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Microsoft's game plan for E3 2013: Damage control

Microsoft's pre-E3 Xbox One reveal event in Redmond, Washington wasn't a presentation targeted at gamers. In fact, most gamers hated it. Why? Because Microsoft used the opportunity to boast about Xbox One's live TV integration and the seamless experience it will supposedly provide.

That mantra won't fly at E3 2013 in Los Angeles where the priority is always games. The company teased some details about what Xbox One's gaming future will look like, but as of now it's still mostly unknown.

Here's a preview of what Microsoft needs to accomplish at E3 2013 and what's expected.

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reviews.cnet.com
Anon19744731d ago (Edited 4731d ago )

"Microsoft has preemptively cancelled all post-conference media appointments and roundtable Q&A."

I had heard the round table Q&A was cancelled and when you realize they were the only company that did that anyway and all the other interviews were still on, it didn't seem like that big of a deal.

But all media appointments have now been cancelled? Is Cnet sure of that? What the hell? I said this before, but if I showed you a product, put on a presentation and then ducked out the back before anyone could ask any questions...would you buy what I was selling?

CaEsAr-4731d ago

And still there are some people who would buy this garbage and defend MS with their lives. Sigh..

blitz06234731d ago (Edited 4731d ago )

They already canceled the media roundtable and 1-1 interviews because they just confirmed it on the web.

All they are going to do in E3 is just show games and leave it at that. No talks about administrative issues.

They will try and make E3 all about games to attract the general public that is completely oblivious to the DRM details as well as online checks and Kinect spying.

It will be ironic if this is actually what they are trying to do because they themselves believe everything right now is connected, meaning even casual gamers who don't follow the gaming industry will eventually find out what the X1 is all about.

DarkBlood4731d ago

then its up to gamers to spread the word about microsoft xboxone console to tell the truth about it so they dont get the undeserved sales

shoddy4731d ago

Cod junkiest and live chat lover will love to get milk.

UnHoly_One4730d ago (Edited 4730d ago )

I'm not going to "defend MS with my life", but you bet I'm going to buy both an XB1 and a PS4 (and the XB1 will probably be my primary).

First off, all of these "restrictions" that have so many people up-in-arms have zero negative impact on me. NONE WHATSOEVER. Don't care about used games, don't care about rentals, don't care about lending to friends. I don't do any of that now, I have no intention of starting.

Online check in... When was the last time your internet was out for 24 hours or longer? My answer to that is NEVER. Not once in the 13 years I've had broadband has it been out that long. So that doesn't worry me, either.

Kinect spying on you??? Seriously??? In this day and age how is this really a concern to anyone other than somebody wearing a tinfoil hat and spouting conspiracy theories on YouTube??? If you are really THAT worried about somebody seeing what you are doing in your living room, maybe you should rethink what you are doing in your living room rather than rethinking your choice of game console. In this day and age do you have any idea how many cameras are pointed at you throughout a typical day??

I just don't see one little measly thing to actually worry about.

But some of the other features they are offering do interest me. Share games seamlessly within the household? Yes please. Lend to a friend remotely over Xbox LIVE? You bet your ass I want that, too. Access to all my games anywhere anytime? You bet!

And the best controller in the business is still enough reason for me to make the XB1 my primary console for multiplatform games. Even if games look a little better on the PS4, it's not going to be a big enough difference to get me want to play with a Dualshock when I can use the Xbox controller instead. That is the main reason why Xbox has been my primary console since it arrived back in 2001.

Also, all my friends play on Xbox LIVE and that isn't going to change. None of them see any reason to be concerned, either.

I know I'm in the minority amongst this fanboy website, and I know I'll get 20 disagrees for every 1 agree that I get, but I'm just being honest and fair here. I'm not going to lie and jump on the Sony Bandwagon. They give me great exclusives, no doubt, but that's all I've gotten from them in the last 12 years.

wastedcells4730d ago

Lets see Microsoft spin this lol. Timed exclusives can't save them now. Some Corperations under estimate gamers intelligence.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4730d ago
Godmars2904731d ago

Looks like they're going to use Major Nelson's blog to answer all question with no rebuttals during E3.

