Does this qualify as showboating? Today at their annual games conference, Microsoft announced that they're partnering with Peter Jackson (pictured) to create two new games that will be exclusive to the PC and Xbox 360. One of them will be a new Halo game (separate from the already-in development Halo 3). The other will be an original property that Microsoft cryptically claims is "targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment." (We've got our fingers crossed for a Meet the Feebles game).
As icing on the cake, Microsoft says they're partnering with Jackson to create Wingnut Interactive, a games studio for Jackson to tool around in. This comes, of course, amid speculation about a rocky launch for the PS3 this fall due to its high price and Sony's manufacturing difficulties, questions about how cooked the launch titles are, some dire rumors and announcements about online play being dropped from PS3 games, and Sony's stable of third party exclusives (Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy) dwindling alarmingly. The 360 on the other hand is almost a year old. In that time, Microsoft has built up a handsome stable of high-quality games, worked out its supply issues and are enjoying the fruits of their killer online strategy.
To be fair, several PS3 titles, especially Lair look very impressive, but Sony's got no-one approaching Jackson's level of entertainment industry juice on board as yet. Come on, Microsoft, when the other guy's on the ropes, it's only sporting to let him stand up and catch his breath before you deliver the next haymaker. That said, we're ever so slightly ecstatic that Jackson is continuing to explore game development after last year's excellent King Kong game Tie-in.
RSS 2.0
http://www.playboy.com/mt-tb.cgi/885