Microsoft Casual Games press release

[NathanR]

Is anybody else pissed about this announcement from Microsoft today:

"The casual games space is growing at an unprecedented rate, and Microsoft has emerged as an undisputed leader in multiple-platform casual offerings, with more than 10 years of experience in the space." blah blah blah...

First, Im stunned (yes, even still Microsoft manages to stun me) that they are so arrogant as to claim they have emerged as UNDISPUTED leader. Im sorry, but can you show me the top selling casual game in the world? Is that Microsofts logo, cause here it looks a lot like PopCap... but you know without my glasses on I guess I was wrong.

Its not undisputed, Im disputing it. So is everybody else who is reading this stinking lie that those <explative deleted> at Microsoft are spreading. Hosting MSN Games which foists other peoples titles is hardly years of experience in the space. Selling a game doesnt mean you know crap about making them.

Multi-platform, they say. Like Windows, and the little mini-windows machine called Xbox 360? Wow... how vast and varied. I would like to play your Microsoft Casual Games on my linux machine, or my mac. Oh wait Microsoft Casual Games doesnt have any titles. At all.

Anyway Im pissed, and probably making a few bad assumptions in my reaction, but still... the arrogance... if I was PopCap or GarageGames or Alawar or ... anybody who was making some of the most popular games I would be calling them on this publicly and making them eat crow.

[Frozen In Ice]

Sounds like pure marketing hype to me. Most average Window users will probably swallow it, and they know it.:rolleyes:

[luggage]

umm.. they don't say they're the developer of the games do they? I've no idea how much MSN Games and Live Arcade and whatever other revenue streams they have bring in but I bet it's a lot.

[NathanR]

I suppose it depends on how you interpret the word "offerings"

If you mean offerings as in, they are offering you other peoples games, then sure. They probably are the leader. I bet pogo, arcadetown, and bigfish would like to argue that point. XBLA can certainly boast insanely high conversion rate though.

However if you are like me and think that by offerings you mean their own product, then they are full of poo. Microsoft Casual Games exists, but I havent seen them produce anything. I guess maybe they are counting Hearts and Solitaire... long the staple of those who are bored at work.

[luggage]

of·fer·ing (ô'fər-ĭng, ŏf'ər-) Pronunciation Key
n.
The act of making an offer.
Something, such as stock, that is offered.
A presentation made to a deity as an act of religious worship or sacrifice; an oblation.
A contribution or gift, especially one made at a religious service.


I'd read it as games that they offer - but then I try not to look for the worst in everything.

[Nikster]

pissed ? why ?

[Matthew]

I was curious, so I looked up the latest PR I could find (one about advertising revenue, dated Feb 7th). A search for "leader" in the text turned this up: "One of the longest-standing leaders in the casual games space,"

You have a problem with that? Really?

Even your wording said "a leader" and not "the leader". I don't think anyone will argue with the fact that Microsoft drives a lot of sales. You should make a game about ranting. It looks like fun!

[Omega]

Wasn't it Microsoft's Zone that had all of those Pop Games back when they were in Java?

[cliffski]

Hey it's just marketing. My eyebrows wobble whenever I read that 'introversion are the last of the bedroom coders', especially as I am currently converting a bedroom to an office to make games in :D
It's just marketing though, Press releases are like political adverts, and about as reliable a source of impartial commentary.

[Emmanuel]

Microsoft can certainly take credit for exposing a lot of casual gamers to their first casual game (Windows solitaire), and planting the seeds of the market.

Best regards,
Emmanuel

[dozer]

Anyway Im pissed, and probably making a few bad assumptions in my reaction, but still... the arrogance... if I was PopCap or GarageGames or Alawar or ... anybody who was making some of the most popular games I would be calling them on this publicly and making them eat crow.

Jason from PopCap is famous developer, that's true. Garagegames is widely known for their Torque Game Engine. Alawar don't develop games at all, they prefer to use external developers from exUSSR for that.

[goodsol]

"The casual games space is growing at an unprecedented rate, and Microsoft has emerged as an undisputed leader...

Microsoft is the undisputed follower.

[Nikster]

<bait>

Wait, I just read the OP's blog,

"...then evolved in to a system administrator with Linux as my one joy and most other operating systems as my bane."

Is this linux fanboyism that's causing the angst ? ;)

</bait>

[Scharlo]

Microsoft can certainly take credit for exposing a lot of casual gamers to their first casual game (Windows solitaire), and planting the seeds of the market.


Agree. If you take Solitaire and Minesweeper, there was probably more gameplay sessions for those 2 than all other casual games combined.

[NathanR]

<bait>

Wait, I just read the OP's blog,

"...then evolved in to a system administrator with Linux as my one joy and most other operating systems as my bane."

Is this linux fanboyism that's causing the angst ? ;)

</bait>


I wish it was. Actually we are making all our games for Windows only, and have succeeded in pissing off all my linux friends. In a blind taste test I preferred linux to Coke. er... Microsoft.

Just having a raging bad day yesterday and then read that press release and it made me angry. If you all want to accuse me of ranting or blowing up go ahead. :p

I hope to hold myself to a higher standard when I have to do press releases about launching my games... if I ever manage to get them launched. Guess I'll talk about that in my blog instead.

[Pyabo]

I think it's fair to say that Microsoft got their real start in this field when they bought the Internet Game Zone... aka zone.com. I think that was in 97 or 96? I would call that 10 years.

[arcadetown]

Getting angry over a self serving statement in a PR release is like getting angry because the wind blows.

[soniCron]

Getting angry over a self serving statement in a PR release is like getting angry because the wind blows. It what?! *shakes fist at wind*

[berserker]

Getting angry over a self serving statement in a PR release is like getting angry because the wind blows.

It what?! *shakes fist at wind*

LOL :) Love these boards for occasional bits of sarcasm and humour :D