoft's Japanese master plan.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bengray66 #1 5 years ago

    Amen to that.

  • jack_klugman #2 5 years ago

    Let's be honest, there's only two major franchises that are talked about not appearing on our platform: Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid.

    Alas!

  • Gurgeh #3 5 years ago

    Lost Odyssey info hopefully

  • Cannibal #4 5 years ago

    There's no guarantees that Final Fantasy will remain exclusive in the future either.

    I'm one of the Wii60 adopters, they sit nicely side by side on my table.

    *Crosses fingers for KOTOR 3 announcement*
    Edited by 1 at 30/08/07 @ 15:09

  • Dizzy #5 5 years ago

    He makes sense.... no hyperbole luckily. I guess they feel quite happy with the lineup next 4-5 months. Still some new stuff would be cool :)

  • Caimbeul #6 5 years ago

    I liked Viva Pinata but I dont think the little Italian plumber will be quaking in his boots just yet.

  • lennon #7 5 years ago

    Does that mean there will be a Viva Pinata platformer?

  • Zomoniac #8 5 years ago

    Wasn't VP a complete retail flop? And has everyone stopped talking about Gran Turismo and Dragon Quest now?

  • Turambar #9 5 years ago

    Dragon Quest is now DS/Wii exclusive.

  • Gurgeh #10 5 years ago

    "Wasn't VP a complete retail flop?"

    AFAIK it sold a few hundred thousand copies, so probably more along the lines of "disappointing" rather than "complete flop"

  • EmiliasHorse #11 5 years ago

    VP was not a complete financial flop, it just failed to sell as well as deserved. The brand is well liked and I would be very happy to see MS milk it a bit. Mario does every genre known to gaming and Nintendo fans lap it up, so why not uber cute Pinatas filled with fun?

    Joy!

  • crazyhorse174 #12 5 years ago

    "Marketing Guy speaks sense!!" Shock horror exclusive!
    Edited by 1 at 30/08/07 @ 15:24

  • smoothn00dle #13 5 years ago

    Is Jeff Bell trolling on MGS4 again? The master plan -

    "We want people to develop once and publish twice. If you develop with our code we want you to get two bangs with one buck."

    There are only two left.. I can felt the tension again...

  • SpigleyMcCheese #14 5 years ago

    I'd love to see more Viva Pinata games. How about a 50's noir detective thriller with a Whirlm in the lead role. Who wouldn't buy that?

  • Xerx3s #15 5 years ago

    "Jeff Bell has said ..."

    Excuse me, who?

  • Santino #16 5 years ago

    I definitely agree with him on the Wii60 combo, the 2 really complement each other very well. There aren't many games i will be missing out on this generation in owning those 2 systems.

    "Jeff Bell has said ..."

    Excuse me, who?

    GOLDEN AXE
    Edited by 1 at 30/08/07 @ 15:31

  • mattigan #17 5 years ago

    The VP Cartoon is on ITV every morning at 7am, my kids love it. And it's is one of those clever kids shows that has a few jokes for the grown ups too, so it's great for "waking up" with a cuppa in the moring.

  • Xerx3s #18 5 years ago

    VP may not be the best seller but I think that ms never had any illusions to it selling millions of copies. The goal was most likely to target new audiences. The fact that there are two more VP games in development atm pretty much underlines that.

    I think ms bought rare for this exact reason. They know it won't be the biggest seller (the 360 base is hardcore after all) but that doesn't stop them trying to expand.

  • Cannibal #19 5 years ago

    Really a better comparison for VP is with Pokemon rather than Mario.

  • asphaltcowboy #20 5 years ago

    And the cartoon is pretty big among young children... so they've got their branding claws in... even if the game was a massive financial success...

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #21 5 years ago

    "Let's be honest, there's only two major franchises that are talked about not appearing on our platform: Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid"

    ...

    Is he hinting at some massive TGS announcement here...?

    Otherwise, I agree that this is a very sensible comment from Mr Marketing Bloke. Wii60 is the way to go; I've got the 60 part, the Wii's coming soon!

  • sugapunk #22 5 years ago

    @ Xerx3: Luckily Rare aren't making VP:pA, which leaves them free for 4 other projects, one of which is of course Banjo!

  • Nova5lag #23 5 years ago

    Has a Wii60... Working on the PS bit... to have the set... PSWii60

    Anyway... if any of you have upgraded your Xbox with a new 120gb HD and dont have any use for the 20Gb one Ill gladly drop a crisp £20 in your hand for it. :)

  • Zane #24 5 years ago

    They need to do something.

    I'm suspecting Konami and Square-Enix will be involved in their plans though. Capcom are already well on board.

  • Xerx3s #25 5 years ago

    @ Xerx3: Luckily Rare aren't making VP:pA, which leaves them free for 4 other projects, one of which is of course Banjo!

    Really? I had already wondered how they where able to throw out a new game so soon.

  • NickyJo #26 5 years ago

    MS need to throw a truck full of money at Squre and Konami and get MGS4 and FFXIII on 360, even they know it's importance as stated in this interview.

    They have the cash, maybe they've got something planned for TGS?...

  • Artemis_Matsas #27 5 years ago

    Let's be honest, there's only two major franchises that are talked about not appearing on our platform: Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid."

    eeer... he seems to have problems with his memory:

    PS3: Gran Turismo
    PS3: Rachet and Clank
    PS3: Tekken
    Wii: Mario
    Wii: Metroid
    Wii: Zelda

    And i'm only reffering to major franchises as this rather pompous person described them.

  • Cannibal #28 5 years ago

    360 has their own equivelents to all those though, some are even better.

    Gran Turismo - Forza
    Rachet and Clank - Banjo
    Tekken - DOA
    Mario - Not the 360's market
    Metroid - About a million other shooters
    Zelda - Kameo, Oblivion etc

  • bengray66 #29 5 years ago

    HELLO EUROGAMER????

    Just found out from the xbox official website, that Mass Effects Euro Release is the 23rd of November... Skip over there to take a look if you don't believe me?

    Now surely i should be entitled to some money for doing your job for you?

  • zoidberg #30 5 years ago

    Tekken for PS3? ok, exclusive, but I don't see it selling the console as much as Halo would... I wouldn't buy 400 quid worth of PS3 for Tekken... doubt many will either.

  • smelly #31 5 years ago

    My money is on them revealing a board that you stand on...

  • Xerx3s #32 5 years ago

    Artemis_Matsas: Yeah, let's say that FP published titles will not appear on another platform. Duh? You could say the same with a load of 360 titles.

  • Xerx3s #33 5 years ago

    My money is on them revealing a board that you stand on...

    Give it 4 wheels, a turret and call it warthog and I think that we have a winner. '0

  • Walshicus #34 5 years ago

    eeer... he seems to have problems with his memory:
    PS3: Gran Turismo
    PS3: Rachet and Clank
    PS3: Tekken
    Wii: Mario
    Wii: Metroid
    Wii: Zelda
    And i'm only reffering to major franchises as this rather pompous person described them.

    Clearly he's talking about THIRD PARTY stuff. And Tekken??

  • Artemis_Matsas #35 5 years ago

    Tekken is big for many people - including me. I actually bought the PS1 for Tekken (well, there is the distinct possibility that i'm weird anyway ;) )

  • Artemis_Matsas #36 5 years ago

    The truth is that i hate this"console wars" thing. It's pointless and tiring to watch.

    I'm the first that will pick up a 360 when they fix the damn stability problems and maybe come up with a smaller - lighter - quiter model. Too many good games there too, that i would love to play!