Ed Fries resigns from Microsoft

[Adrian M]

Rumors persisted about this in industry for several weeks now, but interestingly enough, Mr. Fries has decided not to take part in the next generation of the hardware wars with XBOX2. Read all about it here.

 

He's leaving at a VERY crucial time, seeing as XBOX2 development and rollout is just now gearing up.

 

http://money.cnn.com/2004/01/13/technology...fries/index.htm

[Adrian M]

For those who may be worried about this organizational shift, please keep in mind that Robbie Bach, the other 1/2 of the XBOX heart and soul is still on board. I'd be more concerned if Mr. Bach decided to resign too, but thankfully this doesn't appear to be happening.

[Brad2600]

I bet Sony or Nintendo will be thinking about bringing him on board.

 

After all, he does know the XBOX stengths and weaknesses. He'd be a valuable addition to either Sony or Nintendo.

[liquid_sky]

I have a feeling that Yoshihiro Maruyama will get his feet wet in the japan division and soon migrate over to the main offices because the xbox needs a push on games that will sell better in the asian market instead of just regionaliazing the american action heavy games and reselling to japan.

[Adrian M]

Regardless of what went into Mr. Fries' decision to leave MS and where he may possibly end up, he should be commended for his phenomenal contributions to the XBOX cause.

 

The man essentially did it all...maintained relations with and signed 3rd party. Made decisions on which games to release and which to hold off on. Responsible for lining up support for XBOX 2, and so on. IF there was a business decision to be made for the XBOX division, more likely than not, Ed Fries was responsible for it (not Bill Gates as the XBOX bashers are so inclined to think).

 

Just think, 3 years ago, the XBOX was the newbie underdog going against two established long time rivals (Sony and Nintendo). Who would have thought that Microsoft's first attempt at the console market would prove to be so successful? I can't wait to see how everything plays out in the next hardware generation when the major players are given relatively equal footing (PS2 was already out with a huge installed base by the time the XBOX and GC debuted for those who forgot)!

[Tempest]

I'll always remember Ed from such classics as Princess and Frog, Anteater, and Sea Chase. How the hell does someone who programs THAT crap move up so high in Microsoft?

 

Oh wait, I think I just answered my own question...

 

Tempest

[shep]

I'll always remember Ed from such classics as Princess and Frog, Anteater, and Sea Chase.  How the hell does someone who programs THAT crap move up so high in Microsoft?

 

Oh wait, I think I just answered my own question...    

 

Tempest

 

[VidGameKing]

I bet Sony or Nintendo will be thinking about bringing him on board.

 

After all, he does know the XBOX stengths and weaknesses. He'd be a valuable addition to either Sony or Nintendo.

 

 

no! Microsoft still owns intelectual rights, probably for the next few years!!!! you see thats what they specialize in there at microsoft! screwing people!

[Ze_ro]

I bet Sony or Nintendo will be thinking about bringing him on board.

 

After all, he does know the XBOX stengths and weaknesses. He'd be a valuable addition to either Sony or Nintendo.

 

How do you figure knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the X-Box will help Sony or Nintendo? I doubt there is much about the X-Box that they don't already know.

 

Knowing the abilities of Microsoft's next-gen console might be helpful, so they could make sure their own next-gen consoles are equivalent (or better), but that's about it really.

 

--Zero

[Major Havoc 2049]

I bet Sony or Nintendo will be thinking about bringing him on board.

 

After all, he does know the XBOX stengths and weaknesses. He'd be a valuable addition to either Sony or Nintendo.

 

 

no! Microsoft still owns intelectual rights, probably for the next few years!!!! you see thats what they specialize in there at microsoft! screwing people!

 

I wish I could be screwed like Ed Fries. He's been with Microsoft since 1985 and with all his stock options over the years, he's probably worth many millions.

[VidGameKing]

I wish I could be screwed like Ed Fries.  He's been with Microsoft since 1985 and with all his stock options over the years, he's probably worth many millions.

 

okay heres what you need to do....

 

 

Bend way over and grab your ankles. Bite down on a chunk of leather and let Bill Gates shove stock options up you A**!!!!

[Clock]

Hmmmmm, I sort of know someone who works at RARE and he was speaking to Ed recently and they were talking about Ghoulies and Blinx. And the jist of the conversation was how heads were rolling what with 350 million spent and the first game bombed big stylie. He apparantly is a really nice guy but he was clearly concearned with the situation at Rare.

 

When I first heard that Ed had quit I assumed there was a big delay with a big title such as Halo 2 or something, but it sounds like he just wanted total control of Xbox 2 and MS had other ideas.

 

I see this as a big loss to MS as he almost single handedly made the Xbox the success it is today. He spotted the potential in Halo and that game almost certainly saved the Xbox from an early grave.

[+kisrael]

Yeah, Rare is definately not producing like they did for Nintendo.

