Reason the Xbox was made: Sony didn't want to team up

[Ps360]

Former Microsoft exec claims Xbox created bec - Video Game News, Videos and File Downloads for PC and Console Games at Shacknews.com

Microsoft made significant inroads in the console wars with the Xbox 360, stealing market share from the once-dominant PlayStation brand. However, Microsoft wasn't always interested in entering the console market. In fact, according to a former Microsoft exec, the company only entered the console market because Sony refused to work with them.

Joachim Kempin was VP of Windows Sales at Microsoft for 20 years, having left the company in 2003, two years after the launch of the original Xbox. He said that the main reason Microsoft jumped into the console market was "to stop Sony."


"They were never Microsoft's friend," Kempin told IGN. "And Microsoft in a way wanted them to be a friend because they knew they had a lot of things we could have co-operated on because they are, in a way, an entertainment company, you know?"

However, when Sony entered the market with the original PlayStation, Microsoft felt like its stronghold of the PC market could be eroded. Microsoft founder Bill Gates was afraid that "the living room computer" could threaten the Windows market, and Microsoft knew it had to work against Sony.

This story slightly echoes how Sony came to create the PlayStation in the first place. The Japanese hardware giant originally partnered up with Nintendo to create a CD add-on for the SNES. However, Nintendo eventually partnered with Philips on the failed CD-i. The apparent betrayal was motivation for Sony to enter the console space, and led to the formation of the PlayStation brand. While Microsoft doesn't appear to have collaborated with Sony as deeply, it seems that friendship could have prevented these console wars from escalating at all.

you could of had it all sony.

but you had to be rude

and now look at your profit margins.

[The Secret Society]

Though a very interesting read, it's in the past and I want to look forward to gaming
and not think about of what could have been.

[DaveyHasselhoff]

Isnt that the same reason Playstation was made in the first place....Nintendo wanted to be greedy about the money while Sony was creating a CD Rom for the Super Nintendo.....Nintendo opted to use Phillips to get themsevles more money from the deal and Playstation was born

I guess they must have learned the bad manners from your precious Nintendo

[ant1th3s1s]

you could of had it all sony.

but you had to be rude

and now look at your profit margins.

Let's do a little word substitution exercise...

you could of had it all Nintendo.

but you had to be greedy back-stabbing assholes

and now look at your profit margins.

Sony's gearing up to smash the next generation. If the rumours are to be believed, both MS and Nintendo will be eating their dust. And let's not forget, Sony makes money from every next-gen Xbox sold, so it's win-win.
What's Nintendo got up their sleeves? Animal Crossing

Microsoft has never been interested in partnering for profit. Their interest lies in cannibalising competitors. Sony would have been foolish to even consider getting into bed with Bill Gates.

[Faust]

Oh yeah, clearly we should take Microsoft's word for it."Sony refused to work with [Microsoft]."
He doesn't say why. In fact, he makes it sound like Bill Gates called up Sony's CEO as was all "Yo, we should totally like hang out and make consoles and stuff man."

Microsoft doesn't 'work' with other companies. Microsoft buys out other companies, and attempts to dominate the market.

And no, Sony didn't miss out on an opportunity to "have it all." It would have been something like a 50/50 partnership (at the minimum), which is roughly what they have now in terms of market share...

[STRANGEgenius]

lmao, what a load of shit. Who fucking cares, xbox sucks, the controller sucks. Paying online sucks, and apart from halo... the exclusives suck.

[Memnoch-fr]

A quick poll : who knew this was a PS360 thread and just came to disagree ?

On topic - Ps360 you (often) pride youself in being unbiased and putting forward the facts - why did you not also bold the whole Nintendo part ?

Anywho ... either way there was no way that there would have been one console manufacturer - there is much too much money involved and friendships don't work in a business sense. It is also the best solution for us as consumers ...

Oh and totally agree with Faust - at that time, Microsoft did not do 'partnerships' - they did their best to crush any rivals. If they were 'friendly' it was only to be able to back stab all the better.

[Larrydavidsavatar]

Yeah missed out just like when they decided to make their own console instead of helping Nintendo, that turned out terribly.

Better to have competition methinks, think about it, who would tell us how wrong we all are for picking Sony?

[nullzero00]

Whaaaah! They don't want to play with us, so we are taking our marbles and going home!


{editor's note: Marbles is a game that was played by children decades ago. It involved drawing a circle on the ground, and then flicking glass orbs called marbles into the circle in an attempt to knock the other player's marbles out of the circle. No video game consoles were used in this game, since they weren't invented yet.}

[Larrydavidsavatar]

Whaaaah! They don't want to play with us, so we are taking our marbles and going home!


{editor's note: Marbles is a game that was played by children decades ago. It involved drawing a circle on the ground, and then flicking glass orbs called marbles into the circle in an attempt to knock the other player's marbles out of the circle. No video game consoles were used in this game, since they weren't invented yet.}

I remember that game, you could unlock new marble types by defeating your rival or just nicking them from their desk.
Always had a problem with rage-quitters, you'd be winning when someone would just kick them all out of the circle and walk off. Cheap DLC though.

[Oxymoron28]

Seems a bit petty to join an entire industry just to spite one company? But meh, at least they had success in it with the 360.

Also whilst reading this I saw this image;

[MatCauthon]

Why? It's good to have multiple systems on the market. Without the competition, the quality of the exclusives on either console wouldn't be available, nor would it be needed. Business 101: Competition is good, especially for consumers.

[Undrey]

Former Microsoft exec claims Xbox created bec - Video Game News, Videos and File Downloads for PC and Console Games at Shacknews.com





you could of had it all sony.

but you had to be rude

and now look at your profit margins.

Hey, I don't remember correctly, but didn't the same thing happen with Sony and Nintendo?

[brAvEhEaRtDC]

Hey, I don't remember correctly, but didn't the same thing happen with Sony and Nintendo?

This
Also do you still think Sony is bad ?
*Talking to PS360*

[STRANGEgenius]

This
Also do you still think Sony is bad ?
*Talking to PS360*

i don't think he likes anyone or anything.

[brAvEhEaRtDC]

i don't think he likes anyone or anything.

Strange he likes nintendo ._.

[Qurb]

Seems a bit petty to join an entire industry just to spite one company? But meh, at least they had success in it with the 360.

Also whilst reading this I saw this image;

Lmfao!

It's all about competition and I respect that.

[Yoo_Hoo_Sniper]

It worked out for the best because without the competition of microsoft sony may not be building such greatness they are…it improves both sides and what can be done with technology that exists