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Xbox bosses Bach, Moore get new roles

  • By Curt Feldman, Tim Surette, GameSpot
  • Posted Dec 15, 2005 11:25 am PT

Robbie Bach fills in leadership roles at Xbox division as he assumes broader responsibilities at Microsoft. Peter Moore, J Allard grab new titles.

Sony had its Sir Howard. Microsoft now has its Sir Robbie. Well, kind of.

Already in charge of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, one of three lead divisions at the software and game giant, Robbie Bach yesterday took on an even broader set of responsibilities.

In news that appears to have been "leaked" to a number of news outlets--most notably The Wall Street Journal and Seattle Post-Intelligencer--Bach outlined the changes, which come on the heels of earlier management tweaks that were announced over the summer.

"In September, Steve [Ballmer, Microsoft CEO] announced some significant cross-company organizational changes intended to achieve greater agility, better manage future growth, and drive our software-based services strategy. Today, I'm excited to share the plan for how our new Entertainment Devices Division will align itself to deliver on these companywide objectives and the E&D charter while simultaneously ensuring our continued focus and momentum on existing efforts," Bach reportedly said in his memo.

Reacting to the news, The Journal said, "The recent changes elevate Mr. Bach and give his division a more critical role in Microsoft's future."

Specifically, Robbie Bach will assume broader responsibilities and authority to drive strategy for Microsoft's digital movie, television, music, and game businesses.

Taking greater control of the Xbox business is Peter Moore, currently vice president of worldwide publishing, and probably the most visible (and globe-trotting) of any Microsoft executive aligned with the Xbox business.

Moore was put in charge of the Interactive Entertainment Business unit, one of four divisions that now report to Bach. Moore will oversee all of Microsoft's game interests in both the hardware and software (which will now include games for the Xbox and PC) departments. The new division will also help with the new Vista operating system launch.

J Allard, another face attached to the Xbox 360, will head up the brand-spankin' new (and cryptically titled) Experiences and Design for Gaming and Entertainment Group.

Allard's group will help map out the future of the four new departments created in the reshuffling of Microsoft's entertainment sector: Moore's Interactive Entertainment unit, a group focused on digital video, music, and television headed by Bryan Lee; a mobile and embedded business division under boss Pieter Knook; and the company's consumer productivity experiences unit controlled by Tom Gibbons.

79 Comments

  • GameDestroyer88

    Posted Dec 17, 2005 9:26 pm GMT

    Honestly I don't care how Microsoft controls thier inner workings....I just want them to make some great games.....and not @%#% up the 360.

  • Cartman86

    Posted Dec 17, 2005 9:56 am GMT

    Guys microsoft isn't god. Let yourselves go. Admit that they did make some mistakes with the 360. Sony did with the PS2. My PS2 wont rumble, play blue discs, PSone games, or support the multitap (had to buy 2 before I realized this). My 360 doesn't seem to crap out at all, but still the whole core system and face plate stuff was stupid.

  • devilscry

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 11:10 am GMT

    So any of us should care because.......Why now?

  • ghsacidman

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 10:09 am GMT

    EDGE??? EXTREME!!!! Extremely stupid. Scatt2k is right. I hate J the bald headed freak. He talks like a politician, acts likes a homosexual, and speaks like an egotist. They say that only (what is it 3%, I think they said 3%) of the 360's didn't work. I CALL BS!!! Mine broke 2 days after I got it. I know atleast 2 other people in my little city that had the same problem. Who are they trying too fool? Obviously Microsoft cut production costs by cutting Quality control entirely. You guys think this is bad, wait till Problem Station 3 comes out. It's a gut feeling I have, especially after the 3 PS2's I've gone through since it's launch.

  • YukoAsho

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 10:04 am GMT

    I don't know why this is news. A company like Microsoft must have frequent reshuffling, so this doesn't seem like it'd be important to any of us.

  • skyvader

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 9:50 am GMT

    In other words...Allerd didn't do so hot on this launch and they feel Moore will be better to handle the Xbox division. He sat in the big chair over at SEGA for the last few months of the Dreamcast. What harm can he do sitting in the big chair for the Xbox? Allerd probably wanted to be more involved with the development of software "experiences". Only the big wiggs know. All I know is...I WANT MY F***ING 360!

  • lilweightlifter

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 8:49 am GMT

    Just some new mumbo jumbo news about the inside world of gaming developers.

  • Dahok

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 7:41 am GMT

    dont you love when any news via sony or ms turns into a gripe session man i love you guys i swear if it wasnt for you my 6 days a week sitting in a cell phone booth would be so much more boring. I swear u are all true friends. But back on target for a sec execs and big industries always shuffle around management to other departments its all part of that thing delegation. You assign workloads based on your confidence in a certain group and you alleviate stress on others. oh well as i always say in the end


    FOR THE HORDE!

  • terrabreak13

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 7:38 am GMT

    "J Allard, another face attached to the Xbox 360". What?? This guy is THE brain child of MSFT. Go check his resume on microsoft.com and not to mention he is a gamer (unlike alot of those ppl we see in suits).

