Xbox One's E3 showing "very unprofessionally done," says Molyneux

Sony and Microsoft squaring off at E3 felt like "two frat houses," the 22Cans boss tells us, while lamenting how insular the industry still is

[jc48573]

I can't open the page to read. Anybody knows what he is saying about E3? Only got the frat part.

[MikeyDucati1]

This is what he's saying...

"I just think it was very unprofessionally done. There was one message from one Phil and then another message from another Phil," Molyneux continued, referring to Phil Spencer and Phil Harrison, "and they seemed to be kind of shooting from the hip. Always online is simple for me. As a consumer, just show me why I should be always online and I'll be happy with it. At the moment, it just means game sale authentication. I don't want that. But if there's some way you can give a huge benefit for the consumer, and make the message super clear, [it would be accepted]."

"Right now it's not very clear; it went from once every 24 hours to not at all to all the time, and I got very confused by it. They just need to be very clear, focus on the benefits, and after a while, we'll be in the same place as this," he said, pointing to a smartphone. "This has to be always online and we didn't have to think about it. Things like Clash of Clans is always online, and I don't mind, I don't care, I just enjoy playing Clash of Clans. So I think it's a little hiccup in the industry. I think consumers are being spun up by things like Twitter and Facebook."

"We need, as an industry, to be super clear to our consumers, and when you're at E3 you kind of forget about consumers for a while. It just seems to be all about the show."

"I do worry sometimes when I come to E3, especially this E3, I worry just how much we're pushing the industry forward. It's not about the indies and - I'm probably going to get into trouble for saying this - it's not about bringing new people and consumers into the game industry. It's about pleasing existing gamers," Molyneux commented. "The whole design of the consoles is about pleasing existing gamers, and actually what Microsoft did was they went from the first press conference and they kind of lost their nerve a bit, and they said, 'Oh crikey, we better just nail the core consumers.' I don't know whether that vision of how to interact with our audience is the right vision, to say we're all about core, that's who our audience is, we know how many Call of Dutys we're going to sell."

"If we look at [the industry's] 10-year future or 20-year future, if we still continue to be inward looking rather than outward looking, I worry about it. That's why I think the indies, myself included, [have to push games forward]. We should be appealing to new audiences, we should be using this insane, crazy tech in a completely different, game-changing way, so these huge corporations turn around and say, 'you know what, maybe we should look at that software'."

[jc48573]

same old, but not many developers are willing to do the walk. I'm confident they have the power to convince gamers in many ways, but we see nothing but greed.

[shoddy]

Agree MS should make it clear without shame.
In another word be professional

[Bimkoblerutso]

God...Peter Molyneux. When he's not irking me, he's simply confusing me.

He doesn't ACTUALLY denounce anything Microsoft is doing, he just suggests that we don't understand it. That irks me.

[indysurfn]

not this Peter again, glad he is angry though!

[DOMination-]

I think hes trying to suggest that if theres a benefit to aoways online like the games being really cheap then people are more likely to accept it but MS hasnt announced game prices nor any other benefits so their message is unclear. The fact is, I dont think there are any substantial benefits for the end user in their current model except the cloud stuff (still skeptical)

[DVAcme]

You know what's unprofessional, Peter Molyneux? Being as unclear in this interview as Microsoft's been the entirety of E3 and making each Fable game worse than the last. The first Fable's the only really impressive one, every other has been successively worse.

[MYSTERIO360]

Let just hope Sony continue to support the development of new indie games if MS aren't willing to

[Godmars290]

So he knocks both MS and Sony but only gives reason to knock MS. Does by stating what Sony actually did, which was be straight and forward with their intentions.

[Darrius Cole]

That's right Peter they need to be perfectly clear. Like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

You've all seen it buy now. Someone should show it to Peter.

[Ritsujun]

Too many Phil's.
Let's just throw the Xbones to feed the hungry CODogs.

[BattleTorn]

+Helpful

I think Peter is being very sensical

[s8anicslayer]

That's not what he was saying on IGN Live, man he is a Hippocrate!

[sway_z]

So he's not entitled to change his opinion?

[papashango]

a day later?

for what reason? it's not like MS's opinion or stance changed

[jc48573]

I agree.

[sway_z]

You lot are a tough bunch lol

I'm not saying he's right to change his stance, just that he's entitled to.

I don't mind disagrees, I value opinions...

No worries :)

[Garbanjo001]

He is in front of the press in front of the world. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen if he calls bullshit on a company he used to work for. He had to walk the line during the IGN shit.

