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[Zeus The Dino]

Eh, 343 is throwing Halo down the shitter. They can't handle the franchise well at all. Halo 5 was supposed to be their 3rd times the charm. I've written essays on this, smh.
Microsoft really just needs to hand the franchise off to a more competent developer.

 

[Kayant]

Arguably, the US is the most important market. I'm not saying they wouldn't like to be stronger elsewhere, but they simply HAVE to win the US. People spend more on gaming here than anywhere else on the planet.

True although personally I don't see scorpion helping them to fully realise that goal but we shall see how it works for me.

 

[crab rangoon]

Xbox One expectations 2013: One ... billion.

https://www.vg247.com/2013/05/24/xbox-one-microsoft-aims-for-1-billion-lifetime-sales-100-million-xbox-360-units/

So funny.

That's not even close to what is being stated in that article.

 

[Bgamer90]

Maybe in the markets where Xbox brand is strong like UK/US else where I doubt that plays much of a role.

Agree. Playstation was still stronger in areas outside of US/UK when the brand had weaker multiplats.

 

[KinofChaos]

Arguably, the US is the most important market. I'm not saying they wouldn't like to be stronger elsewhere, but they simply HAVE to win the US. People spend more on gaming here than anywhere else on the planet.

The US is the single biggest region, but if you total up all other regions it's bigger then the US, just look at PS4 sales, the bulk come from outside the US.

 

[Zedox]

UWP and unified devices is Nadella's initiaitive. Xbox is just another division going that direction because that is the mandate from up top.

http://www.wired.com/2014/07/unified-windows/

Unified devices was Ballmer. Nadella just goes with it.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2044126/one-microsoft-all-the-time-what-ballmers-newly-unified-vision-could-mean-to-you.html

^ basically this. Ballmer started the "One Microsoft" initiative basically right after they didn't have the DOJ watching their every move.

 

[JaggedSac]

Eh, 343 is throwing Halo down the shitter. They can't handle the franchise well at all. Halo 5 was supposed to be their 3rd times the charm. I've written essays on this, smh.
Microsoft really just needs to hand the franchise off to a more competent developer.

Problem with this statement is that Halo 5 is fantastic. Halo hasn't played this well since 2.

 

[shoreu]

I give props to Phil for BC, gamer tag revival but mostly everything else is basically duh or reactionary or about time you stopped being backwards greedy gits as an example the Gold restriction for apps such as YouTube, Netflix, IE! Microsoft just got forced into not being twats. Phil has had some time and we will probably see what a new direction under him and Nadella is like with Xbox so no Mattrick excuses now. I do like how Phil is more open to chatting even though it's PR, he at least tries to give something, discusses and is generally easy going.

We'll hopefully get to see his true vision with Scorpio then we'll get a real feel for the guy no excuses no bs this is all gonna be on him.

Also you changed your avatar when the hell did this happen

UWP and unified devices is Nadella's initiaitive. Xbox is just another division going that direction because that is the mandate from up top.

http://www.wired.com/2014/07/unified-windows/

So I'm to believe that Phil has had no input on any of these initiatives, done nothing on his own and practically been a figure head. I'm not buying it lol.

 

[Bgamer90]

The majority of consumers couldn't care any less about that. The only people that will buy the Scorpio are people who already own a Xbone, same goes for Neo.

Majority is possible but I wouldn't say "only".

 

[crab rangoon]

Eh, 343 is throwing Halo down the shitter. They can't handle the franchise well at all. Halo 5 was supposed to be their 3rd times the charm. I've written essays on this, smh.
Microsoft really just needs to hand the franchise off to a more competent developer.

It was only the 2nd Halo game they actually developed. The first of which sold extremely well even after a slow start. What does you writing random essays prove? o.0

 

[KinofChaos]

We'll hopefully get to see his true vision with Scorpio then we'll get a real feel for the guy no excuses no bs this is all gonna be on him.

