Pre-E3 2012: Microsoft press conference liveblog

Follow along as Microsoft announces the future of its gaming plans.

Read the whole story

 

[Alyeska]

It would be nice if Microsoft admited to having screwed over PC gaming and that they were going to finally release the backlog of 360 games on the PC.

What am I thinking? Microsoft doesn't give a rats ass about PC games anymore.

 

[Psyact]

It would be nice if Microsoft admited to having screwed over PC gaming and that they were going to finally release the backlog of 360 games on the PC.

What am I thinking? Microsoft doesn't give a rats ass about PC games anymore.

Screwed over? Microsoft Flight? Age of Empires Online? Two of their biggest PC franchises were updated within the last 12 months.

Also, with the new Windows App Store, you can expect that there will be some new blood in the PC sector. They've already released Toy Soldiers if I recall, and another game that had critical acclaim.

 

[Deleted member 330960]

You should rename this site Micros~1 Technica instead of Apple Technica.

 

[H2O Rip]

It would be nice if Microsoft admited to having screwed over PC gaming and that they were going to finally release the backlog of 360 games on the PC.

What am I thinking? Microsoft doesn't give a rats ass about PC games anymore.

Screwed over? Microsoft Flight? Age of Empires Online? Two of their biggest PC franchises were updated within the last 12 months.

Also, with the new Windows App Store, you can expect that there will be some new blood in the PC sector. They've already released Toy Soldiers if I recall, and another game that had critical acclaim.

PC games don't often get the same media love that the console games have gotten recently, aside from maybe Diablo. Just because you don't see a COD media blitz doesn't mean MS has forgotten about PC games though, if they did I wouldn't have a job Brought out a few games on Steam in the last 6 months too (yay AOE3 ), and quite a bit of dev work still going into AOEO (huge content update comes out in a few weeks).

But on topic!
It hit me later than usual this year, but finally starting to get the anticipation for E3. Very curious to see what gets announced, seems like most of the companies have done a good job keeping their secrets under wraps so far.

 

[keltor]

It would be nice if Microsoft admited to having screwed over PC gaming and that they were going to finally release the backlog of 360 games on the PC.

What am I thinking? Microsoft doesn't give a rats ass about PC games anymore.

Screwed over? Microsoft Flight? Age of Empires Online? Two of their biggest PC franchises were updated within the last 12 months.

Also, with the new Windows App Store, you can expect that there will be some new blood in the PC sector. They've already released Toy Soldiers if I recall, and another game that had critical acclaim.

PC games don't often get the same media love that the console games have gotten recently, aside from maybe Diablo. Just because you don't see a COD media blitz doesn't mean MS has forgotten about PC games though, if they did I wouldn't have a job Brought out a few games on Steam in the last 6 months too (yay AOE3 ), and quite a bit of dev work still going into AOEO (huge content update comes out in a few weeks).

But on topic!
It hit me later than usual this year, but finally starting to get the anticipation for E3. Very curious to see what gets announced, seems like most of the companies have done a good job keeping their secrets under wraps so far.

How is AOEO? I've been meaning to take a look at it ...

 

[Flit]

It would be nice if Microsoft admited to having screwed over PC gaming and that they were going to finally release the backlog of 360 games on the PC.

What am I thinking? Microsoft doesn't give a rats ass about PC games anymore.

I know I shouldn't feed trolls, but this is, when measured by wordcount, the most deleusional post on Ars ever.

I'm pretty interested in what they have planned for multimedia stuff if rumours are true...

 

[cateye]

I don't care how beaten into submission and over-promoted/extended/marketed the Halo series is, and how un-hip it is to like it; I only recently got a 360 and am playing through all of them for the first time and love them. So naturally, any little tidbit of news about Halo 4 is welcome. I can't wait; already pre-ordered.

 

[Alyeska]

Screwed over? Microsoft Flight? Age of Empires Online? Two of their biggest PC franchises were updated within the last 12 months.

Halo Wars, Halo 3, Halo ODST, Halo Reach, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Fable 2.

All unavailable on PC.

Do you know how many PC titles that Microsoft has released for PC in the last 4 years? 3. Thats it.

Microsoft released more games for the PC in 2007 than the entire time from 2008 to now.

2008 - No PC Games
2009 - No PC Games
2010 - No PC Games

In 2010 Microsoft admits that it has dropped the ball on PC development.

