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[mrklaw]

Visibly desperate companies can have things backfire if they aren't careful. If January figures are terrible then I guess MS wants to avoid getting Wiiu'd and being a console to avoid this early in the generation. Positive word of mouth might help there but it is a risky strategy. Short term gain for possible long term pain (stop talking about crackdown, you told us about that a year ago, give us something new)

 

[Barack Lesnar]

The sheer quantity and type of information being leaked (including stuff like Titanfall DLC or a Platinum Games project) seems a bit... much for a controlled leak, especially if it's to "distract" from an NPD release that won't happen for another... what, two weeks?

npd is 2 weeks? Then this makes no sense at all as a controlled leak to specifically combat low jan npd sales.

 

[ari]

Just recap:

Halo 5 delay

Halo port 2/3/4

Crackdown ( already hinted by Phil and MS). Said nothing about the game

FORZA horizon (again already hinted and heavy rumor). Said open world and weather

Platinum game. With a project code name which really means nothing as it's not even a game final name (also was Confirmmed by COBAT) no info about game was given

QB and SB with no new info about game just target release date

Honestly the only megaton above news was halo 5 delay to nov 2015.

Halo 2/3/4 in one game isn't big?

 

[Basileus777]

They absolutely do. The sent Albert Penello to try to deceive the community for months on end and he left the second the console launched.

I don't think some people get how important GAF is seen in the industry. It's huge.

I suspect we'll eventually know the truth of this matter. It's too big now, one of the biggest leak dumps in the history of this forum as far as I can tell. We've had big individual leaks, but this much all at once and it's all accurate? Biggest in years at least.

It's a good point about Penello, though I think there is a significant difference between him personally posting a bit and leaking their games lineup for the next year and change. One he could do on his own, the other is something people would have to argue about in a boardroom somewhere.

Maybe we'll know because of the scale and someone else will leak it. But I can definitely see it remaining unknown.

 

[beast786]

Even were this true, you think Microsoft's management sees it that way?

Absolutely

We had Albert, major Nelson open account and vanished . We have bish banning shills like crazy.

The type of social media and marketing has changed drastically. Hell ms were kissing you tubers behind as evident by major physically going to boogie house during his busy launch time.

Gaf is 10x bigger than all the above.

 

[imtehman]

npd is 2 weeks? Then this makes no sense at all as a controlled leak to specifically combat low jan npd sales.

if it was to combat low npd sales as mort assumes, why not you know, leak this info a day before npd?

LET ME GUESS, because hten it it'll be too obvious that they did it for npd?

 

[beast786]

Halo 2/3/4 in one game isn't big?

It's a damn port. You know everything about those games already.

 

[Skeff]

I have no clue. Maybe he's too overenthusiastic for his own good. Maybe he has poor judgment and thinks it's no biggie or believes he can't get caught. Maybe he looks up to CBOAT and wants to be the next big leaker.

All of those seem more likely than "Hey NeoGAF, my name is Spil Phencer, here is 90% of Microsoft's first party strategy for 2014 minus whatever timed exclusive DLC we I mean they announce at E3 and also tentative target dates for 2016 games that haven't been announced yet, please ignore the next batch of sales numbers."

I don't think this would be done so people don't look at sales numbers. I think it's done because ms have just received their sales numbers and an estimation of sonys and they're hoping to reinvigorate the platform. Honestly, not much was really leaked if you slow down and look back:

Forza horizon 2 - well yea, already suspected strongly.
GoW 2016 - work started jan 20th, 2016 makes perfect sense.
Halo 2 - this is the main one, but is not out of this world as we already had halo anniversary and this is masking halo 5 delay.
Halo tv show - already leaked
Crackdown - Phil Spencer's worst kept secret
Titanfall bundle - not that surprising, we've seen the controller and marketing is big, if it was a controlled leak this would need to be announced soon anyway so why not do it like this and create some buzz about it?
White xb1 - been rumored before
Platinum game - already rumored

MS haven't really let the cat out of the bag on much here at all, most were rumored and nothing is confirmed by this, yet people are talking about xb1 right now and not tomb raider performance or machinima or drm.

