[Mxrz]

This was always their primary goal, I don't think its something they just decided to do.

Its probably a good idea for them and those that like paying $60 a year. Maybe not so much if you only have a 360 for gaming.

[Crewnh]

Lol, well that zoomed right over your head. If you aren't capable of seeing how much better MS has performed at E3 than its competitors over the last several years then I am not sure how to explain it to you as you are not approaching the subject objectively.

Its a video game expo. I think he is.

[Nicktals]

I think it's a great idea. As long as they also have games. I mean I don't ever care about the games they usually highlight at E3 anyways...unless it's an XBLA game. The retail games they highlight very rarely appeal to me at all. And I already have a 360, so hearing new news about added value and added usability is a much more exciting idea than hearing news about "shooter x 5: browntown".

Now, if they were to focus a ton on XBLA I might rather hear more about new games...but frankly getting extra value from something I already own is more enticing than hearing about games I'll hear about eventually anyways.

[Tookay]

If you aren't capable of seeing how much better MS has performed at E3 than its competitors over the last several years then I am not sure how to explain it to you as you are not approaching the subject objectively.

I'm not sure you even know how to explain it.

[bangai-o]

They've certainly had success by moving in that direction and away from making great gaming experiences in the past few years. Microsoft will run into the problem they've created once their next system launches. The people they have been catering to for the past few years will already have a console that fulfills all of their multimedia needs in the Xbox 360. The "core" gamers that Microsoft has effectively abandoned in the past few years are looking towards Sony and the PC more and more because those platforms are providing more unique and innovative content than Microsoft has been, and unless Kinect 2.0+software is actually revolutionary, Microsoft will have precious little exclusive content to draw those original 25 million customers back, let alone to justify continuing to pay an extra $60 a year for services offered for free on other platforms. Most consumers get one console a generation and stick with it to the end. The 360 has changed direction and focus a whole lot since '05, and when it comes time for consumers to pick a side again knowing what they know now about the focuses of each platform holder, will they make the same choice again? Personally, I doubt it. Anecdotally, I know of several current Xbox Live subscribers who are tired of paying $60 a year for a service filled with ads that is providing less and less must-play games and are looking hopefully towards what Sony has to offer in the console space next time around.

the bolded part is where your theory goes wrong.

[FStop7]

You can cut and paste the first panel of the Penny Arcade E3 2010 comic for each subsequent E3. Just make minor changes and replace sports with "the social graph".

[Phoenician_Viking]

That was their intention since 2005.

That was MS´s intention before entering the console space.

[Jakfu]

It's a good idea only because we are at the edge of the next generation of consoles. Services for this and next E3 a blowout for Microsoft's new console

[Randolph Freelander]

It's a good idea only because we are at the edge of the next generation of consoles. Services for this and next E3 a blowout for Microsoft's new console

The new console blowout being all about its services, of course.

[Kaako]

Here's hoping for some quality live stage demos.

[Elginer]

I can see MS running this gen out with a new exclusives, mostly on the XBLA front and I'm totally fine with that. For the most part third parties games like the Ass Creed series and BioShock are where it's at. There's plenty of still great software coming, for some ungodly reason I fail to understand why no other games exist unless they happen to be exclusive for some people. With my PC and 360 I have plenty of games to play and not finish for quite a while and heaven help me with Amazon and Steam sales this Winter.

On the 360 only front alone I am getting Halo 4, Forza Horizon and possibly FABLE The Journey if it turns out to be a fun experience on Kinect. XBLA wise there's plenty coming that's only to 360 which could keep just about anyone happy. Class 3 and Crimson Dragon alone are looking to be awesome games.

MS is taking a measured approach and I seem them investing heavily in the app side and that's cool, more stuff to play with on LIVE and hopefully more features. At this late point in the console cycle I see that they have plenty of new studios working on new IPs for the 720/Durango.

[SuperSonic1305]

My experiences with the apps on 360 has been terrible. Poor video quality, horrid interface, fees on top of fees, and shit not being available outside the US.

[Linkhero1]

This kind of worries me. I just hope this doesn't affect their game output.

My experiences with the apps on 360 has been terrible. Poor video quality, horrid interface, fees on top of fees, and shit not being available outside the US.

Same for me.

[Medalion]

Good service is always important, and if that service happens to be making games... it's still part of the service

So good for them

[-PXG-]

E3 is becoming less and less important as a spectacle - no one -really- cares who "wins" E3 and given the Wii U is going to be the 'star turn' i'd suggest MS are much better off just continuing to pimp the X360 at this point and have a stand alone event for their launch. E3 as a concept is starting to look a bit of a white elephant to be honest - no matter how confident you are in your product, why would you risk going against the unknowns of your compeititors ?

