Shane Kim on lost studios, handhelds and the console war
by Xav de Matos 
{ Feb 8th 2008 at 1:30PM }
At the ongoing D.I.C.E. summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, Microsoft Game Studios corporate VP Shane Kim was bombarded with every tough question you could think of by New York Times reporter Seth Scheisel. Covering a wide range of topics from Xbox to Windows, Kim kept his head on for the most part while toting the company line."People have speculated that we were stifling their creative freedom," Kim told Scheisel, when asked about Bungie's public split from Microsoft in 2007, "but I can tell you there's no studio that had more freedom at Microsoft Game Studios than Bungie." Kim also didn't rule out the possibility of a Microsoft branded portable gaming device, saying, "never say never."
With a year head start on their competition, one of the strongest software attachment ratios a console has ever seen and critical and commercial successes like Halo 3 and Gears of War under their belt, does Microsoft consider the console war to be won? "By no means does anyone at Microsoft think the race is over," replied Kim. "You have very powerful and formidable contenders in Nintendo and Sony ... to underestimate them and to count them out would be a foolish mistake." Read the full interview for Kim's views on Windows Vista gaming, intellectual properties and more.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bigciafan @ Feb 8th 2008 1:35PM
an xbox handheld would own my soul
Magic Whiskey @ Feb 8th 2008 2:42PM
I love 'pocket geek tech' and I'd really go crazy if the news dropped that there was a Game Boy-like Xbox coming out.
I'd have to wonder how the thing could handle the FPS genre tho. I owned a PSP for a short while after being an early adopter, but I didn't dig the lack of functionality so I traded it in. (no right stick hurt.)
Tony @ Feb 8th 2008 2:03PM
MS didn't really "lose" Bizarre or Bioware in the sense that they never really owned them (hell, The Club was in production for Sega for 360 and PS3 LONG before Bizarre was bought out). They simply didn't buy them instead of someone else... I guess we'll see what comes of that.
It's not like it's impossible for MS to discuss further exclusive PGR games for 360 with Activision, although I imagine it's much harder than it would be with just Bizarre lol. Although given how poorly the last one apparently sold, maybe MS just didn't see it as an important investment.
mattclarkie @ Feb 8th 2008 2:08PM
I bought PGR4 after enjoying PGR3. I got 65 Gamer Points, hated every minute I played, and stopped after only one gaming session.
I will return to it, but at the moment I have games I enjoy playing so I don't see a reason to complete a game that I feel is inferior to PGR3.
Some people may disagree, but I don't post comments to be popular.
mattclarkie @ Feb 8th 2008 2:03PM
I am going to say that I can never see Microsoft winning a Console War.
But as long as they keep producing/receiving great games for the 360, and the next generation console is as good as the 360 is, but of course more powerful, then I don't care that they will never be Top Dog in terms of sales.
And I am sure that most people will agree.
Frosty @ Feb 8th 2008 2:40PM
As Shane would say... never say never! What a silly remark. Nobody expected Nintendo to make a comeback like they did after the Gamecube, and yet look at them today. You never know what the future will bring.
Magic Whiskey @ Feb 8th 2008 2:49PM
I think the 360 DID win the console war...
I consider the 360 and the PS3 as #1 and #2, and the Wii is Letter 'A'. Get it? I own one, but it's a niche platform, and a little something from another column.
ZEBRA NINER @ Feb 8th 2008 2:37PM
MS handheld would be so freakin' awesome!
bigciafan @ Feb 8th 2008 3:16PM
at magic whiskey.
I too traded in a psp. not because of the no 2nd analog stick. but just because there were no good games that had a good story.
Id love ms to take the minimalistic game boy route on a handheld over the over funcational psp. but you know when ms makes something, they go all out.
so the ms handheld would have tons of functions most users wont use.
but a second thumb stick would not be a bad idea. but i think fixed camera works well on a handheld.
one of my favorite hand held games is Golden Sun for the GBA. and all it needs to play is a d pad and two buttons. story and gameplay not how many buttons makes a great game
Josh @ Feb 8th 2008 3:22PM
Kim is known for being a calm guy, but in most interviews he seems to get testy at one or two questions. I'm really surprised at the way he responded to some of these questions, and have a strong feeling that some internet blog or everyday gaming authority would not have had the opportunity that the Times did.