RSSMicrosoft still pushes Xbox 360 as all-in-one entertainment solution
By Tim Conneally | Published July 15, 2008, 12:21 PM
Yesterday's announcement of the "New Xbox Experience" was just another step toward Microsoft's almost almost four-year-old goal of making the Xbox 360 the home's TV, movie, music and gaming center.
The Xbox 360 was launched in 2005 with Xbox Live capability, but it wasn't until 2006 when the real push for the 360 to be "more than a console" began. After increasing the size of Live games, and scrapping the HD DVD aspect of the home entertainment unit, Xbox Live experienced a growth surge.
"We doubled our membership the past two years, growing from 3 million to 6 million, and then from 6 million to 12 million. And today, we are adding a new member every five seconds," said Jason Schappert, Microsoft's corporate vice president of interactive entertainment, in a statement yesterday.
This growth, coupled with the long list of feature additions yesterday, makes it begin to look like the 360's position as an entertainment unit is finally starting to gel. And the deciding factor in the whole process looks to be the decreased emphasis on disc media. Games can now be played directly from the hard drive, Live Marketplace can now be accessed from the Web anywhere and content can be downloaded to the user's console.
In fact, practically all of yesterday's announcements that weren't regarding franchise games were for downloadables: the ability to create avatars and engage in eight-person "live parties," the addition of streaming Netflix content, and the new Xbox Live Primetime massively multiplayer online casual games.
For almost 20 years, companies have tried to provide the same thing the 360 is now providing. Systems like Phillips' CD-i touted music, movies, games, and "family fun" (such as karaoke and game show programs) all in one box. However, nothing that system offered was easy, cheap, or of high enough quality to make even a dent in the console or home video market.
Perhaps the concept is ready for acceptance now.
"Microsoft still pushes"
What's the point of the 'still' ?
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|They were pushing, and now they're still pushing. This is not a new push, it is a continuation of an existing push.
Say it enough times, and push is a funny word. Push push push.
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|So why is it in the 'News' then?
Breaking News! Earth still spinning!!!
push: I think I stop now. Getting some funny looks...
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|Because Microsoft just started pushing their new "New Xbox Experience", and, while one step is new, multiple steps are news *rim shot*.
I think the key is in the final sentence: "Perhaps the concept is ready for acceptance now." Although they're still pushing, they're actually making progress (unlike insert_hated_brand_here)
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|It's a great time for that family to step up to the 360 to replace that tired a** old XBOX. Maybe MS will give them a free year of XBOX Live.
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|A modded X-Box is ten times the "media center" that a 360 is. I highly recommend them.
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|Look what I found today about a fire and an X-Box. Just had to share this. http://www.journal-news....7/15/hjn071608fire.html
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|what the hell is your point other than attempting to be a troll. The article talks about an Xbox and this article is about the 360.
If this is referring to the origianl xbox which is looks like it is there was free replacement of the power cord. Many companies have recalls on products and this may be just one of them. Microsoft did not make the recall a secret but I am see that you are avoiding that part of the story.
I guess if there was story about Ford and some new car you would post a link to Pintos catching on fire.
Troll on
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|I am curious what actually caused it as the last xbox related fire was not MS fault and do we need to talk about Sony's exploding batteries, bashing the two companies is getting old.
As long as products are made from imperfect people its likely there will be an issue sooner or later.
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|You are about retarded. No one was trolling. I just wanted to share it, as I stated.
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|Not bashing anything, I gave no opinion.
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|You brought up something that has nothing to do with the topic, in basic posting rules, it is trolling. Whether you did it intentionally is anyone's guess.
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|"You are about retarded"
lol.
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|What you are doing is trolling.
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|"You are about retarded." HUH
Since your post is so far off topic I consider it trolling. You are looking to start a fight with what you posted. How about the exploding batteries as someone else mentioned that Sony made?
I just wanted to share, my a** you did.
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|This is some great news for the 360. The new dashboard update looks incredible and i think Sony and Nintendo should be scared because Microsoft is looking pretty serious. Im so excited to get this update in the fall. I can't wait!
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|Well, all I know is that ever since my guy got his xbox360, all he does is play online. I am officially a widow of the Halo wars.
I'm hoping he gets over it soon, but based on others' comments... yikes!
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|If you're getting blown off for video games, it's time to step up to real man and ditch your knuckle dragging caveman of a boyfreind. Unless he's your husband, in which case, you're screwed.
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|I suggest adultfriendfinder dot com or betanews dot com. Oh, you are here already...
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|I didn't know Halo Wars was out yet!
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|This probably means no blue-ray for the 360...
movies in hd would consume soo much bandwidth to download, even if netflix makes them available in hd for download.
I like the games for the 360,but if I had to do it over again, I would have bought the PS3 instead....
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|I agree with Niro,Weezu...
great time to have both ps3/xbox360
get the benifits of what each has to offer.. I sometimes go 1 month straight playing one over the other before switching back :-)
thank g0d for gam3fly!
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|Naaah. 360 / Wii / PS3 / MAME combo is best.
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|...
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|Anyone surprised by this? It's basically proof that they want to bury Blu-Ray with online downloads.
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|Yes...burying Blu-Ray is their only motivation...
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|I doubt they are too fussed, Blu-ray is failing all on it's own.
Even Sony have launched 2 competing formats (one a downloading service on PS3, a big hit surely) and the other is with their Bravia HD TVs (which takes care of the non-gamers who might have bothered with it).
You'll also find certain Sony execs now admitting that Blu-ray is not going to be the next DVD and can only look forward to a (high price, high margin) niche future.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/...cnet/830110784399831677
Which is exactly what some of us were saying all along.
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|Yup I agree...my response before was purely sarcasm. :)
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|Sony is now admitting it!!!
Well well well!
Another reason why they lag soo bad! they really are the last one to enter the potential market. I would imagine that soon they will enter in a bid for a search engine.
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|If you go to that PS3 fan boy site for amusement, which someone pointed out in another post. The 'sr' members seem to have around 150 BR movies and 12 games - according to their 'trophy' footers.
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