Microsoft 'behind' in next-gen Xbox software development - report

Audest_Oggust on 29 Apr '13 said:

The words "Kotaku" and "reliable source" make me think this is all false. Who knows, though...

TheLastDodo on 29 Apr '13 said:

Good job MS are loaded then.

They can just buy six months of third party exclusives if they need to.

The Drunken Spy on 29 Apr '13 said:

I'd like to write something perceptive, non inflammatory and balanced here, but I've a feeling it would be wasted. However, I will point out that the PS3 had absolutely bugger all available for it for about 18 months and yet we're all loving them now, so let's not be too harsh or hasty, eh?

BlueScorpion91 on 29 Apr '13 said:

I'm sick of rumours and reports, why can't people just do their jobs instead of telling tales to gaming sites. And they call us(gamers) immature.

Noobsaibot on 29 Apr '13 said:

I have a feeling Microsoft were genuinely taken aback by Sony and their PS4 reveal. If this is the case, and they are having to rush, it doesn't bode well. Lets not forget how rushed the 360 was which resulted in no HDMI on day one, no HD DVD/Bluray, disc scratching and RRoD problems amongst other issues. Some corrected, some mitigated, one uncorrectable. I'm intrigued and look forward to the press conference - It will either be spectacular or a disaster.

Gameoholic007 on 30 Apr '13 said:

I did read something back in Feb that M$ was caught off guard from what Sony announced, so they might be scrambling to get things together within the small time frame to show something, but are having problems.

Gameoholic007 on 30 Apr '13 said:

I have a feeling Microsoft were genuinely taken aback by Sony and their PS4 reveal. If this is the case, and they are having to rush, it doesn't bode well. Lets not forget how rushed the 360 was which resulted in no HDMI on day one, no HD DVD/Bluray, disc scratching and RRoD problems amongst other issues. Some corrected, some mitigated, one uncorrectable. I'm intrigued and look forward to the press conference - It will either be spectacular or a disaster.

Actually, the lack of HDMI output wasn't because M$ rushed the 360, it was because M$ was really skeptic about HD. In one of the issues of EGM, Peter Moore quoted " This generation, isn't an HD generation". Thats one of the main reasons why M$ temperarly supported HD-DVD, and it wasn't built into the 360 even though 360 games could have easly been printed on that format. They didn't want to take the chance just in case HD was a total flop, and thats one of the reasons why also that the CPU/GPU don't do HD, that signal is all done with the video controller chip on the main board, which they changed when M$ decided to throw in the HDMI output in 2007, because everyone was raving about HD after the PS3 launched, and the success of blu-ray.

CreatureNorns on 30 Apr '13 said:

I read this at neogaf

Honest question here been viewing neogaf for a month is that place hyper pro-playstation 3/PC because they bash everything Nintendo/Microsoft related.

Alaann on 30 Apr '13 said:

I hope microsoft dont buy loads off third party titles I hate it when microsoft/sony does that everyone should be able to play third party games.I hope fable 4 is developing well,does anyone know what the cancelled games were or heard any rumours about the surviving games

flyfletch on 30 Apr '13 said:

I have got to the point in gaming when i realise 6 months behind schedule is nothing....My Wii U has been waiting that and a lot more to come for Nintendo to release anything of substance. So never worry MS ill still buy it because just like Nintendo i know they (the games) will come.

Ill just use my PS4 more for the first 6 months!

flyfletch on 30 Apr '13 said:

I have a feeling Microsoft were genuinely taken aback by Sony and their PS4 reveal. If this is the case, and they are having to rush, it doesn't bode well. Lets not forget how rushed the 360 was which resulted in no HDMI on day one, no HD DVD/Bluray, disc scratching and RRoD problems amongst other issues. Some corrected, some mitigated, one uncorrectable. I'm intrigued and look forward to the press conference - It will either be spectacular or a disaster.

Every one of those mistakes you talk about will be highly unlikely to happen again. When it comes to the hardware i think we wont have an issue with it, they wont make that mistake again. There are plenty of others they could make instead (i seriously hope not though).

budge on 30 Apr '13 said:

Quick! Slap together another Gears game.

StonecoldMC on 30 Apr '13 said:

Quick! Slap together another Gears game.

