Fancast: Got a question for Major Nelson?

by David Dreger on Mar 28th 2007 3:30PM

We hinted at having a special guest on this upcoming Xbox 360 Fancast, and as it turns out, it will be Larry Hryb a.k.a. Major Nelson. We're thrilled at the chance to have him on our show, especially considering some of the current events this week. So, since we're going to be there, he's going to be there, and you're going to be listening, we figured you should be involved. So, do you have any questions for the Xbox Live Director of Programming? Obviously, inquiries about upcoming demos or patches may be a little tedious, so we're looking for unique and/or well thought out questions. You can either leave them in a comment, or shoot us an email at fancast [at] xbox360fanboy [dot] com.

Tags: Fan Cast, FanCast, Larry, Larry Hryb, LarryHryb, Major, Major Nelson, MajorNelson, pod cast, PodCast, X 3 F, X3F, Xbox 360 Fancast, Xbox360Fancast

Reader Comments (50)

when is the halo 3 beta coming out... ask that?
Or maybe something about the new halo 2 maps :-P

Another good question would be.
When is huxley... the 5k server... 100vs100 mmofps game from south korea... gonna get some news or a release date?

I'd like to know about future integration of the Xbox Live Vision Camera. There is nothing like playing Uno on XBLA...I'd love to see the camera be a standard feature in multiplayer pre-game lobbies from here on out.

Also, it'd be cool to have a full-screen camera mode (ie instead of just background effects, let us see the picture in full size!)...but now I'm just rambling.

Is the old xbox 360 potentially capable of HDMI? can it be upgraded? etc etc

If PSHome were to actually become a success, would you ever consider designing a program similar to it? Or drop the annual subscription in favor of advertisements? (Mind you I don't mind paying $50 a year, that's pocket change for ANYONE)

Will the Elite come in White???

Justin, no it can not be upgraded to HDMI.

I would like to know why they are charging so much for the 120G HDD. When is Canada going to get the movie downloads and how come 12hr Xbox Live maintenance always takes 20 hours or more.

Really, why does a little maintenance upgrade always take hours longer than it should??

Does the Elite output audio as multichannel linear PCM over the HDMI cable when it uses the HD DVD add on to play a DD+ or Dolby TrueHD audio track?

Currently, these audio tracks are downgraded to Dolby Digital 5.1 for output over the optical TOSLink connection because TOSLink can't handle the bandwidth of these audio streams. But HDMI audio can.

But does the 360?

What Josh (#7) said and also add DTS/DTSHD to his question. Also, is the Elite using HDMI 1.3?

Ask him how they will be handling existing 360 owners transferring their saves/marketplace downloads to a new elite system.

I would like to know what process and road blocks there to putting up television content. You have some ok to good shows on there, particulary the Comedy Central line up. But, I would realy like to see some Sci Fi channel (Battle Star Galactica), Discovery channel (Myth Busters, Deadliest Catch, plus....)Also, YOu have ABC and NBC on there but only Studio 60 (NBC) and The Nines(ABC). Why does I tunes seem to have better success at attaining shows. Is it a cost vs demand issue? There are alot of other good shows and networks besides the ones I've listed, what are your plans for expanded coverage (I know you just added a few)?

Thanks

@josh WTF DD+ TOSlink????

Well my question is:
If you where Bill Gates what would you do with the 360 platform and the compleet xbox franchise (games and hardware) to get more people to this platform? and just in general to make is all better?? Like would you buy 2Kgames?? and why....

And I just want to give you big props for all you have done for the xbox. How many people work on your site and the podcast?? If you are alone let me say WOW you give a lot of time to this platform you must really love games...

I hope this is not to long...

Can you ask him if Microsoft has offically abandoned the $49.99 price point for first party xbox 360 games.

For example
Perfect Dark=49.99
Project Gothem Racing=49.99
Viva pinata= 49.99
but...
Halo3=59.99
Crackdown=59.99
Gears of War=59.99
so...
Fable 2=?
Forza 2=?

When is the Halo 3 beta coming out?

What great features do you think should be in the xbox 360 that isnt and what on the console needs fixing or improving?

And is the elite an answer to the PS3, or was it something that MS has been planing since day one?

I'd also like to know if there is any timeline for the video marketplace in Canada? As well as any info on when the H3 beta is to be released.

I bed you to demand a few answers from him about the Marketplace in anywhere except the United States!

In Europe we are so .... left behind...

Ask him when Europe(and rest of the world) will be getting the same Video Marketplace treatment as the US. I know there are problems with copyright etc. but I could guarantee they would get a hell of a return if they gave us US TV to download, instead of us having to wait for it to be broadcast on TV.
Also a definite European release for the Elite would be nice and the progress regarding IPTV.

