Skip to content
Sep 3 / Ozymandias

Moving on from Microsoft

, ,

Where to start?

Well, I guess I’ll just cut to the chase and say that I’m moving on from Microsoft to take a new role at Amazon. Can’t really talk about details at this point, but it’ll become pretty evident soon enough… and you all know where my passions lie. :)

I make this announcement with mixed emotions as I’m excited about where Microsoft is going in the next few years as they look to reinvent digital entertainment… but I’m also obviously very intrigued about what Amazon is looking to do. And add to that some of the smaller “intangible” benefits (such as a much shorter commute, dogs allowed at work, working in Seattle proper, etc.) it felt like the right time.

It’s been an amazing eight years here at Microsoft. I originally joined to help build and evangelize Xbox LIVE to a skeptical game industry. When I started, the team consisted of maybe 30 people in a hallway in the now-defunct Millennium campus. We’d work together to build the story of what we were trying to achieve, and then I’d hop on a plane and take some of the early slings and arrows. Not many people remember now, but there was a time when even the idea of Xbox LIVE was extremely controversial. We got… robust, shall we say, feedback on a variety of subjects. I remember folks insisting that voice would never be desired from the console audience, or that this whole crazy digital content download Marketplace thing would never take off. And of course, quite a few folks struggled to believe that Xbox LIVE would be a service that people would be willing to pay for. 25 million+ members later I think that debate has finally been put to rest.

I’ve always valued the passion Microsoft brings to identifying what the right thing is to do around a variety of topics for developers, publishers, consumers, and platforms… particularly the Xbox LIVE team. While I’ll never be able to recount them, I can say that there have been thousands of times when I’ve watched or engaged in a passionate debate in a conference room about some arcane subject where the platform teams (who are all also gamers) fought hard to do the right thing for the consumer – i.e., you. That continues today; those teams are all people who are also customers of the service, and I’m comfortable saying the future is very bright under their stewardship.

I know many of you have been watching this blog as of late for Windows Phone 7 news. For obvious reasons, I won’t be the right person to be writing about WP7 in the future, but did want to encourage you to keep an eye on the following blogs in the future:

    Charlie Kindel – All Things WP7 Development
    Michael Klucher – XNA Game Development and Design
    Shawn Hargreaves – XNA Coding and Optimization
    Anad Lyer – Silverlight Application Development
    Christian Schormann – Silverlight and Tools

Can’t share much more right now – I have a lot of learning to do, and need to learn where the lines lie. As I get up to speed I hope to be able to share information here and via my Twitter account, but I can’t make any commitments as to what or when at this point. Hopefully we’ll be able to have some interesting conversations in the not too distant future!

Thanks for reading, and thanks for all of your support over these last few years – it’s been greatly appreciated! Now onward!

Related posts:

  1. Wired on Microsoft’s Challenge for Windows Phone 7: Wooing Developers
  2. Your Thoughts on the Future of Live?
  3. Penny Arcade on Microsoft Bloggers
  4. Welcome to Ozymandias!
  5. Xbox 360: 28M Sold WW | Xbox LIVE: 17M Subscribers, Majority Gold
Filed under Uncategorized
  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/ozymandias/ Ozymandias

    [Blog] Moving on from Microsoft | Ozymandias | http://www.ozymandias.com/moving-on-from... #thefutureisbright

  • rohitharsh

    RT @Ozymandias: [Blog] Moving on from Microsoft | Ozymandias | http://www.ozymandias.com/moving-on-from... #thefutureisbright

  • evil_avatar

    @Ozymandias Dude! Congrats on getting the gig with Amazon.com! That is spectacular. I hope you will still visit my page. :)

  • KenBirge

    @Ozymandias You’ll be missed Andre, all the best.

  • shannonloftis

    @Ozymandias wow, grats Andre! Best of luck!!

  • trezzer

    @Ozymandias Best of luck at Amazon.

  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/ozymandias/ Ozymandias

    @evil_avatar Thanks man! I’ll still be coming by… Can’t say yet what I’ll be doing, but rest assured it’s interesting to me… ;)

  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/ozymandias/ Ozymandias

    @KenBirge Thanks Ken! I’m sure I’ll still be seeing you around… Not going far… :)

  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/ozymandias/ Ozymandias

    @DAKing240 Thanks for the good wishes!

  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/ozymandias/ Ozymandias

    @shannonloftis Thanks for the good wishes Shannon… I’m sure I’ll see you at events. Not going far!

  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/ozymandias/ Ozymandias

    @trezzer Thank you!

  • Ian Wilson

    Good luck mate and thanks for the work you put in to Xbox Live. It has been interesting reading your blog and I hope you can continue to add to the community and post what and when you can.

    As you say: Onwards and upwards!

  • thevowel

    @Ozymandias Good luck!

  • http://ozymandias.com Ozymandias

    Thanks for the good wishes everyone! Always appreciate your feedback, and hope we’ll be able to talk more in the future!

