Microsoft believe that with the New Xbox Live Experience will turn Xbox Live into more of a Social networking system. Shades of this intent have been visible since the last large update for the current system where Bio’s and such where introduced. But just how far do Microsoft want to go with this?
At the Play conference at the University of California at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s games group, Shane Kim said that the update to Xbox Live launching tomorrow — which will allow people to communicate with each other through the use of avatars — will make it far easier for players to socialize and discover new entertainment such as videos and music.
“I believe to be the leader in interactive entertainment, we have to expand well beyond gaming,†he said.
With new features like the party chat, it definitely will be a lot easier to communicate with multiple people. As for the service becoming a social network, I’m pretty sure it already is, the main reason people have Xbox Live is to play games socially with friends. Maybe your experience is different but the general Multiplayer game out there is full of conversation about “what I did today” or “what I had for breakfast”, so what Microsoft may not realise is that they already have a very healthy social network, we just socialize while we play games. So lets expand beyond gaming by all means, but let’s also not forget what we came here for in the first place.
Source: Venture Beat
Last Updated: November 18, 2008
Wolfy
November 18, 2008 at 14:53
well i read on other blogs that Xbox live are full of 14 year old children cursing the crap out of you. I wanna know if this is true from people actaully do use Xbox live
Syph1n
November 18, 2008 at 14:57
sometimes but thats why u have a friends list.
Also in my opinion its fine the way it is. But new dashboard is really preeeettttyyy… 🙂
Goose ZA
November 18, 2008 at 15:03
Depends. If you randomly join games then you do sometimes end up with retards. I only play with people on my friends list so I have fun 60% of the time, all the time 😉
CattleBruiser
November 18, 2008 at 15:14
+1
Inferno888
November 18, 2008 at 15:26
I really hope the update is optional as i think it looks like a 5 year olds interface.
Someone
November 18, 2008 at 16:14
Nope its a must.
MaxiViper
November 18, 2008 at 16:38
I agree I think this whole avatar thing is ridiculous. It looks so childish I’m mean there are alot of people who play on xbox live and are like 17 years or older and I don’t think this avatar thing is going to appeal to them at all
11
MaxiViper
November 18, 2008 at 16:39
ignore that 11
Strife Lives
November 18, 2008 at 17:35
well. .kids arnt the only ones on Forza 2 auction house,and lately Ive been there alot. Btw,how large is the update? Please dont tell me 256mb. .
imajin
November 18, 2008 at 17:49
128MB
Rudolph
November 19, 2008 at 06:45
I’ve found that if you manage to avoid americans its all good. Not that all of them are bad, but in general they are aged between 5-12, curse more than a pirate on a stormy day, and are arrogant as shit”. Most Europeans on the other hand are quite cool though.
Some questions I’ve been asked on XBL by americans:
“South Africa… Is that like, near Mexico?”
“**** man, do you like have elephants and lions in your yard?”
Other dude: “Where the hell is South Africa?”
Me: “Uh… Let’s see, the southern part of Africa”
Other dude: “Duh… but where the f*ck is Africa?”
Other dude: “Is there like even internet in Africa?”
Me: “No, I’m your imaginary XBL friend. Comes standard with the service”