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View Full Version : Xbox Is Nexus of Entertainment Strategy


Jeremy Charette
11-13-2005, 05:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/12/AR2005111200632.html' target='_blank'>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/12/AR2005111200632.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"When the Xbox 360 debuts in North America Nov. 22, it will still mainly aim to please so-called hardcore gamers _ primarily young men who spend hours each week tethered to a videogame console. Analysts say that's smart since the console doesn't offer enough other capabilities for those not addicted to gaming. "First and foremost, Xbox 360 is a game machine, and so is anybody going to go out and buy an Xbox 360 if they're not a gamer because it's got multimedia capability? No," said Van Baker, a research vice president with Gartner Inc. But over time, the company is hoping that other features will draw in more family members. These include the ability to listen to music _ even tracks from rival Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod _ look at family photos, watch DVDs and play electronic puzzle and card games. Analysts also expect Microsoft to improve on features in its paid Xbox Live online gaming service that let users chat and interact with other subscribers. Advanced users will even be able to to link the Xbox 360 with a PC running the entertainment-centric Windows XP Media Center Edition as part of Microsoft's grander vision to provide a sophisticated digital entertainment hub."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/PH2005111200635.jpg" /> <br /><br />Microsoft is really putting itself several steps ahead of Sony in round two of the console gaming battle. They're first to launch by at least six months, they have Xbox Live, and they have a comprehensive multimedia experience built-in. As this article points out, that won't sell Xbox 360s by itself, but it certainly broadens the appeal of the device. I think you'll find mothers and fathers using the 360 just as much as the kids once they discover it's multimedia potential. Many people find the idea of using a computer as a multimedia hub (music player, DVD player, photo viewer) fairly intimidating. The ease of use that the 360 brings to the living room will win millions of consumers over.

Jason Dunn
11-13-2005, 06:54 PM
I definitely think the media aspect of the 360 will have long-term impact, especially as prices come down later in 2006. Windows Media Connect 2.0 is finally stable and robust (it's 500% better than 1.0), so there's a real opportunity here for people to pick up a core system 360 and easily access all their media content that's on their PC. Couple that with Vista improvements in this area and you have a compelling scenario.

Jeremy Charette
11-13-2005, 10:59 PM
Actually, the 360 won't use Windows Media Connect, but a new, proprietary software package that will work with both XP MCE PCs, as well as XP Service Pack 2 PCs. More details here:

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/pcsetup/default.htm

Also, I'm not sure what features will or will not be available without the hard drive. The Core edition console may not have all the functionality of the Premium edition. Whatever, another 9 days and we'll all find out!

Felix Torres
11-13-2005, 11:27 PM
Uh, the link you posted links to a page that reinforces what the XBOX360 brochure has said all along, that it *does* work with Windows Media Connect on XP Pro and Home boxes. 8)

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/pcsetup/moreinfo.htm

The 360 works both ways, as a UPNP media connect client *and* as an MCE extender.

Even more important, it can also play media off USB mass storage devices of all types. Which means you don't need a network at all; you can just sneakernet stuff via an external HD and use it as a standalone jukebox.

Jeremy Charette
11-14-2005, 01:18 AM
That's what I get for not clicking every link on the page. :wink:

Let's hope it's rock solid now, otherwise a lot of 360 owners are going to be very frustrated.

Darius Wey
11-14-2005, 04:02 AM
I'm willing to wait until the end of 2006 before purchasing (not that it's released here in Australia until Q1 2006, anyway). Prices should have come down and bugs should have been ironed out by then.

Apart from the backward compatibility (so I can play favourites like Halo and Halo 2), the media connectivity is a huge bonus for me, and I think that will be one of the driving factors behind the Xbox 360's sales.

Felix Torres
11-14-2005, 06:01 AM
Apart from the backward compatibility (so I can play favourites like Halo and Halo 2), the media connectivity is a huge bonus for me, and I think that will be one of the driving factors behind the Xbox 360's sales.

Did you hear that it is now confirmed? That the HALOs (and other properly-coded games) will render at 720p widescreen with full-screen anti-aliasing?

Kinda explains why there is no 'Halo 2.5' in the launch window...

11-14-2005, 02:00 PM
I definitely think the media aspect of the 360 will have long-term impact, especially as prices come down later in 2006. Windows Media Connect 2.0 is finally stable and robust (it's 500% better than 1.0), so there's a real opportunity here for people to pick up a core system 360 and easily access all their media content that's on their PC. Couple that with Vista improvements in this area and you have a compelling scenario.

I'm still not quite sold on this yet. My latest distrust comes from an instructional video for the Xbox 360 kiosks, where the description of the video option on the media blade read something like "Plays video from the Xbox 360 hard drive or memory unit".

11-14-2005, 02:02 PM
I definitely think the media aspect of the 360 will have long-term impact, especially as prices come down later in 2006. Windows Media Connect 2.0 is finally stable and robust (it's 500% better than 1.0), so there's a real opportunity here for people to pick up a core system 360 and easily access all their media content that's on their PC. Couple that with Vista improvements in this area and you have a compelling scenario.

I'm still not quite sold on this yet. My latest distrust comes from an instructional video for the Xbox 360 kiosks, where the description of the video option on the media blade read something like "Plays video from the Xbox 360 hard drive or memory unit".

It's actually sort of confirmed in Jeremy's link, no video over network without MCE.

Darius Wey
11-14-2005, 02:08 PM
Did you hear that it is now confirmed? That the HALOs (and other properly-coded games) will render at 720p widescreen with full-screen anti-aliasing?

Yup. I'm really looking forward to it. :)

For anyone that missed the announcement, there's a Q&amp;A here: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/backwardcompatibilityqa.htm

Jason Dunn
11-14-2005, 05:06 PM
Let's hope it's rock solid now, otherwise a lot of 360 owners are going to be very frustrated.

I've neglected to post about Windows Media Connect 2.0, which now actually works, unlike 1.0. Will post about it today.