  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/ozymandias/ Ozymandias

    @thevowel Thanks E! Add me to your friends list if you clear some space and we’ll get some games in!

  • racsonp

    @Ozymandias Congrats & Best of luck! > RT [Blog] Moving on from Microsoft | Ozymandias | http://www.ozymandias.com/moving-on-from... #thefutureisbright

  • LeoNel

    @Ozymandias The very best of luck to you!

  • RomeoDude

    Sounds like a great opportunity! Good luck and thanks for helping to bring the greatest gaming service to life!

  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/daking240/ DAKing240

    @Ozymandias great job on the Xbox, looking to see your future work at Amazon!

  • Murrell

    well that kinda explains the lack of new info, thanks for the excellent posts, the way you wrote and thought about mobile gaming/multi player was dead on. I really hope some of your thoughts on the subject find themselves somewhere on the net.

  • ncroal

    RT @Ozymandias: [Blog] Moving on from Microsoft | Ozymandias | http://www.ozymandias.com/moving-on-from... #thefutureisbright

  • Harpax

    RT @Ozymandias: [Blog] Moving on from Microsoft | Ozymandias | http://www.ozymandias.com/moving-on-from... #thefutureisbright

  • patrickbalthrop

    RT @Ozymandias: [Blog] Moving on from Microsoft | Ozymandias | http://www.ozymandias.com/moving-on-from... #thefutureisbright

  • ninjaharlot

    @Ozymandias whaaaaat??? *sad face* but congrats, too!

  • http://www.startupblock.com/?p=3594 Amazon steals Microsoft`s Director of Game Platform Strategy for some reason : startupblock.com

    [...]  |  Ozymandias  | Email [...]

  • http://www.qwerty.web.id/amazon-steals-microsofts-director-of-game-platform-strategy-for-some-reason/ Amazon steals Microsoft’s Director of Game Platform Strategy for some reason | Qwerty.Web.id

    [...]  |  Ozymandias  | Email [...]

  • http://www.km37.com/uncategorized/amazon-steals-microsofts-director-of-game-platform-strategy-for-some-reason-155th-edition/ Amazon steals Microsoft’s Director of Game Platform Strategy for some reason – 155th Edition – Top channel for all News, Videos, & Images

    [...] Permalink Gamasutra | Ozymandias | Email this | CommentsBy Thomas Ricker Yaab reddit_url = http://www.km37.com/uncategorized/amazon-steals-microsofts-director-of-game-platform-strategy-for-some-reason-155th-edition/;reddit_title = Amazon+steals+Microsoft%27s+Director+of+Game+Platform+Strategy+for+some+reason+-+155th+Edition;reddit_newwindow='1';Share lb_url = 'http://www.km37.com/uncategorized/amazon-steals-microsofts-director-of-game-platform-strategy-for-some-reason-155th-edition/'; lb_title = 'Amazon steals Microsoft’s Director of Game Platform Strategy for some reason – 155th Edition'; lb_topic = ''; lb_skin = ''; lb_bgcolor = '#000'; lb_border = '1'; lb_bordercolor = '#cccccc'; lb_width = '45'; lb_height = '18'; Powered by Lintas Berita [...]

  • David Weller

    Congrats on your new venture, Andre. Hope I get a chance to see you at your new digs (and yes, being able to take your dogs to work ROCKS :-)

  • http://ozymandias.com Ozymandias

    Thanks Dave – let me know next time you’re back here in civilization and we’ll hook up! ;)

  • http://hitechvnn.com/top-microsoft-game-employee-jumps-to-amazon/ Top Microsoft game employee jumps to Amazon | HiTech Dot Com

    [...] Vrignaud announced his departure Friday on his personal blog. “Can’t really talk about details at this point, but it’ll become pretty evident [...]

  • http://twitoaster.com/country-us/ozymandias/ Ozymandias

    @ninjaharlot Thanks Kathleen! We’ll stay in touch… need to find you on LIVE!

  • http://gnews.ro/amazon-poaches-xbox-live-founding-father/ All news » Blog Archive » Amazon poaches Xbox Live founding father

    [...] revelation came via the man’s blog, where he scribed the following: “Well, I guess I’ll just cut to the chase and say that [...]

  • http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/09/microsofts-games-platform-strategy-man-moves-to-amazon/ Microsoft’s Games Platform Strategy Man Moves To Amazon | Kotaku Australia

    [...] revealed his change of occupation in an entry on his personal blog on Friday, hinting at something gaming-related going down at Amazon.com. Well, I guess I’ll [...]

  • http://ireaderreview.com/2010/09/07/top-xbox-executive-joins-kindle-app-store-team/ Top Xbox executive joins Kindle App Store team? « Kindle Review – Kindle 3 Review, iPad Review

    [...] what Andre Vrignaud had this to say about his new role at Amazon – Well, I guess I’ll just cut to the chase and say that I’m moving on from Microsoft to take a [...]

