Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Microsoft Puts XBox Live Primetime on Back Burner
Microsoft'sand XBox 360 announced that the highly-anticipated gameshow, XBOX Live Primetime , won't be debuting this month, instead, it will be launched in spring 2009.
Primetime is a game show channel on XBox that will feature live video game contests where XBox users login and battle in head-to-head competitions for prizes.It was developed with ,Endemol, the same team that produces Big Brother. In his column Microsoft Xbox: Not Ready For Primetime, Chris Morris said Primetime is a unique concept that could represent the gaming industrie's first venture into the turf dominated by TV. He also said:
Microsoft managers say the delay is necessary in order to ensure a smooth launch of the system's new user interface ...By waiting until the spring, Microsoft's offering will likely go up against a more compelling lineup of television shows--and put its chances of instant success at risk.
The postponement could prove to be strike three to the average consumer. Xbox already has two strikes against it:
- There were early reports that many of the XBox 360 consoles were returned due to defective cooling systems.
- Some XBox owners purchased the HD DVD add on, only to learn that HD DVD lost to the Blu Ray player (included in Sony's PS3) for licensing rights with the major film production companies. As a result, HD DVD players will be obsolete within the next few years, and Blu-Ray should become the mainstream home theater player.
Microsoft's postponement deflates the excitement about XBox's new dashboard, which is set to debut Nov.19. Microsoft's poor planning is yet another testimony to the truth behind the old saying "Timing is everything." Imagine all of the Christmas shoppers Microsoft may have lured from Sony's Playstation 3, X Box's rival platform, with commercials boasting the new game show.
By Matt O'Hern at 10:05 AM
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(5) Thoughts on Microsoft Puts XBox Live Primetime on Back Burner
Second strike is the #1 for me... If i could essentiall get blu ray player included, it would be a no brainer. Some may disagree with me on this, but i also think the lack of internet browsing capability (for gaming or otherwise) is a huge gap between xbox and the wii. With those two items, it would be my kids primary gift this year.
Comments by bmr : Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 10:09 AM
What?
MS is kicking PS3 to the curb in sales with a cheaper box.
If blu-ray is so important, why is PS3 last in US sales time and time again???
XBox sold 350K consoles last month and PS3 sold 240K.
Ridiculus fanboy sour grapes.
Comments by mcm : Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 11:18 AM
This article is so full of fail it's ridiculous.
Xbox 360 consoles have never been "recalled." There have never been any "early reports" of defective cooling systems. What there have been are extensive 360 hardware failures related to the graphics chip and warping of the motherboard, leading to the RROD. Microsoft addressed the failures by implementing a 3-year warranty program.
Xbox 360 does not "include" an HD-DVD player and never did. The 360 comes with a standard DVD drive. At one point there was an HD-DVD add-on that sold a few hundred thousand units. It is no longer being manufactured.
The blogosphere is clogged up with useless "tech" and "marketing" articles written by people who don't have the slightest clue what they are talking about. Thanks for adding to the crap pile.
Comments by Good Grief : Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 11:43 AM
In reply to "Good Griefs" comments-
XBox may not have officially issued a recall for defective system, but there were so many owners sending back their Xbox's, fed Ex and UPS employees joked they already know what they're going to hear once a customer walked in with an XBox. I've seen reports about it on national news and I could give you the phone number of the managers who have personally told me about the defective ones ,because I used to live with a Fed-Ex manager who complained about it every day. He swore he'd never buy one. One of the managers who works in another terminal said the same thing, and this was only months after the product hit the shelves.
As for the HD DVD aspect, I should have categorized it as an available upgrade, but that doesn't refute my main points: Microsoft and XBox 360 have a few black eyes since the debut.
Also, the stat showing a higher number of Xbox units sold than PS3s in one month doesn't verify product superiority, and it certainly doesn't change the fact that Microsoft and XBox have made some serious mistakes.
Comments by Matt : Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 12:29 PM
I work for FedEx and can attest that Mr. Ohern's comments in the column are correct. We average around 25 X-Box returns a day just in our terminal alone (we only cover 2 counties in Florida). I've been debating which system to buy and have asked for feedback from these customer that have sent in their X-box 360 back to the warehouse in Texas. The common phrase is the cooling fan end up breaking, causing the console to overheat and damage the system. Some customers have even told me they've sent it back twice. This was pretty much the deciding factor for me in purchasing a PS3 even though they may cost more.
Comments by Mike : Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 05:55 PM
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