Xboy | Microsoft's interest in making a portable console

The illusive Xboy was far from a rumour. In an IGN Unfiltered interview with Xbox's Exec Robbie Bach, he noted how the Xboy was in fact real, although the idea never left prototype stage. Robbie Bach explained how the Xboy project would be aimed to a younger audience. Bill Gates in 2006 also stated while there isn't current interest in making a portable games device, it could still be entirely possible.

One interest thing to note is how all of Microsoft's portable efforts were exclusively on Nintendo handhelds. Why is this the case? Arguably Microsoft were in a more fierce competition with Sony rather than Nintendo. Bill Gates has gone on record to support the Wii while remaining reserved about his views on Sony's Playstation 3.

It's also important to remember why Microsoft entered the gaming market in the first place. Sony's rapid growth of the PlayStation was starting to dominate the living room spaces across the world. Xbox wasn't about providing the ultimate gaming device, it was about creating a platform that would leverage Windows into living rooms.

Previously I've documented the various Microsoft IP's on Nintendo handhelds here. At first it could be argued Microsoft were simply testing the waters for handheld development, gauging the interest of their IP's to a new audience. In retrospect the GBA titles and franchises make a lot of sense in the context of Bach's post about a proposed Xboy targeting younger audiences. Rare already had established fans on Nintendo platforms, so releasing these franchises on Nintendo handheld makes a lot of sense,

While there is no date as to when the prototyping took place; rumours were still floating around near the mid 2000's. By the late 2000's it's probably clear Microsoft were no longer interested in the handheld market at this point.

Their last releases of their Blue Dragon games were most likely to advertise the IP to a wider audience, especially with the DS being very popular in Japan. During the release of the last Blue Dragon game, Microsoft probably saw two options. Either this franchise isn't popular enough to justify development of a fully 3D sequel on console, or that the Japanese market is no longer a viable market. Personally I think it's a bit of both, at this point Japanese interest in consoles was waning alongside many Japanese developers struggling with HD budgets.

Yet despite the Xbox handheld never seeing the light of day, In some ways Microsoft have accomplished what they originally set out to accomplish.

Bill Gates has gone on record stating that making a games console was simply a leverage for getting Windows into the living room. With that in mind it can be logically deducted that a portable gaming device would also be used as a leverage for getting Windows on users handheld devices. Makes sense right? It's the only logical conclusion, if they're primary goal isn't to be game developer in console, why would it be on handheld?

Ultimately this goal would be eventually accomplished with Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia and their first foray into mobile phones with the Windows Phone. While not necessarily a gaming device, it doesn't need to be. Microsoft's Windows Phone has completed what may have been Microsoft's original vision of supplying a Windows device into people's every day lives while on the go.

Links:

• https://www.polygon.com/2017/4/7/15222066/xbox-scorpio-powerful-pc
• http://uk.businessinsider.com/why-microsoft-killed-the-xboy-project-2015-8?r=US&IR=T
• http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news260506gates
• http://www.gamesindustry.biz:80/content_page.php?section_name=ret&aid=214
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_games_owned_by_Microsoft_Studios_on_Nintendo_platforms

Microsoft Games on Nintendo Handhelds | looking through Microsoft's experimental years

It's no longer a rumour that Microsoft were experimenting with a portable Xbox console as many higher-ups at Microsoft have come out and stated. While this doesn't really doesn't have too much to do with the topic at hand, it does present a unique time in Microsoft's history. Whether they were actually testing public interest in their franchises or simply expanding their portfolio to a larger audience is still unknown. I've previously discussed the topic here if you're interested, but for now this is a look back at the Microsoft title's you can find on portable consoles.

Microsoft partnered with THQ and experimented with licencing out some of it's IP's to be used on the Gameboy Advance. The two games in question were Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee and Monster Truck Madness 2.0. with Microsoft stating the releases alongside "other best-selling franchises to the handheld platform". Within that year saw the release of Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge and marked a new leaf for Microsoft games on handheld devices. From 2004 to 2005 Rare developed three new titles for the GBA; Sabre Wulf, Banjo-Pilot and It's Mr. Pants. It's unclear whether Rare still had some connections with Nintendo, but regardless Microsoft and THQ continued their partnership in releasing handheld games of Microsoft's franchises.



