Xbox Creator: New Consoles Need Apple Experiences

[Fanghawk]

Xbox Creator: New Consoles Need Apple Experiences

According to Xbox co-creator Ed Fries, gaming's future will owe a lot to Apple.

It's no secret that videogame consoles have changed drastically since their inception. In terms of physical media alone, we've moved <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118834-Todays-Youth-Unimpressed-With-Commodore-64>from tape-based cartridges, to ROM cartridges, to CDs, and most recently to digital distribution for delivering content. Our technological capability is increasing at a rapid pace, but according to Xbox co-creator Ed Fries, the services provided by console manufacturers are still stuck in the past. Fries believes that the upcoming game generation could finally be the tipping point that changes everything, and in the end, it's going to look a lot like Apple.

"It's getting harder and harder for the traditional consoles to ignore the Apple kind of experience," Fries told Game Informer. "Anybody can develop for the platform, certification is a relatively cheap and painless thing, and in the old days of consoles there are all sorts of myths and legends that say that's a bad thing to do. That's why the game business melted down in '84, there was too much junk on the market, but now you've got guys who make games like Fez who can't do an update to their game <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118578-Update-Fez-Studio-Rereleases-Save-Corrupting-Patch>because it costs too much, if that game was on iOS that wouldn't be a problem, but because it's on XBLA it's a problem."

While console manufacturers have been slowly catching up with new technologies and distribution methods, Fries notes that in many ways they're still inflexible to change. That's why Fries believes that the Ouya, for which he is currently acting as an advisor, might succeed in the coming generation. Fries even suggests that an Apple console would inevitably spark another gaming revolution. "Those kinds of ideas have to go away in the next generation," he says. "They'll go away in Ouya, they'll go away if Apple brings some kind of product into this space, the console makers like Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, they have to respond to that, it's just the future."

While it's difficult to say exactly how things will shake out, it's not wrong to note that Apple's practices have impacted the industry. The iPhone practically changed the way we think about handheld gaming overnight, and its influence is credited to everything from declining console sales to <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/114633-Windows-8-Store-to-Offer-Developers-A-Slightly-Better-Deal>Microsoft's certification policies for Windows 8. Manufacturers would likely love to emulate some of Apple's practices, and more importantly its successes, in a console market that is <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118627-360-Still-On-Top-Despite-Declining-Sales>looking a little rough around the edges despite its strengths.

Source: <a href=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/11/26/xbox-creator-speaks-on-ouya.aspx>Game Informer, via <a href=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-11-27-xbox-co-creator-reckons-its-harder-for-consoles-to-ignore-the-apple-experience>Eurogamer

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[JEBWrench]

While console manufacturers have been slowly catching up with new technologies and distribution methods, Fries notes that in many ways they're still inflexible to change. That's why Fries believes that the Ouya, for which he is currently acting as an advisor, might succeed in the coming generation. Fries even suggests that an Apple console would inevitably spark another gaming revolution. "Those kinds of ideas have to go away in the next generation," he says. "They'll go away in Ouya, they'll go away if Apple brings some kind of product into this space, the console makers like Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, they have to respond to that, it's just the future."

Do I need to break out the Pippin avatar again?

Apple already released a console and it was terrible.

As for the rest of it, that's already bloody well what they're doing, and have been doing for years now. Has Mr. Fries even looked at the "treasure trove" that is XBLIG? It's like the App Store but worse.

 

[Strazdas]

but now you've got guys who make games like Fez who can't do an update to their game because it costs too much, if that game was on iOS that wouldn't be a problem, but because it's on XBLA it's a problem.

isnt all this is saying is that microsofts tactic with publishing are batshit insane? how does microsoft being a d**k mean we must need apple experience/

If other apple experiences are at least half as bad as mine, trust me, NOONE needs apple experience. i wouldnt wish apple on my worst enemy. well ok, maybe them.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

Knee-jerk reaction: The apple experience... I sure hope not.
So we'll be seeing a new $600 console every year?

If that's the case, I can understand why they're pushing for such a strategy...