If games can host a lobby with mulitple people, why can't I have multiple people in my private chat?

Why not give me the option of just setting up a chat room fron the dashboard?

Also, I listen to games and voices via headphones. The problem is that even if I turn most games volume down to 1, it can still be hard to hear peoples voices. Can they up the gain on the voice volume when playing through the speakers? (I have it at maximum now)

Thank You!

Dave

How about allowing families to have more then 1 live account, without having to pay another $50 a year. My Myseld, my wife and son. $150 a year, PS3 is so sounding not so expensive.

Yes, why can't we have multiple people in private or video chat?
And how hard would it be to make the 360 itself up convert regular dvds?
And finally, why no camera in Texas Hold em?

Question:
"The Elite, explain."

Just to see Microsofts view of how things are meant to be and go with the elite.

The 360 can upconvert DVDs... the PS3 can to, but does not because Sony needs to sell Blu Ray... and many customers can already barely tell the difference.

But I have to second the question of HDMI on the regular 360, and finally, I know you guys are supposed to ask, but there has been no say so far.. What's in store for the Spring Update? Or at least, is it going to be a big one like the Fall 06 update.

Larry, one of the hidden restrictions of the current Live Arcade DRM implementation incorporates the console ID into the unlocked game. This prevents an unlocked game from being left on a friend's console for 'free' play (a reasonable restriction), but it has unintended consequences for people who have had their console replaced under warranty. In that circumstance, the game purchased with the old console will only be unlocked when the original gamertag is logged into live, and any other gamertags on the new console cannot play the unlocked game off line (as would ordinarily be possible). The number of people affected by this problem continues to grow, and will of course increase as people moving tho the Elite will have the same problem with their purchased content. My question is simply whether or not a technical fix (dashboard update, software update, or other solution) is planned to address this issue. I'm aware that there is a customer support workaround via reimbursed points to a second account, but I'd like to know the status of a "real" solution that will allow purchased content to be reassigned to the original gamertag on "new" hardware.

Three questions.

1. When is Microsoft going to allow user created content on the XBL Marketplace as they promised years ago?

2. When is Microsoft going to purchase Bungie's online lobby/party system and license it for a nominal fee to any developer developing an online multiplayer game for the XBox 360?

3. When is Microsoft going to make XBL and its friends list something that start to at least resemble an online community?

main question when will video marketplace come out in UK

what is his thoughts on how important exclusive titles are.

future plans for xbl???

Sordid, explicit, graphic details on the Spring Dashboard update.

And will users ever get the ability to customize each of the 4 dashboard blades individually?

1) When will there be an expanded friends' list ? (I have well OVER 100 people from a gaming community I want on mine)

2) Will there ever be a "clan system" that carries over into all new games?

3) Will you be offering some sort of incentive for trading in a 360 pro for a 360 elite???

Please Major, All I ask of you is this:

What about Live Messenger integration into Live? AND, Can you give us any info on PGR4? Comment? Please?

Ask him to confirm a date or at least confirm that they are actually moving forward with the Video Marketplace in the UK.

At the moment it feels to me (and I'm sure to many others outside of the US) that we're just being strung along while the US keep getting more and more content.

You'd think MS would want to give the rest of the world a reason to upgrade to the new HDD.

When is clan support coming to Xbox Live, not just specific games, as well as tournament support. Thanks, love the podcasts.

Yeah, please ask him the question made by Chappy (#24).

I have that problem (since my current Xbox 360 is a refurbished replacement unit sent to me by MS), and it is really frustrating and disappointing. What if someday for whatever reason I don't have access to a broadband internet connection? I'll be stuck with a whole bunch of trial versions of the Xbox Live Arcade games I purchased? They really have to come up with a practical ("real", as said by Chappy) solution. Oh, and this issue also applies to downloadable content (such as gamer pics, expansion packs, etc.).

Will the new black controller have a reworked D-pad? They sent out a questionairre about buying a black controller with improved D-pad functionality and am curious if that made into this one.

How about asking him if the elite's hdmi will work at 1080p with Sony TV's that support 1080p. As it is now, some of Sony's 1080p TV's (mine in particular) do not work with the 1080p from the 360. It will only work at 1080i even though both the 360 and TV are 1080p capable.

When will Canada's Marketplace be on par with the one down south?

I would like to know if the XBOX 360 Elite will upscale DVDs over HDMI or just over VGA like the current box.

I'd like to third Chappy's question... This has plagued me since day 1... My xbox 360 isn't connected to live all the time, and this issue is so frustrating that I don't demo XBLA games anymore, and only purchase the ones I KNOW I'll enjoy... Needless to say this has curtailed my XBLA purchases quite a bit, and I'm not about to go the second account route... we need a proper fix.

