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So I ain't been on the net for a couple of days, my Dreamcast and GameCube have been busy with me at the helm, whilst Skies of Arcadia, Turok Evolution and Resident Evil have been the main attractions in the Edgy house, and the first thing I see on the internet is a rumour that developers Capcom are to be bought out by Microsoft. So Capcom got their estimations wrong and lost sixty-six million. A slight miscalculation by Capcom there, but the news has already fueled the oxygen to the rumour flame and is suggesting a Microsoft buyout.
So is the second in what could potentially be a long line of buyouts from Microsoft?
Whilst this is still in the rumour stage I'm quite happy to say no. Capcom may have lost sixty-six million, but that was before the release of Resident Evil (atleast in the UK anyway) and Resident Evil has stayed near the top of the GameCube sales charts for the couple weeks it's been out so far. So Capcom should be winning the money back, although a profit would be nicer, from the sales of their top hit horror survival (which I strongly reccomend!). But not only does that back up my hypothesis that Capcom will not be bought out by Microsoft, but the fact that Capcom are still bound by a contract with Nintendo for another five games anyway. Capcom are due to release the next five Resident Evil titles, including the prequel, Resident Evil Zero in the next few years. So even if Microsoft did buy out Capcom, either Capcom or Microsoft would have to pay a hefty fee to satisfy Nintendo for a breach of contract, or one of the two companies would have to take responsibility for the releases of the yet unreleased titles. Can you really imagine the Microsoft logo on Nintendo GameCube titles?
So what is this going to be? Such and such a company didn't make so much money as they thought they would, looks like Microsoft are interested in buying them. Is Microsoft interested in buying every videogame company there is to become the sole surviver of the old-fasioned console wars? They've already tried to take over Nintendo and Sega, and now they've 'knicked' Rare from Nintendo by buying their shares of Rare, and today I read of rumours speculating a Capcom buyout. Are Microsoft trying to ruin the videogames industry?
Ofcourse that might sound stupid to you or whoever may be reading this. Microsoft are in the business for the same reasons as Nintendo and Sony, to make money, that's all true. And yes it's true that by having control of some developers, you're more likely to beat your targets. But what's the point in buying out competition and becomming the only company left in videogames? Could this happen? Yes, in time. Would this benefit gamers? No.
If Microsoft did buy Capcom, then who would it be next? Codemasters? Rockstar? THQ? Electronic Arts? Ofcourse, with Rockstar having set records in the videogames business with their game Grand Theft Auto 3, and their imminent release of Vice City on the cards, it's extremely unlikely in the short term that they'd open themselves out for bidding. And Electronic Arts are just MASSIVE and are second to Nintendo in the most moneymaking main developers wars. But if Microsoft were to start buying all the smaller, yet popular developers, how long would it be before they can afford to offer rediculously high amounts of money for other developers?
Ok, I'm just making predictions based on rumours, but consider this: If Microsoft were the only company left (with all development teams and their styles limited to the authority of Microsoft), in the next generation of console(s), then would we be happy? Would we be happy with one company setting the standards, the prices of games, and being the richest company in the world, not caring too much if they're making a loss through poor sales anyway?
Personally, I haven't got a problem with 'some' developers being bought out by the bigger developers, but Capcom don't deserve to be bought out by anyone, they deserve success, and I would personally like to see the complete Resident Evil series released on GameCube and the rest of Capcom's games released on the formats they would anyway. If all third parties became first and second parties for major developers, variety would slowly be lossed and we'd end up having all similar styles of games on one format, and another bunch of similar styles on another, which would make having more than one console not a want for gamers, but a necessity.
So is Microsoft starting to damage the balance of power, or are they trying to get rid of the balance altogether and become an autocratic industry. Could the term 'videogaming' one day be replaced by the name 'Microsoft'? Is videogaming at the early stages of being ruined, and if so, can it be remedied? Is this point all a load of rubbish based on a rumour? - hopefully. We shall see.
So is the second in what could potentially be a long line of buyouts from Microsoft?
