Microsoft's Gates weighs in on Revolution controller [Update 1]
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 6th 2006 at 12:30PM }
Speaking with EGM, Bill Gates scoffed at the idea that Microsoft might have missed out by not being the
first to develop a Nintendo Revolution-esque controller, "Holding two different things like that?"Gates also questioned Nintendo's decision not to focus on graphics and reiterated the fact that the company has had difficulty breaking out of the young age bracket. He did applaud Nintendo for "[marching] to the beat of a different drummer," although Gates was quick to point out that this method has sometimes been "incredibly wrong."
UPDATE: The Gates interview appeared as a sidebar in EGM/1UP's Peter Moore interview, which Joystiq covered here, but went unnoticed. The recent rediscovery is noteworthy because it adds to the growing list of Microsoft pseudo-assaults on Nintendo's Revolution (see also: XBLA chief trash talks Sony and Nintendo's offerings) and suggests that Microsoft is afraid, on some level, that Nintendo could seriously cripple the 360's presence in the gaming market.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
some guy with HD @ Feb 6th 2006 1:40PM
I have a 360 and a 62" HD television. I think Nintendo is making the correct business move to not support HD.
When I first plugged in my 360, I didnt flip the switch on the A/V cable to HD. Before I realized I was only playing games in 480p, I was still impressed by the steller graphics. Once I changed over to HD, the graphics did mprove some. Mostly in clarity and sharpness. But it was a minor improvement. The graphics were great, regardless of HD.
If the revolution can match the graphics that the 360 puts out at 480p, then this whole HD issue is a non-issue. With the exception of those with monster sized high-def sets, I doubt people will see much difference between the two systems.
kuroshi @ Feb 6th 2006 1:44PM
were are these numbers coming from? As stated in their own financial reports nin had record losses on the GC. They also reported record profits in the hand held market. They ended up with a breakeven year. Nin can no longer count on record profits from the handheld because of an emerging psp. The rev is an attempt to turn the console market. Nin cannot compete with a me too console because they cannot afford to take on the losses that both sony and ms can. The rev should be a low production cost machine. They probably will not lead the next gen consoles, but will not take on the hugh losses and possibly even be profitable. Nin market did skew younger than ms and sony. BTW if MS wants nin badley enough, they actually have the cash reserves to take it thru a hostile takeover. The resulting PR would be a disaster, so I don't see it happening. A peacful merger would not be out of the question though. That all depends on the success of the rev and how strong the psp becomes. Just because you love nin, it doesn't change thier financial reports.
MSU_CokeBoi @ Feb 6th 2006 1:47PM
when Bill learns how to sell to Japanese consumers, then and only then, will I consider listening to anything he has to say.
Danny Boy @ Feb 6th 2006 1:49PM
Why do i get the feeling that Joystiq is very Anti - Microsoft?
I mean, if this is a sign that Microsoft are afraid of Nintendo then Sony must be terrorfied of both Microsoft and Nintendo.
At least Moore and that other bauld guy that I can't think of his name (People that are more closely tied to Xbox than Bill is - He just owns Microsoft)have shown their respect for Nintendo.
John @ Feb 6th 2006 1:56PM
I'm a Nintendo fan and even I have to question the new controller. Its not like they added an extra button or two...they've totally changed how gaming takes place on their new console. How will traditional games that require a d pad and a few buttons operate on this thing? Are you just going to hold up 2 pieces of hardware and play the game? isn't that tiring? At least if the 2 pieces were together as one (like a regular controller) it wouldn't be as tiring. I just don't have a good feeling about this. Its great for some game genres but not all. Seems like Nintendo is putting it all on the line with this new controller design. Here's hoping the software developers embrace the new technology and make good use of it.
-John
http://www.deliveryblog.com/
bornonce @ Feb 6th 2006 1:57PM
Simply put, both the PS3 and XBOX 360 are targeting different markets than Nintendo. The PS3 and XBOX 360 are targeting hard-core gamers who like realistic graphics, simulations, and FPS's, and who are willing to spend (or can afford to) several hundreds of dollars all-told on a gaming console.
