E3 Power Rankings, Probably Moving Next Year

The Escapist takes a crack at ascribing 'power rankings' to this year's E3 players. Microsoft, EA, and Irrational are in the top three spots, with Bethesda and the newly-employed Peter Moore rounding out the top five. From the site's commentary on Microsoft: "Despite the lawsuits, the man with the biggest pockets earns the top slot by a fair margin. Microsoft has cleaned up on big-name exclusives and is slowly but surely building up Games For Windows as a brand. However, what really does it for Microsoft is Fallout 3, Halo 3, Mass Effect and BioShock. If one of those doesn't sell you a buggy, overheating, now-under-warranty Xbox 360, nothing will. Their upcoming billion-dollar 360 repair costs might dethrone them sooner than later, though." Meanwhile, the rumour is going around that LA won't be the site of the event next year.

360's problem

[vitaflo]

"However, what really does it for Microsoft is Fallout 3, Halo 3, Mass Effect and BioShock. If one of those doesn't sell you a buggy, overheating, now-under-warranty Xbox 360, nothing will."

This is really MS's problem right here. I'm sure those games will be great and sell well, but they certain cater to a specific taste. The 360 really needs to branch out in it's library to be more diverse if it's going to sell beyond just the normal hardcore gamer. Right now it has the same stigma as the Xbox 1 did. I don't think that's going to help them down the road.

Re:360's problem, or a narrow FPS market

[WillAffleckUW]

I agree that MSFT's problem is that they have to narrow a gaming reach.

Lots of FPS and combat games won't alter the perception that you care nothing for casual gamers and the other 90 percent of the market.

No matter how much you stress Viva Pinata! in your PR spin.

Dare I point out...

[Talgrath]

"However, what really does it for Microsoft is Fallout 3, Halo 3, Mass Effect and BioShock. If one of those doesn't sell you a buggy, overheating, now-under-warranty Xbox 360, nothing will." Dare I point out that Bioshock is coming the PC as is Fallout 3 (so who cares about the console versions). What's more, considering both Halo and Halo 2 have both come to PC, my bet is that Halo 3 eventually will too. Finally, my bet is that Mass Effect will hit the PC at some point too, as all of Bioware's RPGs have at one point or another. So...reason to buy a 360 again when everything they have that's worth playing is for sure or almost certainly will hit the PC in the near future (or another console)? Oh yeah...none. I'll stick with my PC, PS3, and Wii; thanks a bunch, come again.