Microsoft to develop a PlayStation Home-like virtual world? |
Ó
Before Halo 3 and the Xbox 360, people thought that Microsoft would never be able to hit it big in the videogame industry. Now, with Master Chief's final adventure selling like hotcakes, and their next-generation console doing pretty nicely in terms of sales, Microsoft seems to have set its sights on emulating the success of games such as Second Life and Ultima Online. How? By making its very own virtual world for players to walk around in, that's how.
This all comes from the general manager of strategy in Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, Daniel Schiappa, who was sighted in a recent virtual worlds conference in San Jose, California. He told attendees that by next year, they'll know exactly why he was attending the event itself.
So does this mean that Microsoft is getting into the virtual worlds business? Maybe or maybe not. Even with Daniel Schiappa himself giving away that the company itself is considering the jump, with the avatar-networking slowly moving from the PC to consoles, then to mobile phones - he also expressed concern about how much Microsoft would have to play catch up, seeing as games such as Second Life and World of Warcraft has already captured much of the target demographic.
He also gave the project a sort-of deadline, noting that if Microsoft doesn't spring a surprise for us anytime soon, then there won't be any in the future. He explicitly said, "If a year from now we donÂ’t have anything, then we probably wonÂ’t have anything."
Certainly a very daring venture for Microsoft, if ever the company does go ahead with creating a virtual world of its own. But then again, Microsoft certainly has had a string of successes with its surprise attacks - who knows how this one would turn out? Updates as we get them!
Contact Us:
The QJ.net Network |
 |
| Site | Feed |
| QJ.NET | RSS |
| Nintendo DS | RSS |
| PlayStation 3 | RSS |
| PSP Updates | RSS |
| Wii | RSS |
| Xbox 360 | RSS |
| MMORPG | RSS |
| Personal Computer Games | RSS |
| iPhone - iPod Touch | RSS |
| QJ.NET Forums | RSS |
Add QJ.NET
User Favorites - December
User Favorites - December
Categories
Archives
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
Comments [refresh]
If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Microsoft must want to hump Sony's leg.
@vitz3: Sony ripped off of Second Life which ripped off of WoW which ripped off of EverQuest which ripped off of Ultima Online which ripped off of Dungeons & Dragons (and basically any pnprpg) which ripped off of Tolkien and real life.
Anyhow, what Microsoft SHOULD do is extend into the virtual worldplace with something akin to what they did with Halo 3 - sharing of user-created content.
Imagine GameTube, basically a YouTube but for game replays, screenshots, machinima, etc. that Microsoft could implement through this virtual world. Imagine, you're playing Assassin's Creed, and you get stuck. Well, you just fire up the in-game recording browser and connect to the GameTube network. User Sammy321 has a recorded video of how to beat the boss/area, and you download it and watch it directly through your game engine.
Halo 3 integrates this system directly and specifically, but what if we could expand it to a more universal approach?
Hey I think I got one of those. Most of use call it the internet.
*us
loli.
every console need more unique with each system.... first they wanted the folding@home and then home? microsoft can do more than that... maybe is a crap with the hardware (where sony wins by long range) but microsoft have a better software and operating systeme just yet...
I think that the intergration is the key and as stated Halo 3 has something soecial. yes I did read "I got one of those. Most of us call it the internet" Wrong. the internet will give you the answers after using a search engine but it is seperate from your console. I like the idea of from my console pausing the gameplay and getting direct content and help without leaving the chair, then exit the help content and return to gameplay. Another area of great interest is that within a virtual world where many have access then ideas and created content is shared and can help push games and content to areas that developers can see what the consumers are doing. A lot of smart people out there with great ideas but just like musicians its luck if you get spotted and receive airplay.
"Hey I think I got one of those. Most of use call it the internet."
you're right, it is called the internet, this series of tubes we're using
but, do you have a video/audio capture card in close proximity to your 360? do you have video editing software to take what you capture and make it presentable?
hell, even if you place a video camera in front of your monitor/television (which looks like crap, honestly), you still need to upload it to YouTube which you can't access directly from within a game. furthermore, most of these videos are pretty low quality and not particularly worth watching for tips and tricks, but that's just one point.
my original point was that there is still a HUGE amount of content and material and interaction that Microsoft could put into its "GameLife" network, and it doesn't need to necessarily rip off or copy something that's already been done. it doesn't have to just a 3d chatroom like the PS Home (don't flame me, I haven't really had too much experience with it, so it may be more than just that), but it also doesn't have to be a carbon copy of WoW or SecondLife or even cater to those audiences since they want very specific experiences.
i hope not, i didnt like the sound of "home." I would rather them just keep it simple and stick to making bad ass games then invest in a POS way of getting to the real games. Why the ***** would i want second life on my xbox???
That's exactly what I want from my console...the pretend social life.
Instead of getting outside and experience life *as it happens* I'll just sit back down on my couch and play a video game about life. Perfect. It'll sell like hotcakes.
not interested ... rather just play games
Buddy what he is talking about is like nothing we have on "the internet" but i'm afraid would also be very hard to pull off as each game needs to be designed with the idea of having it's gameplay recorded....however, that could become one of MS's certification checkmarks in order to get a game to go on 360.
Also, Home is nothing more then a ripoff or 2nd life or even some of the crappier 3D chat programs....that you CAN find on "the internet"...so why do Sony fanboys cream in their pants when they talk about home? They could just go play second life, for free ? I suppose they are just THAT desperate to have something to do on their POS3 ?
If this comes out, it will sell like hotcakes....or have a ridiculous amount of advertising in it...
But I agree, I have real friends, I goto university where there are tons of places to "interact"....I don't need a freaking virtual world to do it in.
Not to mention it will be contrived and just alltogether gimicky....just like home....what XBL has now is good enough....I can do everything that I would be able to do in "home" or some other 3d environment....except for the fact that there is no extra program to run and it all works from the guide button, in any game....
But, there is the potential to make money there and i've never heard of a company not interested in making money....
Second Life was released before WoW, so shouldn't your comment read WoW which ripped off of Second Life.
And besides, Second Life is hardly like WoW. Sure it's an MMO but that's about where the similarities end. In Second Life, the users create the content, whereas in WoW and other such games, the devs create the content and the users just play through it.