Also you changed your avatar when the hell did this happen


So I'm to believe that Phil has had no input on any of these initiatives, done nothing on his own and practically been a figure head. I'm not buying it lol.

No one said he had no input, nice strawman....but it is the mandate from the top down. That's how business works.

 

[hampig]

I can't imagine they have the data to where this is what they are referring to.

...You don't think they have data on the computers that run Windows 10?

 

[Z3M0G]

Is it possible that Notch sold the Minecraft studio and IP JUST before the bubble has burst?

Has it burst? How else could it have been a "big miss" of expectations? There are already so many people and kids playing the game... who else were they aiming to pull in?

 

[shoreu]

No one said he had no input, nice strawman....but it is the mandate from the top down. That's how business works.

Lol my whole point what that Phil has been a part of making the console better and he has. Your previous insinuations have pretty much been any turn around has been because of someone else or bound to happen regardless with or without him. Some changes yes but his presence has definitely changed things

 

[Zeus The Dino]

Problem with this statement is that Halo 5 is fantastic. Halo hasn't played this well since 2.

The gameplay is definitely a step up from Halo 4, but everything else? Campaign wasn't good in my opinion, REQ System is horrible for people that dont play Warzone, no social playlists, no split screen, shitty UI, etc.
The game doesn't feel like Halo for me.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Is it possible that Notch sold the Minecraft studio and IP JUST before the bubble has burst?

Has it burst? How else could it have been a "big miss" of expectations? There are already so many people and kids playing the game... who else were they aiming to pull in?

Younger kids get to the game playing age everyday.

 

[darkinstinct]

Eh, 343 is throwing Halo down the shitter. They can't handle the franchise well at all. Halo 5 was supposed to be their 3rd times the charm. I've written essays on this, smh.
Microsoft really just needs to hand the franchise off to a more competent developer.

Halo 5 was their second game. MCC is not done by them, they just took it over when it turned out the mess it was and started fixing it. And both Halo 4 and 5 offer great levels. What they totally failed at is enemy design (all the Prathorians just suck more than the Flood ever did) and that large scale battle feeling. You always feel like a commando, not like a superhero deciding a war. And they fucked up by making H5 not a Masterchief game. Because of greed, if it had worked we would get yearly Halo FPS with Locke one year and MC the next. All of those can be fixed. They just need to focus on these things and stop trying to chase the multiplayer audience. They are gone, Halo is no CoD or Battlefield/Battlefront. Halo is frustrating for average players.

 

[gamz]

Is it possible that Notch sold the Minecraft studio and IP JUST before the bubble has burst?

Has it burst? How else could it have been a "big miss" of expectations? There are already so many people and kids playing the game... who else were they aiming to pull in?

lol

More kids.

 

[jelly]

Eh, 343 is throwing Halo down the shitter. They can't handle the franchise well at all. Halo 5 was supposed to be their 3rd times the charm. I've written essays on this, smh.
Microsoft really just needs to hand the franchise off to a more competent developer.

Frankie got promoted to franchise director. All hail the conquering hero.

 

[Zeus The Dino]

It was only the 2nd Halo game they actually developed. The first of which sold extremely well even after a slow start. What does you writing random essays prove? o.0

MCC? That was in their hands, and they fucked it up at release and acted like it was fine up to the midnight launch.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

I bet it takes MS 10 years to break even on the Minecraft deal .The inevitable movie would have to be a 1+ billion dollar box office to change that.

 

[LegalEagleMike]

Parts of this article are obviously true, other parts seem exaggerated such as windows 10 and minecraft performance. Reads to me like a disgruntled ex employee covering up for Fable Legends. I played the beta for a while, the game would have sucked no matter how many potential customers it had.

 

[KinofChaos]

Lol my whole point what that Phil has been a part of making the console better and he has. Your previous insinuations have pretty much been any turn around has been because of someone else or bound to happen regardless with or without him. Some changes yes but his presence has definitely changed things

You're seeing things that do not exist, as the face of xbox he has done a good job , all I am saying is people put too much stock into him and him alone "Turning" things around. Xbox direction at the end of the day is determined by MS executives at the top and the business direction they want to go. Phil has a part to play in it obviously and has done some good things. People just take the "Phil turned Xbox around" things way to far. They only had one direction to go.