Quick! Start buying up some third party exclusivity .

Gemini40 on 30 Apr '13 said:

I'm telling you man, it's that third consoles curse about to play its hand again...

steve_2003 on 30 Apr '13 said:

The good thing here is that Microsoft' is a 'Software Development' company, so if the hardware is ready, then the software side can quite easily be focused on and brought up to speed.

Obviously these are all rumours, but if the next Xbox is a great piece of kit, but 'only' has a half a dozen great titles at launch, I'm still grabbing one. After all at when I bought my PS3 & Xbox 360 at launch, I only had enough cash left to buy 1 or 2 games anyway.

Black Mantis on 30 Apr '13 said:

I'd only be concerned if they were behind on hardware development tbh. As long as the software arrives eventually, this doesn't sway my purchase.

apalmer28 on 30 Apr '13 said:

Yay!! Fanboy bait!!!

dapperbandit on 30 Apr '13 said:

I think Sony played some mindgames with the PS4 reveal. Kaz Hirai said they had to be first in 2012, then said it was unlikely they would reveal before Microsoft in January, then they showed it in February. Apparently they wanted to reveal the PS4 and show it's features at a time where for Microsoft it would be too late to re-design to match what the PS4 was doing.

Now we have Mark Cerny saying PS4 will have the strongest launch in Playstation history...

One of these days they are just going to start drive-bying each other.

Salothssar on 30 Apr '13 said:

This is why I personally hate Microsoft, their solution to everything is to throw money at it until they dominate the market. I know Sony are a massive company too, but they are the lesser of two evils. All Microsoft want is all your money and they don't even hide the fact. PS4 for me!

Jimmyjimmyo on 30 Apr '13 said:

This is why I personally hate Microsoft, their solution to everything is to throw money at it until they dominate the market. I know Sony are a massive company too, but they are the lesser of two evils. All Microsoft want is all your money and they don't even hide the fact. PS4 for me!

And Sony want your hugs and kisses and well wishes? all any business want from you is your money and to dominate the market that's the reason they exist,

starvinbull on 30 Apr '13 said:

Good job MS are loaded then.

They can just buy six months of third party exclusives if they need to.

Yes that probably is what will happen. No it's not a "good job".

Solm on 30 Apr '13 said:

It will be ready when it's ready. No hurry take your time and bring out the best console you can. Rushing doesn't work.

dapperbandit on 30 Apr '13 said:

It will be ready when it's ready. No hurry take your time and bring out the best console you can. Rushing doesn't work.

Neither does resting on your laurels while the competition establishes control

flyfletch on 30 Apr '13 said:

This is why I personally hate Microsoft, their solution to everything is to throw money at it until they dominate the market. I know Sony are a massive company too, but they are the lesser of two evils. All Microsoft want is all your money and they don't even hide the fact. PS4 for me!

And Sony want your hugs and kisses and well wishes? all any business want from you is your money and to dominate the market that's the reason they exist,

Absolutely correct, they all just have a different approaches to make you hand over your cash!

vulcanraven01 on 30 Apr '13 said:

If this is true, things are ready when they are ready.
As long as they have at least a couple of decent exclusive games at launch, then it's job done.
I have never experienced buying a console at launch and having amazing games. They are usually 6-12 months down the line after launch.
Just look at PS3 and 360 launch games...
PS3 - Best launch games - Motorstorm (average), Resistance: Fall of Man (average).
Xbox 360 - Best launch games - Perfect Dark Zero (average), Project Gotham Racing 3 (good), Kameo: Elements of Power (average).

Says it all really.
Even PS2 had a poor launch until 12 months down the line when GTA 3 came along.

KK-Headcharge78 on 30 Apr '13 said:

This is why I personally hate Microsoft, their solution to everything is to throw money at it until they dominate the market. I know Sony are a massive company too, but they are the lesser of two evils. All Microsoft want is all your money and they don't even hide the fact. PS4 for me!

What the weather like today on planet Zzorg?

I hear Sony trade in only with the purest unicorn hair from fluffy bunny land......

