Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Microsoft's Spencer promoted, Kim retiring

MGS GM promoted to corporate VP as 19-year company veteran announces plans to step down; Dennis Durkin appointed COO of Interactive Entertainment Business.

One year and three months ago, Phil Spencer was appointed general manager of Microsoft Game Studios. Today, Microsoft announced that the executive has once again been promoted, this time to corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. The first-party publishing label has been responsible for such Xbox 360 exclusives as Gears of War 2 and Fable II and will distribute the forthcoming Halo 3: ODST and Alan Wake.

Spencer and Kim onstage at D.I.C.E. 2008.

Spencer and Kim onstage at D.I.C.E. 2008.

Historically, Microsoft Game Studios has also published PC titles such as the discontinued Age of Empires and Microsoft Flight Simulator. Its last corporate vice president, John Schappert, left Microsoft in June to become chief operating officer of Electronic Arts.

Microsoft Game Studios is part of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, which itself saw some executive changes today. Shane Kim, current corporate vice president of IEB's strategy and business development, has announced he will be retiring this fall after 19 years at Microsoft. A spokesperson confirmed that the move was completely voluntary, with Kim saying a desire to spend more time with his friends and family lay behind the decision.

In other IEB news, Dennis Durkin, the current head of the division's financial operations, is to become its chief operating officer, a newly created position. A Microsoft rep said Durkin's duties would be to "lead the charge" and "to continue and focus the business."

77 Comments

  • DanOwns1207

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 12:08 pm GMT

    serious, I think SalarianChemist works for microsoft. Every single article I read has about four or five comments per page about how good Microsoft is. Every single one trashes PS3, Wii and PC, while honoring Xbox as if it is god. is this all he does?

  • AirPortugall

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 8:11 am GMT

    @jb9776 You're telling me that by looking at all consoles sales, that proves which console's best? In that case you're saying the Wii is best when the Wii is mainly for casual gamers or not-even-gamers. I love my 360 and i'm even thinking about getting a PS3 cause of the price cut but all i know is that the 360 online owns PS3s. Ya, they make you pay monthly but they've added tons of new things to the 360 without touching the original cost per month with Facebook and Twitter on the way. What new features has the PS3 gotten lately...new visualizations in the Music Player?? ...nuff said

  • jb9776

    Posted Sep 16, 2009 1:08 am GMT

    i have all three next gen machines and they all have good things and bad things about them, but what gets me is people who say that the 360 is the best console when in it seems to have a lot of question marks around it. no matter how you feel about the 360 at some point it has to win a console cycle. i think its pretty silly to crown the 360 as the best of anything until that happens. they have yet to sell 50 million systems, nintendo has done at least 4 times, sony has done it 3(ps1, ps2, psp). i think the 360 is a great system, but it is not head and shoulders above the competition.

  • Cabal23

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 10:20 am GMT

    Why is this news? Maybe they can let us know who has been promoted to head janitor at MS.

  • shawn_mitchel

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 9:44 am GMT

    Oh God,..not again!

    Guys i don't think am ready for this subtle arguments about which console is KING.

    Sorry,.....am out. Have got better stuffs to attend to

  • dolphins1354

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 8:35 am GMT

    we need an age of empires for the 360 so we can all play it on live.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 8:28 am GMT

    Microsoft Game Studios... funny the call it "Studios" (plural). Over the life of the Xbox 360 Microsoft has shut down or sold off nearly all of their internal development studios. MGS is pretty much the publisher of games developed by partners. Epic can make games for PS3, Bungie can make games for Wii, and so on.

    There's been a lot of moving around of executives over the years for all companies. It's interesting to see the transitions and the affects they have on the companies making the trades. It's like watching major sports trade major players.
    _

  • Bashers79

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 7:34 am GMT

    got any facts to back that up mark? no? didn't think so.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 7:22 am GMT

    jtthegame316
    wrong way round,i think he saying the ps3 is childish not xbox

  • jtthegame316

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 7:10 am GMT

    Bashers79 lol ps 3 fanboys regualarly talk out there rare end but you are one of the worst for that i have seen. the 360 childish. 360 exclusives games inculde games like gears, halo and left 4 dead. none of which you can call childish however ps 3 exclusive little big planet that is childish. Considering for most part the ps3 and xbox games match up if the 360 is childish so is the ps 3.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 7:00 am GMT

    SalarianChemist
    you just made Shane Kim sound evil, especially in the 2nd from last paragraph

  • fatooosh

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:58 am GMT

    sorry for that but
    i want new faces
    i want m$ be better and stronger
    i want more exclusives for 360 if microsoft dont improve 360 will be dead
    tov,star ocean4,bioshock,ninja gaiden2 and sonata now for ps3
    see now ps3 now stronger and more exclusives
    i hope so my 360 be better games T_T
    and i hope so natal games will be great games
    i cant wait 2010-11 and see which will be winner 360 or ps3

  • coolshubham300

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:40 am GMT

    i am awiting for gears 3 microsoft

  • TevoxZi

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:35 am GMT

    @Bashers79
    However, for example people's likes are the different thing. While my cousin enjoys playing Killzone 2 more than he enjoys playing Halo 3, which is different to some people as I previously stated.