Whilst this is still in the rumour stage I'm quite happy to say no. Capcom may have lost sixty-six million, but that was before the release of Resident Evil (atleast in the UK anyway) and Resident Evil has stayed near the top of the GameCube sales charts for the couple weeks it's been out so far. So Capcom should be winning the money back, although a profit would be nicer, from the sales of their top hit horror survival (which I strongly reccomend!). But not only does that back up my hypothesis that Capcom will not be bought out by Microsoft, but the fact that Capcom are still bound by a contract with Nintendo for another five games anyway. Capcom are due to release the next five Resident Evil titles, including the prequel, Resident Evil Zero in the next few years. So even if Microsoft did buy out Capcom, either Capcom or Microsoft would have to pay a hefty fee to satisfy Nintendo for a breach of contract, or one of the two companies would have to take responsibility for the releases of the yet unreleased titles. Can you really imagine the Microsoft logo on Nintendo GameCube titles?
So what is this going to be? Such and such a company didn't make so much money as they thought they would, looks like Microsoft are interested in buying them. Is Microsoft interested in buying every videogame company there is to become the sole surviver of the old-fasioned console wars? They've already tried to take over Nintendo and Sega, and now they've 'knicked' Rare from Nintendo by buying their shares of Rare, and today I read of rumours speculating a Capcom buyout. Are Microsoft trying to ruin the videogames industry?
Ofcourse that might sound stupid to you or whoever may be reading this. Microsoft are in the business for the same reasons as Nintendo and Sony, to make money, that's all true. And yes it's true that by having control of some developers, you're more likely to beat your targets. But what's the point in buying out competition and becomming the only company left in videogames? Could this happen? Yes, in time. Would this benefit gamers? No.
If Microsoft did buy Capcom, then who would it be next? Codemasters? Rockstar? THQ? Electronic Arts? Ofcourse, with Rockstar having set records in the videogames business with their game Grand Theft Auto 3, and their imminent release of Vice City on the cards, it's extremely unlikely in the short term that they'd open themselves out for bidding. And Electronic Arts are just MASSIVE and are second to Nintendo in the most moneymaking main developers wars. But if Microsoft were to start buying all the smaller, yet popular developers, how long would it be before they can afford to offer rediculously high amounts of money for other developers?
Ok, I'm just making predictions based on rumours, but consider this: If Microsoft were the only company left (with all development teams and their styles limited to the authority of Microsoft), in the next generation of console(s), then would we be happy? Would we be happy with one company setting the standards, the prices of games, and being the richest company in the world, not caring too much if they're making a loss through poor sales anyway?
Personally, I haven't got a problem with 'some' developers being bought out by the bigger developers, but Capcom don't deserve to be bought out by anyone, they deserve success, and I would personally like to see the complete Resident Evil series released on GameCube and the rest of Capcom's games released on the formats they would anyway. If all third parties became first and second parties for major developers, variety would slowly be lossed and we'd end up having all similar styles of games on one format, and another bunch of similar styles on another, which would make having more than one console not a want for gamers, but a necessity.
So is Microsoft starting to damage the balance of power, or are they trying to get rid of the balance altogether and become an autocratic industry. Could the term 'videogaming' one day be replaced by the name 'Microsoft'? Is videogaming at the early stages of being ruined, and if so, can it be remedied? Is this point all a load of rubbish based on a rumour? - hopefully. We shall see.
Well it looks like my very last comment was right - it is all a load of rubbish...thankfully.
Special Reserve are the only website I've seen that have mentioned this rumour and that's all it is, a rumour.
Very clever of special reserve to keep people arguing about stuff on here though - more time spent on here, more time their adverts are shown to us.
Well done Special Reserve :)
Special Reserve are the only website I've seen that have mentioned this rumour and that's all it is, a rumour.
Very clever of special reserve to keep people arguing about stuff on here though - more time spent on here, more time their adverts are shown to us.
Well done Special Reserve :)
Microsoft are pretty clueless about the console industry, they just throw money at anything to try and make it alright.
It's like "oh no we can't make decent games on the PC" = "We better buy out anyone who can make games". "We need an online network quickly before Sony" = "Better but a billion or so into R+D and make it just a games service".
