690°

GamesCom 2013: Did Microsoft Just Win The Conference Showdown?

VideoGamer: "There was a lot of talking, but not a lot was actually said. Sony and Microsoft's press conferences were perfunctionary more than explosive - the latter being kept only for those in attendance - even with the announcements of PS4's release date and Microsoft's commitment to making sure that FIFA is played by every human being, ever..."

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videogamer.com
3901d ago Replies(9)
NYC_Gamer3901d ago

Won what?I believe both events weren't ground breaking and could have benefited from huge exclusive software being revealed.

MWong3901d ago

I wasn't too impressed with either conference. I wanted to see more reveals than what we saw.

gaffyh3901d ago

I think the big thing at MS was FIFA 14 being free, but that's not much compared to the slew of indie games, plus Vita price cut, plus release date, plus 32 countries at launch etc.

ShinMaster3901d ago

If you buy a PS4 and FIFA separately, it would still be cheaper than the Xbox One with free FIFA.

Just saying.

Saigon3901d ago

@ShinMaster

You said the right thing. Though MS made that announcement it reallys mean nothing when it comes to nickel and dimes. The PS4 with FIFA 14 still cost less than the inclusion of an Xbone with FIFA 14. I watched the sony conference and I am a little mad most people have yet to talk about what was really shown. Sony showed the UI in action. Sony also showed a slew of 1st party games that were in development, some that were really good and I wish they showed more of those games.

But I honestly think regardless what Sony showed there would have been issues because MS and Nintendo did not have a conference. MS showed nothing in their 40 minute closed conference but gave a lot of information. Sony showed a slew of information along with the Vita and PS4 remote play. I guess to each their own.

JeffGUNZ3901d ago

@ Shinmaster. The Xbox One is more expensive due to Kinect being bundled, simple as that. Free Fifa on top of that is a solid move by MS.

MWong3901d ago

@ JeffGUNZ
A solid move from M$ would be bundle the Kinect with the XBone and reduce the console price. I honestly thought at GamesCom M$ would release a standalone console version of the XBone. Why because the Kinect isn't mandatory anymore.

I can buy a PS4 + Fifa 14 + DLC & I get a free 14 day trail period of PS+ all for the price of an XBone.

sweendog3901d ago

@shinmaster
Also once you are done with FIFA on the ps4 you can trade it in. No such luck with xbox one as everybody has it. I was stuck with project gotham on 360 for years.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3901d ago
bigfish3901d ago

Im not going to even bother clicking on the story

whoyouwit043901d ago

I bet you would've click if it said sony.

SpecialSauce3901d ago

good for them they need it and a lot more

avengers19783901d ago

They were both pretty boring to me. But at least I know when I can get my hands on my pre ordered PS4, November 15th can't come soon enough.

4Sh0w3901d ago (Edited 3901d ago )

I thought Microsofts great lineup and hands on approach was refreshing and easily better than what sony did which seemed to be relying on indie support and "goodwill" for not introducing drm. Thats nice but Im more interested in seeing something big from ND or Santa Monica.

Hey is this it or are they going to show more tomorrow?

walkincarpet3901d ago

MS did a great job getting themselves out of the way and letting the games do the talking. Sony had some good but set themselves up for disappointment by teasing exclusives and only revealing basically indies. Also Sony keep attacking MS as if they were back in middle school while MS is focusing on making up for its past blunders. MS wins this one, but Sony helped them.

Underworld3901d ago

Couldn't disagree more. In no way did Microsoft win. What did they announce? Fifa free with pre-orders in Europe, Fable and some exclusive content for The Division. Can't remember what else.

Sony's was much better. Not as good I was hoping but still good. Yeah, it would have been nice to see more of The Order and an Uncharted 4 reveal but we still got a lot.

Some things:

PS Vita price drop
Assassin's Creed 3 free for PS plus
Remote play shown with AC
Shadow of the Beast
War Thunder
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture
Rime
A lot of indie games (positive or negative)
LittleBigPlanet Hub
Borderlands 2 for Vita
Minecraft
More Killzone
More Infamous
Spoke about some of the features and apps
Release date

That's a lot.

JeffGUNZ3901d ago

@ Underwolrd.

Give us a break, if you think Sony did a better job then MS here, you're a blatant fanboy. Sony will release a fantastic system, but MS just had a better presentation. So everyone else in the gaming world is wrong but you, huh?

Tapewurm3901d ago

simple and best answer to the title question: Hows abouts NO!

Tapioca Cold3901d ago

it's funny how everyone on here is beating around the bush... I can totally see it. No one is mentioning it.

I am a Sony guy but it's funny to see the sony fanboys all disregarding the one BIG exclusive.

It looks fantastic.