2011 - 2 games
2012 - 1 game

Microsoft continues to keep titles restricted to 360 and has continued to refuse to port older titles to PC.

I don't want Microsoft to throw me a bone. I want them to acknowledge I am a valid customer and release their games. I want to buy their games. But I am a PC gamer. So I cannot buy them for a console I will not play.

 

[IntergalacticWalrus]

@Alyeska
Instead of complaining, why not just go buy a goddamn Xbox already? They're fairly cheap nowadays.

You're always going to miss out on some great games if you insist on never buying any console. So either shut up and enjoy what you have, or get off your PC high horse and expand your horizons.

 

[Alyeska]

@Alyeska
Instead of complaining, why not just go buy a goddamn Xbox already?

I am a PC gamer, not a console gamer. It is PC or nothing. Playing it on the console is not a choice.

I'm not complaining about Sony or Nintendo titles not releasing on PC. Those companies don't pretend to make PC games. Microsoft claims to make PC games.

 

[DeF: ProLyphiq]

Screwed over? Microsoft Flight? Age of Empires Online? Two of their biggest PC franchises were updated within the last 12 months.

Halo Wars, Halo 3, Halo ODST, Halo Reach, Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3, Fable 2.

All unavailable on PC.

Do you know how many PC titles that Microsoft has released for PC in the last 4 years? 3. Thats it.

Microsoft released more games for the PC in 2007 than the entire time from 2008 to now.

2008 - No PC Games
2009 - No PC Games
2010 - No PC Games

In 2010 Microsoft admits that it has dropped the ball on PC development.

2011 - 2 games
2012 - 1 game

Microsoft continues to keep titles restricted to 360 and has continued to refuse to port older titles to PC.

I don't want Microsoft to throw me a bone. I want them to acknowledge I am a valid customer and release their games. I want to buy their games. But I am a PC gamer. So I cannot buy them for a console I will not play.

Oh whaaaaa! Please...even though I didnt buy a Mac for gaming, there aint shit on there but Im not crying about it. Honestly I'm surprised Diablo3 even plays decently on a Mac. What really bummed me is I cant even install D2 post Lion...

Honestly, if Diablo has shown anything by its numbers is that there is still i huge market to tap in PC gaming, hopefully that should give the game studios extra incentive to port to PC (or vice versa). But don't complain about how platforms are unfairly treated or whatever it is you think is unfair in life...simple market economics says to concentrate your resources where you would get the maximum return on investment and most developers have a tough time simultaneously developing games for both xbox and sony with static peripherals, whereas PC has a whole multitude of hardware configurations to support

 

[Alyeska]

Oh whaaaaa! Please...even though I didnt buy a Mac for gaming, there aint shit on there but Im not crying about it. Honestly I'm surprised Diablo3 even plays decently on a Mac. What really bummed me is I cant even install D2 post Lion...

Honestly, if Diablo has shown anything by its numbers is that there is still i huge market to tap in PC gaming, hopefully that should give the game studios extra incentive to port to PC (or vice versa). But don't complain about how platforms are unfairly treated or whatever it is you think is unfair in life...simple market economics says to concentrate your resources where you would get the maximum return on investment and most developers have a tough time simultaneously developing games for both xbox and sony with static peripherals, whereas PC has a whole multitude of hardware configurations to support

Alan Wake was ported to PC almost 2 years after console release. The cost to develop the PC port was covered in first two days of PC sales.

A 2 year old game paid back its development cost in a mere 2 days. Microsoft's excuses for not releasing on PC are that of simply being lazy. They don't even have to port it themselves. Gearbox ported the original PC release of Halo, so effectively zero resource cost to Microsoft.

 

[Flit]

I think what Alyeska is Trying to say is "Microsoft Studios" should be a PC game publishing company, not an Xbox game publishing company.

Maybe they should just change their name to "Microsoft Xbox Studios", to remove the confusion.

If you really think that the lack of Gears of War and Haloz and Fable on PC is killing PC gaming,...... wheeeeeeewwww....

 

[DeF: ProLyphiq]

Oh whaaaaa! Please...even though I didnt buy a Mac for gaming, there aint shit on there but Im not crying about it. Honestly I'm surprised Diablo3 even plays decently on a Mac. What really bummed me is I cant even install D2 post Lion...

