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Squilliam on 26 January 2009
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Tyrannical said:

Microsoft does not really care about these in the console business:

  • Hardware.
  • End user software (Games).

Microsoft does care about these in the console business:

  • Developer services in return for royalties.
  • Consumer services in return for subscriptions.

I suppose that sounds good in theory.

But Sony and Nintendo aren't going to be offering MS customer or developer services on their console.

I don't think the PC world is much better as far as expanding their base. Windows Live subscriptions tanked, so there goes consumer services. I'm not sure what services developers by from MS, but I know it's not dozens of expensive dev kits.

So unless MS makes their own hardware, their market to sell developer and consumer service is prety limited.

Services developers get from Microsoft: Tools and a console to sell software on.

Reason why Microsoft doesn't care for hardware: They sell software platforms and services as a company. They only make the hardware because they have to. If they could get someone else to design it they would, and they are looking at using the Xbox 360 hardware in all manner of consumer devices and they don't manufacture them all.

 



Tease.