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[Mifune]

Not a disastrous mistake by any stretch of the imagination. But I do think it's a tactical error. But then I think not revealing even the name of the thing is an error.

Mind share is a fickle thing in this business and it's kind of surprising to me that MS hasn't been more aggressive post-PS4 reveal.

 

[see5harp]

it's a mixture of cockiness and arrogance.

Basically same thing that happened to Sony coming from the ps2 to the ps3.

Microsoft needs to get slaughtered the first few year to get a kick on the ass.

It would be cocky or arrogant to announce something a month later and say "next gen starts when we say it stars" or suggest that your CPU is nearly twice as powerful as the closest competitor. If they say all of that, and come out with a useless OS while charging $100 more than the PS4 a year later..then sure you could say "cocky or arrogant."

 

[Captain Tuttle]

Ms, I am sure, has been engaging the development community. Both big and small. They are not at GDC because it conflicts with their schedule. They organised and event last year with the sole aim of informing developers about the console.

I am sure those who want to get access to the devkit has one. I am sure MS regularly disseminate documentation about the next box regularly to developers.

I am sure they have guidelines on how to start developing for and porting to the nextbox.

Apart from all this, there is still SIGGRAPH to come, and ofcourse if they feel they need a dedicated event for developers they will host one. Also MS also has their yearly TechFest event to come, which is mainly for information on developing for MS platforms. Expect the nextbox to be a major feature in this year's event.

So while not being in GDC might be construed as a mistake by some, it doesn't really affect them much.

TechFest happened already

This year’s event, occurring March 5-7 at the Microsoft Conference Center, represents a glimpse into the future of computing technology, a time when those devices, services, social tools, and mobile ubiquity become even smarter and gain the ability to work on our behalf. A world of information technology will be transformed into a world of intelligent technology.

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/techfest2013-030513.aspx

I agree with you for the most part though.

 

[nailbombxx]

Microsoft are preparing a trojan horse.

 

[Satchel]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! They sound salty.

Developers already know its coming. They're not going to NOT develop for it because they haven't announced it by GDC. They wish it worked that way. This is actually getting cool now, I hope Microsoft waits until the last possible minute to announce and drive people batshit crazy.

 

[Withnail]

This is hilarious.

If MS announced soon after Sony they would have been accused of rushing an announcement to stall Sony's momentum. Since they are staying on their own schedule and keeping to their plan now people are blasting them for taking too long.

If MS announces next month they will have 7 months to convince people to buy the thing. 7 months is more than enough time to sell a game console to consumers. With as much money MS has to throw into marketing getting their console out into the minds of the public wont be a problem at all.

Maybe try reading the OP? Protip: it's nothing to do with marketing or convincing consumers.

 

[i-Lo]

That sounds pretty damn awesome, but I'm skeptical that that's a proper solution and won't lead to a whole bunch of poorly optimized games/apps when running on the actual hardware.

Here's the Link to the article.

Looks like I misinterpret it a bit earlier. The software only approach is currently for PS mobile developers and dev kits are for PS3 developers. Sony wants to opt for a middle ground with PS4.

Here are the actual quotes from Shuhei Yoshida:

Let me ask another way, then. I understand that the PS4 is accessible from a development standpoint -- once you are a licensed PlayStation developer. What I'm wondering is if Sony is lifting any restrictions, perhaps? Or making it easier for a smaller developer to get onto the PlayStation 4 than it was for the PlayStation 3?

Yeah, that we really want to do. We believe in smaller developers. They are very creative and they go out of the norm to do something really amazing. So we really want to make it easier for them to come to our platform and publish. And we know there are many things we can do, in talking with these guys and asking what they want us to do. And one effort we've been doing in that context is the PS Mobile platform. That doesn't even require the purchase of a dev kit. It's totally software driven, and they can develop games… on PC, for example. And once you decide to publish it, you want to test it on the final hardware, but you don't have to acquire a pricey dev kit.

The approach to PS4 we're internally working on is, I hope to see somewhere in-between the current model that we have on PS3 and the PS Mobile totally software-driven model. We could continue and go and expand the PS Mobile approach, but the beauty of developing games on console is we allow the developers to go really deep into the hardware, and to unlock the potential. And so in order for us to do that, the developer has to have the dev kit to work on. So at least initially, we have to provide the dev kit to make games on PS4.