I don't think this is to hide npd, I think it's because of the contents of npd.

 

[Nightengale]

Halo 2/3/4 in one game isn't big?

Perspective. I don't agree it to be, though I understand why many feel that way.

Ports is ultimately what it is. Ports. And frankly, a trend I never liked when Sony did it with GoW Collections/Saga.

Spoiler

Unless it's Shenmue & Kiseki, then take my money.

 

[Speedy Blue Dude]

What surprises were ruined?

You were not expecting what from that list? The things you didn't know then about the games are the things you still don't know.

As per bundles are they really. Megatons announcement ?

... ... ... ...

Actually you're right. Aside from Halo 2 Anniversary and a Halo 3/Halo 4 port, nothing else was secrets.

Crackdown 3 was already expected and hinted it. Gears was announced just recently. Sunset Overdrive was already practically confirmed for 2014, and QuatumBreak was the wild card. Forza Horizon was already hinted/leaked before as well.

Hope Microsoft had more than just Halo to announce at E3.

 

[beast786]

if it was to combat low npd sales as mort assumes, why not you know, leak this info a day before npd?

LET ME GUESS, because hten it it'll be too obvious that they did it for npd?

DF comparison came out today. If it wasn't for this leak we all be talking about and ripping xb1 version. And kept the bad news train till NPD

 

[Ol No Bones]

I was convinced the 8% GPU upgrade and Gears announcement was done to counter the YouTube and Tombraider debacle.

if this was a planted leak it seems like major overkill. why would you go and blow a chunk of your E3 announcements for something that people will forget in a week?

Announcing new versions of the X1 is dumb too. People are gonna be waiting for the white or titanfall box when they might have bought a black one sooner.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

DF comparison came out today. If it wasn't for this leak we all be talking about and ripping xb1 version. And kept the bad news train till NPD

ya can't be serious? leaking a shit ton of info, a massive load being blown, to combat a digitalfoundry graphics comparison? This is paranoia.

It's obviously not because of that (common sense) or the low npd sales since npd is weeks away.

 

[ari]

I totally see all this stuff leaking. Microsoft couldn't even keep Ballmer resignation hidden for months leading up to it finally happening.

 

[imtehman]

DF comparison came out today. If it wasn't for this leak we all be talking about and ripping xb1 version. And kept the bad news train till NPD

oh i see now you'd rather rip the xb1 and keep the bad news train coming instead of hearing about new videogame news.

 

[Skeff]

ya can't be serious? leaking a shit ton of info, a massive load being blown, to combat a digitalfoundry graphics comparison? This is paranoia.

It's obviously not because of that (common sense) or the low npd sales since npd is weeks away.

So what was truly leaked? What was completely unknown? Other than halo 2 and halo 5 delay?

 

[beast786]

ya can't be serious? leaking a shit ton of info, a massive load being blown, to combat a digitalfoundry graphics comparison? This is paranoia.

It's obviously not because of that (common sense) or the low npd sales since npd is weeks away.

You don't think the train of bad news and adding MS 100$ more expensive console perform miserable compare to its cheaper competitor is a big deal for early core gamers?

This news was just a string of bad news since late December. And again, ton of stuff was leaked to reinforce core xbox gamer wet dream. But nothing meaningful was leaked.

 

[Officerrob]

I like how there was a 70+ page thread of people going crazy about all the leaks and now some people are trying to say nothing was really leaked. Come on, you can second guess the intentions behind it all you want, but a ton of stuff was leaked.

 

[beast786]

oh i see now you'd rather rip the xb1 and keep the bad news train coming instead of hearing about new videogame news.

Yea, that must be exactly what I have must said. yep.

 

[zainetor]

ya can't be serious? leaking a shit ton of info, a massive load being blown, to combat a digitalfoundry graphics comparison? This is paranoia.

It's obviously not because of that (common sense) or the low npd sales since npd is weeks away.

I would say more because of the machinima scandal, rather than tomb raider.

