New Definition for NextGen
Now that Microsoft has update www.xbox.com and its Xbox Live service to be more Xbox360 centric, and more of the links between community and the 360 are shown. The Definition of Next gen Consoles is changing, at least in my opinion.
traditional when the "NextGen" consoles are announced, you get the standard GPU specs, CPU, etc... For example;Sony talks about how there new custom deigned "engine" will change the word, *cough* "emotion engine" *cough* and Microsoft took off the shelf x86 parts to make an impressive system, saying its the software that matters for the user experience. While Nintendo rolls along with a balance of hardware and content.
Fast forward to today, yes the exact second you are reading this line, Sony is still creating custom hardware and touting there graphics (yes, still only movies on display, but lets give them that for a second) will make you total live the game. The comparisons of the 360 -vs- PS3 will be debated for the next 4-5 years till they are on the way out. Microsoft in an attempt to be the first to market this gen with the 360, need to make some compromises with the hardware, that is a no brainier. Could they have went the complete custom chip path with IBM, sure but again they only see hardware as part of the picture.
Enter www.xbox.com and Xbox Live, when Live was release 3 years ago it changed the platform of the Xbox from a simple game console to a competition engine, community enabler, and a communication device. Yes PC's did this first, but for a console its ground breaking, but having a central service and single Gamertag is the icing on the cake.
By combining the Xbox360, Xbox Live, and xbox.com MS is giving the gamer a total package of interactivity, both in and out of the living room. The 360 for digital entertainment, from games to movies to music. Live for the human to human experience, and xbox.com for the commit extension, though there are 3rd party independent sites (some I helped build) ,but Microsoft is keeping pace to be the main portal and link all its technologies together. Look at the top right corner of this blog, I have my "Gamer Card" linked, as the 360 arrives this will help show my gaming progress, and bring gamers together.
This is now what the next gen is; Its a system of products and services that allow everyone not only the hardcore to enjoy the experience, and give something to all. Its also the first real assault on the livingroom, that why the 360 connects to mp3 players, Windows media Center, will have content on demand, etc...
Its not about graphics and numbers (though I love good hardware), but about the experience and what you take from it. Granted I am leaving out a lot of features, and expected features or all systems, but its a great time to be a hardcore gamer as well as the person tasting it for the first time.
traditional when the "NextGen" consoles are announced, you get the standard GPU specs, CPU, etc... For example;Sony talks about how there new custom deigned "engine" will change the word, *cough* "emotion engine" *cough* and Microsoft took off the shelf x86 parts to make an impressive system, saying its the software that matters for the user experience. While Nintendo rolls along with a balance of hardware and content.
Fast forward to today, yes the exact second you are reading this line, Sony is still creating custom hardware and touting there graphics (yes, still only movies on display, but lets give them that for a second) will make you total live the game. The comparisons of the 360 -vs- PS3 will be debated for the next 4-5 years till they are on the way out. Microsoft in an attempt to be the first to market this gen with the 360, need to make some compromises with the hardware, that is a no brainier. Could they have went the complete custom chip path with IBM, sure but again they only see hardware as part of the picture.
Enter www.xbox.com and Xbox Live, when Live was release 3 years ago it changed the platform of the Xbox from a simple game console to a competition engine, community enabler, and a communication device. Yes PC's did this first, but for a console its ground breaking, but having a central service and single Gamertag is the icing on the cake.
By combining the Xbox360, Xbox Live, and xbox.com MS is giving the gamer a total package of interactivity, both in and out of the living room. The 360 for digital entertainment, from games to movies to music. Live for the human to human experience, and xbox.com for the commit extension, though there are 3rd party independent sites (some I helped build) ,but Microsoft is keeping pace to be the main portal and link all its technologies together. Look at the top right corner of this blog, I have my "Gamer Card" linked, as the 360 arrives this will help show my gaming progress, and bring gamers together.
This is now what the next gen is; Its a system of products and services that allow everyone not only the hardcore to enjoy the experience, and give something to all. Its also the first real assault on the livingroom, that why the 360 connects to mp3 players, Windows media Center, will have content on demand, etc...
Its not about graphics and numbers (though I love good hardware), but about the experience and what you take from it. Granted I am leaving out a lot of features, and expected features or all systems, but its a great time to be a hardcore gamer as well as the person tasting it for the first time.
posted by ram2600 at 8:54 AM
3 comments
