Greenberg talks up MS strategy, 2009 lineup
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Jan 12th 2009 at 7:45PM }
In an interview with G4TV, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg had quite a lot to say about the Xbox 360's performance in 2008 as well as what's in store for the future. Greenberg began by trumpeting the 2008 numbers that were released last week, also noting high sales for Gears of War 2, Call of Duty: World at War and Left 4 Dead. He then clarified that the Xbox 360 has at least a 1 million unit lead over the PS3 in Europe (by install base, not sales). When asked about the runaway success of the Wii, Greenberg stated that the two machines offered different experiences and that he saw no reason why both couldn't successful. "I look at retail outlets and car companies and airlines... you know there's more than one," said Greenberg, adding, "I think what we're finding is that there are two platforms that are clearly having success." Greenberg also reiterated his belief that Sony will have to reduce the price of the PS3 "sooner, rather than later" if the company wishes to remain competitive.Perhaps most tantalizingly, Greenberg spoke to Microsofts still nebulous lineup for 2009. He noted that while 2009 is "a big year for Halo fans" thanks to Halo Wars and Halo 3: ODST, Microsoft still has plenty up its digital sleeve. Greenberg said that Microsoft prefers to "under promise and over deliver," explaining that the company likes to save announcements until a product is close to launch. He cites the NXE as an example, saying that the company kept it under wraps -- well, mostly -- until E3 2008, which preceded the November launch in the same year.
And before you ask, no, he didn't drop any hints as to what said projects might be. Our guess: Alan Wake and Duke Nukem Forever will both launch this year exclusively on Xbox 360 ... on the same day.
[Via VideoGamer.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
wune @ Jan 12th 2009 7:57PM
nebulous = cloudy
ScottishPrik @ Jan 12th 2009 8:00PM
sense= make none
ryan @ Jan 13th 2009 1:45PM
Cloudy with an 80% of no killer exclusives. That doesn't stop me from playing all the multiplat games this year!
wune @ Jan 16th 2009 11:08PM
says nebulous in the post...
myabsolution @ Jan 12th 2009 8:08PM
Same time last year everyone said the 360 had no lineup for 2008... and that it was the year of the PSTriple.
And then all the big boys got announced. I think Gears 2 was announced in February and then we actually got the game within 9 months.
I'm actually glad Microsoft tends to not announce too many games years and years in advance, that way im not disappointed.
El Capitaine @ Jan 12th 2009 8:28PM
Absolutely.
There's only so much drooling over screens that I can do.
When Microsoft announces something, I can get it quickly. Good plan, as it lets me get it BEFORE the hype causes the game to under-deliver.
Last gen I bought a PS2 near release, then got an Xbox a few months after its release. The system itself was overhyped - while good, the graphics certainly weren't nearly what the Emotion Engine promised. I bought the network adapter add-on on launch day, believing the hype that it'll revolutionize console gaming, bringing it up to par with PC. No, Xbox did that.
I very much agree with Mr. Greenberg's statement. And I must say, I absolutely prefer their plan. I'm glad that Sony is finally being forced to realize that they can't sell games on hype alone.
Case in point? "Target renders." Before the PS3 even came out, we were seeing videos of Killzone 2, which had far better graphics than the actual game. Halo 3's announcement trailer wowed so many people, but was rendered in real-time.
ChocoDK @ Jan 12th 2009 9:02PM
I agree that I prefer things not to be announced to early. A perfect example of something announced WAY WAY WAY to far in advance is Home for the PS3. It truly is a big dissapoitment and although NXE is something completely different I believe NXE gave new life to the 360.
I personally prefer a company wait until the last second to announce something such as the way Nintendo does or Microsoft did with NXE. That way people don't hype something so much like crazy and when it comes out its just BLAH.
The PS3 though really needs to lower its price soon though. The 360 should do fine this year interms of some good software and some unannounced things.
Rodrigo (psn: mexico4life) @ Jan 12th 2009 9:05PM
@ El Capitaine
I kinda agree with you but i disagree in killzone 2... they have proven that killzone 2 is the best looking console game right now and everyone has praised the gameplay and graphics... i agree with you in over hyping games, but look at halo 3!!!
Jcarpio @ Jan 12th 2009 9:17PM
What about Halo3?
It sold millions of units, had a good online experience and gets played alot on Live.
The game lived up to the hype in general.
As far as an individual person hype level, maybe not for everyone.
Qube @ Jan 12th 2009 9:51PM
@Rodrigo: Killzone 2 looks amazing, agreed. But as good as those target (pre)renders? No.
I'd include that and MGS4 as examples of games announced way too soon. But then, if they didn't announce these things back at that fateful E3, or could only announce stuff 6 to 12 months out, can you imagine what that presser would have been like?
