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Microsoft's Phil Spencer talks Xbox exclusives having "quality and impact"
Microsoft's Spencer on stage at Xbox 2011's Electronic Entertainment Expo keynote presentation.
For the duration of 2011, many Xbox 360 owners bemoaned the lack of system-exclusive original games coming out of Microsoft in a gaming landscape that has been quickly become increasingly less populated by third-party exclusives. And in an interview with Game Informer's Matt Helgeson (Issue 226, February 2012), corporate VP of Microsoft Game Studios Phil Spencer addressed the difficulty of creating "core IP" like Gears of War and Alan Wake in response to Helgeston's question about whether "establishing new IPs in the traditional, triple-A console space" was a priority for Microsoft?
"I do think that it's [about] quality and impact, not number of releases in a year," Spencer responds as a follow-up to describing the process of creating core IP as anything but easy. "I went thorugh the process of creating Gears with Epic and I know the sweat, time, and effort that went into it."
But despite the difficulties, Spencer mentions that Microsoft will continue to "focus on [building new IPs] with partners like Crytek and new people that aren't announced yet." How many are expected to debut or be announced in 2012 is still not known.
Game Informer's Helgeston also broaches the topic of HD releases and collections — something he believes "Sony has done a great job" with — and if the November 2011 release of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary was a signal of more HD remakes to come from Microsoft. Spencer says no, "Halo Anniversary wasn't created with that in mind." He continues in the interview, "It was more a celebration. It wasn't the beginning of an HD remake line. I [don't] want to get into a world where people felt like I was just trying to sell them things that they've already played."
What do you think? Would you want more HD remakes of original Xbox or older Xbox 360 games? And what's your thoughts on new IPs on Xbox? Would you rather more original titles or existing titles become Xbox exclusive?
SOURCE: "Interview: The Evolution of Microsoft" [Game Informer, Issue 226 (via GameIndustry.biz)]
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Aegis
April 27, 2012 at 6:55pm
HD remakes are for those serious gamers who understand where and what made todays games so great as well as the different quality of games from older generations which would concentrate on different aspects as something to boast about such as storyline, combat etc. Something all todays games do without much conviction like the coffee shops which say worlds best coffee. Also I refuse to buy any HD remake collection that doesn't have the first game in it. How can you say the Collection that started it all if you don't have the first one? I consider that false advertising as how that is definitely not the ones that "started it all" How publishers are allowed to release games that make these claims without someone suing them is or calling BS is beyond me.
Drachen77
January 24, 2012 at 2:09pm
This whole HD remake and exclusives argument really drives me crazy. I can't believe anybody really cares that much about HD remakes. Games today are so amazing and time-consuming, why would I want to go back? Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto IV, Skyrim, and Mass Effect are great examples of massive games that can take months to complete. Then other games have great multiplayer that extends the game experience. Besides, older games are usually better in their original state anyway.
The exclusives talk gets me mad because people are hypocritical about it. If Microsoft went around and bought up a bunch of studios, people would complain that they are taking up all the games. That's what the complaint was a few years ago when Microsoft paid a lot for exclusivity with games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto. Besides that, Sony isn't exactly raking it in with their games. I agree, some of their games are of a "high concept" variety and get great reviews. Then why don't they sell better? You can go to VGChartz.com and see many high-profile Sony exclusives that either were beaten by Microsoft equals or barely pulled even.
I think Microsoft has made it clear that they want to produce the hardware and allow other companies to produce the software. They haven't been aggressive in pursuing studios and when Bungie wanted out, they didn't put up a fight. Microsoft knows that producing games is expensive and you have to get it just right to be a success. In a way, Microsoft's video game strategy is exactly opposite of the Windows one. For Windows they make the software and let everyone else make hardware. For Xbox, they make the hardware and everyone else makes software.
rlknight66
January 24, 2012 at 6:57am
They're making pretty good money doing it with movies & DVD's I'd like to see a remake of the original half life in HD.
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