170°

Microsoft opening new Kinect studios: set for "highly experimental gameplay"

123KINECT writes: "As more and more Kinect hacks surface, Microsoft wants to start experimenting as well. Fortunately, without relying on these individual developers, Microsoft took matters into their own hands and has opened a game studio: MGS Family, close to their home, in Redmond. The tag line that should draw future employees in, is self-explanatory: "Want to work on games the whole family can enjoy?", but what follows is not so self-explanatory."

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123kinect.com
DigitalRaptor5430d ago

The question begs to be asked: why aren't they opening studios for their core titles?

DigitalRaptor5430d ago

No. I mean core games for people who have no interest in Kinect.

JonnyTheMoney5430d ago

nothing new here... move along people.

mark01925430d ago

Maybe, because they trust their partners in creating these experiences? Or because they'll be announcing that they bought Epic at E3?

VINNIEPAZ5430d ago (Edited 5430d ago )

"The question begs to be asked: why aren't they opening studios for their core titles?"

Who said it they have to, people that bought kinect already new it wasn't meant for hardcore. Now go cry some more.

@Mr Beatdown "He's talking about hardcore games. Not hardcore Kinect games."

IDK maybe they want to try to make games that have "highly experimental gameplay". I hope they can make some FRESH new fun games. Just because its not hardcore doesn't mean its not fun for Christ sake. This is room for both

MrBeatdown5430d ago

He's talking about hardcore games. Not hardcore Kinect games.

Maybe those that bought Kinect knew it wasn't for the hardcore, but the same sure as hell can't be said for those who bought a 360.

The_Ultimate_Guy5430d ago

@ MrBeatdown

"Maybe those that bought Kinect knew it wasn't for the hardcore, but the same sure as hell can't be said for those who bought a 360."

What an ignorant comment. The 360 has had 6 years worth of hardcore games. Kinect is like only 6 months old and you think MS no longer has hardcore games for the hardcore players?

Just pathetic.

MrBeatdown5430d ago (Edited 5430d ago )

@The_Ultimate_Guy

Really? It's ignorant to expect a steady flow of hardcore exclusive games for a system that was sold and marketed to millions as the system with the best hardcore line-up?

Sorry to rain on your parade, but the last hardcore exclusive title to release on 360 was last fall. The next one will be this fall. That's nearly a year without a single hardcore exclusive. I'm not basing what I said on "Kinect being out for six months" as you put it. I'm basing it on the FACT that MS hasn't released anything specifically for the hardcore since the end of October with Fable III, and won't release anything until the end of September with Gears 3.

I've had my 360 for five years, which has been more than enough time to play the games from the past six years. God forbid I ask for something as absurd as new games, right? Hell, even when the PS3 was in the toilet in 2006 and 2007, Sony could at least release something decent every few months. It's pretty damn bad when you can't even keep pace with what is considered the worst year for either system this generation.

You know what's pathetic to me? Pretending eleven months without a noteworthy game aimed at it's core audience of millions is anything less than pathetic.

I'm sure I'll keep getting disagrees though. Some people would rather just protect Microsoft's precious image than expect better from them.

jimbone795430d ago

@ Mr.beatdown
That’s funny because I have already bought 6 hardcore games for my 360 this year so this “the last hardcore exclusive game for the 360 was released last fall”, shit is a joke. Oh I know, I forgot. Only exclusives count right? I hate what these internet gamers have become. A game only counts if it agrees with their opinion. Never mind the stellar lineup of games this year, nothing counts but exclusives. I hate to rain on your parade but the 360 still has more total exclusives than the PS3. It has more total games, so even if you go by the most “EXCLUSIVES” 360 is still on top. No, MS has no abandoned the hardcore. Is it focused on the casuals right now? Yes, but that’s not hurting my gaming habit at all. I still have more games than I can keep up with, and to be honest for the last month anything you can play online is a 360 exclusive. You also mention people protecting MS. LOL, I guess you’ve missed the hordes of people the last month that are saying how “OK” it is the Sony lost everyone’s personal information, and that it’s “cool” that PSN is down. I bet you a million dollars if Live was going through the same thing those same people wouldn’t have the same “aww it’s ok” attitude. I’m so sick of reading the delusional peoples post on this website. I’m done with this shit. Fuck you and all the other Sony di%^ suckers on this site. I will be having fun playing my 360 ONLINE, and all you can have fun bent over for Sony, while still trying to convince the world they like your “personality”.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5430d ago
callahan095430d ago