The PS4 has seen no money go it's way obviously

Gemini40 on 30 Apr '13 said:

Well regardless of how good, bad, ahead or behind it is I won't ever be buying the next Xbox. Having been burned on three occasions with RROD and talked at like an arsehole by Microsoft customer service its purely down to a matter of principle. I was going to wait and see but no, not giving them a single penny of my money this time.

shellster2 on 30 Apr '13 said:

Well regardless of how good, bad, ahead or behind it is I won't ever be buying the next Xbox. Having been burned on three occasions with RROD and talked at like an arsehole by Microsoft customer service its purely down to a matter of principle. I was going to wait and see but no, not giving them a single penny of my money.

well i've had a 360 and a PS3 fail on me. Should i say f**k them all and plug my Amiga back in? so you were going to wait and see despite getting the rrod 3 times but for some reason you've now changed your mind? what did it for you?

personally i'm going to wait and see. in all likliehood i'll get the next xbox if their controller remains the best available as that's what you use most. i think the ps4 looks good though.

Gemini40 on 30 Apr '13 said:

You do whatever you like mate.

I thought my reason clear; its a matter of principle. On reflection I remember being quite annoyed by the shoddy treatment I received from Microsoft. It's not the first company I've stopped buying products from due to lame customer service or shoddy quality.

Oh, and nowt wrong with the Amiga. Fire it back up, son.

KK-Headcharge78 on 30 Apr '13 said:

You do whatever you like mate.

I thought my reason clear; its a matter of principle. On reflection I remember being quite annoyed by the shoddy treatment I received from Microsoft. It's not the first company I've stopped buying products from due to lame customer service or shoddy quality.

Oh, and nowt wrong with the Amiga. Fire it back up, son.

Hope Apple don't p**s you off too otherwise using a computer or several computer programs may be a moral decision of epic proportions for you

Legendeer on 30 Apr '13 said:

Even PS2 had a poor launch until 12 months down the line when GTA 3 came along.

TIMESPLITTERS

The original had features that were deemed too crazy even for the next two versions! Like 4 way capture the flag! Hours spent playing with a multitap in the tactical mayhem that was 4 way capture the flag! I always got stuck with the crap AI teammates.......

FishyGinger on 30 Apr '13 said:

Hope Apple don't p**s you off too otherwise using a computer or several computer programs may be a moral decision of epic proportions for you

I worked for a bad employer once, I'm never working again. You may scoff but I have my principals.

The Drunken Spy on 30 Apr '13 said:

This is why I personally hate Microsoft, their solution to everything is to throw money at it until they dominate the market. I know Sony are a massive company too, but they are the lesser of two evils. All Microsoft want is all your money and they don't even hide the fact. PS4 for me!

I distinctly remember a certain console manufacturer urging the public to get a second job so they could afford to buy their console, and if that doesn't scream "we're here to take all your money (and even some money you don't have yet)", then I don't know what does.

And which console manufacturer said such a greedy, arrogant thing? Well, I'll give you a clue... it wasn't Microsoft.

LiamT on 30 Apr '13 said:

This is why I personally hate Microsoft, their solution to everything is to throw money at it until they dominate the market. I know Sony are a massive company too, but they are the lesser of two evils. All Microsoft want is all your money and they don't even hide the fact. PS4 for me!

I distinctly remember a certain console manufacturer urging the public to get a second job so they could afford to buy their console, and if that doesn't scream "we're here to take all your money (and even some money you don't have yet)", then I don't know what does.

And which console manufacturer said such a greedy, arrogant thing? Well, I'll give you a clue... it wasn't Microsoft.

if you needed a 2nd job to buy a £400 console your first job needs ditching or move on from a paper round.

sony made a loss on every console. they still discounted a fair bit and in the end MS gold payers paid more for their console than i did for my ps3....

Gemini40 on 30 Apr '13 said:

You do whatever you like mate.

I thought my reason clear; its a matter of principle. On reflection I remember being quite annoyed by the shoddy treatment I received from Microsoft. It's not the first company I've stopped buying products from due to lame customer service or shoddy quality.

Oh, and nowt wrong with the Amiga. Fire it back up, son.

Hope Apple don't p**s you off too otherwise using a computer or several computer programs may be a moral decision of epic proportions for you

Unfortunately some things we have to live with.

I can live without Xbox.

