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Are Microsoft getting there with their First Party now? 5 new studios announced!

Good Science is an intriguing name. If they make cool edutainment/building games, like the old Maxis, I may have to get me an Xbone.

... I'm sorry to have to break this to you, man.

Good Science Studio's output :

2010:
Kinect Adventures
2011:
Kinect Fun Labs
2012:
Kinect Star Wars
 
Good Science is an intriguing name. If they make cool edutainment/building games, like the old Maxis, I may have to get me an Xbone.

They made Kinect Adventures, which was essentially a collection of tech demos.

This is all going to be tech demos turned into games for AR or whatever they're working on.
 
Anyone bothering to read what was coming out of people at Microsoft instead of looking for nothing but negatives would have seen this was happening, Phil Spencer was pretty much saying they were working on plenty of new stuff but they're just going to take time (thus deals like TR happening).

As good as the Kinect stuff worked out for MS on the 360, it really harmed their development imo, they basically stopped focusing on creating anything new outside of Kinect titles and now they're struggling to react to Sony's own studios who are well into their developments. It'll be interesting to see what MS can do with their first party line-up but it's going to take a few years for us to see their best I would think.
 
It is good news they are expanding on this front. A platform holder should be able to support their system to a degree and having two or three franchises doesn't cut it.

Looking forward to what these studios put out. More importantly very curious to see if Microsoft so is going to be willing to push and promote their own first party titles over third party titles that happen to be in the same genre and release around the same time. This is something that's bothered me with Sony at times when their own series don't get the push they deserve.
 
Getting there?

I already prefer Microsoft's first party stuff to Sony's.

Yeah same here for the most part. I've never really understood the over glorification of Sony's exclusive games. Infact I would put them behind both MS and Nintendo for my tastes.

I mean Sony do make the occasional great game but so does everyone else. Way overhyped IMO.
 
This thread is a bit of a mess. The other thread already explains these groups under/associated with Leap are all tech/incubation based around Kinect and other NUI things, it's not 5 more studios to add to a list of studios working on xbox one titles, that's not what this is.
 
People complain that their first party output lacks diversity. I'm sure some eastern talent could bring that to the platform in addition to whatever these studios put out.

So a big investment on studios for a market that typically doesn't buy Japanese games so they can merely make a statement? And then those complainers are definitely going to buy Xbox One once they see the exclusive Japanese games. That's what the holdouts have been waiting for.

Your idea sounds responsible. Get the Xbox CFO in here.
 
So a big investment on a market that typically doesn't buy Japanese games so they can merely make a statement? And then those complainers are definitely going to buy Xbox One once they see the exclusive Japanese games. That's what the holdouts have been waiting for.

Your idea sounds responsible. Get the Xbox CFO in here.

Well, people do want to see what Scalebound is like. Also, Microsoft building Japanese teams does not mean that it has to be a huge investment.

You must think having a diverse exclusive lineup is useless for this platform. If so, I disagree.
 
Opening new studios is a first step, but the result is what matters. It would suck if the games turned out bad or the ideas for the games were just dumb.

So yeah, hoping, for the sake of everyone (which includes non xbox owners), that the games that are developed by these studios turn out great.
 
If true it's a step in the right direction. I get the feeling from current trends that for MS, relying on timed exclusives isn't going to cut it this time around: to fully secure a recovery they're going to have to start delivering more regular and more varied true 1st party exclusives. IMHO.
 
This thread is a bit of a mess. The other thread already explains these groups under/associated with Leap are all tech/incubation based around Kinect and other NUI things, it's not 5 more studios to add to a list of studios working on xbox one titles, that's not what this is.

Pack it up boys.

Atleast Seanspeed is still happy
 
Well, people do want to see what Scalebound is like. Also, Microsoft building Japanese teams does not mean that it has to be a huge investment.

You must think having a diverse exclusive lineup is useless for this platform. If so, I disagree.

"I must think" something you BELIEVE I think? Okay man.

All I actually think is that they're going to hedge their bets on derivative but proven sellers (though not according to SE lol). They think Rise of the Tomb Raider is going to be that. Remember Blue Dragon, the Xbox-exclusive JRPG? It only broke even after Microsoft's big investment in Mistwalker. It did nothing to change the 360's fortunes in Japan and is now mostly forgotten by anyone in NA or Europe.
 
