What if Microsoft had done it?

[johnlucas]

Though Sony has been utterly boneheaded in their decisions and direction the past few years, I personally feel Microsoft is the worst thing to happen to the videogame industry.

•Microsoft wants to shorten game generations to 4 years instead of the usual 5+. Expect them to make the new XBox and have it on the market in 2009 should they decide to continue in this business.

•After the original XBox which was more stable they somehow surpassed the shoddy craftsmanship record of the PS2 with the XBox 360. That is unexcusable to have that many systems break down that often. Simply unexcusable.

•They insist on raising the pricing bar of game consoles. $300 (US) should be absolute CAP for a game console and really most don't even dig anything past $200 unless it's really worth it. Extra bad considering we're paying more money for shoddier merchandise.

•Talk of microtransactions and in-game advertisement coming into the game thanks to them. That will kill this industry if it ever took root. People use pop-up blockers to AVOID ads on the internet and pay for HBO to escape commercials along with buying DVRs. Who wants ads in their videogame? And who wants to parcel out extras in the game with payment plans? That should be unlocked, not bought.

•They're part of the reason game development costs keep rising which would one day be the achilles' heel of the business once 'costs in' keep growing in ratio from 'buys out'. More money pumped in for the same or lesser returns. Crash-worthy.

•Though they've refined network play and made it mainstream for consoles, they don't do much innovating in hardware or software. Nothing really comes from Microsoft itself but rather its bought and paid for 2nd parties some of which get incorporated as 1st when fully owned. Keeping the medium fresh is all important in the gaming industry. Sega, Nintendo, & SNK represented hardware makers who were also their own software makers. The REAL game companies. That's almost a lost element in gaming nowadays save for one who shall remain Nameless.

•All companies are in this for the money like any business but it seems that's ALL MS is interested in for the gaming business (maybe that's why green is the XBox's color). I don't think they respect the craft or the soul of this business. This is just another bauble in their corporate chest of jewels and their attitude towards this industry reflects this. All they're REALLY here for is for upending Sony from the home media convergence plan and something tells me as soon as they stop Sony their digs in the gaming business will release. Why else would someone lose billions and continue forward? This is just adding onto their monopoly and keeping them from being stagnant (the operating system empire won't last forever).

•Related to that last point is the reckless money-dumping towards developers and their whole gaming division. A company that doesn't profit from a venture will not stay within that venture. For game fans currently XBox 360 is where it's at but business wise they are still on shaky ground. I don't think they've profitted yet and eventually somebody's (investor) gonna throw in the towel. Even Bill will start wondering why his couch cushions sit so much lower than normal soon realizing that his lost couch change is being wasted on this gaming adventure.

Microsoft's saving grace is that they are an American company making consoles, something that hasn't been seen for over 10 years & not successfully done in about 25. They've built up a strong library and have usurped PS3's role as the powerhouse machine of graphical 'hardcore' glory. If they launched alongside PS3 this race may have been different (only between those two of course). The headstart paid off in spades. And they have that distinguishing feature known as XBox Live which is a natural extension of their networking capabilities. The abrupt memorable name helps alot because it's easier to say and remember "XBOX" rather than "PLAYSTATION" (not easier than Wii though ). And of course that they have nearly limitless money to cover any mistakes. Plus their XBox team has developed a personal relationship with their customers.

Of those points I mentioned my biggest problems with the XBox 360 are its high cost and shoddy craftsmanship. If those weren't there all those points would still be valid but it would be offset by the competition enough where it wouldn't matter as much. The fact that people accept this kind of stuff baffles me and always will. I consider myself a customer NEVER a consumer. I don't eat whatever placed in front of me just like that. I don't want these things being accepted as normal or acceptable. I didn't like that crappy craftsmanship of the PS2 and I DEFINITELY don't like how XBox 360 is made. So surprising since original XBox was pretty sturdy.

I always said Microsoft is far worse than Sony for the videogame business. I DO respect the good things they've done & it's not my place to bash consoles. Let the people enjoy what they like. If you don't like it, don't buy it and leave it at that, that's how I feel. But these are MY feelings on Microsoft's role in this business.

Sony gets slammed because they were so loud with their proclamations making them memorable and then they backslid on their promises putting egg on their faces. They got full of themselves and then started to look clumsy trying to repair the damage. They look inept to many people and it's surprising to see the former market leader turn to market loser. So people take their shots based on the hubris, arrogance, gall they shouted for so many years with the PSP and PS3. And some of it is based on old hype routines from the PS2 with the Emotion Engine stuff and the jack into the Matrix/Toy Story kind of words Kutaragi was known for saying.

But in all honesty if you look at what's going on Microsoft needs a much closer looking at because they have the potential to wreck this industry if they ever became #1.

All I can say is thank God for the Last Action Hero, Nintendo, for bringing out the Wii. It was just in time and so needed because this industry was soon to head for darker days whether people believe it or not.

John Lucas