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Guitar Hero II surfs Xbox 360 crowd on April 3
Activision has grabbed the nearest microphone and screeched out the official release date for the Xbox 360's Guitar Hero II. "Pay attention you motherfrackers, drop the keyboards PC hackers, Guitar Hero II drops April three, get out your wallets these frets ain't free! Woooowrgh!" You'll likely be able to obtain much better tunes than that lyrical atrocity later on, thanks to this version's ability to download a "consistent stream of new tracks" from Xbox Live. RedOctane's Dusty Welch notes in the press release that the online component "is going to provide an incredible opportunity for our fans to extend the gameplay experience, and we have ambitious ideas to continue to fully support these efforts." Sadly, said ambitious ideas don't include online multiplayer just yet. [Image: NeoGAF]
Peter Moore wonders why Reggie never sent him a Wii
If our lives didn't revolve around Nintendo, we'd think Peter Moore worked for the company. Instead, we know he's the competition, however his public attitude as of late towards Nintendo presents anything but, as he once again compliments the company and speaks about how much of a fan he is.In the latest edition of gaming magazine EGM, during an interview Moore says he was hoping his "friend" Reggie would "send me one [a Wii]," but quickly reminds us his house is dominated by another console. Moore also goes on to say that there is no bigger franchise in gaming, to him at least, than Mario. [Via Go Nintendo]
EGM: Moore on 360 and its successor
In a recent interview with EGM, Peter Moore gave some insight on the future of Microsoft's next console. He stated that the production team for the 360 is currently working on its successor, and are looking at what kind of computing power will be available around 2011 and 2012. That puts the lifespan of the 360 somewhere between 6 to 7 years, which is certainly better than the original Xbox's 4 years. Moore also stated that there will be support for the 360 "as long as it sells". So, that's a long way off, which is a good thing, as we are happy to see Microsoft's plans for the 360 look more long term than last time.[Via Digg]
Everybody wants to be like Wii
Looks like Peter Moore's homage to the Wii has started the wheels of speculation in motion. Our comrades over at 360 Fanboy are considering the possibilities for Microsoft outside of the realm of casual games. Moore did make the point about the Wii being about an experience, after all, so the idea that Microsoft might go the motion route isn't too far-fetched. And it's not like Microsoft never "borrowed" anything before (wink, wink). But like many, we're uncertain that we'll see motion-sensitive controls on the 360. Likely, Microsoft will try something entirely new, but the possibilities there are so widespread that we're not even sure how to start. Let's just hope any extras are cheaper than some we've seen in the past. We know many of you are proudly sporting the Wii60 badge, so we wanted to ask you what you thought. Can anyone do what the Wii does, and should anyone even try?[Via Joystiq]
Moore: motion control on 360?
Speaking to Game Informer, Don Mattrick and Peter Moore discuss the future of the Xbox 360. Specifically, Moore discusses the great stable of games heading to the platform -- Mass Effect, Forza 2, Too Human, etc. -- and how Microsoft plans to combat the tiny white elephant in the room, the Wii. According to Moore, Microsoft began to see the significance of the casual market when the Wii was still known as Revolution. Moore states that Microsoft's strategy is more than simply throwing more E rated games onto the 360, saying "it's more experiential than that." This quickly leads to the speculation that Microsoft may have a motion controller of its own in mind. At this point it remains pure speculation. After all, Mr. Moore could easily be talking about more games involving the Vision Camera. Whatever it is, Moore states that there will be announcements within the next couple of months. With any luck, we might just hear something during GDC next week.Do you think Microsoft has a Wiimote up its sleeve, or is it something entirely different?[Via Evil Avatar]
Peter Moore: Wii's success is making us rethink our strategy
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Peter_Moore_says_Xbox_360_needs_to_be_more_like_Nintendo_Wii_in_2007'; According to Microsoft's Peter Moore, the financial success and widespread desire for more Wii is affecting how Microsoft looks to the future for their console. During an interview with CVG, Moore commends Nintendo for the strides its made with its Wii system, stating "From a first-party point of view, it's not just about E-rated games, it's going to be about the experience that, quite frankly, Nintendo has done a tremendous job in capturing, in bringing back fun - if you will - to the gaming platforms."And he's correct: Nintendo has brought back the fun in gaming. Sure, the Xbox 360 appeals to a lot of gamers, but maybe some of them are just playing these games for achievements and not the fun of the title. This is something which is almost guaranteed with every title that Nintendo will put out on the Wii, as well as many of the third-party offerings. Thanks for the kind words Peter, but if you think you can compete in that arena with Nintendo, we're sure you're sorely mistaken. [via /.]
