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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.
Microsoft to pull a PS3, place motion sensors in Xbox 360 pad?
In a recent episode of Gamertag radio, Peter Moore speaks out about the increasing complexity of video game controllers, comparing today's gamepads to the simplicity of the Atari 2600's button-and-stick joystick. He didn't exclude the Xbox 360 controller's design from criticism, mentioning that his 14-year old daughter found the controller somewhat confusing. Naturally, there was a point to his self-criticism; later on in the podcast he says that Microsoft is "doing a lot of stuff there. Nothing that we're ready to talk about, and we're not going to force anything that is not going to be intuitive and innovative."The most obvious conclusion to make from this statement would be that Microsoft is working on a new, simplified controller, which may or may not "borrow" the Wiimote's defining feature, although the part where Moore says that "[Microsoft is] not going to force anything that is not going to be... innovative" could suggest that simply slapping a motion sensor inside an Xbox 360 pad isn't on the cards.British tech magazine T3 points out that the company could possibly be working on a simplified controller--to be sold in parallel with the main Xbox 360 pad--designed specifically for Xbox Live Arcade games. The magazine reasons that the company won't want to make the Xbox 360 pad's ergonomic design obsolete any time soon, which lends credence to the possibility of a simplified controller designed to play simple games to compliment the "hardcore" 360 gamepad.[Via Engadget]
Microsoft planning simpler controller?
Like many baby boomers, even Xbox chief Peter Moore is getting a little confused by all the buttons and joysticks being crammed onto modern gamepads, and some recent comments he made may indicate that Microsoft is actually working on ways to dumb-down the increasingly complex controller. In an interview with Gamertag radio, Moore seemingly put the "shoulder buttons, triggers, analog sticks, and d-pads" on today's controllers in a negative light compared to the "old Atari 2600 button-and-stick, which everybody could pick up and have some fun with." Even Moore's 14-year-old daughter reportedly finds the 360 controller somewhat confusing, with the man himself mentioning that Microsoft is "doing a lot of stuff there," but that they won't release a product that's not "intuitive and innovative." We're all for input devices being as intuitive as possible, but instead of wasting time trying to innovative, maybe Microsoft should just cave in and adopt a certain technology that's already proving to be pretty popular.
Design the next XBLA hit yourself
Have you ever played Geometry Wars and thought to yourself, "This game is a steaming pile of manure. I could design something better than this!" If so, then Microsoft wants you, Uncle Sam style (no, not your creepy uncle Sam, this Uncle Sam). Xbox Live Arcade's unprecedented success has been something of a surprise, even to Peter Moore: "I didn't expect Live Arcade to be for gamers, I thought maybe for their girlfriends, mums and sisters -- but it's for everybody."Games like Geometry Wars have convinced big time developers that XBLA equals easy money. Like Nintendo, it allows publishers to earn big money by selling consumers their collective childhood again. But that's not all it's good for, and Microsoft knows it. The next step for XBLA is to get some original independent content. Do you think you're up to snuff? If so, you can send your proposals to this address: arcade[AT]microsoft.com. Finally, my game about Microsoft's evil robot minions will get some recognition.
Rumor: new, cheaper Xbox 360 this holiday
According to Britxbox.co.uk, a source close to Microsoft has confirmed plans to cut the cost of Xbox 360 as the holidays roll around, and more importantly, just as Sony unleashes the PlayStation 3. The source told Britxbox that the price cut would be the result of a "new" and "cheaper to manufacture" version of Xbox 360, suggesting that the Xbox team is working to redesign elements of the chip set supplied by ATI and IBM to achieve more cost effective production.But, just as Peter Moore told us at CES, PlayStation 3 will sell out at launch no matter how much Microsoft reduces -- and releases. That's not to say that an Xbox 360 price slash wouldn't help Microsoft's standings in the long run.
