Post Games Microsoft before and after the Xbox
Sep 22, 2025
Join Shannon Loftis, a veteran video game producer and former Microsoft VP, as she reflects on her journey from the early days of Microsoft to the groundbreaking launch of Xbox. She sheds light on the evolution of gaming at Microsoft, the challenges of launching the original Xbox, and the innovative development of Kinect. Shannon also discusses the bold attempts to fuse TV with interactivity and shares insights on the industry's transformation from the 90s to today, highlighting the need for creativity in a rapidly changing landscape.
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From Temp Assistant To Game Producer
- Shannon Loftis started at Microsoft in 1993 as a temp administrative assistant and moved into a full-time technical role.
- She joined the Entertainment Product Unit to build a card game for the emerging MSN service.
Games As A Consumer Gateway
- Microsoft used games to make PCs feel like consumer devices and teach new users UI basics like mouse use.
- Solitaire was included in Windows to teach the mouse and games helped push Windows into homes.
Xbox Named For DirectX Roots
- Ed Fries announced a pivot toward consoles and the project name "Xbox" played off DirectX familiarity.
- Developers could leverage DirectX knowledge to target both Windows and the new console.