 

[beast786]

I like how there was a 70+ page thread of people going crazy about all the leaks and now some people are trying to say nothing was really leaked. Come on, you can second guess the intentions behind it all you want, but a ton of stuff was leaked.

Ton of stuff was leaked. No question. We are discussing the magnitude and effect.

 

[Hubble]

Just recap:

Halo 5 delay

Halo port 2/3/4

Crackdown ( already hinted by Phil and MS). Said nothing about the game

FORZA horizon (again already hinted and heavy rumor). Said open world and weather

Platinum game. With a project code name which really means nothing as it's not even a game final name (also was Confirmmed by COBAT) no info about game was given

QB and SB with no new info about game just target release date

Also Games with Gold for Xbox One supposedly in April.

 

[Majanew]

He leaked a lot of stuff, but it isn't really megaton for me. Now, if he would have said MS is hard at work on Conker 2 and MechAssault 3 for 2014/2015 release, I would have screamed until I passed out.

Or Half-Life 3 is coming to Xbox One. That level of leak.


His leaks don't seem like anything MS would be upset over.

 

[Skeff]

I like how there was a 70+ page thread of people going crazy about all the leaks and now some people are trying to say nothing was really leaked. Come on, you can second guess the intentions behind it all you want, but a ton of stuff was leaked.

Such as? It seemed like more than it was due to how quickly it happened, but a lot was already known

 

[Finalizer]

If we're entertaining the controlled leak theory, it should be pointed out that it's highly unlikely that any one specific thing would've caused MS to go this route; likely, it'd be the combination of recent bad press altogether, plus MS internal sales projections rather than the NPD report in particular. I think the whole NPD angle is a misdirection due to Mortimer's statement, "Jan NPDs are gonna be fun." That was probably more him poking at the point itself (Xbone sales might be low in Jan) rather than him trying to say the NPD report itself is what would be worrying MS.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

I would say more because of the machinima scandal, rather than tomb raider.

leaking a ton of stuff for a story people will forget in a week? It just doesn't add up. I still have yet to hear a good reason for why it's controlled.

* for low npd sales: npd is in 2 weeks, timing doesn't add up so that's crossed off the list
* for digitalfoundry article(s): this is just ridiculous
* for machinima scandal: see above

The more I read the more I think it was a real leak.

Edit: this is reminding me of the indoctrination theory mass effect threads lol (I still believe btw)

 

[rdrr gnr]

Halo 2/3/4 in one game isn't big?

In no universe is a straight port a megaton. Unless it's a relevant betrayalton.

Such as? It seemed like more than it was due to how quickly it happened, but a lot was already known

Yup. I was saying this earlier. If you take a moment to digest you realize there wasn't really anything huge. Premature announcements rather than leaks.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

Seriously this stuff completely ruined the surprises Microsoft had for E3 2014, maybe they can announce a Rare game or something, but this was a huge amount of up-coming titles. I can't possibly believe they have any other AAA games to announce.

I'm sure that they do, it's the start of the generation and you need to come out swinging, especially when you're an underdog. And then there are the smaller projects from their newer studios (most notably Phil Harrison's Lift London) that we haven't heard anything about yet.

 

[zainetor]

leaking a ton of stuff for a story people will forget in a week? It just doesn't add up. I still have yet to hear a good reason for why it's controlled.

* for low npd sales: npd is in 2 weeks, timing doesn't add up so that's crossed off the list
* for digitalfoundry article(s): this is just ridiculous
* for machinima scandal: see above

The more I read the more I think it was a real leak.

could be, but the dude seemd way too cool, for somebody that was leaking possible NDA content.
Or maybe he was just a decoy and the real Ms employee just passed him those leaks and certifications about his position.

