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[Baconsammy]

I think these are valid points, but to be honest the "PS4 event" was not just for consumers.

I do not think a home video game console holds as much design weight as say a phone or a tablet. It is not something that you carry around everyday. Sure its appearance matters but it is not critical.

While they may have gotten more initial press coverage I think this was a calculated decision. When MS shows their box in April, Sony can show off a couple of games, a feature or two and maybe the actual design. That way, whatever article is written about the NextBox will likely have the PS4 mentioned as well. The advantage is now Sony gets uncluttered, almost exclusive air time. I think that is a worth while trade off.

The biggest mistake Sony made, and there was not much they could do about this, was the "PS4 Event" was mostly promises. Most of the services they showed will not be available this year. If they had Gakai on stage, doing all the things they said it can/will do (streaming PS1-3 games, gamecasting/controlling, etc), then I would pretty much say Sony has this in the bag.

MS has all the opportunity to not just make promises but actually show features that consumers will want/be able to use on day 1.

Sony's made some really dumb decisions, but announcing stuff right around Microsoft's reveal won't be something they do. Anything they say/do is going to get lost in all the immediate hype/discussion following the next Xbox reveal.

 

[googleplex]

it was true with wii and now true. so you ar telling me wii and gamecube were competing with ps2 and xbox simultaneously?

In saying re-issuing a gamecube with a new controller didn't put It in an entirely new generation of consoles.

No more then if Nintendo put out an slightly more powerful Wii U tomorrow would it be a generation ahead of the PS4 and 720.


Edit: back on topic. The Nextbox not being at GDC is a little weird, but its by no means disastrous.

 

[Dabanton]

CVG: Microsoft's next-Xbox silence at GDC "disastrous for our web hits"

At this point it's almost delicious. MS have said nothing at all but have all eyez on them.

Yes Sony will be there but I highly doubt they'll be showing anything new. They too have to hold plenty back.

 

[Alx]

Lol. Where did blow ever say he wasn't interested? He hasn't said one way or the other.

He did say that his experience with MS was rather bad though, and that friends of his had it even worse. So there are few chances that he would have wanted to work with MS again.

 

[w1y!]

I hope ms aren't over confident on what they are offering. No I hope they deliver but I hope they aren't loving there own child's work and it turns out meh to us

 

[Baconsammy]

Lol. Where did blow ever say he wasn't interested? He hasn't said one way or the other. Why are you making stuff up?

The poster said that some indies are completely in the dark about MS' console, you ask where he got it from and I post an interview of an indie saying exactly that. Help me find the disconnect, or at least cite a source for your claims that Blow never tried to reach out to MS..

Jonathan Blow:

To launch a high-spec version of the game on a console, it came down to a choice between the next Microsoft console or the next Sony console.

You see, the part of the interview where he says they decided to launch on one console, and not two, and they chose the PS4. Thus, not interested in the next Xbox at this time. He wasn't refused a dev unit. He wasn't "kept in the dark" along with "all indies".

 

[Router]

I don't know why so many people are surprised. It's clear Microsoft have been moving away from these events in order to launch and showcase their products.

They will announce when they are ready and the market will be flooded with advertising of all shapes and sizes leading up to release.

 

[Triple U]

I think these are valid points, but to be honest the "PS4 event" was not just for consumers.

I do not think a home video game console holds as much design weight as say a phone or a tablet. It is not something that you carry around everyday. Sure its appearance matters but it is not critical.

While they may have gotten more initial press coverage I think this was a calculated decision. When MS shows their box in April, Sony can show off a couple of games, a feature or two and maybe the actual design. That way, whatever article is written about the NextBox will likely have the PS4 mentioned as well. The advantage is now Sony gets uncluttered, almost exclusive air time. I think that is a worth while trade off.

The biggest mistake Sony made, and there was not much they could do about this, was the "PS4 Event" was mostly promises. Most of the services they showed will not be available this year. If they had Gakai on stage, doing all the things they said it can/will do (streaming PS1-3 games, gamecasting/controlling, etc), then I would pretty much say Sony has this in the bag.

MS has all the opportunity to not just make promises but actually show features that consumers will want/be able to use on day 1.

In fairly certain that Sony won't show anything until E3, regardless if MS shows something in April. In fairly certain Sony will get free press if something does surface from MS due to the inevitable run of comparisons.

That being said, it's E3 and the months following that count.

 

[artist]

There is no middle ground? It's either a "disaster" or "it doesnt even matter, who attends GDC :lol"

:/

Sane opinion lies some where in between.

 

[StreetDisciple]

I think once Microsoft Advert blitz happens, none of this will even matter.

