Xbox Boss: Games Industry Would be Healthier if Execs Actually Played Games

[StreamerDarkly]

It surprisingly doesn't make a lot of difference in several kinds of industries weather you are knowledgeable about the product or not. A good manager can manage almost anything, but the key word here is almost.

Few execs realize that games are more close to art than to a simple product (like a banana or a cell phone) and that it requires a more dynamic and sensible approach. Videogames is a very unique industry, actually.

Which is why John Sculley was wildly successful as CEO of Apple! Cola and computers, it's all the same.

 

[Mortuorum]

Hey, I've got an Xbox One and (almost) a MBA. In fact, my MBA classes have plenty of men and women who are also gamers. Why do gaming companies hire anyone without gaming experience when there are qualified candidates who are also gaming enthusiasts? (Trick question. It's because HR officers hate us.)

 

[SecondPrize]

Alternatively, the former packaging industry execs could just not make game design decisions. Yeah, it's about time someone fucking said it because AAA games have felt like they were designed by a committee of suits for a very long time now.

 

[TristanBelmont]

Hiring Phil is the best decision Microsoft has ever made concerning Xbox.

Couldn't agree more

 

[Alex Baas]

The old school Rare fanboy in me wants to punch anyone with the title "Head of Xbox" in the face, but dammit Phil, ever since last E3 I have wanted to punch you in the face less and less.

Take that as backhanded praise

 

[Nurb]

While true, nothing was stopping all those devs that sold themselves to those publishers who later bastardized their IP and axed the team later.

 

[alj]

I think they should just be good execs and not listen to the lobsters in marketing who know nothing about the industry.

They need advisers who are gamers , and they need to listen to the devs over marketing / branding people.

its not there job to be gamers , its there job to listen to good advice and be a good facilitator, if they dont there just bad at there job.