Microsoft opened a new front in its war to control consumers’ living rooms on Monday, announcing that it is developing a dozen original television programs that will be broadcast exclusively to owners of its devices.
The programs, collectively referred to as Xbox Originals, include documentaries, reality shows, and scripted dramas and comedies. The’re being developed by Xbox Entertainment Studios, a Microsoft MSFT +2.38% subsidiary created in 2012 in order to make “interactive television content” for the company’s Xbox game consoles and Xbox Live online service.
“What we’re interested in is giving subscribers a reason to stay on our platform,” says Nancy Tellem, president of Xbox Entertainment Studios, a TV industry veteran who formerly ran CBS Television Studios. “We’re really focused on the fans of the Xbox, the millennials …many of whom are not subscribing to cable, and use a console as their entertainment device.”
The new programming is primarily targeted at young male consumers who might buy video game consoles from rivals Sony or Nintendo if Microsoft can’t draw them in with a variety of games and entertainment. But it’s also meant to appeal to non-gaming members of their households, and pull them into the Xbox ecosystem.
The programs, collectively referred to as Xbox Originals, include documentaries, reality shows, and scripted dramas and comedies. The’re being developed by Xbox Entertainment Studios, a Microsoft MSFT +2.38% subsidiary created in 2012 in order to make “interactive television content” for the company’s Xbox game consoles and Xbox Live online service.
“What we’re interested in is giving subscribers a reason to stay on our platform,” says Nancy Tellem, president of Xbox Entertainment Studios, a TV industry veteran who formerly ran CBS Television Studios. “We’re really focused on the fans of the Xbox, the millennials …many of whom are not subscribing to cable, and use a console as their entertainment device.”
The new programming is primarily targeted at young male consumers who might buy video game consoles from rivals Sony or Nintendo if Microsoft can’t draw them in with a variety of games and entertainment. But it’s also meant to appeal to non-gaming members of their households, and pull them into the Xbox ecosystem.
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They should really focus on gaming related TV shows.
ReplyDeleteEspecially in todays TV landscape Zombie and fantasy shows are in high demand. So I prepared a little list for stuff that SHOULD happen:
Borderlands
A ten episode action adventure about a group of 4 treasure hunters roaming the wastes of Pandora while fighting off recurring enemies including Handsome Jacks Hyperion army led by Wilhelm, half man half machine; Jimbo Hodunks group of greedy and malevolent redneck thugs; Captain Flynts bandits and the remains of the Crimson Lance, a para military group hunting for a mysterious resource called eridium. Each episode shows the hunters on the hunt for a new treasure in a different location of Pandora while interacting with known and beloved characters like Scooter, Mad Moxxi, ClapTrap, Doc Zed, Marcus, Mordecai, Rolan, Lillith, Axton, Maya, Salvador, Brick and many others.
Fable
Each 10 episode long season features the rise of a new hero from child to adult. The storylines don't neccesarily end with the hero joining the good side though: also the bad side is an option. While we spend 3 episodes featuring child actors we reach the heros adult stage with episode 4 and see him defeat or join the villain. But even though each season tells another characters story that doesen't mean we won't see our old main characters anymore as they could become integral players for the good or dark side. Especially now with Game of Thrones ruling TV another fantasy themed show would be perfect !
FarCry
Perfect for an action procedural. Wether set in africa like Far Cry 2 or an island controled by pirates and mercenaries like in Far Cry 3 doesen't matter. Brilliant one-off stories can be told everywhere. Following a mercenary sent to take down a hostile group of arms dealers we witness our questionable hero save hostages, infiltrate hostile facilities and survive in a mostly hostile enviroment. 10 episodes with a new threat each episode
Just a few ideas but overall this would be the perfect marketing opportunity for game developers: co-produce a 10 episode season tying in with your game.
I could totally see an Assassin's Creed, Saint's Row, Risen, Left 4 Dead or Fallout show work !
Well, I think they'll focus on their own intellectual properties as other publishers generally have their film rights sold or are always entertaining selling their film rights. Assassin's Creed, for example, is scheduled to film as a movie at Fox this summer with Michael Fassbender attached.
ReplyDeleteHalo is the one they've announced. I'm actually pretty excited about it, because the live action stuff they've done (well on a much smaller scale) has been surprisingly okay. Not sure how they'll handle Master Chief, but if they can nail the Cortana dynamic, that's the key to having an actual character and not just a faceless bad-ass.
Fable is also a no-brainer for them, I think. Not sure I feel it as an anthology series, though. Maybe a mini-series? The first game told the most translatable story, in my opinion. It just has more going on. More original characters, more intrigue and a better villain (at least in theory).
Wouldn't surprise me to see them force a bizarre racing drama around Forza, and then there's Gear of War.
Didn't know about the AC movie, guess I shouldn't get too excited about that ^^
ReplyDeleteAs for Fable, I think they should go the Xena/Legen of the Seeker direction with it, The games missions and chapters are so chopped up it's best told with a new storyline each week introducing the areas culture and fleshing out the lore. I could totally see Reaver show up as a villain.
Forza...didn't think about that. Kind of a scary and yet intriguing thought. There're not enough racing shows out there. They could build a decent drama around it.
With Halo in their line up Gears of War would be a tad too similar...also they'd have to feed their actors with steroids for 3 years in advance :P
They do have Alan Wake, Perfect Dark and Kameo though
As for the publishers: I'm not talking big ones like EA or others that plan a movie series parallel to their release but smaller ones like Deep Silver (Dead Island, Risen, Gothic, Sacred, Saints Row and Anno) or CD Project (The Witcher). These publishers aren't big enough to plan that much ahead and know from experience that movie rights usually expire before something happens.
I could totally image a Witcher show happening in the wake of the release of Witcher 3. Especially if MS co-funds the project (cheapening the marketing). Or Sacred...or Risen. Games that would be great for TV