Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Halo in September, New Xbox in 2012?

Posted by Zonk on from the shelf-life-of-a-console dept.

EGM sat down for a long talk with Microsoft's Shane Kim, Corporate Vice President. Among other things they discuss the unbuyability of the Bioware company (they asked and were rebuffed), plans for the next next-gen game console (already in the works, possibly coming in 2012), and the timing for the release of Halo 3. "We returned to discussing Microsoft's first party portfolio for 2007. With Grand Theft Auto IV due in mid-October, Microsoft has to figure out when Halo 3 and Project Gotham Racing 4 fit into the release calendar. Kim confirmed that PGR4 was due this fall, though did not specify a date. Why not? Well, because Microsoft won't ship a game in October to compete with GTA IV, and with Lost Odyssey coming in December, that means Halo 3 and Project Gotham Racing 4 have to fight over September and November. With the success Halo 2 enjoyed at retail, would Microsoft even entertain shipping the game outside of the oft-expected November timeframe?"

5 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. 360 longevity by Applekid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    2012 for the next XBox iteration? That means the 360 would have a life of at least 7 years. Much better than the previous XBox incantation (4 years), the Gamecube (5 years), and even the PS2 (6 years).

    Obviously that's a long way in the future so I take that with huge chunks of salt, but I would definitely appreciate a slowing down of next gen arms race propagation.

    --
    More Twoson than Cupertino
    1. Re:360 longevity by ShadowsHawk · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I agree that 2012 might be a little long, but anything shorter than 5-6 years is going to leave a bad taste in the mouthes of your fan base. Look at how the MS was criticized for abandoning the Xbox after only four years. People need to feel that they've gotten their moneys worth out of a console if you want them to purchase the next iteration.

    2. Re:360 longevity by Surt · · Score: 3, Insightful

      OTOH, the graphics capabilities and performance of a dual-core (not to mention quad core) pc with an 8800gtx are way beyond what either the xbox360 or the ps3 can do already. Processor clocks are not all that matters to real performance.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  2. Why not release both? by iainl · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Umm, I don't get it. What's so bad about those of us who like racing games being allowed to buy a hot new title at the same time as the people who are into FPSes? If Sony only released 12 games a year they wouldn't ship the number of PS2s they have.

    Besides, if I remember rightly, Halo 2's release date was shared with a Rainbow 6, a Splinter Cell and a Call Of Duty all within a week or two of each other, and that didn't seem to come out too badly.

    --
    "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    1. Re:Why not release both? by MooseMuffin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think it has more to do with marketing than actually cannibalizing sales. They would like to be able to say they have a big name title coming out this month, and a big name title coming out next month, and so on. Releasing them all in September (for example) would be great for that month, but what new stuff will they have to talk about for the rest of the holiday season?