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Microsoft's Shane Kim Interview
Xbox 360 Interview by Ellie Gibson
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It wouldn't be an international press event without an opportunity to grill a Microsoft executive on Xbox 360's performance, and the Spring Showcase contender was Game Studios corporate vice president Shane Kim, who believes the console is in for another "landmark year".
Speaking to Eurogamer at the event in San Francisco, Kim also talked about the battle with PlayStation 3 in Europe (in which Sony recently claimed victory), Microsoft's attitude towards Japan and handhelds, and how Gears of War 2 is likely to fare in end-of-year battles with PlayStation 3's expanding line-up.
Having established Cliff Bleszinski and Kudo Tsunoda's views, we also discussed the scale of badass and the role of badassitude within Microsoft. Important stuff, see. Read on.
Eurogamer: What's the message you're trying to communicate with today's Spring Showcase event?
Shane Kim: We're really trying to communicate that this will be another landmark year for Xbox 360 customers and Xbox Live. Mainly because we've really focused on a strategy of exclusive content, so titles like Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Banjo, etc. As well as the continuing leadership we have in the online space with Xbox Live. So we wanted to make sure that, even though we had a great 2007, 2008 is going to be an even better year for Xbox 360.
Eurogamer: Where do you think Xbox 360 is now in the console race? There appears to be some confusion about whether PS3 has outsold it in Europe...
Who's winning?! Is it this one?!
Shane Kim: I think it's a close race no matter what. I understand the Sony guys have declared leadership already. I think we'll let the data speak for itself. The main thing to emphasise is, it's a tight race in what has already been a Sony stronghold. So any progress we're making there is great progress, from our perspective.
I just look at the two data points I mentioned this morning. Since we reduced the price of Xbox 360 in Europe we've seen tremendous sell-through run-rate games as well as market share games, as a result of that. Then with the launch of Grand Theft Auto a couple of weeks ago, obviously this is the US, but the same thing is happening a lot of places in Europe - the biggest games retailer in the US announced today that 65 per cent of Grand Theft Auto units were sold on Xbox 360, versus 35 per cent on PlayStation 3. That's traditionally been on the PlayStation franchise. So we feel really good about the momentum we've been able to generate, especially recently with both the price reduction and the launch of Grand Theft Auto. Then you combine that with our online leadership and our great content line, and we feel very good about the prospects.
Eurogamer: One territory you appear to have lost the battle in is Japan. Do you accept Xbox 360 just hasn't taken off there?
Shane Kim: You don't think we're going to win in Japan?
Blue Dragon - part of a better approach in Japan, says Kim.
Eurogamer: I'm not optimistic, no...
Shane Kim: Look, we've acknowledged for a long time we wouldn't win in Japan and it was going to continue to be a tough market for us. We took some different steps in this generation. We produced two very well critically reviewed titles in Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. Unfortunately, it remains a difficult market for us.
Eurogamer: So are you saying the battle's not over?
Shane Kim: I'm not going to go out and say our hope is to win in Japan, because that's not realistic. Do I think we have room for progress and improvement? I absolutely do. So the battle's not over. Microsoft generally doesn't have 'Quit' in its vocabulary. So whether it's Europe or Japan or North America, there's still a lot of work ahead of us.
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Comments: 1-44 of 44 in total
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Vice.Destroyer
15/05/08 @ 07:13
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I know that we are all getting a bit tired of the GTA overload, but I find it quite strange that nobody is even beginning to describe what this DLC will be.
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Triggerhappytel
15/05/08 @ 07:19
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The last half page is a bit of a waste of time. I do generally agree with MS's philosophy on sequels, though - they do seem to take their time and make sure the quality is high. However, much of this interview is the usual stuff; saying how well they are doing, blah blah blah.
I agree with what you are saying, Vice, but don't forget the game itself has only just launched, so R* will still be very much working on the DLC. I think we'll know more within about 8 or 10 weeks. EDIT - I agree about the Japan comment. I found his blank refusal to admit defeat interesting - have they even got any more games like Blue Dragon/Lost Oddysey left?
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 15/05/08 @ 08:21
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WickedDeeJ
15/05/08 @ 07:20
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Kudos to Ellie for bringing up the Rock Band issue. I can't imagine Chris Lewis is at all happy with how the price was set, since it pretty much ruined the 360s price-cut.