  • terrabreak13

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 7:27 am GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 7:01 am GMT

    i lol at j allard. i wonder if he will continue to try and be a 20ish guy in a late 40's body after he eventually gets canned....

  • RMGreen

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 6:57 am GMT

    In all the interviews I've read or heard with J. Allard, he seems like someone who actually cares about gamers and our experiences. There was an article recenly put up on 1up (http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3146281&did=1) with J. Allard and Kaz Hirai from Sony. The article was done by OPM, and the bias is pretty obvious, but just comparing how J. Allard and Kaz Hirai responded I think said a lot about the two of them. J. Allard seemd to care about the gamers, while Kaz seemed to care about the cash. Maybe it's just me. Here's a guy who actually goes on XBox Live and plays with the people buying his product. I think that's a lot better connection to the customer than most executives have.

  • Rax_Quintanilla

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 6:43 am GMT

    It's all simple corporate-shifting blah blah. The companies remain the same, but they DO fire a lot of people during these moves. The creation of new divisions simply gets the guys with more power, well... MORE power. And the grunts down there MORE work. I work for a HUGE corporation (which I can't tell you the name, but I bet $100 you've got at least 5 of our products your kitchen,bathroom,closet ;-) ) and I see this stuff happening all the time.

    Corporate shifting is the way every year the company says "Look, we've got crazy management skillZ!! We roxx0rz!! Now get back to work maggots!!"

    As gaming regards, this shift won't do any significative change... I hope

  • JoeKing9mm

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 6:21 am GMT

    I think that MS has everything planned out so as long as they make good products im all for them.

  • jsnepo

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 5:54 am GMT

    Or maybe a bad thing. If they were doing great in the first place, why need a shift? Why would they risk now that things are getting out of control for them?

  • spidey008

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 5:22 am GMT

    This is great for M$. They are innovators in the gaming industry and with the next gen now beginning, a little shift in management is a good thing.

  • Seabury

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 5:21 am GMT

    Like Homer Simpson, isn't the "J." short for "Jay?"

  • LordOfMidnight

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 3:05 am GMT

    So does this means the first heads have rolled with the American shortage/ Japan overabundance mess?

  • chinesehaohot

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 2:34 am GMT

    Mickel, I agree with most of your points but do us a favor!! CAN YOU FINISH YOUR SPEECH IN ONE POST?!!!

  • GedByrne

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 1:51 am GMT

    Scatt2k - you sound like a disgruntled customer who has not taken his meds because he is still eagerly awaiting delivery of the best system available to date.

  • ewjim

    Posted Dec 16, 2005 12:43 am GMT

    Monkeys... All they can do is copy Sony?!?

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 11:52 pm GMT

    BUM 'nycfer' translated that if you ever went to college, BUM!! Which I doubt about it, because you just a BUM!!

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 11:16 pm GMT

    Hey 'ncyfer', Klo ketemu gw di Indo, kaga gw jamin bakal idup lama lo, gw cari ampe ketemu trus gw BACOK kepalu!! Bangsat!! Gw jamin!!

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 10:51 pm GMT

    You even couldn't afford to buy your own underwear, when you already at 80!! BUM!!

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 10:47 pm GMT

    Yeah, just like this new dude that 'ncyfer' BUM!!

  • CSM55

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 10:42 pm GMT

    J.Allard is that bald dude who they try to dress up and look cool so he looks like a cool nerd right?

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 10:40 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 10:24 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 10:22 pm GMT

    Oh yeah, I already buy all the games with all my own money right now, moron!! btw, you are that BUM !!

  • andrewtyen

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 10:16 pm GMT

    their copying sony

  • ncyfer

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 9:54 pm GMT

    wow.. how nice of you defending "our field", are you phocking stupid (duh... of couse)?. Get phocking real you dump zh*t. if anyone is a moron, it would be you. there's no point explaining this to likes of you, since bums like you will never understand. Maybe by the time when you're 50 years old, you'll finally be able to afford to buy a game with your own money instead your parents.

    your gay avatar explains all, you brainless playstation fanboy.

    *LOL*

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 9:16 pm GMT

    Since this is a game site, that's why we cannot forget about the games, fools!!

    Competition?? Did you meant, make it 'No Competition' ?? Because we are a gamer, we will defend it in our field!! (in the game industry), at least by not buying any of their products!! Morrons!! (~.~) !!

  • ncyfer

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 8:52 pm GMT

    im not saying which company is good or bad...

    ..but so many fools bashing msft because they think it make them look cool by goin against the big boys and all.. that's just sad. since this is a game site, why dont you all just forget about what msft can do besides for the video game industry, so far, you have to agree it does bring competition and innovation to this industry, more or less. so, as a gamer, if you just going all out against msft, you're just being plain retarded.

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 8:41 pm GMT

    Good Point KageMonkey!! (^^) !!

