Is anyone really
surprised that the Xbox 360 and mobile phone messaging networks will be integrated within the next six months? The Beeb has the details here, but we think it more
interesting to speculate on what further integrations might be in store for us.
Here then, is a short list of ideas for integration. Add your own. Let’s see how many come to pass:
- MSN Messenger will add voice to keep up with Google Talk, AOL’s AIM, and Yahoo’s IM program. Once voice is added, expect to be able to open a one-on-one voice chat line with anybody on Xbox Live. Just don’t expect to be able to understand them. Something’s wrong with the voice quality on Xbox Live right now.
- AIM is boasting video chat. You can bet that the big boys of instant messaging are working on their own flavor of the same. We remember some early screens of the Xbox 360 interface (shown at GDC) that featured video chat. It’s on the way, and it’ll probably integrate with MSN Messenger.
- Integration with Windows Vista. Expect the Xbox Live Arcade experience to integrate with Microsoft’s newest operating system (Windows Vista, due fall 2006). If you thought staying in the top 100 on Geometry Wars was tough with only 400,000 Xbox 360s in the wild, imagine what it’ll be like when millions of PC gamers are competing for the same spots in the leader board. Could the 10 million point barrier be far away?
- How about subscribing to news feeds of in-game events via cell phone? Why shouldn’t we be able receive Gotham TV ticker news streamed to our cell phones?
- How about integrating turn-based Xbox Live Arcade games with low-fi versions of the same games played on cell phones? There’s nothing about Backgammon, for instance, that requires it to be played on the Xbox 360. Being able to play Xbox 360 gamers while sitting on public transportation with an Xbox Live-enabled cell phone sounds like a lot of fun.
