Listening to gamers and offering exclusive games is the future of XONE - Phil Spencer

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mocoworm

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http://www.winbeta.org/news/listening-gamers-and-offering-exclusive-games-future-xbox-one

There are exciting times ahead for gamers if Phil Spencer has anything to do with it. The new head of Xbox has spoken with CNN Money and speaks about the importance of listening to feedback from customers so that products are tailored to meet specific needs. Responding to a question about the change in decision to protect games with DRM, Spencer says that he told the vocal opposition to heart -- "I took it personally -- you'd be hard-pressed to find someone at Xbox who didn't".

Moving forward, Xbox One owners should have some sensational titles to look forward to as there will be a strong focus on exclusive games for the platforms. Long gone are the days of being able to find the same games available for every console, in the modern age of gaming it is the exclusive titles that pull in customers -- as demonstrated perfectly by the likes of Titanfall and Ryse: Son of Rome.

Unique games are also likely to stem from ID@Xbox which encourages independent developers into producing games that might not otherwise have made it to market. And it is very early days for this particular venture, with the promise that "long term, we also have plans to enable any retail Xbox One to become a dev kit, making it even easier for games to come to the platform".

Innovation is the name of the game, and to keep things unique and interesting there is great potential to be found in second-screen gaming. "Dead Rising 3 was a great example, where Capcom turned your SmartGlass device into your character's phone, so it meshed seamlessly into the world of Los Perdidos. It wasn't a requirement, but it was a helpful tool. Other games use SmartGlass less for gameplay and more for menu navigation, and that works well too. It all just depends on what's right for that particular game, and my hope is that as other developers see the kind of thinking teams like Capcom have put into their use of SmartGlass, we'll continue to see that functionality expand."

The One Microsoft vision should impact on gamers as much as Windows users. "Whether you are using your Xbox, PC, tablet, or phone, we want you to have access to an immersive, personalized, and entertaining experience." But the most interesting aspect of what the future of Microsoft gaming might entail is that it is gamers themselves who can help to determine the direction in which things are taken.

The importance of listening to what customers have to say is something that the Xbox team have taken on board. "We were reminded just how important it is to listen to our fans," says Spencer. And it is something that is set to continue: "We proved they can impact the products we make. Maintaining an open dialogue with Xbox fans is a commitment we'll continue to uphold."
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By 'offering exclusives', do they mean buying them or making them? I don't mean to take such a negative stance on them as they try to turn things around, but it gets old seeing things that don't need to be exclusive become exclusive.
 
I hope this means they'll be funding the development of more exclusive games instead of buying exclusivity of already-developed games. Add to the industry, don't subtract from it.
 
Captain Pants said:
By offering exclusives, do they mean buying them or making them? I don't mean to take such a negative stance on them as they try to turn things around, but it gets old seeing things that don't need to be exclusive become exclusive.
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This. Please offer impressive titles from your 1st and 2nd party studios. I don't want to see 3rd party titles restricted to one platform because of hates made of currency.
 
Captain Pants said:
By offering exclusives, do they mean buying them or making them? I don't mean to take such a negative stance on them as they try to turn things around, but it gets old seeing things that don't need to be exclusive become exclusive.
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Idk, sometimes they appear to buy exclusives - but in reality they are funding them so that they actually come to the market.

I would rather see moar new IPs from their 1st party studios though
 
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
 
Darkologia said:
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
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I worry about this too, I am a former big Xbox guy that turned away last year. I can say winning me back would start with funding and creating new exclusives from 1st or 2nd party and not buying games away from other areas.3rd party should supplement a games library and a strong 1st and 2nd party development could see them have growth in this competition. IMO
 
Darkologia said:
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
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My thoughts exactly.
Prove me wrong Phil.
 
Darkologia said:
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
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Rome wasn't built in one day... Not making excuses for the guy but if they really were in shambles before, he has a lot of work to do to convince us gamers and we'll just have to wait and see for a turnaround.
For now he can pretty much only talk. E3 is soon anyways so we should get a taste when the time comes.
 
