Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Microsoft's Shane Kim on Xbox 360's MMO failures]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/microsofts-shane-kim-on-xbox-360s-mmo-failures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/microsofts-shane-kim-on-xbox-360s-mmo-failures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/microsofts-shane-kim-on-xbox-360s-mmo-failures/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EDGE spoke with Microsoft Game Studios corporate VP Shane Kim about the MMO genre's failure to come to fruition on the Xbox 360 game console. Two MMOs that were planned for the platform -- Marvel Universe Online (an in-house project) and True Fantasy Live Online (developed by Factor 5) -- were cancelled. Check out the interview for all the quotes, but we have the gist of it here.

While Kim noted that the cancellation of those specific games was "the right decision," he also said "there's nothing to say those titles can't be successful on the 360."

Some critics (such as NCsoft) disagree. They argue that the Xbox Live service is too restrictive for an MMO developer's workflow. "I think those are real challenges ... we work very hard to create a stable and secure environment on Xbox 360 and that's where you see that tension," said Kim. "I'm sure we can solve that problem though in a way that is good for MMO developers and customers because we want that content: and we're getting very close. But we're late with that, and we feel bad about that."

MassivelyMicrosoft's Shane Kim on Xbox 360's MMO failures originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancelledconsolesedgefactor-5failureinterviewmarvel-universe-onlinemicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosncsoftshane-kimtrue-fantasy-live-onlinexbox-360xbox-liveTue, 29 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[David Perry on MUO cancellation: "huh?"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/david-perry-on-muo-cancellation-huh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/david-perry-on-muo-cancellation-huh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/david-perry-on-muo-cancellation-huh/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Eurogamer caught up with David Perry, former Shiny Entertainment big-wig and now localizer of many free MMOs for Acclaim to ask him, among other things, for his reaction to the recent news that Marvel Universe Online has been officially canned. Perry reacted with some surprise, pointing out Marvel is one of the biggest and most prolific mainstream intellectual properties on the market today, with all the money swirling around the box-office success of Spiderman, X-men, The Hulk, etc. He reasoned that if you take a team just as good as Blizzard and set them to work on a Marvel MMO, it'd be even bigger than WoW.

We take Perry's point, but there are a number of factors to consider with this story. First of all, there's a certain danger in developing an MMO for a console environment, especially at this stage in the system's life. The Xbox 360 launched in Fall of 2005, meaning it's probably closing in on the midway point in its life-cycle. In a genre where games like Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot are still making money, being halfway through a five year life cycle doesn't bode well for long-term profitability. And second, whose to say Shane Kim even related the full story? This whole affair could be far messier than we can tell at this juncture -- we may only find out what really happened with time.

MassivelyDavid Perry on MUO cancellation: "huh?" originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I have to confess, I had been holding out hope over the last couple months that the rumors circulating of Marvel Universe Online's imminent cancellation would prove to be unfounded. The very idea of a Marvel-endorsed super-hero game being developed by the guys at Cryptic to be released on the Xbox 360 platform was almost too much for my fanboy heart to handle. Alas, it was not to be. Steven Totilo of MTV's multiplayer blog sat down with Microsoft's Shane Kim to talk, among other things, about the cancellation.

Kim first confirmed that the cancellation rumor was true, and stressed that the decision to cease development was amicable on all sides. He cited the competitiveness of the MMO market as the primary reason for cancellation. Evidently, Microsoft felt that they couldn't make a sufficient profit to justify the costs of development using a traditional subscription-based model. He also said the game was too far along in development to switch to another business model, like an ad-supported or RMT model. Perhaps the only silver lining in this story is that Cryptic is now free to develop new IPs. Those, of course, will have to wait until Cryptic's media blackout ends.

MassivelyMarvel MMO officially put to rest originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcancellationcrypticcryptic-studiosmarvel-universe-onlinemtvmultiplayer-blogmuoshane-kimxbox-360Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST