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Ghost in the Shell, Other Anime Coming to Xbox Live

Posted by Zonk on from the aeria-gloris dept.

Joystiq is reporting that a large slice of the catalog for anime distributor Starz will be coming to Xbox Live. Some of their titles are already available via the service, while others will be placed into circulation in the coming months. High profile new content includes the stellar Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (Series 1 and 2), Read or Die, Macross Plus, Tokko, Virus, and X.

10 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. In other words... by Applekid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ... just the stuff you've already seen aired on cable.

    --
    More Twoson than Cupertino
  2. evangelion! by everphilski · · Score: 2, Funny

    Angels Attack XBOX!

  3. XBox Taking Over Living Room by StCredZero · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The ultimate XBox strategy for Microsoft domination of the world (or at least the US) is for it to take over the living room. Start with Anime. Move on to sports. (Isn't the NFL trying to launch its own network?) Comedy Central? They could put a XBox branded YouTube on there. (Just re-skin the browser for YouTube pages.) Start small, even at a loss to Microsoft, but if they play it right, they can grow into a media empire. They could be the next cable, just with shows and series, but no time-slots. They would have targeted advertising, however.

    1. Re:XBox Taking Over Living Room by kamapuaa · · Score: 2, Insightful
      The XBox has been out for 6 years now, and they're starting to offer downloads of anime episodes, to the 5% of American households than have an XBox. At that rate it will name them approximately 95 more years to take over the living room.

      People have been talking about "Living room domination" since the beginning, but if that was at the forefront of MS's plans, they would have adopted XBMC as their own, they would have made the XBox 360 cheaper, they'd have targeted a broader audience that really isn't into games, really they would have done a lot of things differently. I don't they're using the XBox to build on the failure of Web TV.

      --
      Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
  4. But what format... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Let the holy war begin...
    Subbed or Dubbed?

  5. Or, you know... by Yusaku+Godai · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...you could just buy them on DVD.

    Apparently, the Ghost in the Shell episodes, for example, would cost $4 a piece.
    Hmm, let's see...I recently got the entire second season box set from rightstuf.com for like $70. $4x26 episodes = $104 to buy the series on XBL. Plus mine are on DVD, so I can play them, you know, just about anywhere (with or without breaking the encryption).

    Also, like other people said, "Same crap you can see on TV anyways."

    1. Re:Or, you know... by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Interesting

      "Hmm, let's see...I recently got the entire second season box set from rightstuf.com for like $70. $4x26 episodes = $104 to buy the series on XBL. Plus mine are on DVD, so I can play them, you know, just about anywhere (with or without breaking the encryption)."

      Yeah, if you already know you like it and want to get it, the season DVD approach is preferred. Somebody like me, though, hasn't seen a lot of anime and would enjoy sampling it. I dig the idea of spending $4 and getting an episode to watch right away. (as opposed to going to the store and buying more than I want...) It's not the most economical thing in the world, but if I spent $70 for the whole season and didn't like it... well that doesn't make much economical sense, either.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    2. Re:Or, you know... by Yusaku+Godai · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's reasonable for the first few episodes, but by then if you think you'll like it, it become uneconomical.

      BTW, assuming you aren't just saying you haven't seen it for the sake of arguing, it's a really damn good show whether you like anime or not. I'd highly recommend sampling it whether through this medium, or whatever else is available!

  6. Two Words: by drwav · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Subscription Model

    Until TV shows are offered in this way instead of pay-per-view bullshit I will continue not to buy any TV shows. A good DVR and cable is the best way to watch TV and it looks like no one out there has the guts to provide a cheaper AND better model.

    Around $70/yr for on-demand content to their library of COMPLETE seasons of TV shows from ALL the major networks and you will have your revolution.

  7. Real Console Winner--the PC by MogNuts · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You know what is interesting? The real winner in the "console" wars, although many may not realize it, is the PC:

    1. Vast library of titles available and also has titles available on multiple consoles (vs. PS3's dearth of a game library)

    2. Option to have non-faulty hardware (vs. XBOX 360 "red ring of death"; btw, I'm not saying all have it--mine is in an extremely well ventilated area and I have no problems)

    3. Superior graphics capabilities. Being able to play Oblivion at resolutions 1280x1024 and up--gorgeous (vs. the Wii)

    4. No need to deal with figuring out the complexities of HDTV or even buying one (just choose the resolution your monitor, which you already have, supports)

    5. The expense. You already have a computer if you are reading /. Pick up a cheap $200 video card (e.g. ATI Radeon X1950 XT) that can run pretty much any game out there with very good quality and good resolution, It will be very speedy and you have something that is cheaper than any of the consoles. And needing an expensive computer for games is a myth.

    6. No loading times (for the most part). Forza Motorsport 2 or Oblivion on an XBOX 360--painful, after a while

    7. Depending on the game, free online play

    8. Games are always about $10-20 cheaper than console counterparts

    9. Built-in hard drive, and whatever size you want at any price you want at that

    10. Mods. Tons. And they're free.

    Something to think about.