The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the business strategy behind the Xbox Live service. Microsoft is betting big — to the tune of $200 million — that online gaming will be the killer app behind the Xbox 360. Fine and dandy. But I came across this quote:

Added Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities: "At the end of the day, we don't play games for social interaction.... We play games to escape." Microsoft's strategy is "absolutely flawed," he said.

Don't play for social interaction? Absolutely flawed? I beg to differ. I can't think of a reason to buy half the current titles available for the Xbox 360 — Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing, Madden — if they didn't have an online component. Plus, hasn't he heard of a little game called World of Warcraft?

I'd love to hear more from this guy. Hey, Mr. Pachter, if you read Kotaku, drop us an email to tell us in more detail why you think this strategy is "absolutely flawed."

Microsoft Places Big Bet On Multiplayer Gaming [Wall Street Journal]

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