 

[Papercuts]

I don't think this would be done so people don't look at sales numbers. I think it's done because ms have just received their sales numbers and an estimation of sonys and they're hoping to reinvigorate the platform. Honestly, not much was really leaked if you slow down and look back:

Forza horizon 2 - well yea, already suspected strongly.
GoW 2016 - work started jan 20th, 2016 makes perfect sense.
Halo 2 - this is the main one, but is not out of this world as we already had halo anniversary and this is masking halo 5 delay.
Halo tv show - already leaked
Crackdown - Phil Spencer's worst kept secret
Titanfall bundle - not that surprising, we've seen the controller and marketing is big, if it was a controlled leak this would need to be announced soon anyway so why not do it like this and create some buzz about it?
White xb1 - been rumored before
Platinum game - already rumored

MS haven't really let the cat out of the bag on much here at all, most were rumored and nothing is confirmed by this, yet people are talking about xb1 right now and not tomb raider performance or machinima or drm.

I don't think this is to hide npd, I think it's because of the contents of npd.

Even saying he didn't leak much new, we got halo 5 delay, halo 2(/3/4?) and stuff that would HURT sales if anything, with a white console, titanfall console, sunset overdrive console, 1TB harddrive, potential console with no drive for $100 less. The key word is that's all later, which goes against reinvigorating.

 

[Goodacre0081]

Titanfall Bundle, White Xbone for sale, white Xbone Sunset Overdrive bundle in October, 1TB Xbone console after that, Titanfall DLC info details, etc. They may not all be megatons, but the sheer amount of info is staggering

it sounds like a list of things someone high up in the works of MS would know. someone who had a hand in making these huge decisions.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

could be, but the dude seemd way too cool, for somebody that was leaking possible NDA content.
Or maybe he was just a decoy and the real Ms employee just passed him those leaks and certifications about his position.

Yeah his nonchalant attitude was a bit suspect for sure

 

[Jarmel]

No way this was done just to counter NPD stuff if this was controlled.

 

[Arrogant Bastard]

In no universe is a port a megaton.

Agreed. Now if they said Halo 5 was dropping this year, that would be pretty huge (for the individuals who love the series). I would argue that those people were going to buy a One anyways though. What MS needs is a reason for people to pick up the One over the PS4, it is something that they have been failing at since the price/performance debacle.

 

[Nightengale]

In no universe is a port a megaton.

Obviously this means that Sony needs to quickly announce their own version, aka 'Uncharting The Last of Us : A ND Quadrilogy of Generation's Past.'

 

[rdrr gnr]

it sounds like a list of things someone high up in the works of MS would know. someone who had a hand in making these huge decisions.

Not at all. Chances are you wouldn't get so high up if leaking your company's plans for the next year is a casual Wednesday.

 

[MilkBeard]

If we're entertaining the controlled leak theory, it should be pointed out that it's highly unlikely that any one specific thing would've caused MS to go this route; likely, it'd be the combination of recent bad press altogether, plus MS internal sales projections rather than the NPD report in particular. I think the whole NPD angle is a misdirection due to Mortimer's statement, "Jan NPDs are gonna be fun." That was probably more him poking at the point itself (Xbone sales might be low in Jan) rather than him trying to say the NPD report itself is what would be worrying MS.

Also thuway said something to that effect as well. People are just mentally grabbing at straws and then forgetting about where all the pieces of info are coming from.

 

[The Maverick]

If we're entertaining the controlled leak theory, it should be pointed out that it's highly unlikely that any one specific thing would've caused MS to go this route; likely, it'd be the combination of recent bad press altogether, plus MS internal sales projections rather than the NPD report in particular.

Yup, I agree entirely. Microsoft was losing control of the message. The Machinima situation, continuous DF comparisons putting the box in a bad light, NPD numbers right around the corner, the drought until Titanfall. This leak, which leaked things that were already hinted at, would be a smart move to get back some positive momentum. If MS can even keep people from jumping on the PS4 ship, even if they wait for a Xbox bundle, that in itself should be a victory. It's about the long game.


The funny thing is, if it was even revealed to be a controlled leak, people would be okay with that since it's positive information.

