Why is that interesting? This thread is in the gaming discussion, not the microsoft forum

Microsoft are here to stay in the gaming world....... Face it sony, You are no longer the only company who can BUY their success in the gaming business, Theres a new sheriff in town...........Sonys pockets are deep, but theres one problem for sony...... Microsofts pockets are deeper

MS actually I believe went into the game console market to stop Sony from being so dominate a gaming source they kill PC gaming. They quite heavily backed Sega's dream cast trying to stop Sony domination. The Wii is exactly what MS want as it doesn't threaten PC gaming in the slightest imo.

Also MS I don't think have bought half the things people think, they might have paid certain companies legal fees for breaking contracts, but nether console as enough of a market share for it to really be worth a dev's time to go exclusive mostly.

Yes, Sony is a hardware maker... and they made some great contributions to hardware. But its not like they "make" computers. They grab known parts and assemble them together putting the sony sticker on the box. They made the cell processor with 2 other companies. lets give them a round of applause. Also, they suck at software...which is shown by many digital cameras and mp3 players people have bought with their name on it. I can't stand Sony MP3 players actually because everything they do has their own propriatery format and all the songs have to be converted from MP3 to atrac.

Not to mention developers still claim PS3 is hard to develop for 2 years later after its release...

http://kotaku.com/5047718/guilty-gear-creator-says-xbox-360-development-is-easier

I was there when sony started releasing "first party" games in 1993 for the sega CD. They were pathetic...the ps1 offerings weren't much better. 3rd party companies like Psygnosis and Namco saved the PS1 for the first few years as the first party offerings were shyte.

Eventually, with enough money sony bought up some of those studios and now they are a critically aclaimed software developer. How is that different than what microsoft did? Yes they get someone to assemble the hardware for them...but its not like they use off the shelf parts. CPU and the GPU were custom made for the 360.

Well, I think they really want us gamers to enjoy doing what we like the most: gaming. They've given us the best way to do so with Xbox Live. I find that the best gaming experience is on it, they really give us all the options we could think of in order to really exploit 100% of a game: achievements, online chatting for the best online games, an amazing choice of downloadable content, etc.

Let's not forget about the Live Arcade. This summer's line-up is a fine example of them bringing us what we prefer the most: good and enjoyable games to play alone, or together. If it's true, I also think that by buying ''3rd party exclusivity deals'', they allow us to play games that are worth playing and that everyone should be able to play anyway. The games line-up is also excellent, with games like Tales of Vesperia, Halo 3, Ninja Gaiden II, Gears of War, Crackdown, Dead Rising, etc.

In that regard, I think they deserve a good spot in the gaming world, take it as destroying Sony or not, they are also trying to destroy the 3rd party exclusivity deals and bringing everyone together. What's wrong with that? Power to the consumer, and they're allowing this to happen. With this trust and payload they give to consumers, how can they not shape themselves a bright future? I don't think Microsoft's name alone can make a customer happy, but if they're trying their best to reshape their image, why not? A happy face is better than anything! =P

what a fanboy...

Actually, Microsoft merge with Orange isnt too crazy an idea. They have tried their hand at the console war, now they could try and take on Sony in the mobile phone war!

They will try and SMASH the Sony Eriksson into the ground!

Sorry, I was being facetious, I actually dont find it surprising at all, just funny.  Come on stubbs though, I read your stuff, you are a smart poster...clearly this is only about MS' performance and easily could be located in the MS forum... 

It isn't, as I'm pretty sure the intent is NOT to paint the 360 in a good light...agreed?

what you announced here is that you have no arguments or opinions about my post...but you don't like what I said so you decided to be a baby...

They make computers as much as I can put together a bunch of separated bit that form what we know as a computer but then, I can't build a TV. But they've done a lot more for technology then I'll ever do and have developed a lot in their time, but as hardware. Microsoft have develope software which I'm sure probably helped the spread of computers uses as we see them today. I'm sure both MS and Sony want to compete with iPod and try to enforce any file format they can, just like Windows Media player converts to WMA as it's natural conversion and iPod change tracks to an aac format.

That link you posted says Xbox is easier to developer for then PS3, not that the PS3 is hard. I'm not surprised Xbox is easier to develop for over the PS3 as it is based on PC like architecture. Many developers don't seem to have an issue with the PS3 when they focus on it, but when you develop for multi-platform it might become more of an issue when you develop on PC and then convert over.

Sony entered as a peice of hardware and while yes it was due to 3rd party that saved it, they've done well to show what they can do with that success software wise as well.  Microsoft on the other hand aremainly software but entered a hardware market as a software developer trying to move in on something they thought was profitable. I'd expect M$ to spent no expense at developing a chip designed for the 360, they can afford it. I mean any other company that has tried to enter the gaming console market has failed due to low sales after the expense they put in, only MS can survive such an ordeal and come through the other side and develop another machine. If Sony really do fail this time around, I think they might leave the expense being to high but loaded M$ has the resources to see it out and try again and again. It's just luck that sony's first attempt succeeded, MS first attempt did not but they carried on because they have that well of cash.