In tomorrow's Metro (my day job for the next week before I go Hollywood), I'm running a column on Microsoft and their ever-increasing role in building a solid gaming community. Whether or not you're fully aware, the big M is head and shoulders above both Sony and Nintendo as far as building awareness and responding to problems -- community wise.
After the jump, digest my take on the whole thing which will run in tomorrow's Metro U.S. editions here on the East Coast. Check it out and tell me what you think. I'd like to hear how others perceive Microsoft now.
What Microsoft gets right and Sony gets so wrong
Today’s console and video game landscape is no longer the closed-off, disconnected world we grew up in. Thanks to the power of broadband and a series of tubes called the Internet, we are now a huge contingent of gamers. Banded together by our favorite Web sites, consoles and online friends, today’s video game world is a community — and nobody understands this more than Microsoft.
While Sony, and to some extent Nintendo, are just now beginning to catch up to that notion, Microsoft has been plugging away with ferocity at creating a loyal community of gamers. Whether it’s hosting events for players or emerging Web sites or podcast folks, Microsoft is deeply involved with building a community and the results have piled on since.
On a daily trip through the Internet, a typical gamer may see more than a handful of negative Sony stories, but how often do you see negative Microsoft news? Not very often. The reason for this is because Microsoft is so connected to what is going on out there.
Not only do they have troops on the front-line to quell any sort of confusion over an issue, but they also have their own stable of bloggers and community people to put out the fires of criticism like new-age firefighters.
With people such as Major Nelson and the folks over at Gamerscore Blog, Microsoft maintains a connection that the people at Sony and Nintendo just do not understand. Luckily for Nintendo, they have a healthy staple of fanboys willing to throw themselves off a bridge in the name of Mario, so they aren’t as dependent.
Sony, however, is in a continual state of denial and unless they wake up and realize we are living in a new era, they will lose the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere. But we aren’t the only ones.
The developers are also feeling the winds of change. According to insiders I’ve spoken with over the past few months, they are becoming fed up with Sony’s antics and lack of responsiveness as well. The flood of gaming franchises turning into non-exclusives speaks volumes about Sony’s arrogance and superiority complex.
If Sony truly wants to pull themselves out of the negative public image mud, then they need to take a page from Microsoft’s book and reach out to us, the gamers. Only then will they continue to reign as kings of the gaming world.
Contest:
5:29 PM on 02.05.2007
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Microsoft has done an amazing job of connecting gamers and creating a loyal community on their behalf. IMO, they are definately winning the next-gen race right now.
Now to Sony......nothing else to say than superiority complex.
Sony needs to get off their high horse....not that I care(MS fanboy :) ) except for competition to continue to drive the industry.
God bless Summa, the Al Queada leader for the Nintendo nation.
When can we anticipate your next videotape?
I find it ironic that 5 years ago, you would never of thought that Microsoft would blow Sony out of the water as far as community, and public relations.
XBox live adds a lot to the overall Xbox, community aspect package, cause when you meet all these other gamers on boards and at events everyones got thier own gamertag so you can stay in touch, and game with them in the future, using one gamertag for all games.
You should have mentioned how the gamers who pay for Xbox LIVE, don't care about paying because they added value is through the roof. They know what the online console community wants
You should have mentioned how the gamers who pay for Xbox LIVE, don't care about paying because they added value is through the roof. They know what the online console community wants
Nintendo and Sony just need to give up and copy everything MS has done.
HEAR THAT NINTY!? FRIEND CODES ARE UNFRIENDLY!
That is a nice way of saying that Sony fanboys don't exist. I'm imaginary and pretty just like a unicorn.
"Luckily for Nintendo, they have a healthy staple of fanboys willing to throw themselves off a bridge in the name of Mario, so they aren’t as dependent."
A nice way of saying that Nintendo fanboys are more important than Sony ones.
That whole premise is flawed. Quite frankly if Nintendo fanboys were as willing to jump off a bridge as you said the gamecube would have been at least second in the console race last gen.
It has nothing to do with a "superiority complex" is has to do with the fact devs are bleeding cash and the next gen just hasn't started. The PS2 is still where it's at to make money.
Sony and MS convienced the developers to invest in al this HD crap no devs are looking at high dev costs and another year before the installed base of "next gen" game systems are great enough to recoup costs. That is PAINFUL to see if you just spent 10 million to make a B level title. They are scrambing to get sales for finished products or things in the pipe. Until things get established you are going to see lots of this.
