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[Liquid]

Sony said a lot of things about the PS2's GUI and multimedia capabilities that never materialized. Not to mention all the feautres that MS has on the 360 are very gaming centric where as a lot of things Sony mentions are little to no benefit to gamers far as I can tell.

exactly. they've already said they will not offer a centralized service like LIVE so i'd expect a PSP like interface with the option to download sony music and movies/clips/trailers, sony game demos and for sony to be watching everything put into the ps3 like a hawk. checks here checks there. They'll let other pubs do their own thing but thats kinda crappy. Someone like capcom isngt gonna be willing to set up servers for little downloads for a game that might not even be successful. People hate on LIVE so much but its really beneficial to both the gamer and the developers.

 

[Tellaerin]

exactly. they've already said they will not offer a centralized service like LIVE so i'd expect a PSP like interface with the option to download sony music and movies/clips/trailers, sony game demos and for sony to be watching everything put into the ps3 like a hawk. checks here checks there. They'll let other pubs do their own thing but thats kinda crappy. Someone like capcom isngt gonna be willing to set up servers for little downloads for a game that might not even be successful. People hate on LIVE so much but its really beneficial to both the gamer and the developers.

Yeah, instead of setting up servers for little downloads they can nickel and dime you to death on, they may feel compelled to ship all the content on the fucking disc where it belongs. I'm sorry, but the promise of microtransactions for in-game content that MS is pushing as a big part of the XBL experience (and a big potential moneymaker for publishers) really puts me off, and if the way Sony handles online functionality for the PS3 discourages companies from hawking shitloads of 'must-have' downloads to turn a quick buck, that's going to make me want it more, not less.

 

[shpankey]

Speaking of media capabilities for Xbox 360... does anyone know if they plan on having an internet browser for 360? considering that the resolution can be 720p or 1080i now, that means that it would be a high enough reoslution to be able to see webpages just like they are. i remember the Dreamcast had a browser and it used a controller and only 640x480 resolution and it worked pretty good. they had button mappings on the controller to the browser and it wasn't half bad. the 360 has a lot more buttons so it would be even more functional. what would be neat is if msft added some voice recognition software to do your typing for you.

i'd love to browse gaf through my 360 in high definition, while chatting with gamers online with my headset and listening to my soundtrack on my 5.1 DD stereo system.

 

[Bebpo]

I feel a bit shocked reading this thread.
Must be an alien but the thing i realise is that the 360 took dashboard, gui functionalities to the next level (i agree of course) but isn't it a gaming console also?
Isn't the focus supposed to be "how the 360 is taking the GAMES / GAMEPLAY to the next level" ?

Well yeah. As a game system, the games are good but nothing at launch really taking gaming to the next level beyond graphics and a better online interface.

But that's not supposed to be the job of the hardware, that's up to the software developers to do and it will be the same situation with the PS3.

X360 is just getting some extra points for having a nice GUI. Honestly, while I absolutely love it, in a few weeks after the wow factor wears off all I'm going to care about is if there are good games or not. So hell, the PS3 could have the worst GUI ever and terrible online...but if it has the best games, at the end of the day I'll like the PS3 more. But MS has made an excellent piece of hardware so it's all about developer support at this point.

 

[Liquid]

Yeah, instead of setting up servers for little downloads they can nickel and dime you to death on, they may feel compelled to ship all the content on the fucking disc where it belongs. I'm sorry, but the promise of microtransactions for in-game content that MS is pushing as a big part of the XBL experience (and a big potential moneymaker for publishers) really puts me off, and if the way Sony handles online functionality for the PS3 discourages companies from hawking shitloads of 'must-have' downloads to turn a quick buck, that's going to make me want it more, not less.

blah blah blah. you see how fucking HUGE ridge racer 6 is? You see how awesome PGR3 is? No ones gyping you out of content. Stop looking at the cup as being 1/2 empty. How do you know that the devs truly arent working on bonus conent that really is a bonus? again look at how huge ridger racer 6 is. its nuts. Think back on PGR2 for xbox and the paris and longbeach downloads. Thats was going above and beyond the regular game. Yes some devs *cough*EA...activision*cough* will abuse the system but the smaller ones that care wont and they will indeed be providing some of the best i'd hope.