  • http://www.newsonfire.co.uk/microsoft-game-platform-director-scooped-up-by-amazon.html Microsoft game platform director scooped up by Amazon | News on Fire

    [...] position after eight years on the job, apparently taking up a new position at Amazon. In a post on his personal blog announcing the career change, Vrignaud says he “can’t really talk about details at this [...]

  • http://www.electricchaos.com/?p=53556 Electric Chaos » Blog Archive » Microsoft game platform director scooped up by Amazon

    [...] position after eight years on the job, apparently taking up a new position at Amazon. In a post on his personal blog announcing the career change, Vrignaud says he "can't really talk about details at this point," but [...]

  • http://www.demenciadigital.com/uncategorized/microsoft-game-platform-director-scooped-up-by-amazon/ Microsoft game platform director scooped up by Amazon | Demencia Digital

    [...] position after eight years on the job, apparently taking up a new position at Amazon. In a post on his personal blog announcing the career change, Vrignaud says he "can't really talk about details at this point," but [...]

  • http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/microsoft-game-platform-director-scooped-up-by-amazon/ Microsoft game platform director scooped up by Amazon | Joystiq

    [...] position after eight years on the job, apparently taking up a new position at Amazon. In a post on his personal blog announcing the career change, Vrignaud says he "can't really talk about details at this point," but [...]

  • http://4get.tv/2010/09/microsofts-game-platform-director-leaves-for-amazon/ Microsoft’s game platform director leaves for Amazon « 4get TV

    [...] more evidence surfaced that Amazon is expanding its ambitions in online game distribution. On his personal blog (via Gamasutra), Microsoft director of game platform strategy Andre Vrignaud announced he has [...]

  • http://lordsithtech.net/?p=850 Microsoft gaming director moves to Amazon

    [...] a blog post on Tuesday, Andre Vrignaud wrote that he had mixed emotions about leaving Microsoft for Amazon. “I make this announcement with mixed emotions as [...]

  • http://www.linkedin.com/in/mtodddean Todd Dean

    Andre,

    This sounds like a great move. I’d like to chat with you please give me a call at your convienence.

    Todd Dean
    206.334.5300

  • http://blog.findwell.com/ Kevin Lisota

    Congrats on the move to Amazon.

    For WP7 development blogs, you should suggest blogs that are active and worth following. Shawn and Christian regularly post, but Michael hasn’t posted in two months, Anad in 4+ months and Charlie’s blog hasn’t seen new content since March. Looks like the WP Developer Blog is a better source of info.

  • http://jbullock.co.uk/thoughts-on-news/amazon-up-their-game-and-optical-chips-are-here » Amazon up their ‘game,’ and optical chips are here! John Bullock

    [...] blog that he will be leaving Microsoft for the sunny shores of Amazon. Andre Vrignaud stated in his blog post that, while he is excited about where Microsoft is going, he is intrigued by what Amazon is looking [...]

  • http://www.bandwagonerbuzz.com/2010/09/08/microsofts-game-platform-director-leaves-for-amazon/ Microsoft’s game platform director leaves for Amazon | Bandwagoner Buzz

    [...] more evidence surfaced that Amazon is expanding its ambitions in online game distribution. On his personal blog (via Gamasutra), Microsoft director of game platform strategy Andre Vrignaud announced he has [...]

  • http://modmyxbox.org/2010/09/08/microsoft-game-platform-director-scooped-up-by-amazon/ Microsoft game platform director scooped up by Amazon | Mod My Xbox

    [...] position after eight years on the job, apparently taking up a new position at Amazon. In a post on his personal blog announcing the career change, Vrignaud says he “can’t really talk about details at this [...]

  • http://news.team-sfa.fr/?p=11543 Directeur de Microsoft plate-forme de jeu récuperé par Amazon | News Jeux video – SFA

    [...] après huit ans de travail, semble prendre une nouvelle position à Amazon. Dans un post sur son blog personnel annonçant le changement de carrière, dit-il Vrignaud « ne peut pas vraiment parler de [...]

  • http://www.gamerservices.net/industry-news/microsofts-game-platform-director-leaves-for-amazon/ Microsoft’s game platform director leaves for Amazon

    [...] more evidence surfaced that Amazon is expanding its ambitions in online game distribution. On his personal blog (via Gamasutra), Microsoft director of game platform strategy Andre Vrignaud announced he has [...]

  • http://kevinharder.com Kevin Harder

    Congrats on your new position at Amazon Andre, and good luck! I’m excited to see what you will help bring live there. Having another big player in the digital gaming and entertainment industry will be great for everyone.

  • http://www.technobuffalo.com/blog/microsoft/why-did-amazon-hire-a-top-xbox-executive/ Why Did Amazon Hire A Top Xbox Executive? - TechnoBuffalo

    [...] Vrignaud, who has spent 20 years in the video game industry, said on his personal blog, “I make this announcement with mixed emotions as I’m excited about where Microsoft is [...]