MS: "Fewer but better games from now on"

[Jack]

Silicon Valley article

The company will produce fewer titles, but pour more resources into each one so that they make the Xbox stand out from the other consoles.

Isn't this basically what Nintendo have been saying for a while now?

[Juria]

They've not really done it though

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: A while? Nintendo've been screaming it at the top of their lungs for the past few years.

And make the Xbox stand out? Doesn't it do that already with it's current games-portfolio?

[mr. fancypants]

They've not really done it though

They did it with the N64..

[Juria]

And you can name the good games on one hand before it died (after making that promise)

1. Zelda

2. Zelda

3. Paper Mario

....

[Project 2501]

And you can name the good games on one hand before it died

Wrong.

[Qazimod]

And you can name the good games on one hand before it died

Debatable.

[dr_lha]

And make the Xbox stand out? Doesn't it do that already with it's current games-portfolio?

Not really I'll be honest.

Halo is pretty much the only notable Xbox exclusive game. Xbox Live is great, but in reality only appeals to a minority of gamers (see the percentage of people with Xboxes who have Live). Other than that it has some marmite games (KOTOR), some semi-exclusive games (Splinter Cell) and the virtue of having the "best version" of a lot of 2nd rate cross platform fodder.

As someone who is considering buying an Xbox in the next month or so, I have to say I don't reallly know what games I'd buy for it. Nothing really excites me that much.

EDIT: Ninja Gaiden perhaps as well as Halo? Although the buzz on that faded pretty quickly from what I gather its amazingly high level of difficultly.

[Alex W.]

And you can name the good games on one hand before it died (after making that promise)

1. Zelda

2. Zelda

3. Paper Mario

....

Yes, hence FEWER but BETTER games.

[Hawkeye]

And you can name the good games on one hand before it died (after making that promise)

1. Zelda

2. Zelda

3. Paper Mario

....

Are you honestly trying to say that is the only three good games on the N64? I can think of three great games at the launch myself (Mario 64/Pilotwings 64/Wave Race 64), nevermind the rest.

Oh, and the Xbox has plenty of exclusive games worth picking it up for as do all three of the current home consoles.

[dr_lha]

Oh, and the Xbox has plenty of exclusive games worth picking it up for as do all three of the current home consoles.

For the interests of helping me when I buy my Xbox, can you name some please? BTW - I'm not interested in any FPSes or anything that has the words "Tom Clancy" on the box. I'm not trying to be funny here, I'm genuinely struggling to figure out what I want to buy with the Xbox.

[Juria]

Are you honestly trying to say that is the only three good games on the N64?

no. read it again.

[Cyhwuhx]

Not really I'll be honest.

Halo is pretty much the only notable Xbox exclusive game. Xbox Live is great, but in reality only appeals to a minority of gamers (see the percentage of people with Xboxes who have Live). Other than that it has some marmite games (KOTOR), some semi-exclusive games (Splinter Cell) and the virtue of having the "best version" of a lot of 2nd rate cross platform fodder.

As someone who is considering buying an Xbox in the next month or so, I have to say I don't reallly know what games I'd buy for it. Nothing really excites me that much.

EDIT: Ninja Gaiden perhaps as well as Halo? Although the buzz on that faded pretty quickly from what I gather its amazingly high level of difficultly.

.::: Sorry, I didn't mean specific games. I was more thinking along the lines of genres. Xbox is very genre-specific to the common man.

So in that respect the Xbox already stands out. At least that's what I notice around here.

[Ebisumaru]

no. read it again.

But Nintendo always placed their bets on a 'quality, not quantity' ethos with the N64 from day one, remember the shambles that was their 'dream team' policy?

[Saburouta]

Isn't this basically what Nintendo have been saying for a while now?

I'm sure when the GC came out that I read about an emphasis on lots of short (6-8 hour) games, or something to that effect.

EDIT: Ninja Gaiden perhaps as well as Halo? Although the buzz on that faded pretty quickly from what I gather its amazingly high level of difficultly.

It's not that difficult, it just requires some perseverance instead of simply button bashing and cat-like reflexes.

[Cyhwuhx]

It's not that difficult, it just requires some perseverance instead of simply button bashing and cat-like reflexes.

.::: Considering your name you should know people are not going to accept that, though.

[New York Mikey]

For the interests of helping me when I buy my Xbox, can you name some please? BTW - I'm not interested in any FPSes or anything that has the words "Tom Clancy" on the box. I'm not trying to be funny here, I'm genuinely struggling to figure out what I want to buy with the Xbox.

Check ATF, I think a topic or two like this flies past each month..

Oh and get it chipped!

[dr_lha]

It's not that difficult, it just requires some perseverance instead of simply button bashing and cat-like reflexes.

I haven't played it so can't comment. All I was saying is that people raved about this game for about a week and then have been silent ever since. Compare to Halo where people still rave about it on a daily basis.

I wondered about the extreme difficultly being the reason for this because I noticed the same thing with F-Zero GX, it was raved about initially but was so fucking hard that a lot of people (myself included) gave up trying to beat it.

[dr_lha]

Oh and get it chipped!

Yes, well that was going to be my primary reason for getting one I'll freely admit.

[Burai]

It's a good idea to be honest.

Microsoft's original plan was to throw money at every genre and get an example of each.

Under the new regime, stuff like Kakuto Chojin, Quantum Redshift, Voodoo Vince, Bruce Lee, Nezmix and Brute Force would never have happened or happened better than they did. Instead, the money would have been poured into games like True Fantasy Live Online or to improve games with a lot of potential. That game in particular NEEDED to be out months ago. Xbox needs a Japanese RPG something chronic and without those dead horses hanging round Microsoft's neck, they'd have been able to get the game out faster.

