DAILY MANIFESTO

Microsoft Unclear About Future of Core 360 Titles

Posted on Friday, January 7 @ 09:39:20 Eastern by Anthony Severino

Ever since Sony and Microsoft launched their own version of motion-controls this past fall, the two console manufacturers have went down completely different paths with their software line-up. Sony has touted their PlayStation Move controller as an option for both casual and hardcore titles, all while sending a clear message that they won't be abandoning traditionally-controlled core titles. Microsoft, on the other hand is clearly pushing Kinect toward casual gamers, and their core line-up has suffered because of it.

Microsoft has said time and time again, that 2011 is the year of Kinect. But as far as their plans go for core titles, well, they seem to keep dwelling on the past. In a recent interview with IGN, David Dennis, Microsoft's Group Manager for Public Relations, was asked about the future of hardcore games on the Xbox 360.

Obviously we're very excited by the success of Kinect

But we have no intention of abandoning the Xbox 360 audience that bought in originally. We're very aware of the key role the enthusiastic core audience played in making the Xbox 360 what it is, and we'll continue to support and develop (titles) like Halo and Gears of War.

Halo and Gears of War? Apparently, any core gamers wanting a fresh experience or IP will have to look to Kinect. Granted, Gears of War 3 is on the horizon for 2011, and is very much anticipated by Xbox 360 owners, but aside from that, Microsoft doesn't have much in the way of core titles that they've announced thus far. IGN says that Dennis does admit that they have unannounced core exclusives in development, but didn't discuss details. These unannounced titles would have to be far along in production to release in 2011. Any longer than that and MS could lose the grasp they have on core gamers.

Meanwhile, Sony's stable of first-party exclusives is looking better than ever, having announced release dates for key franchises like Uncharted 3 and Resistance 3 at the Spike TV Video Game Awards. And even though those titles won't be releasing until late in 2011, Sony has the rest of the year covered starting as soon as next week with LittleBigPlanet 2. Following in February is Killzone 3.

Strangely, Sony seems to be dropping the ball with their PlayStation Move motion-controller, as there are only a handful of worthy first-party titles focused on the device.

2011 is going to be a huge year for gaming, and we fully expect both Sony and Microsoft to announce plenty more casual and core games throughout the year, but at the moment, it's clear which console is going to win with the core crowd for the majority of 2011.

Comments

Mobius_Sean
Joined: Sep 2006

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Weeeeell... That's focusing pretty narrowly on first party software. Granted, I have all 3 systems so I'm not exactly starved for choice, but I don't see MS forcing kinect into racing games, or for example, Mass Effect. Granted, this is MS so they have every capability of making me eat my words with a nice helping of regret-sauce, but anyone looking straight at MS as the sole supplier of their gaming experiences is going to miss out on some great 3rd parties. As long as Sony doesn't try to force move on uncharted 3, (remember how much sixaxis among thieves didn't have?) their first party titles will have a slight edge among the hardcore, but 3rd party titles, especially the multiplatform ones, will make a buying choice come down to pretty much which system gamers have at the moment. Although: Uncharted is worth getting a ps3 for. Just gettin it out there ;-)

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danielrbischoff
Joined: Nov 2009

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 10:25 am
Exactly why I picked up a PS3 over the holiday. Not to mention all of the multiplat titles that are being developed on the PS3 first now that devs know what they're doing with Cell.

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doa766
Joined: Jan 2011

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 10:34 am
nothing unclear about it: they dumped their core base to focus on Kinect, even MS executives had come out and said exactly that

Gears 3 is only happening because great games nowadays come in trilogies for some reason, othwerwise they would never spend that much money on a core game for a new IP at this point

if you are a core gamer PS3 is your only home now

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Nick_Tan
Joined: Jul 2006

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 10:38 am
I actually think the Xbox 360 lineup looks strong, and that this is just a sign that console exclusives just don't make much sense financially anymore. There's a difference between "core" and "exclusive".

In the next three months: Child of Eden, Dead Space 2, Dragon Age 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Fight Night Champion, FEAR 3, Homefront, Knights Contract, Marvel vs Capcom 3, Michael Jackson: The Experience, Mortal Kombat, NASCAR, Shift 2 Unleashed, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Top Spin 4, Tiger Woods 12: The Masters.