I like his opinion because he calls it as it is, a man of his stature knows where the console market and games in general is headed. . .

I am a firm believer in the indie scene, look at what it does for music in local areas? Scenes blow up and then you have "Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Muddhoney, Screaming Trees . . ." All due to one indie band making it out (Nirvana) and then they all followed suit. It's nice doing things your own way, Indies have a lot of potential in games, this is only the surface we're scratching. Lots of big titles were started from indie games, look at every game from circa 1995. Great games until the year 2002.

[Cam977]

As in a crate of hippos?
I kid, but I just thought I'd point that out for you, what you want is 'hypocrite'.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

lol Ex xbox man owns M$.

[showtimefolks]

i usually don't agree with him but he is so right just like nintendo's message with wiiu wasn't clear now MS is making the same mistake

just show us the consumers why online every 24hours works and what sort of benefits are there for us

but knowing MS they will throw a lot of money advertisement wise to try to fool people into buying one

IMO more than there message what really was crappy was their price point, how come sony has a stronger machine using higher costing ram yet selling for $100 less? and why force people to buy kinect 2? now we gonna have to hear it with every game. better with kinect 2

sony's job is so much easier and they will take some jabs at MS with their advertisement and gaming sharing which they have already done

[madpuppy]

The problem is when you don't explain something that drastically changes how things have always been and just say how it will be better and that's it the consumer perceives that you are hiding something from them that is not in their benefit. and that instinct is almost right every time.

[dennett316]

There really are no benefits, it's only in place to solve a problem that MS created in the first place - the online check in to make sure you're not sharing a single copy of a game with everyone you know.
My PS3 is connected to the internet via ethernet, but it's not constantly online. If I want to go online for multiplayer or whatever, that becomes available to me once I choose the option in game. My console will automatically download patches for me at a set time every night, the console turns itself on and downloads what I need....no need to be constantly online to do that.
At the end of the day, the only benefit of the 24 hour check in, or always online for a game like Sim City or Diablo 3, is DRM...and that only benefits Microsoft.

[SEAN1617]

Molyneux, stop your darn hot air balloons, you lie more than a hooker on over time. You just want positive PR.

[SEAN1617]

I am stating that He loves Microsoft and whatever he says now is just back peddling.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Peter's just mad because he can't get his job back.

[badz149]

Adam Orth is even more pissed! acting totally like Don but still lost his job!

[ScubbaSteve]

There's a joke in there about how they both say you can do anything but take it back when you start asking about the dog. I'm going to take one of my bubbles away for dirty thoughts now.

[HeavenlySnipes]

They really should have addresses people's concerns over the DRM and try to sell the system to people that have wrote it off because of it. Bad move by MS ignoring that

[MikeyDucati1]

If you think about it though, all it would do is give critics more fuel to add to the flame. They said enough about it in its reveal. Their best bet was to do just what they did...show games. Show the consumer base and the possible future consumer base what you have to offer in other departments that can help you forget about the messy subject of DRM.

@cyguration

LOL! Nice play with the 1984 reference. I was telling my friend (who doesn't get into gaming like I do) about the features of Xbox and he immediately referenced that classic story.

[uncharted56]

Not if as Moleyneux said they would be had been clear about it and showed the benefits. They would tell me that by always being online I will get this benefit I will experience the games in this new way and they had to show something utilizing this in a very exciting and positive way. But they didn't do that

[C-Thunder]

They can't because their stance on the issue sucks.

[cyguration]

This.

Why do people keep saying "they should address the DRM"? Why?

THE DRM IS THE XBOX ONE'S OFFICIAL POLICY.

It seems like it's hard for people to understand that it's essentially CISPA/PIPA/SOPA in a box.

The Xbox 1(984) is not a consumer friendly device. It is DRM The Box. Microsoft going on stage to defend those policies would have been brand suicide, and I agree, the issue sucks.

[DARK WITNESS]

the thing is what more could they really say..

they already released the official statement on their website which explained everything we need to know about all the bullshit policies.

The only thing it didn't go into is how (for me as a hardcore gamer) is it of any benefit.. They could not answer that in the official statement and they could not answer that at E3 either because there is no real benefit.

They just keep saying it adds value and thats it. MS already know they have lost the core gamers or at least the ones who actually think for themselves. They know they are just keeping the sheep who can't think past the sound of their voice saying "xbox on".

they will end up in the same place nintendo have found themselves that is trying their best to get the core gamers back on their side after realizing that casuals only buy a handful of games and then forget that they own the system except when they are drunk.

[nevin1]

Wait............I thought he said Xbox will win E3 and next gen?