If you're talking about the lineups coming forward, I can understand. I think their trio of announcements at this years E3 were awesomely strong in terms of a wider portfolio. I am really excited to see more of all of them and Sunset Overdrive is looking great.

But if you're talking about the past few years, I don't think there's much room to argue Microsoft's output has been preferrable, becuase they'd released next to nothing, while Sony had an awesome last hurrah on the PS3. Microsoft seems to have done very little and what they have done have been relying on existing IP.

You can argue basically anything is "preferable".. it's not exactly something you can put a number to. I'd even suggest that their output has been varied enough that many people such as yourself argue that they put out next to nothing simply because a lot of what they did put out is completely outside of your preference bubble. All those Kinect games and mobile games aren't next to nothing, they're just games you don't give half a shit about. When people claim they're not impressed with a console's line-up because they don't care for indies games, they often get jump on mercilessly... do the same for Kinect though, and for some reason it's fine to simply count them as not being games at all.
 
I'm concerned.

Does this mean no more money for third party exclusives?

If it does, I'm wholly against this.


Are these joke posts?

Why would anyone want money being directed away from brand new IPs and new gaming experiences just to pay to block games from other consumers?

You go from everyone gaining and the industry growing, to your own money being used to shrink the availability of gaming experiences, essentially only blocking healthy competition.

People really cut off their nose to spite their face? Thats pretty fraking sad.
 
Are these joke posts?

Why would anyone want money being directed away from brand new IPs and new gaming experiences just to pay to block games from other consumers?

You go from everyone gaining and the industry growing, to your own money being used to shrink the availability of gaming experiences, essentially only blocking healthy competition.

People really cut off their nose to spite their face? Thats pretty fraking sad.

Microsoft throwing money at problems until they maybe go away is pretty much their MO.
 
Good start but we've been down this road before.

I need to see something before I get on this "hype" train.

Right now, this to me is screaming typical Microsoft.
 
"I must think" something you BELIEVE I think? Okay man.

All I actually think is that they're going to hedge their bets on derivative but proven sellers (though not according to SE lol). They think Rise of the Tomb Raider is going to be that. Remember Blue Dragon, the Xbox-exclusive JRPG? It only broke even after Microsoft's big investment in Mistwalker. It did nothing to change the 360's fortunes in Japan and is now mostly forgotten by anyone in NA or Europe.

I did say "If so, I disagree." after all.

So are you saying that it's not worth investing in Japanese studios? Maybe there are western gamers who would like to see Microsoft invest in some different games, y'know, to give their exclusive library some diversity.

But fuck that, they wont break even. :)
 
Somehow this turned into a negative thread lol

Were there not enough I Believe in Phil Spencer memes for your taste?

I did say "If so, I disagree." after all.

So are you saying that it's not worth investing in Japanese studios? Maybe there are western gamers who would like to see Microsoft invest in some different games, y'know, to give their exclusive library some diversity.

But fuck that, they wont break even. :)

It doesn't matter what I think. Their failed attempts at breaking into the Japanese market twice should tell you everything you need to know.
 
Holy sweet potatoes...

People in this thread need to have their expectations in check. Everything about those studios point to them a/ already existing in the past just without a name b/ focusing on experimental Kinect / AR / mobile / app stuff.

Microsoft didn't just build 5 new development studios... Unfortunately.
 
It doesn't matter what I think. Their failed attempts at breaking into the Japanese market twice should tell you everything you need to know.

Again, in the west, there's interest for console Japanese games. People are excited about Metal Gear Solid V, Final Fantasy XV, Bloodborne, etc.

Microsoft already has Platinum making Scalebound for them, and I'm pretty sure a gameplay reveal of that game would get more people interested in getting an Xbox One.

You are talking about the Japanese market, which is pretty much ignoring consoles all together at this point. There's nothing wrong with Microsoft trying to pull in some fans of console Japanese games to their platform like a competitor in the console race would do.
 
It doesn't matter what I think. Their failed attempts at breaking into the Japanese market twice should tell you everything you need to know.

Breaking into the Japanese market isn't the only reason to have Japanese developed games. Hell, Japanese publishers are all about trying to break OUT of the Japanese market these days. With the current state of console gaming over there, it would make absolutely no sense for anyone to bother having Japanese console games developed, if their home market was all that mattered.
 