 

[Deus Ex Machina]

They're going to "lose next gen" because they're focused on something people can actually still buy rather than on something that wont exist for 9 months? Wow.

That strategy worked for Sony last gen.. right lol

Focusing and announcing are two different things. By announcing now you may lose a few purchases but in the great theme of things its small beans.

 

[Mung]

I think once Microsoft Advert blitz happens, none of this will even matter.

Let me guess. Will it cost 500 million dollars?

 

[shinobi602]

I read it and its all garbage, thats why i discounted it completely. Do you really believe that developers know nothing about MS next system? Seriously?

But at the same token, surely most developers know a good deal about the PS4, yet Sony has a good presence at GDC...

 

[Baconsammy]

That strategy worked for Sony last gen.. right lol

Focusing and announcing are two different things. By announcing now you may lose a few purchases but in the great theme of things its small beans.

How many sales do they gain/lose by announcing it 9 months in advance?

 

[w1y!]

There are two things which screw up ms and not announcing is not one of them

1. Kinect 2/ illumiroom don't work how intended and everything seems meh
2. Sony have a surprise release months before ms is ready

Not announcing means crap. It's not like you can get your hands on a ps4. And when ms announce Durango expect a frenzy of hype.

Mad prediction- durangos controller with have a blackberry style keyboard

 

[scytherage]

What they really want to say is "hey MS we need more site traffic!"

As much as I want news on the new Xbox, MS can afford to wait. They're in the lead. And it will help increase people's interest when E3 rolls around.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Blood will spurt when it is announced

 

[Triple U]

Jonathan Blow:


You see, the part of the interview where he says they decided to launch on one console, and not two, and they chose the PS4. Thus, not interested in the next Xbox at this time. He wasn't refused a dev unit. He wasn't "kept in the dark" along with "all indies".

That still doesn't say what lead to that choice though. And the fact that there was a choice suggests to me that there was some attempt to gain official info from both parties. And for the last time, nobody has ever claimed he was refused a kit.

 

[paskowitz]

Sony's made some really dumb decisions, but announcing stuff right around Microsoft's reveal won't be something they do. Anything they say/do is going to get lost in all the immediate hype/discussion following the next Xbox reveal.

In fairly certain that Sony won't show anything until E3, regardless if MS shows something in April. In fairly certain Sony will get free press if something does surface from MS due to the inevitable run of comparisons.

That being said, it's E3 and the months following that count.

I was thinking something along the lines of, MS: "Xbox 720 will have Skype". Sony: "PS4 will have video conferencing". MS: "Xbox 720 will have IE 10". Sony: "PS4 will have an internet browser". So when the news breaks, the writers say something like "Sony has announced similar features for the upcoming PS4."

Basically it is hitching a ride on MS PR train.

 

[Rolf NB]

Sony's made some really dumb decisions, but announcing stuff right around Microsoft's reveal won't be something they do. Anything they say/do is going to get lost in all the immediate hype/discussion following the next Xbox reveal.

What makes you think Sony announcements will get lost in Microsoft hype come E3, and not the other way around?

 

[cartoon_soldier]

What makes you think Sony announcements will get lost in Microsoft hype come E3, and not the other way around?

What the hell could Sony announce that match a new console reveal?

 

[SenjutsuSage]

Kagemaru, the Xbox reveal has the potential to be gold or a disaster. The stakes are too high with them revealing last.

I don't buy it. You may believe that, but it's an exaggeration at best. The stakes aren't any higher or lower due to Microsoft revealing last. That's like saying the Wii-U is in a better position than both because it both announced first and released first.

Unless we truly have an epic disaster of an unveiling for the new xbox, which I very much doubt, the new xbox unveil will largely be seen as a success, just as the PS4 event was largely viewed by most, and just as the Xbox 360 and PS3 unveilings before them were viewed mostly positive by hardcore gamers. What exactly to you constitutes as gold for Microsoft's next xbox unveiling? Revealing specs superior to the PS4? Likely not happening, nor does it need to happen in order for the event to be a success. So, if not a surprise spec announcement that people weren't expecting, what else does it need to be?

They'll likely show some big third party title. They may have some deals with publishers to announce and they'll likely show media for some brand new first party titles, no doubt including new First Party IP. They'll show off the new features of the next Xbox and its OS, they'll show off any new services coming to the console and what might have undergone a serious evolution. They'll showcase the new Kinect in a big way, showing us some likely pretty impressive demonstration of it in action on the new xbox, maybe also showcasing a pretty strong looking game that utilizes both Kinect and the controller. Essentially, unless there's a truly earth shattering announcement coming, most won't even see it as somehow revolutionary compared to the PS4 unveiling, mostly because they will display some similar features, just with different coats of paint or a difference of execution. Some of the more ridiculous posters will automatically assume that Microsoft, in between the time Sony showed what they had and the xbox event, somehow put in all this money to copy Sony's unique features, and thus will term the event a failure on the basis that it was more or less not all that different from Sony's, which is kind of the point when E3 is still very much on the way and you likely want to hold certain things back.