In short devs will go anywhere the money is. The MS "community" is nice but is more of a PR front that an active community that comprises.
Special Note:
"but they also have their own stable of bloggers and community people to put out the fires of criticism like new-age firefighters."
Is the most Orwellian quote I've seen is a while. Was it intentional?
Fanboys(fanbots?) make up a damn small part of gaming. The community that MS built is about is 50% or so, from the last MS numbers I saw, of XBL. Anyone on XBL that hasn't transition from the Xbox to the Xbox360 doesn't really count anymor in the next gen. That leave 5 million XBL members. Assuming that 80% of them are devoted to community that make 4 million gamers worldwide.
The MS PR power is amazing but compared to MMORPGs the "community" is small.
Developers are quite frankly pissed because Sony delayed the next generation for a year. Nothing really started shipment wise untill the PS3 was released.
However, I'm not sure if that will last if the Wii doesn't take quick steps to avoid a game drought and become Gamecube 2.
Great article, though, and I agree with you on most points. I do hope that Sony doesn't drop out completely, because as much as I've become annoyed with their practices, having 3 consoles is a good way to ensure continued competition and cross-criticism, thus more improvements for us. Well...I know at least MS responds to competition and criticism with improvements...
just like a Nintendo fanboy to call it "HD crap". is someone bitter that their games look like crap?
Some type of connectivity is nice,but I just play single player games as an escape and do my socializing in person.
Personally I think MS is making more if a big deal about online than it really is because it satisfies their business goals more than anything. I see connectivity as hear to stay but really doubt that competitive online gaming will take off outside or the hardcore.
People have different tastes, if you are over 12 that shouldn't bother you. You shouldn't see that as some irrational choice by someone else. Friendly debate is cool,but name calling because someone doesn't like what you like and you don't get it. Please try and grow the fuck and.
Hee Hee Hee!!!!
Actually My PS3 looks quite nice. Blueray movies really do look that much nicer than upscaled DVD's :)
I'm judging the community of XBL as the fanboys. Since in this case the author belives that the community is devoted to extingishing negative MS news. Not really fair but I didn't want to take the time to make a distinction the author didn't.
@ Manspirit
I think you are right. MS made networking a "must have" app but most gamers don't really care or want the added complication. Nintendo did it best by having an online service and not bothering with it. They seem kinds busy making games, not fixing their PR image.
Fanboy is a convient way of saying really devoted fan at this point.
On a side note. HD is really crap. I have a PS3 and it's graphics are every bit as good as the xbox360.
Are the graphics really that superior to my PS2? Looking at ffx,FFxII and the god of war 2 demo, I have to say that they are not. I sometimes shuffle my ps3 between my bedroom,HD tv and living room SD tv. The ps3 works the same on both and the games don't look much worse. Games are just as fun in SD as they are in HD.
Then again tommorow I hope to have a movie theatre with a 32' screen to play my ps3 upressed to 2048x1920 resolution. I have a feeling that the resolution will come in handy then, at home not so much.
I'm really glad that I bought the PS3 as a media center. I listen to movies, surf the web and listen to music much more than I play games.
Nice article Summa, makes me want a 360 even more.
Naturally, though, you gotta take a jab at Nintendo fanboys to draw more hits. It's cool, it happens.
in the end it comes down to quality vs junk and the ps3 would have been worth getting a third job but sony brought value to the customers by not charging the full price of the ps3's components.
microsoft has a few games that look interesting but most of them will eventually end up on the ps3 with additional content that you can download free from the ps3 network. again, sony brings value to the consumer by pricing a premium unit at a lower than premium price.
there have been a lot of graphical comparisons between the two, but just at the store, i can immediately tell that the ps3 is a graphical powerhouse in comparison with microsoft's console. microsoft's graphics are dated, and the machine is obviously already overlocking its chips just to run software that the ps3 could run asleep.
people who bought ps3's are patriots. if you own a ps3 you are a patriot.
Um, well until about 6 months ago? All the time!
The MS bots can thanks their lucky stars for the abortion that is the PS3. If it weren't for all the PR and marketing blunders of PS3, we would still be looking at dozens of blog posts about 3 red rings of death, scratched discs, and gaming related house fires. If anyone is so quick to forget the MONTHS of bad press MS was getting after the 360 launch, the lawsuits, and near recall status of the launch shipment, they have a short gaming memory indeed. Of course, that short memory would be required to write the column in this article.
