190°

The 720 Spin Campaign: What Adam Orth's Resignation Tells Us About the Next Xbox

BigBoxGaming-"Adam Orth recently resigned from his position as a Creative Director for a yet to be announced Xbox 720 game, after his controversial comments about the “always online” component of the Xbox 720."

"Now, resigning from his position was the appropriate thing to do, given Microsoft’s media blackout up to this point regarding their next console...However it does raise questions about what type of outcry we are going to see once the official announcement is actually made."

"The concept of always online is not popular among gamers, and seems to be a risky venture from a potential market standpoint, given the amount of reliable networks throughout the world...Which raises the question, if gamers are obviously against the idea then who is Microsoft trying to impress?"

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bigboxgaming.com
gabescow4046d ago

I feel bad the guy lost his job over this, but if you haven't figured out the dangers of Twitter by now it's your own fault.

As for the 720, it looks like Microsoft will either fail miserably this gen or bring in a new era of console/media devices.

It's hard to tell, because on paper the Zune looked like a good idea too.

aviator1894046d ago (Edited 4046d ago )

I think zune is great and had no issues with it. Even the sound quality was superior to a ton of other mp3 devices I had used including my ipod touch and is one of the reasons why I still use a Zune hd to this day.

It's just too bad it never gained traction with the general public but whoever did use it had very positive thing to say about it.

As for the 720, I think the 'always online' feature is probably reserved not for the games, but rather other media services on the xbox. And who knows exactly what the term means.

gabescow4046d ago

Good point, and my reference to Zune was more a comment on how sometimes things just take off and others don't. Not really a reference to the quality of the device.

For Microsoft, having a game console that "requires" an online connection may end up being one of those things that technically should work, but the market may just not be ready for it. It seems obvious gamers aren't too hot on the idea.

As for me I want my console to deliver good games, with Microsoft looking like they are focused on so many things at once, I can't help but feel the games are going to suffer as a result.

BABYLEG4044d ago

I've fought people who disrespect the ZuneHD. The history books are going to list it as a hero because in the end, every Microsoft product out right now is modeled after the zunes software.

long live Zune. Dropped it in the rain and didnt notice until I was going to school the next day and saw it in the driveway.. IT STILL WORKS

GetSnooked4045d ago

Can't the next xbox just be neutral, neither failing or bringing " a new era of console/media devices"?

Why does everyone think that things can only be a huge success or, an utter failure?

SpinalRemains1384045d ago

Didn't you know? Fanboys live in a constant state of extremes and hyperboles.

There is no middle ground around here.

caleb47794046d ago

It is starting to sound more like a new tech gadget than a console.

(granted it isn't "announced" yet but with all the rumors, comments, and leaks floating around I would be surprised if it turns out much different from what we have already heard about)

Could still end up being cool, just not in the way gamers are used to, or expect.

GetSnooked4045d ago

Or, it could end up being a console WITH ADDITIONAL features.

Microsoft may be following the idea of the development of mobile phones.

You begin with the old single-purpose cellphone (in this case, the gaming console). Using this as the base, you implement in the music and video functions (so all the stuff they're adding into the xbox now). Then they added in online capabilities and gaming into phones (which was the starting base for the xbox).

Just my thoughts though.

Rusty5154045d ago

But for a brand that started out as a gaming console, it should mainly be focused on gaming. If Microsoft wants to add all these media features, that's cool, but don't neglect the gaming side of it. (Which shown by the last years of the 360, they did.)

dcbronco4045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

Snooked

Funny so many are against a console having multiple functions, but a couple of billion people buy cellphones with more and more features. It kind of makes you think this is all fanboy talk(read know). Especially given the fact that the PS4 will include all of the same features. But it's like when Sony says developers could block used games on the PS4 but Sony won't. But the developers will use the technology Sony patented to block them but it's not really Sony that's doing it. And they will believe them because they so want to believe.

Skynetone4045d ago

Adam Orth got fired because of the power of the ps4

Vames4045d ago

But he wasn't fired, he resigned.

Kennytaur4045d ago

He resigned... In fear! Or something, you know... Go Playstation, yeah...

Bigkurz854045d ago

I love how a few of you keep fixating on the resigned vs fired thing. He may have "resigned"...meaning the resignation letter was put on his desk and he was allowed to sign it to maintain some dignity. Make no mistake...he was FIRED.

nix4045d ago

getting fired was bad. probably a tight slap on the wrists would have been enough.

i think... nextbox is gonna try to win the american market with their tv and other shows apart from games. i think that's their main agenda. europe and japan/asia is practically sony's turfland so MS trying to keep the US market to themselves sounds plausible.

