ff13crystalengine2.jpgToday at E3 Microsoft had their press conference, it is clear that Microsoft is not doing too great these days as analysts all agree that it is a matter of time before the PS3 surpass it in sales. Already  it has overtaken the 360 in Europe and in Japan long ago… And according to the NPD numbers the PS3 has outsold the 360 5 months in a row this year in North America. So it was obvious that they needed some kind of big announcement or strategy to keep their title now as the number one selling next-gen console in America (the wii is NOT next gen).

So what is it? What is the new strategy? Did they open a new studio to bring out some new IPs? No…, did they come up with an innovative and creative way to better utilize LIVE and make multiplayer gaming better? No… What did they do? They dumped a crap load of cash to get what Sony has. I must say I am confused, I am wondering whether I am just a bitter fanboy that lost his exclusive title or am I really annoyed at how Microsoft does business? I spoke to a colleague of mine today and he said ” what do you care if it goes on another system? So long as you get to play on yours what does it matter?” He makes a valid point. And I left our conversation thinking I was just a bitter fanboy. But the more I think about it the more I find I am just incredibly irritated and annoyed at how Microsoft does their business. There is no doubt that they had to throw a crap load of cash to get that title, as they did with GTA4.

My question is if you have so much money to throw why not invest in creating new IPs? why must your strategy be simply do what others do and take what they have? This is the EA way of doing business, instead of trying to create new stuff, they simply BUY what they know works. Nothing innovative comes from them anymore. And Microsoft is no different. This kind of business is detrimental to the industry. It does not allow it to go further and it does not reward the new and creative, it’s the same EA titles being released year after year.

I have to thank Microsoft for giving Sony a hard time, if it wasn’t for them, Sony would have a crappy online system that doesn’t improve, or maybe they wouldn’t have one at all.. There is good that comes from competition, but this is not good, this is spite, they are now just trying to hurt Sony instead of giving the consumers a better product. Very reminiscent on how they dumped hundreds of millions of dollars to keep HD DVD alive when it was dying just to confuse consumers and stall them from buying a new High Def median. This is not to say Sony is perfect, but they at least open many new studios and help to make the industry grow. What has Microsoft done? it bought RARE and single-handedly killed it. I think the best thing they did was let BUNGIE go for they would have killed them too…

I was really beginning to like Microsoft because of what they offered in LIVE, but after this I just can’t stand them anymore…