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Gamers don't want a new Xbox, says exec News
Xbox 360 News by Robert Purchese
Microsoft Game Studios boss Phil Spencer reckons you don't want another Xbox machine at the moment, but is focusing instead on offering a "huge return" on your original Xbox 360 investment.
"What Don [Mattrick] was saying was that when Natal comes out it will feel like a new generation has come. I see it as like the launch of the Xbox 360 back in 2005 - there will be a launch portfolio of games to support it," Spencer told Develop.
"And in terms of putting more hardware on the market, what else can we do? Put more memory in it? I don't think that's enough. We like where we are at with the box - 360 currently has a great price point. Consumers don't want another $400 box right now.
"We instead want consumers and developers to know that we are all going to make a huge return on that original investment in the hardware - the one Microsoft made in building it, the one developers made in making games for it, and the investment consumers made in buying the console," he added. "In the current climate that's something people are going to appreciate much more."
Software, said Spencer, is Microsoft's "heart and soul", as the company demonstrated by effectively re-launching Xbox Live with the New Xbox Experience.
"It's not about trying to sell consumers a new piece of hardware at the wrong time, it's about evolving the platform continuously," he explained.
Spencer reinforced Microsoft's commitment to the long-term life of Xbox 360 by suggesting that the console hadn't yet peaked in this, its fourth year on sale.
"When before has there been a console that hasn't peaked and is in its fourth year still growing and offering so much potential?" he asked.
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effinjamie
15/09/09 @ 09:42
+31
I would have to agree, I certainly do not want the expense of a new console generation yet, I have too much invested in Xbox 360 and PS3 and feel that neither of these have fulfilled my expectations yet.
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DutchDemons
15/09/09 @ 09:43
+6
good choice i reckon, well about the 'no new xbox' bit anyway..still not sure about Natal.
Then again, I wasn't sure about the wii...maybe this will sell loads as well.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 15/09/09 @ 10:43
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LilithsCurves
15/09/09 @ 09:53
+5
I think what he meant to say was:
"Well, we have a lot invested in this generation and it's about time to make us some money. We will bring up new attach things like the other companies did/will, so we can sell that stuff with some profit and sell some games that have a broader appeal. Obviously our gaming division wants to get on the plus side of accounting that is out priority, along with securing some market share." Sometimes i wonder why they do make a good game every now and then, when they would be better off making sequel over sequel over sequel of the same game (and it's entire gameplay). |
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+8
My return of investment would be much better if I didn't have to pay 59,99 for online play in Europe, or if I didn't have to pay a small fortune for a slightly less tiny harddrive, or if I didn't have to get a different racing wheel for it (already bought the MS Wheel, but now I want a G27 and again I can't use that on the 360).
Those things really mess up the return of investment for me. I've payed for Live for 6 years already and I just cancelled it this summer because I was fed-up and my PS3 suits me just fine. I may return to gold status briefly for Forza 3, but unless its really good AND GT5 really sucks or gets delayed, that won't last for much more than a month. As it stands, even though I bought my original 360 for 160 euros from a colleague who won it in Germany (and that a few months after launch, the 20GB 'Pro' version with no HDMI), my return of investment on Xbox gaming has been rather bad. I know there is a really expensive Fanatec wheel out there that works with all consoles (or at least Forza 3 on 360) and PC, which is a small miracle, but to get it with everything included it's ridiculously expensive. And I know that you can shop around these days and get Live Gold subscriptions a little cheaper (37,99 is the best I could find where I live), and that helps some, but I still think it should be free in Europe, especially since we're really not getting anything worth paying for.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 15/09/09 @ 10:58
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+3
Good comments by Phil Spencer.
Not interested in the next generation yet, especially when the boundaries of the current gen are still to be fully realised. I'll happily wait another 2 years or so. @arwin Why bring a totally unrelated subject into these comments?
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 15/09/09 @ 10:59
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AphoticCosmos
15/09/09 @ 09:58
+7
I really don't want a new generation just yet - I still feel that all three consoles still have a ways to go before needing to be replaced.
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0
"I'd like a new one soon as well. It's getting a bit... "
As much as I'd like a new "generation", tell us, what this new one could bring to deserve the name of "new" ? Native 1080p in all games? Is that enough?, when some/lots of ppl complain that the current gen only brought some shiny graphics? What's the diference between a 2000 euro PC and a 360? Do you feel there's a genration gap, like it was when we jumped from 800Mhz Xbox 180 to 3x 3.2 Ghz of the Xbox 360? |
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RESIDENT_nEVILe
15/09/09 @ 09:58
+5
I wouldn't mind a new Xboxen. Maybe not now, but within the next 1 - 2 years.
I think the 360 could go the distance, but new tech is always exciting, And I'm a grapics whore ;) |
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0
I think we're still fine for a couple of years with the 360, especially with NATAL coming it will give it a bit of fresh air, AS LONG as they don't all suddenly start making Wii games. But that won't happen probably.
I also don't think the recently produced Xbox 360's still have the reliability problems the first gen's had, not in the way that it's worse than PS3 or Wii. On the other hand, would happy buy a redesigned Elite that's quieter, smaller and has a new look, including built-in wifi and big hard disk. So yea, don't want the Xbox 3, but would like a redesign that's similar to the PS2 Slimline vs PS2. |
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andywilkie35
15/09/09 @ 10:00
+1
Personally I don't want Natal and I don't want a new console, whilst its still churning out quality games I'm more than happy to stick with this generation for a few more years.
