Microsoft Killed PC/Xbox Cross-Platform Play Because...

[michael iz pro]

Microsoft Killed a Killer Projecthttp://www.thegamersblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/console_vs_pc1.jpg http://static.myce.com/images_posts/2010/07/Windows_vs_xbox-gaming.jpg

I never thought I would be more disappointed in the industry then when Microsoft killed Ensemble Studios. ..however nothing surprises me anymore

Rumor has it that there was a project many many months ago at Microsoft that was under wraps. The goal was to bridge XBOX gamers with PC Gamers so they could play against one another in games like Unreal, or Gears of War. This was all part of their Live strategy, and had Microsoft just stuck to their guns and made it work PC Gaming might be in a much better position than it is today.

Not to say that PC Gaming is in a bad position, but it's not like it used to be. The PC is shifting, as I've said many times over the last couple of years. The need for multiple high performance graphics cards is all but dead. You can play any PC Game on an HP Envy at high resolution with high detail, for example. PCs are becoming more mobile, form factors are shifting, touch is being embraced as well as other technologies. The word "PC" is dead, but the concept of personal computing isn't. ..but this isn't the point.

There was a project that got killed at Microsoft. This project was designed to allow console gamers and PC gamers to interact and battle over a connected environment. Personally I wish it would have stayed the course. I've heard from reliable sources that during the development they brought together the best console gamers to play mediocre PC gamers at the same game... and guess what happened? They pitted console gamers with their "console" controller, against PC gamers with their keyboard and mouse.

The console players got destroyed every time. So much so that it would be embarrassing to the XBOX team in general had Microsoft launched this initiative. Is this why the project was killed Who knows, but I'd love to hear from anyone involved --- what happened?

Those of us who have been in the gaming business for over a decade know the real deal. You simply don't get the same level of detail or control as you do with a PC over a console. It's a real shame that Microsoft killed this -- because had they kept it alive it might have actually increased the desire of game developers and gamers alike to continue developing and playing rich experiences on the PC which would trickle down to the console as it has in the past.

Instead they wanted to keep an old business model alive, and as a result they are (all) getting attacked by the most unlikely competitor.. Apple.

..had they allowed something like this to take place then perhaps the desire to have the best platform would still be there. Perhaps the scale of the PC would have allowed Microsoft to get away from the hardware business and focus on their core, software. Perhaps we could have finally integrated the XBOX into the PC...

Perhaps not, all of this is over now, there is no looking back.

The Future of Game Development

Game developers follow the money. This isn't a labor of love.

Yes, this industry has changed. While not all the big publishers are struggling to keep up with their growth, most are. The "app machine" allows little companies develop great content from their basements and remain incredibly profitable. Remember GOD Games (Gathering of Developers)? Seems like the concept was way ahead of its time.

While gaming seems to be shifting away from large rich productions to independent app developers and less immersive titles, the audience is growing. More people are playing games. The sad thing is these people don't know what they're missing.

There is light at the end of the tunnel though. If developers can start taking advantage of *all* the hardware on our devices and build compelling titles that get the user excited - they will be featured - and you will likely become very rich very quickly.

Hardware is becoming smaller, lighter, portable, and more feature rich. The content is become less detailed, but the experience involves multiple senses. The audience for games has never been larger. ...but only the great titles will stand out in a soon to be highly competitive environment.

So I'm calling out to all game developers. It's time you followed the money and looked to the future. Opportunity is in scale. webOS will have tremendous scale and reach.

You might even think about developing titles exclusively for webOS in the future, but for now perhaps you should look at taking some of your best titles - and don't think port - think about taking full advantage of our hardware, cameras, sensors, etc. The possibilities are endless - and while it may take time for new devices to start showing up, you can rest assured that the wait will be worth it.

I guess what I'm saying is rather than trying to stand out in a store with millions of apps in front of you, it's probably a good time to get in while the getting is good on the ground floor. Feel free to contact me personally, and I will make sure to hook it up internally.

Original Post

[gruntmods]

Apple is LOSING mac sales. The reason Microsoft is pissed is because they were smart and captured a new market. Smartphones and Mp3 players. The article is full of so much BS I can hardly read it. Developers hate PCs and almost anything released on it is a port of a console version. An Xbox is a locked hardware platform that is easy to develop for because everyone has the same core hardware, with only minor variations such as no hdd etc. Cross platform play IS possible but all the games that have it suck(shadow run anyone?). Microsoft closed ensemble because they didn't feel they could sustain it anymore. They knew that breaking it down is better for business(Thus the new Robot Entertainment). portable gaming is uncomfortable except on devices like Ipod touch where the games are much simpler.