[Narutone66]

They won for the worst console reveal ever.

[dalibor]

I really wasn't expecting MS to do that bad. I mean you did great with the 360 why mess that up(except the rrod fiasco). Sony and Nintendo still have not gone the route that MS has with all those crazy a** features and if they do then there is the PC to save us and retro gaming. And if something like this should happen maybe Sega might release a system... maybe... just maybe lol

[IcicleTrepan]

He probably meant they'd win if they let him on the stage to talk about something

[dumahim]

"he said, pointing to a smartphone. "This has to be always online and we didn't have to think about it."

No! nononononononono!
My smartphone doesn't need to always be online. Obviously, I can't make calls without a signal and can't download stuff, but I can still play all the games I have downloaded already. I'm so tired of this mischaracterization.

[theWB27]

And you can watch movies and media without being connected, even after 24 hours.

Cell phones are always connected, if you never connected that phone you wouldn't have the apps to play in the first place. And just like we're supposed to buy the Xbox to play games, we get the phones to talk, and if they aren't connected they're both useless in their main functions.

He made a perfect analogy...

[Imalwaysright]

Wait I need to be connected to the internet to make a call or to ask permission to use my smartphone? What happened? Did I sleep for 100 years and I didn't notice it? In which year did it became mandatory for me to have an internet connection to use my smartphone?

[theWB27]

@Imalwaysright

Thanks for being a smarta$$...we both mentioned being connected in order to use the devices for their main purpose.

If the phone isn't connected to the internet, you can't download apps. If it doesn't have a signal, you can't make a call. Thus, your phone has to be connected to work.

Yes, you do need permission to use your cell phone, by paying a monthly fee, your asking to keep your service on. If you don't pay said bill aka connect to the internet every 24 hours- then you cant use the phone or the Xbox.

Essentially the Xbox is just like a cell phone. You can use it for alternative purposes, but if you aren't connected then it won't work for it's intended purpose. The internet, wireless or wired is still a signal.

[Hicken]

No, you screwed the pooch.

Thing is: you don't need the internet for your phone to serve its primary purpose. For the XBOne, no internet means no gaming.

The analogy sucks.

[theWB27]

@Hicken
Still- as Molyneux stated...it still needs to be connected to work. What's so hard about this?

Detractors will try to nitpick all they can...but a phone is connected to a signal, without that connection it won't work. Period. People don't get smartphones ONLY to make phone calls.

I know you'll play like you don't understand in order to serve your point, but the analogy was spot on. Both devices need connections to function- thus always connected.

[dumahim]

No, it's a terrible analogy.

Phone. I'm at home, I download games, I head up to the cabin and have no access to internet. Games work fine.

Xbox. I'm at home, I download games, I head up to the cabin and have no access to the internet. Games do not work.

There's a signficant difference.

[Perjoss]

no he didn't, a cell phone does not have to connect every 24 hours to authenticate the games you own.

[dennett316]

Thing is, there's absolutely no need for single player gaming to ever have to rely on an online check in. They could have removed this issue by requiring a disc to be in the drive for you to play the installed game. Simple, neat, effective, and doesn't screw over a bunch of potential customers by locking the games that they paid for if their connection goes down.

Of course you need to be online to play multiplayer, just as you need to have a signal to make a call. Mobile signals are a far more stable and ever present presence than a stable wi-fi connection....the two aren't really comparable. It's highly unlikely that the cellular signal will simply stop, whereas online servers and the like are a much more fragile infrastructure...there's more potential points of failure when making a console so online reliant versus a smartphone. Long story short, a console shouldn't have to be online in order to be able to play games - the PS4, 360, PS3 and every other console that came before them have proved that.
So no, I don't think his comparison is very good at all.

[PiTCHBLaCK]

If you already d/led a game or whatever to your smartphone you can STILL play the games without Internet, you can ALSO still hook your phone up to your PC.

[S2Killinit]

no way this guy is bashing xbox now? He was a major proponent of 360 I wonder what happened.

[cleft5]

I think what happened was he saw how unprofessional and brash Microsoft was with the Xbox One and he didn't like it. The 360 remains an amazing platform, but the Xbox One is looking like a joke at the moment. Microsoft showed off the Xbox One and just expected everyone to love it. But they never gave us a real reason.

Molyneux isn't stupid, but he does have a close relationship with Microsoft. Look at Black and White and the Fable games, those games made his career. So some loyalty is going to be there, but clearly it isn't blind loyalty and that makes me respect him a little more.

