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'Microsoft should refocus on PC'

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http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/02/08/microsoft-insider-claims-it-should-refocus-on-pc

 

Microsoft Insider Claims It Should Refocus on PC

 

Microsoft has lost its way in recent years, misled by a board of lame ducks, focusing on the wrong areas of its business, and generally relying far too much on the Xbox 720. Or, at least, that's what Joachim Kempin thinks, the man who enjoyed a long and successful career at a senior level in the company.

 

Starting at Microsoft in 1983, Joachim spent 20 years with the company, eventually rising to the role of senior vice president of Windows Sales before leaving in 2003.

 

But when it comes down to it, it appears that Kempin is somewhat sceptical about the company's current trajectory and focus, and believes that the upcoming generation of consoles may very well be the last. He feels that the strongest arm of Microsoft's business has always been its PC division (though perhaps this is unsurprising coming from the man who was once responsible for Windows.) Aside from the huge financial losses associated with in-house hardware manufacturing, he also cites the fact that consoles can never hope to rival PCs in terms of graphical fidelity as a clear reason why Microsoft should reassess its priorities.

 

"Xbox does not fit into Microsoft’s portfolio," he claims. "If you talk about maybe the software for it and the services, okay, but making that hardware box? My God. There is no money there!

 

"Yes, maybe it attracted the younger generation who want a game console, but look at the graphical quality on all these games consoles today," he explained. "Compared with the graphic systems you can have on the PC, they’re awful, they’re just awful! They’re always a generation or two behind for the simple reason that they need to sell these boxes for 250 bucks."

 

"I really think PC gaming should be the focus, okay? I mean, what’s the future of PC gaming? Is it going to be on these specialised boxes, or is it going to go into a more standard PC model? If the prices on PCs come down further, these boxes might be squeezed out."

 

In fact, Kempin goes so far as to suggest that not only has Microsoft neglected its PC business, it's actually made a series of increasingly bad decisions that look set to have dire ramifications. Building on comments made previously about Steve Ballmer being bad for the company, Kempin once again lays the blame for these problems at the feet of the CEO, asserting that it's been his choice to work less and less with partners to develop products.

 

"It’s what they’re doing to the PC manufacturers," he explains. "When they announced Surface, the tablet, and the upcoming notebook, they’re trying to go their own way again. They’re abandoning the partnership model which has worked for the last 20, 30 years and whoever the partners are they are not happy about it. I personally think it’s a mistake, but Ballmer doesn’t think so and he runs the company."

 

One of the most prominent of the upset parties is reportedly Valve chief Gabe Newell, who Kempin claims is seriously upset with some of the features in Windows 8 that prevent Steam from working as it should. He explains, "I know he is not the happiest guy with Microsoft, I know that from some people who are closer to him than I am. Microsoft with Windows 8 somehow shut some of these game guys out and he ain’t happy about it, that’s the only thing I can say."

 

If he's to be believed about this pattern of bridge-burning, it suggests that Microsoft really needs the Xbox 720 to be a big hit. It's a pretty precarious stance the company's adopting; as the sun sets on this generation of consoles, Microsoft may be comfortably ahead as the number one console supplier in America, but the same doesn't hold true in the rest of the world. The PlayStation remains king in Europe, with Sony and Nintendo sharing regency over Japan.

 

With this in mind, the major players' next moves are crucial. The way things stand, it looks pretty likely that Sony will announce the PS4 in under a fortnight, setting the bar for a next-gen reveal that Microsoft needs to match. What's interesting about this is the fact that it flies in the face of Sony's CEO's recent assertions that the company would let Microsoft go first so the next PlayStation wouldn't be copied in any way. According to Kempin, though, there aren't any more secrets in the console manufacturing game, and haven't been for quite some time.

 

"You know, they copycat each other all the time. So when one comes out, the next one is out six months later, or earlier, whatever, because they all spy on each other. I have a friend of mine who works a lot in China on some of these design things and it’s amazing how these manufacturers talk to each other and reveal what Microsoft or Nintendo are doing next, it’s quite amazing. They all know everything and, so the market knows it, and so there is no secret there."

Have to say he has made me question why exactly Microsoft are still in the console market.

 

They entered at a time when PC gaming was in a bit of a slump, but that really isn't the case anymore. Is PC gaming currently stronger than ever?... with Steam, Kick Starter, Free-to-Play, High-End Graphics.

 

Well I guess you could say Microsoft are moving away from console gaming... and more into an entertainment hub with the Xbox, but should they focus fully on gaming PC's instead? You'd certainly think they would want to have more of a focus in the area where they made their name, instead of diversifying in this way.

Edited by Retro_Link

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Their apparent lack of focus on the PC in general is amazing. Windows 8 is focused on tablets, and they're going to have a very, very hard time competing with the iPad and Android.

 

Also, that thing about abandoning partnerships with PC manufactures is really not a good sign. With a lot more focus on Max (and now Linux) in various software areas (mainly gaming) than in the past, you have to wonder why they don't seem bothered if they lose their dominance in the market.

 

With the current PC market, Valve actually have a good chance with the Steambox. Especially so if it's designed to sit under the TV, and includes lots of media software so it can also act as a wireless media hub. EA are also massively helping their chances by putting Origin on Linux (the more that support Linux, the better it would be for Valve).

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Well, from recent years, I noticed the Xbox is having less and less arguments to stand out from the competition. It has barely any exclusives, what was once the best online offer in consoles is getting less and less relevant, and the Kinect hasn't been that well received (I mean, it sold quite well, and it's finding uses and purposes beyond gaming, but in gaming itself, I've not heard of any notable use for it)

If the NeXtBox really goes the way of "Entertainment Hub", they might as well stop focusing on console gaming entirely.

