Interview with MS's Peter Moore

[Vince]

I guess it's an interesting interview... I'm actually pretty speechless. So, without further ado, here's who he is:

Peter Moore Interview[/url]]We’ve spoken with the head of Microsoft’s Xbox game department about the future of the Xbox, the battle against Sony and much more.

Peter Moore is in charge of global game production and marketing at Microsoft. Peter Moore has recently been appointed manager of Microsoft’s global production and marketing of games for the Xbox and the PC. This makes him a pivotal force in the software giant’s console war against Sony, which is already well under way, even though we won’t see either the Xbox 2 or the PlayStation 3 for another two or three years in Europe.

Some interesting comments:

Xbox 2 not backwards compatible?[/url]]One of the very interesting questions about the Xbox 2 is that of backwards compatibility. The rumours tell us that there are major hardware changes underway, in the CPU, GPU and hard drive areas. This alone leaves out the possibility for anything other than software emulation and Peter Moore’s responses to our questions indicate that backwards compatibility is not prioritised very highly by Microsoft:

• - I think that backwards compatibility is mainly a PR problem. In the case of the PS2, it was only important for the first sixty days, until there were good PS2 titles on the shelves. After this, there wasn’t much interest in playing old PlayStation games, Moore concludes, and continues with a smile, It’s mostly a message to the parents, assuring them that they didn’t throw their money out of the window buying games for their kids.

On XNA:

Why do we need XNA?[/url]]The announcement of XNA on the Games Developer Conference came as a disappointment to those who had expected the revelation of the Xbox 2. But Microsoft know that their talent lies in the development of software – they’ve proven it with Windows (*cough* Windows ME *cough* – ed.) and not least DirectX in connection with gaming. Conversely, Sony are strong on the hardware front, based on their monumental experience with consumer electronics. This is why Moore wants to make it clear that XNA is a central step towards the Xbox 2 and towards challenging Sony’s leading position, because:

• - XNA is obviously focused on the next generation of consoles. Expenses are constantly rising for developers, while consumers are expecting more and more. We reckon that about 70 percent of all games result in deficits. The XNA software will reverse this for the better, because it means that developers need not spend so much time making tools, and it gives them freedom to design good games instead,

Moore says.

On Sony and Nintendo next generation:

Get ready, Sony[/url]]The guys at Sony must steel themselves, because Peter Moore is ready with a declaration of war. He stresses the fact that Microsoft have established a network of very strong third party developers now, and that they had to overcome some challenges. Microsoft hired 2000 people in connection with the Xbox project and they had to learn the business first. Furthermore, Sony had an 18-month lead over the Xbox. But Sony won’t have these advantages in the next-generation console war.

• - Think of these factors, and you’ll know that the game will be different this time. Microsoft and Sony will fight a deciding battle for the living-room supremacy and Nintendo will have to settle for the kids’ rooms. Then we can take over the kids at age 12, he states.

There's more at the links, but this comment kind of confused me as well:

But we’ve also learned other things. For instance, making a black console was enough to deter casual gamers, he adds, without telling us which colour the Xbox 2 will be... (erm, is it just me, or is the PS2 black as well? – ed.)

I'm not sure what to make of this guy, is this attitude indicative of Microsoft as a whole? Doesn't the other head-honcho have a PS2 with a hole from a 50cal round on his desk? It's kind of a bizarre stance considering they were routed by Sony within a year and Nintendo is either keeping pace or exceeding them at all times. Truth-be-told, when I saw his picture it all seemed to make sense, but that’s another story.

So, what do you guys think?

 

[SegaR&D]

He's a very intelligent man

 

[Squeak]

• - Think of these factors, and you’ll know that the game will be different this time. Microsoft and Sony will fight a deciding battle for the living-room supremacy and Nintendo will have to settle for the kids’ rooms. Then we can take over the kids at age 12, he states.

ms seem so eager to brush Nintendo aside as "just for kids", that it's becoming conspicuous. As Vince wrote, what's even more glaring is that despite all the resources ms has pumped into xbox, Nintendo are still wupping their arse on a global scale and keeping up very well on microsofts home turf.
Nintendo are world acclaimed for the quality of their games, both by the critics and by consumers. Their games are loved not in spite of the style and look, but because of it.