[MRMagoo123]

I think what really happened is he has seen how much more the world of gamers wants the ps4 and has maybe decided to jump aboard the sony train because the MS boat has sunk

[IcicleTrepan]

He got fired from MS that's what happened.

[S2Killinit]

is that for a fact, or you are speculating?

[cleft5]

Molyneux said a lot of stuff that made sense and I definitely agree with his opinion on how MS should have presented their message.

[eddvdm]

I'm agreeing with Peter Holy-Moly and I'm concerned about my sanity.

[RandomDude655]

Get help soon! If you agree with Pachter too, all is lost my friend.

[eddvdm]

lol, indeed.

[Monkeysmarts]

I disagree with his assertion that appealing to your core audience to launch a new console is somehow a bad thing. Those are the people who pay attention and will be buying the damn thing. That was Microsoft's very first mistake... appealing to people with the unveil who won't be buying an Xbox One for probably 2 or 3 more years at least. Hell, there are CORE gamers who won't be buying a PS4 OR Xbox One for that long.

Very strange things going on with the guys calling shots at MS lately.

[sway_z]

May I suggest you read what Molyneux said properly prior to making your comment?

...he said pleasing the existing gamers (core) was more important than bringing new people to the console...

[Monkeysmarts]

I did read it. You have poor reading comprehension. He did say that, but it was in reference to that attitude being why the games industry is not growing.

----
Part of the problem with E3 and the industry, Molyneux believes, is that developers and publishers are repeatedly targeting the same audience. The business will never grow with that approach.

"I do worry sometimes when I come to E3, especially this E3, I worry just how much we're pushing the industry forward. It's not about the indies and - I'm probably going to get into trouble for saying this - it's not about bringing new people and consumers into the game industry. It's about pleasing existing gamers," Molyneux commented. "The whole design of the consoles is about pleasing existing gamers, and actually what Microsoft did was they went from the first press conference and they kind of lost their nerve a bit, and they said, 'Oh crikey, we better just nail the core consumers.' I don't know whether that vision of how to interact with our audience is the right vision, to say we're all about core, that's who our audience is, we know how many Call of Dutys we're going to sell."

"If we look at [the industry's] 10-year future or 20-year future, if we still continue to be inward looking rather than outward looking, I worry about it. That's why I think the indies, myself included, [have to push games forward]. We should be appealing to new audiences, we should be using this insane, crazy tech in a completely different, game-changing way, so these huge corporations turn around and say, 'you know what, maybe we should look at that software'."
----

^^^ If you get out of these statements that he's saying the core audience is more important than new customers, you need to read it again.

[SpideySpeakz]

The "Powa of the Cloud" is nothing but DRM. It has no advantage at all. ITS DRM, PEOPLE. Developers will not even use it how they say it will be used. The Cloud is bullsh*t.

[sway_z]

I don't agree with everything Molyneux says, but I think he see's what MS doesn't.

It really is about the core that made your brand a success MS..pay attention!!!

[thechosenone]

the tide is turning and so is he.

[Gigaguy777]

Says the guy who made 5 god awful games.

[sway_z]

Fable 1 & 2 were good games!

[Gigaguy777]

Alright, 3, my bad. I forgot about those two.

[PiTCHBLaCK]

You must have remembered them, you added them in the 5, then it dropped to 3. "Is being a smart ass".

[TheUndertaker85]

Really? As soon as he said this it lost all my interest. Sounds like a guy looking for somebody to blame rather than admitting to the actual problem.

"Right now it's not very clear; it went from once every 24 hours to not at all to all the time, and I got very confused by it. They just need to be very clear, focus on the benefits, and after a while, we'll be in the same place as this," he said, pointing to a smartphone. "This has to be always online and we didn't have to think about it. Things like Clash of Clans is always online, and I don't mind, I don't care, I just enjoy playing Clash of Clans. So I think it's a little hiccup in the industry. I think consumers are being spun up by things like Twitter and Facebook."

The problem with this statement is simple. I don't have to actually pay for the phone service to use the phone. If I choose to stop paying AT&T for instance for their services I'm still going to be able to connect that phone to my own Wi-Fi and use the functions of that phone, including calling via offerings like Skype, without ever having to deal with AT&T again. The apps are still going to work. My games will still be playable.

The same can't be said for the Xbox One by any means.

[Supermax]

If Microsoft wants me to be online all the time and not trade my games with my friends and not turn my used games in then sell aaa games threw digital downloads to me for 39.99 instead of 69.99.

[Ashlen]

They were professional enough. But no one wants MS's product it's as simple as that.

There is nothing Microsoft could have said differently that would have changed my mind.

