Microsoft execs comment on PlayStation Portable

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Senior executives from Microsoft's Xbox division have commented on Sony's plans for the PlayStation Portable, with Peter Moore dismissing the console's launch as being similar to a company trying to challenge the Windows operating system. Nintendo's dominance of the handheld market makes Sony's launch "like developing your own little operating system and saying, 'Well, I'm going to challenge Windows'," Moore told questioners at a Halo 2 Backstage Pass event in Seattle late last week, according to a report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Chief Xbox officer Robbie Bach was less dismissive of the system, but he argued that the launch was largely irrelevant to the Xbox business. "I think, in general, it's different than our [console] business," he told the audience. "We've yet to see anybody make a meaningful connection between having a console and having a handheld," he continued, although he did acknowledge that Nintendo had attempted to do so with the GameCube and GBA link-up.

News source: GamesIndustry.biz

Cont...

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(3 replies) #1 ABC½ on 08 Nov 2004 - 15:41

Just some bablling & speculation , public will have the last word what so ever!

ABC and a half!

#1.1 SKApretto n.71 on 08 Nov 2004 - 15:44

Seems to me like a man called Linus Torvalds... him just started developing a kernel some time ago...

#1.2 breadfan on 08 Nov 2004 - 23:06

and he almost has a three percent share of the market!

#1.3 deiong15 on 09 Nov 2004 - 03:11

actually he has 1.2 percent market

mac apple went from 2.2 down to 1.8 recently so there business reports say

windows still controlling well over 90. though ill bet a buck that if sony has sucess with the psp ms will start seriously thinking about making there own portable.

(2 replies) #2 theh0g on 08 Nov 2004 - 15:53

Microsoft always underestimates everybody and everything that isn't "made by Microsoft": from OS, software, phones, ... Playstation (PSX and PS2) is out for a long time and Sony has proven they know how to make a damn good console (along with all developers' support) and I bet PSP will be a huge success. Xbox doesn't sell nearly as good as PS2 even though XBOX is good, newer and technicaly advanced console. They will have another chance in next round with XBOX2/PS3....I don't doubt there will be a tough "war" since Microsoft gained many experience with xbox and Sony will have no easy time beating Microsoft again. But until Microsoft has something really great to show, they should control their comments...you never hear Nintendo or Sony talk down on Microsoft's XBOX, but then again, they are professionals (unlike Microsoft, where you have CEO acting like a retarded monkey on every conference).

#2.1 DrIndianaJones on 08 Nov 2004 - 20:05

There was a news article that was posted a few weeks ago reporting that since June the XBOX has been outselling the PS2 almost 2 to 1.

Sony has been bad mouthing the XBOX pleanty...this is just mud slinging. Not to mention, MS is just paving the way for the XBOX2 & the invevitable XBOX Mobile (XBM sounds like a good name).

Btw, Ballmer isn't a retarded monkey...an over-energetic monkey perhaps, but not a retarded one.

#2.2 rumc151 on 08 Nov 2004 - 20:55

Question: How can you not call the guy who sends e-mails entitled "Linux Sucks!" a retarded monkey?
Answer: You can, and it's true!

Last edited by 73596 on 08 Nov 2004 - 21:02

#3 netstarman on 08 Nov 2004 - 16:27

Oh please Sony has talked bad about Microsoft many times , All big companys rib each other plenty of times thats the name of the Game. So has Nintendo they all talk about how great there own system is. I think they should talk about each other, it would keep them going and get them to make awsome systems and fantastic games we all love like Halo 2...Metal Gear Solid...Metroid Prime..so forth. Maybe sometime down the line a handheld from Microsoft. I would love to see that i think anythings better than the Ngage.

#4 SaLiVa on 08 Nov 2004 - 17:17

In my perspective, why should Microsoft really care? They dont have any "Game dedicated" portable console of their own. Being insultive isnt exactly a good idea when you have nothing to compare it to. Im sure PSP will be a great success given that its selling at a reasonable and affordable price. I say to Microsoft, dont speak too soon, you havent seen anything yet.

(3 replies) #5 Zepolcire on 08 Nov 2004 - 17:20

IMO, Moore is right. Anyone that comes out with a handheld has to go up against Nintendo's GB, and it is pretty much a guaranteed loss because they own that market by 98%. The anology with Windows is stupid though.

#5.1 KayMan2K on 08 Nov 2004 - 18:35

There have been competitors... they have just all failed.

#5.2 Mav Phoenix on 09 Nov 2004 - 01:01

Yup 9 of them.

#5.3 Stef Nighthawk on 09 Nov 2004 - 08:23

Strange how they didn't use Moore's reasoning when Microsoft entered the console market. How the hell would X-Box compete against existing market-leaders

(1 reply) #6 dismuter on 08 Nov 2004 - 18:19

They own the market by 98% because they haven't had a serious competitor for years. It's like saying Sony did not have a chance with the PlayStation because the SNES had such a big market share.

