Xbox 360 update to add Music Games Store, news section
by David Hinkle 
{ Oct 19th 2009 at 11:40AM } 
The Music Games Store will take a big step toward dealing with the clutter on Xbox Live, offering a one-stop shop for all Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Lips DLC. Aside from the convenience of a single destination for all music game DLC purchases, shoppers will also be able to preview each track from right there in the Dashboard.
As for the News and More section of Inside Xbox, it's described as "a regularly-updated stream of content from MSNBC.com, MSN Autos, The New Yorker and Dilbert." We're totally expecting some Akira-like monstrosity that is equal parts balloon boy, coffee station chit-chat and political cartoons we don't understand; though we're sure in reality the feature will be less scary and far less life-threatening.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ghen @ Oct 19th 2009 11:46AM
Well that's freaking awesome. With all the DLC rock band has it's pretty tough finding stuff. And the preview? its like Microsoft actually cares!
Now if only we could preview gamerpics and stuff before downloading without having to google search....
Archon (Charity Game-a-thon with live feed on Sat: arhn.eu ) @ Oct 19th 2009 11:49AM
"With all the DLC rock band has it's pretty tough finding stuff. "
Seriously? You know that ROck Band sports a BUILT-IN Store? You can browse, sort by bands , names and even preview the tracks. How is it less convenient than the XBox menu?
ugotamesij @ Oct 19th 2009 11:58AM
@Archon
Perhaps Ghen meant it the other way around: as the 'What's new' tab on the DLC section on the XB Dashboard is usually 90% songs for GH, RB or Lips, it's hard(er) to find the new added content for all the other games.
As someone who doesn't play those kinds of rhythm games, this is a welcome addition to what's already looking like a substantial system update.
Ozzpot @ Oct 19th 2009 12:02PM
@Archon:
What he means is some sections of the game marketplace such as New Releases are just jammed up with Rock band and Guitar Hero tracks. They release 7 or 8 tracks at once and it just takes up the whole section leaving no room for any other DLC we actually care about.
It's inconvenient if you want stuff other than music game DLC.
It's something that should've been handled better from the start but it's great they're doing something about it now.
GewurztraminerX @ Oct 19th 2009 1:15PM
Using the built-in Rock Band Music Store was also troublesome in that you had to wait around. It wasn't until recently that Harmonix gave it the ability to add DLC to the download queue.
Nevertheless, I'm sure some people are simply used to using the dashboard by now so this is a welcome change from Microsoft's part.
As to which I'll use more? Depends on if I have to get up off my lazy butt to swap games.
Alex Padilla @ Oct 19th 2009 11:47AM
This is pretty sweet. While XBL isn't necessarily replacing the standard Web Browser that you'll find on a personal computer (that includes Macs too, you fanboys), it sure is giving us some rather nice options.
aaron @ Oct 19th 2009 11:55AM
I actually am beginning to prefer the xbl apps way to have internet on the TV than a real web browser.... Its the same thing as the mobile apps work better than browsing the web on your phone. You dont get access to as many sites but what you do get works far better than the web version.
Tiptup300 @ Oct 19th 2009 12:10PM
Finally people understand what I'm talking about. I've been saying this for months.
pibs @ Oct 19th 2009 12:23PM
Yup, I dig the apps too. Its quality over quantity. I just wished there was an option to remove channels as you please, kind of how under the 360 setting one can remove the welcome channel. I still can't believe we pay MS to view ads, even if they are "gaming ads"..... lol a burger tie-in is not a gaming ad!
754Boy @ Oct 19th 2009 12:39PM
Well I'd rather have a real webbrowser. PS3 has "Life with Playstation" where you can get your news and a full browser too. WE WANT IE360......well maybe not IE but something!!!
Anthology @ Oct 19th 2009 1:35PM
"WE WANT IE360"
No. You do.
"We" do not.
Philip @ Oct 19th 2009 2:02PM
Yes! Now if only they'd take the next steps: an SDK and 'Widget Store' so Twitter and Facebook could've already written their own. Except I don't know how I feel about paying for xbox widgets...