 

[Tellaerin]

i'd love to browse gaf through my 360 in high definition, while chatting with gamers online with my headset and listening to my soundtrack on my 5.1 DD stereo system.

'...from the comfort of my hot tub aboard my private jet, with a hot chick on either arm', right?

Seriously, bro, you make that sound awfully decadent.

 

[Ranger X]

But that's not supposed to be the job of the hardware, that's up to the software developers to do and it will be the same situation with the PS3.

BUUUT, with new hardware comes new game design / gameplay possibilities

 

[Bebpo]

BUUUT, with new hardware comes new game design / gameplay possibilities

Revolution maybe I get the feeling X360/PS3 will be present pretty traditional experiences with better graphics/physics/online...which isn't a bad thing.

 

[Ranger X]

Revolution maybe I get the feeling X360/PS3 will be pretty traditional...which isn't a bad thing.

Yeah i think you're right. If everyone keeps their promises i'll probably end up with either the 360 or PS3 then a Rev as second console.
Being quite the same in nature, 360 or PS3 is dismissable.

 

[Tellaerin]

blah blah blah. you see how fucking HUGE ridge racer 6 is? You see how awesome PGR3 is? No ones gyping you out of content. Stop looking at the cup as being 1/2 empty. How do you know that the devs truly arent working on bonus conent that really is a bonus? again look at how huge ricer racer 6 is. its nuts. Think back on PGR2 for xbox and the paris and longbeach downloads. Thats was going above and beyond the regular game. Yes some devs *cough*EA...activision*cough* will abuse the system but the smaller ones that care wont and they will indeed be providing some of the best i'd hope.

Blah blah blah, idealistic nonsense, blah blah blah. Seriously, if you think companies aren't going to be tempted to abuse a system like that, especially smaller ones that feel a need to boost their margins, you're nuts. I'm hoping that enough people will have the good sense not to buy into this bullshit to keep it from becoming the norm in the future, but frankly, looking at the number of people who seem willing to buy anything if it's marketed slickly and aggressively enough, I'm not optimistic.

 

[Liquid]

that boost will come from them selling their back catalog of 8, 16 and 32 bit games on xbl arcade.

 

[Tellaerin]

that boost will come from them selling their back catalog of 8, 16 and 32 bit games on xbl arcade.

Not all small developers have a decent back catalog of games, you know.

 

[Shogmaster]

Co-op modes are rarer. But i guess you should thank Perfect Dark Zero more than the machine it plays on. It could have possible on the Xbox too.
I only remember Everything or Nothing and Splinter Cell 3 to have a decent coop mode online. PDZ must be better i guess.
Anyway, it's just that people seem impressed by stuff they already do. The dashboard is cool, convenient, there's a lot of options but it's still the cool image of it all that impress people. I wish being impressed by a game, by gaming impressions, someone talking about gameplay i've never seen or an existing gameplay taken to the next step.
I'm still waiting to be wowed. I don't know if it's because i work with 360s since the beginning of last summer or something but now let me you that the dashboard and Xbox 360 functionalities is all very common. I was impressed at first, i understand people are right now but after a couple of month, meh, where are my next-level games and what is the 360 bringing to my gaming? are 2 questions remaining unanswered for me.

I think you are just complaining for the sake of complaining. For me, the fact that I was able to go from one game to another in a co-op all the while talking to a friend that contacted me via Live chat is directly due to the fact that X360 allocates 32MB of it's RAM for it's OS/GUI functionality. This is hardware functionality enhencing gameplay experience pure and simple. Just because it doesn't fit your narrow criteria for aiding gameplay doesn't mean it's moot for others.

 

[Ranger X]

that boost will come from them selling their back catalog of 8, 16 and 32 bit games on xbl arcade.

