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Microsoft 'Refocusing on Fun', Alien Hominid Comes to XBLA

Posted by Zonk on from the what-were-they-focusing-on-before dept.

C&VG offers up some news on Microsoft's next-gen games platform today. Most interesting are comments from Peter Moore indicating the company will be refocusing on fun, inspired by the financial and mass-market success of Nintendo's Wii. Says Moore "From a first-party point of view, it's not just about E-rated games, it's going to be about the experience that, quite frankly, Nintendo has done a tremendous job in capturing, in bringing back fun - if you will - to the gaming platforms." He's quick to point out that this is something they've had on the back burner for some time, and they intend to aim for 'experiential' games. The article wonders out loud, questioning whether this means Microsoft is planning to roll out a motion-sensing controller, or just more E and T rated games? Additionally, CVG points out that this week's Xbox Live Arcade release is The Behemoth's Alien Hominid . It's a tremendous side-scrolling 2d shooter, and well worth checking out.

33 comments

  1. Wild Limb by HappySqurriel · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm going to go out on a wild-limb and assume that what Microsoft means is they're re-allocating their development money and focusing on less graphically intensive games. As a (rough) estimate Halo 3 will probably end up costing Microsoft $20 Million to develop, this means that they could probably develop 5 to 20 simple 'fun' games for the same cost as one big budget game. From a business perspective this makes a lot of sense because the risk per game is much smaller and you're far more likely to find a couple of games that really connect with consumers when you develop 20 games rather than 1.

    1. Re:Wild Limb by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1

      Not that the price will go down... sigh.

    2. Re:Wild Limb by Canthros · · Score: 1

      You might be surprised. I think Alien Hominid debuted at $20 on the Gamecube when it was published a couple years ago. (Granted, it was originally developed as a Flash game, so the overhead of the GCN port was probably pretty low.)

      --
      Canthros
    3. Re:Wild Limb by ThinkWeak · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As a (rough) estimate Halo 3 will probably end up costing Microsoft $20 Million to develop, this means that they could probably develop 5 to 20 simple 'fun' games for the same cost as one big budget game. From a business perspective this makes a lot of sense because the risk per game is much smaller and you're far more likely to find a couple of games that really connect with consumers when you develop 20 games rather than 1.

      Also something to note, if you make a critically acclaimed game that fans cannot get enough of, you will find yourself having a hard time getting into their pockets for additional $60.00 a hit. You could collect a $10.00 monthly fee, but it would be more profitable to create games that only interest someone for a week or two.

      If you're playing a game for hours, days, months on end - you're not exactly buying other games in that time-frame. Well, in theory you're not.

    4. Re:Wild Limb by atomicstrawberry · · Score: 1

      Considering that Halo 2's release was the highest grossing release in entertainment history, it's probably safe to assume that MS don't really mind putting up that $20 million to develop it. They're the platform holder, the game is developed and published by them... I imagine you're talking about at least a 20% profit off each sale. Assuming a 20% profit per unit, with $60 US per unit, then MS need to sell 1,700,000 to break even. Halo 2 sold 2.4 million in 24 hours, and has moved 9.2 million copies worldwide. Not a problem. More money going into a project means greater risk, but with greater risk comes greater potential returns. I very much doubt they could make that order of magnitude's profit from simple casual games.

    5. Re:Wild Limb by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

      I used to think that too-

      But the publishers WANT you to hang onto the game for a while, just so you don't sell it back...creating lost sales from the used market.

      That's why multiplay is so important- longevity.

      --
      No reason to lie.
    6. Re:Wild Limb by haddieman · · Score: 1

      IIRC the Gamecube version wasn't actually a port but a new game with new levels and bosses.

  2. They put out Viva Pinata by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

    So it's not like they've been producing only FPS games this entire time, and Viva Pinata is fun as hell.

    --
    Comment of the year
  3. So, I guess the lesson being learned here is... by StressGuy · · Score: 1

    Solid, well designed, gameplay is better than "rich graphics" and a "M for Mature" rating?

    Not that you can't have all of the above, but the latter can't substiture for the former. Very interesting that the "lower end" Wii doing so well by comparison.

    --
    A goal is a dream with a deadline
  4. Re:Like OMG wow by KDR_11k · · Score: 4, Funny

    while introducing their own tri-axis sensor controller as the "Xmote" or something.

    They'll call it Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle Pro.

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  5. Define fun by Itchyeyes · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My problem with this is that the industry usually defines fun as party games or mini games. There's this delusion that for a game to be fun, it must be simple. A game can be both fun and deep. It's not an either/or situation. What's more, people assume that there is no value in a game that is not "fun". I would not qualify games like World of Warcraft, Shadow of the Colossus, and Oblivion as "fun". However, there is value in the kind of experience they offer. Think of the film industry as an analogy. A movie can be fun and still be deeper than your typical Will Farrel comedy. Likewise, movies like Schindler's List and Hotel Rwanda are not fun in any way. That does not make them bad movies or the experience they offer worthless.

    1. Re:Define fun by marcybots · · Score: 1

      Good point, I dont consider Oblivion a "fun" game either, its boring as watching paint dry mate! I actually started playing Final Fantasy IV while waiting for day to change to night and eventually just turned the game off. Oh yeah, World of warcraft isnt fun either (its a chat room with graphics) ....for fun games see Gears of War, Rainbow Six Vegas co-op, Super Mario World, Mario Kart, Warioware, Resident Evil 4, Final Fantasy V, Castlevania Symphony of the night, Super Monkey ball (monkey target).

