Microsoft Conference: Will they Bring It Like Sony Did?
- Thread starter RyanReedyMusic
- Start date
It's a conspiracy.
TheRagnCajun
Member
There's a really big discrepancy between how much time Sony spent talking about RAM, and how much time GAF is spending talking about RAM.
They partnered with ustream.
Boss Man
Member
Not to answer for him, but yes. This is one of the big keys to the core audience.
Gaming channels are very popular online, and tons of people record them - even when there are significant barriers to entry. This is going to be one of the defining factors of next-gen. If MS doesn't have the same function, they lost the core audience just like that. I do not think I am exaggerating there. Let me put it this way: it's at least as important as achievements, and it's the biggest thing since then.
I guarantee MS has this feature in the next Xbox.
LiquidMetal14
hide your water-based mammals
The last 3-4 years have been disappointing for MSFT. Especially since they've been more Kinect focused. It's not some irrational hate if it's calling it like you see it. They haven't been the best in a long while.
Yeah. Jesus could walk out on stage holding hands with Yu Suzuki and announce Shenmue 3 with HD versions of 1 and 2 on the same disk, and would likely still get shit on here.
Seriously, i want Shenmue 3
Yeah, aside from the symmetrical analog placement it looks far superior to the old dual shock. Which i wasn't too fond of.
Lol...Pretty big improvement in every way by the looks of things. And you may write off the touch pad as a gimmick, but I guarantee it will come in handy for things like scrolling, swiping, pinch to zoom, replacing a mouse for web browsing etc.
Made these to help visualize the difference between the DS3:
What's interesting is how further apart the dpad and PS buttons are from each other, same with the analog sticks. I guess that's to address the issue big-handed people have when steering the left stick to the right while pushing the right stick to the left (thumbs bump into each other and cause slippage).
The triggers are obviously more trigger-shaped and angular, but they're also actually closer to the L1/R1 buttons in the sense of where you'd be resting your fingers on them. Speaking of L1/R1, they're much larger. It's not illustrated too well in the gif due to the angle, but the fact that it's an oval shape might make pressing it a bit easier.
Now the most significant change is obviously the grips. What the've done is reduce the angle of the dive that each grip takes from the main body, and at the same time made each grip wider/longer in doing so.
Can't wait to get my hands on one, or at least hear some impressions from E3. As far as I can tell, it's an excellent evolution of the DualShock.
Objective. I game heavily on both DS3 and the 360 pad and I find the 360 pad stiff. Besides if you liked the 360 and was hoping Sony was going to change their iconic controller to appeal to MS fans, then that hope was misguided.
It'll be interesting to see if there is a disparity between GAF, the gaming press and the mainstream press. Pleasing all three is a tough job that none of the big three have managed in many years. It'll mean showing how this is the ultimate console for "core" gamers on GAF with a plethora of great amazing looking games - franchises they know and new IPs, and a few teasers of what's to come. It'll mean having to show tons of potential as a platform to satisfy the gaming press, solving today's problems of the fear of a declining market. And it'll mean offering experiences that will appeal and suck non "core" gamers in to the fold - appealing to the wider mainstream press, but without spending too long on show-casing them and offending GAFers.
It's a tough job.
I see, when was the last conference that MS did that GAF thought they "brought it" ? I can't recall one for the past 12 years on GAF. I mean the 360's reveal during that MTV show was not really well received.
If GAF's overall opinions were reflective of the market, MS would be out of the console business by now.
Boss Man
Member
Well, yeah. A weird Usher performance for a dance game is laughable here, but not a bad idea for a mainstream audience.
But the OP did specify that we're talking in terms of 'hardcore gamers' i.e. GAF members.
Twitch has open APIs and PS4 will most certainly have a more than capable browser to make an exclusivity deal with Microsoft and twitch.tv worthless.
As for predictions for XBox event:
They'll start by showing the case from every possible angle. Controller too and Kinect.
New PGR, and new IPs by Lionhead, and Rare. Kinect 2.0 and Third party exclusivity deals (timed or proper) from Bethesda, Activision (CoD), and Rockstar (GTA 5).