You don't seem to get what Tellaerin is talking about. In the futur it's gonna be normal and you'll be brainwashed into all sorts of small transaction here and there, it's gonna be prosperous for the industry but you'll in fact inject a shit more money into your gaming than you think. When this gets to exageration it can also stop/diminish market grow and the blame will be passed on the games, not the stupid behavior of publishers all around it.
Microtransaction will become "normal" but will stay mostly unjustifiable and exploitation
in this sinking society just like fees in ATM machines or buying rightones and faceplates.
Sorry if i sound cold/stiff.

 

[Apharmd Battler]

although its 99% perfect here are some things id like changed or fixed:

-fast forward, rewind during video and audio playback
-do slideshows for friends on xbox live
-private chats hold more people. we've been blessed with seamless private chat but im greedy and i want it to hold more people...4 to 6 would be optimal.
-the ability to do other stuff while downloading
-faster downloading!!

ok im done being a greedy S.O.B....feel free to add your own.

The one thing that has me kinda miffed is the fact that I can't create a chat lobby like I could on XBox, if there is I don't know about it. All my pals who got XBox360 across the midwest were a little upset at the fact that we could not all jump into a general chat lobby (say from the dashboard) and like 8-12 of us that discuss our impressions on the console. One would respond just chat duirng gameplay, but that's a little hard if all members don't have the same title.

I'm also a little mad that M$ didn't include any manual/documentation describing the intimate functions of the XBox360 GUI/dashboard. I'm a tech nerd and I like to have documents. I spent a good 45 minutes the other night just digging through all the sub menus. I love the fact that I can set up my default options for games, and most of the other little nuances that have been discussed in this thread.

Settin gup the console was a snap, it took all of 5 minutes to transfer my XBL account and set up my wireless adaptor.

I do love the fact that I can look at someone's Gamercard and see what game they own in thier collection with a few button presses. My pal in Chicago, JUST got a XBL subscription with his XBox360, and I swear his head is about to explode from information overload. I don't think M$ could've prepared gamers for this, let's be honest many would not have reallyl listened, all thet wanted to discuss was launch titles and backwards compatibility. But I love the fact how the interface has snook up on people and has them blown away. They did a DAMN good job and the results of their work speaks for itself.

My $0.02...........

 

[Ranger X]

I think you are just complaining for the sake of complaining. For me, the fact that I was able to go from one game to another in a co-op all the while talking to a friend that contacted me via Live chat is directly due to the fact that X360 allocates 32MB of it's RAM for it's OS/GUI functionality. This is hardware functionality enhencing gameplay experience pure and simple. Just because it doesn't fit your narrow criteria for aiding gameplay doesn't mean it's moot for others.

I know it's gonna fit people generally. Nothing against that. I was just bringing a different point of view in the matter. Just you wait when you see me complaining for real man :lol

 

[shpankey]

'...from the comfort of my hot tub aboard my private jet, with a hot chick on either arm', right?

Seriously, bro, you make that sound awfully decadent.

I'm sorry I guess. It's just something I would find interesting to do.

 

[D3VI0US]

Jepordize the sales of your $50 game by shortchanging customer so you can make money off $5 downloads that only sell to the existing userbase? You've got it all figured out Einstein. For every negative for DLC there is a positive on the other end of the spectrum. Actual bonus content created after the game ships for example will stretch the longevity of games we truly enjoy that may never recieve sequels or have sequels that are years off. For fans of the games it's well worth the price and we always have the choice not to support developers who abuse the system but we can't control the market if it does choose to. Speaking with your dollars is worth more than whining about it on a message board.

 

[JMPovoa]

One interesting cool thing is that for example in a possible KOTOR3, two people could be playing it at the same time, each in his own house, and you could chat something like (now in this dialogue, you choose the 2nd response (dark points) and i pick the 3rd one (light points). Now each one expresses what happened after that

 

[shpankey]

Yes.. because obviously Sony or Nintendo haven't even begun to think of it yet. Sony isn't stupid.. this time, they have a headsup on what Xbox is doing and have the ability to counter. I would be surprised if they don't match, if not exceed the GUI functions.

