One Year of Xbox 360

Gaming Nexus has up an article marking (kinda) the one-year anniversary of the 360's launch. Author Charles Husemann touches on the important moments in the console's first year on the market, discusses what Microsoft has done right, and talks about where the console is probably going in the future. From the article: "Obviously digital content such as TV and movies are going to be a big deal (assuming Microsoft can get those servers running smoothly and release bigger hard drives). I know I can stream it from my PC but I'd love to have Major Nelsons' podcast automatically downloaded to my 360 every week. I'd also like to see Microsoft resist the temptation to cram a browser into the system as I know they are going to get pressure to do so with the Wii and the PS3 having that built in. Instead I'd love to have a simple, easy to use RSS reader that can stream headlines along the bottom of the screen when I'm in the dashboard."

Comments

I like the RSS reader idea

[Erwos]

I do kind of like the idea of having an RSS reader with "new item" updates being presented like the "your friend has logged in/out" messages. I could even see doing it in-game for some stuff, although I could see that being annoying to most people.

Much as it would pain Microsoft, some kind of YouTube integration would be a killer app for the 360, too.

What is the future then?

[moore.dustin]

Adding a browser is the next logical step, though if anyone were to not have it I would think it would be the Wii. I like the XBox 360 and what it does, but Microsoft and Sony need to ask themselves what they want these machines to be down the road. It is obvious that the distinction between computer and gaming console are blurring and will eventually meet. If one was to try to predict the future, they would probably say that gaming consoles are going to be more like the "Media Center PC" in the living room. We have all three next-gens on the internet already and two of them pushing media capabilities. Next time around I think they will be all inclusive systems that is "everything media" - Where Nintendo will likely keep its niche and remain strictly, a gaming console.

That being said, Sony and Microsoft and taking losses to establish impenetrable market dominance and brand recognition in four of the biggest markets in the world (Gaming, Music, Entertainment[Hollywood], and Advertising). Does anyone actually think this is not the road we/they are going down?

Re:Xbox and MediaCenter

[blaster151]

That sounds like an awesome capability (media streaming). I'm jealous! The only next-gen system I own is a Wii. It has the capacity to make additional "channels" (ie, functions) available for purchase. I would be very surprised if they don't add media streaming sometime in the future. The hardware has all the support it needs--they're in a position to offer the capability through a paid software update with nearly zero distribution costs. So I'm really hoping that the Wii offers this. I'm also very tempted to see how the browsing experience would feel with the Wii's nifty pointer (Wiimote) capabilities--I think it could be a little less cumbersome than using a standard controller. Just some thoughts!

Re:One Year of Xbox360 - One Word: Trainwreck

[kionel]

My, aren't we a fountain of FUD?

Microsoft tried to downplay BC and then at the last minute flip flopped and tried to implement a halfassed way of manually retrofitting small batches of games.

True, but the BC was handled much better than has been reported. I should know; I've played them. Have you?

In retrospect BC didn't freaking matter. I was too busy playing the new games (Oblivion anyone?) to care.

Instead of being upfront about the insanely high defect rate for the 360...

You got a number for the "insanely high defect rate" there, fanboi?

No?

Didn't think so.

For the record, yes, there were a few hardware problems. So few, in fact, that I have yet to meet one single person who actually experienced them. When I've asked if they knew anybody who had the problem I always get "Well, I've heard about it online."

The hardware problems certainly happened. Hell, MS has taken responsibility for the early adopters who had problems by refunding or replacing their equipment. But it wasn't a huge problem. Hell, it wasn't even a large problem.

By contrast, the Wii -- which is a great system -- had problems, too. Nintendo said "oops!" and fixed them.

And the PS3 overheating issues? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

Going into what should have been its big holiday sales months, Microsoft only has Gears of War.

...and Call of Duty 3, and Madden, to say nothing of the still-freaking-awesome Oblivion and the rest of its catalog. Hell, even launch titles like PGR3 are still a blast.

By contrast, the Playstation 3 -- all 120,000 of them out there -- has one good title and a load of shovelware so bad as to be "E.T.-buried-in-a-landfill" embarrasing.

Oh, wait; your point was that developers don't like the 360, right? Huh. Then what about this article, where an actual developer refers to the 360 as being easier to develop for than the ridiculously proprietary PS3?

We are now learning that more games besides PGR3 are being forced to run at less than 720p so they can avoid having to write tile renderers to fit inside the 360's EDRAM.

Oh, like you noticed a difference.

Seriously, if you're so wrapped up in the exact resolution that your game is running and not on the quality of the actual play, it's long past time that you went outside and talked to a real girl.

Both Nintendo and Sony are offering free online play for their systems.

...and neither of them has a service that even touches Xbox Live.

In short, "Waah! Microsoft is making me pay a few dollars a month for an amazing system that is so good that the competitors can't touch it. Waaah!"

Please.

Peripherals One word: overpriced

Yes, because Sony and Nintendo have always been known for their charitable offerings when it comes to peripherals.

There is no reason Microsoft is forcing 360 owners to be able to have nothing better than a 20gig drive. Microsoft should let 360 owners upgrade their harddrive to any size they want.

Yes, isn't it terrible that MS didn't put USB 2.0 ports into their device to allow external HD's to be hooked up?

Oh, wait; they did.

Bottom line here: The 360 is a hell of a product that's worth the price and available now. I have yet to meet a single person who purchased one who hasn't come away happy with the product.