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How Microsoft Tried To Buy Nintendo

Posted by timothy on from the with-clams-dough-bread-and-smackers dept.

An anonymous reader submits: "A new book, Opening the Xbox: Inside Microsoft's Plan to Unleash an Entertainment Revolution discusses Microsoft's plans to buy Nintendo for $25 billion in late 1999. By January 2000 however, talks dissolved and each company went their seperate way. Makes you wonder how the home entertainment industry would be different if they had gone through with it. Stories are at Gamers and Cube Europe."

1 of 286 comments (clear)

  1. Xbox is in trouble by Bethor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think Microsoft will never be a big player in the videogame industry, regardless of how much money they pour into it.
    They need to dominate both the American and Japanese markets to stand a chance.
    Here are some of the things that will stop them:

    - Most important video game developers are Japanese. Those companies have strong relationships with Sony and/or Nintendo. You simply can't buy your way into a closed industry in Japan. I know, I work there.
    - Culture clash. Japanese gamers don't like the Xbox. It's big, ugly and all the exclusive games are very American.
    - Microsoft has absolutely no way to force anyone to buy an Xbox. Their Windows/Office tactics don't apply here.
    - MS actually looses money on each Xbox they sell. If they don't have a big market share a couple years from now (and they wont), they will NOT keep trying. Not even M$ can afford to do this.

    If I was Microsoft, I would make Xbox2 run PC games directly. No porting needed whatsoever.

    Cheers.