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Why Microsoft Got Into the Console Business

Posted by samzenpus on from the origin-story dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Joachim Kempin, former vice president of Windows Sales, has explained how the original Xbox came to be. It turns out it was Sony's fault, simply because the Japanese company wasn't very friendly towards Microsoft, and Microsoft eventually decided they had to 'stop Sony.' Apparently, long before the Xbox was even an idea, Microsoft was trying to collaborate with Sony in a number of areas they thought there was overlap. That collaboration was sought before even Sony had a games console coming to market, and would have focused on products for the entertainment sector."

6 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I remember a story when I worked at Microsoft.. by Cryacin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Reasons to get into business #32:

    Spite.

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  2. Linux/Windows/OS X by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a long time user of linux, I have to say that I also enjoy Windows for the moments when it is appropriate. Same for OS X. There 3 amazing accomplishments of the human mind. And should be celebrated as such.

  3. Co-operate with Microsoft? by Jeremi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think Sony made the right decision there. If Microsoft approached me about "co-operating" I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole. Look how well it worked out for IBM (with MS-DOS and OS/2) or Sun (with Java).

    --


    I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
  4. Re:I remember a story when I worked at Microsoft.. by MrEricSir · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Reasons to get into business #32:

    Spite.

    Unfortunately, that's also the reasonining behind a number of open source projects.

    --
    There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
  5. Re:Xbox Subscription by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wii? 150 bucks new. Does not do HD, but I personally don't care. Also gets hulu and amazon and has a decent youtube app. Also you can softmod it for homebrew and get wiimc and vlc shares. Also stream movies, music, pictures over wifi from your pc. And you can play some great video games. Hook up a hard drive and you don't even need to leave your couch to put in the dvd. AND no online fees. Plus it's approachable to play videogames with your girlfriend or her parents, even if they are terrible at them. Has a terrible web browser though, but that's what your ipad/phone is for. Seriously, if you don't give a crap about HD, Wii is hands down the most amazing piece of TV machinery ever.

  6. Re:Oh the irony. by sesshomaru · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, that's inaccurate:

    "Using the same Super Disc technology as the proposed SNES drive, Sony began development on what was to eventually become the PlayStaion. Initially called the Super Disc, it was supposed to be able to play both SNES cartridges and CD-ROMs, of which Sony was to be the 'sole worldwide licenser,' as stated in the contract. Nintendo was now to be at the mercy of Sony, who could manufacture their own CDs, play SNES carts, and play Sony CDs. Needless to say, Nintendo began to get worried."
    ---- History of the PlayStation

    --
    "MIT betrayed all of its basic principles."