[Randomrocket]

I think Frontlines and Team Fortress 2 is cross compatible. Not sure.

 

Frontlines is a really fun game for the Xbox. I played a game the other day that had 65 people in it and I couldnt see any lag at all.

[nielsss]

I agree to some point but the reason i prefer xbox gaming is becuase most people have the same controller so its a fair game (with the exceptions of modding and cheating). However with pc everyone has different keyboards/mouse. And some people have crappy pc's where they lag out the game. As with consoles everyone has the the same performance with exception of the internet speed which also affects pc anyway. Im not sure if you get my point but in the end when gaming on the xbox everyone has pretty much the same controller and has a mic for tactical planning (and of course shit-talking).

 

That's all.

 

PS LLLLLLEEEEROOOOY JENKINS... Just felt like saying that..um typing that.

[Randomrocket]

I agree to some point but the reason i prefer xbox gaming is becuase most people have the same controller so its a fair game (with the exceptions of modding and cheating). However with pc everyone has different keyboards/mouse. And some people have crappy pc's where they lag out the game. As with consoles everyone has the the same performance with exception of the internet speed which also affects pc anyway. Im not sure if you get my point but in the end when gaming on the xbox everyone has pretty much the same controller and has a mic for tactical planning (and of course shit-talking).

 

That's all.

 

PS LLLLLLEEEEROOOOY JENKINS... Just felt like saying that..um typing that.

But the xbox has never been good at RTS games. C&C3 was like the best one in my opinion and it wasnt that great. When you have a keyboard with like a million buttons and a mouse, RTS games become much more fun because there are so many shortcut keys and stuff.

[nielsss]

But the xbox has never been good at RTS games. C&C3 was like the best one in my opinion and it wasnt that great. When you have a keyboard with like a million buttons and a mouse, RTS games become much more fun because there are so many shortcut keys and stuff.

 

Very good point, I do agree with that. however I prefer FPS games on consoles, I prefer FPS games anyway. However games like C&C have to placed on pc..You just need a mouse for that. But then again XCM make adapters for mouse a keyboard support on the xbox...maybe M$ should think of making a official one.

[Randomrocket]

Very good point, I do agree with that. however I prefer FPS games on consoles, I prefer FPS games anyway. However games like C&C have to placed on pc..You just need a mouse for that. But then again XCM make adapters for mouse a keyboard support on the xbox...maybe M$ should think of making a official one.

 

Yeah a couple of my friends thought it was funny that I use a xbox controller when I play fps games on my PC. But the thing is I hate using a mouse in fps games. You cant do a 360 without having to jerk the mouse then pick it up and slide it again. "Oh change your sensitivity" yeah I tried that and I couldnt snipe to save my life because if the mouse barely moved (or thought it moved) it screwed up my shot.

 

But a mouse and keyboard for the 360 would be really cool. The keyboard already works (I use it for sending messages and stuff) but there isnt an xbox game that uses the mouse yet.

[michael iz pro]

Yeah a couple of my friends thought it was funny that I use a xbox controller when I play fps games on my PC.

 

But a Mouse and keyboard for the 360 would be really cool. The keyboard already works (I use it for sending messages and stuff) but there isnt an xbox game that uses the Mouse yet.

 

We Dont Need A Mouse We Have Kinect lol

[gruntmods]

We Dont Need A Mouse We Have Kinect lol

I liked the simple play style of halo wars, and I hear civilization revolution works well.

[michael iz pro]

I liked the simple play style of halo wars, and I hear civilization revolution works well.

 

Halo:Wars Will Never Be inserted into my Disc Tray lol

 

If they dont make Halo:3 compatible with Kinect Then

 

Someone On a J-TAG or Dev-Kit should make a mini game for just swords lol

 

Homebrew FTW

[Randomrocket]

Halo:Wars Will Never Be inserted into my Disc Tray lol

 

If they dont make Halo:3 compatible with Kinect Then

 

Someone On a J-TAG or Dev-Kit should make a mini game for just swords lol

 

Homebrew FTW

How would an FPS work with kinect?? It would have to be like Starfox or something becuase the second you see a guy on your radar behind you, you're either going to be dead or blind. You cant turn around and still see the TV dude.

[Lockon]

We Dont Need A Mouse We Have Kinect lol

 

Nothing new xD Webcams can do as much as the new technology called 'Kinect' and sony did it 11 years ago.