The whole concept of the Xbox brand from the beginning was to penetrate the living room and shoe horn Windows into more homes.

MS has never really cared about the games market. Ultimately, it all comes down to their OS. Xbox is just a means to an end, not an end in itself.

[Opiate]

Double edge sword really. Gamers (GAF) will be less than pleased with the E3 showing, however the more casual crowd may begin to sway to MS' side as they push a heavy media center focus & will likely build on that with their next system. Interesting to see what they have to show &, to me, is something to look forward to come E3. I want to see just how far MS will take the app & dashboard aspect for the 360 & see what Nintendo/Sony must do to compete -- if they so choose to.

I just don't think it's sustainable.

The successful applications are almost all available on the other consoles (Netflix being by far the most popular and most important), and the media hub empire already appears to have been won by Apple to me.

I really don't think the Xbox 360 / 720 stand a chance against the iPad/iTv/iWhatever for media hub dominance. The war is already over, as far as I can tell, and consoles lost. What consoles still have in their favor are games.

[KingJ2002]

This kind of worries me. I just hope this doesn't affect their game output. Same for me.

yeah... the apps were ok at first but the experience is getting old and playing with "lite" versions of these services are non sellers.

hbo go and netflix are the only apps i use. the rest... meh.

[alphaNoid]

No no no no no no no no. This is what they've done the past 2 years and it's been awful.

Has it? They are selling record numbers of xboxs.

[Represent.]

Its depressing. Seems like E3 is becoming less and less about games and shifting to just "media entertainment".

[Crewnh]

Its depressing. Seems like E3 is becoming less and less about games and shifting to just "media entertainment".

Reminds me of comic con.

[alphaNoid]

I just don't think it's sustainable. The successful applications are almost all available on the other consoles (Netflix being by far the most popular and most important), and the media hub empire already appears to have been won by Apple to me. I really don't think the Xbox 360 / 720 stand a chance against the iPad/iTv/iWhatever for media hub dominance. The war is already over, as far as I can tell, and consoles lost. What consoles still have in their favor are games.

On the contrary the war hasn't even started.

[HylianTom]

Its depressing. Seems like E3 is becoming less and less about games and shifting to just "media entertainment".

Hmm.. I never got that impression. True, the games featured might not always be my cup of tea, but games of some sort - along with gaming itself - always seems to be in the center ring. :)

[kevm3]

People buy consoles for GAMES, not to be a general multimedia box. Remember when Sony was trying to focus on that with PS3 and how it ended up for them?

[Harlock]

Only the Steam Box can save us now.

[bigtroyjon]

I just don't think it's sustainable. The successful applications are almost all available on the other consoles (Netflix being by far the most popular and most important), and the media hub empire already appears to have been won by Apple to me. I really don't think the Xbox 360 / 720 stand a chance against the iPad/iTv/iWhatever for media hub dominance. The war is already over, as far as I can tell, and consoles lost. What consoles still have in their favor are games.

The average gold user is spending 80 hours a month on entertainment apps and there are more gold members out there than Apple tv boxes.

If the war is over, it certainly isn't apple that has won.

[NullPointer]

I really don't think the Xbox 360 / 720 stand a chance against the iPad/iTv/iWhatever for media hub dominance. The war is already over, as far as I can tell, and consoles lost. What consoles still have in their favor are games.

Yep. I'd also say that none of the apps on the 360 "add value" to Xbox Gold, unless that term is dishonest on purpose. The only innovation in Gold is the party system.

[Aaron]

The average gold user is spending 80 hours a month on entertainment apps and there are more gold members out there than Apple tv boxes. If the war is over, it certainly isn't apple that has won.

None of this will encourage people to buy their next console. I know I'm not going to. Microsoft has almost entirely given up on games, and apps don't demand more power

[SCHUEY F1]

I have more games on the 360 than I have time for. I'm hardly worried about not having games to play this generation or the next.

[Ramblin]

The xbox 360 hasn't been about games for years, I have no idea why this would be a surprise.

Nonsense.

[TheOddOne]

Nothing about this is really suprising though, but it isn't really something that MS only has been pushing though. Sony has equally been pushing the whole multimedia hub aspect, but has been less succesfull for them (often cancelling them or just pushing them aside).

What is suprising though is that people use to fault MS for being too hardcore and would never appeal to a much broader audience. Wii was poised to be for the casual and PS3 was going to be the allrounder which appeals to casual and the hardcore.