[level 360]

I like his analogy about Batman and making him vulnerable and real and it's all about his character, same with upcoming Man of Steel - that it's not all about the special effects. And comparing this with gaming ( as an industry and at the core of every game building ) in general to make that same leap as with Hollywood.

[coolasj]

Say what you will about Molyneux but, he really really cares about this industry. Even if you don't agree with him a lot.

[SonyPS4]

I never liked his games, but I agree with him wholeheartedly on this matter.

[hakesterman]

Another Rant and Rave from someone who doesn't know anything about competition. I don't care what he say's, Sony won my business because of NO DRM and no Internet requirement. Plus the PS4 will Run faster and have a Great Game Library at a price of Hundred Dollars Less than Xbone.

[Grimhammer00]

I find it interesting that no one - especially non-MS can tell me a consumer, why a online validation check makes my gaming better.

So here's the only thing I can think of :
Validation checks allow MS to check the firmware and see if the console has been modified - which leads to hackers and bad online experiences.

So how do you spell that out to consumers in an easy to understand blurb?

Of course....the DRM check strips this benefit entirely.

[PiTCHBLaCK]

But even still, you do not Benefit from The checks, Ask any 360 owner...They like the way it is now...so Why change it?

[Harkins1721]

Man this dude gets annoying.

[bitboi]

He brought up some very true points about the state of the industry and what was shown at this years E3

[quenomamen]

Totally unprofessional.....but dont get me wrong now, MS will still come out on top. Now if youll excuse me I have a check to cash.

[SpinalRemains]

Sounds like Peter Molyneux needs a solid dose of current gen Naughty Dog gaming.

The games are all about the characters and the story.

90% of the rest is same old shooter, same old hack and slash and same old racing game.
That is why I loved Heavy Rain so very much. It was a special game which blazed a trail. We need more of those.

I hope the indie scene creates some cool stuff too.

[ThatsGaming]

The benefit is clear...

Buy a game, put it in the drive, it gets attached to your gamertag. Now, you can play it on any x1 in the world you sign into with or without the disc...

That is big for me as I have an xbox 360 on every tv in my houses (8 TVs, two houses). Now, I don't have to lug games around and worry about how to switch consoles...

I also travel a lot. Now, I only need the console, I don't need to lug the games..

[ISNeko]

People care what this guy says? Doesn't he always yarn on about stuff and under deliver?

[windblowsagain]

Don't bite the hand peter, don't. Oh you did.

[lucidity]

I'm surprised, I thought he'd go (with some gusto) to bat for his old bosses.

[josephayal]

People are pretty upset at Microsoft

[TheOneWithTheWolf]

Two words Mr. Molyneux. Acorn tree.

[cell989]

I like this guy, a little more down to earth

[isyourhouseonfire]

MS's E3 showing was one of the best we've seen in years. Finally we got FACTS and NUMBERS and not just claims and slides like Sony presented. With the end of the year approaching, its important to inform gamers with the real story.

[Kaneda]

Just remove DRM.. and Xbox One will able to compete, even with the price.

[b00mFargl3]

To be fair, Curiosity surprise win was super unprofessional as well as the biggest let down ever. I think he has a point with this article, but he is the same guy who wont ever shut his mouth when he should. What a hypocrite.

[Talamak]

Mr. Molyneux is 100% correct in his assessment...and I have to admit that I am surprised

[despair]

Molyneux talking against MS, wow, he's still full of shit but thats surprising.

[Krosis]

His message is more about where the industry is going. I never cared for his games, but he does have a good point about BF3 and the movie industry.

[JohnApocalypse]

Yes

[Dfooster]

I don't know what smartphone he has but I can assure you I can play games on my iphone if I'm not connected to the Internet.

[Relientk77]

Yea Microsoft have lost their minds. I still can't believe in response to the always online thing, they said if you have bad or no internet just go buy an Xbox 360. Like are u frickin serious. Greedy a**holes

[WeedyOne]

Why would you ever get in trouble for saying the quote below? This is the type of thinking that gamers LOVE!

"I'm probably going to get into trouble for saying this - it's not about bringing new people and consumers into the game industry. It's about pleasing existing gamers," Molyneux commented. "

Far too often companies focus so much on getting new customers that they forget about existing loyal customers.

[mochachino]

Woah! I Molly not praising the Xone and saying he'll make a game that turns water into liquid gold something must be up. This guy has never said a single bad word against Xbox or MS entertainment team.

Maybe he's thinking multiplats now.

[stuntman_mike]

A bit like this...

http://www.grapheine.com/bo...