People are going to be super disappointed this E3. There's no way Spencer has had a fighting chance to do anything substantial as head of Xbox in the few months he's been in the position. The rhetoric will be very different this E3, but I doubt we will see anything meaningful in terms of changes or products before the next few years.
 
Darkologia said:
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
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Same. I mean they COMPLETELY misread what people wanted coming off the 360, how could they have no clue at all?

People want games and not TV, ownership of their own games, value for money etc etc and Microsoft seemingly had no idea? they knew, they just thought they could get away with it all and it backfired.
 
Phil Spencer is different. He exudes a genuine love for gaming and is passionate about XBOX. There is a reason he was appointed with the role and it is to make changes in the right direction. I am a massive supporter of the guy.

My philosophy with anyone is to look at what they deliver or fail to deliver before criticising. He hasn't not delivered on anything yet. I know that he's only been in the role a few weeks but let's see what comes of his initial promises and ideas before being negative.
 
Vinterbird said:
People are going to be super disappointed this E3. There's no way Spencer has had a fighting chance to do anything substantial as head of Xbox in the few months he's been in the position. The rhetoric will be very different this E3, but I doubt we will see anything meaningful in terms of changes or products before the next few years.
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Certainly, but as long as he frames it to seem like they're changing, it can be a success.
 
Vinterbird said:
People are going to be super disappointed this E3. There's no way Spencer has had a fighting chance to do anything substantial as head of Xbox in the few months he's been in the position. The rhetoric will be very different this E3, but I doubt we will see anything meaningful in terms of changes or products before the next few years.
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I think it's fine if Spencer doesn't ride into E3 on a chariot and fix all the problems right off the bat. People should go in with realistic expectations.
 
Captain Pants said:
By 'offering exclusives', do they mean buying them or making them? I don't mean to take such a negative stance on them as they try to turn things around, but it gets old seeing things that don't need to be exclusive become exclusive.
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It doesn't matter, an exclusive is a exclusive. I do think they should invest more in their first party studios so the double helix situation doesn't happen again.
 
brandonh83 said:
I think it's fine if Spencer doesn't ride into E3 on a chariot and fix all the problems right off the bat. People should go in with realistic expectations.
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But very few will.

As much good as Spencer will do in the coming years, I think a lot of people will react negatively after E3 unless he comes in and lowers the XB1 price by 100 dollars, removes Kinect, removes paywalls, announces every niche forgotten game to be a thing and sets fire to Matrick on stage.
 
H3XAntiStyle said:
Funding exclusives, ala Bayonetta 2, where it just wouldn't have happened, is good. Buying exclusives, ala Titanfall, is not.
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They funded Titanfall. If it wasn't for Microsoft Titanfall would have been canceled after the they went over their budget. Microsoft gave them the money they needed to continue and complete the game.
 
Saying and doing are two different things. It might sound harsh, but "talk is cheap" really is the kind of cautious stance I can take right now. I want something to impress me, something solid, something that will make me want an Xbox One beyond a reasonable doubt. They have to sell me on it, and E3 will be their big chance. Come on Microsoft, bring your A-game, and make me perk up my ears. Show me, and I'll start to listen, but until then I'll be somewhat cautious and skeptical. I won't buy something based on promises.
 
Darkologia said:
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
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Had they brought someone else to be the Head of Xbox then I would feel the same. He is coming from Microsoft Studios and has been dedicated to the games on the system. He now has much more power over what happens and I think that's a great sign.

I think E3 2016 will been when we really see what affect Spencer has on the company though. This and next E3, he's coming in with titles and features that were negotiated and being developed before he received his new position. Since games take years to make, they tentatively plan these things out ahead of time so it may be a little before we see the fruits of his labor in regards to exclusive games on the system as the Head of Xbox.
 
Darkologia said:
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
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My thoughts exactly.

This guy is just as much of a suit as Yusef Mehdi IMO.
 
Darkologia said:
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
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Not Phil, i have been seeing what he says for years and he is a gamer. You are right that action is needed and i bet E3 will show that.
 