No chance of anyone of high rank contradicting what's officially been put out.

dedicatedtogamers4731d ago (Edited 4731d ago )

I think the explanation for Xbone's Wild Ride is simple.

MS was not ready to show off, let alone launch, the Xbox One. From rumors about eSRAM yeilds, underclocking, overheating issues, the faked OS demonstration, and being 6+ months behind in development for games, everything points to one simple fact: Xbox One is not ready to be launched.

And yet, Microsoft is going to push it forward. This is a 100% repeat of what happened with the Xbox 360 (leading to RRoD) except this time they were really caught with their pants down and they won't be able to launch one year in advance. Microsoft already lost the opportunity to be first this gen, yet to launch LAST would be a disaster for them if they still hope to capture some gamers.

Godmars2904731d ago (Edited 4731d ago )

And sadly I can only hope that Sony isn't doing the same thing. That their announcement caught MS unprepared and now they're making mistakes.

As bad as that sounds.

SonicRush154731d ago (Edited 4731d ago )

@Godmars I doubt that, MS has been developing Xbone since 2010. Sony has developed the PS4 since 2007.

miyamoto4731d ago (Edited 4731d ago )

Sounds like the same scenario with Wii U to me.

Emergency! Emergency! Wii u wiiu wii u wii u wii u wii u!!!

The hilarious thing is they thought showing the physical box will give them the upper hand against PS4's invisible console and it turned out to be a foolish disaster.
Showing the plastic black box without a single live gameplay showing just about says it all for xbone's sorry situation.

It was literally just a useless paper weight with no paper underneath it.

And Balmer Steve is just craming his homework just a few months before xbone's ETA this year.

You see things like these takes yrars to plan and you cannot turn around so quickly in amatter of months or weeks.

If people just know how to trully asses that showing they will know what is really going on.

I hope Major Nelson dont change his name to Major Damage ControlControl this E3. That will be one helluva job.

PS4 is one surprise attack no one really was prepared for.

4731d ago
Bathyj4731d ago

What Sonic said.

Sony has had this in the pipes for a long time, I dont their schedule is an issue.

Prophet-Gamer4731d ago

@TrainRailsRT

MS is having yield issues because of the esram they went with. Sony is not since their setup is much simpler and smaller.

Smoovekid4731d ago

@TrainRailsRT

Microsoft is not having trouble with the APU, They are having trouble with the EsRam which Sony is not using. That is just the media damage controlling.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4731d ago
THE-COMMANDER4731d ago

LOL i was going to give you a disagree by mistake in answer to your question "would you buy what I was selling?" xD

On topic:
I do i agree with you in every word, they are very wrong to cancel those events, and yes Cnet is right, here:

http://n4g.com/news/1272329...

http://n4g.com/news/1273443...

Atomicjuicer4731d ago

Kinect is always spying - now read this story about the NSA spying on Americans (and everyone else) via google and Facebook:

http://t.co/H3UKdwzJru

The Xbox one is 1984. No hyperbole

DOMination-4731d ago

Actually they are doing the interviews. Major Nelson confirmed they only cancelled two because of schedule clashing.

indysurfn4730d ago

anyone notice microsoft is misleading with the word 'family' now. they make a distinction between 'family' and 'friends' when it comes to you lending games. I think they mean 'physically in your house' when they say family. which makes their 'feature' of sharing mute. HEck with a genesis I can share a game with anyone in my house. No high speed internet checks require, or fees, ore recheck. HEck even my dreamcast would work now, without requiring the sega servers to be still up!

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4730d ago
Mr_Nuts4731d ago

Jeez, trying to read some of them comments on that site...they don't have a clue sticking up for MS.

