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Originally Posted by chemgear
Hardly gospel sir. As I specifically mentioned, certainly some of the things he mentions I do not agree with but I suggest that he does make some good points and outlines what has happened with the various studios under the Microsoft umbrella over the last decade.
You're right, I personally find that Microsoft these days seem to be "acquiring" exclusives in money deals rather than the competitors who seem to be investing in IP and development studios. For example, we have the recent Tomb Raider where we know the game was originally multiplatform and already well into development. Microsoft hands over money to keep it away from other consoles. On the other hand, you have Nintendo who invest into Bayonetta 2 which never would have been made without their contribution so now people can actually play it. Both are exclusives and involve money but one brings new games and ideas to the market and the other keeps it away from consumers.
Now that is absolutely picking specific examples but it seems like that is the route we seem to be seeing from them. At least in my opinion and much of the gaming forums these days. Perhaps you disagree; that's cool.
As for the half billion the Microsoft gave to the NFL, do we know what that is bringing to us that have an Xbone and a 360? More than the app? As a fantasy football player and NFL watcher I'd like to know more with the preseason already starting - perhaps I've not informed myself and missed out on their announcements.
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Its a different business strategy. Xbox is a platform, not a developer. And as a platform, they should do what they can to bring content to their users. To the end user I'm not sure why it matters if an MS first party developed the game, a third party, an acquired party, or anyone else. Just get me the content. In some ways it seems like a way better business strategy to me to go out and acquire studios who know what they're doing and have good ideas rather than to take the risk to develop your own studios. As long as they do come up with content based on good ideas, I'm not sure I care where it comes from.
As for the exclusives, I'm not sure how its all that different from what we've seen before in the industry. I'd like to know if No Man's Sky is coming to Xbox. I don't have an answer. I suppose I should go on a crazy rant about Sony's business practices?
And the NFL deal I don't know exactly what's a part of it, but saying that they paid $400 million for a fantasy app, is just an outlandish comment. Who knows if the deal extends further than the Xbox product line and into other advertising arrangements between the two parties. As a guy who just plays games once in a while and wasn't involved in the deal, I am not qualified to answer to all of the details of that business transaction. I would suggest neither are most of the internet warriors who tend to know how MS should operate.