Nintendo seems more interested in providing entertainment to everyone, and making it affordable. However, most potential PS3 and XBOX 360 owners have stated that they would likely also get a Revolution.
Without a doubt, Nintendo will "win" the next-gen console wars in terms of number of consoles sold because they will offer a product that is almost universally affordable, and appealing to a very broad base. Sony's direction with the PS3 seems to be away from a "gaming console" and more to a rather expensive home entertainment center, as is to a lesser degree the XBOX 360. Not the same market at all for the REV, which will not even support HDTV, but in all likelihood will be bought by current PS2, XBOX, and Nintendo owners, alike, as well as first-time gamers.
Considering the initial success of XBOX LIVE ARCADE, graphics are not as important to gamers as some seem to imply.
gerty @ Feb 6th 2006 1:57PM
please, do explain a hostile takeover to me, kuroshi.
Ninegauger @ Feb 6th 2006 2:06PM
I'm sure on the one hand J. Allard and Moore legitimately respect Nintendo but on the other they're just covering their bases in case it takes off... trying to avoid the Yamauchi "If the Playstation succeeds then I'll resign" remarks.
Cyberclaws @ Feb 6th 2006 2:18PM
Danny Boy,
That 'other bald guy' would be J Allard
ManekiNeko @ Feb 6th 2006 2:34PM
Didn't Bill Gates say in a computer magazine about ten years ago that there was no future for video game consoles, and that PCs would become the platform of choice for gamers? Kinda funny how things turned out, with him developing a game console of his own.
Bill likes to make a lot of big predictions, then revise history when those predictions are proven wrong. His book The Road Ahead is a great example... in the first edition, he poo-pooed the Internet, but that dismissal vanished in subsequent editions, when he was proven wrong (in a big way).
Look back on this in five years. If the Revolution controller is a success, Bill will act as if he never made those comments.
JR
Blizz419 @ Feb 6th 2006 2:37PM
kuroshi you dont have the slightest clue what you are talking about at all, first off Nintendo has never sold a console at a loss, it has made a profit on every one sold, also Nintendo owns most of its own stock shares, there fore it is impossible for microsoft to get 51% of its shares to be capable of a hostile takeover.
budong @ Feb 6th 2006 2:38PM
#21: "BTW if MS wants nin badley enough, they actually have the cash reserves to take it thru a hostile takeover."
Nintendo have been buying back their own shares to prevent a hostile takeover. So, no, Microsoft can't buy enough of Nintendo's shares to take over the company.
Gin @ Feb 6th 2006 2:43PM
I've been reading through this and everyone here has very good valid points. I have a 360, it is sitting in my room all alone, waiting for Gears of War, Fight Night Round 3, and the MistWalker (Blue Dragon, Lost Oddessy) and Capcom (Lost Planet) games. But when will it happen?, FNR3 comes out this March, and that's it, because I get the feeling GOW will be delayed til Fall, and will act as M$'s Halo for the fall/holiday season to compete with everyone else. But, i have to admit, there is pretty much nothing else to do with the 360, all us 360 owners have to do is wait.. and thats not good for gamers or M$. The 360 came out with no "Halo" type games at all, PDZ sucks, PGR3 sucks (trust me, I looove racing games, but im more into the street racing import genre then Benzino's and Lambos. Im waiting for Tokyo Street Racer 360) ... the 360 wont have any games till fall and that hurts. What is the point of being a gamer when there are no games to play? .. Marble Madness? .. come on. But ... come March, XBLA with have ... Street Fighter! .. and i certainly cant wait for that .. HA-DO-KEN! (that will be a success for sure!). Anyways, the Revolution ..will .. be.. amazing. (IF) Mario 128 for the Revolution on Launch Day... Mario is Nintendo's "Halo" and if Mario 128 is launched with the Revolution, which is most likely going to be $200 dollars, then the Revolution will sell ... SELL!, like HoTcAkEs!. It will be like the NES all over again. *joyful tears*. Ah, and oh yeah, i dont have $500 for a PS3... until MGS4 comes (2007 most likely), then i'd probably sell my arm and leg for it then.