Perhaps the savoring flavor of major nelsons nob helps wash away the multitude of criticisms of the 360.
Friend, you make Nintendo fanboys look tame!
Bring that shit bro. Straight from the PS3love forums.
Good stuff.
Microsoft has made it a strategy to let people know that they aren't some big giant faceless corporation; actual people work there, people who care for the products they make. Some of Microsoft's competitors, such as Sony and Apple, are quite opaque by comparison.
1. Cell processor is the most bollock-awkward-to-develop-for processor probably ever engineered. Making use of a dual processor fully is very difficult. 8 is taking the piss.
2. Sony aren't putting a bargain price on a premium unit, they're attempting to force their own proprietary bluray onto an unsuspecting and cash-rich market. The reason the ps3 is so expensive, and the reason there were so many delays and shortages, is because of that shitty drive.
3. You may have noticed that sony is shedding exclusives like kaz hirai's tears. You may have noticed that they are all going to MS as well. This does not bode well for the future.
4. The ps3 isn't more powerful than the 360. It's got a more powerful(abliet untapable, see 1) processor, but the 360 has a better graphics card. Seeing the graphics card is far more important for rendering games, it's likely the 360 will produce the best looking games of this generation.
5. Nintendo is definately not going to die any time soon. Ignoring the fact that the hardcore only make up a rather small percentage of the market(and most of them seem to be quite fond of the wii), nintnedo utterly dominate the handheld market. In the last few months, nintendo have probably made profits greater than the GNP of many small countries.
Perhaps even replying to those points makes me a bit of an idiot, but I feel it's my responsibility to try and educate you. Your head doesn't have to remain in the sand forever.
Also, sony fanboys = patriots why...?
But no, the Cell is not the most powerful cpu released to the consumer, not by a long shot. There are cpus on the market for over $10,000 you moron! But more specifically, the Cell is stripped of features and is what you would call a 'barebones' processor. The 8 cores are specialized towards redundant tasks and do not have all the optimizations that are needed in the REAL world (that is where the rest of us are, unlike yourself). And to beat a dead horse, 2 of those cores are dedicated to running sony's crappy OS in the background, along with 96mb of memory. The 360 uses up to 12.5% CPU when needed I believe (not 25% full time like the PS3) it also uses 32mb for it's superior OS (which actually allows for multitasking btw). That's one third of the memory.
The 360 CPU features 3 NON barebones cores. Cores which have various optimizations and can each run 2 threads at once. These optimizations I'm talking about are similar I guess to MMX and SSE and such on a PC. They allow common calculations to be done in single cycles rather than multiple, as the PS3 will have to do.
Also, the 360 GPU downright kicks 'RSX' ass. We've got full time FSAA and HDR plus some DX10 goodies packed in. While your 6 (that's right, not 8) cores are working their ass off with your crappy RSX just to make shadows and realistic lighting, the 360 is doing all of this effortlessly along with AA to remove jaggies. But I guess you didn't know that since you're a slave to Sony marketing. Watch the games IN PLAY and you will see the real differences. Screenshots say enough, but in-game says a lot more.
Oh, and also, we've been playing for a year now. We've got the games NOW. We've got the best online experience. We've got the best controllers. We've got the best community and most exclusives (in fact we're getting most of yours).
P.S. Sony 0% failure rate? Are you fucking stupid? Did you read ANYTHING about the PS3 release?
http://www.epcgaming.net/ps3_vs_xbox360
the ps3 is the system of choice for the gaming elite. with a powerful hdtv, the picture is as vivid as real life. games like resistance fall of man showcase the system's computing power and also proves that sony's decision to wait for the powerful, premium blueray disc to react full metriculation was a wise decision.
neither the nintendo unit or the microsoft unit contain the premium technologies that will sustain the platform over its gaming lifetime. only the ps3 with its impressive power to harness the future of games, will survive in the consumer marketplace.
additionally, the psp which is being offered in tandem with the ps3, will feature inoperatability with the ps3 down the road. the psp's success has proven sony has not only created a home console that is the one to beat, but has also created a premium handheld system for children and adults.
once sony is able to manufacture ps3's to meet the demand of the world, their premium gaming systems will take no prisoners.