semiconscious
Member
thank you. why is this so hard for some people to comprehend? simply because something's conceivable has nothing to do with how realistically doable it is...
Analyst: If Xbox One Tanks, It Could Be Microsoft's Last Console
- Thread starter alterego
- Start date
thank you. why is this so hard for some people to comprehend? simply because something's conceivable has nothing to do with how realistically doable it is...
D
Deleted member 80556
Unconfirmed Member
Microsoft isn't going anywhere, that's for sure, but if it were, there would be Amazon and Valve.
Oh, "but Amazon is no threat, they are doing an Android console!" Well, they are recruiting a lot of talented people to start their business. Amazon entering the console business is no joke and if you think they are, then I don't know what to tell you.
Of course it isn't. MS has done good things. And nobody said things have been the same.
The industry won't implode because MS can't go on, Sony and Nintendo will continue. The only worrisome thing is competition, but that would be settled with Valve and Amazon entering.
Even if Valve is just doing a box that play Steam games, if they can market their great features, they could do a splash in the market.
infinityBCRT
Member
Gates still controls the board. While he does, Xbox will continue to exist.
It's a lot different with a company where gaming is their main thing. Deciding to bail means the destruction of the company. Or at least a major reorganization.
Microsoft dumping their gaming division wouldn't even be a bump in the road. It would just be another business decision.
Microsoft dumping their gaming division wouldn't even be a bump in the road. It would just be another business decision.
The first xbox lost about $4-5 billion, depending on the source. That's a big hole to start out with. And the 360 didn't hit profitability until very late into its lifespan.
I wouldn't like to see MS leave the console market, but their mis-steps so far with the One there is a lingering uncertainty about how the worldwide launch will go. So, the existence of the gaming division does seem to be garnering scrutiny from some large MS investors who may prefer MS concentrate on core products (Windows primarily) which traditionally bring in much more profit but are currently struggling.
ZombiePlatypus
Member
I don't like what they've brought to gaming. FPS/shooters, dragging pc gaming to consoles, harming JRPG market by keeping JRPG games as exclusives to its dead weight console in Japan and then just throwing the towel, bullshit pay walls, etc.
Oh and the whole mess with xbone.
If the space is there, a more competent entity is bound to take their place.
Syphon Filter
Member
what do you mean dragging pc gaming to consoles?
Return on investment. Windows and Office bring in $80-$100bn a year, the Xbox with Live as an integral part brings in $1bn. And it's extremely unlikely that Windows and Office require 80-100 times the investment that Xbox does; there certainly isn't $100bn earmarked for supporting WinRT-exclusive software, or a $50bn advertising budget for Office 2013, but there is a billion dollars for Xbone titles and the infamous $500m Kinect launch.
scytherage
Member
Where do I sign up to be an analyst? Time and again it seems to be a dumbass job that even a guy that flips burgers can do.
the BS quotes aren't really what analysts do, it's just the part you see.
The PS4 is the console it is because of Microsoft. The PS3 and PSN evolved as much as they did because of Microsoft. Food for thought
It's not good for the industry if they bail, because I'm not willing to assume there's automatically a company going to take their place. If Microsoft and all their resources can't make it work, I don't think there's a lot of companies lining up and willing to assume the risk.
No competition...Bad.
Extremely bad.
No competition...Bad.
Extremely bad.
ZombiePlatypus
Member
Consoles felt more like proprietary boxes that felt like they offered their own unique flavor compared with pc gaming. MS's "consoles" felt like more straightforward pc boxes. Not to mention they brought genres normally more prédominent on pc's to consoles.
Instead of having two different, unique options, both platforms became more like each other and things feel more redundant as a result.
I don't believe MS leaving the market would make the market go away. Realistically, most console gamers would probably consolidate and just move to the remaining console left (and really, there hasn't been a huge difference between consoles, especially with regards to third party titles being the majority of major releases in a given year).
ArkkAngel007
Member
There were plenty of FPS/shooters available in the market before Microsoft came into the picture, where I never heard anyone look down on that particular style/genre. And what's this nonsense about "dragging pc gaming to consoles"?
That was happening all across the board. There were plenty of PC-esque titles on the PS2 and even some like Rogue Squadron on the 'Cube. The technology was there to begin to cross-platform. Nothing more, and nothing less.
Syphon Filter
Member
I don't see nothing wrong with making it easy for developers. Nintendo brought shooters with goldeneye,that is where it began.
Succinct Verbosity
Member
It's better for the industry to promote financial stability for its long term viability. Sure, Microsoft have been good for the industry, but the Xbox division's reliance on other parts of the business is giving the industry a false sense of security.
Truespeed
Member
Haven't you heard? They're a Devices and Services company now.
Two months ago we might have said the same about Ballmer remaining CEO. And yet here we are, with Gates on (but not chairing) the committee to choose his replacement.
slicedmass
Banned
lol I think my apple comment was taken too seriously but I do feel like apple is nowhere near the ideal choice for a games console due to them wanting to monetize and proprietize every little thing. Not to say other companies like Sony and Microsoft dont but I think apple could and would take it even further than Microsoft has tried to.
