280°

CVG 7 things Microsoft must do to win E3

What Microsoft has to do to make us smile...

The week of E3 is almost upon us and, as usual, we'll all be keeping an especially close eye on the three major platform holders.

We'll also be keeping our pens hovering over our score-cards to determine who we felt came head and shoulder buttons above the rest in terms of wowing us at the L.A convention. It's the biggest stage in the gaming world and a chance to really make a statement about a console's future.

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computerandvideogames.com
aviator1895143d ago

win, win, win... Is this what sites think e3 is all about??
E3 is an exhibition event, not a competition.

Uncharted3Goty5143d ago (Edited 5143d ago )

i agree

but there is Sites that think it is a competition they make it Sony vs Micorosoft VS Nintendo also who has the best games who shows the better stuff and many more.

fluffydelusions5143d ago

Totally agree but at the same time everyone will walk away with a favorite. I think announcing the 720 would be MS's best chance TBH.

ABizzel15143d ago

MS can win, by preparing for E3 2012 right now.

This E3 is all Nintendo and Sony, but that's doesn't mean MS will have a bad E3. I expect them to show off Kinect, announce maybe 2 or 3 retail exclusives for this holiday, Show 3rd party games with exclusive DLC, show some games for early 2012, and show some new features for XBL more than likely SKYPE via Kinect (even though you can probably still use it with your old camera).

They'll have a solid showing, with a good flow to their show. It's just that the biggest news heading into E3 is Project Cafe and NGP, and if MS doesn't show anything to match the hype of those 2 consoles then they can't win, unless Cafe and NGP have a disaster performance which is highly unlikely.

For MS to win E3 they need to get an exclusive GTA game, that doesn't even have to be GTA5 (it could be GTA a spin off sold on XBL), show a brand new Halo, show Alan Wake 2, Show hardcore Kinect games, get FF13 vs. multiplat, get Kingdom Hearts 3 multiplat, and have good showings for Forza 4 and Gears 3. That would help push them into the competition for best show, but will it all happen? I doubt it.

EVILDEAD3605143d ago (Edited 5143d ago )

An E3 win for Microsoft would simply be to satisfy it current consumer base while drawing in millions more for another stellar holiday.

Sony is in competition w/ Nintendo for the handheld space. Nintendo is going to show new hardware (Cafe) and games that won't see the light of day for at least another 14 to 18 months after.

This will obviously Micrsoft's last E3 to show off it's system before 720 is unveiled next year.

Kinect's success was a crucial victory last year for pushing hardware..this year Micrsoft has a great oppotunity to repeat or exceed that success with a great show.

What needs to happen?

The 'known' quantities of Gears 3 and Forza 4 need to have stellar showings

The rumored dark horses that need to steel the show are Kingdoms, Xcom, Star Wars Kinect, Gears of War Exile, Fable Kinect, and Halo: CE HD.

As always it would be in Micrsoft's best interest to share the stage with smoking hot multi-plats like MW3, GT5, Skyrim, Bioshock and the inevitable GT5.

Ultimately Kinect 2.0 needs to blow people away. Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports 2 are IMO no-brainer reveals..but it's the promise of Project Draco, Steel Batallion, etc. that could tip the scales.

Factor in the annual Xbox Live reveals, Kinect Apps, Kinect Skype, Avatar Kinect, etc. and Micrsoft can clearly come away with one of their best E3's to date.

The ball is in their court..can't wait to see what happens..

Evil

Arnon5143d ago (Edited 5143d ago )

I'd like to see a few titles actually.

-Panzer Dragoon Kinect (Project Draco)
-Steel Battalion Kinect
-Rise of Nightmares
-Banjo-Kazooie 3
-Killer Instinct 3
-Conker's Bad Fur Day 2
-Perfect Dark 2
-Forza Motorsport 4's Kinect features
-Skyrim
-New Lionhead game running on their new engine
-New Epic Game running on the new Unreal Engine
-Steam support

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5143d ago
Tony P5143d ago

All I want from any of the console makers is to announce more content I'm actually interested in playing.

In MS's case, this means less service-based announcements like Facebook or Paypal and more game announcements: exclusives, XBLA stuff, innovative Kinect titles. That kind of thing.

jay25143d ago

The can't 'win'. They haven't got new hardware and any more money to spend steeling PS3 exclusive, early DLC (not that there's going to be a huge lose either).