TITANFALL

kremit-213901d ago

Except it will also be on PC and 360

CrimsonSquall3900d ago

Not only is it also on PC, but when the developers have been interviewed about it coming to more platforms they never give haste to say no. Also, it's published by EA so if theres any indication that it may come to PS4, it's that.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3900d ago
iamnsuperman3901d ago (Edited 3901d ago )

I disagree. I made my view on the FIFA thing here http://n4g.com/user/blogpos... but they didn't really announce anything but that. Sony announced and showed game after game showing support for indies. It is a shame that they didn't showcase more AAA titles but it is nice to see these indies get a focus and the fact they are coming next year

3901d ago Replies(2)
deep_fried_bum_cake3901d ago

I agree. They seem to have announced that they are giving FIFA free and reaffirmed what we already knew about indie development. I'm not really sure what else they had.

On the Sony side, I have to say that I was surprised by the large Vita focus but pleasantly so. They announced some nice looking titles like Rime. I did go through the conference wondering when the big PS4 games were coming but overall the conference left me with a positive impression.

MajorLazer3901d ago

Most are, what the N4G community love to say, 'timed exclusives' but with an added twist of 'exclusive debut'

Gamer6663901d ago

The indie message is getting old and oversold...

And if I look at my games collection, I don't find indie games are the types I keep going back to...

They definitely provide some ground breaking ideas. But, I don't want to have to weed through hundreds of shovelware indie games to find the few I actually like...

Both announced some new games but neither announced megaton games. Both announced DLC content, but I give the edge to MS with exclusive Division DLC. Sony announced their launch date and MS announced the launch titles, guess the reverse will be true at TGS - Then we can compare real shipping titles and launch dates. MS did announce a unique thing... A new third party release bundled with pre-ordered consoles, which is probably going to help European pre-orders.

So, I give a slight edge to MS.

T23901d ago

You give a slight edge for dlc over shadow, rapture , and rime ? Wow you really dont play many types of games I guess

Saigon3901d ago

I think the problem is that people don't understand indie games are what define the future of games in general. You may disagree with that but in some form of light it is true. Most of Sony main studios were originally indie companies that made a concept that Sony liked and they adopted the concept as a whole along with the game. Perfect example as of recent is MM makers of LittleBigPlanet. If I am not mistaken ND was once an indie company and Sony not only adopted the concept ND created but the company itself. Notice how whenever an indie company is bought by a major publisher the original founder or co founder seems to always leave and start another indie company. Its a rotating process. I support Sony's decision, because I understand where it could lead. And to not leave MS out, they are adapting this concept also.

Gamer6663901d ago

@Saigon.

Almost all development studios start as indies.

I do realize that indies are important, but it seems right now as if they are more important then established studios that constantly deliver great games... Naughty Dogg, Guerilla, 343, Visceral, Twisted Pixel, Sony Santa Monica, Rockstar Boston, UbiSoft Montreal, EA Vancouver, etc.

You have to remember that the AAA franchises are typically $100 million dollar adventures. By not giving focus to these huge investments gamers may end up in a situation where there are only indie games that only cost a few $100,000 to create. There has to be balanced so that great games like Killzone, Halo, CoD, BF, God of War, Gears of War, etc. still are released.

Saigon3901d ago

@Gamer666

I actually disagree with that statement about AAA games needing big budgets in order to be successful or considered AAA. the big budget didn't really occur until last generation and this current generation. The prices to produce games were extremely out of whack the last two generations. In such that we received less games overall this generation than the previous, at least by my knowledge. Look at some of the acclaimed games that were released without a big budget, but received countless awards. Most of them were indie games with small budgets. A perfect example is bastion and flower and oh there are so many to list. We've hit the ceiling on the cost of big budget/AAA games and now it is time to revert. Not meaning not to provide a good budget to create a AAA game, but applying a reasonable budget for these games. Studios shouldn't have to go out of business because they couldn't meet the demand of other AAA games.

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pompombrum3901d ago

Well Sony were boasting preorder numbers, I'm pretty sure Microsoft didn't. That in it's own right is a victory when you can start talking high numbers.

Gamer6663901d ago

Yeah, that means your headed back to being cocky and arrogant...

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3901d ago
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200°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv7216h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle3h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic188127m ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio11m ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga2h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21831h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga46m ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

purple1015h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos4h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac4h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad4h ago(Edited 3h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1013h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic1h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

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150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos1d 5h ago (Edited 1d 5h ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers1d 1h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken12h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g21h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing21h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H921h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola17h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66920h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle20h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 12h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 10h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 7h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 2h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies22h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 10h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic20h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9019h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 11h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 11h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 8h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 11h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 9h ago (Edited 1d 9h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 10h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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