Microsoft Cancels E3 Post-Conference Info Session

[Cognimancer]

Microsoft Cancels E3 Post-Conference Info Session

Anyone hoping to get some answers about the Xbox One will have to be satisfied with the main event.

The Xbox One has been the focus of a veritable storm of rumors, due in large part to Microsoft's confusing and often contradictory explanations of the console's features. The company's upcoming press conference at E3 will no doubt deliver more information, and console manufacturers usually hold a post-conference roundtable with the media to discuss any points that weren't addressed in the public event. Unfortunately for those hoping for additional clarification, Microsoft seems to have cancelled its roundtable discussion at this year's E3 - the only details we'll be getting will be coming from the conference itself.

With so many unanswered questions circulating through the gaming community, you might think that answering questions and shooting down falsehoods would be at the top of Microsoft's priority list. As it stands, the manufacturer won't be opening that conversation with the press. Sun Media's Steve Tilley reported the roundtable's cancellation through Twitter. According to Tilley, Microsoft won't be available to answer questions due to changes in the schedules of company executives, "including some external industry and partner sessions."

[tweet t=https://twitter.com/stevetilley/status/342289498924789760]

"Not sure what to make of that" seems to be the prevailing attitude - while it could be as simple as an unfortunate schedule conflict, Microsoft had better be planning a clear and informative main press conference if it wants to quell the rumor mill. We'll have to decide that for ourselves when E3 kicks off next week.

Source: Twitter [https://twitter.com/stevetilley/status/342289498924789760]

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[Terminate421]

I'm not sure what to really make of that.

Seriously, is Cobra Commander in charge of Microsoft's Xbox Division right now?

 

[Atmos Duality]

Silencing media-feedback on the Xbone at the largest gaming expo of the year.
On the heels of overwhelmingly negative vibes for the Xbone...

Yeah, there's no speculation as to what's behind THAT decision.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

Either they are really arrogant about their press conference, or it really was a scheduling conflict.

I have no idea what Microsoft is doing anymore, but I guess next week will be veeeeeeeeery interesting to say the least.

 

[vallorn]

Go ahead Microsoft keep shooting your relationship with the gaming press in the foot I don't mind. You've already pushed me to running a PC and PS4 setup next gen with Xbox Live so anything you do just adds to the volume of people I have to play with on these free online platforms.

 

[Coach Morrison]

"Sir the people want some solid answers on the Xbox One, should we prepare for the roundtable?"
"No young Sith, instead we must cancel the event."

That's how I imagine that this even was canceled.

 

[Tactical Pause]

This seems pretty much in keeping with Microsoft's dedication to dodging questions and providing half-answers when pressed for info about the Xbox One. What better way to avoid direct questions than to avoid circumstances in which they can be asked altogether?

 

[Griffolion]

I perceive this as an indictment on Microsoft. They've analysed the response to the reveal, found it unfavourable, and are now enacting damage control. They can fully control what's shown and how it's shown in the main event, but the round-table leaves them exposed to potentially very probing and insightful questions.

I'm not counting them out for E3, I'm prepared to give them a fair chance to redeem the reveal event, but this really isn't looking good.

 

[CriticalMiss]

I think this might be evidence that the chimps-with-typewriters that are the Microsoft press relations department all ran away when their cages were left open, leaving only half finished answers and little piles of poop in their absence. Then Steve Ballmer and Major Nelson were travelling up and down the country trying to round them all up before E3 so they could not have a shitty presentation again. Which of course they will be making in to a TV show exclusive to the Xbone.

More details later.

 

[Signa]

Well I for one know what to make of it. There is no way you do what MS has done and then drop the ball again later because of a mere "scheduling conflict." This shit is top priority, because the division's next ~7 years hinge HEAVILY on what happens at E3.

The few people who remain optimistic after the reveal are just looking to E3 to make up for the bad taste in people's mouths. If people hate E3, no one is going to buy the system out of the gate. If no one buys, then we will end up with a second Wii U or Vita on the market; a system with no games that no one wants to buy while it has no games.

Then again, I could be wrong. People are going to buy the One, but it won't be the same people that loved the 360.