Max_Dissatisfaction5143d ago (Edited 5143d ago )

They do have Xbox Live and can pretty much guarantee it will be online and fully functional during E3...oh and they've got money, lots.
Oh and how did they "steal" PS3 exclusives if you claim they "paid" for them? Just thinkin out loud here, hoping you can make it all make sense for me

KingSlayer5143d ago (Edited 5143d ago )

Core exclusive games you can play with a controller without Gears or Halo in the name. Waiting for DLC isn't a big deal and I'd rather play my multiplat MP games for free.

GT_Ken5143d ago

They really only need to do ONE thing to win E3. Have working Xbox Live.

femshep5143d ago

working xbox live?.....compared to what sony...oh wait im sorry to soon...they still haven't gotten it up 100% yet....they shouldn't even be in this position

GT_Ken5143d ago

@Femship: LOL! That's what I was saying. It was a bad joke...

But yeah, I don't honestly think anyone but Nintendo can "win" this E3. They have a new console. No one else does. It's really that simple.

5143d ago
Boody-Bandit5143d ago (Edited 5143d ago )

So basically all you need is XBL to work, huh?
I guess you are just going to keep on playing games you already own? No need to purchase any new ones as long as XBL works.

WOW!
The saddest part is you are part of a site writing articles when it's obvious how bias you are. What else is new?

Sorry but I want MS to come with games and a ton of them. Not just games I can get for my other consoles (multiplats) and I sure as hell don't want anything for Kinect. I am hoping, because I actually am a gamer and not a bias little ****, MS has some surprises in store for their "core" audience and E3 2011 is not a repeat of E3 2010.

GT_Ken5143d ago

@Brutally: Dude, I was making a joke about PSN being down for so long. I'm a gamer through and through, and can't wait to see all the amazing new product coming out of E3 next week.

I'm GOING to E3 for that very reason. It was nothing more than an underhanded jab at Sony.

I'm not an MS fanboy, despite what some might tell you...lol. I can't wait to see Uncharted 3, super excited about the new Nintendo console, and I'm pretty stoked about the rumored "core" Kinect games that I might get to see.

Please don't read into my joke as anything more than that.

Boody-Bandit5143d ago

Sorry but I don't find it funny that someone was attacked and people find humor in that. It cost Sony millions if not over a billion and that's not good for the industry as a whole. If you were a gamer through and through you would not have to have that be said to you.

The media beat that horse to death, resuscitated it and killed it again over and over. It stopped being funny a month ago. Just like it's not funny when people bring up RROD. Yeah, we get it. Try talking about something news worthy and not tabloid bullshit. Leave that to the trolls that are not gamers to begin with.

5119ent5143d ago

kinect cant do hardcore...give it up already

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210°

Looming Xbox layoffs threaten Microsoft's reputation

Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era

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gamesindustry.biz
Jingsing1d 8h ago (Edited 1d 8h ago )

I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.

1d 7h ago Replies(1)
isarai1d 3h ago

What reputation is this threatening exactly? 😂

Lightning771d ago

Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.

The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.

Christopher3h ago

That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest.

1Victor3h ago

@christopher: “ That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest”
The key word big can be ether good or bad 🤷🏿only time can tell

DarXyde1h ago

First Forza being generated entirely via AI?

If any company would do it, it'd be them.

4h agoReplies(2)
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660°

Microsoft planning “major” Xbox layoffs next week

The cuts are expected to be announced next week.

Microsoft is also planning thousands of job cuts that will impact other parts of it businesses

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theverge.com
4d ago Replies(1)
4d ago Replies(1)
Obscure_Observer4d ago

MFs has been beating their chests over great quarterly results and big profits to shareholders while firing people by the thousands just like Sony.

I wonder if at the top of those rumored layoffs they´ll also cancel upcoming or unannounced games while shutting down more studios as well.

4d ago
pwnmaster30004d ago

Always got to throw shade at Sony smh.
Yes we get it,
MS good Sony bad
MS bad Sony is also bad lmao

4d ago
Obscure_Observer4d ago

F* them both!

Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares.

blacktiger4d ago

He was talking about both. Why you getting offended when he's using both names

pwnmaster30004d ago (Edited 4d ago )

@Blacktiger

Im not offended , that’s just his formula lol
He can’t help help himself, he needs to bring Sony down when the topic involves MS.
Whether is good news for MS or bad, it some how leads to Sony doing bad lmao.
It’s actually hilarious.

InUrFoxHole3d ago

He's not wrong but im tracking what youre saying. In this case is should just be MS bad. Thats a lot of people fired

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
Tacoboto4d ago

"just like Sony"

Gosh you're insufferable, not everything needs to be both-sides'd. Sony's had layoffs, but nothing like what Microsoft has been doing and is continuing to do.