I don't know... MSFT has supposedly invested over a billion dollars (for some reason the number 4 billions sticks in my head, is that right? not sure.) into all of its Xbox Live infrastructure, setup and creation. They've been working on and improving XBL for several years now, constantly learning and upgrading and fixing and adding new things. It's a proven commodity that is fully functional and battle tested, right now.

With the Xbox 360, they've now created a console from the ground up that was built to go hand in hand with XBL; literally building some of the Live functionality INTO the console itself (the Live GUI is literally built into the 360 for speed purposes and for complete and total integration throughout all games).

I don't doubt Sony wants to come with it's own service and setup that equals it... but I seriously doubt they can right off the bat. They are a hardware company after all, and MSFT is a software company... who excel's at this kind of stuff. I'm sure what Sony comes out with will be pretty good, but I think it will take some time before they can get it up to XBL's levels... let alone "exceed" it; and I really don't think they will be able to top MSFT's GUI, since it is completely embedded into the console itself, unless they do the same thing. It's going to be tough to beat that in terms of speed and cross game functionality. I'd love to be proven wrong though.

 

[D3VI0US]

I'm sure what Sony comes out with will be pretty good, but I think it will take some time before they get it up to XBL's levels

It will take a long time for them to catch up if Live keep moving forward at the pace it is especially when from what I can tell Sony has shown very little interest in doing so.

 

[Tellaerin]

Jepordize the sales of your $50 game by shortchanging customer so you can make money off $5 downloads that only sell to the existing userbase? You've got it all figured out Einstein.

Companies are already trying to prep people to accept less content with their games as the new norm, citing longer development times and higher costs as the reasons. While both are true to an extent, I also believe these factors are being played up to help lower consumers' expectations. Then it doesn't seem so bad when companies like EA offer a 'special edition' version of a title with six more characters for an extra $10, or (as will become increasingly likely) making that content available for download 'for a modest fee'.

Instead of kneejerk rejections and namecalling, you might want to actually think about the points that are being raised here.

For every negative for DLC there is a positive on the other end of the spectrum.

That's debatable.

Actual bonus content created after the game ships for example will stretch the longevity of games we truly enjoy that may never recieve sequels or have sequels that are years off.

And if it's sold piecemeal rather than in the form of a traditional expansion, companies stand to make more money off of that content. You think they won't? Look at the amount of content that's available in your average PC game expansion pack for $20-30. Consider the average number of items (maps, weapons, characters, whatever) that have to ship with such an expansion in order for it to be considered a good value. Now imagine the developer making the same content available on an item-by-item basis at $1 a pop. I daresay that you'd end up paying more (in some cases, substantially more) for the same amount of content. But by spreading it out in the form of a bunch of tiny charges (microtransactions), most people are less likely to realize exactly how much more they're shelling out.

For fans of the games it's well worth the price and we always have the choice not to support developers who abuse the system but we can't control the market if it does choose to.

In other words, you've already decided that publishers gouging people with DLC is an inevitability, and there's nothing we can do but accept it.

Speaking with your dollars is worth more than whining about it on a message board.

Speaking with your dollars is important. So is raising peoples' awareness, especially when you notice how few of them seem to be thinking of where this DLC/microtransactions thing seems to be going, and what it could mean to them as consumers in the long run. Now, if the fact that I speak out on the subject annoys you, feel free to put me on ignore, but I'll be damned if I'll sit here and keep quiet about something that I feel has the potential to fuck up a hobby that's dear to me.

 

[StRaNgE]

Damn can i get my mp3's off my mac from the router?


that would be awesome!

 

[Wellington]

Great, why is a topic like this being invaded by trolls?

I have a question on the DVR/PVR capabilities. How does that work? How do you get the TV signal into the Xbox 360?

Part of the reason I am so excited about the 360 is the ability to record some programs I don't get to watch while at work (my brother would record them). If at all possible I'd like to set all this up before I get the 360 (again, if it is even possible). It's to my understanding that you can stream video and music from your PC, but can you actually record the live tv signal?

What will I need to be able to do it other than Windows Media Center?

Whoever answers gets a tag of their choice!

 

[bantha]

This may sound stupid but does anyone know how to set the 360 up so it automatically signs your profile in?