But we’ve also learned other things. For instance, making a black console was enough to deter casual gamers

How about learning the lesson of not making a console so amazingly butt ugly that even Americans balk at it.

 

[zurich]

Erm, while he's right that backwards compatibility may not be that useful going forward, it is a very important selling point in terms of value, and changing the mass market's opinion on that is virtually impossible.

Personally, I'm not all that impressed with the changing of the guard at MS Games, but I guess we'll have to see.

 

[Sonic]

Peter Moore is a very intelligent man and knows what he is talking about most of the time. When he was at SEGA he was very well liked. Still, this interview is mostly PR talk from what I can say and the trash talking of Nintendo is really not neccessary. I guess this can be confirmation that Nintendo and Microsoft were teaming up to release similar consoles next generation out the door.

Sony will definitely have a bigger fight on its hands this time, but when's the last time we really saw Sony act in an agressive way as a corporation in the videogame industry? I would say when they were battling it out with SEGA, after it achieved supremacy Sony pretty much secured its position.

No more talk from me until more is known about all three consoles and the plans of each console manufacturer.

 

[V3]

- Think of these factors, and you’ll know that the game will be different this time. Microsoft and Sony will fight a deciding battle for the living-room supremacy and Nintendo will have to settle for the kids’ rooms.

I just read what Vince quoted, and on this point I agreed with him. If Nintendo is smart, include a reasonable size screen or screens with their N5. A specialty gaming device is what they should aim for, instead of what we have today, just a gaming box, or a home server.

Sooner or later, it'll move from kids room to the living room, if they get the interest up.

 

[Megadrive1988]

Sonic wrote:

I guess this can be confirmation that Nintendo and Microsoft were teaming up to release similar consoles next generation out the door.

my thoughts exactly.

 

[Teasy]

I guess this can be confirmation that Nintendo and Microsoft were teaming up to release similar consoles next generation out the door.

Some MS PR guy talking trash about Nintendo is confirmation that Nintendo and MS are teaming up? Haven't you got that the wrong way around?

I think the only thing this guys comment confirms is that MS do actually realise Nintendo are there real competition (you always try to put down your closest rival). So despite all MS's bullshit about competing with Sony deep down they know who there real competition is

 

[wazoo]

I guess this can be confirmation that Nintendo and Microsoft were teaming up to release similar consoles next generation out the door.

Some MS PR guy talking trash about Nintendo is confirmation that Nintendo and MS are teaming up? Haven't you got that the wrong way around?

This is not what the guy said.

 

[Evil_Cloud]

I guess it depends on Nintendo following console and handheld which road it will take for the future, set top box console, or game-only console...

 

[marconelly!]

But we’ve also learned other things. For instance, making a black console was enough to deter casual gamers, he adds, without telling us which colour the Xbox 2 will be...

What in the name of God is this man smoking? Not only does this sound like some bizarre racist comment, but it's ridiculous for the obvious reason of PS2 being black as well, (plus Xbox actually isn't even really black - it's dark green )

 

[Teasy]

For instance, making a black console was enough to deter casual gamers, he adds, without telling us which colour the Xbox 2 will be

*Somewhere deep within MS headquarters*

Peter Moore: - "*sigh* Well people, we've been here for almost 24 hours now. Are we any closer to figuring out why XBox has failed to live up to expectations?

MS exec: - "Well sir, I think I have the support of everyone at this table when I say unequivocally that our fatal error with XBox was... making it black"

Peter Moore: - "What?"

MS exec: - "M.. making it black sir. It.. its well known that casual gamers have an almost pathological aversion to black."

Peter Moore: - By god I think he's got something here! The link between people not buying a console and blackness is SO clear its incredible nobody realised it before!"

