Microsoft have lost interest

What with expanding their online Zune service, releasing the Zune HD, launching Windows 7 and Windows Mobile, it seems to me that Microsoft have given all they're willing to give to their gaming space for this generation.

Dont get me wrong, they're working on Natal which is interesting, but other than that they're just not showing any interest or enthusiasm for their own platform. Previously they'd be hyping new games left right and centre, running extensive ad campaigns, cutting prices, adding new features to the dashboard - or re-designing the whole OS outright. They were a hive of activity, trying as best as they could to make you buy their box and as many games with it to boot.

Now that they're getting all the third party support they could ask for, they seem to have decided to just let it be. The console is selling a decent number of units every month, their attach rate is high, and the quality games are coming thanks to third parties.

No huge updates to the dashboard adding all kinds of new features; just tacking on of social networking apps. No epic ad campaigns, no broad portfolio of first party titles.

They're just not interested any more.

It does seem like they kind of lost focus this year. Next year looks to be better though.

Windows 7 was definitely #1 priority for them (as it should've been, as it brings the most $$$), but I think in 2010 they'll show more love to it. If not, hey, that's why I bought a PS3!!:)

MS are just playing it safe in this tough economic time. its just not prudent to be taking big risks at a time like this. look at EA, just goes to show no company is above lay offs and hard times.

SONY brought pure quality this year and Microsoft had no answer pretty much as simple as that.

SONY brought pure quality this year and Microsoft had no answer pretty much as simple as that.

BiggGaming

[QUOTE="ArchaoN"]I think 360 took a back seat in 2009 to Windows 7, Zune HD and Windows Phone, and for good reason. The 360 has been established as a success. It is very profitable and I really don't think they care is Sony gains some market share while MS sits back and makes money on the 360s that are being sold. In fact, by letting Sony gain market share, while they are losing money on each system sold, is much better than having them gain market share when the system is profitable. I think they are content to let Sony sell some systems (pushing them further into the red) until next year (before they start turning a profit on each PS3 sold) when they release Reach and then Natal. They are gonna push Natal like the launch of a new console. It is clear this is going to be their trump card. If you really think about how ground breaking this thing can be, you will see that Sony is in a very tight bind.Racer850

I think you're both overestimating how much they care about hurting each other, especially givin all these sony and microsoft co-sponsored vaio with windows 7 advertisements I've been seeing lately.

dun worry next year godly games are comming to the 360 :3the-obiwan

SONY brought pure quality this year and Microsoft had no answer pretty much as simple as that.

BiggGaming

[QUOTE="Racer850"][QUOTE="ArchaoN"]I think 360 took a back seat in 2009 to Windows 7, Zune HD and Windows Phone, and for good reason. The 360 has been established as a success. It is very profitable and I really don't think they care is Sony gains some market share while MS sits back and makes money on the 360s that are being sold. In fact, by letting Sony gain market share, while they are losing money on each system sold, is much better than having them gain market share when the system is profitable. I think they are content to let Sony sell some systems (pushing them further into the red) until next year (before they start turning a profit on each PS3 sold) when they release Reach and then Natal. They are gonna push Natal like the launch of a new console. It is clear this is going to be their trump card. If you really think about how ground breaking this thing can be, you will see that Sony is in a very tight bind.topgunmv

I think you're both overestimating how much they care about hurting each other, especially givin all these sony and microsoft co-sponsored vaio with windows 7 advertisements I've been seeing lately.

[QUOTE="the-obiwan"]dun worry next year godly games are comming to the 360 :3colosion

[QUOTE="the-obiwan"]dun worry next year godly games are comming to the 360 :3colosion

I'd hardly say they've lost interest. In fact, their E&D division has been staffing up quite a bit for Natal. I'd say they are in a sort of transition period, they decided Natal is going to be one of their main focus points and are shifting resources accordingly.

Onlytime will tell if this strategy pays off. If they can provide software that will appeal to both casual and hardcoregamersfor the Natal launch, it could bea game changer. If not, it will likely go down as a failed attempt to ride Nintendo's coattails.

I'm still pissed at MS for not bringing the Zune out over here. They're letting Apple run riot!!!!!!!!!!!

MS have a distinct lack of ambition.

SONY seem to want to DOMINATE the console war, and always seem to be thinking of new exciting games to captures the audience.

MS just seem to want to annoy, and take marketshare from SONY, which they have achieved. Now they seem to be in cruise control.

I'm happy i bought an Xbox this late into it's life, as i still have a lot of older games to play, and i doubt too many new exclusives will be relesded before the Nextbox.

They stayed away from MW2 which was smart, they have Mass Effect 2, Halo: Reach, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Alan Wake, more GTA content and possibly a new Project Gotham Racing on the way for 2010 so I wouldnt sat they have lost interest.

they got next year with those games but sony has really been taking a lot of people weith there t.v ads and the price

Everyone is calling it the death of the 360 and what not, but to be honest this is the first year that sony has clearly beaten microsoft. In 2007 people were saying the same thing about Sony. I mean you can tell how great this year has been for sony, since 3/4 of the posters on SW are now cows.

Yeah, last 2 monthes 360 only got 3 AAAEs

And next year looks even worse only with Mass Effect 2, Alan Wake, Crackdown 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, Halo Reach....

:(

Yeah, last 2 monthes 360 only got 3 AAAEs

And next year looks even worse only with Mass Effect 2, Alan Wake, Crackdown 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, Halo Reach....

:(

PAL360

I don't follow. Mass Effect 2 & Splinter Cell Conviction are on the horizon.

this was a pretty slow year. even tho there were some good multiplats. next year is looking epic tho so i wouldnt worry too much. plus theres always a surprise or 2 at E3