 

[BrotherRool]

I think this is probably in response to the complete shambles of the post-announcement information flow. All sorts of guys from all over the place, contradicting each other, or telling us about all the bad features of the One. They've decided it's better to tell everyone to shut up and only give information from one source which has probably run everything over with a PR toothcomb first

 

[Roxas1359]

I'm not sure what to really make of that.

Seriously, is Cobra Commander in charge of Microsoft's Xbox Division right now?

...great now I'm imagining Don Mattrick in Cobra Commander's outfit. Wait no I'm imagining Steve Ballmer as Cobra Commander and Don Mattrick is Destro. Someone with image editing abilities make it so! XD

OT: Yeah I can see this burning in a flame of disaster. While it could be a scheduling issue they could just reschedule it, but outright cancelling it is not doing them any favors.

 

[Trishbot]

When you have nothing but bad news, I'd cancel the media events too.

Microsoft's in trouble and they know it. Despite them saying gamers will "buy it regardless" and "still pick [them]", that has proven to be untrue, and they're unprepared for the backlash.

You don't AVOID the media at an event designed to reveal information TO the media... unless what they have to reveal is embarrassing, poorly received, and highly anti-consumer.

 

[Anti-Robot Man]

So after telling everyone that things would be cleared up at E3, Microsoft now opt to avoid questions entirely? Nothing suspicious about that!

TBH even if the worst speculation about the machine and their policies turns out to be true, I think they would be better off getting it out of the way now, then working over the next few months to earn back some good will. As it is, it's a dark cloud hanging over everything they announce, and trying to weasel their way out of questions just makes them look even worse. But no they arrogantly seem to think they can just ignore their own statements and pretend that everyone will just buy the console regardless. How hard is it to clarify details of a product that is ostensibly finished and launching in 6 months? Especially if they want people pre-ordering the thing.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I know what to make of it. They're smart enough to realize that they're getting a very negative reception as-is with this thing and they're trying to make us focus on what they tell us to, while they do some shit in the background that we don't know about. Maybe it'll be fixing the damn thing and all of its problems. Maybe they're trying to get it by us by distracting us with the games so it'll be able to shove its dirty DRM up our asses when it gets to the damn market. Either way, I'm still going to take a critical approach whenever this thing pops up, because so far it has not spawned any good news.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I'm pretty sure they must have more than a few executives at their disposal. Probably too many knowing Microsoft.

Seriously what the fuck are they hiding? Do they have dead children inside it or something?

 

[CardinalPiggles]

So after telling everyone that things would be cleared up at E3, Microsoft now opt to avoid questions entirely? Nothing suspicious about that!

TBH even if the worst speculation about the machine and their policies turns out to be true, I think they would be better off getting it out of the way now, then working over the next few months to earn back some good will. As it is, it's a dark cloud hanging over everything they announce, and trying to weasel their way out of questions just makes them look even worse. But no they arrogantly seem to think they can just ignore their own statements and pretend that everyone will just buy the console regardless. How hard is it to clarify details of a product that is ostensibly finished and launching in 6 months? Especially if they want people pre-ordering the thing.

I know at least 2 idiots that have already pre ordered the thing. Despite not knowing how much it'll cost, what games are coming out for it, how much XBL Gold will cost, or whether or not it'll be an always online console (this last one is especially stupid for them because their internet is terribly slow and dreadfully unstable).

This is despite all my warnings and all those they've heard themselves. Like I said; idiots.

 

[Vivi22]

Either they are really arrogant about their press conference, or it really was a scheduling conflict.

There is a third possibility, and one which may be more likely than those: avoid public questions and criticism in the hope that they either go away or you can make it as close to launch as possible before anyone finds out the answers to questions you don't want them asking.

I find it far more likely that they're either in a full on scramble to see what they can do before launch to abate people's fears or are simply trying to hide from the truth about their console as long as they can than I would find other explanations like them just having a really good conference presentation lined up (when was the last time they or anyone else had a great E3 conference?) or scheduling conflicts. Sorry, but you don't let scheduling conflicts get in the way of the biggest industry event of the year, especially when you need to pull a rabbit out of your hat after a bad initial showing. That excuse is patent bullshit. If scheduling conflicts really happened, it was intentional.