 

[DopeyFish]

you use windows media center (the operating system) with a compatible tv tuner for your PC (has to be media center compatible)

 

[Wellington]

you use windows media center (the operating system) with a compatible tv tuner for your PC (has to be media center compatible)

So would I have to literally be sitting there, have to click record, and then not be able to play while I record?

Shit, that means I need a separate co-ax cable?

 

[DopeyFish]

So would I have to literally be sitting there, have to click record, and then not be able to play while I record?

no no no, all that function is done on the computer afaik. it's not stored on your xbox but all on your PC.

 

[Raddock]

This is pretty bad ass...Set up your account on www.xbox.com then check out your firends list. Look at the detaild status of your friends online.

Playing Madden NFL 06
vs. Steelers; 2nd qtr.; 14 - 0

Playing Kameo
Kameo - Entering the Snow Temple

Aww yeah.

Compariing your games to your other friends is nice too. Helps heat up some competition, and it's always nice to leave player feedback too.

 

[Wellington]

This is pretty bad ass...Set up your account on www.xbox.com then check out your firends list. Look at the detaild status of your friends online.

Playing Madden NFL 06
vs. Steelers; 2nd qtr.; 14 - 0

Playing Kameo
Kameo - Entering the Snow Temple

Aww yeah.

Compariing your games to your other friends is nice too. Helps heat up some competition, and it's always nice to leave player feedback too.

You could see scores and quarter on XBL in Madden 05 and 06.

Dopey: Ah, so basically I could be doing all of this right now?

What do you want as a tag?

 

[Sean]

Yeah, instead of setting up servers for little downloads they can nickel and dime you to death on, they may feel compelled to ship all the content on the fucking disc where it belongs. I'm sorry, but the promise of microtransactions for in-game content that MS is pushing as a big part of the XBL experience (and a big potential moneymaker for publishers) really puts me off, and if the way Sony handles online functionality for the PS3 discourages companies from hawking shitloads of 'must-have' downloads to turn a quick buck, that's going to make me want it more, not less.

Sony was actually the one who came up with the idea of micro-transactions for games. Back at E3 2003 they were pushing it as a feature in Gran Turismo 4 online, downloading cars for a dollar. We all know how that turned out though.... But they seem to still be interested in it as well. From just a few months ago, an interview with Sony:

Smedley revealed that the PS3 will allow online microtransactions (just like the Xbox 360) and these transactions will become more commonplace in the near future. (URL)

 

[shpankey]

And I'd also like to echo everything else said in this thread. More than any launch title, the overall Dashboard/Live/Marketplace fucntionality is truly the 360's Killer App.

Agreed... though I would add Xbox Arcade to that list. That all on its own is a killer app for a lot of us!

You know, I can't decide whether this is just the afterglow of a new system launch talking, or if it's viral marketing at work. I've never had the impression that the average gamer, even the hardcore types that frequent GAF, were so ultracompetitive that they cared about who had gotten the furthest or found the most secrets in game X. Yet all of a sudden, now that X360's here and Live's tracking these 'achievements', it's this big deal that actually drives you to play games? I mean, WTF? I just find it hard to believe that the vast majority of real people out there are going to play their games harder out of some desire to one-up their friends/strangers on Live/whoever.

You'd be surprised actually. There is certainly a segment of gamers out there [probably not vast majority though] that this kind of stuff appeals to. It's been that way since gaming began. I think of the contest in OXM where they have the challenges, and gamers actually go to the trouble to meet those challenges and take pictures of the screen and send it in... just to get their name on a list. I also think about games like the Mario games where gamers go to a great deal of trouble to find all the hidden stars in the game, despite not really needing to for advancing the game. I should say also, that achievements aren't necessarily about 1 upping your friends... achievements can just be personal goals in a game as well, not tied to any other gamers accomplishments... but what you have found or done yourself.

 

[Willy Wanka]

The dashboard and options in the 360 really have exceeded my expectations, which were pretty high already. They really put a lot of thought into the whole environment. Random stuff:

I'm playing Need For Speed earlier and groaning to the lame EA Trax. Pause game. Hit center button on controller. Pick music. Pick my computer. Pick an album. Play. Now back into the game 20 seconds later with Pink Floyd in the background instead of EA Trax.

