Microsoft should concentrate on games rather than chase the ‘connected entertainment’ dream with its next Xbox, says 22cans boss Peter Molyneux.
The former creative director of Microsoft Games Studios told us that he is keeping a close eye on his former employers’ movements, but isn’t sure what its intentions are with the next Xbox.
“I’m going to be absolutely fascinated to see what they finally come out with, because I kind of knew a lot when I was at Microsoft about what their plans were, and plans change and aspirations change. I’m sure they’ll have put a lot of time and thought and rehearsal into that press briefing, but I’m going to be fascinated to see what the hardware is, and how it will fit into this new world that we’re in now – this new world of hyper-connectivity, of super-portability. Or whether they’ll double-down and say ‘you know what? We are the games console, and that’s what we define ourselves as’ and say [they] don’t really care about hyper-connectivity or hyper-portability. It’ll be fascinating which way they jump.”
Vapourware can end up being the stuff of legend, like Rockstar's Agent, Star Wars 1313, or StarCraft: Ghost. Without ever seeing the light of day, these games never risked the possibility of being played and forgotten, and instead live on forever as the subjects of lengthy YouTube essays.
Still, Molyneux's most notable lost game (or tech demo, depending on who you asked at the time) was arguably Project Milo.
I can see the potential of the kinect hardware... its rather impressive tech, but it was just not meant to be for gaming. If anything, MS had a huge missed opportunity to have used it for the AR/VR projects.
You can use the Kinect as an SLS camera for paranormal investigations. So it wasn’t a complete failure.
Remember Star Wars Kinect announcement? Biggest laughable acting seen
"Unfortunately, as we were developing Milo, so the Kinect device was being developed. And they realised that the device that Alex Kipman first showed off would cost $5,000 for consumers to buy.
"So they cost-reduced that device down to such a point, where the field-of-view...I think it was a minuscule field-of-view. In other words, it could only just see what's straight in front of you."
Hmm, exactly what tech was in it, that was cut, affected the development? It was only ever interpreting visual and audio inputs right? The xbox was processing those inputs.
Nor do I see how the field of view thing is relevant to the discussion.
Exactly! Tf kinda BS statement was that? i don't really see how fov is relevant at all, since when do you move all around a room while talking/interacting to someone?
This is entirely untrue. There was never a 5000 dollar Kinect prototype that could somehow use a wider field of view to scan and import generated in-game items and advance AI by over a decade. Anybody that fell for this was a stupid moron child, myself included. Anybody that falls for this lie now is a stupid moron child who doesn't realize that these people *only* know how to lie.
Masters of Albion is already promising, but can we trust Peter Molyneux to not let us down again?
I came here to say that I don't want to hear any grand standing or over promises, and I was not left disappointed when I read: "Molyneux has “kept very quiet” about the project as he wanted to “let the game speak for itself”.
Perfect.
Project Milo could not have been released even if it existed. Why would a grown man want to simulate talking to young kids?
No he hasn't done anything to earn it if he actually delivers a fun competent game that's different
Come on, you can hate him for overpromising, but he made some fun games.
Fable I and II were awesome, as was theme park or Dungeon Keeper.
Unfortunately its the haters who will always set the agenda on any such discussion. Peter is a visionary who delivered some exceptional games and invented genres. I consider myself blessed to have worked at Bullfrog and seen such creativity up close. The fact he over promissed on several projects later in his career is hardly an issue limited to just him, and certainly does not undo the huge legacy he has.
I was impressed by the showing at the event, and Im pleased to see he's learnt to shutup and just deliver a game. Maybe one two people can let go of the hate if he delivers on this project, but I doubt it - people love to hate.
Amen. I respect Peter as a dreamer of interesting and grand ideas. Those who remember the golden years of Bullfrog knows how interesting their games were (and still remain) and the glorious feel of manipulating all the little simulation mechanics. If you understand many of his promises were "wouldn't it be cool if" hypotheticals that were strived for but ultimately not achieved (ie the realities of game dev) it makes far more sense than him being deliberately misleading.
No. Too many other developers who HAVEN’T scammed people and lied to our face for two decades. Don’t have time to listen to this dude anymore. If it’s good, good for those people that like that type of game. I still won’t ever trust him.
One of the dumbest questions I've ever heard. Guy hasn't told the truth in over 20 years
I’m curious who the dislikes are on our comments. Either people old enough to have some deeeeeeep love for Black and White and Populous, or young enough to not know what a massive huckster Molyneux is. He’s the M.Night Shyamalan of game directors. Did a couple good things early on and somehow has managed to ride that for decades.
Project currently codenamed MOAT.
"It’s between him and Phil. I’d vote Phil"
If Phil were the man that made my life miserable, I would vote for him as well.
Regarding the topic, it could be both Peter and Phil working together.
M.O.A.T takes place in Albion, so it´s possible that Pete is working on new partnership with Xbox, which imo, is nothing but great news!
What exactly has Phil mislead about? I can’t wait to hear the verbal diarrhea you come with.
If anyone knows his name you have to be extremely skeptical that what he delivers will be anything like what he says it would be and that’s best case scenario.
I remember Black & White (PC) but other than that I can only think of Fable, B&W was a pretty cool game tho at the time.
Populous was another one designed by Peter, released before B&W, godlike game as well, pretty good too.
"His name is still used as a selling point for new games? Seriously?"
The guy is a gaming legend for gamers who actually knows and played his games, like Dungeon Keeper, Populous, Black & White and Fable for example.
I'm certain that most who actually know who he is would contest your use of legend. He's the living, human embodiment of false advertising.
@Becuzisaid
There´s an abyss between false advertisement and bad games.
Most gamers will get excited for games from great gaming creators rather than focus on their exaggerated promises.
Kojima described his Xbox exclusive game as "very unusual like no one has ever experienced before, leveraging the cloud." He said all publishers he presented the project, called him mad and rejected his game but Microsoft, because it´s too crazy.
Is Kojima exaggerating? Obviously. It´s gonna be a bad game? Hardly.
Imagine a game where Peter Molyneux presents an extraordinary set of ideas that players will enjoy for years to come. Now imagine that this particular game will come out because it will never exist.
I have to agree with him. This goes for every console as well, the PS4, Wii U, 720, etc. A console was meant to play games on, not watch movies and go on facebook or twitter and stuff. That is why we have DVD Bluerays and laptops to cover those needs. Yes I do think the social and entertainment aspect of gaming should be highly viewed (because you want to play with friends, and streaming) but, games should ALWAYS become top priority. It is the games that sell a console, and the exclusives. Then the features of the console and then the extras.
At no point should games be at a lower priority than entertainment for a company.
Peter Molyneux: "I don't want another way of looking at Facebook.....I want another way of feeling, touching it, smelling it, experiencing it in ways that were inconceivable to the mind of mere mortals!"
Lol just joking......
I whole-heartedly agree with Peter Holymolyneux but as long as games don't get disadvantaged all the entertainment features are welcome.
Must have's vs nice to haves.
We are talking about GAMING consoles. I have a feeling MS is moving in another direction. They may try to sway the hardcore with exclusive 3rd party games, but that cannot last forever (it would be WAY too expensive). What then? This generation they all but abandoned the hard core in favor of attracting casual gamers with the ridiculous Kinect.