The majority of gamers, the majority of gamers that no single gaming forum can accurately speak for, will love and be excited by what they saw, as I'm sure many of them were with the PS4. There will be no disastrous unveiling of the next xbox outside of the dreams of some fan emotionally invested in its failure. Nothing Microsoft showcases, no matter how impressive, will make a dent in the opinions of some people who already have their minds made up. For some, it isn't enough that their preferred console wins, the other has to also fail miserably. There is no middle ground.

 

[tfur]

What the hell could Sony announce that match a new console reveal?

An actual new console reveal.

They have not shown the console. Sony basically gets two reveal and media cycles, not to mention GDC media.

 

[Reiko]

I don't buy it. You may believe that, but it's an exaggeration at best. The stakes aren't any higher or lower due to Microsoft revealing last. That's like saying the Wii-U is in a better position than both because it both announced first and released first.

Unless we truly have an epic disaster of an unveiling for the new xbox, which I very much doubt, the new xbox unveil will largely be seen as a success, just as the PS4 event was largely viewed by most, and just as the Xbox 360 and PS3 unveilings before them were viewed mostly positive by hardcore gamers. What exactly to you constitutes as gold for Microsoft's next xbox unveiling? Revealing specs superior to the PS4? Likely not happening, nor does it need to happen in order for the event to be a success. So, if not a surprise spec announcement that people weren't expecting, what else does it need to be?

They'll likely show some big third party title. They may have some deals with publishers to announce and they'll likely show media for some brand new first party titles, no doubt including new First Party IP. They'll show off the new features of the next Xbox and its OS, they'll show off any new services coming to the console and what might have undergone a serious evolution. They'll showcase the new Kinect in a big way, showing us some likely pretty impressive demonstration of it in action on the new xbox, maybe also showcasing a pretty strong looking game that utilizes both Kinect and the controller. Essentially, unless there's a truly earth shattering announcement coming, most won't even see it as somehow revolutionary compared to the PS4 unveiling, mostly because they will display some similar features, just with different coats of paint or a difference of execution. Some of the more ridiculous posters will automatically assume that Microsoft, in between the time Sony showed what they had and the xbox event, somehow put in all this money to copy Sony's unique features, and thus will term the event a failure on the basis that it was more or less not all that different from Sony's, which is kind of the point when E3 is still very much on the way and you likely want to hold certain things back.

The majority of gamers, the majority of gamers that no single gaming forum can accurately speak for, will love and be excited by what they saw, as I'm sure many of them were with the PS4. There will be no disastrous unveiling of the next xbox outside of the dreams of some fan emotionally invested in its failure. Nothing Microsoft showcases, no matter how impressive, will make a dent in the opinions of some people who already have their minds made up. For some, it isn't enough that their preferred console wins, the other has to also fail miserably. There is no middle ground.

Gold = Providing a counter to just about every negative rumor.

 

[Syphon Filter]

An actual new console reveal.

They have not shown the console. Sony basically gets two reveal and media cycles, not to mention GDC media.

ps4 is already revealed,a box is no big deal.

 

[Thorgal]

this thread is getting crazy

Seriously people take it easy .

 

[Biggzy]

ps4 is already revealed,a box is no big deal.

And they will unveil it at E3 anyway.

 

[segarr]

Isn't Blow still salty about the Braid pricing fiasco? He seems uncredible about MS's relations with indie devs

 

[Silly.Mikey]

Eeeeessshhhh, the more they wait, the more people will expect. Not a good move, unless they know for a fact that they will blow people away

 

[Baconsammy]

What makes you think Sony announcements will get lost in Microsoft hype come E3, and not the other way around?

Microsoft wont announce their new console at E3. They'll have an event for it. Anything Sony does around that time will get lost.

Eeeeessshhhh, the more they wait, the more people will expect. Not a good move, unless they know for a fact that they will blow people away

What people? You're talking essentially about just us and people like us on other forums. The masses that bought 360s and PS3 don't have ridiculous expectations.

Of course its a big deal. Its going to be pictured in and on every magazine and website related to technology and gaming. Again, two media cycles, not including GDC.

It's been said for the past month since Sony revealed the PS4 and didnt show the console that what it looks like means absolutely nothing. I don't believe, to be honest. The look of the console actually is quite interesting/important.