From a gamer's perspective, their first party output internally and externally has been weak for a couple of years now. This is industry wide now though, with big publishers just not banking on new IP.

[eek5]

If the dashboard stuff includes fixing the market area, I'm all for it. It's such a mess right now.

[Opiate]

The average gold user is spending 80 hours a month on entertainment apps and there are more gold members out there than Apple tv boxes. If the war is over, it certainly isn't apple that has won.

iPad is the winner. The TV hasn't ended up being the central hub for most people, which obviously took Microsoft by surprise and why Apple has risen so mightily while Microsoft has tread water, at best. If the TV ever is the central hub, it won't be through an Xbox, as far as I can tell. Sales are simply too low for the sort of media hub dominance we're talking about: Apple sells as many iPads in one quarter as Microsoft sells Xboxes in a year.

[LOOK AROUND YOU]

So in other words, if you live outside the USA don't watch?

[Jakfu]

Yep. I'd also say that none of the apps on the 360 "add value" to Xbox Gold, unless that term is dishonest on purpose. The only innovation in Gold is the party system.

I guess the thing I don't get is why would I use an Xbox for media consumption when I have a PS3 that doesn't cut access to a certain subset of their consumer base, we have apple and the iTunes ecosystem, and a range of home media hubs like the roku, boxee box, even TV's are coming with home entertainment apps.

[CountAntonius]

Why do people keep saying msoft have given up on games? XBLA has pretty much shit on retail all year long and continues to do so. Live from a gaming side application works fantastic and if you hate the new Metro UI you press the guide button and have access to everything quickly and cleanly with zero ads. I just don't get why more apps mean gaming has gone in the shitter. The way I see it is the more they expand the 360's audience the more likely third party devs will put their games on 360.

[Oni Link 666]

MS will have a horrible conference that will have everyone with their face in their palms just like they have for the last few years, but at least we'll get a new Halo 4 trailer.

[Opiate]

I guess the thing I don't get is why would I use an Xbox for media consumption when I have a PS3 that doesn't cut access to a certain subset of their consumer base, we have apple and the iTunes ecosystem, and a range of home media hubs like the roku, boxee box, even TV's are coming with home entertainment apps.

I know several people who bought a Wii for these purposes. They wanted Netflix, and a Wii was the cheapest way to get it. I use my PC hooked up to my TV, which is the technically superior option.

All of the "killer app" services the Xbox offers are commoditized, unlike some of their primary games and Kinect.

[Bullza2o]

I don't like this. I have a computer that can do everything the 360 can do. Plus, streaming via PS3 Media server on my BD player is much easier than using my ethernet-connected Xbox via laptop bridge..

[NullPointer]

I guess the thing I don't get is why would I use an Xbox for media consumption when I have a PS3 that doesn't cut access to a certain subset of their consumer base, we have apple and the iTunes ecosystem, and a range of home media hubs like the roku, boxee box, even TV's are coming with home entertainment apps.

Would anybody here honestly suggest an Xbox over the alternatives, to their friends, family and acquaintances who aren't looking first and foremost for multiplayer gaming?

There is no good reason to. And the Gold service itself is a serious reason not to.

[Jakfu]

I know several people who bought a Wii for these purposes. They wanted Netflix, and a Wii was the cheapest way to get it. I use my PC hooked up to my TV, which is the technically superior option. All of the "killer app" services the Xbox offers are commoditized, unlike some of their primary games and Kinect.

Yup. My PS3 is my most used console and it's conveniently a blu-ray player and I have netflix, hulu plus, and now Amazon Instant Video(which could use a little work).

Would anybody here honestly suggest an Xbox over the alternatives, to their friends, family and acquaintances who aren't looking first and foremost for multiplayer gaming?

lol yeah you are right. There are much better alternatives out right now

[bigtroyjon]

iPad is the winner. The TV hasn't ended up being the central hub for most people, which obviously took Microsoft by surprise and why Apple has risen so mightily while Microsoft has tread water, at best. If the TV ever is the central hub, it won't be through an Xbox, as far as I can tell. Sales are simply too low for the sort of media hub dominance we're talking about: Apple sells as many iPads in one quarter as Microsoft sells Xboxes in a year.

Uh, the tv is still the media hub for most people. Between tv ratings and usage stats on stuff like Netflix, we know for a fact the most of the media being consumed is being consumed through a television.

