Editorial
Last night’s MTV media event told us very little about the Xbox 360, but a world about how the Microsoft will brand the box. Many people at work are angry with MTV and how little it told of the nuts and bolts in the new console, some even shout as if answers were owed to them. But the special wasn’t for geeks, power gamers, and other basement dwellers. While this set is the bread and butter of the industry, the real profits lie in the main stream and cross over users, the people who want to see Elijah Wood and a pretty girl in cowboy boots tote the new box.
There are several elements Microsoft pushed in the special. Personal ownership was a major theme. With the customizable dash boards and detachable face plate, many of the Vee-Jay turned salesmen pushed this ‘make it your own’ aspect of the system. This takes a hint from the mod community surrounding the current generation of consoles. Both a bain and a blessing, modding leads to a set of enthusiasts who are loyal to one system over the other. On the other hand, it leads to the pirating of games. But Microsoft obviously wants to take control of the environment and turn it into profit. The segment showing West Coast Mods attests to this. The group, known for customizing beat up cars on the MTV show, Pimp My Ride! Took a first generation Xbox and painted it silver with a skull, added glowing eyes, slapped a folding display on it and welded a metal case for it. A whole after market of accessories that have nothing to do with gaming could stem from modding.
The other element, mentioned several times, but rarely described, is the Xbox as an all in one entertainment system. This seems to be the Holy Grail for console makers at the moment, with Sony pushing the same thing in their portable PSP and the next Playstation. It looks like the Xbox 360 will connect media files held on home computers with the TV, though little besides music was mentioned in the special.
While Microsoft has yet to announce the actual box to the world, they have certainly introduced the brand. By Friday of next week it will be clear just what Nintendo and Sony plan to do.
WASD Writer
Last night’s MTV media event told us very little about the Xbox 360, but a world about how the Microsoft will brand the box. Many people at work are angry with MTV and how little it told of the nuts and bolts in the new console, some even shout as if answers were owed to them. But the special wasn’t for geeks, power gamers, and other basement dwellers. While this set is the bread and butter of the industry, the real profits lie in the main stream and cross over users, the people who want to see Elijah Wood and a pretty girl in cowboy boots tote the new box.
There are several elements Microsoft pushed in the special. Personal ownership was a major theme. With the customizable dash boards and detachable face plate, many of the Vee-Jay turned salesmen pushed this ‘make it your own’ aspect of the system. This takes a hint from the mod community surrounding the current generation of consoles. Both a bain and a blessing, modding leads to a set of enthusiasts who are loyal to one system over the other. On the other hand, it leads to the pirating of games. But Microsoft obviously wants to take control of the environment and turn it into profit. The segment showing West Coast Mods attests to this. The group, known for customizing beat up cars on the MTV show, Pimp My Ride! Took a first generation Xbox and painted it silver with a skull, added glowing eyes, slapped a folding display on it and welded a metal case for it. A whole after market of accessories that have nothing to do with gaming could stem from modding.
The other element, mentioned several times, but rarely described, is the Xbox as an all in one entertainment system. This seems to be the Holy Grail for console makers at the moment, with Sony pushing the same thing in their portable PSP and the next Playstation. It looks like the Xbox 360 will connect media files held on home computers with the TV, though little besides music was mentioned in the special.
While Microsoft has yet to announce the actual box to the world, they have certainly introduced the brand. By Friday of next week it will be clear just what Nintendo and Sony plan to do.
WASD Writer
