Shane Kim, former
Microsoft Game Studios guru and recently appointed VP of the Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business, recently
spoke to EDGE magazine on his company's failed attempts at massively multiplayer online games. Specifically, MS
canceled Marvel Universe Online earlier this year. Way back on the original Xbox,
True Fantasy Live Online, once thought to be the original Xbox's savior in Japan, was also
canceled. On Microsoft's trouble with MMOs, Kim said, "I'll admit MGS has not had success in the MMO space," also noting, "We haven't been able to crack the code." Kim says that he believes MS "made the right decision" in canceling
Marvel Universe Online but adds that "there's nothing to say those titles can't be successful on 360."
Part of the problem, according to Kim, is the "tension" between what developers want to create and Microsoft's need to maintain a "stable and secure environment on Xbox 360." In other words, it sounds like developers aren't too keen on the controls that Microsoft places on Xbox Live. Kim concludes that Microsoft is "getting very close" to solving the problem, but that the company has been slow to deliver an MMO experience, noting "we feel bad about that."
So do we, Shane. So do we.
{ Jul 29th 2008 at 12:45PM } 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Neuromancer @ Jul 29th 2008 12:59PM
I would think a big problem would also be subscription fees, I can't imagine most console owners want to deal with that on top of Xbox Live and the game itself.
Birdshake @ Jul 29th 2008 10:58PM
Exactly. They should atleast make it where you can use a silver account with MMO's then they would have much more success with the games.
joey @ Jul 29th 2008 1:04PM
aww, don't feel bad.
We don't even give a crap about MMOs.
J.F. @ Jul 29th 2008 1:08PM
If you are talking about a Microsoft Game Studios (MGO) MMORPG, than yeah, they didn't deliver when they had an interesting thing goin on (True Fantasy Online by Jap dev Level 5.
But you can (if you want to) find 2 MMORPG's on x360: Final Fantasy XI by Square and Phantasy Star Universe by Sega.
Think MS (or Sony) dont like it when you get hooked (addicted) on playing MMORPG's on their console, so you don't buy/play other games thus dont generate money for them
Gemini Ace @ Jul 29th 2008 1:11PM
I would give a testicle for a Marvel Universe Online.
ryan @ Jul 29th 2008 1:33PM
man, a Marvel MMO for PC would've been sweet! the characters are just much more diverse than the DC universe. (tho Gotham City sports DC's more creative heroes and villains).
too bad it won't be made for 360. i mean on top of internet pay, xbox live pay, you'd have to pay 10-15 bucks a month also.
but i don't really understand why a Marvel MMO couldn't be made for just PC.
GRT @ Jul 29th 2008 1:34PM
Don't forget Mythica (for the PC).
I was surprised MS didn't buy Turbine back when they published Asheron's Call...
Magic Whiskey @ Jul 29th 2008 1:36PM
I thought the entire thing was vaporware.
Magic Whiskey @ Jul 29th 2008 1:37PM
I'd be interested in a real-world zombie apocalypse MMO maybe..but that'd be it. Actually..let's just bring on the real zombie apocalypse.
Richard Mitchell @ Jul 29th 2008 1:48PM
Left 4 Dead ... so good ...
KillaRizzay @ Jul 29th 2008 2:02PM
Am I the only one who finds its rediculous that on top of paying for internet, we're paying for a service thats still not impervious to outages and cant even run a successful MMO? I mean the devs themselves dont like making games for our service... maybe its time to grab a ps3...
Michael Paul @ Jul 29th 2008 2:44PM
I haven't seen where the PS3 service has already been proven to have 24/7/365 reliability. My RoadRunner already doesn't have that so expecting it from LIVE isn't exactly smart.
MMOs sound OK as a small diversion, but the time and effort I hear some of the PC ones require makes me glad that I barely play online at all. Updates are great, the occasional foray into games like GOW for a prize seems OK, so I'll let other folks suck up the bandwidth for now. Although maybe an all-YODA SCIV tournament might draw me in...
thinkofmeasmra @ Jul 29th 2008 3:03PM
Ya no you raise some valid points no doubt, but I mean I keep hearing how devs hate being restricted on XBL and have experienced for my self a service that does not warrent the cost.
I mean the appeal of paying for the service and the whole reason it was implimented was so that we play in a managed, secure and superior environment but its being managed poorly to the point where dev's dont see the advantage (whats the use of locking everything down to the point where creative freedom is limited on a console).
If the 360 were a pc where security is a major issue then fine, but it really does nothing for a console. I speak purely based on the fact that the PSN now (sadly) offers everything our service does but without the pricetag. Furthurmore its not like we're lagg free while the PSN is griped with it.
Iunno, alll im saying is its generic enough of a service that im at a point where I dont want to pay for it anymore. When it boils down to it, we're paying to play online and download stuff we could get off any website (minus demos). Im just feeling a little outraged that despite all of this, news comes in admitting that we essentially cant do MMO's (in the sense we cant because no ones going to pay for internet, XBL, and then a game subscription on top of that)
Am I alone in my feelings??
erico316 @ Jul 29th 2008 3:16PM
i agree with i own both system and i sure u would enjoy a ps3 mosts games are great on its.there are bads ones on each system.dont let some of the mindless xbots keep u on only one system.buy both and u will truly enjoy this gens of games when u do.
Kindergamer @ Jul 29th 2008 2:02PM
aww, boo hoo go cry to your avatar.
monkeywithnoeyes @ Jul 29th 2008 4:30PM
people constantly state in their arguements against xbox live being free that psn cant possible stay free in its offer of online gaming. I never understood this. Pc online gaming is free and remained free for the player for years. It survives through sponsors on dedicated servers..as its a consistant and great means of advertising. Given the ps3's ever growing market then you would think the same would always apply there too...and be an even more attraction to get advertising through a console than through pc gaming. Theres no reason why the exact same couldnt of applied for the 360.. infact advertises would be falling over themselves to supply dedicated servers for games like halo 3 and gta4. We're already seeing dedicated servers on the 360..frontlines, and unreal tournament 3 being the latest examples.. so its nothing to do with the fact that xbox live is a closed network thats making this not possible...its simply the fact that Microsoft like your money..its as clean cut as that. And all business's have to make money.
So then we get to the problem of mmo's..as this greed on microsofts part has surely, and will surely, put people off from placing another additional charge on themselves in order to enjoy a game. Ofcourse Microsoft say that only a silver membership would be required..which is ofcourse a useless throw away comment that is of no risk to their own earnings as they know most of us are locked in yearly subsciptions..and wont give up the only option of enjoying the games liberary we've already built up.
So the potiential for mmo's is all Sonys..now and for the future. And this is easily where sony could make its money by being the platform that delivers mmo's to the console market..especially if they take a cut of those subsciptions. The reason why pc gaming hasnt died is souly placed on MMO's.. so you bring the next WOW exclusively to the ps3 and you're looking at interest from those 9million customer base alone.
The future of gaming is MMO.. its the newest genre, and not only is it already the most popular one..its also ever growing.