Microsoft's Shane Kim on Xbox 360's MMO failures
by Samuel Axon 
Jul 29th 2008 at 11:00AM
Filed under: Interviews, MMO industry, Marvel Universe Online, Consoles
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."
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."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Arkanaloth said on 11:09AM 7-29-2008
When TFLO was cancelled, it took with it my only reason for even considering getting Xbox Live...
I'd hoped they would have shifted development to the PC cause it looked like a really fun MMO too. =_= I can dream I suppose.. maybe it'll come to PS3 with it's native keyboard and mouse support.
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Bam! said on 11:15AM 7-29-2008
This just makes me really wonder what Turbine has in store
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Jack said on 11:34AM 7-29-2008
Age of Conan still heading to the Xbox 360 for a 2nd try. But M$ now known its not that easy to make a good mmo. After WoW lots of mmo did come in and try to copy and all fail. Its not that easy to make a good game and when you talking about a mmo you talking about a game that need keep players happy for months maybe even years. Most m$ games keep people player for like 20 till 40 hours and that is it.
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Tony said on 12:08PM 7-29-2008
TFLO was actually a project for the original Xbox. It was canceled midway through the system's life.
There's a comment from NCSoft about the system being too closed off for a MMORPG to work... but you know, there have been examples of companies running their own servers alongside live. There is also the obvious possibility of 360/PC cross-platform play, currently utilized by a few games. There's certainly options there, but I doubt we'll hear much more about that since they've publicly committed to Sony this generation.
Microsoft has bailed on a few MMORPGs already... but I wonder if they've done that more than a lot of companies out there have. There's an awful lot of failed ones or ones that barely get off the ground.
We'll see. Honestly, I think many MMORPGs are just too complicated for console inputs... I don't want to use a keyboard, but I don't want to feel horribly limited compared to my friends on a PC either.
DC Universe Online seems to be getting this more right than wrong... forcing you to stick with only 4 powers at a time works great with a controller and a keyboard, really.
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ursacor said on 4:13AM 7-30-2008
sound more like the big M couldn't have it their way, so gave both games the boot to the highway. Especialy considering the time and finacial obligation it takes to so MMO's. In both cases the big M just walked away leaveing everone else out to dry. As for MUO that wasn't just inhouse they were working with cryptic on it; then there way what marvel wanted. So between what cryptic wanted and marvel wanted which was in sync. It simply wasn't what the big M wanted cuase they could not find or agree on a way for the big M to make the money they wanted out of it, the big M gave it the silver bullet to the head just like FSOL; so that's how it works you play the big M's game or they kick you off their playground.
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