"highly experimental gameplay" That's what I'm talkin' about! I don't personally care if they want to label it "core" or "casual" or whatever, but I do have an interest in playing something FUN in a way that I've never played before.

kaveti66165430d ago

the question begs to be asked: if you have a PS3 and believe it satisfies all of your gaming needs, then why are you interested in what Microsoft is doing?

karl5430d ago

with all the xbox fanboys bragging about xbox sales it only gets more fun every year to watch how MS keeps pissing on them..

besides with PSN down.. what are we suppose to do? get an xbox? Jesus Christ LMAO

kaveti66165430d ago

Maybe try reading a book.

What are you supposed to do?

Does your life consist of only playing games and trolling game forums?

There are girls out there.

JokesOnYou5430d ago

lol, of course a well known sonyfanboy is the 1st to post a negative comment in a kinect thread, just bitter because kinect is generating far more interest than sonys move.

DigitalRaptor5430d ago (Edited 5430d ago )

Call me a Sony fanboy if you want. Okay, I'm pretty satisfied with the content Sony offers, and I love gaming on my PC too. Does that make me a PC fanboy too, or maybe that makes me a Microsoft fanboy since they provide the OS that I run my games on? Hmmmm.... not too sure.

But anyway, to someone like you my comments are negative. That's all you want to see. As far as I'm concerned, I think it would be better for the average 360 gamer if MS would put more focus into their core exclusives for the 360 gamer who has been with them from the start.

Bitter? not really. When I critisize Justin Bieber or Rebecca Black does that make me bitter about their success? Not really. They just make REALLY, REALLY shit music.

What I know is that Kinect is a far less competent gaming device than your standard controller, or even Move. I'm insulted that Microsoft has convinced people that it's the future of gaming, and I'm also astonished that the same people that are buying Kinect haven't learned from when they bought the Wii and left it to gather dust soon after.

And for that reason I think it's only fair that 360 fans should receive more exclusive content for their 360, rather than for an underwhelming (considering the hype) peripheral.

I'm thinking about you guys here - remember that! I sometimes see comments from 360 fans telling Microsoft that it just isn't good enough, and that is respectable. Why don't more of you have that kind of attitude, instead of taking the proverbial shaft all the time for EVERYTHING? XBL price hike... Overpriced peripherals... hardware issues... lack of variety... taking away your choices etc.

JokesOnYou5430d ago (Edited 5430d ago )

No self respecting 360fan would deny that 360 could use a couple more exclusives during the 1st half of the year but the situation is far from a feeling of abandonment of the core gamer fanbase considering some major titles like Gears and Forza are coming in the later half of the year, sonyloyalist would of course like nothing more than 360 owners to believe the 360 is finished, lol been hearing that same song every year, still enjoying the hell out of my 360 with friends all year every year. Also unlike some we also recognize there are plenty of great multiplats to play, which quite frankly in some cases are better than all but the very top tier 360 AND ps3 exclusives. Thats how I feel and I own both, I just prefer 360 gaming in most cases.

My point to you is only that what you think "is only fair for 360 fans" is nothing more than fake concern for our best interest, you lack creditability on the matter given your history....furthermore given the fact that hardcore 360 fans like myself have played and enjoyed a select few kinect games and would love to see kinect intergrated in more core titles along with standard controls, YOU of all people do NOT speak for us. No, you are just a typical sonyfanboy in a kinect thread trolling, nobodys fooled.

Morbius4205429d ago (Edited 5429d ago )

Gears, Forza, Fable, Gears, Forza, Fable...man can't we ever get anything new?

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5429d ago
Counter Strike5430d ago

is creating a triple A shooter compstible with Kinect and 343 is making Halo 4 wich will be compatible with Kinect.

Burning_Finger5430d ago ShowReplies(1)
zeal0us5430d ago (Edited 5430d ago )

Families are jumping for joy. Core-gamers are wondering wth, wheres the core-games already. Ps3 owners wondering when is psn coming back online and find this news irrelevant.

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70°

Two more senior Xbox leaders exit Microsoft

Microsoft has lost another two long-serving members of its senior team: corporate VP of partnerships, business development, and marketing, Lori Wright, and general manager of gaming AI at Xbox, Haiyan Zhang. Both announced their departures on LinkedIn.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
Paik3d ago

Who?

Also an AI person leaving is a good thing

SimulationDaily2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

People in this industry move around. People's reaction to this kind of (usually irrelevant) article is always hilarious.