I'm talking to krypt0nian about PD Zero and while we're chatting I walk about 30 feet away with wireless controller in hand, take the game off the shelf, open it and put it in, then we start playing PDZ co-op.

As I'm sitting here reading the boards, the system went into screen saver mode and the controller shut itself off to save battery life.

I wouldn't be too surprised if I wake up one morning and the 360 has a stack of pancakes waiting for me. <3 <3

That is awesome

 

[Tellaerin]

Sony was actually the one who came up with the idea of micro-transactions for games. Back at E3 2003 they were pushing it as a feature in Gran Turismo 4 online, downloading cars for a dollar. We all know how that turned out though.... But they seem to still be interested in it as well. From just a few months ago, an interview with Sony:

I've been through this before with people on several occasions. Suffice it to say that MS is spearheading the push for microtransactions right now. As has been so astutely pointed out by Sony's detractors in this thread) Sony doesn't have the necessary online infrastructure to implement them, and it remains to be seen whether or not they will in the coming generation. If MS' attempts to push this new pricing/distribution model are a success, I can see the rest of the industry following; if they fail, I doubt Sony will bother committing the necessary resources to create some kind of content flea market of their own. (What would be the point?)

I'm through derailing this thread, though. If you want to debate the point further, either PM me or start a new topic to discuss it, and I'll be more than happy to oblige.

 

[Mrbob]

You could see scores and quarter on XBL in Madden 05 and 06.

Dopey: Ah, so basically I could be doing all of this right now?

What do you want as a tag?

Only in online games. XBox 360 Live keeps track of everything you play. Even offline games. For example, you could go online and see what the score is in my Franchise game in Madden I'm playing.

 

[LakeEarth]

Yeah. You need to go into media connect and enable folders on your computer to be shared where your media resides. It sounds like you just dont have folders shared right now.

Nope didn't work. Media Connect is running, everything is hooked up right, files are being shared correctly, the Xbox 360 just does not recognize the fact that it is connected to a computer. When the connection is tested it goes...

Network Adapter : Wired
IP Address : Confirmed
Computer : Failed

I have no idea what's wrong but I just can't get them to connect. I'm using a normal wired Ethernet Broadband Router running Windows XP. Live on the 360 runs fine it just don't work.

 

[chinch]

turn off XP firewall then retest?

 

[LakeEarth]

I'm not good with computers. I have ZoneAlarm going, would that affect the connection?

Nope turning that off did nothing....

 

[chinch]

disable it and retest. probably blocks ports.

 

[LakeEarth]

Actually that's exactly what my xbox just said. For some odd reason it finally recognized my computer, but when trying to connect it said a firewall is blocking the connection. Alright I'll try to figure out how to disable it.

Its weird cause Media Connect is an exception to blockign on the Firewall list, hmm... working on it... I want to put the 360 into the "trusted" Zone in ZoneAlarm but the only options it gives me involves IP addresses.

K I put the xbox 360's IP address and Subnet address, whatever that is, into ZoneAlarms trusted zone and it still won't let my computer connect.

 

[DopeyFish]

You could see scores and quarter on XBL in Madden 05 and 06.

Dopey: Ah, so basically I could be doing all of this right now?

What do you want as a tag?

i want nothing...

oh and media center is an operating system. So you'd have to basically start anew (it's winxp basically, just with media functions and stuff...)

so if you don't have media center then no you can't do that right this second

 

[dorio]

If microtransactions help keep developers alive to make more cool games then I'm all for it. If you don't like what's being offered then don't buy it.

 

[DrEvil]

i want nothing...

oh and media center is an operating system. So you'd have to basically start anew (it's winxp basically, just with media functions and stuff...)

so if you don't have media center then no you can't do that right this second

I'll take a tag if he wont take you up on your offer

Anyways, the live integration is really nice, Especially being able to browse from the web, pretty slick - as for the MCE limitation, kinda irk-invoking for those who dont really want to upgrade away from pro.. but whatever, Bill and his set-top one remote vision.. oh bill.

