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"Microsoft plans Xbox Live overhaul"

Here's something that may please a few of the Xbox Live'er's on the board. Seems like XBLive will be receiving some surgery to make it better and to help get some new subscribers.

from - http://news.designtechnica.com/article344.html

Quote:

A major overhaul of the Xbox Live platform is in the works, with the console set to get new online functionality including the ability to talk to friends outside of games and use streaming video and audio services.

Microsoft is expected to announce the new features at E3 next week, although the company hasn't confirmed anything as yet - saying only that it is planning "groundbreaking announcements" at the show, and making vague grammar-bending comments about "innovating the Xbox platform".

One of the key expected upgrades will be to the Xbox Live buddy system, which currently allows players to locate their friends in-game and converse with them using the voice system built into Xbox online titles. Microsoft is now expected to expand this functionality onto the Xbox Live dashboard.

This means that players will be able to see if their friends are online and initiate voice chat with them without starting a game - effectively giving the Xbox its own version of IP telephony, and giving Xbox Live users the ability to effectively make long-distance voice calls for free.

Another major update to the system will be the ability to play music and video either off the Internet or off a PC on a home LAN with the Xbox. At present this functionality exists on chipped Xboxen running third party software; Microsoft may well hook the console into its own DRM (digital rights management) systems, thus allowing people to purchase or rent films and music online and play them on their Xbox.

This upgrade would effectively make the Xbox into a living room media centre as much as a console - something which commentators have been predicting since the console was first announced several years ago. It would certainly make the Xbox into a more attractive option for many consumers, and through the online movie and music purchase or rental systems, would give Microsoft a new way to recoup its losses on the Xbox hardware.

One thing which still hasn't been mentioned officially, but which may well happen in the future, is the integration of Internet Explorer with the console. If these rumoured upgrades turn out to be true, the Xbox will effectively have variants on the Windows Messenger, IP telephony and Windows Media technologies built-in; the one key component of Microsoft's online services that's missing is Internet Explorer. There's undoubtedly a worry, however, that should the company integrate IE into the box, people will start buying the Xbox purely as a set-top box - which is almost exactly what Microsoft is trying to prevent with its crackdown on mod chips.

this has nothing to do with the xbox, but more your signature....

more people are killed in a year by vending machines than by sharks....

I havnt been real impressed with the Live service. I for one wont be renewing my subscription another year. I havnt played it in about 2 months. There just never were any games to join at the times I played. When I did actually join a game there were nothing but 12 year old asian kids screaming "Owned" and "shut the fuck up noob." Why pay 50 bucks for that when I can get the same experience playing CS for free.

Holy moly! Damn my PS2, then again my PC still 0wnz j00 XboxZ0RZ

Re: "Microsoft plans Xbox Live overhaul"

Quote:

Originally posted by meanSpleen
There's undoubtedly a worry, however, that should the company integrate IE into the box, people will start buying the Xbox purely as a set-top box - which is almost exactly what Microsoft is trying to prevent with its crackdown on mod chips.

Not quite. Microsoft was trying to prevent people from buying the Xbox purely as a set-top box <i>in an unlicensed and non-revenue-producing way</i>.

As long as it's their code the Xbox runs, I'm sure Microsoft will be more than happy to have people use the Xbox as a set-top box.

I think if XBox Live had good multiplayer games it would be a different story, but Halo isn't out until next year. MotoGP is only soo fun.

When Halo 2 comes out along with the some more FPS and maybe other games like EverQuest, The Sims and so forth you'll see the x-box live subscriptions pick up as well.

As I just learnt (is that a word?) on another thread, I am looking at XboxConnect. This will allow me to play Xbox cluster games (when you need another Xbox in the room to Connect) over a Bb connx.
I agree that the games at the moment aren't all that, although I enjoy them as long as I have arranged games b4 hand with "buddies".
I like the Idea you can just chat, but MSN (ack, Bill conspiracy) lets me do that already.

Wot I really want is the ability to emulate the Online Games Exp. that you can get with a PC without having to upgrade my PC everytime a new game comes out. Xbox Live comes close and it is a compromise, but a worthy compromise IMO. I enjoy Battlemech w/out dealing with 12yr olds screaming at me.
surely the next step is allowing only certain IP's thru the firewall to my Xbox. (Tips and hints welcome :))

Again, what is it with these console companies trying to come out with an 'all-in-one' wonder system that can play games, download movies, do your laundry, wash your car, defend you against Nazis, and descramble the Playboy channel in twenty-three different countries? Why not make a game console that can do just that? Play games. If I want the rest, I'll go to the store and get a separate system. Otherwise, I'm forced to buy something I wasn't interested in in the first place.

guthmund, i doubt we are going to see EverQuest on the Xbox anytime soon. EverQuest is made by Sony so...im gunna take a guess and say that they dont want Microsoft making a profit off their game.

Besides thats not why Xbox Live will succede. Think of XBL as a primer. Once Microsoft gets enough saturation of the market, then they can launch their XB2 in like 4 years and have killer launch titles with anything from FPS, MMORPGS, Online Racing, Sports and much much more.

As for now, im happy with upcomming games like Strident, True Fantasy Online, Fable, HL2 (Yes it is being coded for PC/Xbox only!) Starcraft Ghosts, RB6: Raven Shield and perhaps (not yet announced but speculated...) World Of Warcraft and Star Wars Galaxies. Meanwhile just sit back and play some RTCW: Tides of War, PSO I&II, Ghost Recon (w/expansion), Splinter Cell and Halo.

Quote:

Originally posted by krazykemist
I havnt been real impressed with the Live service. I for one wont be renewing my subscription another year. I havnt played it in about 2 months. There just never were any games to join at the times I played. When I did actually join a game there were nothing but 12 year old asian kids screaming "Owned" and "shut the fuck up noob." Why pay 50 bucks for that when I can get the same experience playing CS for free.

krazykemist... I have had similar experiences, but that is what the buddy list is for. When you do find someone you enjoy playing with, ask to add them to your list. I have about 35 people on my list now, and NEVER have issues with Newbs. Well, ok, I do have issues in "public" games, but I avoid those like the plague.
It varies by game too.... Unreal, Moto, and Mech are total "tool" games, but I have found Fever, NHL2k3, and Recon to be populated by more adults. Hottest tip I can offer is spend some time working on your Friends List.
Biggest complaint I have right now is lack of Xbox Live games. However, a couple of insiders have promised me by Nov 15 2003, (which is the first date people will have to re-up co-incidentally!!!) there will be over 40 titles.. Wait and see....