Author Topic: Microsoft and GDC (Read 15521 times)

GoldenPhoenix · « **on:** March 09, 2007, 02:58:06 PM »

For the heck of it I thought I would share what my mentor within Microsoft shared with me regarding GDC when I asked why even MS didn't reveal much. He basically told me that GDC is for the developers, it is a place to talk with various people, share ideas, and hopefully get connected with publishers (or in Microsofts case, looking for developers for good ideas). GDC is not considered by Microsoft to be an important public event but more for the insiders of the gaming world, mainly developers to share their experiences and possibly show off a few newer builds of their games. He also stated that the important shows are ones like E3 or GC, which are focused toward the consumer through various forms of media.

So for those that thought that Sony destroyed NIntendo, it will most likely not matter because GDC is quite minor. In fact you could probably argue Sony should have kept their new information to themselves and released it in a more consumer focused event like E3 (even with its reduction in size, it still is a big media area). Really I think GDC is harder to judge than what was unveiled, instead the "winner" would have taken full benefit it when it came to negotiating and learning about people in the development community, along with new ideas, not what neat feature that Sony/MS/Nintendo can release.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2007, 03:19:46 PM »

I keep forgetting you have ties with the enemy...

But yeah, I don't think it matters much in the grand scheme of things. I still want Sony to gain some ground back to compete with MS.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2007, 03:45:59 PM »

I can be a mentor too

vudu · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2007, 06:06:49 AM »

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Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
GDC is not considered by Microsoft to be an important public event but more for the insiders of the gaming world, mainly developers to share their experiences and possibly show off a few newer builds of their games. He also stated that the important shows are ones like E3 or GC, which are focused toward the consumer through various forms of media.

Are you sure it's not because they had nothing new worth mentioning?

Bloodworth · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2007, 07:11:44 AM »

Most of the press outlets are there, so whatever they announce is going to get covered. I think it's simply a missed opportunity for Microsoft.

Kairon · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2007, 07:15:10 AM »

MS is in a good position anyways with developers, especially with XNA and XBLA. I don't think this is too damaging either way.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2007, 09:10:39 AM »

Actually if I recall in the past GDC has never been anything big, it is actually quite minor compared to things like E3, GC, or TGS.

segagamer12 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2007, 09:59:12 AM »

nothing big!? Halo 3 BETA is supposed to launch THIS SPRING, giving us an exact date would be HUGE. not just for them but for Sony and Nintendo also. So I can see why thier keeping it secret in a way. Not a huge Halo fan but that's all I hear about day in and day out around here. I don't care for MS that much either but they do have enough games (finally) that aren't PC games also that I am starting to consider getting one. Plus Ill play Halo online with my friends cuz at least its fun then.

Pittbboi · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2007, 10:30:52 AM »

I agree with Bloodworth: it was a missed opportunity.

People like to say the GDC is just for developers to shoot the sh*t with each other, but that is only true in theory. The reality is if it was purely a conference for developers, the media wouldn't have been nearly as present as they were, or present at all; Chris Hecker would have been able to say whatever he wanted about the Wii without having to be forced to apologize to an angry public; Sony's announcements wouldn't have done a thing to repair their public image with the PS3.

The GDC might not be the grand event that the E3 of yore was (R.I.P.), but with media there and actively reporting its still very much a public affair. In fact, when you look at it, the GDC and E3 are pretty much the same except E3 focused more on the "Expo" while GDC focused more on the "Conference". But they're both composed of the same parts, especially now that E3's been downsized.

Microsoft can say that showing new products wasn't the point of GDC, and to a certain degree that's a valid excuse. But they can't dismiss the idea that if they had presented more of a showing it would have been just as received, publicly, as anything they'd shown at E3. Sony knew that, and capitalized on it.

(in fact, now that I think about it, when the gaming community first found out that E3 would be downsized, wasn't the one consistent argument used to rationalize it the idea that developers would now be forced/encouraged to release big news at smaller events more frequently throughout the year, instead of saving it all for E3? What happened to that idea?)

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2007, 10:34:43 AM »

Of course Pittbboi and Bloodworth would know more about the focus of an event than the companies involved. I'm sorry but Sony's image is still tainted in the overall public eye, what was revealed at GDC is not going to impact the public at large, just people who followed an event that was never about big announcements.

IceCold · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2007, 10:36:17 AM »

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(in fact, now that I think about it, when the gaming community first found out that E3 would be downsized, wasn't the one consistent argument used to rationalize it the idea that developers would now be forced/encouraged to release big news at smaller events more frequently throughout the year instead of saving it all for E3? What happened to that idea?)

I think the game announcements and big news will still be there at the new E3 - the conferences will still probably be the same. The only difference is that it won't be open to as many people..

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2007, 10:41:16 AM »

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Originally posted by: IceCold
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(in fact, now that I think about it, when the gaming community first found out that E3 would be downsized, wasn't the one consistent argument used to rationalize it the idea that developers would now be forced/encouraged to release big news at smaller events more frequently throughout the year instead of saving it all for E3? What happened to that idea?)
I think the game announcements and big news will still be there at the new E3 - the conferences will still probably be the same. The only difference is that it won't be open to as many people..