Moore: 360 controls a Wii bit complicated
Peter Moore, Microsoft cheerleader and spinmeister, recently sat down with Gamertag Radio and discussed today's complicated controls. While he did say that the novelty of the Wii may wear off after half an hour, he also admitted that today's control schemes are too complicated for some -- including his 14-year-old daughter. The big question is: does Microsoft have newer, simpler, friendlier, and gentler controls on the way? According to Peter: "We're doing a lot of stuff there. Nothing that we're ready to talk about, and we're not going to force anything that is not going to be intuitive and innovative." I think Moore is likely talking about 360's upcoming Vision camera, but the idea of an Xbox ThWiimote is intriguing. Anybody have a chance to listen to the whole interview? [Via openXBOX360]
360 BC update "in the next few weeks"
Thanks to the folks at the Gamerscore Blog, we've learned that the next Xbox back compat update "should be out in the next few weeks." In his earlier blast against BC, Peter Moore proclaimed that nobody is concerned about it anymore, but thankfully the gentler Gamerscore peeps have set the record straight, stating: "We know for a fact that there are lots of people who continue to care about backwards compatibility, including the 'Emulation Ninjas' who are working full time on the updates. And those of us posting on this blog. And, of course, many of you." We suppose quarterly updates to the BC list aren't TOO bad (hey, they sure beat semiannual dashboard updates), but getting more than a dozen titles to work each time would definitely help a lot more for those with original Xbox favorites they'd prefer to play on their new machines. Personally, this blogger would like to see the following titles added to the list: Dead or Alive Ultimate, Doom 3, Capcom vs. SNK 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Project Gotham Racing 2, LEGO Star Wars, Street Fighter Anniversary Collection, Soul Calibur II, and Capcom Classics Collection. It may not be realistic to expect Street Fighter support when Hyper Fighting is set to hit Live Arcade sometime in the near future, but one can (vainly) hope. [Via Major Nelson's blog] See also: Xbox BC not a priority, says Moore No Black on 360 till MS makes it so... or a sequel comes out US 360 backward-compatibility list shrinks A video tour of the Xbox Live Spring update SFII on Xbox Live: what's taking so long?
Xbox BC not a priority, says Moore
In a 180-degree turn from statements made over the past year, it would appear Microsoft is starting to back away from their previous commitment to make "every Xbox game work on the 360." According to Xbox chief Peter Moore, "Nobody is concerned anymore about backwards compatibility. We under promised and over delivered on that." While Moore acknowledges there are still more Xbox compatibility updates on the way, he went on to say he was "stunned" that his team has been able to make hundreds of Xbox titles compatible with the Xbox 360. At last check, fan favorites Panzer Dragoon Orta, Soul Calibur 2, and the Kingdom Under Fire series were still absent from the official list, but you can still play Drake of the 99 Dragons!If original Xbox games are to be made available over the Xbox Live service, how many of you would be willing to buy them (again)?See also: The Engadget & Joystiq E3 Interview: Peter Moore
Peter Moore shares his thoughts on Sony
With the looming launch of the PS3, it's always fun to get a reaction from the front-liners on the other side. Peter Moore sat down with Eurogamer the other day and spilled his thoughts on Sony and their new controller."At Microsoft we did the same controller six years ago ... The gamers' response was muted at best," he said. He went on to speak about how the applications for such a controller were fairly narrow. And with the sacrifice of the force feedback, there's a strong argument that the PS3 controller will have lost much of its allure. Regardless, the gamers will be the ones who decide what works and what doesn't come November.Mr. Moore's comment about the price point summed it up: "I can only imagine what's going on back home for 599 Euros for what looks to me like a platform that's on a par at best with some of the software we're showing."[As seen on Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Peter Moore gets grilled ... by Space Ghost
We weren't the only ones to get an interview with Peter Moore at E3. Space Ghost was asking "the hard questions" at the GameTap booth during E3 (hint: Turner owns GameTap and Cartoon Network). Hear Peter's responses to SG's ideas for a dermatology game for teens, listen to him talk some serious trash on Sony, and then watch him drop it like it's hot (seriously). If you didn't think Peter Moore was a good sport before ... Click the "Continue" link to check out the embedded video, or head over to YouTube. Warning: the video is NSFW; you've been warned.[Via Gamerscore]
Who's got a Joystiq T-shirt?
