Schell: Microsoft should have held its nerve on Xbox One
Jesse Schell, games designer and professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center, believes a firm nerve is necessary in order to reinvent established businesses.
"Your customers want you to stay the same, even if it drives you into the ground," Schell told GamesIndustry International.
"The reality is that companies can't do what the customers want," he said, in reference to Microsoft's extraordinary volte-face on Xbox One's pre-owned and always-online policies.
"Basically, Microsoft said 'we're going to be Steam. You like Steam, don't you?' They said, 'we're gonna do this new thing', and the customers said no we don't want that, we hate that, even though it's what they really want and what they will ultimately buy."
"So now Microsoft has had to say they won't do all that stuff, but someone will. That's how it always goes. This is the lesson of the innovator's dilemma. Why is it that big companies fail when the technology changes? It happens in every industry, so what's the pattern? What are they all doing wrong?
"Everyone says, 'Oh, it's because they're stupid. Big companies are stupid.' They can't be stupid. How did they get that big and stay that big if they're stupid? Microsoft isn't stupid.
"There's one mistake that they all make, and that mistake is listening to their customers.
"The problem is that the hardcore folks always want the same thing: 'We want exactly what you gave us before, but it has to be completely different.' When you want to do something really different - the solution to the innovator's dilemma - you can't take your big brand and say it's going to be completely different."
Xbox One pre-orders are said to be roughly double that of the Xbox 360 at launch, according to Ubisoft chief executive Yves Guillemot. The same is said for Sony's PS4, a demand that has led to PlayStation Europe capping its guaranteed launch day pre-orders.
Nevertheless, Schell believes the growing and diversifying competition to games consoles will have a noticeable effect on their market share.
"E3 convinced me that they are going to be struggling," he said.
"I haven't seen anything that made me think, yeah, you're gonna get that market share back. I'm convinced that all [of the consoles] are going to have a gradually eroding market share over the coming years. Because tablets are going to be eating their lunch more and more, and other platforms are going to start to take off and catch fire."
Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum
Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/422580/schell-microsoft-should-have-held-its-nerve-on-xbox-one/
Related Articles
Comments
generalhunterPosted:
I agree digital is the way forward even books are going that what too many poor people care about used-games I'd rather support the game makers and purchased new rather than them going bust
HDITeRRoRiZeIPosted:
Even though they did't talk to their customers properly, atleast they aren't losing money like Sony. I still think they provide a more interactive game experience than Sony by far.
I Believe Microsoft changed it's policies because of whining Sony Fanboys and i still believe that. I will purchase the Xbox One no matter what.
PS3 was terrible.
I Believe Microsoft changed it's policies because of whining Sony Fanboys and i still believe that. I will purchase the Xbox One no matter what.
PS3 was terrible.
HarmfulMushroomPosted:
I disagree to an extent. While MS did appear very submissive during this outcry which is not a very good thing, it is no mere coincidence that pre-order sales went way up following their complete reversal of several of the policies. And while some could claim that sales would have still been as high, this is impossible to prove or disprove, (I myself feel they would definitely not have been as high). And while some of the options were very good for the future of gaming, too many things were sacrificed to make it so. That is my opinion on this matter, feel free to disagree as I'm sure many of you do..
AyrPosted:
This guy is exactly right, big companies like Microsoft need to drag the customers into the future to make them accept it.
DragifyPosted:
All of that is very true. Microsoft should have just ignored everyones complaints and kept it. They would have got just as many sales in the end and it would be the future of console gaming.
UNDERWORLDHYBRDPosted:
"There's one mistake that they all make, and that mistake is listening to their customers. are u **** serious the only reason game devs want the old policy back is so they can get a cut of used game sales thats what it all boils down to
Latest Downloads
- 01. The Long Drive: SaveGame (American pickup)(0)
- 02. Goemon's Great Adventure (US / NTSC) - Nintendo 64 Game Save(1)
- 03. The Long Drive: SaveGame (blue VW Beetle)(0)
- 04. Deadly Creatures | Complete Savegame(0)
- 05. Driift Mania | 100% Savegame(0)
- 06. LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias | 100% Savegame(0)
- 07. Lost Winds | 100% Savegame(0)
- 08. Mega Man 10 | Savegame(0)
- 09. Mega Man 9 | Savegame(0)
- 10. LASTFIGHT Secret character unlocked(1)
- 11. PC Horizon Forbidden West Complete Save(12)
- 12. Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth | 100% Savegame(0)
- 13. ExciteBike World Challenge | Savegame(0)
- 14. World of Goo | 100% Savegame(0)
- 15. La Torre de las Sombras | 100% Savegame(0)
Latest Tutorials
- 01. The Redress Of Mira 100% Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement(398)
- 02. Russian Pinocchio Quick Trophy Guide(483)
- 03. Venatrix Quick Trophy & Achievement Guide(447)
- 04. Call of the Sea 100% Platinum Walkthrough(605)
- 05. Wire Lips 100% Platinum Walkthrough(546)
- 06. The Expanse 100% Platinum Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement(517)
- 07. Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality - PS4 Platinum P/Thru(443)
- 08. Doctor Who:The Lonely Assassins - 100% Guide(393)
- 09. DAYMARE 1998 PS4 - Full game 100% TROPHY WALKTHROUGH(372)
- 10. Stray Platinum Walkthrough | Trophy & Achievement Guide(401)
- 11. Raji: An Ancient Epic | Complete Gameplay Walkthrough(526)
- 12. Corpse Killer: 25th Anniversary Edition - Longplay(484)
- 13. Song of Horror: Complete Edition Gameplay Walkthrough(360)
- 14. Remoteness 100% All Trophies Walkthrough(460)
- 15. Detective Inspector Mysterious Clues Platinum Walkthrough(446)
"Schell: Microsoft should have held its nerve on Xbox One" :: Login/Create an Account :: 99 comments