    P.S. I don't really believe in Gamespot's ratings, after I saw them giving 6.4 to Legend of Dragoon, which really deserved more than that. Not just because of my opinion, but by looking at the user-score, where a lot of people disagree with the score GameSpot gave to the PS1 -game.

    What sales only matter to, is how "known" the game is, not how good it is and to the game developer to get some money out of the game.

    P.P.S. Appears that I had to say this before leaving after all. Sorry.

  • Bashers79

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:28 am GMT

    yes your right TevoxZi ratings do matter as much as sales figures, looking at gamespots rating of Halo 3 and KZ2, Halo 3 still wins with a rating of 9.5 to KZ2 9.0.

  • TevoxZi

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:23 am GMT

    @Bashers79

    Heavy Rain isn't out yet, just like how Alan Wake isn't out yet. So, you're correct, they're not compareable.
    As for the rest; Yeah, as I said before; games are good depending on do YOU like it, not if the review scores say so, because as you probably agree with; People have unique tastes of games, which is why you can find a game fun, even if it isn't a perfect -scored game nor even close of being. Of course ratings do matter, as those'll show how some people have found it being and if there are more of good numbers, that means there is a bigger percentage of you liking the game, but it isn't always so. -
    -
    - Sales don't matter except to the game company economically. Sales don't make the game, that's why, because you can buy a game and still not like it.

    In either case, I'm leaving this topic.

  • Bashers79

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:19 am GMT

    @coolmayur001 "those exclusives are rubbish .................... ps3 has better
    Killzone 2 is better than Halo 3
    TPS Uncharted was a lot better than TPS gears of war and Heavy Rain will be a lot better than Alan Wake
    fallout 3 was better than fable 2"

    KZ2 vs Halo3: thats a matter of preference, so you can only go on sales figures, therefore KZ2 failed.

    uncharted vs Gears of War: uncharted is a tomb raider style puzzle platformer and gears is a third person shooter so you can't compare the two

    Alan Wake vs Heavy Rain: Alan Wake isn't out yet (never heard of heavy rain) so you can't pass judgment on it yet

    Fallout 3 vs Fable 2: again its all a matter of preference, but seeing as though an Xbox owner can play both and the PS3 owners can't, your argument fails.

  • jojoforpres

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 6:04 am GMT

    What does this article have to do with system wars? Oh right, NOTHING! It is about an industry veteran retiring, and another two veterans moving up their respective corporate ladders. How will this effect the next years sales? Will Microsoft change directions as far as marketing goes? These are appropriate things to speculate on, not "PS3 HAS TEH BESTEST SCLUSIVES!", "NO XBOX HAS TEH BESTEST SCLUSIVES!" You guys and gals are all pathetic. Take your weak **** to the system wars forum where it belongs. All you are doing is polluting the news articles, and it's revolting to real gamers.

  • f3aRl3sS_dRaGoN

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 5:54 am GMT

    Whatever U Guyz Say 360 Still Rocks!!!!!!!!

  • dynomitemasta

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 5:23 am GMT

    @ fps_d0minat0r
    stop already with the Mass Effect isn't an exclusive, when are some of you going to realize (for real) that Games for "Windows" is a MS platform?... as far as 500 bad ones, I think many on the other side are getting out of hand again, and whenever that happens that other company usually has a string of bad luck... it's happened ever time for 3 years. Let's not forget out of those "bad ones" came some of the most innovative and copied games on the market.... isn't Sony doing a Gears clone right now?, I mean they even call it that.I couldn't live without all 3 consoles, and yes, those 500 "bad ones" are some of my favorites. Stop dissing the "majority" of gamers. And let's not forget what console made the "FPS" in your name the dominant selling type of game in the industry.

  • Bashers79

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 5:16 am GMT

    @fps_d0minat0r this is a Xbox article that nothing to do with PS3, so why don't you take your fanboy poison somewhere else. "thats why PS3 users got a free playable joker in batman and thats why ninja giaden sigma will feature better graphics and lots of added things over the xbox version. oh and red alert also had better visuals" I've read countless reports of people prefering the Xbox graphics on multi-platform games, complaining of jagging on the PS3. A free joker playable character, WOW!! that makes all the difference. Your arguments are weak and pathetic.

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 5:01 am GMT

    I want MS to make PC games again They were awesome. Fable, Halo, Crimson Skies, Flight Simulator, Gears of War....

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:45 am GMT

    Shane Kim helped to make sure countless games ended up as console exclusive to Xbox 360.

    IGN recently rated consoles for 2009. Xbox 360 did the best with a grade of A-.

    IGN said Xbox 360 outperforms the competition since there are a countless number of multiplatform games released for Xbox 360, but not for PS3.