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I was all ready to break out the doom and gloom, but he's actually suggesting a pretty good thing: relatively open platforms with minimal licensing fees. That's what they mean by "Apple experience." You could just as easily call it the PC experience, or the Android experience, but I guess that doesn't make for as good of a headline.

 

[grigjd3]

I think this guys really, really loves his iPhone, like in an unhealthy way.

 

[RA92]

Basically what he's saying is - Don't be this kind of dick. Be that kind of dick.

 

[Rainforce]

Basically what he's saying is - Don't be this kind of dick. Be that kind of dick.

Were all of Wil Wheaton's words [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118771-Wil-Wheaton-Announces-Dont-Be-a-Dick-Day] for naught D:?

Also wait, they pretty much already did that with WINDOWS 8.

 

[thethird0611]

"Fries believes that the upcoming game generation could finally be the tipping point that changes everything, and in the end, it's going to look a lot like Apple."

Ittttttssss beginning to look alot like Apple! Useless apps to cash in quick. Take a look at that voice changer app, and angry birds rip off, with aging and expensive crap galore!

I tried >_>

But yeah, I kinda do and kinda dont support this. Yes, Microsoft needs to pull back the reigns on XBLA fees, but eliminating them where any kid can release a $15 dollar game that does nothing, is bad(Thats an extremist look... sad that I have to specify that).

 

[Souplex]

The article linked within this article to talk about how the Xbox isn't doing as hot as it once was, blames sagging console sales.
The thing is, once everyone owns the console, they have no reason to buy another. It's just peak market saturation.

 

[mechalynx]

Thank you, Microsoft, for giving me a reason not to buy your next console every time you open your mouth. I am firmly rooted in my belief that cconsoles are for AAA titles and a rare indie gem like Braid or LIMBO. But yeah, go ahead and flood the market with shitty casual games, see how far that gets you with your core customers.

 

[JEBWrench]

I was all ready to break out the doom and gloom, but he's actually suggesting a pretty good thing: relatively open platforms with minimal licensing fees. That's what they mean by "Apple experience." You could just as easily call it the PC experience, or the Android experience, but I guess that doesn't make for as good of a headline.

Thing is, Xbox Live already has that. The licensing fee is even the same - $99 a year.

The problem is, of course, that the quality is generally terrible. There are only a handful of XBLIG options that are worth the couple bucks they generally charge. Finding them is ridiculously difficult.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I was all ready to break out the doom and gloom, but he's actually suggesting a pretty good thing: relatively open platforms with minimal licensing fees. That's what they mean by "Apple experience." You could just as easily call it the PC experience, or the Android experience, but I guess that doesn't make for as good of a headline.

Thing is, Xbox Live already has that. The licensing fee is even the same - $99 a year.

The problem is, of course, that the quality is generally terrible. There are only a handful of XBLIG options that are worth the couple bucks they generally charge. Finding them is ridiculously difficult.

Part of that's because of the way the market is set up -- it's got a terrible interface. Plus, more to the point, Apple lets devs send out patches without paying a fortune. Microsoft doesn't. Besides, we're talking the main store, not the indie ghetto.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I agree, they need to look good, be easy to use and last a long time. Also apple marketing is amazing.

 

[Skeleon]

I had my fill of Apple experiences when I bought an iPod. Big mistake, no thanks.

 

[Simalacrum]

Well, as expected Apple haters are out in force?

Look, the 'Apple experience' isn't about suing other companies (which every company does these days, by the way), re-releasing new products every year (again, every company does that), etc etc; thats what the Apple corporation side of things. By 'Apple experience' it means user experience: the ridiculously easy-to-use style where even your grandmother can use it with very little learning.

I personally think the gaming market could certainly learn a lot from Apple; having a platform which is easy for content creators to make things on is never a bad thing. Look at how many iOS games there are compared to XBLA/PSN; its no competition in terms of sheer numbers. Sure, a lot of those games may be crap to people like us, but Apple has a MUCH broader market because of that, and for people like us there are also 'hardcore' gems like Infinity Blade. Not to mention the prices, even for DLC titles, are significantly cheaper on the Apple system.