One person said Sony spent too much time on Social stuff...WTF

Skips4731d ago (Edited 4731d ago )

Lol! Out of the whole 2 hour conference.

Sony spent like, 10-15 minutes tops on social stuff. XD

Gh05t4731d ago

Exactly, 10-15 minutes too much.

4730d ago
greenpowerz4731d ago

Start acting like you media got some sense and they will let you back in. Gaming media is suppose to be trying to inform gamers, not sensationalizing news trying to find the most effective way of finding angles for hits, letting fanboy agendas bleed into journalism.

Like I said what is happening now reminds me of what Mitt Romney and the right wing did to the media during the last election resulting in the Obama team rejecting the media for interviews. Journalism is not what is happening then and now with games. Entrapment journalism and Gotcha Media needs to be handled a different way. MSFT will take it to the people themselves.

I have a feeling they will weave the facts with the games at their presser assuming they are ready to talk about it and things are finalized.

ThatCanadianGuy5144731d ago

Damage control in the headline and Green comes rushing to defend them LOL

I couldn't make this stuff up if i tried

kneon4731d ago

Damage control about damage control, brought to you by greenpowerz :)

sAVAge_bEaST4730d ago

Reputation Management. -Trolls sent by M$ to uphold the Reputation.. check it http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

KillrateOmega4731d ago (Edited 4731d ago )

Oh, look. It's greenpowerz coming to MS's rescue...

It isn't the media's fault that MS has been dropping the ball lately. The blame entirely falls upon MS for their less-than-optimal (to put it lightly) decisions regarding their handling of the next-gen of Xbox.

"Like I said what is happening now reminds me of what Mitt Romney and the right wing did to the media during the last election resulting in the Obama team rejecting the media for interviews."

...WHAT?! Talk about a stretch, bro.

mikeboccher4731d ago

Agreed man whole heartedly. MS has messed up every facet of media handling in regards to this new console. It's outrageous. And I'm a MS guy

M-M4731d ago

When I saw "Damage Control" I knew you were going to be here xD.

majiebeast4731d ago

I seriously think your Aaron Greenburg at this point.

WalterWJR4731d ago

Really..

You somehow get out of all this that Microsoft is the good guy and compare the situation to being up against nazis.

they are not speaking to the press because it would be a verbal barrage Microsoft are in no way prepared for and do not want to deal with. I don't think they could find the words to explain all this DRM bs anyway.

Karpetburnz4731d ago

Take off those xbot glasses for a minute and then read what you just wrote lol, You would probably jump off a bridge of M$ told you to, people like you are part of the reason M$ think they can get away with all this crap, because you people have been bending over for M$ far to long.

sAVAge_bEaST4730d ago

Scared to answer questions.? Reputation Management trolls on every site.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4730d ago
GreenRanger4731d ago

I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft cancel their E3 conference in the next few days.

gamertk4214731d ago ShowReplies(2)
adorie4731d ago

He's only a lil over 90 days in. Give him time.

yesmynameissumo4731d ago

Part of me feels like I unwittingly funded Umbrella and now the T-Virus has just hit the fan.

Show all comments (67)
60°

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Website Launches With New Nomura Artwork and Merchandise

Square Enix launches Final Fantasy X 25th anniversary site, revealing new Nomura art, books, music releases, and merchandise.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
-Foxtrot22d ago

Look I know VIII has its issues and all that but how on earth can the do big anniversary events with new artwork and merchandise for VII, IX and X yet VIII got sweet f*** all.

They could have given it something during its 25th anniversary yet all it got was a single Happy Anniversary post on their social media.

solideagle22d ago

they should know that we are OG fans of VIII as it sold truckload as well. not as much as VII or X. I personally didn't like IX but X and VI are my personal fav.

Shadow Hearts 2 covenant is another game I love. I hope one day someone can make remake, I would be delighted

Relientk7722d ago

Final Fantasy VIII is great and you are always the first to defend it in the comments

40°

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter Let Jango Fett Loose

LucasArts gave Jango Fett his own game in 2002, and it pulled Star Wars into a much dirtier, rougher, and more interesting corner of the galaxy.