AJ @ Feb 6th 2006 2:43PM
But the Rev controller is essentialy what's been the standard input for full virtual reality stuff for years...
Jago @ Feb 6th 2006 2:44PM
"it has made a profit on every one sold"
Actually that is not entirely true either. I don't know the records for the systems prior to the Gamecube (mainly b/c I never paid attention to them until now) but the Cube was initially sold at a loss. However it was the first of the 3 to make a profit.
Jay @ Feb 6th 2006 2:46PM
hah @ John. You are a Nintendo fan, yet you think the controller is not going to work with traditional games... riiiight. You lost all credibility there. Everyone and thier dog knows about the Shell controller. you know. the controller that will have the same number of buttons (round about) that the current and next gen systems will have? but with added gyroscopic ability.
The lack of intelligence here is starting to spook me out a little.
As for the other systems losing money... How long do you think it will be until a company says "right, we're losing money here. action time!" and cut the floundering product? Sure some companies have the money to do take a loss, but it's never long before that loss is cut. Who will we be left with? Nintendo. and EA *shudders*.
Blizz419 @ Feb 6th 2006 2:50PM
kuroshi you must truly feel like the biggest idiot in theses comments LMAO
Lekko @ Feb 6th 2006 2:54PM
Microsoft is in a very good position right now actually. Think about it: MS did not have to actually innovate or do any real thinking (no money spent on R&D), and if it succedes they can implement it on the next go-round while being targeted to an adult audience. If it fails, MS can mock nintendo for a stupid idea, if it succedes, they can steal it.
Just don't expect Microsoft to ever come up with any new ideas of their own. This is their buisness strategy in action.
Zsavior @ Feb 6th 2006 2:59PM
Umm Nintendo didn't lose money on the game cube, they didn't make as much as previous system wars but they didn't turn up in the red. Now if you are in dead last in the home console race and turn in a profit, while your competitor is second and in the red to the tune of 4billion dollars there is a problem.
See bill gates knows nothing about gaming, and with the industry the way it is now he knows sony is about to spank that ass, so what does he do? He goes back to that tried and true formula attack nintendo, but the problem is nintendo already has a demographic he has no hope of tapping into outside of japan. Inside japan they are gods while he is not even a blip on the map. What does this mean you may ask? It means Xbox fans that actually care about who is going to be second or third or first can look forward to Xbox 360 sputtering. See if Bill feels the need to take shots like this at nintendo after having a failure in the first console, and his second console not doing to well either then he has given up on taking on Sony. BY the way Shortages are MS end of the line thus his fault, so no speeches on woulda, coulda, shoulda, they didn't.
He Better Hope Hsu doesn't get a hold of his ass and ask how can he be writing off nintendo which has made a profit on each system while his systems sputter and fail. DON'T GET INTERVIEWED BY HSU MR Gates just look away if he calls again, act like you lost his message. The thing is Bill Gates Made MS by Copying another man! Who copied somebody else, I bet he thinks he is due any minute to come in first cause he is using the same formula all over again. Games are harder Mr Gates you cruising for another cake to the face.
Game recognize Game Billy and you looking pretty unfamilar right now!
Petey @ Feb 6th 2006 3:00PM
Oh my God!!! Kuroshi, I can't velieve what you just wrote O_o Nintendo never, ever lost a penny with the GameCube, only last year they didn't make the money they expected but still didn't lose any!!! As for Sony being able to take neverending losses, think again: they already started to lay off people around the world, their stock value is going down(unlike Nintendo ;) ) & they are fighting to release the PS3 this spring; sure MS can afford heavy losses for quite a time but the shareholders board won't see with good eyes losing Billions for a decade... as for the hostile takeover, well I just have to say that former Nintendo president, Yamauchi has almost half of Nintendo shares in his hands & Nintendo itself has a good part of the remaining shares, in fact, not long ago they bought back shares just to make sure that such a takeover would be impossible, so...