Of course, it's a weekend, so you can't expect the "contributors" at Eurogamer to contribute anything relevant. Finding real gaming news is hard for some 😂

VenomUK2d ago

Xbox influencer Colt Eastwood made a complete fool of himself, again. He posted his assumption that Asha Sharma fired the staff, but when Haitian Zhang politely refuted his claim he deleted his tweet!

https://x.com/jamiesact/sta...

peppeaccardo2d ago

Abandon ship ... Abandon ship ....

darthv722d ago

Its the ones who were part of the team that decided on taking XB games 3rd party.... no real loss.

fr0sty2d ago

Microsoft's shareholders and CEO made that call, not Xbox.

gold_drake2d ago

they've definitely worked there for too long. their responses are "me me me me" shit.

no sane person talks like that.

1Victor2d ago

You know what the sailors say about sinking ships

2d ago Replies(6)
1Victor1d 21h ago (Edited 1d 21h ago )

@Maximus:” @elda - why bother replying to that delusional clown?”
.
The worse part is the wasted time replying and then getting erased when his account get banned

1d 23h ago
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40°

Indie studio Speculative Agency returns Microsoft Xbox funding and urges others to boycott

Indie studio Speculative Agency - which is currently making "a narrative courtroom deck-builder about ordinary people who make the powerful pay for destroying our future", called All Will Rise (quote from Kickstarter) - has made the brave decision to return funding given by Xbox and Microsoft to join the No Games For Genocide boycott.

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eurogamer.net
StarcrossedBits11d ago

Oh good lord. Could Eurogamer wear their politics more overtly on their sleeve? While I disagree with Speculative Agency's decision the article by Eurogamer is painful. It's not a news article, its a propaganda opinion piece. Consider the language used:
*"Brave decision to return funding" -- A proper article would have said 'made the decision' or 'made the difficult decision'. Saying 'brave' editorializes in a way that isn't appropriate for news article.
*"All Will Rise narrative director Meghna Jayanth - renowned for her work on Inkle's 80 Days and, more recently, the genre-mash-up skateboarding dating game Thirsty Suitors" -- The writer is significantly exaggerating the relevance of this person. They are not renowned. I'm a former game journalist who is obsessed with game development and indie games and I vaguely remember those games as minor blips and nothing of real note. The narrative director is definitely not a well known name (something required to be 'renowned').
*The article provides no critical thought or counterpoint, nothing to to push back the idea that Microsoft is contributing to genocide. In fact the opposite, it accepts the statement as truth and then links to a video to educate their uninformed viewers about the evil of Microsoft. (Of course, Eurogamer has accepted significant funds from Microsoft)

TheGamersDojo11d ago

Yep, I stopped reading relatively quickly when I learned what it was about. They, like many other sites, have gone from one of the greats to unfortunate political propaganda site in recent years.

1nsomniac11d ago

… so no one cares about your opinion either. You’re a no one. What does it matter.

Huey_My_D_Long11d ago

Over 35 States enact laws on restricting BDS to protect Israel, but yeah this one piece is propaganda and needs to do both sides? Because it needs to offer counter points that MS is not contributing to a Genocide? Despite the business dealings they have with Israel like "Microsoft's cloud computing and AI services have been used by the Israeli military to facilitate its operations in Gaza and for mass surveillance of Palestinians"
.
I mean if you dont think there is a Genocide...how about you just say so? Or that MS services are not helping Israel in their efforts. Seems like propaganda already got to you
I see why you are a former journalist

Christopher10d ago

I mean, everything Microsoft (and Sony and Nintendo and Valve) puts out is also propaganda for their company. Are we criticizing every bit of propaganda or just Eurogamer?

I get your point, but it seems to be from an echo room and not as the industry as a whole.

Personally, I'm fine with people having their own opinions. Doesn't change mine.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 10d ago
80°

Microsoft quietly retires 'This is an Xbox' marketing campaign

What is an Xbox now?

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gamedeveloper.com
Lightning7712d ago

Had a strong feeling they'd do this. Ok that's one step inthe right direction. Baby steps because the moment they do anything drastic they step on rakes.

Next give ppl reason to sub for 30$ a month to for GP. Second is the lower the price. They want to return to Xbox they need to be attractive again. Lower price won't sell them out as it's too late this gen but it's something.