 

[SpartanN92]

Eh, 343 is throwing Halo down the shitter. They can't handle the franchise well at all. Halo 5 was supposed to be their 3rd times the charm. I've written essays on this, smh.
Microsoft really just needs to hand the franchise off to a more competent developer.

No the developers are competent. Halo 4 & 5 were both competent games. No need to throw the baby out with the bath water.

It's the final decision makers at 343 that need to be axed.
I'm talking the person that read Halo 5's script and said "Okay this works."
I'm talking the person who looked at the redesigns for Elites/Jackals/Spartans/Weapons/Vehicles etc and said "Okay this looks kinda like Halo. It works."
I'm talking the person who looked at Sprint, Ground Pound, Spartan Charge, Random Weapon Drops, Promethean Vision etc and said "Okay this works"
I'm talking the person who read Nightfalls script, all the recent Halo novels and comics and said "Fuck the story. This works."
And finally I'm talking the person who after I assume received numerous bug reports from MCC and still said anyway "Okay this works."


Whoever the final decision makers are at 343 THOSE are the people who need to be gone.

 

[Bits N Pieces]

Lol my whole point what that Phil has been a part of making the console better and he has. Your previous insinuations have pretty much been any turn around has been because of someone else or bound to happen regardless with or without him. Some changes yes but his presence has definitely changed things

Nah, you're wrong. You haven't been sitting in the Microsoft Entertainment and Devices quarterly meetings like KinofChaos has. He's seen everyone else first hand putting their ideas forward and trying to define their roadmap and long term goals whilst Phil just sits their pinging elastic bands at Terry Myerson whilst wearing a Phantom Dust t-shirt

 

[AmFreak]

The only rumor/news is Minecraft.

 

[CoG]

Lol my whole point what that Phil has been a part of making the console better and he has. Your previous insinuations have pretty much been any turn around has been because of someone else or bound to happen regardless with or without him. Some changes yes but his presence has definitely changed things

He's doing incremental things that appeal mainly to hardcore fans. Nothing he's done really demonstrates vision or will grow the brand in any material way. Plus it seems like he's getting pulled into supporting Windows 10 by his superiors.

 

[jelly]

Halo 5 was their second game. MCC is not done by them, they just took it over when it turned out the mess it was and started fixing it. And both Halo 4 and 5 offer great levels. What they totally failed at is enemy design (all the Prathorians just suck more than the Flood ever did) and that large scale battle feeling. You always feel like a commando, not like a superhero deciding a war. And they fucked up by making H5 not a Masterchief game. Because of greed, if it had worked we would get yearly Halo FPS with Locke one year and MC the next. All of those can be fixed. They just need to focus on these things and stop trying to chase the multiplayer audience. They are gone, Halo is no CoD or Battlefield/Battlefront. Halo is frustrating for average players.

MCC is 343 and Phil Spencer's fault. They oversee everything Halo and Phil could have delayed that mess if he actually cared about shipping a good product. He chased Xbox console sales and got burned twice, poor sales and tainting Halo even more.

 

[Bastables]

Just read that part, maybe new thread worthy?



Halo was obvious but Minecraft is a surprise... their expectations must have been ridiculously high considering it's still selling loads[b/]. But I doubt they're worried about Minecraft all they have to do is pop out a sequel and rake in the cash.

Reframe your disbelief by thinking about Windows 10 minecraft.

 

[Zeus The Dino]

No the developers are competent. Halo 4 & 5 were both competent games. No need to throw the baby out with the bath water.