#6.1 STV on 08 Nov 2004 - 19:01

or remeber when there were only "Palm" devices? now windows mobile will surpass them very soon. and if that isnt enough, PalmOne is thinking of using windows mobile in some of its devices.

STV

(2 replies) #7 Sem82 on 08 Nov 2004 - 18:35

the MS exec is right
the PSP might be great and will proberly sell in reasonable numbers
but there is no way it will challege nintendo in the handeld market
it might take 2 -3% of it

id still rather get a psp tho

#7.1 sundayx on 08 Nov 2004 - 20:00

imo it will cut nintendos handheld market share by a hugh number because of the potential sony has in gaming development. the results from the new battle between the psp and ds will determine who has the big market shares. the gbas and sps will drop because of the new systems released, and together the games coming out with them sooner or later.

now however i believe psp has a more worldwide market potential, while the ds appeals more to north america/europe? correct me.

#7.2 neufuse on 08 Nov 2004 - 20:23

I think DS will appeal more to Asian markets then the US markets. I think PSP would do better in american markets.

#8 Chicane-UK on 08 Nov 2004 - 19:56

Microsoft need to understand that at one (very recent) time they were the newcomer to the console market, and that the only reason they managed to get a good foothold was by selling their consoles at a huge loss and using crap loads of money to tempt big publishers into supporting them.. how is Sony trying to break into the handheld market any different to Microsofts position a few years ago, and what makes Microsoft so vastly knowledgable in these things? Sony and Nintendo have been at this a LOT longer than MS!

I hope the PSP does great.. there is definately room for two big handheld consoles out there!

#9 Fonze on 08 Nov 2004 - 20:34

Isn't it kind of like microsoft breaking into the console market. how could they challenge the dominance of Sony and Nintendo? oh wait... they did it anyway and were successful.
I like microsoft, but i think they under estimate the ability for the market to shift from one big company to another, and put too much stock into consumer fanboyism that keeps consumers comming back to the same company over and over

#10 Trevsweb on 08 Nov 2004 - 21:41

microsoft has joined up with the upcoming Gizmondo making age of empires, mechassault and a rare puzzle game called its mr pants, in their press release on gizmondo.com they also say two other games are in production.

#11 Razor Blade on 08 Nov 2004 - 22:52

That Peter Moore guy really makes Microsoft look dumb :p What does the PSP have to do with an operating system .. Err lemme think .. Oh that's right! Nothing!

(1 reply) #12 icecaveman on 09 Nov 2004 - 01:09

I will never buy a PS2, my next portable gaming device will run Windows CE 5 and run games developed with XNA, it will have touch sensitive screen and full network capabilities and wide range of business and PIM software unlike this single purpose PSP crap.

#12.1 zachman123 on 09 Nov 2004 - 02:50

I'm sorry but IMO I wouldn't call the PSP "single purposed", being able to play games, music, and movies as well as have other features. Sure it can't do as many things as a PPC, but at least it's going to have decent games. My PPC was (it broke

) great and all but games are really not the strong point of PPC's... Except for the Tapwave Zodiac which in my opinion was heading in the right direction.

(1 reply) #13 ThunderRiver on 09 Nov 2004 - 02:08

I don't know how well Sony portable is going to make in terms of market share, but I wonder what it feels like to play Grand Theft Auto San Adreas on it..

#13.1 zachman123 on 09 Nov 2004 - 02:54

I bet great until you run into a wall from being entranced into it

#14 eilegz on 09 Nov 2004 - 05:32

this its another comment of microsoft contradicting themself somehow

#15 iconboy on 09 Nov 2004 - 05:50

omg, what arrogance

in japan even bitter rival companies wish each other luck. Honestly i dont really care about the PSP or how it does... until now... i hope it does relativley well (keeping my expectations real) and i hope the xbox 2 bombs (Ill still get one)

#16 CL0CKW0RKB0Y on 09 Nov 2004 - 10:28

Microsoft have a history of underestimating and then forced to play catch-up. With their money, resources, lawyers, and bulling tactics it generally works.

The moment MS see a profit margin to be made they'll be right in..... X-Box Portable anyone?

#17 UnrealFreak on 09 Nov 2004 - 18:08

Everyone'll still buy a PSP anyway... I don't think THEY understand the word POPULARITY

#18 threetonesun on 09 Nov 2004 - 18:17

He's got a good point. Someone said the Playstation knocked out the huge share the SNES/N64 had. It didn't, it just killed Nintendo's other competitor, Sega. And how did Sega kill itself? Expensive consoles, poorly designed handhelds among other things.

Gameboy has almost become as synonmous with portable gaming as Kleenex has to facial tissues. While there is a lot of excitement out there for the PSP, there was for the SP as well, and the higher price compared to the already decent GBA kept a lot of people from buying them for a while.

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