All of those games I mentioned smack of third party filler, not first party titles. First party games should set the standard of what a game on a console should be and for third parties to aspire to. This new emphasis will acheive that I have no doubt.

[Pow]

I think the buzz died down a bit on Ninja Gaiden becuase it still isn't actually out here yet :/

[dr_lha]

I think the buzz died down a bit on Ninja Gaiden becuase it still isn't actually out here yet :/

Its not? Ah OK.

[PopeSmokesDope]

I'm sure when the GC came out that I read about an emphasis on lots of short (6-8 hour) games, or something to that effect.

It's not that difficult, it just requires some perseverance instead of simply button bashing and cat-like reflexes.

Yeah, but the fuckers are still charging us top whack for em.

[Venice Cull]

As someone who is considering buying an Xbox in the next month or so, I have to say I don't reallly know what games I'd buy for it. Nothing really excites me that much.

For the interests of helping me when I buy my Xbox, can you name some please? BTW - I'm not interested in any FPSes or anything that has the words "Tom Clancy" on the box. I'm not trying to be funny here, I'm genuinely struggling to figure out what I want to buy with the Xbox.

Did someone put a gun to your head and order you down to Dixons? I mean, clearly you don't want one, so don't get one. It's easy! You've saved yourself £100+

If something disgusted me that much I certainly wouldn't make a purchase. Don't beat yourself up about it man.

All I was saying is that people raved about this game for about a week and then have been silent ever since. Compare to Halo where people still rave about it on a daily basis.

You can always tell if a game is genuinly great by whether or not there is still a 'buzz' about it a month or so after release. I've noticed far too many high profile titles getting the 'all quiet' treatment on forums a week or so after release.

Under the new regime, stuff like Kakuto Chojin, Quantum Redshift, Voodoo Vince, Bruce Lee, Nezmix and Brute Force would never have happened or happened better than they did.

Doesn't that smack of the 'Seal of Quality'? Aren't 'Brute Force' and 'Quantum Redshift' quite good?

[Burai]

Quite good yes.

But under the new regime they would have been fucking amazing.

[The Liberal Elite]

"Company say they will do better"

headline of the year. Whoopy doo!

[dr_lha]

Did someone put a gun to your head and order you down to Dixons? I mean, clearly you don't want one, so don't get one. It's easy! You've saved yourself £100+.

Well I want one for chipping (which honestly looks to be well worth the money), but as a bonus surely its great to have another console with all the exclusive games that that brings. I just can't figure out what games I want for it!

You can always tell if a game is genuinly great by whether or not there is still a 'buzz' about it a month or so after release. I've noticed far too many high profile titles getting the 'all quiet' treatment on forums a week or so after release.

Exactly the point I was trying to make. Definitely get this feeling about Ninja Gaiden. Maybe I'll reevaluate after its released over there, sans decapitations.

[Venice Cull]

I just can't figure out what games I want for it!

Mate, there are stacks and stacks of great, fun, georgous games available. You should pop your head out of sugary land once in a while and have a look, try something different. Your "anti-FPS/Clancy" stance is no different than someone saying "I quite fancy a gamecube, but kids games don't interest me".

If all that matters is 'gameplay' then why would something like a realistic looking car or game character get in the way of having a bit of a doss?

Remember all those PS1 games, that were a bit of a 'turd' because they were trying to push realism on hardware that couldn't do it justice? Well, hardware now can do it justice, and the games are pretty damn fine.

An X-Box or a PS2 provides the perfect balance to Nintendo gaming and visa-versa. Don't let something as stupid as loyalty get in the way of having a decent, balanced gaming diet. Especially seeing as you have the cash to do it.

[dr_lha]

Mate, there are stacks and stacks of great, fun, georgous games available. You should pop your head out of sugary land once in a while and have a look, try something different. Your "anti-FPS/Clancy" stance is no different than someone saying "I quite fancy a gamecube, but kids games don't interest me".

If all that matters is 'gameplay' then why would something like a realistic looking car or game character get in the way of having a bit of a doss?

Remember all those PS1 games, that were a bit of a 'turd' because they were trying to push realism on hardware that couldn't do it justice? Well, hardware now can do it justice, and the games are pretty damn fine.

An X-Box or a PS2 provides the perfect balance to Nintendo gaming and visa-versa. Don't let something as stupid as loyalty get in the way of having a decent, balanced gaming diet. Especially seeing as you have the cash to do it.

Err... OK. I have no idea where you get your ideas as to what games I like, perhaps because of my avatar you think I'm some Nintendo fanboy who hates the Xbox or something. Not true. I have owned a PS2 since about 2 months after the US launch, and have enjoyed many "mature" and "realistic" games on that. I'm a huge fan of GTA for example, own all the GT games, love Metal Gear, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy, Suikoden etc....

My anti-FPS/Clancy is basically due to the fact that I have played those games and don't enjoy them. Yes - I have played Splinter Cell and geniunely didn't enjoy it that much. Halo I would probably get though. The Ghost Recon games I've played on PC and didn't like them. This is not some weird loyaty thing - its a genuine opinion.

I'm still sitting here scratching my head trying to figure out where you get the ideas you just posted I'm afraid.

[ianwuk]

I think that this new approach is something that could pay off ot could backfire, it all depends on how Microsoft decide to deal with it. If the fewer games were better than the collective of all the average Xbox titles then that is great, I actually really liked Quantum Redshift, because Halo is still the only Xbox title that everyone knows.

The PS2 has more of these titles (GTA III, MGS 2 etc.) and so hopefully the new policy for Microsoft might help them to tip the scales in their favour, as mentioned, it means Xbox gamers won't be subjected to the likes of Brute Force again which is a good thing!.