ColorblindMonk @ Oct 19th 2009 11:49AM
I heard about this earlier this year. Good that they brought it back up.
playwhutyalike @ Oct 19th 2009 11:50AM
You had me at music. *bats eyelashes, leans in for a kiss*
PedoJokerBear [Planeteer | Power of Gall Bladder] @ Oct 19th 2009 12:03PM
*leans away larry david style*
playwhutyalike @ Oct 20th 2009 12:41PM
Nice. +1.
MRBlue @ Oct 19th 2009 11:51AM
Being able to preview tracks is a great idea. Jury's still out on the Twitter and Facebook apps. The Twitter app has to launch separately so it can't run in the background. Not sure how useful that will be or if people will use it over their phone and/or PC but I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Shadsy @ Oct 19th 2009 1:20PM
I've heard great things about the Facebook app. Apparently it runs faster than in a web browser.
Bodachi @ Oct 19th 2009 11:55AM
I tip my hat to you microsoft, Just wish sony would do something similar.
PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Oct 19th 2009 1:59PM
why are we upvoting him? Sony DID do something like this its called Life With Playstation. You get news and weather... from GOOGLE, and you want Twitter and Facebook? then theres a web browser.
but i'm prob going to get downvoted because Sony didn't package it all cute for everyone
Bodachi @ Oct 19th 2009 2:57PM
I'm talking about the Music games store.
B3astofthe3ast @ Oct 19th 2009 3:15PM
Its already easy enough to find stuff on PSN, the PS store isn't a cluttered mess.
Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Oct 19th 2009 11:59AM
Awesome. It'll be nice to access that content and decide if I want it without having to take out Brutal Legend just to do it.
whylekat @ Oct 19th 2009 12:01PM
"a regularly-updated stream of content from MSNBC.com"
Great so they picked the most corrupt news source available in the mainstream media. Awesome =/
Martin @ Oct 19th 2009 12:19PM
For real, yo. They should put their competitors on the Xbox instead.
bioadam @ Oct 19th 2009 12:21PM
"Great so they picked the most corrupt news source available in the mainstream media."
That title belongs to Fox News . . . oh wait, you wrote "mainstream media".
el serpiente @ Oct 19th 2009 12:28PM
Well, duh, it's a joint ownership with microsoft and NBC.
One of the first companies to fully support domestic partner benefits...
http://www.microsoft.com/about/diversity/programs/dac/gleam.mspx
Gates has also been known to support gun control and other liberal causes...
http://archive.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/01/cov_29feature.html
Looks like you might want to wait for a Rupert Murdoch console if you don't want your money to support them thar liberuulz...
whylekat @ Oct 19th 2009 12:49PM
@ bioadam
you wrote "That title belongs to Fox News . . . oh wait, you wrote "mainstream media"."
fox news is the top news channel (meaning #1 in ratings as per Nielsen) for like past 3 yrs so how is it not mainstream...?
Anthology @ Oct 19th 2009 1:36PM
@whylekat
Because it's not media. It's fabricated entertainment.
whylekat @ Oct 19th 2009 1:51PM
@anthology
wow dude... Really wow.
It's fabricated entertainment? Are you serious? It's a news channel. If you watch any news at all and it's MSNBC you clearly don't check their facts or sources too often. You'll find plenty of fabrications there.
PedoJokerBear [Planeteer | Power of Gall Bladder] @ Oct 19th 2009 2:26PM
until glenn beck and oreilly get fired your point is moot. i find it funny faux news deems itself fair and balanced. anyway its sad that the only "news show" that has the closest sense comes from comedy central.
whylekat @ Oct 19th 2009 2:39PM
I don't watch glen beck. He's on while I'm still at work. He's too looney tunes in his personality for me in general, but isn't he a democrat?
guelth @ Oct 19th 2009 3:29PM
MSNBC = Foxnews = CNN
It's all about preaching to the choir and and getting advertising $$$
It's really sad that one must watch all of them to filter out the propaganda from the 2 biggest special interests in this country: RNC and DNC.
