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| '''J Allard''' (his real name; formerly '''James Allard''') (b. 1968-9 - ) 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''') (b. 1968-9 - ) 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 about the coming rise of the Internet sent to Microsoft leaders in 1995 titled |
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 1995 titled Windows: The Next Killer Application on the Internet,<ref>{{cite news |title=Leaders of The Pack | work=Newsweek International |page=41 | date=April 25, 2005 | accessdate=2006-11-10 | language=English |id=ISSN 01637053 }}</ref> 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 ] image he has today. | 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 ] image he has today. | ||
Revision as of 17:57, 10 November 2006
J Allard (his real name; formerly James Allard) (b. 1968-9 - ) 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 1995 titled Windows: The Next Killer Application on the Internet, 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 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 audience, much like Steve Jobs did 5 years prior with the launch of Apple Computer's iPod.
References
- "Leaders of The Pack". Newsweek International. April 25, 2005. p. 41. ISSN 01637053.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help)
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