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| '''J Allard''' (his real name; formerly '''James Allard''') is a Corporate Vice President and the Chief ] Architect at ]. He also oversaw Microsoft's first foray into the ], the ]. Allard oversees all design and engineering for the Xbox console, peripherals, Microsoft's multiplayer online service ], as well as development tools for ]. His responsibilities for Xbox carried over to Microsoft's ] ], the ]. | '''J Allard''' (his real name; formerly '''James Allard''') is a Corporate Vice President and the Chief ] Architect at ]. He also oversaw Microsoft's first foray into the ], the ]. Allard oversees all design and engineering for the Xbox console, peripherals, Microsoft's multiplayer online service ], as well as development tools for ]. His responsibilities for Xbox carried over to Microsoft's ] ], the ]. | ||
| He is actually best known in the software field for his historic memo {{fact}} about the coming rise of the Internet sent to Microsoft leaders in the mid 90s, reshaping the direction of the entire company. A ] graduate with a bachelor's degree in ], Allard has also been known to play ] as part of Team Pink. On Xbox Live, Allard's ] is "]". | He is actually best known in the software field for his historic memo {{fact}} about the coming rise of the Internet sent to Microsoft leaders in the mid 90s, reshaping the direction of the entire company. A ] graduate with a bachelor's degree in ], Allard has also been known to play ] as part of Team Pink. On Xbox Live, Allard's ] is "]". | ||
| When Allard was lined up to become one of the main frontmen for Xbox, he changed his first name to just "J", hence it is not followed by a period. In addition to a name change, Allard also went through progressive transformation , changing his look and wardrobe dramatically, getting in shape and shaving his head to sport the "uber-]" image he has today. | |||
| It has also been rumored that he is overseeing development of the recently announced ], a new handheld portable media device which is seen by the media as a potential ] rival.{{fact}} | |||
| Allard has attracted criticism from various circles for this transformation, perhaps due to what some suspect, is the result of interference from ]. The ] brand is arguably the most image obsessed of all Microsoft's operations, taking a lead from ] overtly image obsessed ] brand. The Xbox team orchestrated the console image very early on and did as much as possible to distance the group from the stuffiness of Microsoft's corporate software divisions. In 2000, the Xbox team allowed a crew from ] business and finance show ], to film within their offices. The team did as much as possible during the crew's visit, to demonstrate how unconventional and laid back they were. The broadcast feature segment included shots of Allard ] within the corridors of the team's office. | |||
| Allard is overseeing development of the recently announced ], a handheld portable media device seen by the media as a potential ] rival. According to a recent Microsoft press release, J Allard's current favorite bands are ], ], ] and ]. Allard has notably signed a majority of these artists as part of a broad Zune marketing campaign by Microsoft which included heavy promotion during Seattle's ] festival in 2006, demonstrating once again Allard's tacit understanding of marketing consumer electronics products to a youthful ] audience. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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Revision as of 20:13, 28 October 2006
J Allard (his real name; formerly James Allard) is a Corporate Vice President and the Chief XNA Architect at Microsoft. He also oversaw Microsoft's first foray into the video game industry, the Xbox. Allard oversees all design and engineering for the Xbox console, peripherals, Microsoft's multiplayer online service Xbox Live, as well as development tools for video game developers. His responsibilities for Xbox carried over to Microsoft's 2005 video game console, the Xbox 360.
He is actually best known in the software field for his historic memo about the coming rise of the Internet sent to Microsoft leaders in the mid 90s, reshaping the direction of the entire company. A Boston University graduate with a bachelor's degree in computer science, Allard has also been known to play The Game as part of Team Pink. On Xbox Live, Allard's Gamertag is "HiroProtagonist".
When Allard was lined up to become one of the main frontmen for Xbox, he changed his first name to just "J", hence it is not followed by a period. In addition to a name change, Allard also went through progressive transformation , changing his look and wardrobe dramatically, getting in shape and shaving his head to sport the "uber-hipster" image he has today.
Allard has attracted criticism from various circles for this transformation, perhaps due to what some suspect, is the result of interference from image consultants. The Xbox brand is arguably the most image obsessed of all Microsoft's operations, taking a lead from Sony's overtly image obsessed Playstation brand. The Xbox team orchestrated the console image very early on and did as much as possible to distance the group from the stuffiness of Microsoft's corporate software divisions. In 2000, the Xbox team allowed a crew from BBC2's business and finance show The Money Programme, to film within their offices. The team did as much as possible during the crew's visit, to demonstrate how unconventional and laid back they were. The broadcast feature segment included shots of Allard skateboarding within the corridors of the team's office.
Allard is overseeing development of the recently announced Microsoft Zune, a handheld portable media device seen by the media as a potential iPod rival. According to a recent Microsoft press release, J Allard's current favorite bands are Atmosphere, Ladytron, The Cure and New Order. Allard has notably signed a majority of these artists as part of a broad Zune marketing campaign by Microsoft which included heavy promotion during Seattle's Bumbershoot festival in 2006, demonstrating once again Allard's tacit understanding of marketing consumer electronics products to a youthful hipster audience.
External links
- Artist's rendition of James' transformation into "J".
- Article on James' physical transformation.
- J Allard's Xbox 360
- Bio at Microsoft.com
- Bio at Xbox.com
- Xbox Live Gamercard (login required)
- E3 2005 speech
- Interview about Zune
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