[gruntmods]

Nothing new xD Webcams can do as much as the new technology called 'Kinect' and sony did it 11 years ago.

not really, eyetoy is way worse then kinect.

[Randomrocket]

Yeah Kinect isnt really cameras. Its like infra-red or soemthing. idk. There would have to be two of them also or how else would it know the depth of field?

[gruntmods]

Yeah Kinect isnt really cameras. Its like infra-red or soemthing. idk. There would have to be two of them also or how else would it know the depth of field?

http://tinyurl.com/2aaf777

[michael iz pro]

gruntmods[/color]' timestamp='1281823481' post='122711']

http://tinyurl.com/2aaf777

 

 

Kinect Downgraded To Save Money, Can't Read Sign Language <<< Read That

 

 

 

Look At These

 

http://1.2.3.13/bmi/www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/08/kinect08072010.jpg

 

Randomrocket is right

 

Only the middle is a RGB Camera

Edited August 15, 2010 by michael iz pro

[iBotPeaches]

There is a depth camera.

 

Sensor

Colour and depth-sensing lenses

Voice microphone array

Tilt motor for sensor adjustment

Fully compatible with existing Xbox 360 consoles

Field of View

Horizontal field of view: 57 degrees

Vertical field of view: 43 degrees

Physical tilt range: ± 27 degrees

Depth sensor range: 1.2m - 3.5m

Data Streams

320x240 16-bit depth @ 30 frames/sec

640x480 32-bit colour@ 30 frames/sec

16-bit audio @ 16 kHz

Skeletal Tracking System

Tracks up to 6 people, including 2 active players

Tracks 20 joints per active player

Ability to map active players to Live Avatars

Audio System

Live party chat and in-game voice chat (requires Xbox Live Gold Membership)

Echo cancellation system enhances voice input

Speech recognition in multiple

[gruntmods]

Kinect Downgraded To Save Money, Can't Read Sign Language <<< Read That

 

 

 

Look At These

 

http://1.2.3.13/bmi/www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/08/kinect08072010.jpg

 

Randomrocket is right

 

Only the middle is a RGB Camera

i didnt expect it to read sign language

[michael iz pro]

i didnt expect it to read sign language

 

lol i only added that to just state if you think Kinect is lame and just a bunch of camera's then read that it could of been better but they downgraded their hardware =(

 

and to think somewhere i read that kinect will be used for computers

[DarkRuler]

 

There was a project that got killed at Microsoft. This project was designed to allow console gamers and PC gamers to interact and battle over a connected environment. Personally I wish it would have stayed the course. I've heard from reliable sources that during the development they brought together the best console gamers to play mediocre PC gamers at the same game... and guess what happened? They pitted console gamers with their "console" controller, against PC gamers with their keyboard and mouse.

 

The console players got destroyed every time. So much so that it would be embarrassing to the XBOX team in general had Microsoft launched this initiative. Is this why the project was killed Who knows, but I'd love to hear from anyone involved --- what happened?

 

 

There actually has been ONE good cross-platform game on the 360/PC

 

If I remember correctly (the game came out before H3 in '07, the company that made it, FASA, went out of business and Smith and Tinker bought all the IPs from FASA) Bungie helped with part of the game and most people who played it enjoyed the game

 

There was never any dlc and the only downfall the game had was that it was only multiplayer and lacked many "new" things

 

If you haven't realized what game Im talking about yet then this it is: Shadowrun

 

The game basically was "counter-strike with magic" it had so many different ways of playing that you never really played the same game twice with teleporting, gust, smoke, wired reflexes, glider and many other magics and tech that you could "buy" using the money you get from killing people

 

------------------------------------

 

but there was a balance between PC and 360 on that game which means it can be done for other games because it already has been done

Edited August 15, 2010 by DarkRuler

[.Slack♠]

shadowrun was fantastic in fact i spent hours just playing the demo.

[gruntmods]

shadowrun was fantastic in fact i spent hours just playing the demo.

Apparently its been unplayable since 2008.

[DarkRuler]

Apparently its been unplayable since 2008.

 

 

no, its still playable

 

the servers for both the game and demo are still up

[Randomrocket]

Kinect Downgraded To Save Money, Can't Read Sign Language <<< Read That

 

 

 

Look At These

 

http://1.2.3.13/bmi/www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/08/kinect08072010.jpg

 

Randomrocket is right

 

Only the middle is a RGB Camera

thank you