1Victor12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@lighting: “Baby steps because the moment they do anything drastic they step on rakes.”
.
The first thing that came to mind while reading that was Tom setting the last mouse traps in a corner with the whole room full of them 🤣
.

@Christopher: “because without them it would just be two very different console markets doing whatever they want without someone to remind them to do their best constantly.”
.
I partly agree with you where I disagree is that there will never be only 2 consoles there will always be a company/corporation willing to jump in and fill the 3rd spot, Microsoft is shaking for the next gen and Valve is already getting gritty to take that 3rd spot from them.

TriniOutsider12d ago

This is wishful thinking, how can they drop the price of game pass? When just few months they raised the price of subscription service?

PRIMORDUS12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

I wish it would it have read Microsoft quietly retires Xbox, and just develop/publish games. The Xbox name doesn't mean anything anymore, the 360 era was the best they ever had.

Christopher12d ago

Look, I'm no fan of where they've taken the brand, but it's still one of the strongest brands out there regardless of where it is currently. We're in a small market and none of the big 3 are hurting to a point where they need to close shop or anything. And we need Xbox out there, because without them it would just be two very different console markets doing whatever they want without someone to remind them to do their best constantly.

peppeaccardo11d ago

SONY has done its best since PS1 with no need of MS reminder, funny enough MS has done its worse even though there are two other consoles reminding otherwise .... u see the light ?

isarai_lee12d ago

And only the first half of that, god that was such a great time to be an xbox gamer.

Rockstar11d ago

I had a blast with the OG Xbox. Many LAN parties in a friend's basement. Not to sound old but those were the days!

Lightning7711d ago

Yeah no...

Unless you're a fanboy but nobody cares what fanboys want or think.

Zerobalance12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

The PS fan media are always having a pop at MS but as a gamer I've had no issues playing my Xbox games, my PC games and cloud games. I've benefited from playing my games everywhere. For over three decades I've enjoyed many games. The media's failure, especially this site to have balanced view on anything Xbox is childish. The Xbox move to PC is an excellent idea. An open platform, endless possibilities and no fake paywalls. Don't forget that in the UK Sony has a class action against it for anti competitive practices. No one is reporting this. All those gamers ripped off and over charged. And don't forget Valve too. They are too powerful as well. Change is good.

isarai_lee12d ago

You do realize the intent is to go after every major digital market place, PlayStation just happened to be first but the class action lawsuit statement names xbox marketplace, apple store, Nintendo online store etc. they're all guilty, so holding it as something ms has over ps is dumb

ocelot0712d ago (Edited 12d ago )

Valve the peoples store choice on PC also has the same class action against them here in the UK.

It's not valve fault competing store front are rubbish. Barely any pc gamers want to buy from the MS/Xbox app or epic games or Uplay as they are garbage compared to steam.

As for Sony they have no competition unless you consider Nintendo there competition. Both lawsuits are going to go no where. Sony ain't forcing anyone to buy a playstation or to even buy digital for that matter. People can go and buy a switch to or for some reason a Xbox series or a pc.

Same goes for valve. People are free to go and use other store fronts if they wish valve ain't keeping them hostage.

They will probably try it with Nintendo next.

Z50112d ago

"especially this site"

Isn't this site an aggregate?

The_Blue12d ago

This site uses being discontent with Xbox as a cultural requirement.

Rockstar11d ago

This site uses being discontent with Xbox as a cultural requirement...now.

I fixed it for you.

Were you here during the PS3/Xbox 360 console wars? It was a hard time to be a Sony fan...

Christopher11d ago

Lot of victim complex up in here. You can like whatever you like here. Ain't no one giving others crap unless they go full console war. There's a difference between liking a platform and joining the war.

SimpleDad12d ago

Campaign was confusing af for the average consumer.

Next campaign: Everything is a console.

Yi-Long12d ago

Always hated this campaign. It goes against everything I want from a gaming-console.

An Xbox should be an Xbox. A dedicated home-console, focused on a pure console-gaming experience. Which, for me, means ease of use, physical ownership, no online demands, etc.

I wish we would just go back to the basics in this industry.

ocelot0711d ago

I agree but they started to ditch that right after the successful 360 era

Ninver11d ago

Greed was their downfall

Yi-Long11d ago

Halfway during the 360 era, I'd argue, when they had a massive success with 360 console gaming, then saw what Nintendo was doing with Wii, and went after that audience with Kinect. That's when it all went very downhill, very fast.

Their XBO announcements killed them.

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