MGS: Simultaneous PC and 360 releases would 'shoot ourselves in the foot'

[Zeus]

MS Europe has said that while it attempts to support both the PC and Xbox 360 equally, gamers shouldn't look forward to seeing simultaneous releases on each format as the PC version would take away a large number of the console sales. He remarked that of Halo was released in Germany at the same time, 80 percent of German gamers would buy the PC version!


As the company strives to sell more home consoles in Europe, releasing titles on both platforms would be damaging in European markets where the PC is the dominant gaming platform, said Peter Zetterberg, business development manager for MGS Europe.

"On a global scale the Windows Vista business is as important as our Xbox 360 business. But in Germany for example, we want more gamers to buy our Xbox 360,” he said in an interview published today.

"If we launch a game that is on 360 and PC simultaneously, we basically shoot ourselves in the foot by allowing the German market to choose to play the PC version – because they are more likely to buy that than spend their money on the Xbox 360."

"If we launched a Halo game on PC and 360 in Germany simultaneously, 80 per cent of sales would be on the PC," he added.


News Source: <A href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/mgs-europe-simultaneous-releases-would-shoot-ourselves-in-the-foot" target="_blank">Gi.biz</a>

[Isamu_Dyson]

80 percent of German gamers would buy the PC version!
Doh! I wonder... keyboard + mouse support? :p

That's the primary reason i don't have a 360 by now... :(

[MechaGear]

Artificial preliminary exclusives... :rolleyes:

[danight]

piracy would be a big issue then. I would think thats more the reason why they don't.

[Mikeyy]

Just continue to anger the PC crowd MS...

[Trashcat]

I bought a 360 but I'd rather shoot myself in the foot than play some shooter online with a gamepad. However I can see why 360 doesn't have keyboard+mouse support it makes the gap between skillless trash and elite players smaller and the overall experience less frustrating for the trash, and since trash is the vast majority of the players Ms is just giving the customers what they want.

[sigma8]

If we launched a Halo game on PC and 360 in Germany simultaneously, 80 per cent of sales would be on the PC.

Two things:

#1. Is that bad? It's money in MS's pocket either way.
Gosh, if I made a million dollars by selling strawberries, I might not make that same money selling cheesecakes!

#2. If you are trying to expand the platform, but everyone prefers the PC version....isn't that its own problem? Why are you trying to FORCE the consumer to buy something they want less? Way to do business.

[Punyetta]

Two things:

#1. Is that bad? It's money in MS's pocket either way.
Gosh, if I made a million dollars by selling strawberries, I might not make that same money selling cheesecakes!

#2. If you are trying to expand the platform, but everyone prefers the PC version....isn't that its own problem? Why are you trying to FORCE the consumer to buy something they want less? Way to do business.

MS like Sony and Nintendo, wants to sell their consoles and to be able to do that, they will release games for their consoles first. At least they are giving you the option: if you want the game now get it for 360, else wait 6months to a year and get it for your PC. Unlike Sony and Nintendo.

[sigma8]

MS like Sony and Nintendo, wants to sell their consoles and to be able to do that, they will release games for their consoles first. At least they are giving you the option: if you want the game now get it for 360, else wait 6months to a year and get it for your PC. Unlike Sony and Nintendo.

Yes, but like I said, wouldn't it be more effective to make the console versions inherently more compelling? I should say, not the "console versions", but the console experience as a whole. If it were simply better to get an Xbox360, they wouldn't have any problems selling any.

As it stands, there is a lot of crappiness about 360 gaming (high game prices, fees for online play, hardware issues, controller not ideal for all gametypes), and lots of people don't want to deal with that, so they are resorting to strongarm tactics.

If you make a better product, it will sell itself. If it's not better, or it's worse... then you should evaluate if it's even necessary to make that product.