Shane Kim Interview May 2008

1-1 with Microsoft Corporate VP and boss of Game Studios Shane Kim, in his most detailed interview this year. Halo Owns Gears, PGR5, buying Square Enix, 360 Slim & more.

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Kikizo: I would have thought, again in the example of Final Fantasy, were you to secure it for say five years, Japanese consumers would surely have no option but to buy the machine because they can't breathe without Final Fantasy.

Kim: Yeah, but I mean, I think there's just as much precedent that they would leave [the franchise]; I mean if I were Square Enix that's what I'd be worried about, that they would leave Final Fantasy for something else. I know we're talking about Final Fantasy here, but you really have to question, is it really enough to overcome people's reservations about Xbox 360 in Japan? I don't know. But I know that it would have to be a heck of a lot of money and it would be very risky to do that.

Kikizo: That is interesting. So should you cut your losses there?

Kim: I think what's going to help is in Japan ultimately, is success in the west, because the bulk of content that Japanese customers want to play is mostly going to come from Japanese developers and publishers, and we've already seen with Tecmo and Capcom that they see the success that we're having in North America and Europe, and I think you're going to see more Japanese content coming as a result of that - not necessarily because MGS made certain bets. We'll still continue to look in Japan for new opportunities - we have some things coming that are exciting - but you probably won't see us do something just specifically for Japan [again]. There's a lot of great talent in Japan, but we'll probably take more of a global perspective on that.

Kikizo: One of the other things that people have cited as a potential thing that could help it along in Japan, is a system redesign, like a PStwo or whatever. At the same time it could appeal to people who have not yet bought it in the west. A redesign could help with both of these things perhaps?

Kim: I still don't know if it's the thing to turn around our fortunes in Japan, honestly! But yeah, a redesign is a possibility, right. It's not something we ever did in the first generation, but it is a possibility this generation.

Kikizo: I mean Shane, obviously you are more media trained than some of the other people I have spoken to at Microsoft...

Kim: Who, me? [laughs]

Kikizo: ...but I have to say, some others when I have asked them, obviously they have not said 'yes' but the look on their faces... it just feels like there's one coming...

Kim: Well it's not a big leap of faith to say look, that that's a significant possibility. But there's nothing to announce. That is one path that we could ultimately pursue, but it's not the only path. We could think about adding more value to the current form factor that we have as well. So miniaturisation is one approach, adding more value and capabilities to the current form factor that we have today is another.

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