 

[tfur]

ps4 is already revealed,a box is no big deal.

Of course its a big deal. Its going to be pictured in and on every magazine and website related to technology and gaming. Again, two media cycles, not including GDC.

 

[sono]

Surely Microsoft would have shipped dev kits to developers they wanted as part of launch lineup and those would be under NDA.

If they havent shipped any dev kits yet that might be a concern .. unless its soo PC.

i.e nothing (further) to add at GDC 2013 is as expected, but that doesnt mean that GDC stops!

I expect it gets some clicks for CVG though.

 

[Arkam]

I guess CVG are forgetting the private events MS have had solely for developers.

Or they are completely unaware of them. Plus MS has been reaching out to developers for over a year now. Only people still in the dark are small studios and the consumer. Of which both can wait until closer to launch.

 

[Baconsammy]

Surely Microsoft would have shipped dev kits to developers they wanted as part of launch lineup and those would be under NDA.

If they havent shipped any dev kits yet that might be a concern .. unless its soo PC.

i.e nothing (further) to add at GDC 2013 is as expected, but that doesnt mean that GDC stops!

I expect it gets some clicks for CVG though.

Not only have they shipped them long ago, but they've also held developer conferences regarding the next console.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Of course its a big deal. Its going to be pictured in and on every magazine and website related to technology and gaming. Again, two media cycles, not including GDC.

I man the initial reveal factor is gone,we know it exits,now its just MS that we don't know about.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Eeeeessshhhh, the more they wait, the more people will expect. Not a good move, unless they know for a fact that they will blow people away

That's why Sony went first. They're trying to overtake MS at the start of a generation instead of when it doesn't matter many years later. I expect a much better showing than what Sony did in February. After all, going last lets you craft your approach for maximum impact once you get a feel for what the audience likes and dislikes.

 

[dorkimoe]

LMAO. People are really getting upset that MS hasnt revealed yet.

Kind of like episode 3

 

[Deus Ex Machina]

How many sales do they gain/lose by announcing it 9 months in advance?

You still don't get it.. MS at some point will want everyone who has a 360 to migrate over to Durango. They would want you to by 360 and Durango to maximize profit. This will fool the causal market aka moms buy little johnny a toy for Christmas. How big will this causal market be after E3... WHEN EVERYONE WILL BE REPORTING IT. In light of this its not 9 month, its now until E3 window time frame we're talking.

What people are confused about is the greedy 3 months posturing MS is doing 'til E3 while Sony gets a 4 months of positive press. Like someone said.. Durango better be amazing.. no kinect overload bullshit if not MS shoot them self in the foot.. revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.

 

[funkystudent]

Isn't Blow still salty about the Braid pricing fiasco? He seems uncredible about MS's relations with indie devs

A lot of devs that made there name on XBLA are salty with MS right now and it will be interesting to see how that shapes XBLA next gen.


I guess if MS wanted to have someone on stage to show support for indies when they debut the 720 they will get the Minecraft people to think that box even if technically they never wrote a line of code on Minecraft 360.

 

[zeelman]

I'd rather wait for Microsoft to reveal their new console when they can actually show what the console looks like.

 

[Baconsammy]

You still don't get it.. MS at some point will want everyone who has a 360 to migrate over to Durango. They would want you to by 360 and Durango to maximize profit. This will fool the causal market aka moms buy little johnny a toy for Christmas. How big will this causal market be after E3... WHEN EVERYONE WILL BE REPORTING IT. In light of this its not 9 month, its now until E3 window time frame we're talking.

What people are confused about is the greedy 3 months posturing MS is doing 'til E3 while Sony gets a 4 months of positive press. Like someone said.. Durango better be amazing.. no kinect overload bullshit if not MS shoot them self in the foot.. revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.

So your point is that Microsoft, and their infinite greed because they want to continue to sell their current product, is going to trick casuals into buying a 360 this holiday season instead of the new console they're about to announce? Where's all this positive mainstream coverage of PS4 that is supposedly selling an unreleased console to the masses?

A lot of devs that made there name on XBLA are salty with MS right now and it will be interesting to see how that shapes XBLA next gen.


I guess if MS wanted to have someone on stage to show support for indies when they debut the 720 they will get the Minecraft people to think that box even if technically they never wrote a line of code on Minecraft 360.

Or use one of their own indies devs. Twisted Pixel, for example. Or show Shadow Complex 2. Microsoft isn't hurting for downloadable options.

 

[op_ivy]

such a silly article. GDC is for developers, not the gaming press, not the enthusiasts. the developers creating launch and near launch titles know all they need to know about durango. the rest will find out when MS is ready to show the world.