I just want to make sure I understand what you said, you said your vision for you want to go with that program is somewhere between PS Mobile's open accessibility and the PS3's closed gates, somewhere in-between?

Yeah, that's our direction.

Does the PS4's PC-like architecture mean that dev kits might be easier to manufacture, and might be less expensive this time around? Could they be going out to more developers than in the past?

We usually don't talk about the pricing of the dev kit. But yeah, I'd say it can be cheaper. But I don't know if it's cheap enough for those indie guys. Because it's not just the cost of hardware, it's also the SDKs and tool chains and dev support and all those costs.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Not sure how this could be a mistake, never mind a disastrous one. I'm sure most developers serious about next-gen development are already in the loop and working on software for it, so this article's conclusion seems pretty dumb. The wall of silence, though frustrating, is actually turning out to be one of the more entertaining things to watch as various folks on the internet squirm and lash out, like an angry child waiting on a desired present that may never come. The absence of info seems to be working well enough to keep people interested and waiting. Whatever the case, MS is clearly setting themselves things up to open the floodgates with a huge press event.

 

[iceatcs]

I'm quite annoy, maybe worry too, I mean if they want it out this year, and we only have near 8 months left to heard from them.

Missing GDC could delay the chance for indies on board.

 

[Mr.Wreckless]

Maybe try reading the OP? Protip: it's nothing to do with marketing or convincing consumers.

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?

 

[Tagg9]

I'm quite annoy, maybe worry too, I mean if they want it out this year, and we only have near 8 months left to heard from them.

8 months is still a long time. Apple only needs 1 month to get people hyped.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

Article is absolute nonsense.

 

[Drek]

This is hilarious.

If MS announced soon after Sony they would have been accused of rushing an announcement to stall Sony's momentum. Since they are staying on their own schedule and keeping to their plan now people are blasting them for taking too long.

If MS announces next month they will have 7 months to convince people to buy the thing. 7 months is more than enough time to sell a game console to consumers. With as much money MS has to throw into marketing getting their console out into the minds of the public wont be a problem at all.

But CVG's point has nothing to do with selling it to consumers.

Their point (while hyperbolic) is that Johnny Startup and his small team of buddies who are planning the early stages of their next title go to GDC for various reasons (to pitch their idea, to see what the rest of the industry is doing, etc.) and while there they get an earful from Sony about how awesome PS4 is to develop on and how friendly Sony is going to be about getting on PSN.

Johnny Startup and co. have always assumed their game would only be on PC because dealing with the consoles is too much hassle. So many fees, expensive dev kits, etc.. But they get an earful of Sony's pitch assuring them that Sony is removing those obstructions.

So what happens when Johnny Startup gets back to the office next week with a link and pass code to download a PS4 SDK for contemporary PCs? He and his buddies decide to see what it's all about and start playing around with it. Or better yet, they give a Sony rep they met at GDC a call, exchange ideas, and next thing you know they're pitching their new game to Sony, who picks it up as a first party exclusive.

Consumers buy systems for games. Developers make games. Sony is clearly running a two tiered marketing push. Tier one is to go after developers, which is why the PS4 unveil was so focused on "ease of development". This is also why they're at GDC selling the system hard. Tier two will be selling customers on it. That will be E3, TGS, and the media onslaught before and during launch.

MS could have the exact same two tiered approach and now instantly be in a worse position simply because they missed the best chance they'll have this year to pitch tier 1, the developers, by skipping GDC.

 

[Satchel]

I'm sorry, I just found your commitment humorous. Let me guess though, the public don't give a crap about GDC, but E3 is all the rave? Right?

There will be several thousand attendee's at GDC, and all the gaming and even a lot of the non gaming media there. GDC is HUGE. At one point it was even pipped to being the new E3 (when E3 decided to downscale and started getting too costly, obviously in recent years that reversed somewhat). You only have to look at some of the massive conferences, shows, reveals, demo's etc coined at GDC events over the years to recognise how poignant the event is.

Youtube game video's of new releases and often they're categorised by "GDC 2011 trailer" or "E3 2011 trailer". GDC is massive, and you thinking consumers don't give a crap about it is impressively naive.

Some of you really really believe this forum is the centre of the world don't you?

 

[Baconsammy]

8 months is still a long time. Apple only needs 1 month to get people hyped.

I think Macbook Pro Retina was announced 3 days prior to release. Hype the shit out of it, and then sell it to people before they can think of a reason to not buy it. Seems to work.

 

[i-Lo]

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?