Honestly, if Diablo has shown anything by its numbers is that there is still i huge market to tap in PC gaming, hopefully that should give the game studios extra incentive to port to PC (or vice versa). But don't complain about how platforms are unfairly treated or whatever it is you think is unfair in life...simple market economics says to concentrate your resources where you would get the maximum return on investment and most developers have a tough time simultaneously developing games for both xbox and sony with static peripherals, whereas PC has a whole multitude of hardware configurations to support

Alan Wake was ported to PC almost 2 years after console release. The cost to develop the PC port was covered in first two days of PC sales.

A 2 year old game paid back its development cost in a mere 2 days. Microsoft's excuses for not releasing on PC are that of simply being lazy. They don't even have to port it themselves. Gearbox ported the original PC release of Halo, so effectively zero resource cost to Microsoft.

Seriously, where are you getting those figures? Last time I checked, Microsoft didn't port Alan Wake, Remedy did. Also, developers are going to incur cost porting to PC, time and continued platform support post release. This process model is simply not viable for cash strapped developers, even to farm out the development to a third party still take money..

Also, Gearbox at that time was a studio that mostly developed PC ports. Better believe the made quite a bit of money to do so.

 

[H2O Rip]

I think what Alyeska is Trying to say is "Microsoft Studios" should be a PC game publishing company, not an Xbox game publishing company.

Maybe they should just change their name to "Microsoft Xbox Studios", to remove the confusion.

If you really think that the lack of Gears of War and Haloz and Fable on PC is killing PC gaming,...... wheeeeeeewwww....

Fable 3 is on PC:
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Produ ... 044d53090a
(Also available through steam)

The PC section of xbox.com (the GFWL marketplace was all merged in there, xbox is a brand meant to encompass both the console and PC games, even mobile stuff too)
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/PC?xr=shellnav
Obv this includes games published not just by MS, but *shrug*

Now, I suspect we'll see the briefing be console stuff really (as it has been in the past). E3 in general has been more console focused.

 

[cateye]

Microsoft publishes an XBox game: You buy the game and you buy an XBox, which means you'll likely buy some additional items from or for that XBox: An XBox Live Gold membership, more controllers, additional hardware, movies and music from the XBox Live marketplace, DLC add-ons, branded goodies for your avatar, etc. The long tail of high-margin revenue for Microsoft for a console game is OMG HUEG.

Microsoft publishes a Windows game: You buy the game.

I mean, seriously? You're confused why Microsoft doesn't make more PC games?

I used to PC game too. Still do for a few old favorites. But the XBox is where most of my (limited) game money and time goes now.

 

[Sonan]

The "highlight" of the conference is going to be Call of Duty. It has been the past four or so years running. Whoooooo. I'm way more excited for the Sony and Nintendo conferences.

It would be nice if Microsoft admited to having screwed over PC gaming and that they were going to finally release the backlog of 360 games on the PC.

What am I thinking? Microsoft doesn't give a rats ass about PC games anymore.

I agree. My computer can run circles around a 360 as far as graphics and loading times go, plus I have the choice of using a controller if I want to. Instead I have to play the games on ancient hardware without a keyboard with the much longer loading times.

 

[Alyeska]

Seriously, where are you getting those figures?

Work Filter is causing trouble. Google the phrase "Alan Wake PC paid for itself in 2 days".

Last time I checked, Microsoft didn't port Alan Wake, Remedy did.

Yes, Remedy expended all the effort on Alan Wake for PC. And paid itself back in the first 2 days.

Also, developers are going to incur cost porting to PC, time and continued platform support post release. This process model is simply not viable for cash strapped developers, even to farm out the development to a third party still take money..

Remedy could be called a cash strapped developer. Very slowly releasing titles. And they managed to make a very fast profit on a game nearly 2 years old.

Microsoft is more than a developer. They are a publisher. They have large sums of money. Contracting out a port would incur cost. Cost that I believe can be paid back more often than not. PC games do make money or they wouldn't be developed. Microsoft can reserve its actual manpower resources for developing on the console. Then they can expend fairly minimal monetary resources on the PC port through a contract and receive additional profit.

Also, Gearbox at that time was a studio that mostly developed PC ports. Better believe the made quite a bit of money to do so.

