Microsoft has stated that they plan to keep new games a secret until E3 2009, at which point they plan to go big and make a huge splash by announcing titles that are “further out” and talking about them way before they release to drum up hype for them (a strategy that I think Nintendo should consider, not that they need any help in the sales department).
In the latest Major Nelson podcast, head of Microsoft Game Studios, Phil Spencer said this:
“The last two E3s, at least – if I use that a proxy for what’s coming, we’ve talked a lot about what is in the next five to six months after the E3, and we’ve had some pressure that maybe we want to think a little broader about what we’re gonna say at E3, a little further out in the future.”
He added: “So I came out of an E3 planning meeting just about an hour ago, and we’re looking at some of the plans for the future and things that we might want to tease, and it’s very exciting because there’s a lot of stuff on the way, and maybe we’ll break the bank a little bit and talk about things that are further out, which’ll hopefully get the community excited.”
I think this is a very good strategy for Microsoft. It’s important to get people excited and hyped up for games that are coming down the pipeline. And I think it’s a great way to sell systems as well. The more triple A games you have coming, the more potential the system has for the future which translates into reasons to pick up said system. I’m always saddened when good games get little to no hype and barely make it out before they are forgotten. So hopefully a lot of cool games will be showcased and people will be excited for the future of Xbox 360.