If you really read the OP, you'd know that's not even a question. Of course they know. However, they can't talk about it. They can't bring attention to their in-development product to get some eye balls on their work which may or may not include utilization of new technology.

GDC, an acronym for Games Developers Conference. Imagine having your hands tied behind their backs and thrust with gag order via NDAs that prevent these developers from conferencing.

 

[Triple U]

I'd say that's it puzzling if MS doesn't have anything behind closed doors. But for the most part, nothing shown there this week will meet the publics radar anyway.

 

[Dreamgazer]

My 2 cents:
1) Sony has a lot more to prove going into the next generation compared to MS. For that reason alone, GDC is a much more important event for Sony to attend and hopefully garner support. MS on the other hand is in a much better position going in, as most people are well aware what to expect from MS's development environment and tools. Not to mention, no developer is going to ignore MS simply because they weren't at GDC.

2) Not having the final specs really doesn't matter as much, especially if everyone is going to be on the x86 structure. Developers can just build around a conservative estimate of specs for now and the mainstream consumers will still be wowed (ex: KZ: Shadow Fall built on a an estimate of 2/4GB max ram.) Most of the GAF crowd has also learned to not expect too much from launch titles anyway.

3) If I was a MS supporter (I'm not), my only concern is whether Sony will have an upper hand on the amount of launch titles due to Sony's more public and active recruitment of indie-mid size devs. Of course, this is not accounting for what the MS ninjas might be doing or the fact that GDC is hardly going to matter in that regard.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

But CVG's point has nothing to do with selling it to consumers.

Their point (while hyperbolic) is that Johnny Startup and his small team of buddies who are planning the early stages of their next title go to GDC for various reasons (to pitch their idea, to see what the rest of the industry is doing, etc.) and while there they get an earful from Sony about how awesome PS4 is to develop on and how friendly Sony is going to be about getting on PSN.

Johnny Startup and co. have always assumed their game would only be on PC because dealing with the consoles is too much hassle. So many fees, expensive dev kits, etc.. But they get an earful of Sony's pitch assuring them that Sony is removing those obstructions.

So what happens when Johnny Startup gets back to the office next week with a link and pass code to download a PS4 SDK for contemporary PCs? He and his buddies decide to see what it's all about and start playing around with it. Or better yet, they give a Sony rep they met at GDC a call, exchange ideas, and next thing you know they're pitching their new game to Sony, who picks it up as a first party exclusive.

Consumers buy systems for games. Developers make games. Sony is clearly running a two tiered marketing push. Tier one is to go after developers, which is why the PS4 unveil was so focused on "ease of development". This is also why they're at GDC selling the system hard. Tier two will be selling customers on it. That will be E3, TGS, and the media onslaught before and during launch.

MS could have the exact same two tiered approach and now instantly be in a worse position simply because they missed the best chance they'll have this year to pitch tier 1, the developers, by skipping GDC.

If the rumors are true, Johnny Startup will have an easy time of bringing over their title thanks to tight integration with Windows development and an updated next-gen DD store that caters to them. MS can't be as stupid to not know something about software development versus their rivals in all of these decades of business in addition to having been a relative developers' darling in previous console generations over the last fourteen years.

 

[shandy706]

Some of you really really believe this forum is the centre of the world don't you?

No kidding, LOL. Out of my 10 closest friends....maybe ONE would know what CVG is. Of those 10 friends, they all have a PS3, a 360, or both.

They aren't on forums looking at gaming news though.....not a one of them.

 

[Satchel]

I think Macbook Pro Retina was announced 3 days prior to release. Hype the shit out of it, and then sell it to people before they can think of a reason to not buy it. Seems to work.

The funny thing is, pulling a Sega Saturn would actually work in today's world. As long as retail partners were in on it of course. That's where Sega fucked up.

If Microsoft had their show, and said, "It's out next week" people would lose their fucking minds.

No kidding, LOL. Out of my 10 closest friends....maybe ONE would know what CVG is. Of those 10 friends, they all have a PS3, a 360, or both.

They aren't on forums looking at gaming news though.....not a one of them.

He'll, a friend of mine is into games almost as much as me, but doesn't frequent GAF, and basically gets all his new from joystiq. Doesn't even know GDC is on.

 

[i-Lo]

No kidding, LOL. Out of my 10 closest friends....maybe ONE would know what CVG is. Of those 10 friends, they all have a PS3, a 360, or both.

