Thompson on Xbox, Xbox 360, and of things to come

It has been said that history is the memory of things said and done. Those who knew their history, their gaming history at least, would know that Microsoft Corporation used to be in Sony‘s shoes, now with the release of its next-gen console, PlayStation 3.

For those who have forgotten, the original Xbox came out more than one year after the PS2 did. During that time, Microsoft is not quite a force to reckon with in the console market. It’s amusing to see what things can happen in so short a period of time (five years to be quite exact).

Xbox Europe head Neil Thompson remembers these things with vivid clarity. “I’m fairly knackered! I’ve been in it since day one and it’s been an interesting journey,” Thompson reflected. The highest point probably in Xbox’s history is by the end of 2004, the time when the console hit an impressive 20 million units worldwide. Triumphs earned and lessons learned were then carried over to the development of the next-gen console,  Xbox 360.

“The biggest thing that we’ve done that didn’t really exist before we came into the market was the vision that software and services were the way that this industry was going to change,” shared the official. He then went on, “you also have to have a hardware platform that looks appealing and makes people want to show it off in their living rooms. That was something we learnt from Xbox to Xbox 360.”

Aside from those, Thompson also pointed out Microsoft’s ability to connect to its fan base, “We’re the sort of company that innovates constantly, but we’re of a mindset that says we don’t always know all the answers, we have to listen.” Just recently, Microsoft opened its console to the community by releasing a program and letting them create their own games.

Thompson didn’t reveal any next big step for Microsoft. However, he shared that they have always been ready for the PS3, with their war cry being “bring it.” And if this last statement is any indication of things to come, “don’t be second to market,” then the console war has indeed, just begun.

Via GamesIndustry

It has been said that history is the memory of things said and done. Those who knew their history, their gaming history at least, would know that Microsoft Corporation used to be in Sony‘s shoes, now with the release of its next-gen console, PlayStation 3.

For those who have forgotten, the original Xbox came out more than one year after the PS2 did. During that time, Microsoft is not quite a force to reckon with in the console market. It’s amusing to see what things can happen in so short a period of time (five years to be quite exact).

Xbox Europe head Neil Thompson remembers these things with vivid clarity. “I’m fairly knackered! I’ve been in it since day one and it’s been an interesting journey,” Thompson reflected. The highest point probably in Xbox’s history is by the end of 2004, the time when the console hit an impressive 20 million units worldwide. Triumphs earned and lessons learned were then carried over to the development of the next-gen console,  Xbox 360.

“The biggest thing that we’ve done that didn’t really exist before we came into the market was the vision that software and services were the way that this industry was going to change,” shared the official. He then went on, “you also have to have a hardware platform that looks appealing and makes people want to show it off in their living rooms. That was something we learnt from Xbox to Xbox 360.”

Aside from those, Thompson also pointed out Microsoft’s ability to connect to its fan base, “We’re the sort of company that innovates constantly, but we’re of a mindset that says we don’t always know all the answers, we have to listen.” Just recently, Microsoft opened its console to the community by releasing a program and letting them create their own games.

Thompson didn’t reveal any next big step for Microsoft. However, he shared that they have always been ready for the PS3, with their war cry being “bring it.” And if this last statement is any indication of things to come, “don’t be second to market,” then the console war has indeed, just begun.

Via GamesIndustry