It made enough money that Microsoft authorized Halo 2 for PC. Halo 2s failure was... other issues.

 

[DeF: ProLyphiq]

Remedy could be called a cash strapped developer. Very slowly releasing titles. And they managed to make a very fast profit on a game nearly 2 years old.

Microsoft is more than a developer. They are a publisher. They have large sums of money. Contracting out a port would incur cost. Cost that I believe can be paid back more often than not. PC games do make money or they wouldn't be developed. Microsoft can reserve its actual manpower resources for developing on the console. Then they can expend fairly minimal monetary resources on the PC port through a contract and receive additional profit.

Though you make a valid point about MS being a publisher, the Alan Wake example is not something that should be representative of the business of game development as a whole, since Wake was originally intended to be the flagship DX9 demo to show devs just how apparently awesome it was and if I remember correctly, they were simultaneously developing that game for both platforms anyway. I can say for sure, that I remember seeing a very early build of Alan Wake a few years ago and they were demoing it on a PC.

Moving on, a publisher such as MS has to determine the profitability of its investment before they drop a load of cash on a developer to green light any project. I would assume all such publishers also look at the audience for PC to determine its viability. However, it all comes down to money and its logical that most would turn down PC to fully concentrate on the console market to maximize their investment.

Yea, it sucks for PC only gamers, but thats the world we live in. In the graphics/ hardware department, PC will always reign King since it has instant access to the latest and greatest technological advancements. By contrast, the console market is fairly static from a hardware perspective, as is the average consumer and with all things being static, consumers dont have to worry about constant upgrades to play the latest CoD or whatever floats their boat. So its rational to presume thats one of the biggest motivators for Publishers to push game development to consoles rather than PC because of sheer market concentration.

But at the end of the day, all I'm really saying to you is PC by far doesn't have it as bad as Apple or any version of Linux.

 

[IntergalacticWalrus]

@Alyeska
Instead of complaining, why not just go buy a goddamn Xbox already?

I am a PC gamer, not a console gamer. It is PC or nothing. Playing it on the console is not a choice.

Now you're just being irrational. Why is this not a choice? It's DEFINITELY a choice you made here. This may come as a shocker to you but there are no laws that forbid you to enjoy both. Your PC will not be seized, and you will not be fined.

There is no reason for the "PC gamer" or a "console gamer" labels to exist, other than to cause endless flamewars and pointless arguments on Ars or other forums.

You really should go back and read my second paragraph you seem to have selectively ignored. Hell, I'm a nice guy so I'll just quote it here and save you the trouble:

You're always going to miss out on some great games if you insist on never buying any console. So either shut up and enjoy what you have, or get off your PC high horse and expand your horizons.

 

[Alyeska]

Now you're just being irrational. Why is this not a choice? It's DEFINITELY a choice you made here. This may come as a shocker to you but there are no laws that forbid you to enjoy both. Your PC will not be seized, and you will not be fined.

There is no reason for the "PC gamer" or a "console gamer" labels to exist, other than to cause endless flamewars and pointless arguments on Ars or other forums.

Because I do not enjoy using a controller. You are telling me to play a game in a way that I do not enjoy.

There is no choice. 3d movies and 3d TV gives me a headache. There is no choice for me with 3d.

Just because you have a choice does not mean other people do.

 

[Aimhere]

Because I do not enjoy using a controller. You are telling me to play a game in a way that I do not enjoy.

Count me among the group of PC-only gamers who can't stand using console-style handheld game controllers. I find it far easier and more precise to use a keyboard and mouse. (I do have a game controller, by the way, but it's just gathering dust in a drawer. Have yet to run across a game that really only works with a controller.)

 

[Sonan]

I find racing games on the PC and the majority of the indie stuff on Steam work better with a controller. I already have a wired 360 controller for that though.

 

[PseudonymAnon]

The current state of gaming is rapidly changing. I won't be surprised if the whole console model goes away once and for all.

 

[pw38]

Now you're just being irrational. Why is this not a choice? It's DEFINITELY a choice you made here. This may come as a shocker to you but there are no laws that forbid you to enjoy both. Your PC will not be seized, and you will not be fined.

There is no reason for the "PC gamer" or a "console gamer" labels to exist, other than to cause endless flamewars and pointless arguments on Ars or other forums.