I think you are right, Microsoft considers E3 to still be the even to release big news because it is more of a consumer event, than the DEVELOPERS conference. GDC will be forgotten to anyone outside of developers like it is every year, regardless of what some people want to think.

Pittbboi · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2007, 10:49:58 AM »

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Of course Pittbboi and Bloodworth would know more about the focus of an event than the companies involved. I'm sorry but Sony's image is still tainted in the overall public eye, what was revealed at GDC is not going to impact the public at large, just people who followed an event that was never about big announcements.

Of course Sony's image is still tainted, no one event is going to change that. But one thing Sony was smart about--ugh, I'm not used to saying much good about Sony--was using the GDC to hit the brakes on PS3's downhill plummet. Now people will actually care about what they could possibly show at E3.

And while the GDC doesn't impact the public at large, neither did the old E3. Even at it's height of popularity, E3 was still an event that was followed mainly by gaming media. Heck, I'm from LA, and the only non-gaming media attention I can recall E3 getting was a little 10 o'clock news blurb explaining why the dorks were out in full force in the Downtown area. The GDC didn't get as much coverage because it was a smaller event, but it still got the same kind of coverage. Especially now with the downsized E3. I mean, how many websites, this year, were reporting the GDC in real time? That's treatment usually reserved for E3.

EDIT:
The GDC this year won't be remembered in MS and Nintendo's camp because they didn't reveal much. But that was their choice (Well, I'll give it to Nintendo that it wasn't so much their choice), and disinterest will be the result. But for Sony, especially due to LittleBigPlanet, people will remember this GDC. I wouldn't be surprised if next year's GDC was a bigger affair.

Jin-X · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2007, 03:32:01 PM »

Its not that you're not allowed to say anything nice about Sony, its that you WAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY blew out of proportion what Sony did when you said stuff like "they came out with their pimp hand strong" and "were showing up Nintendo".

I thought Sony had dropped some Megaton or something when I read that. The biggest thing Sony could do is a big price drop since that is by far the thing that killed them before the thing ever came out. They didn't throw money hats at Konami to ensure MGS 4 or FF13 or RE5 exclusivity. Hell a playable demo of MGS 4 would have been a bigger deal than what they did, it could re-energize the "wait till X game comes out crowd" (not that it matters at that price).

But all they did was not act retarded and announce a couple of nice things, for some people to react this way to these announcements shows how much they have fallen. Imagine if after the infamous E3 where the GC needed something to save it and they came out with the Pac-Man + GBA connection thing, people would have been saying "Nintendo layed the smack down on MS and Sony".

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2007, 03:39:47 PM »

I actually thought Nintendo had the most fascinating show with all the speakers they had and what was talked about. You learned alot about how to approach game design, in addition to some of the hurdles along with ways to get around them. It seems to me that many developers, most likely the smaller ones, gained some useful information when it comes to their projects.

Pittbboi · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2007, 04:12:31 PM »

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Its not that you're not allowed to say anything nice about Sony, its that you WAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY blew out of proportion what Sony did when you said stuff like "they came out with their pimp hand strong" and "were showing up Nintendo".

What does this have to do with anything? And I didn't say Sony was showing up Nintendo, for the last time. I stand by what I said: in my opinion Sony had the most interesting program at the GDC.

And I would say, and so would many others, that Sony did a little more than just "not screw up". Heck, LittleBigPlanet is being hailed by a few people as one of the most innovative new titles to be announced this year.

But why are we talking about this? This topic is about Microsoft's poor showing.

Kairon · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2007, 04:18:12 PM »

No they didn't. The FIGHTING OTHER PEOPLE WITH YOUR MIND game on the show floor was the most interesting program at GDC. Seriously... you like... concentrated... and the stuff would MOVE IN THE GAME!!!! ZOMG!

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2007, 04:21:55 PM »

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Originally posted by: Pittbboi
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Its not that you're not allowed to say anything nice about Sony, its that you WAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY blew out of proportion what Sony did when you said stuff like "they came out with their pimp hand strong" and "were showing up Nintendo".

What does this have to do with anything? And I didn't say Sony was showing up Nintendo, for the last time. I stand by what I said: in my opinion Sony had the most interesting program at the GDC.

And I would say, and so would many others, that Sony did a little more than just "not screw up". Heck, LittleBigPlanet is being hailed by a few people as one of the most innovative new titles to be announced this year.

But why are we talking about this? This topic is about Microsoft's poor showing.

Microsoft made alot of connections through the show, that is a GOOD showing for the GDC. Heaven forbid companies like Nintendo and MIcrosoft actually utilize the developers conference to make connections with developers and share game design experiences instead of trying to "steal" a non-commercial focused show with a poor man's second life and some game that could turn out to be garbage in the end, with only a quick demo to show off the pretty lights.