Captain Pants said:
By 'offering exclusives', do they mean buying them or making them? I don't mean to take such a negative stance on them as they try to turn things around, but it gets old seeing things that don't need to be exclusive become exclusive.
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I see no problem in buying exclusives. This is a business and they do wanna sell consoles. If a game is better on PS4 why not take away any other competitors. Just gotta save and get both bruh
 
Bsigg12 said:
Had they brought someone else to be the Head of Xbox then I would feel the same. He is coming from Microsoft Studios and has been dedicated to the games on the system. He now has much more power over what happens and I think that's a great sign.

I think E3 2016 will been when we really see what affect Spencer has on the company though. This and next E3, he's coming in with titles and features that were negotiated and being developed before he received his new position. Since games take years to make, they tentatively plan these things out ahead of time so it may be a little before we see the fruits of his labor in regards to exclusive games on the system as the Head of Xbox.
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Thats what I mean, 3 years into a five year cycle is too late. The need to buy some stuff for the fall + holidays 2014. The big question is whether MS will open the checkbook again. I think whether or not we see moneyhates this fall will be a good signal as to whether MS wants to keep the brand around.
 
Alchemist said:
My thoughts exactly.

This guy is just as much of a suit as Yusef Mehdi IMO.
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I don't know about that. I've played with him a couple times in Titanfall and he's pretty good at Forza 5.

Untalkative_Bunny said:
Thats what I mean, 3 years into a five year cycle is too late. The need to buy some stuff for the fall + holidays 2014. The big question is whether MS will open the checkbook again. I think whether or not we see moneyhates this fall will be a good signal as to whether MS wants to keep the brand around.
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I think first/second party will be stout this year. Forza Horizon 2, H2A, Sunset Overdrive, Quantum Break (maybe), Those are just heavily rumored/confirmed titles so who knows. I'm more worried about how they support the system throughout next year.
 
Let's see if he can put his words into action. And what I hope what he does is get exclusives for Microsoft IPs; buying up third party exclusives is a very, very petty way to make this sort of thing happen.

I imagine the latter more than the former..
 
Speedy Blue Dude said:
They funded Titanfall. If it wasn't for Microsoft Titanfall would have been canceled after the they went over their budget. Microsoft gave them the money they needed to continue and complete the game.
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They funded it? Ah, I remember hearing talk about how Titanfall 2 was definitely gonna be on PS4, and figured it was just a moneyhat. Sorry if I'm mistaken.
 
Vinterbird said:
People are going to be super disappointed this E3. There's no way Spencer has had a fighting chance to do anything substantial as head of Xbox in the few months he's been in the position. The rhetoric will be very different this E3, but I doubt we will see anything meaningful in terms of changes or products before the next few years.
Click to expand...

as long as he manages to push the tv bs out its all good
 
Long gone are the days of being able to find the same games available for every console, in the modern age of gaming it is the exclusive titles that pull in customers -- as demonstrated perfectly by the likes of Titanfall and Ryse: Son of Rome.
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Guess he was living under a rock 20 years ago.
 
Talk is cheap...

91NVafOegTL._AA1500_.jpg
 
I disagree with the fact that exclusives are the sole thing that pulls in the customers.

Especially this line was cringe-worthy:
in the modern age of gaming it is the exclusive titles that pull in customers -- as demonstrated perfectly by the likes of Titanfall and Ryse: Son of Rome.
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Not really. It's the big franchises that pull in the customers. FIFA, Grand Theft Auto, The Elder Scrolls, Assassin's Creed, Battlefield, Call Of Duty, NBA, Watch_Dogs, etcetera.

But seeing as how the Xbox One is lagging behind in multiplats this generation, I can see why they're taking this stance right now. I'm not sure they have the first-party development muscle to even make such a claim either.

Unless they mean buying out third-parties.
 
Darkologia said:
I can't help but feel that this guy is just trying to fix XBO image by saying what everyone want to hear its like he is being stressed from higher up to keep repeating "games" word every time anyone ask him something. Talk is cheap
Click to expand...

Well I guess E3 should be a hint of things to come and whether he lives up to his promises. All eyes on Xbox.
 
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