Cliff Bleszinski on stage with a commitment from his new team to an exclusivity deal for Xbox. Or maybe even working as first party studio in a Creative Director of Microsoft Game Studios position.
No price, no online services plans specifics.
There will probably be a huge disparity. The gaming (or should I say non gaming) press will love Kinect 2.0, the app store with cross platform Windows mobile/tablet apps, the DVR like functions, the added emphasis on Netflix, ESPN or other such streaming services, the general flamboyance of the event.
GAF on the other hand, most probably will not. Nor will they likely like time wasted on celebrity cameo's (unless they're awesome geeky, techy or bad ass guests) or pop star songs, performances etc.
Sony's conferences of late tend to be more core gamer orientated without much panache or extravagance, Microsoft's is likely to be some of the opposite, with more casual and non gaming emphasis.
And this is exactly why Microsoft doesn't come to GAF for inspiration. Well, aside from Jeff Bell, that is. But they fired him as a result.
I wasn't on GAF back then, but I thought that MS' E3 conferences in 08(dat FF13 megaton) and 09 were pretty good.
Edit: I misunderstood your post. Sorry.
Karak
Member
A little over a year now or a little under.
Interfectum
Member
It's a narrative that Microsoft solidified with Kinect, pay to play online, and Games for Windows Live. Even when they do good there are always those things sitting there.
Now with the rumors of MS doubling down on Kinect, sacrificing system power for movies/tv/siri/whatever, and focusing more on creating an entertainment hub you are going to have a lot of hardcore gamers cynical about anything they do.
I'm sure he was lined up for that role for some time, and it finally happened as soon as his competition clause expired. It was announced almost exactly 4 years after he left Sony.
Interestingly, prior to joining Microsoft, he was on the board at Gaikai.
Also, from last year: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-14-why-microsoft-signed-up-phil-harrison
This is so broad I don't even know how to measure it. It's a hair's breath away from "hive mind" references.
Here's what I think is really going on: you personally notice criticism of Microsoft much more than you notice criticism of Sony or Nintendo. This is also how Nintendo fans manage to make themselves feel persecuted, and how Sony fans do the same.
There is criticism and praise of each company in different ways for different reasons at different times. I have not noticed a systematic bias against the Xbox on NeoGAF.
OldJadedGamer
Banned
GAF reaction won't match the mainstream press because I've noticed most of anti-MS GAF posts from outside of the US but most of the press will come out of the States.
How posters in the US feel about the conference will be different than how posters in PAL feel about the conference.
This coming gen will split users by region more than any gen previous IMO. MS has the most work to do in Europe this gen to change that.
How posters in the US feel about the conference will be different than how posters in PAL feel about the conference.
This coming gen will split users by region more than any gen previous IMO. MS has the most work to do in Europe this gen to change that.
CrunchinJelly
formerly cjelly
I expect they will probably show more games people care about. The Sony conference was really missing a big surprise game, I think.
Uno Venova
Banned
I probably won't like it as much since a lot of time might be spent trying to sell Kinect 2 and media apps.
Agreed
Well what I am speaking about the conference perceptions. MS has always opted for a more mainstream approach that in my opinion, usually does not play well on GAF. So the question as posed seems pretty clear to answer.
And while I appreciate your armchair psychological assessment I've been here for 12 years (owned every single console, even 2 ps3s) but its pretty clear that MS won't please GAF with its conference. However, that will have no bearing on the success of the machine.
You realise the whole point of these GIFs is just to have a bit of a joke right? You seem to be taking it rather seriously.
The bolded is false by the way. I'm not sure why people think Windows 8 is selling badly.
Absolutely true. And I expect that divide to widen further next gen like you said. Microsoft won't be able to offer the same level of services in the rest of the world. Their strategy of focusing on USA paid off this current gen so I predict they'll increase that focus even further trying not to lose one inch to competitors or even increasing their marketshare in USA.
Well, last years MS conference really wasn't much to write home about, but that's because Microsoft had blown their load. They had just three "proper" games left: Forza Horizon, GoW Judgement and Halo 4. They clearly saw the generation ending, so they decided to skimp out early. Just like with the old Xbox (anyone remember any first party games past Halo 2 released on the original Xbox). This however means that they have lots of people focussing on the new console -- unlike Sony, whose teams are still partially busy developing for PS3(Naughty Dog, whoever does God of War, etc.) -- which should make for a positive showing, at least from a hardcore gamer's POV.