 

Doesn't "grabbed by the ghoulies" mean "grabbed by the balls" in brit-speak?

 

And like I mentioned in some other threads, Xbox did a lot of things right, online play, and 4 ports for their great controllers, etc...

[Adrian M]

I wish I could be screwed like Ed Fries.  He's been with Microsoft since 1985 and with all his stock options over the years, he's probably worth many millions.

 

okay heres what you need to do....

 

 

Bend way over and grab your ankles. Bite down on a chunk of leather and let Bill Gates shove stock options up you A**!!!!

 

No need for that. This is a mature discussion, we needn't resort to childish corporation bashing.

[VidGameKing]

okay fine... But still the guy probably wont be able to do a think in the market for the next few generations! by then he'll be all but forgotton!

[shep]

Im pretty sure youll be hearing more from him, I dout hes just going to vanish into nothing...

[Room 34]

Right... just don't count on it being in ANY areas where he's worked for Microsoft. I'm sure that whole hemisphere of his brain is locked up under Non-Compete Agreements for the next decade.

[Clock]

Yeah, Rare is definately not producing like they did for Nintendo.

 

Doesn't "grabbed by the ghoulies" mean "grabbed by the balls" in brit-speak?

 

And like I mentioned in some other threads, Xbox did a lot of things right, online play, and 4 ports for their great controllers, etc...

 

Ghoulies is a very Nintendo type game (and its also very good), but the Xbox users don't usually go for this type of game. This was always going to be Rare's weakest title - it is just a shame it was their first due to Kameo slipping.

 

I have been assured the other Rare games coming are superior to Ghoulies.

 

 

 

 

Ghoulies - means ghosties

Goolies - means bollocks

 

Close, but no banana

[+kisrael]

Yeah, Rare is definately not producing like they did for Nintendo.

 

Doesn't "grabbed by the ghoulies" mean "grabbed by the balls" in brit-speak?

 

Ghoulies is a very Nintendo type game (and its also very good), but the

Interesting how it parallels Luigi's Mansion:

first game out for a system by a certain company people had high expectations of, both kind of small in scope, both seemingly kid oriented, both with a haunted house theme... I haven't played it, so I don't know if it's as good or not, but still.

 

I wonder how much of the old N64 Rare team is there: I heard the GoldenEye crowd made TimeSpiltters 2, but I wonder about Blast Corps and the platformers.

 

I have been assured the other Rare games coming are superior to Ghoulies.  

Other Microsoft should totally ask for its money back...

Given some of the amazing qualities of Halo and Crimson Skies and looking back on Rare's past...they must be something of a let down. What else besides Kameo and the Conker's rerelease?

Ghoulies - means ghosties

Goolies - means bollocks

 

Close, but no banana

You mean "no banana--so to speak", don't you? (fnarr!)

 

But it's still a pretty blatant pun--and really kind of funny simply because I think only a small fraction of American gamers will realize there's a pun there at all.

[Clock]

A lot of people are slagging RARE due to poor sales of Ghoulies, but the game is very good - I thinks it's great fun to play, a bit simple but then most games are. RAREs job is to make quality games, if people don't buy them then that's due to poor marketing or in this case games aimed at the wrong audience. But then the Box needs more quality kids games to attract a wider audience and thus a long term fan base.

 

I think RARE are contracted to make 6 games.

We know of:

Ghoulies

Kameo

Conkers

Perfect Dark 2 (in cartoon style)

and some sort of game featuring sabre-man from the spectrum days

 

the sixth game is still unknown and may even not have been thought of yet.

I also understand that Kameo and Ghoulies were designed for the Cube originally.

 

Time will tell, and with RARE being a slow company - a long time.

[+kisrael]

Is that Sabrwe game different from the one coming out for GBA?

[Clock]

don't really know any details as RARE haven't said much and employees are told to keep quiet about unreleased games.

[shep]

does anyone else find it funny how they have to mention their past hits in their commercial for "Grabbed by Ghoulies?"

[+kisrael]

does anyone else find it funny how they have to mention their past hits in their commercial for "Grabbed by Ghoulies?"

Well, kinda....which ones do they mention?

 

Do you think it's funnier because of poor name recognition, or because the game they're pitching doesn't scream "impressive"?

[PuddWakkr]

does anyone else find it funny how they have to mention their past hits in their commercial for "Grabbed by Ghoulies?"

 

No not actually. Movies do it all the time naming the director's past credits. Why not let the people who enjoyed the other games by the developers know that this game is also being done by the same crew.

 

I think Rare takes alot of extra criticism from the Nintendo crowd. Which is totally undeserved. If Ghoulies was being made for the cube the N-fanboys would be spanking off to screen shots. People complain the xbox has no games for the younger crowd and Rare gives the xbox this market and is bashed for it.

 

Nope not really a whole lot funny about it.