by Playfuls Staff |
9th April 2007
When you have a year old product which needs to compete with
newer models, you have to come up with new features (and/or versions) to keep the
consumers’ interest alive. Microsoft knows this and lately is [more] adding new
interesting features to its Xbox 360 gaming console.
In March the Redmond
company announced the Xbox 360 Elite, shortly after Sony launched its PlayStation 3 console in the PAL
territories.
Xbox 360 Elite will include a
120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition
cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox
LIVE headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well
as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE
Marketplace.
The new 120GB hard drive also
will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater
choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience. Additional
Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller,
Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be
available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to
begin arriving in U.S.
stores on April 29. Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price of
$479.99 (U.S.)
and will come packed Xbox LIVE Silver Membership and one-month subscription to
Xbox LIVE Gold.
Today, Microsoft had another big
announcement for its Xbox fans.
Beginning the week of May 7, 2007, the Xbox 360 Spring
Update will provide Xbox 360 owners worldwide with access to Windows Live Messenger
features, broadening the communication options on the Xbox LIVE social network.
The users of Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 will text
chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB
keyboard to the console. This summer Microsoft will launch a QWERTY text-input
device, a new accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller
to support text and instant messaging.
Also, Microsoft announced at CES this year the unification
of Microsoft’s popular gaming platforms Xbox and Windows which will become reality
on May 8. With Windows still being the largest platform for offline and online gaming and
with Xbox 360 already on track of reaching the 15 million owners target by
June, Microsoft is hoping to ensure an even more dominant position by bringing
together the Xbox and the PC platform. Gaming is the second most important activity
for users of the Windows platform, after Web-browsing, accounting for almost
18% of their time.
The bridging will happen when the massive Xbox hit HALO 2 will come
out for Windows Vista. Games for Windows – LIVE will connect Windows gamers to
over six million gamers already in the Xbox LIVE community. Then, launching in
June, “Shadowrun " will for the first time connect Windows gamers
with Xbox 360 players in cross-platform matches using a single service.
"UNO," releasing later in 2007, will also support cross-platform play
between Windows and Xbox 360.
For the moment the competition on the gaming console front is dominated by
Nintendo. Nintendo's hit Wii gaming console, sold in February as many units as
both of its main rivals put together. Nintendo sold 355,000 units during the
month, with Microsoft selling 228,000 of its Xbox 360 units, and Sony coming in
third place with just 127,000 of its PlayStation 3 consoles, according to
research firm NPD Group.
