Microsoft and 'core' games: Hardcore future... or 'WannaWii'?

In this article I will discuss the fate and fortune of 'core' games on the 360 platform, and muse how Microsoft has treated it's original user-base (i.e. 'core' gamers). Has the 360 sold out to the casual gamers of the world? Is the 360 the next "wannaWii"? Is the PS3 the only true option for 'core' gamers?

Like them or loath then, the people at Microsoft have played an interesting game this generation. First they beat Sony to the punch with the 360 this gen. Then they generated some essential console hype with a series of 'core' games to attract di-hard gamers to the 360. The 360 was the place to be for the huge and lucrative 'shooter' market. Finally, they managed to get some 30 million users to fork out money to play games online... when competition offers similar offerings for free. Well played.

After entrenching themselves into second place in the console wars this gen, Microsoft did an about face. Microsoft went after the much larger (read: more profitable) casual market. Their marketing blitz was epitomized in my mind when Kinect was on Oprah. What better way to get noticed by the moms of the US. Such a move had investors frothing at the mouth... but had core gamers feeling a little left out due to a drop in AAA exclusives.

The 'core' gamers that were early adopters of the 360 were now appearing to be second in priority for Microsoft. Priority number one was the casual gamer that the Wii capitalized on so well. Suddenly in 2011 the list of QUALITY exclusives for the 360 is getting pretty thin. Gears 3. Forza 4. I am honestly struggling to think of more without looking it up. PS3 has a grocery list of quality 'core' exclusives coming this year. Sony appears to be the place to be.

So why did the 360 abandon the 'core' gamers?

The reason has already been mentioned: the casual market. One could argue that within the core market, everyone who was going to get on board, is on board. Further hardware growth will be minimal. Thus, going after new markets like casual gamers makes sense if continued growth is a goal.

But is it a risk to abandon the 'core' 360 market?

At first it would seem to be a risk. Upon review... maybe not as much a we would think. People who are willing to fork out 60$ a year to play online when the same feature is free on the PS3 are doing it for a reason. That reason? Friends. You play and stay where your friends are. People are such social creatures. So Microsoft has a sold base of gamers that are "locked in".

Will a lack of 360 exclusives cause 360 gamers to jump ship to the PS3?

Yes... eventually. But the thing is, now more than ever, there are TONS of high quality (multiplatform) games coming out on just about any given week. Take a look at the September 2011 release schedule and tell me how you expect to play all of those games!!! Sure, the 360 has less EXCLUSIVES for core gamers, but there are far more AAA titles coming out for the console than the average gamer has time to play, or afford. So long as the quality of the multiplatform games is comparable to the PS3 (and that is the case), there is little reason to jump ship. One could argue that Microsoft is SMART for downplaying exclusives because they save money on astronomical development costs in an ever competitive world of multiplatform AAA offerings.

But I did say "eventually." Slowly, the core gamers will spend more time on the PS3... lured by exclusives and graphics. Slowly they will realize that most of their friends are on the free PSN network.

So what about Major Nelson and his "announcements" coming this week?

I suspect this will be a bone thrown at the core crowd... some predictable talk about how Gears 3 "Uses 100% of the 360", and some talk of Halo becoming an annual thing. Or... maybe Microsoft knows something we don't, and realizes that Kinect sales are tapering off (previous estimates by Michael Patcher suggest that previous owners, i.e. core gamers, were the big driver of Kinect sales, not the casual gamer). Maybe Microsoft realizes that it needs to keep it's original user base happy because they are the ones buying multiple games each year, and paying for LIVE subscriptions. Maybe Microsoft will renew it's push on 360 exclusives.

My personal prediction is that Microsoft will push Gears and Halo, and add a few games to the Kinect menu that are aimed at the core audience. I think you will also see them announce some key timed exclusive releases for a few key AAA multiplatform games and DLC. I don't expect Microsoft to suddenly pumping out exclusives, but I do expect them to be more aggressive with timed exclusives for games and DLC. I would also not be surprised to hear about a price drop, given how aggressive Sony has been in that department as of late.

Finally, I predict the lack of exclusives now is all part of the plan: the plan to have a killer line of 'core' exclusives at the release of the Xbox 720 in Fall 2012.

[Xbox360PS3AndPC]

Well The Pre GDC Is In 2 Days & They Said New Exclusives So Theres Still Hope