 

I don't know much about PC gaming, but one thing I noticed is how little I know about anything worthwhile that Microsoft has done in recent times.

 

On the other hand, it also kinda feels like they're trying to forcibly steer the industry on their terms, but failing.

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They need to stop Gates from saving the world and get him back to sorting out Microsoft.

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I throughly agree and would go so far as to say they have lost focus on the xbox as well! @Jonas made some great points about Live and exclusive software on the xbox, but in addition to that they are trying to forcibly shove games to the side on the xbox in favour of other media options AND ADVERTS!

 

I don't want to replace my 360 with a 720, in fact i'm looking to sell my 360 in favour of my PS3 (since Skyrim the last bastion keeping me on my 360 is coming to the ps3 fully now, and Halo has gotten too watered down) there is little reasons to keep what is effectively becoming a PC without windows.....oh wait windows now looks like the 360 OS, so its a PC that is 3 generations of kit behind and has restricted peripherals and software choices and a paid for online service

 

 

MS have gone batshit fucking crazy

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AND ADVERTS!

 

Although at least they don't have an advert covering 100% of the screen like the PS3.

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Where are these PS3 adverts?

 

That Singstar one. Sure, you just have to tap any direction to move away from it, but it's mere existence is frustrating.

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That's not an ad, that's a stupid fucking permanent app I accidentally clicked on yesterday when I was trying to select Ni No Kuni.

 

tumblr_maco7dGYG71r8asq6_1347643274_cover.jpg

 

Thing is, I'm happy they have that app/game to download - it's just in the worst bloody place. Also, WHY?! has Trophies been moved from under 'Games' to the other tab.

Edited by Daft

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As far as i'm concerned Singstar and PShome are adverts and we should be allowed to permanently hide them!

 

mainly because like you i'm sick of accidentally clicking on them

 

but they are still nothing compared to Adbox360

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I find PS Home is out of the way enough that I don't notice it. They just need to do the same with SingStar. There's a bit of an issue in that PS Home and SingStar need visibility but they shouldn't get in anyone who doesn't wants them's way - a new 'Apps' tab or something would fix that. Or even a custom shortcut tab. Either way, we'll most likely get an OS overhaul for the PS4 so we'll see what they do then (I'm expecting we'll see more ads).

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Come on the Singstar one is nothing!

 

It's below the game you currently have in the PS3, and everything else I have is in folders below it.

Ain't no clicking on that shit!

 

I agree however that you should be able to delete it, that pisses me off.

 

Isn't PS Home in a separate drop down column, or is this a new addition to the games column I haven't seen yet?

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Ni No Kuni is on my HDD so it's above that. Honestly, it's a super minor thing for me. I only got annoyed with it this weekend, but I'd definitely say it could be done better.

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Come on the Singstar one is nothing!

 

It's below the game you currently have in the PS3, and everything else I have is in folders below it.

Ain't no clicking on that shit!

 

I agree however that you should be able to delete it, that pisses me off.

 

Isn't PS Home in a separate drop down column, or is this a new addition to the games column I haven't seen yet?

 

Home is below the PS Store and i find i often accidental go down onto it in my rush to open the store, then i have the same problem as Daft with Singstar.

 

Like i said though its two apps put there to give them prominence and get use, which is nothing compared to MS

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Me: *Selects Home by mistake.*

 

PS3: *Downloading Home.*

 

Me: I CAN'T STOP IT!! THE CONTROLLER'S NOT RESPONDING FAST ENOUGH!! FOR THE LOVE OF GAAAWD! WHAAAAIIYYYY!!?

 

boring-space-launch2.png

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I'll bring it back round to my usual stance these days; has the 360 made good money? Live must be a huge profit turner for Microsoft, but how does the console/games compare? I've always though Microsoft could do whatever they liked simply because they were so minted elsewhere, it didn't matter if the Xbox was losing money, they had enough to spend! As not much of a PC gamer, and my first non-ninty console being an Xbox, I was happy to see them in the market as added competition, and both original and 360 had some cracking games too. I'm hoping they stay somewhat just to hopefully destroy/encourage self destruction of Sony - but I'm not too sure where the future console market lies. Will enough people really buy the PS4 and the 720? What will they do that's going to make it worth it? Are they hurting or helping themselves with the DRM against secondhand/lended games?

 

Personally I don't see myself buying either a 720 or a ps4(only got a ps3 cos game were gonna bust), in fact with each passing day my conviction for a wii u wanes further too. I always knew I'd get a Wii though, and a 360(when fable 2 came), but I don't feel like that for the next gen's lot.

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Will enough people really buy the PS4 and the 720? What will they do that's going to make it worth it? Are they hurting or helping themselves with the DRM against secondhand/lended games?

I'd imagine Sony and Microsoft can control the sales of the PS4 and 720 by virtue of how long they continue supporting the PS3 and 360 with the same games. In my case at least, the PS4 will become attractive as soon as it gets Exclusives/PSN games that I can't get elsewhere. That will probably happen at launch in some capacity, but I'll have enough games on my PS3 to probably last me a year or so into the new console cycle.

 

I've just realised though that I'll have to keep my PS3 and not trade it in towards it in the likely event it's not backwards compatible! :hmm I guess that's one advantage of PlayStation Plus and Digital Downloads, in that if that's where all your games lie, they should hopefully just carry over.

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They need to stop Gates from saving the world and get him back to sorting out Microsoft.

 

Alright Sheldon, calm down.

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