The next Xbox will be one big Live! machine
by Ben Zackheim 
{ Mar 9th 2005 at 10:04AM }
It's inevitable that Live! will be a part of the Xbox 360. But according to this piece it looks like it will be as
integral to the unit as the GPU. Gamespy continues their coverage of the next Microsoft console, with a look at how
Live! is going to be integrated into the tiny silver/round-edged/spherical/whatever console. The gamer's profile will
play a key role in how the machine behaves, online and offline. The "Game Card", a collection of your stats and
preferences, will let the console start up as you want it, as well as hook you up with like-minded gamers.
The service will actually be built-in to the hardware, and it will include:
# Friends management
# Access to recent players
# Message center
# Game invite management
# User notifications
# Gamer profile
# One-on-one voice chat
# Downloads
# Feedback
# Sign-in
Of course, this means that the pressure will be on for you to subscribe to the service, making ownership of a game
console that much more like owning a car. When will they start selling insurance for these things?
[thanks maneatingcow!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Autobot @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
Please stop Calling it the XBOX360 cause I'm positive that is not the name. Spong has an interview with J Allard and he said that the name is going to be Xenon.
Ubernym @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
I wonder if integrating the Live feature will make it more difficult the "mod" the next Xbox.
Lesbian Ham @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
Will our current xbox live subscriptions be compatible with the xbox 360's online service? I dont think i've heard anyone mention this before...?
Mark @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
I can't wait for the XBOX360 ("Xenon")! Though the XBOX seems to be turning more and more into the home entertainment center. Just what Microsoft always intended, for everyone and his monkey to be dialed in on Microsoft.
Myria @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
The lack of an HD will pretty much kill any interest in the neXtbox, this should put the stake through its dead heart. While all this online and 'gamer cred' crap may have the little boys dancing in anticipation, the rest of the world neither wants nor cares about Live or any of the rest of it. We just want to play games, preferably without listening to 12 year olds 'trash talk' and without getting hit on by 10,000 idiots within ten minutes of booting the machine. Live is a nightmare now for any adult and, especially, any woman, I can just imagine what kind of fun it's going to become once they make it darn near mandentory to use the box AND make the genius move of adding a camera to the mix.
The Xbox has been a great machine, I have all three consoles and it's the one I mostly play, but the more I read about MS's plans for their next baby the less interested I am.
ill trooper @ Dec 18th 2005 8:46PM
Oh brother. I am an adult and I use XBox Live like this:
I log on a few times a week, and play games for several hours with old friends from high school and college on both coasts, using it like a big chat while we shoot things, golf, or drive.
You don't NEED to deal with 1000s of Man-Boys or whatever you're worried about Myria.
Hey by the way, what's your gamertag? I'm kidding, could not resist.