CrimsonWing694d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I mean, no offense, but this is why you’re not some corporate business person running a major corporation. Big profits don’t mean jobs are safe. Do you understand why things like this happen:

Cutting jobs to maintain or increase profitability, especially in underperforming divisions like parts of Xbox like other gaming divisions.

Corporate restructuring and relocating resources for strategic stability in ever changing markets and consumer behaviors.

Investor expectations and optimizing operations to maintain investor confidence. Whatever boosts stock prices and improves future margins.

And there’s many other factors at play. It’s never as simple as business doing well, everyone’s safe. That’s just you not understanding at all how corporations work and have been working since the beginning. This isn’t something that’s specific to Xbox, you can bet your ass Sony and Nintendo do this and if it’s not clear by now, game development is not a stable job nor has it ever been for many. A lot of developers are contractors and guess what happens when a project is done?

Ganif4d ago

Nintendo said they have no plans for layoffs, and you can't seriously claim that the scale of Sony's layoffs most of which involved Bungie which is self managed as even close to the same scale as what Microsoft has done since they purchased Zenimax. And that significantly less layoffs would have happened if those publishers had stayed independent. Keep in mind that much of these layoffs have been due to redundancies specifically related to these buyouts.

CrimsonWing694d ago (Edited 4d ago )

@Ganif

Nintendo:

https://gamerant.com/ninten...

Sony:

https://gamerant.com/playst...

https://techxplore.com/news...

I don’t think it’s realistic to treat Sony’s layoffs as somehow outside the norm for the industry right now. Even if Bungie is self-managed, Sony’s cuts went far beyond that like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, London Studio being shut down completely, and multiple teams across the globe took hits. These weren’t just minor adjustments.

Nintendo, I had to look up and you’re right. They seem to be an outlier, but rest assured at some point it happens. And even then there’s been layoffs, albeit a smaller amount and contractors.

Would fewer layoffs have happened if studios from acquisitions stayed independent? Maybe. But even independents have been hit hard and look at what’s happened with Embracer’s fallout, or smaller devs like Digic, Roll7, or Volition. This isn’t just a “Microsoft problem” or strictly tied to acquisitions; it’s a broader correction happening across the whole industry, and unfortunately, layoffs are a big part of that process right now.

Ganif4d ago

From your article:

"According to reports, Nintendo of America restructured its testing operations, leading to layoffs of about 120 contractors, part of a strategy for global integration.

Nintendo of America, publisher of iconic franchises like Mario and Zelda, is shifting some contractors to full-time roles for better development integration."

Contractors are not employees, and even if you want to count them as that, it's 120 people vs around 7500 since Microsoft purchased Zenimax.

In an era of game industry layoffs, Nintendo is hiring more people
https://automaton-media.com...

Nintendo Announces 10 Percent Pay Raise For Devs Despite Lower Profits
https://kotaku.com/nintendo...

Nintendo CEO’s refusal to layoff staff goes viral following industry-wide cuts
"Satoru Iwata took pay cuts to ensure staff didn’t have to be let go"
https://www.nme.com/news/ga...

And as for Sony you're comparing less than 1000 total jobs to an estimated7500

Has the industry faced layoffs, yes, but that still doesn't account for the mass layoffs due to redundancies that was easily predictable, or that fact that at least 1/3 of Microsoft's layoffs and studio closures happened before the industry downturn.

thorstein4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Take the L, Crimson.

People hate Nintendo, but Ganif proved why they deserve support.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4d ago
-Foxtrot4d ago

It's like banging your head off a wall, he just can't help himself.

Microsoft can do no wrong, Sony sucks at everything and Nintendo is bigged up because it's less hassle than trying to defend Microsoft all the time

What's going to happen when Microsoft finally turn completely third party, then what?

anast4d ago

I enjoy Obscure. Obscure does good work.

crazyCoconuts4d ago

Did you know that the first n4g was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program.

Tacoboto4d ago

I wouldn't be surprised at this point if anast and osbcure were both alts for the Admin.

We know how Obscure especially drums up additional comments and clicks with his spam-worthy remarks that somehow never get moderated

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4d ago
Profchaos4d ago

Thats business present a strong front to your shareholders while your company burns around you.

Keep shareholders happy at all costs andnif not happy keep them numb to the reality of you organisation

Angyobangyo3d ago

" Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares. "

Just for the record, you clearly you do if you have to vent this hard.