Because I do not enjoy using a controller. You are telling me to play a game in a way that I do not enjoy.

There is no choice. 3d movies and 3d TV gives me a headache. There is no choice for me with 3d.

Just because you have a choice does not mean other people do.

If I were a betting man I'd say you can indeed enjoy playing console games because you wouldn't play fps games on a console anyway so that leaves action/adventure style games such as Uncharted, etc.. Saying that regardless of how you're arguing it you did make a choice. You chose to not try to adapt therefore by default you made a choice. It's not like you're physically incapable of using a controller (unless you are in which you should qualify your comments first). You just choose to not adapt to using a controller. Millions do though so any argument outside of physical ailment is really just personal stubbornness.

What I take away from your answer is two fold:

1. You want to play MS published games on the PC (Halo, Gears, Crackdown, etc.) and can't therefore you're upset. It's understandable but come on, buy an Xbox if you want to play them. They're not coming out on PC and you know it yet you still complain.
2. MS changed the way publishers and developers view the PC. Before the consoles received PC ports, now it's the other way. You're not alone in this annoyance but again it really only becomes an issue late in the life cycle of the console. Once the new hardware hits the PC will be more utilizied.

I was a pc gamer waaaaaay back in the day, gave it up to go the console route starting with the Xbox, and went back to PC gaming last year. I've since purchased an Xbox and PS3 because there are games I enjoy that I cannot get on the PC. I either bitch and moan about it or adapt. I chose to be platform agnostic, something I suggest you seriously think about.

 

[aardarf]

Prediction: Harry Potter Kinect. You are the wand!

 

[Papageno]

Re: the liveblogging, is anyone else getting the posts cut off at the right margin (basically the text is not wrapping)?

 

[Raptor's Boomstick]

I think what Alyeska is Trying to say is "Microsoft Studios" should be a PC game publishing company, not an Xbox game publishing company.

Maybe they should just change their name to "Microsoft Xbox Studios", to remove the confusion.

If you really think that the lack of Gears of War and Haloz and Fable on PC is killing PC gaming,...... wheeeeeeewwww....

It's not killing PC gaming, but why should I need to buy another console?

I got the first Gears of War for the PC. I prefer my FPS and RTS games on the PC. I have plenty of other options for games, but I'd have liked to play the rest of the Gears series. I'm not going to go buy an Xbox just to do so though (I already have a PS3). I'll just skip the purchase. If MS would port the game to the PC, they'd make a sale.

 

[pw38]

Yes, I'm getting cut off text and pics but then again I'm stuck on IE7 at work. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

 

[aardarf]

Re: the liveblogging, is anyone else getting the posts cut off at the right margin (basically the text is not wrapping)?

Yes I am getting this. Don't remember this last year. You have to highlight the text and scroll right to see whats on the right. Also I'm not sure if the liveblog is updating live, for me, or if I'm gonna have to keep hitting refresh.

Ars, please help!

 

[aardarf]

WHY AREN'T VOICE COMMANDS ON PC, PS3?!
Its not like you need a Kinect for that.

 

[Snarky Robot]

Welp, my "running, gunning, yelling..." comment made it into the liveblog. My work here is done.

 

[overstitch]

Can I have some Halo 4 video nau? *sobs violently* Just a little more... I need more....

 

[aardarf]

Either they're getting better with Kinect recognition or that Fable is gonna be like Star Wars.

 

[pusher robot]

Bing voice search is coming to 12 new countries, including Mexico. He's search for "El planeta de los simios" on the video store. Are you excited yet?

Sheesh, have you asked enough sarcastic questions?

 

[aardarf]

That's a lot of voice coding to have Kinect search for ostrich-on-coed porn. Just sayin'

 

[oogs]

So far this is rather underwhelming. I don't care much for sequels of sequels. I would rather see original quality content & franchises, preferably on the PC as well. I think I'll be playing these games when they hit the bargain bin at my local stores.

 

[Snarky Robot]

I'm excited about ESPN coming to the XBox. Live sports is the only thing I miss from ditching cable (though I did watch the heat/celtics game on my 360 yesterday, which was nice).

There'll be lots of new games as well, but the established franchises is what people expect to hear about. Give the people what they want.

 

[aardarf]

I could see myself using that Nike training thing for exercise, if I had Xbox. Its not gonna sell me a console though.