Kairon · « **Reply #18 on:** March 12, 2007, 04:27:01 PM »

GoldenPhoenix, don't start bad-mouthing Little Big Planet before we have more information about it, especially if you're gonna do it just to make Sony look bad and MS or Nintendo better. We can be a little more ... nice... about this can't we? This stuff suits GameFaqs flame wars but not NWR and us, I'd like to think.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Pittbboi · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2007, 06:19:40 PM »

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"steal" a non-commercial focused show with a poor man's second life and some game that could turn out to be garbage in the end, with only a quick demo to show off the pretty lights.

Oh come on, this just smacks of dissing games purely because they're not appearing on your favorite console. LittleBigPlanet has swayed even the most hardcore MS and Nintendo fans, the trailer and info released on the title looks that darn good. Of course there's a chance LittleBigPlanet could suck, but on that same token there's a chance Mario Galaxy could suck. Give credit where it's due, from just about everything I read from people who were there, LittleBigPlanet stole the show...as far as game announcements go, anyway. Whether or not it's SOOO good that it warrants purchasing a PS3 remains to be seen. But I already know people who are prepared to, and that says something.

And I'm sure Sony made use of the conference just like everyone else did. They just went an extra step and made use of their keynote, too.

Mario · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2007, 06:24:47 PM »

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Whether or not it's SOOO good that it warrants purchasing a PS3 remains to be seen. But I already know people who are prepared to, and that says something.

It says you are a liar.

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Of course there's a chance LittleBigPlanet could suck, but on that same token there's a chance Mario Galaxy could suck.

No

This thread is funny, I hope someone bumps it in a few months. Actually, I doubt anyone will remember, that's how insignificant GDC "announcements" are.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2007, 06:30:45 PM »

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Originally posted by: Kairon
GoldenPhoenix, don't start bad-mouthing Little Big Planet before we have more information about it, especially if you're gonna do it just to make Sony look bad and MS or Nintendo better. We can be a little more ... nice... about this can't we? This stuff suits GameFaqs flame wars but not NWR and us, I'd like to think.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

I'm sorry but I have no faith in Sony to develop games, and I fail to see how people can get pumped for a Sony game, especially by an independent developer (or maybe not so anymore) with no proven track record. It is also ridiculous to compare LBP with Mario Galaxy in potential quality, one is made by a company with a hit and miss track record, while another is being handled by one of the most talented and proven designers around, Miyamoto. Personally I think more people are impressed by LBP by its visuals more than anything, and I admit I was too, but then was thinking "OK so it has nice physics and grahics, what is there?". We know it will have a customizable world that you can share, that is great, but um how deep is it? Wait, we don't know that, so I fail to see how you can get excited about it. At least with games like Mario Galaxy you know how the gameplay will function instead of a trailer that may or may not be mocked up.

What I find especially odd is Pittbboi is so enamored with the Sony yet isn't considering getting one. Actually believe it or not in a year I'll probably get a PS3, as I've gotten every single console in ever generation since the SNES days. I'm a gamer and I enjoy games for all systems, and I'm saying color me unimpressed with LBP until I know more about it than a snazzy trailer that didn't tell us much.

Kairon: I thought this was a flame zone? Heck Pro flamed me in the No More Heroes thread and no one defended me. But don't you DARE question the quality of a Sony game or the significance of Sony's showing, because that is flaming. Or better yet don't question the quality of games that have a cult following, because you will get insulted for not "understanding" them.

Mario · « **Reply #22 on:** March 12, 2007, 06:34:16 PM »

The same thing happened with Formula One PS3, Sony have made about a million incredibly crappy F1 games in the past, yet people somehow still expected the PS3 one to be good because it had individual rain particles.

I'm still laughing at the suggestion any person would pay $600 for Little Big Planet. It looks great, and it also looks like I can get enough enjoyment out of it by just watching the trailer.

Pittbboi · « **Reply #23 on:** March 12, 2007, 06:51:28 PM »

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It says you are a liar.

Oh yeah, of COURSE I'm lying. I can't POSSIBLY know a person interested in purchasing a PS3 for the possibility of LittleBigPlanet. I also couldn't have POSSIBLY read a Penny-Arcade comic illustrating that exact idea. No, I'm making all of this up--you caught me!

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What I find especially odd is Pittbboi is so enamored with the Sony yet isn't considering getting one.

Who says I'm not considering getting one? As a matter of fact, I've said several times that I'm eventually going to have to buy a PS3 if Squeenix doesn't get a clue and port FFXIII to the 360. Personally, I think LBP looked stunning, and from the looks of it has more of a chance of being a great game than being a bad one--which is the conclusion you seem to have jumped on. Whether or not it's a system seller remains to be seen--but there are quite a few people in the industry who seem to think it will be. But I agree it's too early to tell, I'm just not going to go as far as you and claim that the game has more of a chance of sucking.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #24 on:** March 12, 2007, 06:54:44 PM »

I'm just going by Sony's trackrecord and it being developed by an independent company. I've seen far too many games that looked unique from trailers then turned out to be nothing more than a technical demo (usually visual above everything else).

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Author Topic: Microsoft and GDC (Read 15521 times)