Just have to say: LONG LIVE NINTENDO!!!
portnoy @ Feb 6th 2006 3:46PM
"were are these numbers coming from? As stated in their own financial reports nin had record losses on the GC. "
Link please!
Kuroshi, I'm afraid you either can't read or are just making stuff up.
MS can't take over Nintendo unless nintendo allows it. They own enough shares to keep it from happening. And believe me, they will keep it from happening any time soon.
Also, as for this gamecube has made money on every console. There seems to be some confusion as to this. I've done alot of research and there are conflicting reports. Some sites claim the cube was sold at a lost initially. Others claim that production costs were less than expected and because of currency fluctuations, it was actually sold at a small profit even in the beginning, at least in the USA. Also, some sites use different terminology and say that the cube has always sold at a price greater than it cost to produce, which doesn't necessarily take into account dev/R&D costs, etc. Officially, I believe that the gamecube has had been profitable since the beginning, even posting a profit in its first full quarter on the market, which is where many get the claim that it has been profitable since the very beginning. It has only had 1 quarter of actual losses on the books, and this was when they initially dropped the price to $99 and before they eliminated the DV out port which got costs back down to where each unit was profitable. If someone has more specific information, please post. As for Kuroshi, please quitting pulling crap out of your butt.
As for this article, I dont think MS is scared. And I don't think they need to be. Honestly, the 360 is a different product from the Revolution and while I think there will be some overlap, I don't think the Revolution could "kill" the 360 and vice versa. Much like the DS and PSP, I think its possible they will both sell very well.
Also, as others have noted, unlike Bill, Moore has been relatively complimentary to Nintendo. Allard has gone both ways but all of MS's talking heads have been pretty critical of the PS3. I think its clear that both sony and MS see each other as their main competitors, rather than Nintendo. I think sony, MS, and even most of the gaming media, as well as ALL the financial analysts, have already given up on Nintendo. Which is one of the reasons I like to cheer for them, because I like the underdog. They may surprise us and they may fail miserably.
TiaMaster @ Feb 6th 2006 4:05PM
"...adds to the growing list of Microsoft pseudo-assaults on Nintendo's Revolution..."
I love how Joystiq tries so hard to make these innocuous comments look like 'verbal assaults'.
Everytime they print something like this, I never see any "attacks". Besides Sony's "full on assault" on Xbox Live thing. And even that was just marketing.
striderhayasa @ Feb 6th 2006 4:11PM
Nintendo reported losses for 2004 into 2005, just like every other company did. But 2005-2006, Nintendo reported record profits, 801 million and 10 billion in the bank. nintendo was profitable with the Gamecube every year of it's lifespan except for the fiscal year mentioned above. Microsoft is afraid because 360 is a flaming failure in Japan so far and Revolution is more anticipated in Japan than the 360 even in the face of the Ps3.
Even though there have been developers that have questioned Nintendo's stance for the next gen, understand that the industry is becoming stagnant and too expensive. There are developers that see this and understand where Nintendo is coming from. Case in point, it should not cost MILLIONS of dollars to produce a handheld game, (see:PSP).
Also, where is the real innovation. People say the Nintendo can't live of of Mario and Zelda forever. Well, how many Metal Gear sequels are we going to have to see, or Final Fantasy for that matter. I was playing that in Junior high school. I'm 10 years into the corporate world now. Capcom is making another Devil may Cry, there's another Splinter Cell coming out, another. The list goes on and on. Nintendo still has better first party development than Sony or Microsoft but they all suffer from sequel-itis.
