Microsoft's Shane Kim: closest to 100 million wins console race

Posted May 21, 2008 at 9:02PM by QJ Staff Listed in: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 Tags: Don Mattrick, Microsoft, NPD, Shane Kim, Sony
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Microsoft's Shane Kim: closest to 100 million wins console race - Image 1 


As corporate VP of Microsoft Game Studios, Shane Kim was expected to agree with Don Mattrick's claims that a console would win as soon as it reaches 10 million sold. But instead, in an interview the VP furthered the finishing line of the next-generation console race to 100 million - or anything close to that:

I think it's way too early to declare a winner. Some guys were trying to declare Nintendo the winner of this generation ... [We can call the winner] when somebody's well on their way to reaching 100 million units.


The latest NPD numbers from April 2008 showed that the Nintendo Wii ran circles around Sony and Microsoft's offerings despite continued supply shortages, and as of late, is the current leader in hardware install base. One would argue that these reasons would be why Nintendo's next-generation console would clearly be the winner, but Kim states otherwise:


... This is only the third year of our existence and only the second year of Sony and Nintendo's existence. Are we just amusing ourselves by trying to declare a winner and loser while the customers are still out there deciding?


For Sony, however, reaching 100 million units is probably what it intends to do, as previous press releases hinted that the company was more focused on competing with itself - with the PlayStation 2's successes one generation ago.

The Xbox 360 has two more years to reach that goal, while the later rendition from Nintendo would have a little more than three years. Sony's PlayStation 3 intends to last as long as 10 years.

 
 
 

Comments [refresh]

by SenorDingDong - 2008-05-21 17:36
» Meh

This whole console war thing is getting (has gotten?) kinda stupid. Why not go the Price is Right method and declare the winner the one that gets closest to 100 million without going over?

by Silver-Tiger - 2008-05-21 19:32
» I agree.

"Some guys were trying to declare Nintendo the winner of this generation."

People still don't realize that Wii on one side and X360 and PS3 are completely different stories.

The Wii make it own way, while the "real" console war is fought between X360 and PS3.

Both try get the hardcore and mature players.

That's why the fanboys always bash about X360 and PS3.

by Kingofdaberbz - 2008-05-21 19:37
» meh......

This console war thing is kind of foolish. Also, the link you sent about Sony is the ps3 will be supported for 10 yrs. After the ps4 hits in 2-4yrs they'll continue manufacturing the ps3. I have to ask a question though, did Sony make another ps2 exclusive after they released the ps3?

by Quixand - 2008-05-21 21:22
» i haven't posted for

quite some time but this king guy is just really a moron.



first the answer to your question is "yes" there are loads of upcoming games that you can only play on the ps2... not the wii, the 360, or even the ps3 (atleast on the non-backward compatible models)... they may not be the biggest names in gaming but they are PS2 games first and foremost (i said that cause u can play PS2 games on the right PS3 models)



second look at upcoming releases from month to month on the PS2 and compare them to the PS3 and 360 and then tell me that the PS2 is not being supported this late in its life... it has more games past, present, and near future.



third the PS2 sells itself, look at the figures, now if you had half a brain then you would know that a smart company would know how to allocate resources to where it will benefit it the most and where it is needed... and it's not the PS2... but does this mean that the console is not a worthy console this late in it's lifetime? you go and ask the millions of people still buying it.



there are generations of evidence that says Sony could deliver on their promise that the PS3 could very well last for 10 years... there is no evidence whatsoever that says it would not do so, cause they have never failed on any console.



only xbots like to think otherwise... it is the 360 that people should worry about if you are a prospective buyer cause MS has never shown it could support a console's longevity...



now if you are buying a console xmas time this year and what concerns you is how long you'll be able to enjoy your investment... all the evidence points to the PS3, from the console heritage, to hardware specs, to upcoming library, to everything...

by NomadHeath - 2008-05-21 22:34
» Well

At least Shane Kim is smart enough not to box himself into a corner he may not win.



At this rate, the winner could be either 360 or Wii. 360 of course is a more successful system than wii for third party developers, but when the console war comes down to units sold and the profits made on them, no ones slowing down the Wii at all, and profits wise, it can't be touched.



I don't think the PS3 has a chance. It has less decent games on it than even the WII does. How rediculous is that? Now even Sony is bothering making a game for the thing (rumors have it that Killzone 2 is rediculously over budget) It's already widely renowned as too difficult to develop for, and that's a broken leg that won't heal for that system. No way in hell its going to last for 10 years -- PS4 is going to launch out of the gate as soon as possible to try and take the "first system" rights away from Microsoft, as that's what secured XBox 360 as the dominant system this generation to developers.

by Kingofdaberbz - 2008-05-22 00:49
» @Quixand

Listen.... I said DEVELOPED BY SONY. I didn't say exclusive to ps2 REREAD. Also, I never said it wasn't supported I said specifically also please REREAD that Sony SUPPORT CONSOLES FOR TEN YEARS. Also, your clearly ignorant and a fool. Calling someone an "xbot" I'm assuming you 12?