In retrospect these selected titles and franchises make a lot of sense in the context of Bach's post about a proposed Xboy targeting younger audiences. While there is no date as to when the prototyping took place; rumours were still floating around near the mid 2000's, Microsoft may be simply testing the waters with these franchises. Former Rare titles already had established Nintendo fans back on the N64, so releasing their kid friendly franchise on a kid friendly platform which already has existing roots with Nintendo makes a ton of sense.

As the DS rolled around a tonal shift was present with more mature, strategic titles being more prevalent. The first of these titles were Zoo Tycoon DS in 2005 followed by Age of Empires: The Age of Kings in 2006. Sim like games were well suited to the DS touch screen and stylus which is probably why Microsoft released a few more in 2008 with; Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise and finally Age of Empires: Mythologies in 2009. Hell the DS even saw a spin-off sequel of the Mech Assault franchise which originated on the original Xbox.

The final game to be released by Microsoft on a handheld was Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow released 1 year after Blue Dragon Plus for the DS in 2009. My theory is Microsoft wanted to improve awareness of the franchise to more Japanese players and what better way to port it onto one of the best selling handhelds at the time. Sadly this was the last game in the franchise as well as being the last Microsoft handheld title published.

While an Xbox handheld never came to fruition, we are left with glimpses of the types of games that could have been on there if anything. These games Microsoft did publish aren't too bad and are dirt cheap if you're interested.

Japanese Halo CE | Alterations made for Japan

The infamous Halo CE changed gaming as we know it, and I don't need to explain the monumental changes it made to gaming. In Japan though? Not so much... You see, Japan and FPS games don't typically get along. It's a genre which has thrived well in the west, but struggled to make any kind of impact in the east. Nevertheless Microsoft felt the critical impact of Halo during its US and European launch and took their chances in Japan.

The first notable change is the box art of the game. The iconic cover art we all know and love is gone and is instead replaced with a less visually impressive design. I'm unable to find the reasoning behind such a change but it is a strange one. A strong emphasis on Master Chief is clear with what seems to be a close up shot of the holographic Halo ring being the background. It does emit a strong sci-fi vibe but st the cost of stripping away the iconic Halo imagery. To be honest, it does feel like a very low budget and shoddily put together cover.

Fries was told he couldn't release Halo the way it was in Japan because Japanese players wouldn't be able to deal with the dual sticks. “So we ended up having to make a bunch of modifications for Japanese players and dumb the game down, make an easier version.”

What features was Fries talking about?

Well Microsoft's Corporation Program Manager Tagera explained during an interview that play test sessions were set up for Halo to record feedback from Japanese gamers. With Bungie's oversight, feedback was consistently aimed towards it's difficulty being too hard. Minor adjustments were made to the checkpoint system to make it easier for Japanese gamers but not too much as Tagera didn't want to meddle with the games balance.


Further changes made from these play sessions were the localisation of Japanese voice acting and text; with subtle changes in the text to make gestures more understandable for Japanese audiences. No subtitles were included however, Tagera decided to go against subtitles due to the games heavy action focus. With voice acting, Japanese audiences can listen to the story without being taking their eyes away from the action.

Finally there is discussion on the games difficulty. Due to the poor localisation provided by Google, I'm not entirely sure whether Tagera is stating their were changes in the difficulty on Easy mode for the Japanese release, or just explaining how Easy mode works. So take the information as you will:

"Apart from checking the parameters, if you select the difficulty you select first as a beginner, the hardness of the enemy's armor will change. It collapses relatively easily. The number and appearance points appearing with it will also change. In that sense, I think that it will not die so easily if you start the game in beginner mode."

When the game finally released on the 25th of April the decision was to bundle the game with a guide book. Tagera explains how they weren't able to make too many drastic changes due to Bungies strict rules. Therefore a guidebook would be a great way of helping Japanese gamers to Halo without having to forgo changes to the games code.


Links:

• http://www.ebay.com/itm/HALO-Survival-Game-Guide-Japan-XBox-Book-EB955-/361237042554
  
• http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20020508/halo.htm
  
• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rUODlNffWmU  17.10

Original Xbox Games on Xbox One | What we know so far

Regardless of what you think of Xbox today, one thing you can't deny is their sheer commitment to backwards compatibility. It's the one major trump Xbox has over the PS4 as Sony shows clear disinterest in their past machines.

Compatibility shall be releasing Autumn this year. Here are some things you should know: