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MS Portable Not A Game Player?
Though Microsoft's 'Argo' (now known to be bearing the name 'Zune') is most assuredly a shot at the iPod, it may not be going after the handheld gaming market. Gamespot explores rumours stating that the 'Zune' is simply a first step on Microsoft's road into that particular sector of the games industry. From the article: "The Zune could also just be the first step towards something bigger. People are already speculating about Xbox 360 integration with the device, beginning with streaming audio, like the iPod currently does. But add a few buttons, a thumbstick, and a little more horsepower, and the Zune could soon be singing gamers' tunes." I'd imagine we'll see some simple Xbox Live Arcade style games, which will impact your Xbox gamertag via Live Anywhere. With Vista pushed out to January, they've got to have something to show this Christmas.
They have spare engineers for this, but they can not finish Vista?
I can zee zat Microsoft iz actually tryink to push zis player out ze door. Just look at ze new name.
Coming zune iz ze new Zune!
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Probably would also require some ergonomic reworking of its case and such.
So in other words, if you completely change the Zune, it would be perfect for video games! Woohoo! PSP and DS killer, HERE WE COME!
30 days hath September, Argo, Zune, and November.
All the rest might be released sometime in the next century.
(Except for DNForever, which will never make it).
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Dear Microsoft:
Make an MP3 player with a slick interface that plays Xbox Live Arcade games and has public development kits for homebrew. I'll buy 2.
Haven't you heard? Ridiculous system names are the new In. Except Sony to rename their new console to the Playstation Wii ..
Weren't we all amazingly shocked that Origami wasn't a portable game player, even tho they never said it was? Now we're all shocked that this thing isn't a game player, even though they never said it was? Are we really waiting for their first game player -that- -much- that we keep jumping the gun on it?
Those who believe the Internet is private,
find their privates are on the Internet.
They also seem to be embracing Nintendo for this generation, but not just the Wii, but the DS as well. They're letting Rare develop games for the system, which would be unheard of if they were planning their own system.
Still, I don't see how they plan on offering a "better iPod." The iPod succeeds due to simplicity, and having a system that "will always work" with iTunes. Not supporting dozens of different configurations and media organization tools. I wish the iPod would support more formats both for video and audio, but at least the target formats are relatively simple and straightforward for most people to understand -- not "set VBR off and max resolution to less than 480x352 with trellis quantization turned on for best results" or other lingo-riddled instructions. Quicktime has an option "Save for iPod" that works, and even I'm pleased with the results.
microsoft has this problem, see. too much hard cash laying around, not enough to do with it. so they invent ways to blow it. except they don't invent at all - they merely copy what everyone else is doing, only throw a huge budget at it the first and often the 2nd generation, just to play catch-up with the originators.
this poses the problem of market saturation - too many devices from too many companies. consumer dollars are spread too thin, and even the originators have a tough time justifying throwing money at surprising and untried ideas. result of course is a slower rate of innovation. the technology improves, but the application of it doesn't keep pace. i'm sure there are a wealth of new devices or integrated multifunctions that could come about if companies felt less concern that they would simply be copied and the market flooded, vastly reducing the returns on the creator's original product.
then again, isn't that the point of capitalism? to balance the economic power of companies by discouraging monopoly, and fostering competition? and in the process, building a social meritocracy, where the most deserving and useful members of society are aptly rewarded. as a firm capitalist, i find it almost amusing that microsoft was prosecuted for monopoly abuse, but is a company which most firmly represents the capitalist ideal of active competitiveness, and proper incentive provided to the employee.
i must qualify the above statements by saying that i work in an all-windows noc with a vpn that spans north america, india, and soon asia and north africa. and surprisingly, most things work decently. we do have 9 sun machines and the 5 linux phone switches (eOns n such), but am not personally a microsoft user.
From the fires of Mount Doom, are you telling me that's this is not the one gadget to rule all gadgets?! No wonder everyone wants to throw it back in.
What we're looking at is the beginning of a new product line. We all know how Microsoft does things -- piece by piece.
This round it's more likely than not that we'll get a very high profile, seriously marketed, media player with a few minor games and the potential for expandability within their overall product line and future focus.
Microsoft really wants focus to be on the 360 this year. They have a major battle to win, and diluting their own market would be a serious mistake. I expect it will be mid-way through this console generation that we'll see them making serious portable gaming moves.
Many of us drew the same conclusions as this article, days ago.
it's a computer!
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I'll still use my old trusty Tapwave Zodiac II for my combo music/gaming handheld. Even if there aren't going to be any new games for it anymore, it still plays music great, I can surf the web with it, IM, play games, and whatever else I feel like doing with it without having to hack the crap out of it to do so.