Again, in the west, there's interest for console Japanese games. People are excited about Metal Gear Solid V, Final Fantasy XV, Bloodborne, etc.

Microsoft already has Platinum making Scalebound for them, and I'm pretty sure a gameplay reveal of that game would get more people interested in getting an Xbox One.

You are talking about the Japanese market, which is pretty much ignoring consoles all together at this point. There's nothing wrong with Microsoft trying to pull in some fans of console Japanese games to their platform like a competitor in the console race would do.

Whether or not there's enough interest in an Xbox One-exclusive Japanese game that will drive Xbox One console sales in NA/Europe remains to be seen. I think MS is going to double down on Western-type 'popcorn' games and they would be smart to do so as those are making big bank.
 
This is interesting.

However, microsoft has opened studios in the past that make mediocre to shit games and only one every blue moon.

Time will tell what theimpact of this will be.
 
Would be nice, but Microsoft ain't too focused on Windows Phone games. Even though the platform does have a larger userbase than current generation consoles.

Phone market bigger than the game-focused console market? Earth-shattering revelations in here.
 
Whether or not there's enough interest in an Xbox One-exclusive Japanese game that will drive Xbox One console sales in NA/Europe remains to be seen. I think MS is going to double down on Western-type 'popcorn' games and they would be smart to do so as those are making big bank.

And you know what? I agree. After all, I was merely suggesting that they do this to, again, give the platform's exclusive library some diversity.

I'm happy that they have Platinum developing an exclusive for them. It makes me, a fan of Japanese Console games, more interested in their platform. Their not getting any negative attention buy banking on that title are they? Now imagine if tomorrow they announce that they have a new Studio in Japan developing a new AAA IP. It would turn some heads.

Personally, I think they have enough western games in their portfolio.
 
Yeah same here for the most part. I've never really understood the over glorification of Sony's exclusive games. Infact I would put them behind both MS and Nintendo for my tastes.

I mean Sony do make the occasional great game but so does everyone else. Way overhyped IMO.

I think you are both missing the distiction between exclusive and what is called out in the thread title. It has been a topical distinction, and one I would like to be made.
 
And you know what? I agree. After all, I was merely suggesting that they do this to, again, give the platform's exclusive library some diversity.

I'm happy that they have Platinum developing an exclusive for them. It makes me, a fan of Japanese Console games, more interested in their platform. Their not getting any negative attention buy banking on that title are they? Now imagine if tomorrow they announce that they have a new Studio in Japan developing a new AAA IP. It would turn some heads.

Personally, I think they have enough western games in their portfolio.

It would turn heads but would it be a worthy investment in the end? I cited Blue Dragon as an example of a game that also turned heads but didn't really move the needle in Japan or the west. It's more of an image problem than anything else. Most people don't associate Microsoft/Xbox with Japanese IP. Well, I take that back somewhat. Wasn't there a joke that Xbox 360 in Japan was basically the Idolmaster console?
 
Wow, this thread got cynical fast. Not sure how people are getting this idea that all the studios in question are all just incubation teams; most of those listings involve pushing a product all the way to market, which would suggest that they're refocusing on actually making stuff we'll eventually see. Hell, LXP has "telling good stories" as one of their team values, which kind of hints that they're planning on making a game :P

The proof is in the pudding, of course, but writing off the whole thing already seems premature.
 
By the way I'm laughing at the concept of "getting there". I already prefer Xbox exclusives/first party content.

Well, exclusive and first party are two different things.

In terms of first party, Microsoft essentially only have Halo/Forza/Fable. I understand why one would be a fan of some of those series, but Sony's first party is objectively superior, at least in terms of number and diversity.
 
it's great, but something that should have happened years ago to build up to this generation. MS hit the kinect road bump late in the 360's life instead and spent time and resources making shit for that instead.

New studios will take time to put stuff out, and buying third party exclusives is a convenient cover until then.
 
Yes, Microsoft is out of money.

howard-s-sarcastic-laugh-o.gif
 
Eh, they need to make some games first. I mean owning studios is a great step but if you cancel all their projects or they don't translate to good games then it means nothing.
 
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