Microsoft: We Need to Step Up PC Gaming
Microsoft Game Studios admits its not the industry leader it should be.
With the recent release of Halo: Reach and the upcoming launch of Kinect, it seems that PC gamers are pushed aside in favor of their console comrades. Even worse, Microsoft's Windows OS dominates the PC sector, yet Games for Windows - LIVE isn't exactly the thriving community Xbox 360 gamers have enjoyed for years--subscription or not. Microsoft Game Studios sees the perceived prejudice and plans to do something about it.
"There’s been a fair bit of criticism aimed at Microsoft that we were spending a lot of our focus on console, and we need to be putting resources behind PC as well," Microsoft Game Studios’ general manager Dave Luehmann said in an interview. "Other companies should look to Microsoft for leadership, but I’m not sure they do. It is our job to lead the way on PC. And in some ways we are doing that and in other ways we are not. So we need to step up."
The studio's renewed focus will start with three big titles--Fable III, Age of Empires Online and Microsoft Flight--which will use Games for Windows - LIVE. Luehmann reassured PC gamers that more big titles were on the way, however the studio plans to test new ideas. After all, it's Microsoft's job to experiment with new business models that will inspire 3rd-party publishers worldwide.
"I think it is the responsibility of first parties to push the business models into new directions," he said. "We will test some ideas--some will work and some won’t."
What Microsoft needs is a new, genre-defining game like Halo for the PC, something so mind-blowing addictive that console gamers will drop their controllers and buy new PC gaming rigs with Windows 7 pre-installed.
How about you just stop shitting on your entire pc fanbase....
Gaming press: PC gaming is dead; piracy has killed it off.
MS: The only way we'll make money off gaming is with a closed garden console.
2004 - 2010
Valve and Blizzard: *rakes in money hand over fist*
2010
Gaming press: Long live the PC!
MS: Dude, WTF? We're hemorrhaging cash on the Xbox and the little guys across town are killing us in digital sales! Anybody here remember how to use a keyboard and mouse?
How about you just stop shitting on your entire pc fanbase....
Its stupid issues like this (on top of other, more serious issues) that just kill some programs from the start. Why would I consider using Games for Windows if the overlay in my games won't allow me to play my games (if you can't get something simple like an overlay working, do I really trust you do to anything else)? I've never had issues with Steam's overlay that I recall.
2 Words: Microsoft. Halo was supposed to be that game for the PC 12 years ago. Instead, Microsoft needed a big title for their new console, and bought Bungie for the Halo IP (a game that had not yet been released). Now Microsoft needs another Halo for the PC? Maybe they should have left Halo alone in the first place, and never bothered entering a console business that cost them billions.
I'm also pissed at Microsoft for giving Capcom money to make 2 dlc's for Dead Rising 2, exclusive to the 360. I know you want to force, I mean motivate, console gamers to buy Dead Rising 2 for the 360, instead of the PS3. But why not release the dlc for the pc too? You say you care about pc gaming, but I"m having a hard time believing you. Actions speak loader than words Microsort!
If you're worried about piracy, you should just give up on Games for Windows Live, and release your games on Steam for the pc. Don't sell any physical copies of your games; that way no one can pirate your games. Steam is a form of drm that most pc gamers are ok with.
Actually, Halo was supposed to be some haggard RTS for the Mac.
What gives with the flip flop?
Amen brother, couldn't have said it better myself. MS, if you want to make up with the PC fan base you have been so blatantly ignoring stop it with the console exclusives. Its really that simple. Also the Xbox hardware is beginning to get horridly out dated and lazily ported games just piss me right off dammit!
This is leadership from behind for customers that aren't us.
Gaming press: PC gaming is dead; piracy has killed it off.
MS: The only way we'll make money off gaming is with a closed garden console.
2004 - 2010
Valve and Blizzard: *rakes in money hand over fist*
2010
Gaming press: Long live the PC!
MS: Dude, WTF? We're hemorrhaging cash on the Xbox and the little guys across town are killing us in digital sales! Anybody here remember how to use a keyboard and mouse?