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most recently on 15/05/08 @ 12:12
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"The fact that almost two-to-one people are buying Grand Theft Auto on Xbox 360 versus PlayStation 3 speaks volumes. I think a large part of that is because they understand we're going to have additional content to complete the Xbox 360 later this year."
Somehow I don't think so... most people only own one machine or the other so which version they bought was very much dependent on that not the DLC. I don't think PS3 owners rushed out and bought an Xbox 360 just to play GTA IV''s exclusive DLC on somehow. The only reason for this 2 to 1 split is because there are more Xbox 360s out there since it launched a year earlier. I can't believe Shane Kim is naive enough to think the DLC is the main reason for the larger share of sales, I suspect many people aren't even aware that there's DLC on the way. LOL |
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alimokrane
15/05/08 @ 07:34
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YOu spent the third of the interview joking around about Badass instead of asking proper questions ? how lame is that ...
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Showing a good trend in interviews but more critical questions in terms of japan and such would be nice.
I don't think it's really possible to be critical about a point that's really noone's business but Microsoft's (or the shareholders). It might interest you what's happening there, but it's not really something you can criticise, is it? |
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"Yeah, pretty dull interview. Couldn't give a fig about all the sales and marketing talk."
Aye, it's starting to resemble a real-life version of Gears of War; macho men slinging business victory taunts to each other, finding cover if they get beaten with a higher sales arguement, but hitting back with promising that they'll win with sequel 3156 (which, of course, is much more badass) when going up against this or that... it's all based on money, childish platform conflicts and unfortunately, not about the games themselves at all. Give me a gamessite, EG.
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most recently on 15/05/08 @ 08:53
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Pretty decent interview, to me. Not the most thrilling, but then, not all interviews are. But I actually kind of like Shane Kim..he seems like a fairly switched-on guy, happy to have a laugh and admit where things have gone wrong and what MS need to do to rectify that. He doesn't tend to resort to the PR speak and competition-slamming that most PR guys seem to do.
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kangarootoo
15/05/08 @ 08:48
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I wish guys at his level wouldn't use the word "win" when talking about console sales. It supports the fanboy myth that that sort of crap actually matters.
Make product, sell product, make profit, be happy. |
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The interview was a bit inaccurate with one of its question. David Reeves did not say that 'THE DLC' would also come to the PS3, he said he expected there to be some DLC also on the PS3. So he did not claim that Microsofts exclusive DLC would come to the PS3, but that he thought RockStar would create further DLC which would appear on the PS3 (and probably also the Xbox360).
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I did notice something a little worrying about the last section of the interview and no it wasn't the badass stuff. That was a clever swipe by Ellie at Microsoft and Epic making these dumb statements like GoW2 will be 12/10 in true Spinal Tap fashion only trying to be ironic which our colonial cousins should never attempt.
No, what worries me is the existence of the numbered suffixes to these games we're all so excited about. Metal Gear Solid 4, Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Resistance Fall of Man 2, Killzone 2 etc. Last year we saw some amazing new IP come out in the form of Bioshock and, to a lesser degree, Assassin's Creed. Where are we seeing that this year? Can only fill me in on some new IP games for this year as right now I'm struggling... |
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designerheadache
15/05/08 @ 12:43
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@Raz76
off the top of my head, also White Knight Chronicles, GRID and Prototype |
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"European gamers are saying, why are we being shafted here? Why do we always get things late and why are they so much more expensive? With Rock Band, there's a more than 100 per cent mark-up - how is that fair?"
'Tis a pity Ellie wasn't this forceful with interviewing that Harmonix bloke instead of cracking jokes about Steps. |
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Fable 2, Mirror's Edge, Alan Wake, Vina Patna 2, Alien Vs Predator, Dead Space, Left4Dead, Banjio & Kaziooe, Too Human, Gears Of War 2, Ninja Gaiden 2, Splinter Cell Convection, Halo Wars, Dead Or Alive 5, Cry-On, Fallout
...I'm in gaming heaven 2008.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 15/05/08 @ 19:31
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kangarootoo
16/05/08 @ 09:07
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People that hate other peoples' grins need to watch more comedy on TV, and maybe go for walks in the park.
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muscleblade
19/05/08 @ 12:23
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@TRUTH
I have never heard of Vina Patna 2 LOL Alien Vs Predator and DOA 5 hasnt been announced as far as i know. |
Comments: 1-44 of 44 in total
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