Shane Kim Interview

[bapenguin]

Next-Gen (http://www.next-gen.biz/) has an interview up (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2314&Itemid=2) with Shane Kim, head of Microsoft Game Studios. They ask him about Halo 3, the upcoming challenge from Sony and the rocky launch for the XBox 360.

Some have said that the launch lacked a single killer game.

I don't think that's fair. Everyone is looking for a Halo and a GTA, but we have to realise there are only two of those titles in history, and they weren't those big legends before they launched.

It is easy to look back and say 'nothing the size of Halo came out', but the launch titles were all solid good games and there was some amazing work.

I would put this portfolio up against the original Xbox launch portfolio any day. I don't see the fact that there wasn't one game that everyone wanted to buy as a criticism. The strength was in the variety.

If you look at the attach rate that speaks to the quality of the portfolio of the highest attach rate in history which is an indication of real quality.
Beating around the bush?

[Scaryboy]

Bah, I'll give 'em about a year before I start ragging on them for not having a killer app. I don't have a 360 however, so I can afford to be a bit more forgiving.

[fitbabits]

You know, Sony need to take a leaf out of Microsoft's book on how to treat the gaming media. I get the feeling that Sony look at it as a hurdle to get over whereas Microsoft treat it with much more respect.

I guess if I had one message for Sony it would be not to treat the media with such contempt.

Thus endeth my pro-Microsoft/anti-Sony observation.

Anyway, reading the interview has me really excited about E3 and what will be shown by the Big Three (Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft).

[Grifter]

Beating around the bush?

No, just telling it how it is. He is completely right, there were no "killer apps"
or "must have games" just a handfull of solid, fun games that in my opinion made the system woth owning at launch.(for a few weeks anyway:))
It doesn't matter if some were ports as long as the people who paid for them are enjoying them. I really hope the PS3 launch is just as solid. (shortages should be expected)

This statement does not hold true for the EA ports because they were terribly done cost more and played worse. EA sucks fat Donky Dick for releasing trash like that and expecting people to pay for it. Activision was almost as bad, if it wasn't for CoD2 they would have been.

Just my 2 cents

[lowlevel]

If you look at the attach rate that speaks to the quality of the portfolio of the highest attach rate in history which is an indication of the proliferation of required bundles by both online and b&m retailers.

Fixed. :D

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to get an Xbox 360, but equating attach rate to game quality seems like specious reasoning in this day and age.

[fitbabits]

Fixed. :D

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to get an Xbox 360, but equating attach rate to game quality seems like specious reasoning in this day and age.
Whoever started the whole 'fixed' thing needs to be beat on the head with a blunt instrument.

[lowlevel]

Whoever started the whole 'fixed' thing needs to be given a free Xbox 360 after a lapdance by Beyonce Knowles.

Fixed. :p

Sorry, I'll stop now, but I couldn't resist.

[GunnyMo]

I agree with the EA comment regarding Large Pack Mule Penis but the rest of the launch line up has been very solid. I don't remember a system launch that has done as well, software-wise. I'm still expecting PS3 to launch with Fantavision 2.

I think they've paced the games coming out fairly well. The huge launch list in March is just far enough out from the November launch (just over 3 months - end of Nov. to end of February) to make fans rabid enough for the new games. I'm thoroughly enjoying the 360 no matter what the naysayers, um, well, say.

One thing: in the infamous EGM interview with Peter Moore they try to rag on him about how "loud" the system is. The system is no louder than a standard PC or even DVD player and certainly not even close to as loud as the Dreamcast (which seems to be their ultimate system the way they bend over for Sega during the interview). Does the backwards compatability suck? Yep but I have an XB so it's really not an issue for me.

All hail the Mighty Micro$oft! :D

[bean19]

Beating around the bush?

His response was pretty much saying that he acknowledged that there wasn't a killer app in the line-up but that killer-apps are rare and that the overall lineup was solid.

I don't know. . . the PS2 didn't launch with a killer-app either, but it won the last console war in a huge way.

Also, I personally prefer this. Would you guys honestly prefer a launch like the original Xbox launch? Imagine if the only games to come out for the X360 so far were Halo 3 (killer app), and all those shitty EA sports titles?

Everyone would be saying that the X360 is just a Halo 3 machine. . . because it would be just a Halo 3 machine.

In the early part of the Xbox life-cycle, it seemed like everyone I knew owned Halo. . . and nothing else. . . FOR YEARS. It seriously took about 2 years for them to get a decent game library.

I'm much more happy as an X360 owner to have three games I really enjoy playing (okay, I don't enjoy DoA 4 and will get rid of it super soon, so just two games I enjoy playing over and over), and a ton of really solid renters that kept me playing new next-gen games every weekend through most of January.

Now there is totally a gap as I don't have nearly enough to play on that system, but it is working out because the PS2 is releasing a shit-ton of RPGs.

[saran_js]

One thing: in the infamous EGM interview with Peter Moore they try to rag on him about how "loud" the system is. The system is no louder than a standard PC or even DVD player and certainly not even close to as loud as the Dreamcast (which seems to be their ultimate system the way they bend over for Sega during the interview). Does the backwards compatability suck? Yep but I have an XB so it's really not an issue for me.


I can't seem to get some people always mentioning on the fact that the xbox360 is no louder then something else. Please get the fact that loudness is RELATIVE. A soft sound to you may seem loud to others, and vice versa. So please don't force your RELATIVE views of the subject on other people.

:(

[Royal Fool]

Well, a premium system sold in stores here costs the equivalent of $690... so I hope you forgive me if I say I'll pass for now.

