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

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:What is the future then?

[DrEldarion]

Actually, I DO want a browser on my console - preferrably one I can access even when I'm playing a game. It'll make gamefaqs runs that much easier - no having to run into the other room everytime I want to look something up.

Yes, I'm lazy.

360

[ObiWanStevobi]

I've had mine for nearly a year now, and have been very satisfied. At $50 a year, I think the Live Gold membership has been well worth it. I was impressed at first with being able to download 1+ gig demos reasonably fast. Plus 'free' Live content such as Texas Hold'em and Hexic are a bonus too. Admittedly, I don't have a whole lot of friends so all the chat/com features haven't done much for me.

I have a few complaints about the speed of loading Arcade games and having demos show as 0 on your gamerscore, but all in all, Live has been a good experience. It was just on the 22nd of this month that they added TV and movies to the Live content, and so far, I'm liking that too. Already downloaded South Park's Make Love Not Warcraft and a few other choice tv shows. They cost $2.00 each and do not expire. I know you can watch them while offline, as long as you are signed in with the same user profile that downloaded them. So the liscensing for them is stored locally.

As for the machine itself, it delivers on the graphics and has some great games. The DVD tray on mine has started to stick a bit. An xbox with a shoddy disc drive, who'de imagined?

Personally, I think they did a lot right. They were first to market, got some exclusive games, and have a well organized Xbox Live interface. One thing they could do is push a few more free arcade games to combat Sony.

Re:Sales Not Too Good

[Jolva]

Where are you getting this information? MS just recently changed their sales forecast to 15 million by the end of their fiscal year. They previously forecasted 5.5 by June of 2006, which they were able to meet.

http://www.itworld.com/Tech/5051/060721xbox/

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