Microsoft's XSN Sports Exposed

Thanks to IGN Sports for their interview with the manager of Microsoft's new XSN Sports online games series for Xbox. He talks about this Xbox Live-enabled set of titles, including NFL Fever 2004, NBA Inside Drive 2004, NHL Rivals 2004, Top Spin, Links 2004, and even Amped 2, discussing the prize-based online tournaments that'll be featured ("We have a competition structure like that already planned. That starts this year"), and the planned rise of the pro sports gamer: ("We believe very strongly in cooperative play... You have to display great teamwork, and you're going to have to practice with your teammates to win... The cyber fame you'll experience is the compelling offer we will make to you.") Can team-based online sports gaming take off in a similar way to pro FPS gaming?

(In the huddle)

[Dancin_Santa]

All right D, unnecessary roughness on the left guard. I want to see some blood this time. I want his grandmother in the nursing home to feel his pain.

Answer.

[Inda]

<P><I>Can team-based online sports gaming take off in a similar way to pro FPS gaming?</I>

<P>No. Now mod me up as funny.

<P>Friday is Burn Karma Day.

Topspin

[bigman2003]

I'm really looking forward to a lot of these games. When I first saw Topspin, I thought it looked like an awesome tennis game- then I learned about the tournaments, ladders, etc- and this has really got me going. I am actually one of those freaks who enjoys the real sport (tennis) and likes to play the video game during the winter- when I can't do the real thing. So, the idea of playing in tournaments and stuff like that is cool for me.

How many people will feel the same way? I don't know- but as long as there are enough to fill the tourneys, I'll be happy.

Then I saw it...Rallisport Challenge?!?!?! Oh man- if they make that Live enabled, this really will be the be-all and end-all for me. Rallisport Challenge is awesome when you are playing against other humans, but you need to do the crappy split-screen. Over Live?!? This should be very good. I really don't care about Football, Hockey, etc...but Tennis and Racing, those interest me.

I really think that Microsoft is on to something good with they way they are executing Live. It's easy, and it works. They're adding more games- and with the ladders, rankings, etc., it is far more interesting. The best part about Live over on-line PC gaming is the lack of cheating.

Cheating has ruined every on-line PC game for me. Once you've experience cheaters, you are always on the look out. You always wonder- "is that guy really good...or is he cheating?" "Hmm...how come killerguy42 has 10 kills every round, but when I follow him, he doesn't seem that good.."

I don't mind giving them my money, if they are going to create this stuff.