[Citizen Philip]

Hold the phones everyone! Don't form an opinion! Shane doesn't think it's fair that the 360 didn't blow your socks off because it didn't have a killer release.

Please show some sympathy here, we all know, it's well beyond Microsoft ability to release a AAA title with the release of a new system. I mean AAA titles come from a magic land, no one knows who can make a AAA title: they are dropped off outside the corporate office by underpants gnomes, which are very shy and fickle little creatures.

[51|RandoM]

Shane is practicing revisionist history.

Halo was the shit even before it was released. The hype machine had already been running, thinking it was going to be on PC. It was a solid AAA title, and everybody knew it would be before they bought their x-box.

We're still waiting for the first one for the 360. I'm sure it'll show up eventually. I just hope it is something besides halo3.

[EternalGamer]

You know I have never thought about compairing them until now, but the original Xbox launch was WAY better in terms of games I was interested in. Aside from Halo, there was Munch's Oddyessy. Two absolutely stellar games that remain two of my favorite from the last generation. I know we've beat this topic to death, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that the only launch I though was worse than the 360's was the PS2's. All the other system launches had at least one title that grabbed me. Hell, I'd talke Keith Courage over any of these launch titles anyday. That probably just speaks to my personal tastes more than anything else, but all MS seems to be offering at this point is a world full of racers, First Person Shooters and Sports games. And while I'll play them, those are my least favorite genres.

Dan

[MosBen]

Welcome to the brave new world my friend, I bet the combined fan base of those genres accounts for 75% of current gamers. (of course, that number is completely made up)

Edit: I would be very interested if somebody put together a list of all the launch titles for all home consoles from the NES through the 360. I don't remember any consoles that launched with a lineup that included more than a couple games that had much longevity. As far as I'm concerned the launch titles for a system only have to be good enough to entertain me until the next wave of games comes out, and the same holds true for every wave of games. Eventually truly great games will make it into some wave of games or another

[The Letter 3]

Halo was the shit even before it was released. The hype machine had already been running, thinking it was going to be on PC. It was a solid AAA title, and everybody knew it would be before they bought their x-box.

We're still waiting for the first one for the 360. I'm sure it'll show up eventually. I just hope it is something besides halo3.
Here here. Halo 3 will be fine and dandy (and will certainly destroy my life) but I'd like to have to remember the 360 for something besides Halo. There are many promising games coming up, though, and I must admit Microsoft is at least trying to grab some new developers before the PS3 eats their resources alive.

That said, I think CoD2 with a better multiplayer component would come pretty close to a killer launch app if it wasn't for the fact that we've all been playing WWII shooters for a couple of years now.

[The Letter 3]

all MS seems to be offering at this point is a world full of racers, First Person Shooters and Sports games. And while I'll play them, those are my least favorite genres.
Hey now. Open your eyes. MS has launched the 360 with an amazing puzzle game. It's called "Dashboard."

[Dr Quincy]

Can Killzone 2 be the killer app. of the next generation to maintain some kind of Godly symmetry.

[Zanzibar]

Can Killzone 2 be the killer app. of the next generation to maintain some kind of Godly symmetry.

That answer pretty much depends on whether the PS3 can deliver on those graphics at launch. We've had a few developer rumors reported on this site that basically said 'no fuckin' way, not for at least a few years after the PS3 launches.'

[Exodus]

What exactly do you expect him to say? Yah, we totally blew it, our line up for launch was lackluster *checks his cellphone/blackberry with the words "you're fired - Bill"*

It's VERY unfortunate the console didn't launch with a GREAT first person shooter like a new Halo that continues with that totally shitty ending in Halo 2 along with Oblivion. At least realize the subtlety of beating around a bush because you can't exactly say in a publicized interview, yah my wife totally fucked up, you have to say... well, she just had her mind on other things and it's kinda my fault too so she doesn't deserve any of the blame really blah blah blah... and it's not like everyone's perfect and you gotta realize she was under a lot of stress blah blah blah

[easi]

"killer app" does not apply to games. Whoever started using it for games needs to be lined up against a wall next to the person who started making 'meme' synonymous with 'fad'.

[bean19]

"killer app" does not apply to games. Whoever started using it for games needs to be lined up against a wall next to the person who started making 'meme' synonymous with 'fad'.

Sure it does.

The whole "killer app" thing was started when PCs started becoming household items. The internet was the killer app.

The PS2's DVD player was it's killer app (and later on Final Fantasy X)

The Gamecube's killer-app was Zelda.

The Xbox's killer app was Halo.

The term is used to describe what feature or application a device delivers that causes it to sell.

You are really going to rant about the semantics of a slang term?

[Megalith]

I would put this portfolio up against the original Xbox launch portfolio any day.

Man, this guy has had way too much kimchi.

Also, I like how Next Generation gets right down to business.

"SO HOW BOUT THAT HALO 3..."

" I call it The Mythical Halo 3 - we haven't announced any such game yet!"

Come on, don't bullshit me.

[mister_slim]

It depends. If it's the game that everyone is expecting then, yes. For us it's about making a proper impact on the platform. It has to be something with huge significance, so we won't be rushed.
What does this mean?

[EternalGamer]

It means that if it done enough to live up to what people expect from "Halo 3" then it will come out this year. It's poorly worded, but it's actually the closest thing we've got from an MS rep to actually admitting the possibility of it coming out this year. He is basically saying "if we feel it is ready enough, then yes it will be out this year."

Dan

[Megalith]

Then I guess H3 will be released this year, since people obviously ain't expecting much after what happened with H2.

"The MP is complete. We are still working on the story, which may take a couple of extra months."

"But does the game lag online."

"Not really."

"Aight, we'll release it now."