They aren't on forums looking at gaming news though.....not a one of them.

SMH...

 

[Withnail]

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?

Developers know about it of course. I just think they might like to be able to talk to each other about it without being in breach of NDA.

 

[KageMaru]

This is hilarious.

If MS announced soon after Sony they would have been accused of rushing an announcement to stall Sony's momentum. Since they are staying on their own schedule and keeping to their plan now people are blasting them for taking too long.

If MS announces next month they will have 7 months to convince people to buy the thing. 7 months is more than enough time to sell a game console to consumers. With as much money MS has to throw into marketing getting their console out into the minds of the public wont be a problem at all.

Pretty much.

Because the article isn't talking about the general or gaming public. It's talking about the developers.

Then that article makes even less sense seeing how MS is probably the best out of the three when it comes to working with and informing developers.

 

[tinfoilhatman]

Some of you really really believe this forum is the centre of the world don't you?

QFT....

 

[iceatcs]

I think Macbook Pro Retina was announced 3 days prior to release. Hype the shit out of it, and then sell it to people before they can think of a reason to not buy it. Seems to work.

I can't see it will work for home console very well. It need to show a lots, prepare to get the games, ensure agreed with devs/publishers to not show anything yet...

Macbook development only stay in Apple HQ all the time.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

They may loose on a few indie developers but nothing major.

 

[DEADEVIL]

GDC doesn't even come remotely close to the impact of E3. It never has and it never will.

Did Nintendo announce the Wii-U at GDC the year it was revealed at E3?

Was it disastrous then?

Are the developers who know they are developing games for the Next Box going to quit doing it just for MS to show off the system at GDC?

The rumor is they will show it off Next Month, but even if they don't E3 hands-down is where they should hold off the big announcements for.

 

[Mr.Wreckless]

But CVG's point has nothing to do with selling it to consumers.

Their point (while hyperbolic) is that Johnny Startup and his small team of buddies who are planning the early stages of their next title go to GDC for various reasons (to pitch their idea, to see what the rest of the industry is doing, etc.) and while there they get an earful from Sony about how awesome PS4 is to develop on and how friendly Sony is going to be about getting on PSN.

Johnny Startup and co. have always assumed their game would only be on PC because dealing with the consoles is too much hassle. So many fees, expensive dev kits, etc.. But they get an earful of Sony's pitch assuring them that Sony is removing those obstructions.

So what happens when Johnny Startup gets back to the office next week with a link and pass code to download a PS4 SDK for contemporary PCs? He and his buddies decide to see what it's all about and start playing around with it. Or better yet, they give a Sony rep they met at GDC a call, exchange ideas, and next thing you know they're pitching their new game to Sony, who picks it up as a first party exclusive.

Consumers buy systems for games. Developers make games. Sony is clearly running a two tiered marketing push. Tier one is to go after developers, which is why the PS4 unveil was so focused on "ease of development". This is also why they're at GDC selling the system hard. Tier two will be selling customers on it. That will be E3, TGS, and the media onslaught before and during launch.

MS could have the exact same two tiered approach and now instantly be in a worse position simply because they missed the best chance they'll have this year to pitch tier 1, the developers, by skipping GDC.

Ummmmm some smaller developers knew about the PS4 plans before their big reveal, thats how they were able to be involved in the presentation. So why on earth would you assume that smaller developers couldnt also already be involved with MS?

MS has absolutely creamed Sony this gen when it comes to getting smaller games exclusive for their console (even if its just timed) so its absolutely mind boggling to assume they would drop the ball with that aspect of their new console.

Plus if the two consoles are as similar as rumors suggest then it wouldnt take much for small Johnny Startup to port his game over to the MS system anyway.

 

[i-Lo]

Pretty much.

Then that article makes even less sense seeing how MS is probably the best out of the three when it comes to working with and informing developers.

Then that's being based on assumption (albeit perhaps a correct one).

I think the important thing is that once MS couldn't announce it prior to GDC this kind of reaction was expected. Come the end of April, they'll wow the potential consumers with an unveil and all the devs can talk about all their next gen projects and technologies for either or both next gen platforms.

 

[KageMaru]

Then that's being based on assumption (albeit perhaps a correct one).

I think the important thing is that once MS couldn't announce it prior to GDC this kind of reaction was expected. Come the end of April, they'll wow the potential consumers with an unveil and all the devs can talk about all their next gen project and technology for either or both next gen platforms.