 

[DopeyFish]

I'll take a tag if he wont take you up on your offer

Anyways, the live integration is really nice, Especially being able to browse from the web, pretty slick - as for the MCE limitation, kinda irk-invoking for those who dont really want to upgrade away from pro.. but whatever, Bill and his set-top one remote vision.. oh bill.

well in a year it will be simple as pie as it will be included with Windows Vista. <3

 

[Bebpo]

well in a year it will be simple as pie as it will be included with Windows Vista. <3

Assuming people upgrade ^^;

I'll never upgrade an operating system on an existing computer. I'll get Vista whenever I buy a new PC (3+ more years away).

 

[Raddock]

Nope didn't work. Media Connect is running, everything is hooked up right, files are being shared correctly, the Xbox 360 just does not recognize the fact that it is connected to a computer. When the connection is tested it goes...

Network Adapter : Wired
IP Address : Confirmed
Computer : Failed

I have no idea what's wrong but I just can't get them to connect. I'm using a normal wired Ethernet Broadband Router running Windows XP. Live on the 360 runs fine it just don't work.

I had the same problem. I could never get the network connection to confirm to the computer, but after rebooting both, they connected anyway.

 

[jedimike]

I came across this thread after reading a blog from one of the XBL devs... so good job Stooge, you've been blogged. Anyway, it's been about 2 1/2 months since launch. I've already taken a lot of the 360 features for granted. We had a big wind storm the other day, and my internet connection went out. I decided to play a few games... it just wasn't the same. My 360 felt so dead when it wasn't connected to XBL.

Here's the dev blog... http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/default.aspx and the reason why multiparty chat can work, but maybe will never work on 360.

Multiparty Chat
posted Wednesday, February 08, 2006 9:30 PM by shaheeng
Since Xbox 360's launch, I've been trolling various message boards for feedback about my biggest feature: voice chat. This post made the previous year of my life completely worth every minute. There's something to be said about the power of Xbox Live to bring people together, regardless of what you think of the service.

That said, the most consistent piece of feedback is "Why can't I talk with multiple people in QuickChat?" The simple answer is that it was a user experience choice. The longer answer follows, but know that there isn't much in the lower level software that would stop us from letting users do this. However, let's think about it some more...

Xbox Live requires users to have broadband connections that are at least 64kbps up & down. On the other side of the coin, Xbox Live requires games to work within 64kbps. Voice chat in a game uses some of that bandwidth. How much depends on the number of users, mostly. All Xbox Live games have voice chat in some way, so there is at least one user worth of "chat bandwidth."

The Xbox 360 guide is not omniscient. It has a lot of info, but it can't know how many people are chatting inside a particular game. However, it knows that there's at least one user worth of bandwidth around being used for chat because we wrote that rule. When you use QuickChat, the Xbox 360 Guide mutes voice going to the game. That means the game no longer has any voice chat to transmit, and hence stops using the voice chat bandwidth. That frees up the bandwidth for QuickChat to use.

Imagine QuickChat did let you speak with multiple people at a time. This means you'd need to send data to multiple people, thereby multiplying the amount of bandwidth you need. This may make QuickChat go over the 64kbps total that is available. If you have a much faster pipe, this would not be a problem. However, measuring available bandwidth is a non-trivial problem that has had many academic papers written about it.

Going past the available bandwidth would make either your game or chat experience horrible - perhaps even both. Hence, QuickChat doesn't go over the minimum requirements to make sure all our users have a consistent experience on Xbox Live.

 

[Spinning Plates]

Is it too much to ask film studios to flag future titles so we can see what DVD are friends watching?

Same thing goes for whatever people are listening to or watching in MCE.

 

[truffleshuffle83]

dud that would be way to personal..i dont want people to know im watching pron :lol

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

And even if Pron producers didn't include that functionality as opposed to the big studios, if your tag said "Watching A Movie" and didn't have a title, people would assume you're watching it.

Bad news all around.

Music? My sad musical vices are a private affair.