Neowin.net - Microsoft tries to 'own the consumer' with Xbox

Microsoft tries to 'own the consumer' with Xbox

Posted by Marcel Klum on 16 March 2003 - 20:01 · 45 comments & 1583 views

Microsoft is having a tough time getting support for its Xbox Live. The Vole's usual strategy of keeping as much of the money for itself as possible isn't sitting well with the biggest games makers. Electronic Arts and Eidos have both said they will not be supporting Xbox Live.

According to Bloomberg, the chief executive of Eidos said, "we don't feel comfortable with Microsoft's business model - they own the consumer." This is down to Microsoft being determined to control the system that Xboxes connect to and, what a surprise, determined to control the subscriptions. According to Eidos, that leaves no real incentive for it to take part. Conversely, Eidos is quite happily beavering away to make online games for the Playstation 2.

Electronic Arts was quoted as saying that it had no plans for online games for the Xbox either. Although it didn't go into details, it seems likely that the reasons are similar. EA claimed that it couldn't agree to Microsoft's terms.

Analysts are already circling like vultures and pointing to this being a bad omen for Xbox. With companies as big as Electronic Arts and Eidos turning up their noses, it's really no surprise. It is a bad omen.

News source: the inquirer

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(1 reply) #1 Posted by smek on 16 Mar 2003 - 20:05: missed the M of Mircosoft [quote] icrosoft is having [/quote] microsoft always get things wrong, good call ea for pulling out

(2 replies) #2 Posted by jago6498 on 16 Mar 2003 - 20:11: Uh, I think saying that [b]Eidos[/b] is just as big as [b]EA[/b] is stretching it a little... ...personally I've never really liked their games...[i]Soul Reaver[/i] being an exception.

#3 Posted by Napalm on 16 Mar 2003 - 20:12: The alt/title property for the link on the front page messed up because of the quote. It cuts off and says "Microsoft tries to", obviously the quotation mark is tripping it up.

#4 Posted by Kaneda on 16 Mar 2003 - 20:16: i'll just be glad when this whole X-Box garbage is put to bed once and for all... if i pay money, i want to own something. not a license to use something that belongs to someone else. there are plenty of ignorant people to keep the system sales itself afloat, but it seems like a lot of game companies are starting to feel the same way i do.

(1 reply) #5 Posted by David3k on 16 Mar 2003 - 20:51: uhh...hello!?!? How much do you know about company's?? I don't care to be the ignorant consumer who only hopes for 2 things: low prices with no strings attached. You can only have one. ether pay high, or get tied

#6 Posted by aaronsam on 16 Mar 2003 - 21:11: M$ needs to let up a little on how strict there stuff is.

#7 Posted by ChadyzGroove on 16 Mar 2003 - 21:39: Acctually i think Microsoft is just trying to make it easier which has proven to be true so far with the Xbox Live service, but if other companies want to Charge another cost then I think Microsoft should look into it, but make it so that its reasonable for the consumer to. Microsoft will figure it out, they have the money and a good time line, if they see a need for change they will do so no doubt about that

(4 replies) #8 Posted by eilegz on 16 Mar 2003 - 21:54: online game is not profitable for any company inmagine to pay for play that idea is only apply for rich or people with $ i believe that online gameing should be like PC online gameing system let the developers do their own i like nintendo idea to support online gaming but not getting into it i mean compraing nintendo to sony or microsoft sony and microsoft got more $ and also do another thiings other than video games p.d.: if u played starcraft or diablo u will know what good experience is it to play online and FOR FREE

#9 Posted by Tim on 16 Mar 2003 - 21:58: well EA sucks so lol

#10 Posted by iraklis2000 on 16 Mar 2003 - 23:06: EA is picking a fight with the wrong guy. Not many people/companies/governments have had a substancial win with these guys. If I were running a business I would do anything possible not to get these guys mad at me. EA has made a grave mistake. A monkey could probably predict how this is going to end up.

(1 reply) #11 Posted by jago6498 on 17 Mar 2003 - 00:06: Just b/c EA isn't supporting Xbox Live that's gonna hurt them? Then how do you explain the whole EA/Sega Dreamcast issue? EA didn't make one game for the system and it didn't hurt them.

(1 reply) #12 Posted by antareus on 17 Mar 2003 - 01:16: [quote]they own the consumer[/quote] Of course they do, this is a surprise?

(2 replies) #13 Posted by walters17 on 17 Mar 2003 - 04:19: Do you know what this means?! NO SIMS ONLINE FOR THE XBOX! ..stupid sims..what expansion pack are we up to now, this is starting to get like, Windows XP . Who really cares that EA isnt supporting it.

#14 Posted by macrosslover on 17 Mar 2003 - 04:23: frankly considering that just about all ea's online attempts have been flops, i don't consider their current approach to online gaming effective. so if they are saying screw Microsoft in online gaming, i'll say that Microsoft will get the last laugh. the sims online has flopped. earth and beyond sold 53,000 copies!!!! that's it lol. so frankly if some of you idiots want to be overcharged by EA and charged for each and every single last game they make, which they already do, so be it. it amazes that people can hate Microsoft so much and act like Live is a bad thing. if EA had their way, you'd pay 10 for every single last game.

(2 replies) #15 Posted by iomayho on 17 Mar 2003 - 04:34: that's one reason i don't like microsoft...... they want to control everything.... i agree with post #4, what kaneda said........

#16 Posted by Quick Reply on 17 Mar 2003 - 10:40: edit: double post

#17 Posted by Quick Reply on 17 Mar 2003 - 10:40: I like EA, I think that they are one of the only major companies that have their product availible for Linux (Sim City that is) but I could be mistaken

#18 Posted by rx-- on 17 Mar 2003 - 11:01: Microsoft can own me anyday. Own me, M$.

(2 replies) #19 Posted by David3k on 17 Mar 2003 - 11:44: Me too! +I don't think EA or Edios will have the impact they think they will, cuz, they're not the only game makers out there

#20 Posted by npX on 17 Mar 2003 - 12:15: When will people realize that MS is one of the worst things in the world? I would never in my life want or own an XBox. And that's just because its MS's creation. Maybe I have too much hate for MS built up? I dunno. All I know is that it isn't just the XBox Live thing that's a bad omen. MS in general is the real bad omen.

(1 reply) #21 Posted by insurektion on 17 Mar 2003 - 18:06: lest we forget the purchase of rare online donkey kong would own

(3 replies) #22 Posted by insurektion on 17 Mar 2003 - 18:09: #20 you got too much hate . ms is fine for xboxs. software prices are a different issue. but apple chose to only have private development and look where it got them and for linux game support shouldnt ya be dual booting. but xbox is great - minus controller issue. fixed -

#23 Posted by insurektion on 17 Mar 2003 - 18:11: oh one more thing xbox live has alnmost no lag

#24 Posted by Impulfusion on 17 Mar 2003 - 23:55: WTF Is wrong with you guys? WTF is the problem saying that EA sucks? I mean they made pretty good games... Dumb @$$3$

#25 Posted by kioria on 18 Mar 2003 - 06:11: damn, i feel owned

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