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XBox (Games)

One Year of Xbox 360 45

Posted by Zonk from the what-have-you-been-up-to dept.
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."
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One Year of Xbox 360 More

One Year of Xbox 360

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  • I like the RSS reader idea (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Erwos ( 553607 ) on Friday December 01, 2006 @12:01PM (#17067578)
    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.
  • Yeah I wouldn't want a browser either if I knew it was gonna be IE. :)
  • NPD has the 360 at 2.7 million in the US as the end of October.
    Media Create has the 360 at 170k in Japan by the same time.
    Things don't look very good in Europe, though not as bad as Japan - the total shipments to all of Europe most likely put the 360 in the 1.2 million range.
    Throw in a handful from various minor territories.

    Going into the November the 360 has sold about 6 million shipped and 4.5 sold million worldwide.

    That's worse than the first Xbox. And even worse than the Dreamcast's first year.

  • What is the future then? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by moore.dustin ( 942289 ) on Friday December 01, 2006 @12:10PM (#17067820) Homepage
    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?

    • The only hard part about adding a browser is the plugins shockwave and flash are a must as well as java but M$ is less likely to add real and quicktime.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Saige ( 53303 )
        Don't forget all the testing that would have to go into a browser on the console, especially security testing.

        Now think about all that time spent getting a browser working on the 360, and imagine that time is spent, instead, adding features that will improve your gaming experience.

        Which would you want? A browser, or better gaming on your gaming console?

        Leave the browser on the computer.
    • Yeah I don't see a need for a browser so much, but I can definitely understand why someone would want it. For me personally I'd see a greater advantage for integrating some kind of email capability. Sync up with your hotmail account or msn account, get email alerts some minor image support and let me respond or create new emails.
    • Just look at the home hardware, varied yes, duplicate chips yes

      My DVD player+AnalogRecorder+80Ghd and my DigitalFreeTV Box w/80Gig and my CableTV/SatBox(no hd) and my xbox+250gHD all have common hardware wasted.

      Ie, mpeg2 decoders and harddisks and damn remotes, if only for ONE reason is to get rid of all the remotes.

      What we need is a common multimedia box or the consoles can do dual digital tuners + analogue with REPLACEABLE HD and built in DVD burner.

      Analogue comes with many PC digital tuners on the

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by buzzzz ( 767841 )
      Now that someone has successfully installed linux on a PS3... http://ps3.ign.com/articles/748/748255p1.html [ign.com], I think it becomes a very attractive machine for a geek. Of the top of my head : Mythtv, photo editing and so much else that it could do. Having a browser will be the least of Microsoft's issues. I am sure PS3's with pre-installed Linux could sell has attractive home entertainment solutions.

  • Xbox and MediaCenter (Score:2, Informative)

    by GrayCalx ( 597428 )
    I really like what Microsoft has done with the integration between the 360 and MediaCenter. I ended up reformatting my machine with MediaCenter and streaming my movies and pictures with it is fantastic. Personally, I really feel like xbox has hit the nail on the head with all the "extras" and integration they did with the 360. The downloadable game videos and demos was really a breakthrough in the console world. I realize the Wii and PS3 do this as well, which is great, but you definitely have to give i

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by blaster151 ( 874280 )
      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 t
    • You downplay the XVid and Divx support, yet call the experience more seamless than XBMC? Being a user of both, I'd have to the XBMC experience superior, just for that reason. XBMC will play "anything" and being a media player is just the tip of the iceberg for it.
      • I mean yeah I can't really argue that XMBC has more support for a wider variety of formats, but I mean the whole experience is more integrated and seamless with MediaCenter. Its right there on my 360 dashboard as opposed to have to drill down through whatever dashboard I have running on my modded xbox. Shared directories are all controlled via Media Connector on the PC as opposed to having to customize a configuration file, which may be difficult for those non-IT folks. So yeah i think its more seamless.
        • Maybe I'm using a newer version or maybe you haven't used XBMC in a while, but how you describe media is how I'd describe XBMC. XBMC IS the dash on my xbox.