    IGN specifically gave situations such as:

    * PC & Xbox 360, but not for PS3

    * Wii & Xbox 360, but not for PS3

    * Xbox 360 and PS3, but not for PC

    As IGN said, Xbox 360 is almost always included in the release of multiplatform games. The same cannot be said for the PS3--a console that doesn't see the release of a large number of console best-sellers from third-party publishers. Whether or not a game comes out for PC, Xbox 360, or Wii, if a game doesn't come out for PS3 it hurts PS3.

    Shane Kim is someone we can thank for Xbox 360 always receiving games. For example, when EA took over the responsibilities for Mass Effect, people wondered if Xbox 360 would keep the game as a console excluisve. Shane Kim made sure that Xbox 360 kept Mass Effect and others as console exclusives.

    Shane Kim and his coworkers at Microsoft know the PC is not the same industry for gaming as the console industry. Not everyone is willing to play at their desk, or hook a PC up to a TV, or spend money on PC graphics cards that often need to be updgraded. Making sure Xbox 360 gets all those great games as console exclusives helped Xbox 360 become the best-selling HD console.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:13 am GMT

    2 main things im disapointed with mgs rising.
    1."Tactical Espionage Action", has been replaced by "Lightning Bolt Action"
    2.protagonist now Raiden, i want snake back, or the boss.

    but its still mgs so it must good, right.

  • coolmayur001 posted Sep 15, 2009 1:46 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    coolmayur001

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:46 am GMT (hide)

    those exclusives are rubbish .................... ps3 has better
    Killzone 2 is better than Halo 3
    TPS Uncharted was a lot better than TPS gears of war and Heavy Rain will be a lot better than Alan Wake
    fallout 3 was better than fable 2

  • kamizuka

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 1:41 am GMT

    @Brean24 those are the games that made the 360 a great console (thats coming from a ps3 fanboy) but half of them are in PC

    @SalarianChemist it is not MGS 5 it is MGS raising, not sure if 5 is gnna be a multiplat, but dont you think that the Ps3 is gnna defend one of the best exlusive they have? just think about it...

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 12:41 am GMT

    Shane Kim is one of the best business executives in the history of the videogame industry.

    My friends and I have talked about Shane Kim and his work countless times. As a result of the success Shane Kim has brought to Microsoft, we can play third-party games like Ridge Racer and Tekken from Namco, Resident Evil from Capcom, Metal Gear 5 from Konami, Assassins Creed, Unreal Tournament, Devil May Cry 4, Virtua Fighter 5 Online. Final Fantasy 11, Final Fantasy 13, and so many others gaming franchises that had not previously been on the Xbox platform.

    Xbox 360 has the biggest and best lineup of games in every genre this generation, even niche genres such as Real-Time Strategy, Puzzle, Party, RPG, JRPG, and of course the popular genres such as First-Person Shooter, Third-Person Shooter, Sandbox, Racing, Sports, and Fighting.

    One of the most important people we can thank for this amazing library of Xbox 360 games is Shane Kim.

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 12:05 am GMT

    @ElJay2010:

    In response to the comment you made.

    Tom Brady and the New England Patriots may have been able to beat the Buffalo Bills by the score of 25-24 tonight on Monday Night Football, but don't let that "score" fool you. A sports "score" is nothing more than an "opinion" of a group of referees.

    It's the same thing with videogame ratings. The Xbox 360 versions of third-party multiplatform games may get higher ratings with the reviews, but those are only "opinions."

    Seriously, it is quite sad when PS3 fanboys say that and use the "opinion" thing as an excuse for lower-quality games. It sounds just as dumb as the statement about a sports score being an "opinion."

  • whataguy69

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 11:59 pm GMT

    joevit. Obviously, you didn't get my point. I was implying that the $100 price deduction off the Xbox 360 Elite isn't really a price cut since they got rid of the HD cables, so sorry I guess you're really not that smart. Anyways, you're just predicting what the new 360 model will have, that's your opinion and you may or may not be right, but they [Microsoft] have said that they won't be releasing a blu-ray player for the Xbox 360. Now again, your theory about the Wii still proves nothing. There is something called the PS2; my nephew got a PS2 for his birthday around 2005. My point is, when the PS2 first launched it's console, he didn't even have a gaming console nor was he able to play one, so you see, there's always a new audience. Sure not day-to-day, week-by-week, but month-to month sales is a fact. Btw, if you think everyone has a 360, which in your case, you said so, then why are they still trying to attract casual audiences. Please use your brain.

  • LOXO7

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 11:16 pm GMT

    Awe man one year away from 20 years. Something doesn't look right here.

  • NeonNinja

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:45 pm GMT

    19 years is a hell of a time to build some serious cred. Good job Mr. Kim. I'll keep rocking the Halo games on my end here.

  • dukerav

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:10 pm GMT

    Well now, the comments on this article sure didn't stray wayyy off topic, now did they.... At any rate I would say that 19 years is a nice long run with Microsoft, and a retirement well deserved. Good luck in life Mr. Kim

  • monson21502

    Posted Sep 14, 2009 10:00 pm GMT

    bye bye mr kim. good luck to you in life

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!