Despite the fact that Microsoft has found quite a bit of success with the Xbox 360 sales-wise, many would argue that the company has failed in elevating the platform to new heights over the past few years.
One such individual is Nat Brown, a former engineer at Microsoft responsible for creating the company's original game console back in 1999. Brown recently posted an article titled "Stupid, Stupid Xbox" on his blog, where he explores how the company has totally dropped the ball.
"The past 5 years, and the last year in particular, have been simply painful to watch," Brown explains. "Coasting on past momentum. Failing to innovate and failing to capitalize on innovations like Kinect. Touting strategic and market success when you’re just experiencing your competitor’s stumbling failure (yes, Sony, Nintendo – you are, I’m afraid, stumbling failures). A complete lack of tactical versus strategic understanding of the long game of the living room."
Brown goes on to emphasize that while yes, they should be expanding their services beyond just games, their core focus should still be on the gamer. "No, more and better content was always the point and the plan. My gripe is that, as usual, Microsoft has jumped its own shark and is out stomping through the weeds planning and talking about far-flung future strategies in interactive television and original programming partnerships with big dying media companies when their core product, their home town is on fire, their soldiers, their developers, are tired and deserting, and their supply-lines are broken."
Do you agree with Mr. Brown? Has Microsoft missed the mark? Will they be able to get things back on track or do you see them going completely off the rails with the Xbox 720?
[Via]