          • Re: (Score:1)

            by tepples ( 727027 )

            Can XBMC be installed onto a version 1.6 or newer Xbox console? Are XBMC installation services made available in the United States?

            • 1.6 is what I have now. I'm using the Apple VII mode chip which goes for about $20. Not sure what you're talking about AFA installation services. If you can use a browser, you can get XBMC. start here www.xboxscene.com.

              • Re: (Score:1)

                by tepples ( 727027 )
                I'm using the Apple VII mode chip which goes for about $20. Not sure what you're talking about AFA installation services.

                Paying for the service of somebody experienced enough in modchip installation procedures, such as opening Xbox consoles and soldering fine points, to make sure that I still have a working XBMC and not a brick after the installation, for one thing.

                • Re: (Score:2)

                  by Mr2001 ( 90979 )
                  You don't need a modchip, you can install a softmod. If you know how to burn a CD and connect an IDE cable, all you need is an ISO, a Torx screwdriver, and a spare PC.

                  • Re: (Score:1)

                    by tepples ( 727027 )

                    You don't need a modchip, you can install a softmod.

                    Given the page Version 1.6 Warning [xbox-linux.org], does Microsoft make Xbox consoles compatible with the softmod anymore? And don't all new copies of the 007 and MechAssault games have the updated version that lacks the buffer overflow vulnerability that softmods exploit?

                    and a spare PC.

                    Is a dedicated PC required to run the modded Xbox or just for installation?

                    • Re: (Score:2)

                      by Mr2001 ( 90979 )

                      Given the page Version 1.6 Warning, does Microsoft make Xbox consoles compatible with the softmod anymore? And don't all new copies of the 007 and MechAssault games have the updated version that lacks the buffer overflow vulnerability that softmods exploit?

                      Savegame exploits are old news. I used Ndure, which installs from a PC (after "hot swapping" the Xbox's hard drive into it) and apparently works with every version of Xbox.

                      Is a dedicated PC required to run the modded Xbox or just for installation?

                      Just for

                • consider that the price of getting a better media centre if you can't do it yourself. $70 CDN around here (Waterloo)

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by SScorpio ( 595836 )
        XBMC will play everything expect HD content due to it having only a P3-700MHz processor. Though Xvid and Divx support are huge features that are missing from the 360. I currently use an Xbox with XBMC and the Xbox Media Extender to connect to my media center PC. This gives me the best of both worlds. My new hope is for Linux on the PS3 to really take off so we can have a really good media player on that or at least turn it into a cheap HD MythTV frontend (and yes I said cheap, building a computer that c

      • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

        by cornface ( 900179 )
        It's pretty easy to get transcoding set up for streaming non-WMV formats from your PC. Double-click tversity installer. Double-click ffdshow installer...tada!
        • Yes, but then you need a pc on serving it up. Hardly "seamless". XBMC means any format video no matter where it is. I keep all the kids video they watch over a gazzillion times right on the XBox. Not knocking the XB360. I just use XBox's XBMC more beacause it is easier. If someone make a mods chip that'll let me run software much the same way the Xbox does, I'll be 1st in line to get it (the mod chip. I already have an xb360). Mind you, we're only talking about the video capabilities. I'm ignoring t

  • 360 (Score:4, Informative)

    by ObiWanStevobi ( 1030352 ) on Friday December 01, 2006 @12:17PM (#17067960) Journal

    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.

    • I agree with you on all points. I think they did a lot of things right. What I'd really like to see is them go head-to-head with PS3's online service now and make that free as opposed to $50 a year. Its not that $4 a month is a lot, and I'm not even sure if they're capable of it / considering it. But that would be the one improvement i recommend.
    • Since the latest update (the "Fall update"), the Arcade games load up almost instantly. Instead of waiting about 20-40 seconds for all of them to appear, its nearly instant. It was one of my biggest complaints too, until they fixed it. I kind of want a browser, but really would like Worms to hit XBLA ASAP.
  • I just got my Xboxs 360 a few weeks ago, but one of the thing I'm getting frustrated with is the number of times games crash because of "Can't read this disk" errors. These are new game disks on a new system. How common is this problem? Should I get my system replaced?

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