As far as the portable market goes, how do you think Sony feels that they have to fight so hard against inferior tech? They have forgotten that it's the games/gameplay that will keep people coming back for more often than gimmicks or tech that can easily be replace by better hardware. (Think Ipod, Ipod:Video, Creative Zen Player etc) The Ds continues to sell, the DS Lite will sell. Nintendo will continue to sell games for it. (Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, Brain Games, Nitnendogs, Mario 64DS have all sold well over a million units world wide and most of these titles continue to sell today.) So how is it Nintendo is hurting? How is Nintendo in a bad situation? They are more profitable than their competition, in handheld and console...
John @ Feb 6th 2006 4:23PM
Jay and others, Yes, I know about the accessories, and the "shell" where you plug the remote control like controller into another controller. But my point is that it is additional hardware thats sold separately.
I know the remote controller can be rotated sideways to form a regular nintendo controller, but most modern games utilize more than 2 action buttons.
-John
http://www.deliveryblog.com/Jay and others, Yes, I know about the accessories, and the "shell" where you plug the remote control like controller into another controller. But my point is that it is additional hardware thats sold separately.
I know the remote controller can be rotated sideways to form a regular nintendo controller, but most modern games utilize more than 2 action buttons.
-John
http://www.deliveryblog.com/
Blizz419 @ Feb 6th 2006 4:40PM
um John you dont know that the shell is sold seperatly that si your assumption not fact, acyually i am willing to bet the "shell" will be packed in with the console
Hobo @ Feb 6th 2006 4:57PM
What the heck? So, what if people are not as informed as others on this site? That does not discredit a person's fanhood. Sure, I 'may' be making up words, but that still does not give anyone the right to bash another because they do not believe in their opinion...even if that person is Kuroshi. We'll just call him naive.
Honestly, though. I AM a Nintendo fan. I do like to keep on top of things. But, guess what! I do not believe that all this bickering is going to make the console come out any quicker. Nor, will it make one better than the other.
Pretty Obvious @ Feb 6th 2006 5:16PM
You can call Microsoft alot of things but one thing they are not is scared of Nintendo. Sure Microsoft loses money on each system sold, they can afford to do so and as consumers we get our moneys worth, which is more then I can say for a Nintendo console. Hell if Nintendo was up for grabs Microsoft would have money to buy them as well.
"If it fails, MS can mock nintendo for a stupid idea, if it succedes, they can steal it." - You couldnt have said it better. Nintendo is most def an innovative company, problem is their innovations are always half assed. Look at the first gen rumble equipped controllers. We need Nintendo in the market to create new stuff, then we need the big players to improve upon N's concepts.
And what a better way for Nintendo to test out its new ideas then on children. It's main fanbase.
striderhayasa @ Feb 6th 2006 6:31PM
how quickly we forget. Nitnendo has already announced that the Cube controllers will work on the Revolution and if you watched the video that demoed the Revolution controller with the nunchuck attachment, you will see that you sit just as you would with a regular controller and the 3D functions works with the slightest move of your wrist. You don't have to wave your arms around like some idiot to get it to work. If worse comes to worse, just use the cube stick or the Wavebird for crying out loud! use the Rev controller for games that are made for it and the old GC controllers or the shell for tradtional games.
Now stop crying!
PickyPants @ Feb 6th 2006 7:25PM
People of Joystiq,
Please do not respond to anything posted by "Pretty Obvious."
His opinions are based on passionate, and incorrect, speculation.
Thank you.
sensei @ Feb 6th 2006 8:04PM
Who wants to press 3 buttons simultaneously to logon to your operating system?
Oh yeah...
The Purveyor of Justice @ Feb 6th 2006 9:49PM
Microsoft should indeed be scared, for thier chance at the throne of video gaming will be ripped from their grasp.
The Rev is generating soooo much anticipation, I'm confident in them taking the #1 banner once again.
OHHHH... what a great age of gaming is to come!!