JDB on 30 Apr '13 said:

In a few years time im gonna miss all the 'next-gen' speculation.

richomack360 on 30 Apr '13 said:

In a few years time im gonna miss all the 'next-gen' speculation.

What about the next-next gen debate ?

I'd like to write something perceptive, non inflammatory and balanced here, but I've a feeling it would be wasted. However, I will point out that the PS3 had absolutely bugger all available for it for about 18 months and yet we're all loving them now, so let's not be too harsh or hasty, eh?

Take your reasonable and rational opinion and shove it, it doesn't belong here !

leucocyte on 30 Apr '13 said:

I did read something back in Feb that M$ was caught off guard from what Sony announced, so they might be scrambling to get things together within the small time frame to show something, but are having problems.

i'd read before the PS4 reveal that some of microsoft's internal studios were struggling to meet target dates.. and that had nothing to do with PS4. aside from two or three main studios, a lot of MS's studios seem to have been thrown together for internal projects, and that isn't a recipe for instant success imo.. probably better to can what isn't working, or go back to the drawing board and take longer.

if new call of duty arrives on both.. do MS and sony really need anything else for launch?

richomack360 on 30 Apr '13 said:

i'd read before the PS4 reveal that some of microsoft's internal studios were struggling to meet target dates.. and that had nothing to do with PS4. aside from two or three main studios, a lot of MS's studios seem to have been thrown together for internal projects, and that isn't a recipe for instant success imo.. probably better to can what isn't working, or go back to the drawing board and take longer.

if new call of duty arrives on both.. do MS and sony really need anything else for launch?

Yeah, I think you got it near enough spot on - if MS released a load of half baked games at launch it would damage the brand. Best to release when ready - Nintendo have already fallen foul of this somewhat.

Cod on release ? no thanks, would take a next gen version of James Pond, Streets of Rage and possibly a proper Syndicate reboot - yes, I love my old games. Like a firstborn child, they will always be your favourite.

Barca Azul on 30 Apr '13 said:

Wouldn't surprise me if have these rumours were started by MS. Last few weeks people are talking Xbox and not PS4.

In 3 to 4 weeks time they just come out and debunk them and they have the mindshare up till E3. No press is bad press right?

I'm not convinced they have masses to share or will trump Sony, I'm expecting a lot of me too, other than Kinect 2. Maybe it's a massive bluff though and a monster poker hand with a royal flush, but my suspicion says its more like a pair of two's. you would have to question why they haven't said anything until just before E3.

Barca Azul on 30 Apr '13 said:

i'd read before the PS4 reveal that some of microsoft's internal studios were struggling to meet target dates.. and that had nothing to do with PS4. aside from two or three main studios, a lot of MS's studios seem to have been thrown together for internal projects, and that isn't a recipe for instant success imo.. probably better to can what isn't working, or go back to the drawing board and take longer.

if new call of duty arrives on both.. do MS and sony really need anything else for launch?

Yeah, I think you got it near enough spot on - if MS released a load of half baked games at launch it would damage the brand. Best to release when ready - Nintendo have already fallen foul of this somewhat.

Cod on release ? no thanks, would take a next gen version of James Pond, Streets of Rage and possibly a proper Syndicate reboot - yes, I love my old games. Like a firstborn child, they will always be your favourite.

Surely streets of rage 2 and Powermonger and chaos engine Rich?

richomack360 on 30 Apr '13 said:

Surely streets of rage 2 and Powermonger and chaos engine Rich?

Sadly I flogged my MD copy of SOR2 many moons ago - then downloaded it on XBL...but wanted more and found Streets of Rage Remake online - absolutely superb fan made game combining all 3 games (levels, characters, new levels) and of course the complete soundtrack

Mind blowing, shame Sega came down on those lads like a ton of bricks, that Remake could of sold like absolute hot cakes.

Powermonger was ok - preferred Herzong Zwei and Megalomania and early Populous games - Chaos Engine was a tough cookie, but my blaster times were taken up with Thunderforce, Zombies Ate My Neighbours, Ranger X (and about two dozen more !)

Great games, deffo worth a play if anyone here hasn't given them a look !