TheContact
Member
Maybe not for you, but most people will like this feature even if they haven't experienced it yet. Before you would have to buy all this equipment to externally record it, now everyone with a console could have this feature and you would see a huge opportunity for both gamers and twitch with this implemented. Given that it's already integrated into some PC client gaming software, I'm going to be shocked if MS doesn't announce this feature with Twitch and I think it will make a big difference for them
OldJadedGamer
Banned
I am safe to say I will never use this feature.
Those kind of features -- allowing users to create their own content and upload it -- are what made apps like Instagramm popular. Social interaction is still massive, so if Microsoft does not have such a feature, it will hurt them. It will hurt them a lot.
Actually if they include one in every box, they don't have to sell the notion of a Kinect 2, because it is simply included.
All 3 hardware manufacturers are trying to sell us on media applications Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft.
It'll be games and services(evolution of Xbox Live) at the unveiling whenever and wherever it takes place.
I'm not saying Sony delivered in the past but what they showed up to now is at least exciting.
True and false. Microsoft chose a marketing and strategic path that is hard to leave in my opinion. I don't see them making a U-turn from entertainment to "gaming" for their next console but we'll see.
You're right and MS showed NOTHING (Halo 4? lol) in the last E3's so there's not much reason to be optimistic in my opinion.
Tripp Daily
Member
Wow, I'm not blind or deaf and now that I have had time to reflect on sonys conference I think they made a lot of noise without showing us many facts. I thought the conference did it's job and got people talking, but I think the one thing making sony execs sweat is price and how much they are going to lose up front.
As for Microsoft, I think they have a chance to generally excite a large audience if they can reinvigorate the "core" audience on the potential of a new kinect.
Major Williams
Member
Is there a date for the Microsoft conference? Or is this just hypothetical talk for an event has not yet been announced?
OldJadedGamer
Banned
Sony needs to really work on the US and MS on Europe. Japan is all handheld so no one needs to worry about that region
pants
Member
If by 'bring it' you mean have a decent non-pay Live option, then no I don't think so (idgaf about live features I live nowhere near the US where the value is most). All they need to do is show some solid new games (dont care for the 360 staples) together with a free live option worth a damn, then for me the can consider it brought.
That's bullshit and you know it.
Halo 4, Forza Horizon, Gears of War Judgement, Locoycle and Ascend as controller-based games from Microsoft.
Matter, Fable The Journey, Dance Central 3 and Wreckateer as kinect-based games from Microsoft
Resident Evil, Splinter Cell, South Park, Tomb Raider and Call of Duty from the third party publishers.
MS also announced the Summer of Arcade lineup moments before their E3 conference.
I'm not saying that MS' conference last year was mindblowing or anything, but they definitely showed off more than Halo 4.
The "lol kinectfest, no riil gaems at e3 12" schtick is getting old.
Interfectum
Member
Its part of their console and a huge focus for them. Of course they have to try and sell it to people, they need to covince people to buy the box. Kinect IS Xbox at this point, this is where they have been building to for two years now.
Beer Monkey
Member
Meh, I've spent way more on 360 than PS3 this last gen, and I think MS usually puts on some fairly shitty conferences. On average I'd rate them worse than Sony in this respect.
Not that conferences mean shit in terms of success in the market, but that's another whole conversation.
Yeah, no. Kinect has an astounding 1:3 attach rate, but the biggest selling games rely on it in no substantial way whatsoever. Your platform ("Xbox" to you) is about what games sell, period.
Uno Venova
Banned
What's the point of this if he said his opinion.
Sony needs to really work on the US and MS on Europe. Japan is all handheld so no one needs to worry about that region
Agreed.
I think Sony could do better in the US if they pull some of that COD crowd with better multiplatform versions of games and solid online mulriplayer, social and competitive options.
Microsoft has to focus more on first party efforts and diversity within their tent pole exclusives portfolio to win some of that Euro crowd.
It's not an opinion
It's the same as saying that The Last of Us was Sony's only game at last year's E3.