Peter Moore: - "Ok that's it, I'm nipping this in the bud right now. Remove all the black from this room immediately. Then change the colour of the font in our letters! Nobody, not even a colour, stands in the way of Microsoft!!"

*Will Microsoft ever defeat the insidious powers of the colour black? Or is this the end for Bill Gates and his plucky band of console misfits? Find out next week on tales of stupidity!!!*

 

[Guden Oden]

That was a truly weird thing to say, considering almost all TVs, video and speaker/hifi equipment is black also. Why should buyers' attitudes differ so fundamentally when it comes to gaming consoles?

Even computers are going black these days.

 

[Teasy]

This is not what the guy said.

I re-read Sonic's comments a couple of times and now I understand what he was saying.

I took "out of the door" to mean from the start. So I thought he meant it was confirmation that MS were joining forces from the start of next gen. But now I realise he meant that this confirms that any talk about Nintendo and MS joining forces has gone right out of the door. As in its not true.

 

[Brimstone]

Peter Moore being in a leadership position for the X-Box is very intresting. Here is a guy that got beat by Sony despite having a solid product with the Dreamcast. To be fair to Mr. Moore, most of SEGA's problems stemed from the decision makers of SEGA of Japan far more than anything that happened under his watch. After the stinging defeat Sony handed SEGA, Mr. Moore has to be hungry to give a some payback to Kutaragi and company.

The question that has to be asked is, how long of a leash are Gates and Ballmer keeping Moore on?. Gates has the personality to trust a person like Peter Moore and take him of a leash. That would not bode well for Sony and its stockholders.

 

[Megadrive1988]

I would not mind seeing Microsoft with Peter Moore put a dent in Sony's marketshare.

I think Microsoft is capable of reducing Sony's marketshare from ~70% to ~50%

the best MS can possibly hope for is a Genesis sort of turn around. even though Sony PS3 will still outsell Xbox2 by alot.

 

[zurich]

I think what Sonic meant is that the XBox2 and GC2 will have very similar hardware, so to preemtively curb any issues from this, MS is trying it's best to pigeon-hole Nintendo as kiddy, and thus indirectly not compete with them.

 

[Brimstone]

I would not mind seeing Microsoft with Peter Moore put a dent in Sony's marketshare.

I think Microsoft is capable of reducing Sony's marketshare from ~70% to ~50%

the best MS can possibly hope for is a Genesis sort of turn around. even though Sony PS3 will still outsell Xbox2 by alot.

To me Microsoft still lacks a killer sports line up. That rumor of Microsoft buying Visual Concepts was very intresting. VC already makes games now on X-Box, but they also spend resources on the PS2. If MS got a hold of VC and had them concentrate soley on XB-2 sports titles, they would have a better chance of competing with EA sports.

A lot will probably happen between now and the next-gen console launch, so its still to early to be very sure about MS's potential.

 

[Sonic]

Let me clarify what I was saying. I should have said. "This interview and the specific statement from Peter Moore about Nintendo nullifies or makes false any rumors about Nintendo and Microsoft teaming up next generation."

While the hardware may be similar in terms of an ATI graphics chip, even then it may be worked on by different teams, it does not mean the CPU is coming from IBM. I have seen no confirmation from Nintendo regarding the choice of their CPU manufacturer. To be honest I've seen no confirmation from Nintendo about a next gen machine, but that means little when Nintendo was tightlipped about the Gamecube for so long. But when the announcement comes I expect Nintendo to be planning one hell of a competition this time around. I am expecting it on my own terms in the sense that I wish for them to compete agressively and go for the gold. It's ok to remain a profitable company, but I would like to see some spirit within the company for those profits to grow tremendously through some wll calculated risks.

 

[Qroach]

Actually what moore said was correct. Sony found that less women bought the PS2 compared to the playstation 1. Apparently the black appearence of the console intimidated women. The original playstaion was extremly popular with women compared to now. It all had to do with the shape and color of the console.