4045d ago
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50°

Game Studio Closures, Entertainment News, Disney, And More Skewedcast

The full Skewedcast crew back for this episode and Gareth, Justin, Michael, and JoeyZ at Skewed and Reviewed break down the latest entertainment news qith a focus at 40:00 on the Microsoft Studio Closures and how it impacts the game community and what can be done to help offset this negative trend.

270°

What is the point of Xbox?

Xbox has repeated the same terrible mistakes for over a decade. The reason is simple: its priorities are back-to-front.

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eurogamer.net
purple10122h ago

ohhh man, the press really did not like those last closures, their having a field day bashing xbox,

anyway, ive got to nip off to the shops now, i've run out of microwave popcorn.

Jingsing6h ago

Apparently the last 10 years wasn't enough to get the gaming press to notice but as soon as they touch Bethesda it is full on nuclear war. A lot of people in the gaming press seem to have this irrational hard on for Fallout and Skyrim despite the fact they are low quality poor buggy games.
I've grown tiresome of the unbalanced fandom in the gaming press for fantasy games and their ability to just forgive crap so long as it's a fantasy game RPG game all quality concerns are not an issue for them,

anast5h ago

Popcorn has been good lately.

PapaBop3h ago

Clearly this is just a big conspiracy orchestrated by the popcorn industry, Microsoft are just their puppets, every time they open their mouths, I'm forced to stock up on popcorn.

XiNatsuDragnel21h ago

Xbox is getting rightfully roasted here

Einhander197220h ago

The only point to xbox is and always has been to take market share and money from PlayStation and Nintendo, but mostly PlayStation. It's been the goal since sweaty Steve Balmer said it himself.

19h ago
ApocalypseShadow14h ago

Yup. To put Sony out of business because they thought they were a threat to their Windows business.

solideagle1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

Genuinely curious: how is Sony (hardware company) threat to Windows (operating system/software company) business?

isarai18h ago

I mean the motto "xbox, the most optional console ever made" was peaked years ago, people are just now taking a step back from deepthroating Phil to see what we've all been seeing for a long time now.

P_Bomb17h ago

I’ve still got friends that main on XB. For their sake, I hope it sticks around. They’ve put everything into that ecosystem. It’s all or nothing.

I wonder if we’ll ever get back the level of competition seen during the 360/PS3 era?

NotoriousWhiz6h ago

Seems like Daddy Microsoft is trying to shut it down. Or at least bring costs under control. On the bright side, it seems likely that acquisitions are going to stop.

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200°

Xbox, do you even have a plan anymore?

TSA asks what is the future for Xbox.

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thesixthaxis.com
Chocoburger22h ago

They clearly never did, hence why they spent so many BILLIONS on other publishers as a last resort.

anast21h ago

They have a plan. It's to move everything toward streaming and mobile. This is just the next step.

Cacabunga20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

With half of the money they spent, they could have been on the very top and the gaming industry would be way bigger than it is.. encourage developers, indies, make them grow trust them and they will deliver.

Tody_za20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

What are you talking about Cacabunga? The Xbox faithful insisted that Microsoft has infinite money, and after Activision they should buy Square Enix and Capcom before Sony does. There was no chance ever that Microsoft would do this. They would use their infinite millions and Bitcoins to invest in 50 new IP and beat everyone.

Tody_za17h ago

Did I really need to add a /s to my comment...

SonyStyled16h ago

The Parent company of Xbox spent billions on publishers, not Xbox

andy8521h ago

To ruin great studios it's looking like

Skuletor21h ago

Sure, a plan to be a more hated game company than EA. Ubisoft were recently giving them a run for their money but I think Xbox have really knocked it out the park with their latest stunt.

neutralgamer199221h ago

Absolutely not, their whole plan is at odd with what MS wants

Phil wants GP to become big
MS wants to sell games and make billions

GP can’t be sustained with AAA games which take 3-5 years and 7 figure budgets. Only go put those games on GP day one. Why do you think games are coming out on other platforms?

People want a change and want Phil gone without realizing if someone new comes along they may want to change everything again so we just keep going in circles. Phil has to realize that and give clear message on the direction of Xbox

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