Phil Harrison forms new firm, uses unannounced Microsoft tech

#1

Industry veteran Phil Harrison has revealed the first details of his plans following his departure from Microsoft.

First rumoured during GDC, it was confirmed last week that Harrison had in fact left the platform holder after three years.

Now the exec is forming his own company, named Alloy Platform Industries, which will be using secret Microsoft technology, according to GamesIndustry.

“I’m investing and investigating some new technology spaces, which if we are lucky and smart, will hopefully be catching [the next technology] wave,” he told the site.

“We’re in stealth mode at the moment, we’ll stay in stealth mode for a while. It’s very exciting and something I’ve been planning for a little over a year, in full consultation and collaboration with Microsoft, specifically with Phil Spencer. I’m taking a plunge into the start-up pool.”

Harrison goes on to say that Alloy has “licensed some technology from Microsoft”, which is expected to form the basis of its initial work. However, he was unable to give more details as it is “unannounced technology that nobody outside of Microsoft knows about”.

His comments all but rule out HoloLens, a tech concept that was unveiled earlier this year, but Harrison says the technology he is working with is “clearly related” to video games.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/phil-harrison-forms-new-firm-uses-unannounced-microsoft-tech/0205735

#2

Ok, I’m curious.

#3

No Phil, the N-Gage has already been released.

#4

No Phil, Sony owns the OnLive tech patent now.

Any time I hear about an executive being excited for a super secret special awesome technology, I roll my eyes so fucking hard I’m convulsing on the floor with foam pouring outta my mouth!

#5

I’m guessing it’s VR. They can’t really do much more with Kinect. Even with increased accuracy it will still be limited to a few select genres that only require larger movements.

#6

Competition is always healthy, but this could be a case where too many variations of VR will overwhelm consumers, especially since VR is still an unsure success. If it can become as popular as smartphones or tablets, then I can see, say, Facebook and Sony attracting different audiences for the Oculus Rift and Morpheus, respectfully. Facebook could target OR at the many people on social media, and also marketing it for education and travel agency purposes. They also have the people who were originally planning on using it for PC games. I have little faith Sony will be able to make a smashing success out of Morpheus, though. History has shown that whenever they come out with a new peripheral, they drop support for it after a couple years. Same goes for Microsoft and Nintendo.