TheExecutioner3d ago

Basically you think like kids when it come to choose between candy or chocolate.

Sonic18813d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Are you and Anast the same person?

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
4d ago
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260°

AMD CEO Shares Vision Behind Xbox Partnership and Next-Gen Chip Roadmap

AMD CEO Lisa Su talks about the Xbox AMD partnership, next-gen Ryzen + Radeon chips, and AI rendering tech coming to all Xbox devices.

Read Full Story >>
clouddosage.com
Obscure_Observer9d ago

AMD is really building hype around their unique partnership with Microsoft to help and build an advanced and seamless Xbox ecosystem across all Xbox consoles and devices.

I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimized chips" though? Seems ambitious.

Next year´s Xbox Showcase already looks promising and exciting. Here´s hoping they deliver.

InUrFoxHole8d ago

They had best show 3yrs in a row. Heading for another

VenomUK8d ago

Obscure_Observer said “I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimised chips" though? Seems ambitious.” To me, I interpret this to mean rather than having a couple of X/S products for launch and a handheld there is a longer term plan to release new products with higher specs at timed intervals. I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec.

Agent758d ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM8d ago

It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever.

Ganif8d ago

Correct.

"Sony's PlayStation 6 reportedly will feature an AMD semi-custom APU with a Zen 5 CPU and UDNA GPU, capable of 4K 120FPS and 8K 60FPS gaming. The console will include X3D cache and advanced AI upscaling technology."

https://www.tweaktown.com/n...

Obscure_Observer8d ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever."

I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released.

Notellin8d ago

You should have just lead this comment with the fact that you have zero understanding of technology in the consoles and instead have a Toms Hardware online forum level of education.

Obscure_Observer5d ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever"

I´d told you were on some bs

https://www.pcgamesn.com/wp...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5d ago
Agent758d ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer8d ago

@VenomUK

"I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec."

Very interesting theory. Still not sure how MS would actually make it work.

KwietStorm_BLM7d ago

"I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released."

How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is.

Obscure_Observer7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

"How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is."

Dude, what I know for certain is that a tech as old as X3D chips which is actually *older* than both PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, is hardly the reason behind this new partnership between AMD and MS to build new *custom silicon* for next generation of consoles.

And yes it´s a huge announcement since AMD is working closely with MS to co-develop custom SoC which will allow backwards compatibility across all MS´s next gen devices allowing seamless integration between devices and full backwards compatibility across all generations of Xbox consoles.

I also know is that this announcement don´t have anything to do with Playstation and their strategy with AMD for the PS6, so stop comparing the two pretending that you know what´s going on, because you clearly don´t.

If Sony is working on something remotely similar, that´s remain to be seen.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
Fishy Fingers9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

Some odd, deliberate wording, no branding, not 'Xbox consoles, Xbox handhelds' specifically, feels and sounds like they're building towards hardware that anyone can be used or licensed to/by themselves and other manufacturers.

Multiplatform software and hardware 'Xbox/AMD APU'.

Obscure_Observer9d ago

I guess you missed Sarah Bond´s next generation Xbox announcement this week, were she clearly states:

"I´m thrilled to share that we´ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including, *our* next generation *Xbox consoles*."

But hey, I don´t think you´re entirely wrong, maybe MS will build their own Xbox consoles while licencing other manufactures to build and sell their own Xbox branded consoles. Who knows

BeHunted8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

I think you watched the wrong video. It's below the description, or you can watch it directly on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/kprpRvsOua...

HyperMoused9d ago

Shares vision....we provide chips for money, this deal will sell many chips, we will make lots of money...good vision

Christopher9d ago

The marketing behind this is so heavy that I worry about the actual outcome. Why are they just not showing us the product, why all this talking in market speak?

Lightning778d ago

Probably because the next xbox isn't ready to release yet?

The marketing and rumors seem to be heavy out of no where. The rumor was a 27 release but it maybe it could be 26 new console launch instead.

Who knows.

Eonjay8d ago

There PR is alrways super heavy handed. No one is acutally buying an Xbox as is.
Also it is very early to be talking so much about a next gen console.

Obscure_Observer8d ago

There´s a lot of people interested on Xbox Next and its ability to run games from major stores like Steam.

We know that the PS6 is just around the corner as well, but so far, no news on what it might improve over the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

However, Sony already made public that their priority and actual focus is the PS6. So its not "very early" to talk about next gen when the very console manufactures are talking about it.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 8d ago
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