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-1
"As much as I'd like a new "generation", tell us, what this new one could bring to deserve the name of "new" ? Native 1080p in all games?"
I can think of plenty. A lot more memory... specific hardware for doing physics/procedural content generation so this can finally be done in near-realtime by devs (with full support in the SDK). No more slow ass optical drives (dump em! I want games as download only or on solid state), 1080p for all games, Natal build in (ok ok that is not ready yet) and DX11 support. I want smaller procedural generated games with much better AI. Procedural generated L4D for example. Make it happen! The technology to do this is here, we just need the hardware. PC games will move in that direction very soon. "Is that the gamer or the developer inside of you that want a new machine? " Hmmm good question. I guess the developer. The gamer in me has been quite happy playing all the awesome XBLA stuff and L4D ;) To be honest, I could go back to a console that only support XBLA games, no more big budget titles for me. Hmmm maybe that would be a Wii with HD graphics then?
Edited 4 times,
most recently on 15/09/09 @ 11:13
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TonyCocaCola
15/09/09 @ 10:06
+10
No. I want faster, bigger, shinier, louder, games with bigger explosions, bigger open worlds, physics applied to an unnecessarily fine level with more guns, more upgrades, more everything and i want a new console every 6 months. I dont care about Natal, i cannot be bothered to do anything more than sit on my arse, hold a controller and move my thumbs. GO
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Farstarbuck
15/09/09 @ 10:07
0
No we dont need another console leap, yes we need a smaller, quieter, sexier xbox 360 NOW.
Its ugly and likely to break anytime. Yes your 3 year warranty was much appreciated MS, but bring me a smaller version and I'll happily invest another 150 quid in the console. My pie in the sky request is the ability to play games from the Hard Drive. Install with game disc is really a bit of a joke, yes its quieter but having the ability to install the game on the HD and play would be great! |
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cianchristopher
15/09/09 @ 10:07
+3
It's true that the two consoles are looking a bit dated in some games (I'm lucky/crazy enough to have an uber pc and can see the difference quite clearly) but some games still have wonderful graphics. Batman: AA, Resident Evil 5 and Fight Night Round 4 all look stunnig on the 360 to me.
And maybe this guy is right about Microsoft's focus on software (it's not like hardware is their strong suit, is it?). I own about 30 games on 360 and 20 on PS3, I don't even wanna see or hear about a new console for years. I need to get value out of the ones I have (I've spent a lot of money to date this gen, far too much really).... |
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midnight_walker
15/09/09 @ 10:14
+2
"My pie in the sky request is the ability to play games from the Hard Drive. Install with game disc is really a bit of a joke, yes its quieter but having the ability to install the game on the HD and play would be great! "
I take it you mean play without the disc in the drive. Surely you don't need us to explain why that's a requirement. |
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+2
@Dizzy:
Judging by the improvements you suggest I'd assuming it's the developer speaking as well. Which is fine from that POV. But from the consumer side and under the current economic climate, it's really difficult to justify a new console when the current ones still feel like having potential. Not to mention that if Microsoft was the first to release a new console (as theirs is the oldest), they would have the extra trouble of convincing early adopters, given the reliability issues the x360 faced. IMHO, MS are wise to push Natal as the evolution of the x360 (and beyond). This way it will feel fresh and new without a big extra investment - as long as it delivers the goods. |
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Inquisitor
[mod]
15/09/09 @ 10:30
+7
I don't think we need hear mention of a new 360 till 2011 at the earliest. An updated 360 in 2010 with inbuilt Natal and a smaller, streamlined, more reliable and quieter drive should push the need for a new console back even further. Microsoft are in no rush this generation. The 360 is doing well and making them money and they know the PS3 is in it for the long haul so no need to rush out a new but of kit this time around. Why jeopardise that with expensive new hardware.
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canIdoyabombsforya
15/09/09 @ 10:39
+1
This could pave the way for Apple and/or Sega, to release something cutting edge ;))
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+7
@ CraigB27:
I seriously doubt Microsoft are planning Natal to replace all traditional control schemes. They will encourage support for it, but they are not stupid enough to lose the pad entirely. And there's nothing wrong with "jiggling about like a fool in my living room". I do it all the time and I'm older than you :) |
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+4
@ CraigB27
Stealth "i haz GF" post? In any case I doubt she'd laugh at you for playing Natal. She's probably playing Wii. Half the country (UK) are already jumping about having fun whilst playing Wii and only elitist gamers are laughing at them. I haven't seen anyone at MS market Natal as a device which is intended to supplant "traditional" control pads. Nobody will force you to use Natal.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 15/09/09 @ 12:10
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+1
@ CraigB27
"Stealth I haz GF post". I said that because i'm not sure it was relevant to mention your GF. Quite often on gaming websites people will say something irrelevant just to mention their girlfriends. I apologise if that wasn't the case with your post. My point was that you shouldn't shun Natal because you think it doesn't look cool. Also, I doubt that Natal is seen as a replacement to traditional control pads. |
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