Microsoft: The Xbox “isn’t a gaming console”

18 January 2011

Back when the PlayStation 3 was in development, Sony’s then-CEO Ken Kutaragi incurred planetary derision for some of his comments, including the now rather legendary claim that, “The PS3 is not a game machine”.

Apparently Microsoft’s PR people don’t know about the internet or something, because the company’s CEO Steve Ballmer has just issued with the same ridiculous statement about the Xbox 360. 

In an interview with USA Today, Ballmer says that, “Xbox isn’t a gaming console. Xbox is a family entertainment centre. It’s a place to socialize. It’s a place to watch TV. We have Hulu coming. It’s the only system where you are the controller. Your voice, your gestures, your body.”

Breaking news: 50 million gamers have been conned into buying a DVD player pretending to be a games console. :O! 

“I think about my own family. My wife used to say, ‘No, no, that’s the machine the boys use,’ and now she says, ‘Yeah, I want to go watch movies. Let’s go play the dance game,’” adds Ballmer. “It opens up accessibility to family entertainment because with the Kinect, you control these systems with your body, with your voice. We’ve opened up the world of content in TV, movies. You just sit there and say ‘Xbox’ or ‘play movie.’”

Because pushing buttons on a controller is high concept stuff.

Is the Xbox 360 more than just a gaming console? << Share your views in the forums

You have read 1 out of 5 free articles. Log in or register for unlimited access.

Read now

The best gaming website in South Africa
MyGaming proudly displays the “FAIR” stamp of the Press Council of South Africa, indicating our commitment to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Print and online media which prescribes that our reportage is truthful, accurate and fair. Should you wish to lodge a complaint about our news coverage, please lodge a complaint on the Press Council’s website, www.presscouncil.org.za or email the complaint to [email protected] Contact the Press Council on 011 4843612.