It's the final decision makers at 343 that need to be axed.
I'm talking the person that read Halo 5's script and said "Okay this works."
I'm talking the person who looked at the redesigns for Elites/Jackals/Spartans/Weapons/Vehicles etc and said "Okay this looks kinda like Halo. It works."
I'm talking the person who looked at Sprint, Ground Pound, Spartan Charge, Random Weapon Drops, Promethean Vision etc and said "Okay this works"
I'm talking the person who read Nightfalls script, all the recent Halo novels and comics and said "Fuck the story. This works."
And finally I'm talking the person who after I assume received numerous bug reports from MCC and still said anyway "Okay this works."


Whoever the final decision makers are at 343 THOSE are the people who need to be gone.

I agree.

 

[jelly]

.

 

[KinofChaos]

Nah, you're wrong. You haven't been sitting in the Microsoft Entertainment and Devices quarterly meetings like KinofChaos has. He's seen everyone else first hand putting their ideas forward and trying to define their roadmap and long term goals whilst Phil just sits their pinging elastic bands at Terry Myerson whilst wearing a Phantom Dust t-shirt

Yeah that's what I said..yikes. Do you know how business works? I never said or implied anything like you are saying, nice shit post though. Your post is as bad as those who blame mattrick for everything and no one else was responsible.

 

[Aceofspades]

All makes sense, except Minecraft.
How 53,000k average per day years after release is below expectations?

They bought it for 2.5 BILLION. Companies don't spend that amount just to lose it, someone must have convinced the board at MS with crazy stupid forcast of Mincraft IP.

 

[DeepEnigma]

You're seeing things that do not exist, as the face of xbox he has done a good job , all I am saying is people put too much stock into him and him alone "Turning" things around. Xbox direction at the end of the day is determined by MS executives at the top and the business direction they want to go. Phil has a part to play in it obviously and has done some good things. People just take the "Phil turned Xbox around" things way to far. They only had one direction to go.

Well, how else can one's spin the narrative that Don Mattrick was the 'sole reason' for the initial fuck ups then?

 

[Bits N Pieces]

Yeah that's what I said..yikes. Do you know how business works? I never said or implied anything like you are saying, nice shit post though.

I failed trying to do a funny

 

[darkinstinct]

I bet it takes MS 10 years to break even on the Minecraft deal .The inevitable movie would have to be a 1+ billion dollar box office to change that.

10 years sounds about right. Not what they expected when they made the deal, though:

http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-to-break-even-with-minecraft-in-1-year-15346357/

So yeah, it was supposed to drive Windows 10 adoption and sell a copy to one hundred million Windows 10 PC's each while doing so.

 

[BlindJesus]

Younger kids get to the game playing age everyday.

Pretty much. Microsoft didn't buy 'Minecraft' the game, they bought 'Minecraft' the brand. It's essentially Legos to the new generation, there will be movies, countless spinoffs, and tons of merchandise they'll be profiting off for years.

 

[Starfield]

Thing is, consoles are lead by hype, hardware and chatter

These 3 words co-exist and form a succesful console, the 1# leader.



PS4 got the hardware, the hype and the chatter.

If Scorpio will have a better (marketed) hardware it will get more chatter and thus more hype.

Obviously alot of other and smaller things are playing into this aswell like exclusive games, brand image, etc

 

[Zeus The Dino]

Halo 5 was their second game. MCC is not done by them, they just took it over when it turned out the mess it was and started fixing it. And both Halo 4 and 5 offer great levels. What they totally failed at is enemy design (all the Prathorians just suck more than the Flood ever did) and that large scale battle feeling. You always feel like a commando, not like a superhero deciding a war. And they fucked up by making H5 not a Masterchief game. Because of greed, if it had worked we would get yearly Halo FPS with Locke one year and MC the next. All of those can be fixed. They just need to focus on these things and stop trying to chase the multiplayer audience. They are gone, Halo is no CoD or Battlefield/Battlefront. Halo is frustrating for average players.

This reminds me of a comment I saw a few days ago

"343 can't handle Halo. 343 has proven they can't manage the franchise. Halo 4, while the story was better than Halo 5's was still shit because it relied on the player to know the lore behind the Forerunners. I didn't, I had only read the first 3 books and was confused as shit when the Didact showed up. I shouldn't have had to go to Halopedia to understand what the hell was going on. The multiplayer for Halo 4 was just playing catch up to CoD and it failed. The player retention on 4 was terrible. MCC was a disaster. The launch was a wreck and it took them forever to fix it. Halo 5 is a total fucking train wreck. The UI, story, and art design is all shit. That's the only way to describe it. 343 was created to carry on Bungie's legacy. They've utterly failed to do that. They took a sharpie, wrote "Property of 343", shit on it, then threw it at us. I get that Halo had to change to maintain its popularity, but instead of building on all the good things that Bungie had done, they ignored it and tried to make it too much of their own thing. They disrespected Halo."

 

[KinofChaos]

I failed trying to do a funny

Oh my bad then, maybe I suck at detecting humour .

 

[Chris1]

They bought it for 2.5 BILLION. Companies don't spend that amount just to lose it, someone must have convinced the board at MS with crazy stupid forcast of Mincraft IP.

They didn't buy Minecraft to make 2.5B back

They bought Minecraft for 2.5B because it will generate more money than sitting collecting interest, which it is. If they didn't buy Minecraft, they would be making less money today.

They didn't "lose" money, they're actually making money from spending that 2.5B.

For example if 2.5bill nets $100k interest per day, but Minecraft brings in $500k profit per day, which would you rather invest your 2.5bill in?

 

[icespide]

Thing is, consoles are lead by hype, hardware and chatter

These 3 words co-exist and form a succesful console, the 1# leader.



PS4 got the hardware, the hype and the chatter.

If Scorpio will have a better (marketed) hardware it will get more chatter and thus more hype.

Obviously alot of other and smaller things are playing into this aswell like exclusive games, brand image, etc

you're underestimating how important price is

 

[Barack Lesnar]

10 years sounds about right. Not what they expected when they made the deal, though:

http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-to-break-even-with-minecraft-in-1-year-15346357/

So yeah, it was supposed to drive Windows 10 adoption and sell a copy to one hundred million Windows 10 PC's each while doing so.

Ohhhh my god...they expected to break even in 1 year? Hahahaha beyond delusional

 

[shoreu]

You're seeing things that do not exist, as the face of xbox he has done a good job , all I am saying is people put too much stock into him and him alone "Turning" things around. Xbox direction at the end of the day is determined by MS executives at the top and the business direction they want to go. Phil has a part to play in it obviously and has done some good things. People just take the "Phil turned Xbox around" things way to far. They only had one direction to go.

Honestly you've said my point him and his team have done a good job that's all I was trying to say and that he's been a big part of that as well.

 

[Chris1]

Ohhhh my god...they expected to break even in 1 year? Hahahaha beyond delusional

On a GAAP basis

That's different to breaking even on 2.5bill (I made the same mistake too, a while back )

 

[crab rangoon]

MCC? That was in their hands, and they fucked it up at release and acted like it was fine up to the midnight launch.

They didn't develop that in the sense I assumed you were using. They coordinated the efforts of several other studios who iirc did the legwork (Ruffian, Saber, United Front and Certain Affinity). And they had no way of being made aware of the MP issues prior to launch due to how their playtesting worked.

 

[Chezzymann]

Minecraft literally can't be a miss. It sold 50 million since their acquisition. If they expected it to sell more than that they're clinically insane.

Unless they're talking about first party platforms.

 

[icespide]

developers should not be blamed for how bad MCC was IMO, that blame should all go to Microsoft

 

[Pif]

Minecraft may be a miss on their own piece of shit store. Only there, son.

 

[J_Viper]

Problem with this statement is that Halo 5 is fantastic.

If that were actually true, we wouldn't be discussing its underperformance.

Not to say that there aren't great games that sell poorly, but when the latest installment of MS's flagship franchise fails to make any impact, there's clearly something wrong with the product.