[TheOddOne]

Why do people keep saying msoft have given up on games? XBLA has pretty much shit on retail all year long and continues to do so. Live from a gaming side application works fantastic and if you hate the new Metro UI you press the guide button and have access to everything quickly and cleanly with zero ads. I just don't get why more apps mean gaming has gone in the shitter. The way I see it is the more they expand the 360's audience the more likely third party devs will put their games on 360.

It is often a non-argument in these discussions, people will often back it up by saying they want retail exclusives. Then turn around and say MS doesn't really focus on smaller games.

[Eusis]

I just don't think it's sustainable. The successful applications are almost all available on the other consoles (Netflix being by far the most popular and most important), and the media hub empire already appears to have been won by Apple to me. I really don't think the Xbox 360 / 720 stand a chance against the iPad/iTv/iWhatever for media hub dominance. The war is already over, as far as I can tell, and consoles lost. What consoles still have in their favor are games.

While I don't think they necessarily need to give up on that front, the problem is that Microsoft seems to be focusing on services to the exclusion of games, when said services are available elsewhere without the additional, arbitrary toll gate. I'm a broken record, but if Microsoft wants to be taken seriously there they are going to need to remove the apps from the XBL tollgate and leave that to online gaming or perhaps something like the abandoned Netflix party that can combine Microsoft's strengths (online social infrastructure) with the media apps.

Personally, I think the best position for these consoles is to make games the top priority, THEN make the multimedia services supplemental. We have more than enough computing power to make these systems reasonable multimedia devices in addition to being game systems so there's little reason to NOT include them, and they do add value to consoles, but if all I want are those services there's cheaper options.

[VGChampion]

Will make me not care. I haven't browsed around the interface in years since the first NXE update. The only 360 interface I liked was the first one and that's when I actually had hard drive space. Announce games and I'll buy them. Announce services and I'll pay attention to Nintendo and Microsoft.

[Mohonky]

Microsoft should just start taking the controllers out of the packaging and list them as an optional accessory and include a remote instead at this rate. Do they even have anything left games studio wise to get excited about?

I get less and less excited about anything they have to do as a gamer, there are no exclusives to really differentiate themselves from just buying the next Sony console and getting the same games + Sony's first party.

[Globox_82]

I dont know what year was it but i remember when ms had press with gears 2, fallout3, fable2, residen evil 5 and something else, one after another
It was bad ass

[Touch]

These companies are just blind at the moment, blind from chasing each other in circles. They are dizzy. Sooner or later someone is going to come to and realize "Oh yeah, video games!" and that will be the company that will push themselves into a dominating position for this transition of current to next generation.

So many people seem to believe these this generation of consoles should last longer because of all the advanced tech and online functionality consoles should sustain for much longer. That in some ways is true on a technical stand point but I don't think that stands with tradition. At the end of the day, games drive the industry not user interface, not non game features, not social networking. You can't race to races at a time. Microsoft and Sony need to be careful in there future plans or I'm afraid we all will suffer.

We need new games and new consoles. The industry needs new games and new consoles.

[jagowar]

Good idea. I think that MS wants to be Verizon Wireless in your living room, I think they want you to pay monthly and that ultimately the best way to get there isn't to sell you 60$ games. Personally it's terrible for me, I do not, have not, and will not pay monthly fees for games. So this is a future I won't be a part of. I can hardly blame them for heading this way though, MMOs work, freemium games work, Monthly fees to subsidize expensive devices work. And the more non-game content they can provide the better the whole package looks. Games as a service are here with a vengeance, so focusing on service makes sense. Smart move for them, but the end of the line for me. I feel like that old man who constantly complains about cell phones.

I think they want to be the cable box in your home.... they want to be that ubiquitous. I also think that $99 console with contract is a beta test for this. That monthly cost is in line with what you pay for a cable box and imagine with the next xbox where they have complete apps with every cable provider (streaming live tv and on demand that has all shows available for dvr functions which ties into whatever cable package you have). Then the cable companies start selling xboxes as replacements for their cable dvr's because ms would support them and would lessen the burden on the cable company to buy hardware.... and the consumer would be happy because it also is an xbox (games) that gives a far better experience than the cable box would.

[TheOddOne]

Also the gametrailers quote was said in the context of the dashboard.

[Eusis]

I get less and less excited about anything they have to do as a gamer, there are no exclusives to really differentiate themselves from just buying the next Sony console and getting the same games + Sony's first party.

What's even more ridiculous here is that I prefer the PS3 as my multimedia device anyway. Netflix seems to be nicer on it, it plays DVDs better, and it plays blu-rays period. I don't have much reason to use the Xbox for that sort of stuff really.