Although it makes sense that Xbox is bringing MSNBC (MS + NBC), I can see how some folks would want Foxnews et al.
Bring on the Wingnuts and Moonbats!!!
Brian @ Oct 19th 2009 12:05PM
I love news! This is a great addition! I....er...say what?!?!?
MSNBC??? Are you kidding?
MSNBC is the lamest of all the news outlets. Fail.
Dirty @ Oct 19th 2009 12:15PM
I suppose you would be happier if it was Fox News?
You know the M in MSNBC stands for Microsoft right?
Stteevvveee @ Oct 19th 2009 12:16PM
Just a bunch of donkey beaters if you ask me. So
AGREED
Brian @ Oct 19th 2009 12:20PM
I didn't advocate Fox. I just said MSNBC was lame. BTW - I know what the MS stands for. Still, since we ARE paying for Xbox Live, I would like to pick my news outlet instead of it being a forced, two bit, new$ service.
Tiptup300 @ Oct 19th 2009 12:23PM
Oh snap, new$ that's clever!
Sean @ Oct 19th 2009 12:26PM
Actually MSNBC.COM is better than MSNBC. So is CNN.com. Fox.com... eh not so much.
I think all the "news" channels have gone off the deep end and all they ever broadcast anymore is commentary. Their news web sites tend to have actual news when they aren't focused on some cute white kid getting killed or assualted.
Stevetrop @ Oct 19th 2009 12:54PM
Do liberals cause cancer...
Find out tonight on fox news.
BlazeKing @ Oct 19th 2009 10:15PM
"You know the M in MSNBC stands for Microsoft right?"
Actually, it's the "S" also.
Sorry. I had to do it.
SirCut @ Oct 19th 2009 12:08PM
Awesome...Awesome to the max.
CynicalStrike @ Oct 19th 2009 12:20PM
Great Seinfeld reference, got to love the Sein.
George: Maybe it's got something to do with that 42 in the corner.
Elaine: That's the page number.
George: Well, I can't crack this one.
TheCoats @ Oct 19th 2009 12:21PM
Nice! This update is looking to be a gem.
Obie @ Oct 19th 2009 12:43PM
Yeah, two more extra non-custom tabs. Now a music marketplace channel and a "social networking" channel.
Seriously, I wanna turn all this junk off.
Peter Moore @ Oct 19th 2009 1:12PM
Obie, turn on the option to automatically play the game in the tray when you turn on.
And if you want to play arcade games or whatnot, use the guide.
PROBLEM SOLVED, NOW STOP BITCHING.
Obie @ Oct 19th 2009 1:18PM
Shut it Peter! You're bald!
ima747 @ Oct 21st 2009 4:18PM
I'm with Obie. I used my 360 for 3 things, games, media center (cuz my xbox1 is in the bedroom as a media hub) and Netflix. I would just have it jump to the game but I use netflix more often and it's not exactly the first choice in the menu (up x5ish and right one, OK button, if you did it too fast then it says you have to sign in first so wait, then ok to sign in...) Is it really that hard to remember what I used last and present it first? Or since they're tracking everything I launch anyway, use that to make a menu of the stuff I use instead of 3 pages of adds on the startup screen of the console I have to pay to use online... It's not hard, the ONLY reason they won't do it is there's tons of money to be made my selling direct advertising through the dashboard. I know they're a company but the advertising doesn't subsidize anything else (online play, or console cost, etc.) so why can't I turn it off?
I don't care about lastfm or twitter or facebook or adds or events or DLC for stuff I don't own. Great for those that do but most people are not going to use ALL of that and we should have the option to turn the stuff we don't want off.
Even my wii can move the stuff I don't use to a page I don't go to...
/rant
Space @ Oct 19th 2009 12:22PM
My hope for the future:
Silver account is free and allows you to play games online and is void of all of this non-gaming stuff.
Gold- monthly fee and you get all of this extra twitter, facebook, msnbc stuff.
Curtis @ Oct 19th 2009 12:28PM
The opposite is more likely - Silver getting access to Twitter, Facebook, MSNBC, etc., while you pay to add on the multiplayer gaming.