    2. Re:Define fun by CrashPoint · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh yeah, World of warcraft isnt fun either (its a chat room with graphics)

      In the same sense that your house is a cave with windows, yes.

    3. Re:Define fun by mingot · · Score: 1

      I actually started playing Final Fantasy IV while waiting for day to change to night and eventually just turned the game off.

      Um, next time try using the 'wait' command. Hit the back button. It'll go by quicker than the boot screens for FF IV.

    4. Re:Define fun by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      My cave runs Linux!

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  6. XBox out for repair by JoelMartinez · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    awwww, I've been waiting for alien hominid, but my 360 is currently awaiting it's shipment box to be sent for in-warranty repairs (3 red lights on ring of light) :-(

  7. You need to cynicism that up a bit... by 2008 · · Score: 1

    Solid, well designed, gameplay is better than "rich graphics" and a "M for Mature" rating?

    That's not what they said! They're focusing on "fun". When game designers try to make "fun" we get games like Fusion Frenzy, Mario Party, Eyetoy and Buzz - stuff you'll probably enjoy if you're drunk at a party* but not exactly games for people who appreciate and enjoy quality gameplay.

    *which is fine, but I'd much rather be at a spin-the-bottle party than a Mario Party party...

    --
    I quit!
  8. My first XBLA purchase! by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Alien Hominid will be my first XBLA purchase since getting my 360 about 5 weeks ago. My flatmate bought Geometry Wars, which is very good, but I can see myself downloading a lot more games through the service in the coming weeks and months. C:SotN, Castle Crashers (the new 4-player co-op game by the Alien Hominid team), Worms HD (Worms + Xbox Live = instant fun). I heard even one of the original TMNT games is coming the Arcade, which I may well pick up for a fair price.

    1. Re:My first XBLA purchase! by GrayCalx · · Score: 1

      Kazza, download Heavy Weapon and give it a try. Its a silly, sidescrolling shooter game, similar to Geometry Wars. Its quick, its cheap, and I've had a great time playing it.

      Personally the best part of these kinds of games is that my wife enjoys playing them with me. Give her a game like GoW and her character ends up staring at the ceiling performing some kind of extremely complex River Dance as my wife complains how her controller is "broken."

    2. Re:My first XBLA purchase! by Kazzahdrane · · Score: 1

      Since I still have a sealed 2100 points card that I bought weeks ago, consider your advice taken, sir - I'll at the very least try the demo (I LOVE that all the XBLA games have trials, unlike the Wii's Virtual Console). It's nice that MS (and other devs) take the time to at least not just emulate the original game and add Achievements, scoreboards etc.

  9. You mean like.... by StressGuy · · Score: 1

    Samba De Amigo? DDR? I guess I would say that, if the game is fun....it's well designed

    --
    A goal is a dream with a deadline
    1. Re:You mean like.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, but the reverse is not always true. Fun means well designed, but well designed does not necessarily mean fun.

      For instance, Civilization, tetris, chess and go aren't fun at all, but are well designed and enjoyable games. There's more to games than fun, and there's much more to games than Microsoft's idea of fun.

    2. Re:You mean like.... by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      Depends on your definition of fun. To me fun and enjoyable mean the same thing, something I like to do.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    3. Re:You mean like.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      +1 Shut up on this thread

  10. Party Games by CaseM · · Score: 1

    I hope that by fun they don't mean "party games". The Wii has all I can take right now in that department.

  11. XBox Live Arcade by MMaestro · · Score: 2, Insightful
    He's quick to point out that this is something they've had on the back burner for some time, and they intend to aim for 'experiential' games.

    Wasn't the one of the more advertised facts about Xbox Live Arcade was that developers could make experimental games at little/no risk? (Remember Geometry Wars?)

    1. Re:XBox Live Arcade by OoSync · · Score: 1

      Remember Geometry Wars?

      Except Geometry Wars was done by an experienced game developer while working on one of the Project Gotham Racing games. My understanding is that the game (sans some effects) is also availble as an ulockable extra in one of the XBox versions.

      --

      I always get the shakes before a drop.
  12. Playing a game for months on end by tepples · · Score: 1

    If you're playing a game for hours, days, months on end - you're not exactly buying other games in that time-frame. Well, in theory you're not. Explain Animal Crossing then. A player can beat it in two months, but you have to play it for a year to finish some of the optional objectives (golden rod, golden net). Yet Nintendo still sells other games. Does Viva Piñata also include calendar-based objectives?
  13. Piñata Crossing by tepples · · Score: 1

    Viva Pinata is fun as hell. So is what they allegedly copied.
    1. Re:Piñata Crossing by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      What? I've seen Viva Pinata compared to Dungeon Keeper but Animal Crossing?

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  14. Metal Slug by js92647 · · Score: 1

    That game has a striking, striking resemblance to Metal Slug. I hope slashdotters remember that game (Hell, MS6 came out recently).

    http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=62433052119 56602090&q=Metal+Slug

    The game looks nice, I suppose it plays nice too, but honestly: when the hell is Contra III: Alien Wars coming? We've had too many games without manly haircuts.

    I think Ikaruga and Castlevania are going to redeem XBLA.

  15. does not compute by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The quote under discussion is that Microsoft's game development is going to start "focusing on fun". If all types of enjoyment are included in the word fun then they were clearly already 100% focused on fun because games are entertainments with no other purpose than enjoyment of various kinds (be that competition, eye candy, exploration, learning, picking flowers (Oblivion) or whatever).