Survey: Xbox Live getting massively competitive social games -�Jeopardy, Millionaire, etc.

by Christopher Grant { Jun 15th 2008 at 8:27PM }

Also revealed in the video game survey cornucopia are SBGs, an acronym that – while never broken down (server-based gaming?) – is defined as "programmatic, highly concurrent social interactive games." Again we see Microsoft aiming for that mainstream audience. With SBGs, you'll be able to use Xbox Live to "browse, discover and download" games ranging from game shows (they use "Jeopardy" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" as two examples) to trivia to reality TV to puzzles to fantasy sports leagues.

One of the most interesting aspects of the model is the "programmatic" part – the content can be programmed to coordinate with special events (think Super Bowl or Oscars) and, because it's "highly concurrent" you'll be playing against "massive" groups, not to mention people in the living room with you. It certainly sounds like an ambitious program and one that would leverage the Xbox Live infrastructure to provide something besides a couple rounds of CoD4.

Tags: BreakingNews, SBGs, Xbox-Live

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Solid Chief @ Jun 15th 2008 9:03PM

I cannot imagine Microsoft being happy that all this information has been found. Even moreso if its true.

born2kill @ Jun 15th 2008 9:07PM

I swear that I had this idea for a 'gameshow league' on XBL like a year ago. Awesome awesome news.

KaneRobot @ Jun 15th 2008 11:33PM

I had it ever since the 360 was released. I've been bitching about "Press Your Luck" on XBLA for years.

Don't care who thought of it first as long as it is happening...and they don't bleed massive amounts of points out of you to keep getting new content all the time.

NATO_Duke @ Jun 16th 2008 10:42AM

I had it when Dinosaurs walked the earth. And no, they were not good at trivia.

XIII @ Jun 15th 2008 9:18PM

Let's hope that they bring RISK to the masses then...noting like a friendly game of world domination.

Now, so this is information is good and all, but most of it seems to be for the Fall Update...with only a week left of the spring season (summer starts June 21st), when the hell is the Spring Update going to hit?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 15th 2008 9:25PM

It isn't.

John @ Jun 15th 2008 9:18PM

They need: You Don't Know Jack

http://www.youdontknowjack.com/

SoxFan13 @ Jun 15th 2008 9:21PM

Finally, some multiplayer that Chris Grant will domniate! Hopefully they have some French philosophy questions on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" -- pretty likely.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 15th 2008 9:26PM

That actually sounds pretty cool.

007craft @ Jun 16th 2008 12:31AM

yeah they need some competitive gameshow/triva games on xbla which have always new questions from the servers.

I would like to see a caption game. There was one I used to paly on the pc YEARS ago and forgot what it was called. Basically there would be a picture put up, 5-6 players would then type a caption for the picture. All 6 would be shown and you vote on the best one (not your own). Then whichever got the most votes was the winner of that round. It was great fun to see the comedy people would come up with.

I wouldnt mind a triva game like millionair either. But they would somehow have to make it multiplayer.

DjFIL @ Jun 16th 2008 12:46AM

Come on You Don't Know Jack weekly episodic game!

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Jun 16th 2008 12:57AM

I'm down for something like this. These games are great to get the whole family involved.

It's like back when you were a kid and played board games with your mom and dad.

Scene-It was great on Xbox 360 for me this Xmas. Everyone in my family wanted to play that. It was something that anyone could participate in.
Hopefully they'll use the Scene-It controllers or the new Wii-mote type controller Microsoft is working on.