Please ask him why areas (specifically Japan) outside the United States get Demo's first sometimes? And in some cases, we don't get the Demo's at all. Is there some roadblock to simultaneous releases of Demo's?

My other question is, how feasible would it be to give American gamers access to the Demo's for some Japan only games? It's not like hearing a little spoken Japanese is going to kill us. People obviously want that content, which is why they set up Japanese accounts to get it (which is against the user agreement I'm told, or I'd do it too).

Thanks

Will Xbox Live be Free any time soon?If not then I will never pay to play on Xbox Live not even for $12 for 3 months.My family works hard to make money and I paid $400 plus tax for the Xbox 360 and it doesn't have HDMI or 1080p the least they could do is give us free xbox live for life.

I got screwed by Microsoft I bought my 360 in December of last year.Now the Elite comes out with HDMI and 120GB for only $80 more.What will Microsoft do for curent 360 owners who have been screwed?Could we trade in our crappy 360 premiums for the Elite and just pay the $80 difference from Microsoft or Gamespot?Or do I have to sell it online?If I can't trade it in then I will sell it online for 320-350 on amazon.I don't trust ebay.I will throw in a second controller with preloaded demos and Call of Duty 2 for free.

Will the Xbox 360 Elite support the native 1680x1050 resolution of many widescreen computer displays via an HDMI-DVI cable? If so, will support for that resolution (and 1440x900 for that matter) finally be making its way to the VGA port as well?

He get's asked a bunch of these questions on his own blog all the time and he doesn't answer them.. What makes you think he will answer them now? He is a mouthpiece for MS and he won't comment on anything you don't already know. I want to ask him who is barber is??.. So i never go there! Paging Mr. Spock!

Why can Playstation Network provide dedicated servers for major releases (Resistance, Motorstorm) for free while we pay $50/year for the inferior P2P on Live?

@ anonymous #33- The demos/marketplace content restrictions are in place due to country/zone laws/copyrights/guidelines of distribution/rules about making profit/etc...as he's mentioned before in his blog

I want to know when we can "truly" customize our Xbox 360's background/blades. Does anyone else agree with me that it is pretty pointless to put your own background only to have it covered by the many buttons/text/ads on the blades?
Sites like http://andreyw.multiply.com/photos have great pics at the right size and backgrounds are even sold through the marketplace but they can't be enjoyed! Case in point, I bough the cool Halo Wars theme, but had it covered up by ads for Mortal Kombat and Family Guy? Not only do I not see my selected theme graphics but now they're covered by skulls or by an ad for a show I find offensive or by marketing for products I already have? What is up with that? Please tell me I'm not alone on feeling upset that Microsoft charges us for live (not much mind you) then puts ads over content that we bought separately whichs keeps us from appreciating it...
Sorry for the rant, but who else can I ask if not Major?

Ask him why Microsoft has such resrictions on 360 downloadable content via DRM (can't play offline if not playing on the 360 content was purchased on), and why they haven't responded to our plea to change it, we have 51 pages of complaints on xbox.com, mainly of people that had the problem because of getting refurbished 360s because theirs broke.

http://forums.xbox.com/1159815/ShowPost.aspx

Any plans to introduce downloadable HD video content in other territories (ie Australia)? Or does the fact our bandwidth is so expensive factor in to the decision to withhold it here? Or are there legalities that would make the whole enterprise too expensive/difficult?

Ask Major

Is anything being done to fix the issue of not being able to access xbl content when offline after your xbox 360 has been replaced. After having my 360 replaced three times I can no longer play arcade games / Oblivion: Shivering Isles when not connected to the internet. FYI DRM sucks

When will Shivering Isles come out in teh Portuguese MarketPlace? In Major's Nelson blog post concerning the release of the expansion he said that it is available everywhere except japan, well, here in Portugal it is not available and i need to get my shivering isles fix fast.

Hey Major.

Thanks for all your excellent work with the community.

Are the trhree SKU's a permanent arrangement or will Elite and Premium one day bump core off the chart?

Since the cat is out of the bag now regarding Microsoft's revving of Xbox hardware, should we expect a fouth SKU at some point? I'm thinking of the obviously absent HD-DVD and 802.11n, and that those might be included in this fourth SKU.

Malte

Comment #50!

I really want to know about user-created content. What's Major's take on it? User-created content can mean anything but what is MS willing to do?

Fancast: Got a question for Major Nelson?

Reader Comments (50)

Posted: Mar 28th 2007 3:35PM stoneNboneCDXX said

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