 

[Silly.Mikey]

That's why Sony went first. They're trying to overtake MS at the start of a generation instead of when it doesn't matter many years later. I expect a much better showing than what Sony did in February. After all, going last lets you craft your approach for maximum impact once you get a feel for what the audience likes and dislikes.

Ya but MS are in more of a pickle so to speak. The 360 is still selling very well where as Sony you'd figure just wants to get this gen over with. So you have MS holing onto their cards for as long as possible and Sony taking advantage of that situation.

 

[BobLoblaw]

This really is a stupid article. Why even mention the next Xbox when they're gonna be having their press conference in a little over a month with E3 about a month and change after that? People already know there's a new system coming. Damn people are impatient.

 

[segarr]

A lot of devs that made there name on XBLA are salty with MS right now and it will be interesting to see how that shapes XBLA next gen.


I guess if MS wanted to have someone on stage to show support for indies when they debut the 720 they will get the Minecraft people to think that box even if technically they never wrote a line of code on Minecraft 360.

One thing MS has going for them with indies is they seem to almost always let the developer own their own i.p. whereas Sony generally ends up owning the i.p. to most PSN games they publish. Like The Unfinished Swan and Journey, hence why you don't see them on other platforms like many games that launch on XBLA [Limbo, Fez, etc.]

Owning your own creation is a nice incentive I'd like to see Sony grant more indie devs next gen. Would cut down on all that waiting for games to take forever to get on Steam and the like

 

[Gen X]

Maybe MS still haven´t decided on a name for the 720 yet.

 

[Deus Ex Machina]

So your point is that Microsoft, and their infinite greed because they want to continue to sell their current product, is going to trick casuals into buying a 360 this holiday season instead of the new console they're about to announce?

With the success of xbox brand MS is looking like the arrogant Sony from years past. Meaning it being less about the gamer.. sure, we knew why MS got into the console videogame business to begin with.. to stop Sony media approach to the living room but after MS got rid of in-house gamers that made xbox a viable console MS replace them with cooperate stooges that wouldn't know a good game if it bite them in the ass. I'd bet this is why they are shoving kinect down are throats even after seeing the market is moving away from motion controls.. cooperate stooges who have no idea

Where's all this positive mainstream coverage of PS4 that is supposedly selling an unreleased console to the masses?

You read headlines everyday on gaf.. Its marketing my dear Watson

What this thread title about: "Monday Muse: Microsoft no-show is Sony's gain"

 

[Impeccable]

Appears I've missed the official reveal event date, everyone seems to mention "one month".

What exact day and time and source?

 

[Baconsammy]

With the success of xbox brand MS is looking like the arrogant Sony from years past. Meaning it being less about the gamer.. sure, we knew why MS got into the console videogame business to begin with.. to stop Sony media approach to the living room but after MS got rid of in-house gamers that made xbox a viable console MS replace them with cooperate stooges that wouldn't know a good game if it bite them in the ass. I'd bet this is why they are shoving kinect down are throats even after seeing the market is moving away from motion controls.. cooperate stooges who have no idea

Corporate stooges like Phil Harrison and Don Matrick? How many of the heads at Sony have actually made games as Don did? The market's moving away from motion controls? Really? Wii mote still very much a part of Wii U. Sony is putting a light sensor on EVERY single Dual Shock made for the PS4. Sony even went so far as to turn the PS Eye into a Kinect-esque device for PS4. Might want to rethink that opinion of yours. Motion controls aren't going anywhere. Still haven't explained how selling the console that's actually for sale now constitutes greed. Is Sony being greedy by continuing to knowingly sell a console and games that won't be compatible with their new console? I think what you call "greed", most others would call doing business.

Ya but MS are in more of a pickle so to speak. The 360 is still selling very well where as Sony you'd figure just wants to get this gen over with. So you have MS holing onto their cards for as long as possible and Sony taking advantage of that situation.

Sony is outselling Microsoft right now (in consoles worldwide). Why do they want that to end?

Me too. Specs, games, developer support? Pfft. Aesthetics will dictate my hype!

The look of gaming hardware apparently means a lot. It's why limited editions continue to sell so well, and why people create threads dedicated to how "slim" versions of consoles look. To suggest that people shouldn't care about the look of a console is just weird, and completely out of touch with reality. In the pre-Sony conference thread, people were so interested in how it was going to look that they created mockups. Some of which were highly praised. People care.

 

[AZ Greg]

I'd rather wait for Microsoft to reveal their new console when they can actually show what the console looks like.

Me too. Specs, games, developer support? Pfft. Aesthetics will dictate my hype!