Former EA head joins Microsoft
Sooner or later, everyone winds up working together. It should come as no surprise then, that former head of Electronic Arts Worldwide Studios, Don Mattrick, is joining Microsoft as a "strategic adviser" to the Entertainment and Devices division. The Entertainment and Devices group houses the Xbox 360 as well as the Zune. Peter Moore was ecstatic about the announcement, claiming that he had been looking forward to working with Mattrick since he left EA in 2006. Moore -- once the head of SEGA during the Dreamcast era -- claims that there is no bad blood between himself and Mattrick. Game history buffs will remember that EA refused to support the Dreamcast, has a long rivalry with SEGA sports, and was hesitant to allow its games on Xbox Live (seems they can't get enough of it now). Moore is happy to welcome Mattick, though he admits some disdain for EA CEO, Larry Probst.Exactly what Mattrick will be doing seems unclear though it seems he will be heavily involved in developing concepts like Xbox Live. Mattrick admits that online gaming is the biggest trend in the industry and he hopes to push Microsoft to the top of that arena.[Via Joystiq]
Peter Moore pours gasoline on the blazing flame war
There's probably one thing more offensive than verbally slapping someone in the face and that's verbally slapping someone in the face while telling the person next to him/her that they have a cute shirt on. That's more or less what Peter Moore, VP of most things XBox, did in an interview with IGN. Instead of going over all the comments he made about Microsoft's strategy for the coming year (interesting in its own right, but not relevant here), we'll use the quote that will undoubtedly give Sony a real shiner.Moore is asked about what he thinks of the other systems and if there's anything he wishes the 360 could share with them. He responds: "The innovation that the Wii is, I'm certainly a big fan of. It ties in exactly with what Nintendo needs to do. And it ties directly into their strong intellectual property that is more youth oriented and more family oriented. The PS3, I really don't know what I would look at there that we're really missing. I look at the games and I feel really good at where we stand from a portfolio point of view. The online service, [Sony's] still trying to get it up to speed and there's nothing really there that I can really point to that I wish we had. You know, certainly the price point of the PS3 isn't something that I want to emulate. It's very difficult for me to point to anything there that I think we're missing right now." Hmm, well, I know that I certainly can't see myself to style my hair in front of the 360. Where's your mirror-ability, Microsoft? Yeah... yeah, take that.To be honest, Moore is right, but he spins it like the PS3 has been out for a year. We're still building the PS-Store... so of course it's not XBL -- that's had quite a few years, backed by the knowledge of a gigantic company based in making internet-ready operating systems. We don't have a lot of games yet, but we've got plenty of titles coming by the end of March to get excited about -- coinciding with the European launch window. As for the price, we could argue that to death, but it's been done many times before, so we'll just shrug and say: "you give the options of adding stuff on, we give you everything in one package." Calm down, Peter Moore.
Microsoft profits down, Xbox 360 revenues up
The Xbox 360 was a notable bright spot in Microsoft's latest second quarter fiscal earnings report, otherwise marred by a tardy consumer Windows Vista release. In a brief phone interview with Peter Moore, vice president of Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, we went over the announcement and what it meant for the 360.Moore was eager to remind us that Microsoft had met their goal of shipping 10 million Xbox 360 units, breaking the numbers down as follows: 6 million in North America; 3.1 million in Europe; and 1.3 million in the remainder of the markets it's available in (including Japan). There were no specific numbers for Japan, but he was happy to point out Gears of War's cozy spot on the Japanese sales charts.But it's not all good numbers. They've also altered their forecast for the fiscal year ending June 30th, from a goal of 13 to 15 million Xbox 360 consoles shipped to just 12 million, leaving them a relatively attainable goal of shipping an additional 1.6 million units over the next five months. Their real goal: profitability by this time 2008. With revenues of $2.96 billion, a 76% jump from last year, and a loss of $289 million, roughly the same as last year, profitability isn't too far off.To achieve that goal, Moore pointed to titles like Viva Pinata which, while seriously underperforming at retail, remains a critical success and "will sell for years," says Moore. Exclusive first-party content, like Gears of War and Halo 3, coupled with third-party exclusives like BioShock and Splinter Cell Convictions will continue to push hardware sales, while ancillary services like Xbox Live and microtransactions will continue to add to revenues. While Microsoft is on the road to profitability, they have a ways to go to catch up with Nintendo whose latest financial report cited a 43% profit increase. It's a very long road, you see?Read -- Microsoft Reports Record RevenueRead -- Microsoft profit down, beats estimates (AP)
Takahashi talks shop with Peter Moore
Dean Takahashi recently sat down to talk with Peter Moore at CES. Some of the topics discussed include IPTV, gaming on Windows Vista, MMOs on 360, the importance of 1st party developers, Microsoft's hopes in Japan, and of course, a little offhanded PS3 and Wii bashing. Moore makes a particularly interesting point about the necessity of 1st party development. Takahashi points out that Microsoft doesn't have as many 1st party developers as Sony and Nintendo. Moore replies that Microsoft has many 1st party games being created by studios not owned by Microsoft. Examples of this include Bioware's Mass Effect, Silicon Knights' Too Human, and of course Epic's Gears of War. Moore notes that Microsoft has a great publishing model in which MS aids in funding and publishing externally developed titles. He further states that while these are developed by a third party, they are unmistakably 1st party 360 titles.The interview is a little over half an hour long, and worth a listen to any dedicated 360 fanboys. Hit the "read" link to check it out.