Pretty Obvious @ Feb 6th 2006 10:02PM
People of Joystiq,
The majority of you are not considered blinded idiots such as PickyPants. Though there are many up here like him that cant take any harsh criticism, they are called fanboys (he happens to be one of Nintendos). Its a shame too. Ignorance is in abundance nowadays. This has been your public service announcement of the day.
Thank you.
Pikachelsea @ Feb 6th 2006 11:40PM
HOLDING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS?!?1 OMFG THAT'S TOO MANY, MY BRANE CAN'T HANDLE IT?/!!!!!
mofomojo @ Feb 6th 2006 11:41PM
"Why do i get the feeling that Joystiq is very Anti - Microsoft?"
As if that's something to be ashamed of?
MS has always ridden down the beaten path, they only steal the ideas on concepts of others that they know to be succesful.
Anyways, this is coming from the same guys that said that "Open source is communism", so take it very lightly.
Jed Merrill @ Feb 7th 2006 2:38AM
Nintendo profits on the first Revolution it sells, and sells 50 million of them over 5 years. MicroSoft loses money on the first 360 and loses money on every succeeding 360 for the next five years. Talk about strategy. Is this really the difference between East and West thinking!? Confucius say Nintendo win.
I suspect Microsoft and Nintendo will fight it out for first in the US, with Sony coming in a close third due to their exorbitant price. In Japan, Nintendo and Sony will fight it out for first, with the Revolution ultimately pulling ahead because of the DS fanbase. FYI, the DS outsold all other consoles combined, including the PSP and PS2, by two to one last week in Japan. Microsoft will fail miserably in Japan, which is probably a good thing for its shareholders. If they are lucky they will outsell the original Xbox in that territory. Worldwide, MS will play distant third, with Nintendo playing King and Sony second, primarily because Sony will have to fight with Microsoft for the same market, while curiosity and expanding market forces bring almost as much business to Nintendo's new foray as MS and Sony put together. No wonder MS is spewing progaganda and insults. They can, however, pat themselves on the back for actually having a product to market.
Jed Merrill @ Feb 7th 2006 2:43AM
Everyone go watch the iFilm "Nintendo Old School Revolution" and wait through the credits to see what will become of Bill Gates when Nintendo wins. (It's a great film!)
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2686716
justchris @ Feb 7th 2006 3:43AM
A few things to note.
Nintendo has never lost money on Gamecube sales, because they make money on each unit sold. However, when the GC first released, they did take a loss on the hardware. Remember, R&D costs are also taken into consideration, so even though they made a profit on each unit sold, as a whole, the GC did not make them any money in, I think, the 1st 2 quarters of it's lifecycle. After that, it has been nothing but profit. Even on 1st & 2nd party games that flopped (not very many) Nintendo has consistently made money.
And looking that the 2nd place Xbox is only about 2-3 million units ahead of the GC in sales (or at least, was in October before the 360 released) when the market leader has over 80 million units in homes, They really don't have much room to brag.
Also, Microsoft could not stage a hostile takeover of Nintendo. Between the Yamauchi family and Nintendo itself, there are less than 40% of Nintendo shares outstanding. Even if Microsoft bought every last one of those shares, it would not be enough to stage a hostile takeover. And Hisohi Yamauchi is far too proud to ever sell his stock in Nintendo.
Blizz419 @ Feb 6th 2006 12:39PM
thats cuz peter moore understands you dont underestimate nintendo they have still up to this point remained the king in terms of profit, they made more profit than even than even Sony, nobody can touch them in that area, they have made some mistakes on cube and the 64 but they know that, the revolution is garuanteed to sell more than the cube did, and i bet they will still make more profit than its competitors this coming generation.
pennywise969 @ Feb 6th 2006 12:53PM
I wonder if Bill Gates has a swimming pool of money like Scrooge McDuck.
