Enter a caption (optional)

For over 14 years Kudo Tsunoda has been championing interactive experiences—whether by designing genre-defining features for video games like "Fight Night" or driving the creative vision for Microsoft's HoloLens and Kinect for Xbox. As Corporate Vice President for all Windows 1st Party Experiences, Tsunoda works across hardware and software teams to define and develop consumer experiences that ship with a portfolio that reaches over 300 million monthly active users across Microsoft's Edge, Photos and Camera, Groove Music, Movies and TV. 

At the 2016 Core77 Conference, Tsunoda will discuss his work in "Strengthening the Human Tribe Through Technology," and how innovative new products can help create experiences that build genuine emotional connections between people. In his interview here with Core77, Tsunoda discusses the unique way that gaming connects people with one another, his diverse team at Microsoft and the importance of co-developing products with end users. 

Microsoft HoloLens, the first fully self-contained holographic computer 

Core77: You worked in the gaming industry for over a decade before moving to Microsoft to work on interactive products from Xbox to Kinect and HoloLens. What are some of the most significant ways that video game interactions are shaping the way we will experience everyday interactions in the near future?

Kudo Tsunoda: While not exclusive to gaming, game development does promote a very user focused design. Games do a great job of providing people a step by step growth path to gain new skills. It takes something complex—like how you can be a top performer in any type of game—and grows your abilities step by step, level by level, task by task. This will be something we believe in adding to all our experiences. Games also do an amazing job of bringing people together to collaborate towards a group goal. While in the context of games these are generally team related, this also provides compelling insights as to how we can connect people in any type of experience around community goals.

Enter a caption (optional)

What does your current team look like? What are some roles you would be looking to fill for the future and why?

Currently our teams are made up of talented developers, designers, production experts, artists, audio talent, data analysts, business strategists, quality experts, and community leaders. One of the things I enjoy the most about our teams is that while we are always hiring top talent in any of these positions, we are also very interested in hiring people with very diverse backgrounds that we can build special roles around as well. If you are passionate about building emotionally compelling experiences that connect people around a common purpose then we would be interested in talking to you!

At the conference, you will be addressing the role of user-centered design in building genuine emotional connections between people. What are three recent examples of games, projects, apps, products, etc. (not necessarily from your portfolio) that exemplify this type of experience?

The experiences I am naturally drawn to are the ones that blur the lines between the developer and the people using the products—where the community of people who are passionate about the software actually get a chance to help develop how the experience evolves. The iconic experience like this is "Minecraft." 

Enter a caption (optional)

But I am a huge fan of the developers behind "Project Knoxville" at the developer Press Play. It is no longer in development but it involved the community in development in a way I thought was innovative. I still play the "Project Knoxville" card game every week. If you want to check out a great developer, the Press Play team started a new shop called Flashbulb Games. Also love the new game out there by Rare called "Sea of Thieves".

Sea of Thieves

HoloLens promises to deliver a robust augmented reality experience—but it is currently in the development edition. Why is it so important for new technologies to be co-created with users?

Co-developing products with a community of people who care deeply about the project is at the center of all the experiences we build. Nothing delivers innovative new experiences like getting people who are passionate about a space and working together towards a shared goal. This is critical to experience development whether you are building Groove Music or HoloLens. Co-developing with a community is how you ensure you are making products that truly connect people with a common purpose.

Learn more how experience design and co-creation at this September's Core77 Conference in Los Angeles. Buy your ticket today!