Pokeymike on 30 Apr '13 said:

I have a feeling Microsoft were genuinely taken aback by Sony and their PS4 reveal. If this is the case, and they are having to rush, it doesn't bode well. Lets not forget how rushed the 360 was which resulted in no HDMI on day one, no HD DVD/Bluray, disc scratching and RRoD problems amongst other issues. Some corrected, some mitigated, one uncorrectable. I'm intrigued and look forward to the press conference - It will either be spectacular or a disaster.

Remember that the 360 came out in 2005. HDMI interfaces were few and far between. HD-DVD and Blu Ray weren't even finalised. Microsoft had decided early on that DVD was sufficient (which has pretty much been the case) and added HDMI later as adoption became more common.
RROD on the other hand was a bit of a screwup.

leucocyte on 30 Apr '13 said:

I'm not convinced they have masses to share or will trump Sony, I'm expecting a lot of me too, other than Kinect 2. Maybe it's a massive bluff though and a monster poker hand with a royal flush, but my suspicion says its more like a pair of two's. you would have to question why they haven't said anything until just before E3.

while microsoft were busy counting their money, milking master chief for all his worth and maintaining US market dominance for this gen, maybe they figured sony were scrambling around trying to work out how to catch up with PS3 rather than concerning themselves with the next console generation..

i think sony revealed enough without playing the whole hand. my guess is the february conference probably wasn't their freshest material either.. for example the killzone gameplay shown uses only 1.5gb ram (decision to go with 8gb gddr5 was made relatively close to the PS4 event). it covered most bases without bringing an A game to the table. shooter - check, platformer - check (and new IP), racer - check (new IP), RPG - check (bring out some japanese bigwigs to show the home market hasn't been forgotten), action adventure - check, third party support - check (watch dogs and destiny - both new IP, both exclusive content), indie support - check.. there's still some gaps, and many of the first party studios were notably absent. for example, uncharted 3 shipped in oct 2011, that team hasn't been sat on its arse doing nothing all this time.. depending on what microsoft reveal, i expect sony to have some bigger game announcements ready for E3 than they've revealed so far .. probably not launch titles, but as a clear roadmap of the 12 months following it. something they got wrong with the vita, and nintendo seem to have got wrong with the WiiU. having nothing scheduled between this E3 and the next will just cause hesitancy in the next-gen take up, imo.

Barca Azul on 30 Apr '13 said:

Surely streets of rage 2 and Powermonger and chaos engine Rich?

Sadly I flogged my MD copy of SOR2 many moons ago - then downloaded it on XBL...but wanted more and found Streets of Rage Remake online - absolutely superb fan made game combining all 3 games (levels, characters, new levels) and of course the complete soundtrack

Mind blowing, shame Sega came down on those lads like a ton of bricks, that Remake could of sold like absolute hot cakes.

Powermonger was ok - preferred Herzong Zwei and Megalomania and early Populous games - Chaos Engine was a tough cookie, but my blaster times were taken up with Thunderforce, Zombies Ate My Neighbours, Ranger X (and about two dozen more !)

Great games, deffo worth a play if anyone here hasn't given them a look !

Loved SoR 2 and the soundtrack was great, had the MD and mega Cd, and 30 odd games and sold the lot for 150 quid when times were hard with my first house in 1997. Still regret it, even with owning the Sega collection.

Going a bit further back, target renegade was also quality.

The Evil Empire on 1 May '13 said:

I think Sony played some mindgames with the PS4 reveal. Kaz Hirai said they had to be first in 2012, then said it was unlikely they would reveal before Microsoft in January, then they showed it in February. Apparently they wanted to reveal the PS4 and show it's features at a time where for Microsoft it would be too late to re-design to match what the PS4 was doing.

Now we have Mark Cerny saying PS4 will have the strongest launch in Playstation history...

One of these days they are just going to start drive-bying each other.

Playstation 187 lol

LiamT on 1 May '13 said:

Surely streets of rage 2 and Powermonger and chaos engine Rich?

chaos engine would rock.

im really surprised nobody has remade speedball. that was a great game and would look awesome these days.

brutal deluxe FTW

pandemonium could also be great these days. played that to hell on acid and was amazing

hell, why not go waaaay back and do daily thompson's decathlon