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[TheDuce22]

Microsoft wanted their console back.

I read an interesting suggestion in a magazine recently, that the very original Xbox crew would be "spinning in their graves", so to speak, at what is becoming of Xbox. The argument is that everything they tried to avoid with the original Xbox - basically the rest of MS getting their mitts on it an interfering - is coming to fruition on 360. I guess it was inevitable after the financial performance of the first, though, and I guess it's a matter of opinion as to whether it's a good or bad thing.

Sony is doing the exact same thing. Thats where the industry is headed. They arent just game consoles anymore.

 

[gofreak]

Sony is doing the exact same thing. Thats where the industry is headed. They arent just game consoles anymore.

Of course, it's just not really the direction the original Xbox crew wanted to go, that's all I'm saying. Or so goes the suggestion.

 

[GG-Duo]

Preparing for the launch of Origami.

 

[R0nn]

you have your groups mixed up.

Shane Kim runs MGS, while Peter Moore run Xbox. They are two different groups. Both report to Robbie Bach.

Because Ed Fries took some huge risks, and almost none of them paid off. Oddworld, Psychonauts, Azurik, Nightcatcher, The Unseen, TFLO, and many others were huge busts. And don't forget many games that were never offically announced that got cancelled.
MGS leaned out their porfolio, signed with some major players (Epic, Bioware) and trying to making AAA games, not shovelware. I think MGS is going to far, and not doing more stable sales games, but they have lots of money.

Psychonauts isn't exactly shovelware you know. So wasn't Oddworld: Stranger. Ok, they bombed at sales, but the quality was there.

 

[Diablos]

Maybe he is Peter Moore's new speech writer? It would explain alot.

 

[Jos]

Maybe he is trapped in the Metaverse?.....

 

[element]

Psychonauts isn't exactly shovelware you know. So wasn't Oddworld: Stranger. Ok, they bombed at sales, but the quality was there.

I was refering to Azurik, Bloodwake, Fusion Frenzy, Kakuto Chojin, NFL Fever, Nightcatcher, and others are shovelware. Psychonauts, Oddworld, and others were huge losses.

 

[Kobun Heat]

Psychonauts, Oddworld, and others were huge losses.

Well, they didn't release them, so that was pretty much inevitable.

Anyway, what indications do we have that now is any different? Microsoft's not shoveling cash into projects that won't pay off, anymore? Right.

 

[bonkbonk]

heh, J Allard is too busy working on Xbox3 aka Xbox 2010, no time for silly things like interviews when serious projects like the next Xbox are at hand.

 

[Prine]

J Allard is a legend, nuff respect to my boi

 

[element]

Well, they didn't release them, so that was pretty much inevitable.

even if they did release them, they would have still never made money.

 

[Dave Long]

Can I borrow your crystal ball? I want to see who's going to win the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament.

*rolls eyes*

 

[element]

Can I borrow your crystal ball? I want to see who's going to win the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament.

*rolls eyes*

Considering Psychonauts costed almost $14 million, and Stranger was around $9 million, and include marketing say $3 million per game. Psychonauts would need to sell 340k units to break even, and Stranger around 240k. Neither came close to hitting those.

 

[Amir0x]

even if they did release them, they would have still never made money.

I don't think that's something anyone could predict. Given a competent marketing campaign, Psychonauts could have moved some decent units, maybe made a dollar or two for Microsoft.

Your assertion (based on your post above) is that "Psychonauts under Microsoft would probably have ended up selling basically the same amount as Psyhonauts under Majesco." Of course, I would say that is probable... but it's not something we can know now, 'cause it never happened.

 

[element]

i personally dont think psychonauts would have turned out the way it did, if it would have been published by Microsoft. I think being dropped by MGS put a little fire under Doublefine's ass, and they ended up releasing something good.
Which is why i firmly say that if MGS published it, it wouldn't have been nearly as good.

 

[GFord]

He's getting another complete makeover to the look he now think's is in.

 

[artful_dodger]

Spoiler

I heard his office is empty

 

[acidviper]

He's getting another complete makeover to the look he now think's is in.

:lol

 

[Stench]

 

[IVYLancets]

I thought he had an accident. Is he still hurt?

 

[Diablos]

:lol

 

[Community Forum]

As he has magically grown hair again, Microsoft had to delay Vista so the entire company could think of a suitable restyle for Allard to fit with his new haircut.

He really has hair now? Pics needed! I think I saw him at Fred Meyer a couple months ago.

 

[Stench]

I thought he had an accident. Is he still hurt?

 

[AgentOtaku]

Hey now, the hoodie/blazer combo is nifty.

Jah, I still rock my hoody and blazer sometimes....then again, its fucking cold up here. Though I would never be one of those twits who would feel comfortable actually wearing one sewn into the blazer :lol


Thats like buying jeans with the holes already in them

 

[Littleberu]

Considering Psychonauts costed almost $14 million, and Stranger was around $9 million, and include marketing say $3 million per game. Psychonauts would need to sell 340k units to break even, and Stranger around 240k. Neither came close to hitting those.

But they did so with games that were a lot worse than these two games.

 

[Mermandala]

His is the human energy that powers the Xbox 360. He became more hairless and gaunt right up to the last minute when Xbox 360 consumed him fully so that others may game.

Sometimes, on dark nights, his greenish-hued soul is seen ambling about the Xbox Live Marketplace. The rumour that he is downloadable is just that.

 

[element]

But they did so with games that were a lot worse than these two games.

majority of the other games MS published were 1/4 the cost.

 

[bill0527]

After reading this thread, in answer to the original question.... I think its safe to say that nobody has any fucking clue.

Was he demoted? Promoted? Taking time off to deal with his injuries? Working on XNA? Off to the next project?

Its all pretty much guesswork unless someone official on this forum wants to stick their neck out and spill the beans.

All I know is that just a few years ago he was considered one of the brightest minds in the company. Fortune magazine had an article on 7 people in Microsoft who were being primed to run the company after Bill and Balmer permanently exit stage left. Allard was one of those on the list and he even made the photo layout with the other 6 people. They called this select group of individuals the "Baby Bills".

 

[Shawn128]

That made me lol :lol

 

[Wendo]

Didn't Allard just do an interview about "using a wikipedia model for gaming"?