Extended Xbox Live Capabilities To Debut

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to Microsoft's page detailing new Xbox Live features debuting on August 25th, including the ability to "...see who's online and what game they're playing [directly from the Dashboard]. If you want to invite them to join you in a new game, you can send the invite from the Dash." As well as this, you'll be able to "...set up a [stand-alone] Voice Chat session from your Dashboard." Also detailed as coming this fall are Xbox Live Aware titles, which aren't necessarily online-playable or even multiplayer, but "give you the ability to keep track of what's happening on Xbox Live" at all times, even allowing friends to invite you online while you're in the middle of a single-player offline game.

Comments

Re:Topics I Eagerly Anticipate

[Creepy Crawler]

>>>First off, I'll just say that as an Xbox Live player I find the whole concept of integrated the general service (buddy list/matchmaking) into Xbox titles that have no other online component fascinating, and I certainly hope that it's implemented as well as they expect.

5$ bet that somebody'll make some statement saying "Linux will do better because....". Still, do they intend to do buddy/voice by an OSD overlay? Would'nt that be.. ugly? I'd expect to have a way to "kill" msn messanger (which is what I assume's on there).

>>>Second, here's a list of the topics I expect to be brought up here on Slashdot with relation to this article:

1. Online console gaming is a fad.

Yep, until they turn into moddable computers. Moddable as in adding all sorts of chars/levels/weapons/quests. Only the XBox has the capability because of the hard drive. The other 2 dont.

2. This is just another Microsoft ploy to find out if you've modded your Xbox.

No problem there. I can understand why they DON'T want cheaters. But it'll turn into a "We've got a better stealth modchip" war.

3. FreeBSD is dead. (yes, completely offtopic but almost inevitable).

Insert Goatse Pic ;-)

4. Microsoft is using this to gather information about offline gaming habits. (Maybe not a bad point!)

I've gotta let holes in my firewall for a reason. I dont ave an Xbox, but I'd sure demand to know what's going out of there before letting it "Live".

5. I would rather have a Gamecube which I can use in privacy and play Zelda and Metroid.

I'd prefer a computer. There's all present day computer games, along with older console games. I'd like to see a PSX go on the net.. OH WAIT! It can with EpsxE ;-)

>>>And my most eagerly anticipated topic?

6. Xbox needs more than one game before I'll buy it.

Most of what the XBox has is cookie-cutter formula games. Even Nintendo has the same problem. wow. A new metroid. In 3d. Soo innovative. I'm not saying they're bad, but just tired ideas.

Probably the best platform to date is either the SNES or PSX. Both had a multitude of games, many very crappy. But those gems (Snes: Tales of Phantasia, SOM series-for 3player, EVO...PSX: Bemani Games, Star Ocean2, Gundam Games, various RPGS)

Sorry Sony, but that is innovation

[JFMulder]

I'm no Microsoft lover, but people need to start to realize that even tough they're not the best at making games, they are bringing a lot of innovation to the console market, and Sony is not the one doing the innovation in that area.

So maybe the Xbox box and controller design is bad, and the controller bigger than other consoles (tough I never found that an handicap for me), but they're really trying to push the enveloppe of what console gaming is. Sony never did shit to improve gaming. Using a CD instead of a cartridge wan't innovative, it was just the next logical step, and the controller is just a ripoff of the SNES controller with two pairs of L/R buttons instead of one.

So, maybe you'll argue that the Xbox and its broadband connection and HD isn't innovative, since it's already available to the PC for years, but you have to understand that this console only game out a year after the PS2 and only a couple of days before the GameCube, and these consoles still don't have anything comparable to offer in North America right now (sure, Japan gets all the cool stuff first, well, except for the Xbox :) ). The PS2 with online adapter costs as much at the Xbox right now, but with Xbox you get two awesome games and the HD (which still isn't out for the PS2 btw) for the same price.

Now, with Xbox Live, Microsoft is integrating GameSpy-like features directly into the gaming experience. They might not have the greatest games, but with all the momentum Microsoft is gaining right now, I wouldn't be surprised if people started buying even more Xboxes. In fact, my local ebGames store told me that two months ago that Xbox outsold PS2 5 units to 2 in his store at that time. I don't know if it's still the same tough.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to get across here, but loss focus of because I just love my Xbox and games(ok, so maybe I was a bit trolling over there, sorry!), is that Microsoft, for once, is the innovative one. While everybody else in console gaming is trying to catch up (or not at all as Nintendo is pretty much doing), they should deserve a little more respect they are getting, even tough they're still Microsoft, and most of us would not want to get caught dead with a licensed Windows copy of WinME in their hands.

Now, let the trolling begin! :)

Another possible reason...

[C.Maggard]

Is to fix the exploits in the original dash that allowed the Xbox to run unsigned code without a modchip.

Xbox-scene mentioned this as well just for this reason.