Zune gets games ... in 2008
Yesterday at CES, Zune Boards received some insider information about Microsoft's mobile gaming plans from Xbox rockstar Peter Moore. Moore told the press that the Zune would be able to play video games on its extra wide screen in the future, but no sooner than July 2008. If the current Zune model is what they're thinking of using to play games, then damned if we won't be jaded. We were thinking more along the lines of an actual stand alone portable to play games ... not an MP3 player with limited input devices. Maybe this is a stepping stone to what may bloom into a full fledged Xbox portable gaming system, but something we wouldn't see for years to come. So Mr. Zune, we've realized that you aren't our Xboy. Yes it's hard, but it would be best if we just went out seperate ways.[Via Engadget]
Xbox 360 hits 10.4 Mil, IPTV imminent, probably
Coming from a recently vaporized post on Dean Takahashi's website (it was dated January 7), Microsoft is expected to announce that they have reached and surpassed their oft promised goal of shipping 10 million units by the end of 2006. The actual number is expected to be 10.4 million. We shudder to think what body part Peter Moore will tattoo next. Also expected is the announcement of IPTV support for the 360 from Microsoft bigwigs Robbie Bach and Bill Gates. Both announcements are expected on Sunday, during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.With the recent (probably factual) revelation of the Xbox 360 v.2, Microsoft continues to expand the abilities of its wonder box. The larger hard drive would certainly be welcome for DVR features. We do share a sentiment with Joystiq, though: we're not sure we relish the idea of leaving our 360s running for hours at a time. We only do that when we feel like cooking some eggs or heating the office. As mentioned above, the article in question has been taken down. It was dated for January 7, so it's possible Dean Takahashi hit the "publish" button a little early. Of course, we'd never to anything like that. No, never.[Via Joystiq]
Next-Gen names Peter Moore best of 2006
Next-Gen has compiled a list of the videogame industry's best and brightest of 2006, including the likes of Nintendo's Satoru Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime, CliffyB, and Larry Hryb (AKA Major Nelson). Peter Moore, the charismatic voice of the Xbox 360 (sorry J) has been granted top honors. Next-Gen cites Moore's accomplishments this year: impressive 360 sales, a great relationship with 3rd party publishers and the media, and his (moderately successful) attempts to woo Japan. Sure, Moore is an executive and he wants you to drink the Kool-aid, but man, by the time he's done talking, you want to drink that Kool-aid and ask for another glass. The Xbox 360 finally has some new gen competition, so here's hoping Moore can keep up its success through 2007 (Halo 3 should help).[Via Joystiq]
Moore claims 360 will surpass 10 million milestone
It seems that a new numeric obsession is gripping Microsoft executives across the world: 10 million. Considered a lofty target before the system launched and reiterated just yesterday, Microsoft has always stood by their belief that the first manufacturer to dash past the "10 million sold" finish line will be crowned the winner of ye grande console race. Speaking to Bloomberg, Peter Moore goes a step further and confidently claims that the 360 will not only meet, but surpass the 10 million mark before the year keels over. When asked if the 360 would exceed the hallowed milestone, the vice president confidently replies, "Yes. All indications are that we came off a very strong Thanksgiving holiday.''He goes on to point out that "They [sic] key is we're in stock, we're available, we're delivering well to retail." Certainly a valid observation (and one shared by certain analysts), but one that depends less on the 360's individual appeal and more on the fact that the competition didn't pitch in full force. The monthly NPD numbers are expected to arrive tomorrow, upon which we'll have a better idea as to how much further (farther, if you want to stick with the racing metaphor) Microsoft needs to go before the month concludes. [Via GameDaily BIZ]
Moore: 360 sales to exceed 10 million goal
Forget those fabricated stories about the 360's lackluster sales, because Peter Moore has the real goods. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Peter Moore reiterated Microsoft's goal of selling 10 million 360s by year's end. What's more, he states that Microsoft is well on their way to exceeding that number, thanks to strong sales during Thanksgiving. Said Moore, "They key is we're in stock, we're available, we're delivering well to retail. Certainly the consumer is recognizing the fact that we have a great price point as well as 160 games available and that flies in the face of our competition."Certainly, those are all great selling points for gift givers. Do you know anyone who picked up a 360 when there were no Wiis or PS3s to be had?[Via TeamXbox]
Interview with Peter Moore
Kikizo sat down with Peter Moore for a little chat after X06. In the interview Peter talks about the HD-DVD player, Blue Dragon, why Japan is important to Microsoft, XBLA, Peter Jackson, Live Anywhere, why surfing the web on a TV sucks, and why rumble is important. In his own words, "when you hit the wall at 150 miles an hour, you should feel something." The interview is 24 minutes long and well worth watching. See it after the break.
