The Game Developers Conference took place last week in San Francisco, and Rob Pardo, Blizzard’s Executive Vice President of Game Design, was there too. He spoke at the Luminaries Lunch, and everybody was surprised to hear that Blizzard are in talks with Microsoft over the next-generation Xbox. Previously we have heard that Microsoft is working on a new console, but they never confirmed that 360’s successor is on its way.[ad#social]

There are many people who question Pardo’s words as other game developers didn’t speak with Microsoft, not even with Sony therefore they say a new console is far from being developed. However, if a new Microsoft console is coming then game developers think that it should also become a priority for format holders.

“How many designers in the games industry do you think they are rounding up to, because this is going to make or break them this time around. I’m not aware that they are putting a big amount of effort into finding out how to make the games. The people who are actually physically going to make the games are all going to get a surprise,” said David Perry from Acclaim.

According to Warren Spector from Disney’s Junction Point Studios, the format holders are more interested in marketing instead of concentrating on games. However, IMO this is not entirely true as Microsoft and Sony have to sell their consoles, but they also should be equally focused on games.

“I get the impression they’re focusing on owning the living room. One device that lets you watch movies, television and play games and music and all that stuff. They’re so focused on that that I’m not even sure they’re thinking about the games that are going to come out. Which is kind of crazy,” said Spector.

Besides confirming Blizzard’s discussions with Microsoft, Pardo explained why World of Warcraft was never available on home consoles. He said that the hardware of the consoles was not designed for some game genres including RTS.

“There are are so many games like we make at Blizzard that we don’t take to consoles because they don’t support the input device and you end up with crappy ports. That’s why RTS games never do well on consoles. If I was them, I’d be sitting around trying to figure out what’s a cool input device that supports all types of new kinds of games,” said Pardo.

Xbox 720 might be coming sometime in 2010 or 2011, and now it is clear that we will be able to play RTS-like games. They just can’t miss it this time as Diablo 3 will come, also StarCraft 2, and let’s not forget about all WoW fans.