XBOX 360 as distribution model?
Filed under: Tech Stuff, Distribution, Home Entertainment, Games and Game Movies
In yesterday's Variety, Ben Fritz speculated that internet-enabled game systems such as the spanking-new Xbox 360 and the much-anticipated PS3 could turn out to be the distribution systems of the future. Amongst the highlights:- 360 as legal download device. "Thanks to Xbox Live [Microsoft's private internet experience for 360 users], the 360 stands between the Internet and the TV, making it a powerful delivery mechanism for any form of media." Fritz tells us to expect official, downloadable content for the 360 soon, starting with game-related peripherals, but potentially including movies-on-demand at some point down the line.
- Gaming is only the beginning. Fritz uggests that with devices like the 360 (and soon, the PS3) any and all gaming applications are merely "Trojan horses to get Microsoft and Sony devices into as many homes as possible." He posits that if studios want the valuable, young male demographic to watch their films, they'll go out of their way to make the content available on Sony's PS3-compatible Blu-Ray DVD, or format their media for delivery via Xbox Live.
- People don't want to go to the movies? Fine. Fritz notes the "irony" in the fact that Sony – the most struggling studio in a distribution climate that can only be described as generally bad – is soon to launch the PS3, which will stoke the stay-at-home fires. But maybe they know what they're doing: "[I]t could also be seen as a savvy company recognizing fresh potential. Rather than fight a new technology – as studios have done with every innovation from radio through the Internet – Sony and most of its competitors are jumping on the bandwagon when it comes to gamers."
- Gaming is already changing the way Hollywood thinks about content. Fritz cites several examples of movie producers planning game production into film production, including the new King Kong game, which incorporates graphics designed by Weta for Peter Jackson's film. Disney, too, is getting in on the act; Fritz quotes their senior VP of games: "We're looking at sharing tools with our feature animation division to help produce higher quality games within the time frames we have."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-28-2005 @ 11:40AM
Dean said...
That's not an Xbox 360 in your picture! It looks like a fan mockup.
Research man, research! http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/xbox360/default.htm
Reply
11-28-2005 @ 12:52PM
Richard Brunton said...
I don't think the XBox is a good representation of this model. Microsoft have cut out some key elements with regards videoaudio streaming to ensure customers still purchase their Media Centre systems, I think that's the more appropriate model. The XBox is severely restricted in what it can do in comparison as far as I've been able to gleam.
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11-28-2005 @ 4:07PM
Cheztir said...
While M$ did try to lock people into the media center, don't forget the Xbox 360's software can be updated just like a computer. It's what they did to Xbox to give it LIVE. The first Xboxs had no live support until you updated.
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11-28-2005 @ 7:51PM
Tom said...
Hmmmm...
this thesis holds up only as long as you remember that not all xbox 360 units ship with hard drives. How does one store said purchased movies? Obviously, with little information on the proportion of units shipped with (or rather, without) hard drives, this argument is limited. IMO, if Microsoft's plans are to do this, they made a strategically poor decision offering one option with a harddrive.
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11-28-2005 @ 8:31PM
Jon said...
#2 you haven't been able to gleam much. The 360 is crippled only in its capability to stream videos from a Windows XP SP2 box. Video apparently is only allowed to be streamed from a Media Center PC. But other than that, Music and photos work just fine. Those certainly are the most important as that is what most people have and use everyday on their XP machines.
I'm shocked that the 360 continues to take heat for added features that are found in NO OTHER CONSOLE! I have a 360 most of you whinning probably don't. It's media capabilities are amazing and quite extensive.
I've downloaded movie previews in HighDef as well as Game demos. I've played photo slideshows from my wireless laptop while playing songs from my laptop as well. I haven't tried streaming a video yet from my XP machine, but I have read that this does not work. I will judge for myself when I try it myself.
One interesting thing I read...apparently the 360 works with USB keyboards! Thank God! I can now type meaningful messages into Xbox Live message system.
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11-28-2005 @ 9:57PM
Jon said...
#2 you haven't been able to gleam much. The 360 is crippled only in its capability to stream videos from a Windows XP SP2 box. Video apparently is only allowed to be streamed from a Media Center PC. But other than that, Music and photos work just fine. Those certainly are the most important as that is what most people have and use everyday on their XP machines.
I'm shocked that the 360 continues to take heat for added features that are found in NO OTHER CONSOLE! I have a 360 most of you whinning probably don't. It's media capabilities are amazing and quite extensive.
I've downloaded movie previews in HighDef as well as Game demos. I've played photo slideshows from my wireless laptop while playing songs from my laptop as well. I haven't tried streaming a video yet from my XP machine, but I have read that this does not work. I will judge for myself when I try it myself.
One interesting thing I read...apparently the 360 works with USB keyboards! Thank God! I can now type meaningful messages into Xbox Live message system.
Reply
11-29-2005 @ 12:10AM
Adam Wright said...
#1
Uhh...that's the 360's BOX. Not the unit itself.
:P
Reply
11-29-2005 @ 7:46PM
Dean said...
#7
The picture has been changed since my post :P
Reply
12-05-2005 @ 8:27PM
haza said...
i think that the x.box 3.60 isnt that great really, the x.box alone is gud but the up grade wasnt that great. they should of added more requirements to it like 2 way use and give it more capabilities. they should make a screen on it flip up so its a televison and a gaming console as 1, dnt try steal my idea cause im gna be an entrepanuralist wen i grow up and build a way beta console that everyone in the world can enjoy and put the price low so not only rich people can buy it
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