Sony said clearly that the PS3 will be SUPPORTED FOR TEN YEARS LIKE THE PS1/2 and the psp.



They never said it'll be 10 yrs until they release a new console. Also, that couldn't work for several reasons. Also, lol "MS never shown longevity" lol I'll easily explain why. The Xbox 1 wasn't making any profits. NVIDIA had the rights to most of the Xbox 1 parts, so they were making the money.



Also, MS clearly said the Xbox 360 will be SUPPORTED for at least 7yrs, so 360 gamers have nothing to worry about. So, just like what Sony been saying about all their consoles supported means exactly what it says. They'll keep it on the market. They NEVER said the ps3 will be their main console for 10yrs. Also, no the 360 is doing fine.



The 360 is outselling the Xbox 1 and have the highest attach rate, the most Rpgs and games. So, no 360 gamers have no worries in that aspect. As a matter of fact, it's the ps3 that's in trouble Sony lost 1.5 billion on it already and the ps3 is being outsold by the ps2 at the by 4 million units. It's the ps3 that's in trouble.



Also, the funny thing is I own all 3 consoles and a PC, unlike you a Sony fanboy. So, there's not much left to say. All I have to say is I don't have much use for it especially since "08" was ps3 year.



Now it looks more like a tie. The 360 will have more RPG's and the ps3 will have more shooters.



One of them being have which is terrible metacritic 54/100. Also, if you want to know more about my "investment" I think I made a smart one. I paid $200 for a 80gb with 2 games and paid $400 for a 360 with 8 games. My "investments" were MUCH smarter than the average gamer.



Also, since MS promised AT LEAST 7yrs support I think MS gamers will be fine. I just can't wait to see the look at peoples face when fools like you, for example, see the ps4 launch between 2011-2012. I won't be surprised though since Sony clarified it wouldn't be supported exclusively .

by RexNox - 2008-05-22 03:00
» One can only hope that some exec reads this...

Reading about a company winning the console war is synonymous with watching three morons argue who's the smartest. Here's why:



Of my 20+ years of gaming, I'm never run into so many lame betas being passed on as completed games. What's worse is there haven't been any defining moments in this gen. GTAIII was a HUGE departure from GTAII...FFX was bigger and better than all the other FFs. But, Halo 2 and 3...hell, it's Halo. Yeah, these games are good, but they were good before. The only big difference to gameplay has been cover and shoot systems. Hell, they've even made these games less intelligent to pull in more people...I laugh when I read "There are no casual games". All the friggin games are causal, you can finish most of them in a weekend.



And, after you thought it couldn't get any worse, this gen they want to nickle and dime us with DLCs.



So, who wins? Let's create formula that truly represents who has won.



winner = ((systems sold/$system price) * (games sold/$system price) * (avg. offline gameplay time(prior to DLC and/or patches) /$avg. price of games) * (original games produced))/ (length of time (in months) on the system on the market)



As you can see I agree that it's a numbers game, but just arguing about sales is MORONIC!

by scarface_tha_second - 2008-05-22 03:12
» Did you just say that the 360 has secured itself as the dominant system this generation to developers?

Is that a *****ing joke? 360 had a year head start and its already getting raped by Wii. These so called developers will be forced to shift to Wii development or go multi-platform just to get a profit.



Not to mention Blu-ray just won the format war so PS3 will hit 100 million units like it was nothing.



I own all three consoles. If you wanna call me a fanboy...***** you... i get to play all the games.

by Quixand - 2008-05-22 10:12
» idiot king

if you think i'm 12 then you're new here, probably because ur mama just bought your console recently.



it is pretty obvious that you are trying to pour doubt into the ps3's longevity and future significance cause why thye hell would you ask

"did Sony make another ps2 exclusive after they released the ps3? "...



that question has no significance at all but i answered them for you cause u apparently need more stuff crammed in your brain..



and if you read again i never commented anything about a PS4, i never said that it will or won't come out, i focused on the promised of the PS3 alone.



you are a bonafide xbot as it is pretty obvious in your comments from the get go and that you can never hide, yes i know how most guys here comment cause i've been on this site since forever i witnessed your XMB in my xbox comment and things just got worse and worse with every comment you make, and what the hell does owning all console mean???? it means jack sh*t!!!! if you are a fanboy then you are a fanboy... you say that i'm a sony fanboy, then what if say i go out right now and get myself an xbox does that mean that afterwards all my views should be looked at as unbiased cause i now have an xbox? people who are clearly one-sided but try to deny it are the worse of all...

by SenorDingDong - 2008-05-22 11:41
» I see your meh and I raise you one meh

@king



Have you forgotten about God of War 2? It was a Sony made PS2 exclusive that was released 4 months after the PS3 launched (at least in the US). The real proof is that, as Quixand said, the PS2 still has a strong release schedule and it's now 8 years old.

by Kingofdaberbz - 2008-05-22 13:17
» @Quixand the idiotic Sony fanboy.

As I said anyone immature enough to call someone an 'xbox' obviously is a child. A man wouldn't say such immature and juvenile things.



