Microsoft: "PC Gaming Has Never Been Stronger"

[imported_Tren]

IGN has posted a article in witch the Corporate VP of Microsoft, John Schappert, says the platform has "never been stronger".

While others may speak of the industry being in disarray, Schappert wrote that many leading companies have joined together to make Microsoft Windows the "largest gaming platform in the world."

"These are exciting times for the PC gaming industry. Over the past couple of years, Microsoft Corp. has increased its focus on investment in Windows gaming because we see the incredible growth and opportunities it represents not just for us, but for the industry at large," Schappert wrote.

In addition to the Games for Windows branding, Microsoft is also supporting PC game developers with the XNA Game Studio, a free and easy-to-use development tool for Windows-based PCs. The tool is constantly being updated and is currently on its fifth revision so far.

One major advantage that PC has is that it "is the most connected gaming platform on the planet," wrote Schappert, adding, "These are exciting times. We're proud of how far we've come and excited for what the future holds."

Read the whole article here.

[imported_Whiskey]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

LMAO! Oh, this is too funny. Let me give some background here...

John Schappert (known as "Shappy" by those who worked in the same company) has only been with Microsoft for a short time. Previously, he was the General Manager for EA's Tiburon and EAC (Vancouver) studios for several yrs.

He was the one most directly responsible for the drastic cost-cutting (and subsequent quality-cutting) and deadline pushing that plagued EA for the last several yrs (except for the "Madden" series, which was his baby). He enjoyed intimidating those who reported to him, threatening their jobs if they pushed back against the deadlines/budgets he set...the old "if you can't do it, I'll find someone who will" attitude, instead of listening to their warnings about the state of the product. Everything was "do more with less". He's also the genius that forced many of their dev teams to use technology/engines/tools/etc that they weren't fully familiar with, sometimes after the game had already started to be built.

He was universally despised by almost everyone who worked at those studios. He finally got slapped down by the very highest execs at EA after taking one of the most successful EA studios and putting it into a nose-dive.

He's a grade-A, 100% pure @$$hole, and his word doesn't count for spit. Can't wait to see how he screws up at Microshaft.

[Delta1]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

Schappert said Microsoft's Games for Windows branding initiative has added "prominence, a quality and technical bar, and a consistent look and feel to the retail PC gaming experience." He attributes the million-plus unit sales of Crytek's Crysis and Funcom's Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures under the logo of the Games for Windows brand. The Flagship Studios developed MMO, Hellgate: London, was also released to retailers under the Games for Windows banner. Currently the RPG has over one million active subscribers; something Schappert uses to bolster his claim.



I love PC gaming, but Microsoft should shut the **** up until they do something with Games for Windows. GFW is crap and has done nothing to improve or promote PC gaming. GFW is just a logo on a box.

[ebevan_91]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

hmm perfect time to make BF3 lets hop to it boys!

[generalandrew]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

Was Toronto (EA studios, we're talking about) the one who developed BF: V or was it Vancouver's work?

Either way, I'm glad that PC is finally getting some love with all of this pomp and circumstance surrounding consoles, regardless who's saying it.

Just as long as he doesn't meddle with anything.

[imported_Whiskey]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

Was Toronto (EA studios, we're talking about) the one who developed BF: V or was it Vancouver's work?

It definitely wasn't EAC in Vancouver. It was done by DICE, but I don't know if they had a North American studio location by then, or if they developed all of it in Europe.

[solofowaffles]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

Well of course Microsoft wants to say pc gaming is going great.

[imported_Tren]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

LMAO! Oh, this is too funny. Let me give some background here...

John Schappert (known as "Shappy" by those who worked in the same company) has only been with Microsoft for a short time. Previously, he was the General Manager for EA's Tiburon and EAC (Vancouver) studios for several yrs.

He was the one most directly responsible for the drastic cost-cutting (and subsequent quality-cutting) and deadline pushing that plagued EA for the last several yrs (except for the "Madden" series, which was his baby). He enjoyed intimidating those who reported to him, threatening their jobs if they pushed back against the deadlines/budgets he set...the old "if you can't do it, I'll find someone who will" attitude, instead of listening to their warnings about the state of the product. Everything was "do more with less". He's also the genius that forced many of their dev teams to use technology/engines/tools/etc that they weren't fully familiar with, sometimes after the game had already started to be built.

He was universally despised by almost everyone who worked at those studios. He finally got slapped down by the very highest execs at EA after taking one of the most successful EA studios and putting it into a nose-dive.

He's a grade-A, 100% pure @$$hole, and his word doesn't count for spit. Can't wait to see how he screws up at Microshaft.

:icon_eek:...I kinda feel bad quoting him now.

[JunoPPCLI]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

He wasnt that bad to work under.

[TGN|Agent844]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

hmm perfect time to make BF3 lets hop to it boys!

Damn straight! That is the game I am waiting for next since FFOW flopped. PC gaming is.......... PC gaming. I dont think its on the rise or decline at this point, just going along as it always does. And nice job on the games they hyped to claim pc gaming has never been stronger: Crysis = graphics hog, Age of Conan = Good, but not ready for release as they fix bugs and implement changes weekly (Should be awesome over time though :)) and Hellgate London = ........ uhhhhh what? Your using Hellgate London as basis that PC Gaming has never been stronger, that right there scares me!

[FPS[SONIC]]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming Has Never Been Stronger"

So far, this is one of the best threads I've read in weeks!


.

[iQue]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

It definitely wasn't EAC in Vancouver. It was done by DICE, but I don't know if they had a North American studio location by then, or if they developed all of it in Europe.

BF:V was mostly made by DICE's Canadian Studio that has been discontinued for a while now (if my memory serves me right). Dunno where it was though.

[Wizrdwarts]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

Games for Windows is BS. The only thing I like is that they require widescreen, but I guess DICE hasn't felt much pressure, since they waited until 2 years to release widescreen support for 2142, and I think BF2 still doesn't support it.

Well of course Microsoft wants to say pc gaming is going great.

Well MS does own the Xbox, unlike Nvidia who just said PC was doing great, they only make the GPUs for the PS3.

[imported_Will]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

hmm perfect time to make BF3 lets hop to it boys!

BF3 is going to be on vista (Oh so i heard) And I
Wheres Team Fortress 3? HL2 Ep 3? And has anyone herd of hl3 yet?

[imported_Whiskey]

Re: Microsoft: "PC Gaming has never been stronger"

BF3 is going to be on vista (Oh so i heard)

Hardly any info at all has been released on BF3, except possibly a leaked memo about early feature suggestions. And anything in it should be taken with a ton of salt and not considered reliable at this point.

Anything is possible of course, but for EA to maximize their $$$ (which is one thing they do pay attention to), they would not make it Vista-only with so many people still resisting it, and announcements that Microshaft is already working on Vista's replacement. I'd put money against it being Vista-only.

TF2 hasn't even been out for a year yet, and Valve doesn't crank out cookie-cutter games in a year, so it'll probably be quite some time before we hear anything about TF3.