It's not really an assumption when looking at this generation.

I agree with you, but that doesn't make the article or the comments in this thread any less silly.

 

[beast786]

8 months is still a long time. Apple only needs 1 month to get people hyped.

Good point. But, the reason apple gets away with it because its Apple. 2nd reason is that iOS doesnt change much at all. You really dont need to start from scratch. I assume for a gaming console with years of development cycle of a complete new system you would need a bit ahead start.

 

[JCreasy]

Microsoft GDC no-show does contribute to the narrative that Sony is already building for them. If Microsoft's reveal is mediocre, they'll look like they're already losing, which is exactly what Sony wants.

Enthusiasm for PS4 is building daily. Everyone knows we haven't even seen the best from the 1st party studios. I actually think KZ: Shadow Fall, as good as it looks, is a head fake. That right cross is coming as soon as Microsoft opens up.

Also, I wonder is Sony is intentionally mucking around with blu-ray negotiations to slow Microsoft down.

 

[nib95]

No kidding, LOL. Out of my 10 closest friends....maybe ONE would know what CVG is. Of those 10 friends, they all have a PS3, a 360, or both.

They aren't on forums looking at gaming news though.....not a one of them.

GDC... Not CVG... Lol.

 

[Ding-Ding]

Again, when has that ever mattered? Assassins Creed? RDR? LA Noire? DMC4? I see little evidence that games being marketed as exclusive for awhile before eventually releasing at the same time makes a difference (as opposed to actual timed exclusives).

Brand association has always been a valuable tool at the beginning of a generation. Right now how many perspective durango owners are talking about watch dogs etc compared to perspective PS4 owners. Answer is very few.

MS have made great use of that this gen. Its not evident that much on world wide sales, as Sony have the brand association in EU & ROTW but look at US & UK and the 360 is dominant.

Do you really think that the likes of Gears & Halo alone helped them to achieve what they did without 3rd party brand association

 

[Bgamer90]

Some of you really really believe this forum is the centre of the world don't you?

QFT.

 

[KageMaru]

Microsoft GDC no-show does contribute to the narrative that Sony is already building for them. If Microsoft's reveal is mediocre, they'll like they're already losing, which is exactly what Sony wants.

Enthusiasm for PS4 is building daily. Everyone knows we haven't even seen the best from the 1st party studios. I actually think KZ: Shadow Fall, as good as it looks, is a head fake. That right cross is coming as soon as Microsoft opens up.

With the way these forums are acting lately, unless MS surprises everyone with a 2+TFLOP system with Kinect as an option, they've already lost.

I agree that Sony has been doing great with their early reveal, love that I see PS4 ads on websites like Amazon now, but it's too early to say which reveal will be followed up with a killer blow.

 

[i-Lo]

It's not really an assumption when looking at this generation.

I agree with you, but that doesn't make the article or the comments in this thread any less silly.

Sorry when I meant assumption, I am talking about next gen. This gen MS made a concerted effort to garner support and provide support of and to developers with industry benchmark tools. Sony, the dinosaur, came LTTP but eventually, has reached a point where they nearly at par with MS (including, as aforementioned, their dev tools which are now just as good). The Feb 20 event revealed that they have been doing for PS4 what MS did for XB360. While MS isn't the dinosaur that Sony used to be, it'll be interesting to see how evenly they are matched in terms of support (garnering and providing) to the devs.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

I agree to an extent, but then I disagree also. How certain can they be that Phil Harrison and Microsoft aren't actively securing deals as well as talking to and working with developers and publishers behind the scenes?

It more or less amounts to a complaint that Microsoft has not gone public with what everybody knows they are doing out of the public eye. I get it though. This is the lifeblood of what game journalists do, and you always want the most excitement and fuss possible at these events. Because Microsoft is choosing not to go public yet and is obviously choosing to deal in private with developers, it doesn't somehow mean they are missing a golden opportunity or aren't doing their due diligence. Microsoft has held private events going back as far as last year where they fully briefed developers on their plans, and I'm sure on some major level they have continued to do so.

Some of you really really believe this forum is the centre of the world don't you?

I guess it's unavoidable. The majority of gamers honestly couldn't tell you a thing about GDC. They've likely looked at media that emanated from GDC before, but not very many necessarily see it as absolutely essential to making up their minds on what they want. A lot of gamers coming into this new gen are more excited about a new NBA 2K or GTA or Fifa or COD than most on here might think makes sense. They aren't counting exclusives, they aren't worried about who is winning over game journalists or games forums.

