Xbox Marketing Ready for Year Ahead

[Montolio]

Teamxbox.com (www.teamxbox.com/) brings us a report (news.teamxbox.com/xbox/10289/Gears-of-War-Update/) of the happenings at the recent Microsoft Sales & Marketing Summit. Groups from around the globe were prepared for the upcoming year of Xbox 360 games and products by Robbie Bach and Peter Moore. While this may not seem like especially exciting news, some Xbox Global Marketing team members blogged about (gamerscoreblog.com/team/default.aspx) some of the amazing things they were shown during the event.

We saw presentations about Gears of War; Too Human; Crackdown; Vanguard; Rise of Legends; Flight Sim; N3; Blue Dragon; Xbox Live Arcade games, the HD-DVD drive, and a bunch of other products/games I either can't remember or can't talk about. Some of the games/products had live demos, albeit I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say which ones. A couple times, the presentations/demos were interrupted by spontaneous applause and cheers. I walked away with the impression that we have a compelling lineup this year and beyond.
To be taken with the prescribed dose of salt considering the quote source, but interesting nonetheless.

[fitbabits]

Microsoft F(or) T(he) next generation W(in)!

[bobbler]

Tony Hynes (Bastelyon), Online Community Lead Mgr, Xbox Global Mktg
Cesar Menendez (cesarisok), Online Community Mgr, Xbox Global Mktg
John Porcaro (stalalem), Group Mgr, PR & Communications, Xbox Global Mktg
Michael Wolf, PR Manager, Xbox Live and Games for Windows, Xbox Global Mktg
Josh Goldberg, Product Manager, Xbox Global Mktg

That's a lot of marketing posting at one place.

Of course, anyone not at least somewhat curious/excited about some of the upcoming games for X360 (Too Human, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Lost Planet, etc) is probably a bit nutty.

[Neverborne]

Yeah, HD-DVD drives...those are gonna sell more than the 32X.

[Zanzibar]

How about hearing from the NON-MARKETING TYPES? I'd rather hear THEIR takes on the stuff.

[The Letter 3]

Yeah, HD-DVD drives...those are gonna sell more than the 32X.
I don't see how that is going to succeed unless one of two things (or both) happens:
1) A lot of movies are made in HD-DVD format
2) Most games are made in that format and actually take advantage of it

But I doubt that will happen. The HD-DVD add-on seems to be a response to Sony including a Blu-Ray drive, not a component of a planned strategy.

[MosBen]

It would be really interesting to me if the rumors turned out to be true and the PS3 came in two different versions, one without Blu Ray movie playback, and the 360 got this add on HD DVD drive.

[Dr Quincy]

I was under the impression that the HD-DVD drive was for movies *only*. If games are now being released which not only require the purchase of the £70 HDD, but the further purchase of an additional disc drive then the price gap between the 360 and the perceived price of the PS3 drops and then vanishes all together.

[Megalith]

The HD-DVD add-on is for movies only, so it's practically worthless. I am afraid to see what it'll do to your HD-DVDs, after seeing how 360s have swallowed and mutilated game discs.

It's probably a cost-effective solution for those wanting to jump on the HD bandwagon, but I'd gladly pay a couple hundred more for a next-gen player that isn't half-assed, which is exactly what the drives in the 360 and PS3 will be.

[mister_slim]

Are we just skipping past the last few hype steps now? Why wait for the marketing guys to go out there and snow the press when you can just have them snow the consumers right now?

[CrysDark]

Did I see vangaurd for the 360?

Holy Crap!

[Zeal]

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2689/h3posterpromol2ll.jpg
HALO 3.....

[fitbabits]

BIG-ASS IMAGE.....
Be honest, did you make that image yourself?

[Zurik]

Do anyone else see Rise of Legends in that list? So is it being developed for the 360 now as well? I hope not, don't want it dumbed down for the pc.