Andrew @ Feb 6th 2006 12:57PM
it's a growing trend in the industry to attack Nintendo.
dirty hate mongering. that's what this is.
pr0cs @ Feb 6th 2006 1:01PM
oh boy, here come the nintendofanbots.
run!
hide!
vadermagg0t @ Feb 6th 2006 1:01PM
The profit didn't come from the cube it came from the handheld market. the DS, gameboy advance, etc...... The cube is a bomber if not for a few titles ( for adult gamers anyway) but the kids dig it!!
Game dude @ Feb 6th 2006 1:05PM
People are going to go with the console that has the best games, not the best controller,graphics, etc. Games are what makes the console. If Nintendo can create new gaming experiences,ones that are fun,then they have the chance to be #1 again.
Of course, we all like photo realistic graphics, but is that really going to keep you playing it for hours?..I don't think so. There needs to be some sort of game play element, that draws you to it. Graphics may be one, but it's not enough.
As for the virtual console, I think if Nintendo puts a fair price on the games, then it will be a total success. It wouldn't hurt though, if they used the virtual console for more than just classic games.
To #1: you're absolutely right. Nintendo is making a huge profit, and just as u said, I'm sure they'll sell more Revolutions, than they did with the cube.
Here's hoping the Revolution will be a big success!..
PS: Can't wait for Super Smash Bros Revolution, and Zelda Revolution!
Intrepid @ Feb 6th 2006 1:05PM
Since when did Microsoft turn a profit on a console? Until then Bill Gates has no authority to make negative opinions about what other console makers are doing.
Microsoft doesn't even know what innovation is. If they can't buy it or steal it they have nothing to do with it.
Dogbowl @ Feb 6th 2006 1:06PM
If the cubes a bomber, then whats the xbox? Microsoft lost 4 billion dollars over the life of the xbox only to sell roughly 20 million consoles.
Whats 20 million consoles divided by 4 billion dollars? That would be $200 each.
They essentially gave away the console for free ... and still only managed to end up in last place.
Cyberclaws @ Feb 6th 2006 1:10PM
I am disappointed to see this. I know that the Xbox360 team (in itself, no Gates input) always approached Nintendo with an olive branch of good will until now. Even Peter Moore distanced himself from this comment by Gates. I hope Bill 'checks' himself because if he doesn't, all the 'good rep' that Xbox360 Team has been working on with the Japanese and Nintendo will all be for not.
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Feb 6th 2006 1:10PM
640k should be enough for anybody. Who said that?
Sven @ Feb 6th 2006 1:11PM
It's not necessarily an attack, but a sign of Microsoft's strategy to try and marginalise Nintendo by saying they only do "kiddie" stuff. They've been doing this since the first days of the X-Box, since that's what plays well to their customer base.
Gates is probably just spewing out lines provided for him by one of his PR staffers, anyway. Even Microsoft is focusing more on XBLA and media convergence than graphical capability when promoting the 360 these days.
Blizz419 @ Feb 6th 2006 1:11PM
actually vadermagg0t there profit came from everything they sold, for one they never sell any hardware at a loss, and there are plenty of good games on cube, thats why i have more games for it than any other console and i'm not a kid i'm a 26 year old guy, theres the resident evil games, metroid prime games, eternal darkness, and mario sunshine is way to hard for a little kid thats for sure, theres many other good games as well, see the thing is all these teenagers worry about whats supposedly "cool" to own and not whats fun to play, me for one i dont need sony i'm perfectly happy with nintendo and microsoft systems, and i dont intend on ever giving sony any of my money ever agin unless they really do something to wow me which is unlikely
Jim @ Feb 6th 2006 1:13PM
"He did applaud Nintendo for "[marching] to the beat of a different drummer," although Gates was quick to point out that this method has sometimes been "incredibly wrong."
But, you know what really is incredibly wrong? Launching your system far too early, and missing the boat, look what happened to Sega, everytime they tried to be the first to launch a system and it back fired because people weren't ready to upgrade yet and then a better system came out a year later and they got stuck with an old not as good system. I bet the same thing will happen to the 360. everyone who wanted one, has one...