 

[scently]

Ummmmm some smaller developers knew about the PS4 plans before their big reveal, thats how they were able to be involved in the presentation. So why on earth would you assume that smaller developers couldnt also already be involved with MS?

MS has absolutely creamed Sony this gen when it comes to getting smaller games exclusive for their console (even if its just timed) so its absolutely mind boggling to assume they would drop the ball with that aspect of their new console.

Indeed. Another thing to note is, the Durango conference MS held last year was held in February, before GDC last year, just a month before GDC. If GDC was the only way to get information to devs I would imagine they would have informed devs about it during GDC last year, instead of holding a conference about it just a month before.

What that tells us is that MS has a plan on how they want to handle all things Durango. GDC simply doesn't factor into it.

 

[ShinAmano]

With the way these forums are acting lately, unless MS surprises everyone with a 2+TFLOP system with Kinect as an option, they've already lost.

I agree that Sony has been doing great with their early reveal, love that I see PS4 ads on websites like Amazon now, but it's too early to say which reveal will be followed up with a killer blow.

Or if there will be a killer blow.

 

[Mr.Wreckless]

Brand association has always been a valuable tool at the beginning of a generation. Right now how many perspective durango owners are talking about watch dogs etc compared to perspective PS4 owners. Answer is very few.

MS have made great use of that this gen. Its not evident that much on world wide sales, as Sony have the brand association in EU & ROTW but look at US & UK and the 360 is dominant.

Do you really think that the likes of Gears & Halo alone helped them to achieve what they did without 3rd party brand association

How did you come to that conclusion? I see Watch Dogs being discussed on many of the forums i frequent and nobody is saying they are getting it for sure for either system. What people are saying is that they want to see which system is better for them and they will buy Watch Dogs for that one.

 

[Zaventem]

Yeah like a majority of the developers don't already know.IGN paid for to get all the clicks on the recent bioshock review so they're desperate for something.No games for them to trash, nothing for them to go on, only guessing game articles even though their are tons of indie games you could be covering.Wait like everyone one else.

 

[Mr.Wreckless]

With the way these forums are acting lately, unless MS surprises everyone with a 2+TFLOP system with Kinect as an option, they've already lost.

I agree that Sony has been doing great with their early reveal, love that I see PS4 ads on websites like Amazon now, but it's too early to say which reveal will be followed up with a killer blow.

These forums mean nothing when it comes to who wins or loses.

 

[PSiCHO]

This only means one thing: Microsoft cannot match PS4's 8GB GDDR5!

Spoiler

RAM THREAD!

 

[Archpath1]

its simple man, they got us right where they want us.
anticipation. bummer.

 

[KageMaru]

Sorry when I meant assumption, I am talking about next gen. This gen MS made a concerted effort to garner support and provide support of and to developers with industry benchmark tools. Sony, the dinosaur, came LTTP but eventually, has reached a point where they nearly at par with MS (including, as aforementioned, their dev tools which are now just as good). The Feb 20 event revealed that they have been doing for PS4 what MS did for XB360. While MS isn't the dinosaur that Sony used to be, it'll be interesting to see how evenly they are matched in terms of support (garnering and providing) to the devs.

Yeah, agreed entirely. That's what will make this gen pretty interesting (when the hardware won't) =p

Or if there will be a killer blow.

I only see a killer blow if either receive PS2-level domination, which I don't see happening again.

 

[Captain Tuttle]

If the rumors are true, Johnny Startup will have an easy time of bringing over their title thanks to tight integration with Windows development and an updated next-gen DD store that caters to them. MS can't be as stupid to not know something about software development versus their rivals in all of these decades of business in addition to having been a relative developers' darling in previous console generations over the last fourteen years.

That's a good point, MS has the Phone store and the Windows 8 store, not much in there right now but the potential is there. Does Sony have something similar (Playstation Mobile, I think?)

 

[PopcornMegaphone]

I'm struggling to understand why MS needs to announce so early. In fact, I think Sony announced too early.

 

[Reiko]

With the way these forums are acting lately, unless MS surprises everyone with a 2+TFLOP system with Kinect as an option, they've already lost.

I agree that Sony has been doing great with their early reveal, love that I see PS4 ads on websites like Amazon now, but it's too early to say which reveal will be followed up with a killer blow.

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