Truespeed
Member
That's like saying - if Microsoft Games for Windows goes then Steam also goes.
I'm not sure you know business very well either, you do know there's a distinction between revenue and pure profit, because selling the ip for 1 billion would be getting 1 billion of pure profit.
In your 400-500 milliom figure, how much account for:
development costs
marketing costs
retail cut
taxes
distribution and packaging
you're just giving figures left and right without any comprehensive breakdown of spending and revenue.
ZombiePlatypus
Member
I agree. I realize that Sony was pushed to include a lot of great features in its consoles as a direct result of competition brought by Ms. I just don't think it outweighs the bad aspects that MS brought to console gaming.
Yea I know consoles still had FPS games before but they really got too big with xbox.
Syphon Filter
Member
I don't see anyone stepping up.
Their E&D division is one of their divisions with the most growth potential. The 360 is the main reason that division is profitable, despite losses from most of the products that also spawn from there.
It's possible they'll drop gaming, but what else is going to prop that division up?
It's possible they'll drop gaming, but what else is going to prop that division up?
E&D is gone now anyway with the reorg. The whole company is transitioning to devices and services.
BuggyDClown
Member
I agree with the pulling numbers part, but I imagine it would be hard to quantify.
Lets not forget things like DLC, Merchandise and EU in books and film/tv. The game is not the only way halo brings in money.
Lasthope106
Member
In terms of size yes. In terms of developer friendliness it is unmatched. About sales numbers, I'm too lazy to do a search you can do. But let me just say this, every pc is a gaming device. Not all are next-gen equivalent, but the entire market is huge.
No, I do not see any of the two graphics card manufacturers jumping into a money losing business. Nvidia has worked extremely hard to stay profitable, and even with that, the profits are not that spectacular. AMD is one foot away from filing for Bankruptcy - this is hyperbole I know - but they have been suffering loses pretty consistently for the past few years.
No one will step up. Samsung and Apple are not going to spend 100's of millions on R&D and other costs on a machine that breaks even for a long time and take years to get profitability. Those companies are used to huge margins in the electrons sector. Unless you want a 500 dollar box that is even more under powered than the Wii:U so they can make 100 dollars launch day per unit. MS leaving would be a disaster as far as I am concerned. Sony would be unchecked in the core gamer category.
To Far Away Times
Member
If MS left the industry and their subsidiaries went to Sony platforms, would anyone notice? It would be business as usual, only with one less console. Certainly nothing like when Sega left the hardware business...
Its basically dead. Look at literally everything going on with it. Its products and services that came 3-5 years too late.Xbox is proping it up basically surface has the most potential of a comeback. Which is why I'm starting to believe the story of Mattrick wanting to spinoff the Xbox division and make it its own
Hardly any of that shit is the fault of the Xbox brand, especially the part about JRPG's. They were already loosing steam on their own, TOV being exclusive to the 360 meant fuck all, not to mention they own the IP's for Infinite Undiscovery , Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. Of course they are going to be exclusive to the console. Are we going to get mad at Sony because Uncharted isn't multiplatform as well?
I'm not even sure what argument you are trying to make about FPS's. Are you mad at MS because they became popular? Lol god damn why did Halo have to be such a great fucking game huh? Give me a break. If you are going to make a case that they some how harmed the industry, please come up with something better than that.
Can't agree. If any of the three leave, it would be very bad for this industry.
Oh my mistake, I knew about the transition but I didn't know E&D is gone. What division is the Xbox, windows phone, devices, etc part of now?
Uno Venova
Banned
Maybe the failure of the wii u will give them the kick in the ass they need.
ZombiePlatypus
Member
So the xbox brand made no effort at all to have its bread and butter in FPS/shooters and sports games? They didn't cultivate that market at all? Lol OK.
Why Sontendo and not Niny?
Something like "Devices and Studios Engineering" under Julie Larson-Green.
That market was there all along and both MS and Sony have done things to win over this market which is why CoD is one of the highest selling games on both platforms.
Syphon Filter
Member
They don't seem to want to compete in hardware ever since the gamecube.
TouchMyBox
Member
Careful, some square-enix execs will think you're serious.
ZombiePlatypus
Member
Yea I'm not saying Sony didn't fuel the trend of endless brown and grey shooters at every E3. It's just combined with all the other shit xbox brand brought, they left a bitter taste in my mouth and I wouldn't be sad at all to see them exit the industry.
Well seeing as the Xbox brand has a total of Two exclusive FPS( Halo and Perfect Dark) i am not seeing how they were "cultivating" anything. First person shooters were popular before the xbox was even thought of. As for sports games, they are popular on just about every console. Madden will Sell on the PS3 as much as it does the xbox.
Even if they were doing as you say, you are basically condemning them because genres you don't like are "popular"