Technically the Xbox is great, an so were its launch games - part of the problem is that since launch theres been very little of note, the promising Enclave got somewhat mediocre reviews.
~~Belldandy~~
It's like "oh no we can't make decent games on the PC" = "We better buy out anyone who can make games". "We need an online network quickly before Sony" = "Better but a billion or so into R+D and make it just a games service".
Technically the Xbox is great, an so were its launch games - part of the problem is that since launch theres been very little of note, the promising Enclave got somewhat mediocre reviews.
~~Belldandy~~
Edgy wrote:
> Is this point all a load of rubbish based on a rumour?
*
Probably. :D
> Is this point all a load of rubbish based on a rumour?
*
Probably. :D
So I ain't been on the net for a couple of days, my Dreamcast and GameCube have been busy with me at the helm, whilst Skies of Arcadia, Turok Evolution and Resident Evil have been the main attractions in the Edgy house, and the first thing I see on the internet is a rumour that developers Capcom are to be bought out by Microsoft. So Capcom got their estimations wrong and lost sixty-six million. A slight miscalculation by Capcom there, but the news has already fueled the oxygen to the rumour flame and is suggesting a Microsoft buyout.
So is the second in what could potentially be a long line of buyouts from Microsoft?
Whilst this is still in the rumour stage I'm quite happy to say no. Capcom may have lost sixty-six million, but that was before the release of Resident Evil (atleast in the UK anyway) and Resident Evil has stayed near the top of the GameCube sales charts for the couple weeks it's been out so far. So Capcom should be winning the money back, although a profit would be nicer, from the sales of their top hit horror survival (which I strongly reccomend!). But not only does that back up my hypothesis that Capcom will not be bought out by Microsoft, but the fact that Capcom are still bound by a contract with Nintendo for another five games anyway. Capcom are due to release the next five Resident Evil titles, including the prequel, Resident Evil Zero in the next few years. So even if Microsoft did buy out Capcom, either Capcom or Microsoft would have to pay a hefty fee to satisfy Nintendo for a breach of contract, or one of the two companies would have to take responsibility for the releases of the yet unreleased titles. Can you really imagine the Microsoft logo on Nintendo GameCube titles?
So what is this going to be? Such and such a company didn't make so much money as they thought they would, looks like Microsoft are interested in buying them. Is Microsoft interested in buying every videogame company there is to become the sole surviver of the old-fasioned console wars? They've already tried to take over Nintendo and Sega, and now they've 'knicked' Rare from Nintendo by buying their shares of Rare, and today I read of rumours speculating a Capcom buyout. Are Microsoft trying to ruin the videogames industry?
Ofcourse that might sound stupid to you or whoever may be reading this. Microsoft are in the business for the same reasons as Nintendo and Sony, to make money, that's all true. And yes it's true that by having control of some developers, you're more likely to beat your targets. But what's the point in buying out competition and becomming the only company left in videogames? Could this happen? Yes, in time. Would this benefit gamers? No.
If Microsoft did buy Capcom, then who would it be next? Codemasters? Rockstar? THQ? Electronic Arts? Ofcourse, with Rockstar having set records in the videogames business with their game Grand Theft Auto 3, and their imminent release of Vice City on the cards, it's extremely unlikely in the short term that they'd open themselves out for bidding. And Electronic Arts are just MASSIVE and are second to Nintendo in the most moneymaking main developers wars. But if Microsoft were to start buying all the smaller, yet popular developers, how long would it be before they can afford to offer rediculously high amounts of money for other developers?
Ok, I'm just making predictions based on rumours, but consider this: If Microsoft were the only company left (with all development teams and their styles limited to the authority of Microsoft), in the next generation of console(s), then would we be happy? Would we be happy with one company setting the standards, the prices of games, and being the richest company in the world, not caring too much if they're making a loss through poor sales anyway?
