Xbox 360 can't fast forward trailers (Xbox 360 annoyance #004)

by Vladimir Cole { Dec 6th 2005 at 3:28AM }

This first image shows the media controls when playing a trailer downloaded from the Xbox 360 marketplace. Note the extremely simple controls. The widget is lacking fast forward and rewind, not to mention step forward, and other functions that are included on even $50 DVD players.

This second image shows the controls available when playing a DVD on the Xbox 360. Why are the controls so much more limited for downloaded content? Why is this feature crippled for downloaded content?

This is annoying.

Previous Xbox 360 annoyances: 001, 002, 003.

Tags: 360annoy

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Let me just head some comments off at the pass. Yes, these things are nitpicks. That's why they're called "annoyances" and not "MAJOR DESIGN FLAWS."

We're loving the Xbox 360, but every product can be improved. These annoyances are intended to catalog the things that we'd like to improve with the 360.

striegs @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Note the subliminal advertisement for Volcano High. Pretty sneaky, sis.

Rx @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Could be to do with the encoding.

jholdaway @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Not encoding or anything so technical.. It is because they hope for downloadable content from the major content providers. Just like broadcast TV they are motivated to create free content by the knowledge that you will be forced to sit through the commercials. (see: why they hate tivo)

LSSLAVE @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

jholdaway that is a GREAT point.. they have found a way to force us to watch commercials. The reason why I dont watch TV unless the new simpsons episode is on, 99 percent of commercials I dont like. Dont get me wrong, there are some I love (Coca-cola commercials in winter time, polar bears, always great ^^)

DVDs have become my visual media medium, as I dont have to watch what I dont want to watch.

ken @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

although dvd's do force you to watch adverts. at least on most players you are forced to wait for the 10 second piracy warning and then the 10 seconds or so of whichever movie studio's logos are flashing up. if they wanted they could wham in more and more to this startup time. vhs man, it's the way.

sharpfish @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

detest this crap on DVDS and would detest it on XBOX (unless you are getting something for free).

Do people really thing that being forced to sit through their "spam" is going to make you want to have anything to do with the advertiser and / or their product? I usually look anywhere but the screen if this stuff is happening. ;)

joesmm @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

it'd say xbox annoyance #1 should be the lack of good games.

no, PD0 isn't good because it's worse than its predecessor. neither is PGR, it's just a typical launch racing game. all the current gen ports aren't any good, and neither is DOA4 (not even out) because that's just a typical fighting game with scantily clad women that tricks you into thinking it's a decent fighter.

and everyone knows that kameo sucks and quake 4 absolutely blows on the xbox 360 hardware that can't even handle a current gen PC game.

Alex K. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

aren't trailors like 30 seconds long? what's the big deal?

vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Alex: the "making of the titanic" video is about 10 minutes long if I remember correctly.

Rewind is very useful if you want to see a certain portion of a trailer in more detail, over and over.

nojok3 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

You can't do this with music, which sucks if you are listening to a comedian or a blogcast that lasts maybe 60 minutes and you miss something or have to turn the system off, you lose your place and cannot go to a specific place without re-listening to it.

Bloo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

"it'd say xbox annoyance #1 should be the lack of good games.
no, PD0 isn't good because it's worse than its predecessor. neither is PGR, it's just a typical launch racing game. all the current gen ports aren't any good, and neither is DOA4 (not even out) because that's just a typical fighting game with scantily clad women that tricks you into thinking it's a decent fighter.
and everyone knows that kameo sucks and quake 4 absolutely blows on the xbox 360 hardware that can't even handle a current gen PC game."

Said the guy who played for 5 minutes on the kiosk... My favorite part is how he knows the game, that is not even out yet, is no good. Where is the rating system Joystiq?!

dru @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Volcano High is lame.

vc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Bloo: it's in the works, man. I feel your pain every single day. I'm sorry.

Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Alex K:

The big deal is that you don't want to watch a trailer over and over. Or if Microsoft starts adding these trailers in front of stuff you want to watch, like a 3 minute demo of an upcoming game.

Also, sometimes trailers aren't 30 seconds. In fact, most of them aren't these days. I don't want to spend another 2:45 to get to the one spot at the end of the trailer where you glimpse something badass, I want to drag the slider bar and check it out in 2 seconds.

I'd be annoyed as hell, especially when it is obvious that the functionality has been purposely locked away.

Finally, I'd like to say, what the hell are the guys at Joystiq doing watching Volcano High? If you need some good Asian cinema, send me an email, and I'll mail you some. You can even test your machine's DRM and region-free capabilities while you're at it. :)

Enemtee @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Well, it's a little bit annoying if you can't fast forward or rewind in downloaded movie content. So, it's something Microsoft should fix with the 360.

I've played the multiplayer-part of PD-Zero for some hours and I think that it really do suck quite much. And I'm not the typically guy who's hating on everything new at all, but PD-Zero ain't that good. It's OK, but nothing more.

Alan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:06PM

Sadly the also overlooked the obious move to let the analog stick control scanning.

Move the stick a little to the right, scan slowly. Move it all the way, scan fast.

Would have been awesome and would have given scan more power than it has on traditional DVD players.