Read Full Story >>
swtorstrategies.com
Relientk7726d ago

I remember playing this back in the day on PS2. What a sick game!

270°

We Are Xbox

Dear team,

Xbox has always been different.

We started with a simple idea. Games should bring people together through shared experiences. That led to the first Xbox in 2001, Xbox Live in 2002, and new ways to connect, from friends lists and achievements to parties and play across devices. Today, Xbox reaches over 500 million players around the world, with some of the most important franchises in entertainment.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
27d ago Replies(15)
Outside_ofthe_Box27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

If they go back to exclusive games it at least shows that they are finally getting it. They would be turning down immediate money for something that will potentially workout in the long term.

Only issue is they've already opened Pandora's box. A lot of their base has moved to PC or jumped to PS. So will be a long road to get back on track.

We have been saying this from day one exclusives are a must if you are going to be selling hardware look at Nintendo and Sony before Jim Ryan. That's the proven formula. You had some that were deluded and blinded by loyalty accepting that multiplat was the future and that MS was merely getting ahead of where the industry was headed, but at least they can finally see the light and agree with what everyone has been saying for a decade+

pwnmaster300027d ago

True, blame it on the rabid fanboys. MS can do no wrong and spinner this multiplatform move. While the actual fans moved on.

I feel like with the new Xbox coming they are hoping to bring back those old fans and then if it goes well. Bring back exclusives.

If the new console is performing like series x and one. Naw they staying multiplatform.

darthv7227d ago

Actual fans dont move on... they can add to their hobby while waiting for the next new release. If you believe what you typed then I guess PS fans moved on too.... you know, since its been a Sahara for 1st party games this gen.

S2Killinit26d ago

The fans didn’t tell them to go multilat. MS was forced to after the 82 billion they spent to destroy gaming. Then, while xbox fans cheered, MS realized they can’t justify the price tag by selling through xbox only, so they went multiplat and in the process began to downplay console gaming.

27d ago Replies(4)
CrashMania27d ago

I think it's too late, xbox sales were diving even before ABK, they got even worse since then even long before the full multiplatform push. I'd be surprised if they even went back to timed exclusivity at this point, Helix is basically a PC and is going to be expensive, they already struggle to sell cheaper xbox consoles, it will be low volume and they'll have a very small 'console' base to sell to, which has already been conditioned to just play via gamepass anyway.

S2Killinit26d ago

They will do what they always do, they will promise the world at the beginning of next GEN and then failed to deliver all generation long. But there will always be some gamers who will buy into their promises.

ocelot0726d ago

Absolutely agree, Do people genuinely believe Microsoft are now going to go. Hang on how's about we go back to 2020. Then GP was stagnating, Games sold where awful because of GP. Outsold by Playstation by a landslide.

They have sold 5m of Forza I believe on PS5. Spite it being a old game. I think Starfield is going to sell well in the end. Halo is deffinetly going to sell well as is Fable and Forza Horizon 6.

I think at best (for Xbox fans). Single player titles like Clockwork will have a timed exclusivity. Multiplayer centric games like Forza, E Day will release day and date on all platforms.

Or all games will release on all platforms day and date. But maybe Xbox and Windows Store copies will have exclusive bonuses. Or may even get timed exclusive dlc like Fallout and Elder Scrolls and COD use to do.

I think they will treat Xbox players like the premium customers or at least act the way. But will serve just the Playstation and Switch 2 customers as well.

Neonridr27d ago

I don't see them removing PC from the equation. Considering MS has a heavy enough investment in the PC market, it would be foolish to abandon them. I could see them taking away games from PlayStation or ensuring they are timed exclusives at the very least. Say what you will but if Call of Duty ends up becoming a timed exclusive to Xbox machines, that would hurt PlayStation, don't pretend like those games don't sell millions.