Wii60 combo no longer "officially" supported
Back at E3, it seemed as though Microsoft and Nintendo united against the big dog, Sony. Peter Moore, one of the big faces in the Xbox world, had lovely heaping praise for Nintendo's machine, recommending that players could get the high power of the 360 and the originality of the Wii for the same cost as a single PS3 (note: this is no longer true, unless you use the $300 core 360 and the $600 PS3 model). Nintendo also commented on the bundle, saying that it was a great idea.Did anyone really expect it to last? Recent comments by both Peter Moore and Reggie indicate that the companies have returned to their icy status-quo relationship. In a recent interview, Moore stated that he was worried that the Wii would only be fun for "a few minutes"...that punk! Reggie, when asked about the Wii60 combo, admitted that he thought that if gamers want to have another system to complement their Wii, it should be a Nintendo DS Lite. He then explained this comment with a very simple statement: "I'm greedy."Honest to a fault! We love ya, Reggie. Who here is going to let this travesty of public relations deter them from their beloved Wii60 combo?
Microsoft TGS briefing video now available
If there is one completely memorable moment for us in the Microsoft TGS press briefing, it was seeing DOAX2 announced as a "sports" title. That ... is hilarious. Xbox.com has posted two videos of the Microsoft TGS briefing. One is the entire briefing, full of Japanese goodness, and the other is only Peter Moore's remarks. The whole conference clocks in at just under an hour. There are no trailers or anything we typically associate with press briefings so, if you don't speak Japanese, we'd suggest you stick with the Peter More video.The conference does a good job of emphasizing all things Japanese -- complete with Peter Moore humbling himself to Pac-Man creator, Toru Iwatani. Of course, Blue Dragon gets its fair share -- Sakaguchi-san talks it up for quite a while near the end. Perhaps the most bizarre bit is Microsoft's marketing slogan for Japan: "Do! Do! Do!" Let's hope that didn't come from the same marketing team that did all those "playtests" of the original Xbox control.We'll go ahead and say that things look better than they have in the past for MS in Japan. As usual, it's the games stupid, and Microsoft showed up with more actual Japanese titles than ever before. Will it help? Who knows, but they're definitely heading in the right direction.[Via Major Nelson]360 at the Tokyo Game Show:Today's Marketplace content, 9/21DOAX2 video makes us feel naughtyLost Odyssey intro videoVideo of Trusty BellSee Blue Dragon gameplay (finally)
Moore talks HD, starvation with Cnet
The always-entertaining Peter Moore said in an interview with CNet that his ideal Xbox consumer "would rather starve to death than not have a high-definition TV." The comment comes in advance of the Xbox's pending launch in India, where Moore says a growing middle class will pick up the premium product. Nearly half of all children in India are underweight, according to The World Bank.Moore also seems less enthusiastic about the much-hyped Wii60 bundle nowadays, saying that he fears Nintendo's system will only be "fun for a few minutes." He also takes the opportunity to dig at Sony's upcoming Playstation 3, saying the system's high initial cost will make it hard to eventually come down to the mass market price of $199.Also see: Some Xbox 360 owners who picked food over an HDTV
Kaz sez: "MS copies Sony!"
Sony's Kaz Hirai has let his inner stroppiness out in an interview with PlayStation Magazine, where he moans at Microsoft for copying Sony's strategies and disses Microsoft's plan for an HD-DVD add-on whilst simultaneously bigging up his own company's Blu-ray plan. In a response to the interviewer's leading question/statement "Sony and Microsoft seem to be taking the exact same path...", Kaz responds by saying that "Every time we go down a path, we look behind and they're right there - we just can't shake these guys. I wish that they would come up with some strategies of their own..." It's possible that we'd be more likely to agree with this statement if we knew exactly what he meant, because as it stands this is the PR equivalent of trash talk.This childish display of "Miss! That kid's copying me!" reminds me of one of my favorite poems as a child called Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg, summmarized thusly: moan all you want, but don't expect sympathy from anyone. Especially when your complaint sits on very shaky ground.
