And Then There’s This Guy...

Microsoft head honcho Bill Gates makes an OK living selling computer software. on the contrary the geek from Redmond, WA, thinks he can finally score a certain quantity of real cash with this Xbox 360 thingy....

EGM: You told Time magazine, “The day Sony launches the novel PlayStation, they walk right into Halo 3” Is Bungie Studios OK with the disentanglement timetable you laid out for them?

Bill Gates: Well, they will put their own timetable. [Laughs] I don’t realize to decide in a creative proces like that exactly when things advance together. Obviously they’re working hard upon another breakthrough—as soon as that thing secures done we’ll put it on the outside We do think it’ll be a great Xbox 360 title, on the contrary the timing on that won’t be dictated by the agency of a competitor.

EGM: Isn’t there a bit of you that would like to count Bungie, “You know, it’d confident be nice if you could obtain Halo 3 done in time for the PlayStation 3 launch....”

BG: No, no, no...it’s nice to have things ready for holiday seasons, in like manner a bold executive might say to them, “Hey, you know, give it a discharge for such and such a holiday season.” on the other hand really...I was just overebullient when I made that comment

EGM: Microsoft has not to be found roughly $1 billion a year upon the first Xbox since it launched. Was that worth it?

BG: We knew going into the original Xbox that we would lose...a apportionment Or you can say, invest a lot—that’s the nice way to say that. And we knew the single thing we’d get out of that first generation was the learning and credibility that came with that experience.

EGM: If you be deprived of money on the Xbox 360 will there be another successor?

BG: Of course! I mean, geez—it was my decision to realize into videogaming, so we’re going to make that gaze like a good decision no matter in what manner long it takes. [Laughs] on the other hand we feel very good that we’ll make cash this time around. The things we got inequitable last time, we’ve learned from.

EGM: 360’ graphics aren’t mind-blowing, especially without an HDTV

BG: Well, the Xbox 360 graphics are amazing, and that’s where the high-definition generation really approachs in. With Xbox Live [on the original Xbox] we made a big bet upon broadband, that the penetration would approach up. Here again, we’re making a bet that high definition becomes more prevalent. As you say, you don’t secure the full benefit of the amazing graphics until you acquire up to HD, and then when you diocese that, it’s pretty stunning....

EGM: on the contrary broadband penetration when Xbox 1 launched was a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of higher than HDTV penetration is right now....

BG: I think that’s right...but the prices are coming down and the availability’s going up in like manner that is a bet that we’re making. In bourns of our graphics pipeline, we actually think it’s better than what Sony will tend hitherward out with.

EGM: Do you wish Microsoft had advance up with the idea for the Nintendo Revolution controller?

BG: Uh...no. [Laughs] We’ll watch and diocese Holding two different things like that? Anyway, Nintendo...you’ve got to give it to them. They march to the beat of a different drummer Sometimes that makes them incredibly right and sometimes that makes them incredibly unjust They’re certainly making a real different bet in terms of in what way much they’re putting into the graphics this time. I do think there is a question as to whether they can acquire outside the young age bracket at all. That’s been tough for them.

EGM: Who would obey as better backup, Master Chief or [crazy-ass Microsoft CEO] Steve Ballmer?

BG: You know, I don’t know in what way to give a serious answer to that.... Master Chief is real good looking, he’s...

EGM: You know, we haven’t seen Master Chief’s face....

BG: Well, he’s kinda got this mysterious thing going upon There are some similarities...maybe he is Steve for all we know. Steve sneaks not on from time to time.... the one and the other are hardcore guys. P

Copyright ?© 2006 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserv Originally appearing in Electronic Gaming Monthly