Microsoft needs to get out of their Redmond bubble and see the world.
I interviewed with them in Redmond; the whole thing is a weird, 40,000 person echo chamber. For those who don't know. all development and engineering takes place in Redmond only. None of their other locations across the world are involved, or even in the know, about most of what's being made while in development. Not, at least, until it's close to launch.
This puts them into a very isolated situation where only a small set of people who can provide input. Microsoft pays well, Redmond has good internet; thus when everyone you know is always online, is technically savvy, has large enough living space for the kinekt, everyone lives in America, and has enough money that $500 is nothing... you start to think that's basically everyone.
If they had actually attempted to validate the market at all they would have seen this was a bad idea.
And, while I also agree that most consumers aren't knowledgeable I think it is frankly hilarious to assume that doesn't matter. Most consumers aren't knowledgeable, and thus likely won't even know when the new xbox is releasing. If they do, they won't care enough to line up to get one.
What tends to happen is the early adopters and people who know these things are consulted by the "uneducated consumers". If my sister wanted to stream movies and ask me what she should get, a PS4 or XBone, I'd tell her PS4. And trust me, before she spends 400 - 500 dollars she's going to do her research on to what is the best option for her. This is what MS doesn't understand, not everyone is making 80 - 300k a year in MS dollars.
When the vast majority of the people who are technically savvy are against your consoles, some of these people will be in a sort of consulting role for their friends and family. And they WILL be consulted because, for most people, $500 is actually a lot of money.
What a fucking ****.
I interviewed with them in Redmond; the whole thing is a weird, 40,000 person echo chamber. For those who don't know. all development and engineering takes place in Redmond only. None of their other locations across the world are involved, or even in the know, about most of what's being made while in development. Not, at least, until it's close to launch.
This puts them into a very isolated situation where only a small set of people who can provide input. Microsoft pays well, Redmond has good internet; thus when everyone you know is always online, is technically savvy, has large enough living space for the kinekt, everyone lives in America, and has enough money that $500 is nothing... you start to think that's basically everyone.
If they had actually attempted to validate the market at all they would have seen this was a bad idea.
And, while I also agree that most consumers aren't knowledgeable I think it is frankly hilarious to assume that doesn't matter. Most consumers aren't knowledgeable, and thus likely won't even know when the new xbox is releasing. If they do, they won't care enough to line up to get one.
What tends to happen is the early adopters and people who know these things are consulted by the "uneducated consumers". If my sister wanted to stream movies and ask me what she should get, a PS4 or XBone, I'd tell her PS4. And trust me, before she spends 400 - 500 dollars she's going to do her research on to what is the best option for her. This is what MS doesn't understand, not everyone is making 80 - 300k a year in MS dollars.
When the vast majority of the people who are technically savvy are against your consoles, some of these people will be in a sort of consulting role for their friends and family. And they WILL be consulted because, for most people, $500 is actually a lot of money.
What a fucking ****.