Outside_ofthe_Box27d ago

They would lose out on a lot of CoD sales tho. Doesn't PS make up most of the sales?

Neonridr27d ago

@Outside - possibly, but it might push people to want Xbox hardware so they can play with their buddies day one.

Who knows.

S2Killinit26d ago (Edited 26d ago )

it would but remember doing that can splinter the COD fan base and in the process damage the call of duty brand which is probably the only franchise in that $82 billion purchase that in anyway gets even close to delivering what Microsoft thought they bought. If Microsoft fudges around too much with the COD franchise, you might even see a competitor franchise show up on the scene and that would be a catastrophe after the huge debt that Microsoft put itself into with the ABK purchase.

But Its almost guaranteed that Microsoft will want to do something drastic at the beginning of the next generation as they always do. We will see.

Pyrofire9527d ago

Their lifeline of solely the Xbox consoles is dry. Good-Great games on a 1st party scale can't be made at a loss so willingly - sent to the Xbox to only sell limited copies.
They invested billions scooping up studios and need to start making returns.
Sucks that nearly every company is publicly traded and have to be so shareholder biased but that's how it is.
Their words are strong but it'll take time to see what their actions accomplish. Lowering the cost of Game Pass and taking CoD off of it was a good clear start.

darthv7227d ago

More like, allot of their base just played game pass. So now they need to encourage them to start buying again.

S2Killinit26d ago (Edited 26d ago )

A lot of their base left for greener (bluer?) pastures.

--Onilink--27d ago

What exactly is the long term goal with exclusives though?

Because for the most part, the hardware side of things has never been the most profitable, even sometimes being subsidized for a period before breaking even. And that’s before the hardware component nightmare we currently live in.

The whole point of exclusives was to get more people to buy your console in order to have a bigger install base, which meant even bigger software sales.

But if their ports to PS5 are selling (for the most part it seems) quite well, then other than negating the cut Sony takes there, unless you are REALLY increasing your software sales on your own console, it probably doesn’t make that much of a difference?

Honestly I don’t even understand Sony’s decision to scale back on it for PC unless they weren’t even recouping the port expenses. They released ports when the hardware sales never really dropped, and now that all consoles will undoubtedly take a noticeable drop in sales due to the ridiculous prices, that’s when they decide they don’t want to sell to a larger install base to more easily recoup dev costs… it’s just weird

Outside_ofthe_Box27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

I agree. I mean once they went multiplat, in theory there should be no going back especially when you have games that have sold really well on other platforms.

Microsoft are the ones that announced that they are reevaluating. So I'm just guessing on what their end goal is. Right now Xbox as a hardware is not a must buy for anyone but fans of the brand because their games can be played elsewhere. Going exclusive would solve this, but you lose out on a ton of money instantly which has always been what the company does not want to do so not really sure what their "reevaluating exclusives" means unless they are pulling a Phil Spencer and are just saying what people want to hear and will continue to do what they are currently doing.

darthv7226d ago

Their ports to PS5 are selling because Sony's output has been so dry... the fans are thirsty, and MS is the oasis.

SIdepocket27d ago

Unfortunately, the studios they buy wither under their leadership.

mcstorm27d ago

Microsoft still has a name with Xbox the issue is the casual games are not looking at the console because its not the same console their friends have. Look at that poll on how many users upgraded from xbox 365 to one and then the X. Part of Microsoft's downfall was thinking that the Wii was the market they had to be in when really it was the core market. If you get the core gamers you then get the market to. As I posted a few minuets ago on another post Microsoft putting exclusives on PS this gen could bold well if they hit next gen with all our games are staying exclusive from this new gen. They will then get gamers wanting Halo, Forza Gears but this is also where Microsoft fell over with the xbox one and X in terms of they did not have may quality 1st party games affter they fell into the Gears, Forza and Halo cycle. If they can get some old IPs back to bring back the old core gamers as well as fresh ips to bring in new gamers things could improve next gen. But as I said in my last post its all if buts and maybes at the moment. No one knows if the next home consoles will be to expensive that people move to pc as we are now seeing or look at the stem deck as a cheepier alternitive.