 

[intheinbetween]

I still don't get the point in leaking this info on purpose, heck they could event do an X event like they used to do years ago and announce thse games if they want to slow the PS4 momentum, low npd numbers (really?), the Tomb Raider tech comparison, or the Machinima scandal (which it affects mainly the core games, most of which already dislike XB1)

the leak can be real, but I find it pointless to be really controlled by MS

 

[CadetMahoney]

Visibly desperate companies can have things backfire if they aren't careful. If January figures are terrible then I guess MS wants to avoid getting Wiiu'd and being a console to avoid this early in the generation.

pretty much. Never expected MS would be sweating harder than an evangelical in a dinosaur museum so soon.

Sony needs to quickly announce their own version, aka 'Uncharting The Last of Us : A ND Quadrilogy of Generation's Past.'

That would be, like, game of the generation.

 

[beast786]

I still don't get the point in leaking this info on purpose, heck they could event do an X event like they used to do years ago and announce thse games if they want

Because they can still do exactly that. Nothing was given that would give away any surprize when you see halo 5 gameplay or SO or QB or crackdown etc.

But what it did do was you talking about it and creating this hypothetical list war. And fulfilling the need of grass root xbox fan. They obviously are not ready to show any of those games. But, with this they got the hype going without really saying or showing anything

 

[Barack Lesnar]

RE: his attitude

It did seem like he had no fear whatsoever about the consequences (he even said that) so that lends some credence that this was a controlled demolition and... wait, wrong conspiracy. But seriously he was so cool about it all.

But then you try to think of a reason and I got nothing... not npd, not DF article, not machinima, for the reasons in my last post. Also, why release info about new SKUs months away, and a possible $399 price. Those types of leaks wouldn't sell boxes now which is what MS needs. But then maybe he added those in there on purpose to throw us off the trail of it being a controlled leak.

So basically... I'm going to bed.

 

[Goodacre0081]

Even saying he didn't leak much new, we got halo 5 delay, halo 2(/3/4?) and stuff that would HURT sales if anything, with a white console, titanfall console, sunset overdrive console, 1TB harddrive, potential console with no drive for $100 less. The key word is that's all later, which goes against reinvigorating.

it might not hurt sales if people are on the fence between PS4 and XB1. it might convince people to keep their 360's and wait for a bit. this keeps them in the xbox ecosystem and sets them up for a future XB1 owner.

 

[MCD]

He sounded like an excited kid. That's his motivation.

 

[szaromir]

Can someone post this leaked MS line-up? I'm curious...

 

[Skeff]

Even saying he didn't leak much new, we got halo 5 delay, halo 2(/3/4?) and stuff that would HURT sales if anything, with a white console, titanfall console, sunset overdrive console, 1TB harddrive, potential console with no drive for $100 less. The key word is that's all later, which goes against reinvigorating.

Good points but titanfall console needs to be announced now anyway, retailers will have it available for pre orders soon surely. Regarding the white console I think that's odd too and doesn't fit the narrative of re invigorating the platform.

Regarding halo delay I

Regarding no disc drive for $100 less, that's wrong, disc drive is no more than $10-15 so it won't be $100 cheaper. I think that theta ink this is the best possible way to break that news, it still isn't officially delayed but people are expecting it so it won't be as bad when delayed.

What I would say is the perception of the xb1 has gotten better overnight even with halo delayed.

He sounded like an excited kid. That's his motivation.

Looking at a parents PC who does work at ms would be a possibility...though I hope not.

 

[Jarmel]

Some of the leaked stuff I could understand Microsoft not caring such as the Titanfall bundle.

No way in hell would they want to announce a Halo delay or Halo bundle in this manner.

 

[Chobel]

Can someone post this leaked MS line-up? I'm curious...

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=760013

 

[Toki767]

The interesting thing about all of this is that there are legitimate reasons why Microsoft may have wanted to leak these things as well as legitimate reasons why most of this can't be controlled leaks. It really could go either way. I don't really think we'll know for sure one way or the other though.

 

[Goodacre0081]

Some of the leaked stuff I could understand Microsoft not caring such as the Titanfall bundle.

No way in hell would they want to announce a Halo delay or Halo bundle in this manner.

it might go down easier if the delay came with Halo2/3/4 and beta access. seems like it worked