  • KageMonkey

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 8:27 pm GMT

    mikekare79, if you want American economy to grow, the last thing you would do is support Microsoft. Microsoft uses their capital to suppress innovation in America, causing the loss of jobs. Microsoft have a record of investing and buying companies only to abandoned projects which deem competitive to their market. They use their OS leverage to kill Netscape and numerous other companies, effectively running companies out of business, which in turn, increase unemployment. You want America to have a good economy? Then your money is best NOT spent giving Microsoft more capital to stifle innovation in America.

  • boyblob

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 8:05 pm GMT

    Well that's great and all but It really doesn't have any effect on the gamer.

  • Zenneth014

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 7:55 pm GMT

    This is interesting, you have to wonder what prompted a structural change like this. Responding to weak industry numbers? Internal troubles at Microsoft? Not that any of us would noting how we don't really know the details of any of their jobs. And have I have to say this to danny_s1, isn't Nintendo kind of squeezing money out of people with all their peripherals? Can you use your N64 controllers with your Gamecube? And so I'm not accused of being a Microsoft fanboy, I don't own an X-Box. The only console I own is GCN, and I think my game collection can back me up on that.

  • forever_blank

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 6:43 pm GMT

    I mildy interesting topic, that I myself am not interested in... though interesting.... :/

  • jrayb17

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 6:29 pm GMT

    Hey everyone,

    I have the 360 and I'm in love with it.
    I'm definetly not a fanboy because I love all videgames.
    And Yes I'm getting the PS3 and Revolution as well.
    But since all this talk is going on about Allard and Moore, and then how
    Microsoft can't make good videogames, I just wanted to let everyone know
    that in 2 years, I will be starting my own videogame company, and let me tell you it will own Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo...
    It's me and my cousin so far who we have for the company, and we need more people so if anybody is really interested in this...
    My AIM is jrayb16...
    We have some games lined up, but we will start on everything in 2 years...
    Thanx

  • thekey

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 6:18 pm GMT

    Hey
    mikekare79 Don't you realize that if the Japaneese don't support "the american"company the games will not be as good? Its just like Hollywood no body can make movies as great of quality as America. I mean don't get me wrong I fully support 360 over PS3, but come on... There making us look realy bad. I mean if they had of not haulted the 360 shippments we could have dominated but this could (but hopfully not) hurt us. Maybe its too soon to say, maybe they haulted the 360 shippments so that quality assurence could be messured? I'm loving my 360 and it hasn't failed me yet. I just hope that the DVD//HD DVD situation is handled quickly or we are going to be playing short games. When it all boils down to it it's about the games.

  • thekey

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 6:08 pm GMT

    Scatt2k Is right. I love the 360 but these guys suck!!! They need to hire me, I would recall the ones after the second shippment retest them make sure they reach quality standards get ever single japaneese developer on the planet, put boring yet great RPGs(for japaneese audiances in Japan)NOT ship any more 360's over they until there's demand for it! Reconvert the rest of the 360's into HD DVD. Get every single hot and not so hot videogame known to man put it on the 360, Fire everone in Microsoft game studios(that sucks and lacks creativity which means 85% of them) Make a World wide search of 40 people who realy want to make some real games. Put them in the studio revoke M$gamestudio's control and influnce. Put them out make microsoft market the hell out of them. And keep the games coming and get a lot of esclusives and take it from there. (this a start)

  • floydfire

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 6:04 pm GMT

    well I'm getting my 360 tomorrow or saturday so yeah for for me

  • swanlord

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 5:57 pm GMT

    I like J Allard He created "the Beast" And it Rocks !!!! Sony better watch out 360 is Gonna drop the H-bomb on Ps3......Oh wait the PS3= Vaporware

  • SteelAttack

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 5:40 pm GMT

    Well, as it's evidently useless to make a judgement or a statement without knowing all the facts, it's futile to emit any comment about those movements without knowing the reasons behind them.

  • Oni

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 5:28 pm GMT

    uh .. because most the people who make comments here are second graders?

  • jrett

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 5:04 pm GMT

    Wow, some of you really have some harsh words. I guess you can do better?
    If you can do better, why are you slinging fries at McDonalds?
    My point is, these guys are in this position because they've proven themselves able to make these difficult decisions. In another month, all this snivelling will be over and we'll all have our xbox 360s and we'll look back and think how retarded we were for whining so much like a bunch of 2nd graders.

  • homsuplo75

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 4:22 pm GMT

    I realize this may be big news inside of Microsoft but why would gamers really care. Other than having a new name to blast when games don't live up to their potential.

  • bluedevl420

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 4:00 pm GMT

    ya really, who cares!! its corporate america at work. jst deal w/ it and dont worry about who is where and doing what. jst play games and love them, whether it be atari or xbox360 or anything in between

    love the playa' and the game

  • helluvagood

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 3:35 pm GMT

    lol

  • DarkmanX3

    Posted Dec 15, 2005 3:29 pm GMT

    Dont care.....

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