Our limited-edition Joystiq T-shirts are rolling out to our biggest (and speediest) fans right now. Then there's our not as limited-edition Joystiq E3 shirts that we were giving out at the show. Did you grab enough business cards from Joystiqers on the show floor, like the Joystiq luchador did? Did you make it to the AOL booth during our short, one-hour handout? Or were you gracious enough to grant Joystiq an interview, like Peter, Perrin, Shane, and Miyamoto-san? If you're sporting a Joystiq tee, let us know what you think. Didn't get one? We'll be giving away the orange shirts on the site so keep your eyes peeled. And if you see somebody sporting one on the street, stop 'em and say hi. They're either Joystiq readers or one of us.Big thanks to Philip and Yann for the incredible designs. Seriously, we're humbled.
The Engadget & Joystiq Interview: Microsoft's Peter Moore
This morning, Vlad Cole and I had an opportunity to chat with Microsoft's Peter Moore, the man responsible for marketing the Xbox 360. When we last pinned him down at CES, there were still so many unanswered questions about the competition. After Sony and Nintendo's keynotes at E3, not to mention their own, the time was ripe to ask him about a portable Xbox, the Nintendo Wii complementing the Xbox 360, the Sony Dual Shake controller, and where he got that ink on his arm. Forgive me if I interrupt you, if I hear something that I already heard at the press briefing, I might cut your answer short a little bit. Congratulations on Gears of War. Everyone is saying it looks and plays awesome. It actually appears to be head and shoulders above everything we're seeing on the show floor. Is that a conscious choice to keep it off the floor itself, so that the comparison gap doesn't pop?No, not really. I think the idea is that the game deserves hands-on. We're trying to show it to as many people as we can up here. The team at Epic is really so conscious of the quality of what they're doing and presenting that bringing them up here, we'll get thousands of people through in the end, they churn people through pretty quickly, there was no conscious effort, no.So where are the rest of the games that look this good?Here? That depends on your ... you tell me. What is it that you think is missing?There does appear to be a gap in quality between that and everything else. It's just head and shoulders above. We're wondering if there are other titles that will match that by the time they come out. Quality of gameplay, graphics, depth, immersion? It's all subjective. I'm biased on all of them. Games like Crackdown: different visual style, different genre. But, it's coming together really well. Mass Effect. I was on some blogs last night where people are spending some time on it and are really impressed with it. Dave Perry and a few other people wrote some really strong stories about Mass Effect. That's a weird question ... I mean, which of my children do I love more?
Wiimote controller or Xbox Live? Which is the bigger innovation?
Business Week's running an interview with Microsoft Corporate VP Peter Moore in which Moore was asked to opine on innovation. In particular, he was asked to comment on the innovation the TV remote-style controller that will come bundled with Nintendo's newest console. Moore's response: "If the controller is different and innovative; fine. But I would say that Xbox Live is the bigger innovation. It depends on your definition of innovative. If having a DVD style controller defines innovation; great. I would argue that talking millions of gamers and connecting them with friends and strangers around the world... I'd call that pretty innovative." There are a few ways to settle this debate. Which one took more engineering brawn to develop? Which one will drive more sales? Which one will change the face of gaming more? Will either innovation be remembered years from now as a flop? Which of the two is actually more fun to use? Which of the two provides gamers with the most value?
Peter Moore talks about their E3 plans
In a hard-hitting, take no prisoners interview with the interrogators at Xbox.com, Peter Moore couldn't help but let a couple of juicy E3 news nuggets slip past his iron grip of forbearance. What are we talking about? The Halo 3 release date of course! You guys didn't really believe that, did you? Good. Here's what the man with the plan had to say about their E3 plans: "It is our goal to bring E3 home to Xbox Live members as best we can, all the videos and the news as quickly as possible...We will give you the flavor of what's going on, on the show floor and some of the stuff that we are showing and debuting here."So Xbox 360ers can check out all the goings on in HD right on their 360s from home? Sounds like a good deal. What worries me is how that interface is going to hold up to plenty of new content coming out of E3...I have a hard enough time navigating around to get demos. Of course for some more text-oriented E3 coverage, you can always check out Joystiq and Xbox 360 Fanboy, who'll be geeking out in LA come May. [Thanks, TOMCATS]