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Eyebrowsbv31
Joined: Nov 2005

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 10:50 am
^Outside of three on that list (which I'm not sure about) are any of those original or new IPs? The vidjah game world has really stagnated in the last 2 years, nothing new, no originals, no risk. It's really lame. I'm seeing all these sequels turning into a sort of extended grunting and conversation match like in the Dragonball Z days, are video games just becoming drawn out stories like crap anime. I want games like FLCL, not naruto, damnit.

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Anthony_Severino
Joined: Oct 2010

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 11:32 am
@ Nick - All of those games can also be found on the PS3. The addition of some solid first-party titles make the overall line-up that much more appealing.

For a long time, there was no point in owning a PS3 since Xbox 360 had the better exclusives, now it's completely opposite. It's just strange to see MS kind of giving up on core exclusive games.

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Nick_Tan
Joined: Jul 2006

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 11:43 am
@Eyebrowsbv31: The amount of sequels and franchise branding in video game will always trump new IPs. In fact, we are at a point of stabilization and refinement than innovative ideas. But I think that motion gaming has been the riskier, more innovative venture within the last year, as well as the rise of downloadable content. If the question of innovation should be directed anywhere, it's there.

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Nick_Tan
Joined: Jul 2006

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 11:52 am
@Anthony_Severino: I'm actually not surprised that Microsoft is moving away from core exclusives. The main point of an exclusive is to convince people to pick up your system, and at this point, the Xbox 360 userbase is quite full. The number of people who have a PS3 and do not have an Xbox 360 is marginal.

The PS3 is (still) playing catch-up in the US right now, and I don't think Killzone 3, Little Big Planet 2, Yakuza 4, Resistance 3, or Uncharted 3 is going to change anyone's minds on how they feel about those franchises already. The only exception in my mind is The Last Guardian. But as far as exclusives are concerned, Microsoft is focusing not just on the Kinect but on downloadable content, which the Xbox 360 clearly excels at.

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Blueindian3
Joined: Jan 2011

Posted: Jan 7th, 2011 at 11:53 am
I love my xbox mostly cuz it's been rocking till now , and I love the controller triggers rule . but I love uncharted and killzone also , and I alwAys brag on the box , but continued system failure and lack of games might make me start building on my ps3 library beyond three games , whoever makes a xbox cloned controller for ps3 that works proper will make fortune , kinect making me nervous

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Jesse_Costantino
Joined: Sep 2007

Posted: Jan 10th, 2011 at 9:59 am
@Nick: You're forgetting the other major player in this "arms race." The biggest risks and innovations aren't happening in motion control. They're in the portable space (primarily iPhone development).

But the even bigger wild card is that the recent security failure on the PS3 is going to have some bizarre side-effects--not the least of which could be a spike in hardware sales alongside a drop in software sales (similar to what happened with the PSP after it was hacked).

This won't affect ongoing third-party development for 2011, but it could affect software sales--which in turn could have a big negative effect on third-party development thereafter (again, much like the PSP).

As stoked as I am about the PS3's 2011 lineup, it may not be enough to fight off a bullish iPhone market, a bullish Kinect market, a persistent Wii market, and a disastrous security failure.

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Killyourself
Joined: Jan 2011

Posted: Jan 10th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Microsoft is a complete rip off. Im trading in my 360 for a Ps3 very soon.

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Blazin13
Joined: Dec 2010

Posted: Jan 11th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Hey Blueindian3 check out PS3 controllers made by the company POWERA they have controllers that have the same layout and feel as microsoft 360 controllers and they're high quality as well. I've had hands on time with them (I work at a local video game retailer) and I was very impressed.

As for the loss of core title support on the 360 I'm inclined to agree. However as is stated previously in this thread the 360 has a larger and more robust community and therefore would be more receptive to the Kinect than the move and in terms of actual sales and sales numbers through my employer has been. I own both systems so thankfully I don't have to choose

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TurinAlexander
Joined: Sep 2006

Posted: Jan 14th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Meh, I have both a 360 and PS3. If MS wants to dick around with silly motion controls instead of creating quality games, I'll just stop buying games for 360 and concentrate on my PS3.

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