Microsoft "Investing to Win" in Europe

[xMacx]

And I don't believe in Cultural Geography, I believe in a rapidly emerging global culture.

I could believe in Puff the Magic Dragon, but that doesn't exactly make it true. I think I'll align myself with a body of well-established literature versus personal opinion on this one. But hey, that's just me. I've got a 12" of "we are the World" that agrees with you, with a sweet Kenny Rogers solo.


And just to play off of a point - I'd argue that part of what makes games so damn bland these days is the exact position you're taking - that a game about stealth jungle missions would be just as well designed by people who've never seen the inside of a damn jungle than say....jungle guerillas in africa who have actually lived the part.

That's part of why every sewer level looks the same, every jungle level looks the same, every alien spaceship looks the same...they're all programmed by the same guys who are part of the same community who go to the same conferences, etc....in short, your position=FPS mediocrity. Congrats.

I'm all about the globalization - letting some non-anglo cultures develop some scenarios we don't think about. To hell with one worldview - I get enough of one global culture in my games, and that worldview looks ridiculously bland. Bring on the games made by socialists in South America! Bring on the FPS's made by Zulus! Let's get some action made by someone who has a different perspective!

 

[xMacx]

And I don't believe in Cultural Geography, I believe in a rapidly emerging global culture.

Also, I'd suggest taking a course in this or at least reading a book on it before you write it off.

If you do, you'll probably realize that an emerging global culture is completely congruent (and a part of) cultural geography. In fact, a branch of cultural geography focuses completely on how cultural innovations like technology spread from one location to the next and become part of a larger group tied by specific innovation. Which you'd probably know..if you knew anything about the subject before speaking on it. I'm just guessing here - feel free to tell me if I'm wrong.

 

[xMacx]

I accept my error in judgment - though I'm a little nonplussed by your definition of cultural geography as political divisions (divisions into academic camps, sure, if that's all you meant).

So, umm..just to clear it up..if you believe in the theory of a specific camp of Cultural Geography (which is pretty damn specific), what's up with all the "I don't believe in Cultural Geography?" It sounds like you do - you just subscribe to a particular theory within the field.

My understanding is that the polar views you're talking about have been nonexistent for all practical purposes, with most scholars agreeing that both forces are interdependent and in flux (for all given purposes.) Hell, the last chapter of my text was dedicated to saying the purist view of either side was logically flawed.

 

[xMacx]

I don't think anybody would disagree with that - though I think you could insert just about anything for "gaming subculture" and that would still be true. What subculture isn't born out of change?


In any case, Hijacking complete! Score!

 

[CatmanStu]

I don't know about you two (as I believe we are the last three here) but I kind of want to play a game set on a space ship that has been developed by someone who has actually experienced it.

PS - This conversation has been enthralling to read. Kudos.

 

[xMacx]

Right. Now, back to the article.

I'd admire Microsofts optimism, if it wasn't so obviously misplaced. They budgeted on the Ps3 being dead by now - they haven't planned for anything halfway decent and exclusive next year, whereas Sony have only begun to show off what it can do.

This has provided some amusement - good diversion while I finished a long night of work :X. Thanks!

With that said - I guarantee you MS did not anticipate PS3 being gone by now. Everyone is expecting a long tail to the PS3 (I don't know if there's much other option given it's initial missteps).

While it's tempting to think of titles in terms of counter-programming like TV, more often it's about who you can sign to do good titles in a multi-year time frame. Something slips, you look worse than you did before. Something gets signed that looks really good, all of a sudden you're looking strong again. There's definitely a push to have good titles for the holiday, but there definitely wasn't a plan like "Let's push everything we've got for this one time frame - they'll be done then!!"

Vaguely related note - from purely a gaming standpoint, Christmas 2009 does not currently excite me for any console. It will be interesting to see what happens - perhaps Christmas 2009 is the year of teh suck. Perhaps something amazing will come crawling out of the woodwork. But currently, I can't muster up the energy to care.

 

[xMacx]

I don't know about you two (as I believe we are the last three here) but I kind of want to play a game set on a space ship that has been developed by someone who has actually experienced it.

PS - This conversation has been enthralling to read. Kudos.

I got you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlpIw789EcE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Thf2eoa_og&feature=related

Takin it back to 1994!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Space_Simulator

ok, maybe a semi-serious one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJD8SCclSq0&feature=related

 

[sammyfreak]

In regards to games developed by diffirent nations you can notice quite a few diffirence between American and European developers. Take the Swedish developers Massive and their game "World in Conflict", the game features an imaginary war between the US and Russia but contains very little American patriotism. Swedes in general don't like American patriotism and that is reflected in the game so that it focuses more on individual soldier.

This might not be a really big example but I think that there is alot of potential for game developers to make games for their own countries. Didn't the developers of S.T.A.L.K.E.R talk about how the game was Russian not just in setting (technically it's set in modern day Ukraine after all) but in character. Another example would be the game Stalin Vs Martins, even if it doesn't look very serious the game seems to be Russians making fun of their history. Fable has typical British humor (the best kind) and let's not mention some Japanese games.

So here to Microsoft for investing in some non-american developers!

 

[Joeshie]

I think that since Microsoft now has a pretty good grip on America and is slowly starting to do better in Japan, they will focus more of their attention on Europe.

No offense to you Europeans, but your area has always been, well, less of a concern for developers and the game industry in general when compared to America and Japan. Seeing as how Microsoft just wanted to make a competing console that would grab up market share (which the 360 has done extremely well), I don't think it's that surprising that they weren't paying much focus to Europe.

 

[Joeshie]

I don't know if the 360 is really doing that well in Japan. Remember, Square Enix aren't even bothering to make a Japanese 360 version.

Actually, if you look at the weekly sales in Japan, the 360 has been consistently selling about half of what the PS3 does. That's pretty good when you consider how poorly they did in the past.

 

[SecretTacoNinja]

Microsoft: Stop treating us like shit and you wont have any need for lovely press announcements.

What he said, I want to go Wii or PS3 but my brother doesn't. Yes I am a victim of the RROD and even though I have a new one I still don't trust the damn thing.