Personally, I haven't got a problem with 'some' developers being bought out by the bigger developers, but Capcom don't deserve to be bought out by anyone, they deserve success, and I would personally like to see the complete Resident Evil series released on GameCube and the rest of Capcom's games released on the formats they would anyway. If all third parties became first and second parties for major developers, variety would slowly be lossed and we'd end up having all similar styles of games on one format, and another bunch of similar styles on another, which would make having more than one console not a want for gamers, but a necessity.
So is Microsoft starting to damage the balance of power, or are they trying to get rid of the balance altogether and become an autocratic industry. Could the term 'videogaming' one day be replaced by the name 'Microsoft'? Is videogaming at the early stages of being ruined, and if so, can it be remedied? Is this point all a load of rubbish based on a rumour? - hopefully. We shall see.
So is the second in what could potentially be a long line of buyouts from Microsoft?
Whilst this is still in the rumour stage I'm quite happy to say no. Capcom may have lost sixty-six million, but that was before the release of Resident Evil (atleast in the UK anyway) and Resident Evil has stayed near the top of the GameCube sales charts for the couple weeks it's been out so far. So Capcom should be winning the money back, although a profit would be nicer, from the sales of their top hit horror survival (which I strongly reccomend!). But not only does that back up my hypothesis that Capcom will not be bought out by Microsoft, but the fact that Capcom are still bound by a contract with Nintendo for another five games anyway. Capcom are due to release the next five Resident Evil titles, including the prequel, Resident Evil Zero in the next few years. So even if Microsoft did buy out Capcom, either Capcom or Microsoft would have to pay a hefty fee to satisfy Nintendo for a breach of contract, or one of the two companies would have to take responsibility for the releases of the yet unreleased titles. Can you really imagine the Microsoft logo on Nintendo GameCube titles?
So what is this going to be? Such and such a company didn't make so much money as they thought they would, looks like Microsoft are interested in buying them. Is Microsoft interested in buying every videogame company there is to become the sole surviver of the old-fasioned console wars? They've already tried to take over Nintendo and Sega, and now they've 'knicked' Rare from Nintendo by buying their shares of Rare, and today I read of rumours speculating a Capcom buyout. Are Microsoft trying to ruin the videogames industry?
Ofcourse that might sound stupid to you or whoever may be reading this. Microsoft are in the business for the same reasons as Nintendo and Sony, to make money, that's all true. And yes it's true that by having control of some developers, you're more likely to beat your targets. But what's the point in buying out competition and becomming the only company left in videogames? Could this happen? Yes, in time. Would this benefit gamers? No.
If Microsoft did buy Capcom, then who would it be next? Codemasters? Rockstar? THQ? Electronic Arts? Ofcourse, with Rockstar having set records in the videogames business with their game Grand Theft Auto 3, and their imminent release of Vice City on the cards, it's extremely unlikely in the short term that they'd open themselves out for bidding. And Electronic Arts are just MASSIVE and are second to Nintendo in the most moneymaking main developers wars. But if Microsoft were to start buying all the smaller, yet popular developers, how long would it be before they can afford to offer rediculously high amounts of money for other developers?
Ok, I'm just making predictions based on rumours, but consider this: If Microsoft were the only company left (with all development teams and their styles limited to the authority of Microsoft), in the next generation of console(s), then would we be happy? Would we be happy with one company setting the standards, the prices of games, and being the richest company in the world, not caring too much if they're making a loss through poor sales anyway?
Personally, I haven't got a problem with 'some' developers being bought out by the bigger developers, but Capcom don't deserve to be bought out by anyone, they deserve success, and I would personally like to see the complete Resident Evil series released on GameCube and the rest of Capcom's games released on the formats they would anyway. If all third parties became first and second parties for major developers, variety would slowly be lossed and we'd end up having all similar styles of games on one format, and another bunch of similar styles on another, which would make having more than one console not a want for gamers, but a necessity.
So is Microsoft starting to damage the balance of power, or are they trying to get rid of the balance altogether and become an autocratic industry. Could the term 'videogaming' one day be replaced by the name 'Microsoft'? Is videogaming at the early stages of being ruined, and if so, can it be remedied? Is this point all a load of rubbish based on a rumour? - hopefully. We shall see.