Don't get me wrong, MS is guilty of the same offense (IPTV, Too Human, Alan Wake), but at least what they showed was a little more "real".
Vcize @ Jan 13th 2009 10:46AM
Gears 2 wasn't announced until May of last year, I believe, and it was released around 6 months later.
Put it this way. Gears 2 was announced well after Killzone 2, Gran Turismo 5, God of War 3, and Final Fantasy XIII. Not only did it beat all of them to release, but it looks like it's going to beat all of them to release by over a YEAR.
UNSCleric @ Jan 12th 2009 10:16PM
Sony's over-hyped pieces of garbage barely make it onto the top 10 sales lists, if at all. Xbox 360's hyped games hit number 1 and are there for a long time with record-breaking numbers.
jOEfRO @ Jan 12th 2009 10:27PM
GDC and E3 can't come soon enough. I can't wait to hear some of the announcements that Microsoft will make.
My wants:
IPTV
Live Anywhere (Or just an Official XBL App on the iPhone)
FFXIII Versus, 360
FFXIII, Japanese 360 (Come on MS, if they have a 360 they most likely bought it for JRPGs. Don't make them buy a PS3 for one game)
My dreams:
Alan Wake '09
Rapture '09(Square Enix's new MMO)
Internet Browser on 360
kthx Microsoft. ;)
The Dom @ Jan 13th 2009 8:13AM
I really dont get why we dont have an internet browser on the XBOX. It would be so useful, and heck I'd even put up with crappy IE, at least it would be a browser.
eriq007 @ Jan 12th 2009 10:30PM
Xbox720 will be announced 5 minutes after PS4.
http://ihatekaty.com/?id=12898#6dzz5z54fsdq7ez78z8d
Digital Limit @ Jan 13th 2009 12:07AM
I just wanted to say that this guy has a really tall head.
Yamikotai @ Jan 16th 2009 3:44PM
You beat me to it, I wonder where his parents were from?
Mike @ Jan 13th 2009 12:16AM
I'm worried Halo ODST is going to be Halo 3.1... and as good as Halo is, I want something new. Gears had too many bugs. I don't want an RPG where shooting at a monster and hitting him is dependent on my "level" and not my skill. I hate games where wondering around a massive level finding little trinkets and talking to NPCs is supposed to be fun. And I don't condone games where you go around shooting innocent civilians (GTA). 2008 was a flop for me. Here's to 2009.
Boff @ Jan 13th 2009 8:01AM
It might have been easier to lists the genres you actually LIKE. ;o)
bugatti23007 @ Jan 13th 2009 12:26AM
In the first paragraph you forgot to put the word "be" between couldn't and successful. Always double check your work.
Deck @ Jan 13th 2009 1:35AM
Duke Nukem and Alan Wake on the same day?! Redonkulus!
Anyway... I am thinking and really hoping that it is Mass Effect 2. Well one anyway.
MAFAKKA @ Jan 13th 2009 3:45AM
Im worried.. i have the feeling that MS is running out of great games. I dont have anything to look forward to in ´09!? Alan Wake.. whoop di doo! Looks to be crap.
Pos @ Jan 13th 2009 4:43AM
Please make a internet browser for the 360 with flash support!! And i think a bigger harddrive will bew coming late this year.
For US people that can dpownload movies and install games + maybe IP tv in near future the 120gb will not be enough. Maybe we will se a 320gb. But internet browser is the most important right now for MS i think. Internet explorer 360 :D
Mokano40 @ Jan 13th 2009 7:27AM
Did you read the past comment that said Home for the PS3 was announced to early?.......MS does not makes those mistakes I like that when they announce somthing it will come in about 5-9 months after that.
BTW I haven't heard about the new Splinter Cell
Lothars @ Jan 13th 2009 10:18AM
Who Cares what their 2009 strategy is when the xbox 360 always gives the RROD
if they finally fix that than maybe than but I just had my elite of 6 months just RROD.
I really hope Microsoft gets it together but it never feels like they never will.
Alien Lord @ Jan 13th 2009 2:05PM
Go home $ony fanboy.
Alien Lord @ Jan 13th 2009 2:06PM
I'd love to see DN Forever on 360, DN 3D was great so another DN would be awesome.
ice~ @ Jan 13th 2009 4:21PM
This comment on that article makes me chuckle. Do people honestly think microsoft has nothing under it's sleeves for '09? Look at the past my friends, they will announce some big shit this year.
Bizarro__PS3 - Saturday, January 10, 2009 7:23 AM
LMAO pathetic! xbox has nothing in 2009 they even said it. only bunch of Halo patched in the box for retards to buy it. and a bunch of DLC's lol.
pathetic. xbox is done for. NO games in 2009 even M$ said it them selves
have fun playing all those halo's cause thats all yall getting