Our new Indie Games subforum is now open for business in G&T. Go and check it out, you might land a code for a free game. If you're developing an indie game and want to post about it,
follow these directions. If you don't, he'll break your legs! Hahaha! Seriously though.
Our rules have been updated and given
their own forum. Go and look at them! They are nice, and there may be new ones that you didn't know about! Hooray for rules! Hooray for The System! Hooray for Conforming!
Krazy Ken steps down! (SONY Reshuffles)
Posts
but i live in a conspiracy theory fantasy world.
http://www.forbes.com/2000/11/22/1122faces.html
http://www.n-sider.com/articleview.php?articleid=272
He was also the person to expand Nintendo into the video game market. He also made some really ballsy moves.
Let's go even further back than that. Yamauchi took his family's card company into the realm of toys, creating a massive financial base. Then, upon seeing 1 (ONE) arcade game demonstration, he shifted the ENTIRE company into producing arcade games.
He gave a complete unknown the complete freedom to develop Donkey Kong.
He managed to create a monopoly in the 80's, for better or for worse.
Then he got senile, thought he knew better than his tech guys (Iwata and co), and started grooming people for positions they weren't ready for. He also let NOA run roughshod...
In the end, it turned out his hand-picked sucessor was a horrible choice, so he promoted Iwata instead and installed a board that would still answer to him, and could overrule Iwata. Iwata had that system disposed of within a year, and went on to develop the DS.
NNID and many other services: Athenor or Myridiam // 3DS: 3883-5283-0471
The awesome thing about Iwata is how he's an actual developer in charge of a game company. How often does that happen? You can't help but respect the guy.
They would have to be able to find a Wii.
Yeah, Microsoft is in a bad position too, since the 360 was supposed to be the machine that actually makes them money (as opposed to the Xbox, which lost money but gave them a foothold into the market). I wonder how much of the low 360 sales are because of the manufacturing problems? And how much money Microsoft is losing with all the repairs? I am completely baffled as to why they haven't fixed the flaw yet. And that they haven't given us a price drop yet. The mass market doesn't really care about having an even bigger hard drive, they care about being able to play Halo online for cheap. And even at $400 (for an online-ready system), that's going to price a ton of Halo fans out of the market.
Seriously, even the Nintendo loyalists thought "Shit. Nintendo's in third-fucking-place still."
Sure, we were more comfortable as Nintendo was turning a monster-profit, but the attitude wasn't exactly "uncommon" by anyones count.
Iwata actually thought he was going to be fired before he became president. He was called in Yamauchi's office everyday for about a week and interviewed by him. Iwata was asked questions like "Do you enjoy working for our company?" so he thought for sure Yamauchi was just getting ready to fire him. He was quite surprised when Yamauchi asked him to become the president.
There's also something I want to say about the topic this thread is on, but I've gotta think about how to word it.
There was also a lot of "DOOOOOOMED" talked about when the PSP was announced.
And B&M stores would hate it. If they aren't going to be able to sell games, why bother stocking a console that barely nets you a profit?
A net-based console would probably be based on buying games off of the internet. This would cut out the traditional stores and would at least make any sales from traditional stores secondary. It would also destroy the sales of used games. Supporting a console like that would make no sense for the business because they wouldn't profit off of the sale of the console.
Is the Zune included in the "Entertainment and Devices Division"? Because I'd say they'd be losing a ton of money on that piece of crap.
Edited for the <poop>.
I doubt that would actually matter to console makers. I'm sure there are plenty of big box shops that would love to remove the low profit margin game sections. Digital Distribution is the future of gaming, like it or not.
You're muckin' with a G!
If they remove the game sections, how are they supposed to sell the consoles? The vast majority of people still buy their hardware from traditional stores.
So instead of three (for example) aisles of gaming stuff, they have one.
EDIT: It probably would've been better, in retrospect, to say 'game software' sections.
You're muckin' with a G!
At any rate, it doesn't matter too much. Since the DD plan will eliminate used sales, all stores that do that will pretty much close or merge into one 'super' game store. 'GameStop! Where else you gonna go?' Theoretically speaking, consoles could become cheaper to make when spinning drives are removed. By doing so, they could lower the costs to the retailers who then mark up at will.
Even so, let's say Best Buy cuts floor space for gaming to one aisle. Now all that's left is shelf space for consoles and controllers and the like. No software at all. Will profits take a hit? Probably. But, now they have extra space for higher profit, faster selling crap. It would probably balance in the end. At least that's what the console makers and the German Shepherds would have them believe.
Whether or not it's a good idea, that's what companies like SONY are aiming for. Tighter control on software sales (and profits) and the elimination of used games entirely. I wouldn't doubt that it would be similar to the RIAA problems and be terribly shortsighted.
You're muckin' with a G!
Don't take any of this as truth, merely speculation on an interesting what if situation.
A few months ago, iSupply estimated each 360 sold gives Microsoft a profit of $75.
Someone earlier said that Zune sales are part of Microsoft's entertainment division too, so that might account for a lot of the deficit. Still, low 360 sales aren't helping.
Why does everyone think Zunes are sold at a loss? Remember: Apple says that they sell iTunes "at cost" (I think it's bullshit) for $0.99 a pop to sell more iPods at a profit. Considering that iPods actually have competitive price-per-GB (especially the flash-based players), there is probably a hefty margin in there.
I'm looking at the Sansa Express right now. 1GB, subscription music, color screen, stick form-factor with integrated USB port (Shuffle G1 style), USB charging, AND microSD expansion. $69. The only way to make it more perfect is to add A2DP and a flip-out USB port (Samsung removed theirs from the UX-line, likely due to patents, so that probably keeps Sandisk away from that feature too).
Thousands of Zunes sitting in Microsoft warehouses waiting for retailers to need them is a loss.
According to the latest press statements on Microsoft's financial reports for this year, yes, the 360 is still sold at a loss. They hope to make a profit next financial year.
Oh, that Ken!
Also, all this Zune hating is making me sad. I love my Zune!
FUCK YOU GUYS!
Huh. Well, so much for the estimate. I thought it was a little quick for component prices on the 360 to drop that quickly. That also explains why we haven't seen a price drop yet.
Who would've thunk a software company would have problems cutting price on a sophisticated piece of electronics.
L2P Microsoft and partner with an electronics company that knows what they're doing.
I predict the next Xbox will be called the Dellbox and cost 50 bucks and be twice as powerful as the 360.
You know it's coming.
In fact, i think it's an overall better product than the iPod currently, for the features and interface it offers.
That still doesn't change the fact that it's an iPod world, and they aren't selling for shit.
I am going to call the avatar police and have them kick your ass.
:roll:
dude, stop quoting yourself
AJ2 soundtrack: NAME YOUR PRICE ON BANDCAMP! Album: BANDCAMP! iTunes Spotify Amazon UK
I like having a boxed copy with a manual.
Special editions with the bonus DVDs and art books and all that jazz.
Digital distribution is not the future, it will be big but wont replace hard copies.
Iwata becomes super evil sarcasm machine.
Burns Sony like hes Reggie or something.
Unless they function as a hub for those without a connection capable of downloading several gigs in anything shorter than a week.