Also, I never implied Sony would discontinue the ps3 after the ps4 release. I'm assuming you're to stupid to understand my meaning.



I said that Sony would SUPPORT THE PS3 FOR 10 YEARS. What doubt did I bring. All I said is that after they released the ps3 they(Sony) stopped developing exclusive games for the ps3.



I obviously know that there's still a few exclusives and if you were intelligent enough you would undertstand SONY ISN'T THIRD PARTY. They haven't THEMSELVES DEVELOPED AN EXCLUSIVE GAME FOR THE PS2 SINCE THE PS3 RELEASED. Let me reinstate Sony will SUPPORT THE PS3 FOR 10 YEARS.



You focused on the ps3? so you agree with that the Sony will release their new consoles at the same time they always have.



Than idiot why are you arguing with me? I agree the ps3 will be supported for ten years, but they'll just stop making exclusive games for it after the ps4 release. The ps3 will still be manufactured and depend on 3rd parties to supply the exclusives like the PS2.



Also, with the console thing. Owning all consoles is DIFFERENT you at least appreciate them all enough to own them. I like my ps3 that's why I bought it.



From your comments you have some sort of hatred towards the Xbox 360. Again, I'm assuming you're a child so it's excusable, but if you aren't. Grow up. It's only video games.



All I know is that I have no hatred towards any video games. I may have preferences, but I like them all. So, yes owning all the systems is different. You don't need to own them all to be not be a fanboy.



But idiots like you would purposely not buy a console with awesome games(360) Because of some idiotic fanboy views.



If I see a good game I'm going to get it and stupid things like idiotic fanboys won't stop me.



Microsoft doesn't pay me a dime, so I don't defend them whatsoever or really even care about them. Yet, you a child is going crazy over Sony, another company that couldn't give a crap about you and only want your money.



Just play your game and enjoy it. It's funny how stupid fanboys like yourself get upset over a company that isn't paying you a dime.



It's also funny that I don't even know why you're

arguing with me when I specifically said the ps3 will last ten years.



@SenorDingDong GoW 2 came out in March before the ps3 was in all territories. Also, the development started right after GoW 1 before the ps3 was announced and still in development.

As I said is there an upcoming ps2(exclusive)g ame developed by Sony coming out this year? Also, I keep saying this I agree it has some good exclusives coming to it, but are those third party games? I'm assuming it is. The ps3 definitely isn't a ps2. The ps2 at this point in it's life was over 4 million units higher than the ps3 now. So, I don't know if they'll get the same 3rd party support, unlikely.



The ps3 will be in development for ten years like the ps1, ps2, and psp. I just want to know if the 3rd parties will support it the same.

by Uplink - 2008-05-22 17:40
» lol@ps4

why are we talking about ps4? fact is we wont see a ps4 of any sort for at least 5-6 more years while the 360 will be shelved aways in 2 years tops. Even if M$ adds a blue-ray and an hd the blueray would havta be usb the transfer-rate would be horrid so large install basses would make consumers cringe (omg 2 games and my 20gig is full ). Now why wont we see another PS for a while ? Simply the fact that sony wont waste resources developing something new so soon if the ps3 dosent market well over a 5year period they will shift. but Market and consumer wise the ps3 is still a baby, but the xbox is getting to be an old man.

by Kingofdaberbz - 2008-05-22 22:50
» @Uplink

What? The Xbox a old man? the difference is a year and the sales are almost exactly the same. The ps3 isn't doing as well as the ps2 and it'll never outsell the ps2 unless they plan on doing $100 every year until it hits $99.



MS also said the 360 will be SUPPORTED for at least 7 years so people can buy one and still see games being released. I completely disagree with Sony 'wasting' resources because the ps3 was released too soon.



I don't blame them though. The 5-6 years thing is funny though I expect a ps4 around 2012 at the latest. I do hope your right about the 6 year thing, though.



That would just mean devs. can concentrate on making exclusive next gen Xbox 720 games like GTA 5,etc. That would be good, so devs. wouldn't have to compromise the game by making it multi.



I mean it would be a dream for all those awesome exclusive games that would go to the Xbox 720. Though, I doubt the ps3 will be on the market EXCLUSIVELY for so long. I expect Sony's console to launch a year after MS. I do hope they don't and give MS a head start again so it can do better in the JP market.

by Quixand - 2008-05-23 11:20
» king

i'm calling you an xbot because you are a freakin xbot!!!! and everybody here knows this!!!! i don't have to be a kid to call a person what he is... you are a fuc*kin xbot so i'm calling you one!!!!



and you are trying to be suave with your comments like "did Sony make another ps2 exclusive after they released the ps3? " and you've been called on it by not only me but others and you are now freakin trying to backtrack...



you are a stupid xbox slave and everybody here knows it so don't act so innocent like... and you know what evervody here knows everybody, we've been on this site for a long time, we are all on everybody's buddy list and playing against each other and chatting as well... call us a child all you like, the truth of the matter here for all we know you are the 12 year old nerd around here.

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