GDC 2008: What Microsoft’s pumping for the xbox360

Throughout 2007 I’ve had a great deal of arguments with PlayStation fanboys and it always boiled down to which console’s the best. Lets take the technical stuff out, since most of us are aware of PlayStation 3 as the most sophisticated gaming console and that the xbox is something like a “re-branded desktop computer”. Knowing how Microsoft had been engaged with game developers and how reviewers were talking about how “easier” it was to make games for the xbox in relation to the PlayStation, the xbox360 no doubt was leading the console war in 2007. Despite how the HD-DVD vs BluRay format war was going on in 2007 and how fanboys had been basing their arguments on the superiority of the BluRay to justify - in effect - the superiority of the PlayStation 3 over the xbox360, they denied to accept the success of Microsoft’s efforts to cross gaming with the phenomena of online social networking and whatever is going to follow.

Xbox Live blew the gates of innovation and out of proportion. For me, when I first heard of this being done for the xbox’s second generation console, this was it. They have to get this right to make it really really big. I was a Sony fan, someone who embraced the PlayStation during Sega’s dominance. But what made me praise the xbox was when Sony began to drown in a pool of arrogance and inability to bring something new to the industry. Yes! Nintendo has indeed made it big with the idea of having gamers move around instead of sitting on the couch for days, but I regard xbox live for gaming as something like facebook for the internet.

And now we’ve made it to 2008. In hindsight, the xbox360 has indeed performed well. Remember how much loss Microsoft suffered because of the original xbox console and the RRoD with the 360? Microsoft’s willingness to bear losses and come with a newer console (and still keeping the promise) showed their intention of trying to break the ice. Enough sucking up now. 2008 is going to be really challenging for the console. HD-DVD has finally died in the format wars. We are going to see more of BluRay. With Sony keeping up with demands for PlayStation 3 and as more consumers are finding the console relatively affordable for a BluRay player (and slightly lesser of a gaming system *snicker snicker*) the xbox needs to get ready to rrrrumble!

The GDC 2008 was covered by GameSpot and here’s some stuff that went on there. And if you have 72 minutes of your life to burn away, check out this video which was addressed to game developers about the future of Microsoft’s gaming console.