DarXyde27d ago

"Only issue is they've already opened Pandora's box."

That's very optimistic. It's not the only issue, far from it. There is a serious rupture between Microsoft generally and the public caused by their weird Game Pass price fluctuations, taking down physical game space in stores, and being the first to go nuts on hardware price hikes that they themselves played a big part in.

They're also charging beyond a premium for Helix which is just vile at a time when the economy is in shambles.

The company itself is really not doing itself any favors with the approach they're taking Windows. Even France is looking to ditch Windows in favor of Linux.

But the most offensive thing is this AI push. They're doubling, tripling, and quadrupling down on the very technology they're using to replace a considerable proportion of their workforce... And the slap in the face is how they bake copilot into everything when nobody likes it—they couldn't even make Bing stick, so why on earth are they trying so hard? You know it's bad when people would rather use ChatGPT than Copilot which is killing their OS. But aside from their snatching up of farmland to build data centers (and reduce the agriculture capacity of whichever country allows them to build them), they made an AI-generated gamer gurl that loves AI the head of Xbox.

Even if we grant them the full benefit of the doubt, it hardly matters what Xbox wants to do if Nadella says no, and that includes exclusive games. Microsoft's relationship with Xbox is the opposite of Sony's relationship with PlayStation—Microsoft pulls the reins of Xbox, but Sony damn near went under for the PS3.

Tanktopmaster9226d ago (Edited 26d ago )

“If they go back to exclusive games it at least shows that they are finally getting it.”

Great strategy, especially after Forza selling 5 million on PlayStation and sea of thieves selling at least another million (2 million) for example. In March 2026, Xbox consoles sales ratio vs PS was 10:1.

In addition to that, with Gamepass, which unequivocally cuts out chunks of sales (Cannibalizing revenue from 1st month sales especially).

I’m sure going exclusive again after releasing everything on Ps5 is going to work out great for business.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 26d ago
maximusprime_27d ago

Despite all of that, it's clear that Microsoft's Xbox division is broken beyond repair.

27d ago
BeHunted27d ago

PlayStation is currently draining money on flop after flop. It's Sony that needs to re-evaluate their strategy

27d ago
CrashMania27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

Wonder how much money was lost on perfect dark, hellbalde 2, 300 million lost revenue
by putting cod on gamepass. The recent Jason schrier news that Xbox has cancelled dozens of projects, spent 70 billion just to see Xbox sales further collapse and gamepass see little growth.

The fact is this has been PlayStation's most profitable generation and they are making loads of money and selling plenty of consoles and games. While MS won't give you any sales figures or profit numbers for Xbox, says it all really.

S2Killinit26d ago

Sony PlayStation has deservedly dominated xbox. Facts

Tanktopmaster9226d ago (Edited 26d ago )

Ok tween.

Xbox series SX got outsold 10:1 last month. lol.

26d ago
+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 26d ago
shadowT27d ago

"Our presence on PC isn’t strong enough."

Fishy Fingers27d ago

It isnt. But I dont think they mean in 'games', rather, footprint.

They own the OS but as far as gaming is concerned, Steam dominate. I imagine the VAST majority of people who use the Xbox app/launcher are PC gamepass subs. No ones buying their 3rd party PC games through Xbox PC.

badz14927d ago

and many gamers prefer SteamOS for gaming over Windows too. If only Valve would be more uncompromising to the anti-cheat makers that locked out non-windows players, more pc gamers would have moved onto SteamOS by now and not looking back to Windows. overall, Win11 is a terrible, bloated, unoptimized OS which is not what many people want

ocelot0726d ago

Agreed and I think that's where they are going to focus on more. I think cheaper games on Windows/Xbox store (MS IP) compared to Steam and Epic and maybe even compared to PSN store as well.

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