What the Next X-Box will really be about
As we sit on the doorstep of a new Nintendo console (Still need to write a post about that, don't I?), I've been noticing that Microsoft has been a little porous lately with their rumors and speculation about their upcoming console in 2013-2014. While most companies keep their R&D under wraps, or attempt to (looking at you, Sony), Microsoft doesn't seem to be very keen on letting Nintendo have this time all to themselves with not only a new Wii console launching this holiday, but a new 3DS model as well. So while I'm not coming out and saying that Microsoft is purposely leaking information (in fact, I think some things leaked they really don't want out), it wouldn't surprise me if certain details were leaked purposefully in order to remind gamers to not be taken by the candy Nintendo will be offering up this holiday, and to keep their eyes on the horizon for something in the near future.
First, a little back story. As of right now, the X-Box 360 is the best gaming console of this generation. While Sony has made amazing strides to tighten the console race as closely as they have, the truth is that the X-Box 360 hit the ground running as the premiere gaming console and never looked back. Nintendo's Wii was more interested in getting you to buy steering wheels and balance boards, and Sony was too busy trying to get promote Blu-Ray, Microsoft put out the 360 as the best high definition gaming console out there, and then proceeded to drill that message into our heads at every chance. Now, in truth, that is due to two things. First and foremost, Microsoft has made huge strides in courting and forging partner ships with some very talented gaming developers and publishers. Gears of War could just have easily been on the PS3, but the Microsoft was extremely smart in tying that sucker up as a 360 exclusive. They also made some serious headway in the eastern gaming publishers and developers. While companies like Capcom and Square Enix turned their nose up at the original X-Box for their Resident Evil and Final Fantasy games, the 360 managed to give them a good home, and I think gamers in North America rejoiced they they found out they wouldn't HAVE to buy a PS3 to play Final Fantasy. (Sure, it was better on the PS3, and I wouldn't really say that FFXIII was the pinnacle of the RPG game, but that's another story...) Lastly, Microsoft rush the 360 out the door a full year before their competition, giving them a full calender year to have a gaming library available before the first PS3 even hit the shelves.
This ended up being a very risky proposition for Microsoft that would end up paying off, but cost them quite a bit of money in the short term as well. Their hardware was unproven and poorly tested. I doubt there's anyone from Microsoft's R&D Department who would argue with that fact. Instead of devoting the time needed to properly put their new hardware through the rigorous paces that a company like Nintendo usually would, Microsoft "pulled a Sega" (pulling a Sega - quickly releasing expensive hardware without thinking about what practical uses it might have for the long term...see Sega CD and the Sega 32X), and shot the bad boy out the door a mere 6 months after announcing the thing even existed. There result is something I don't have to get into, because I'm guessing if you're reading this, you've experienced the Red Ring of Death. Because of this error, Microsoft had to pay over a billion dollars in fixing their mistake.
So now we are looking at the new X-Box. There are a lot of rumors out there, and there will be a ton more. Hell, I remember when the Dreamcast came out back in 1999, and the build up to that was insane with the rumors. I don't suspect that will change with this new system (or the new Playstation for that matter). However, I do know one thing. I am not entirely sure they will focus on the hardware as much as they will the evolution of X-Box Live. I believe in this next generation of hardware, Microsoft will focus less on what their hardware will be able to do (even though it'll be able to do a lot), and they spend far more time trying to sell you on X-Box Live as the gaming medium. Sure, there will be a new Kinect, and it's going to have pretty graphics and the like. However, Microsoft's big goal with the X-Box 360 is to get X-Box Live in your living room. When they first introduced Live back with the original X-Box, it was nothing more than playing games online with your friends. That's all. Good for some, not good for everyone. With the 360 though, Microsoft took Live in a whole new direction. While they pitched the console as the console to have for HD Gaming, they took what they built with gaming on X-Box Live and turned into it's own multimedia hub. Next time you're on Live, check out all the different things it can do. You can watch TV show, movies, listen to music, watch YouTube, sporting events, etc, etc. X-Box Live wasn't just about getting you and your buddies to frag each other at Halo until 4am on the weekend, it was also now about giving your mother something to watch when she had finished with the laundry and was tired of watching Judge Judy reruns. Your father could check out the highlights of the college game he missed last night with ESPN. Your sister could download the new Lady Gaga song. X-Box Live has evolved into so much more than it originally was, and I personally believe that we will see that as the focus of the new X-Box console. Sure, there will be talk about what the unit itself can do, but overall, don't be shocked to hear a lot more about Live and what Microsoft has in store for the future.
First, a little back story. As of right now, the X-Box 360 is the best gaming console of this generation. While Sony has made amazing strides to tighten the console race as closely as they have, the truth is that the X-Box 360 hit the ground running as the premiere gaming console and never looked back. Nintendo's Wii was more interested in getting you to buy steering wheels and balance boards, and Sony was too busy trying to get promote Blu-Ray, Microsoft put out the 360 as the best high definition gaming console out there, and then proceeded to drill that message into our heads at every chance. Now, in truth, that is due to two things. First and foremost, Microsoft has made huge strides in courting and forging partner ships with some very talented gaming developers and publishers. Gears of War could just have easily been on the PS3, but the Microsoft was extremely smart in tying that sucker up as a 360 exclusive. They also made some serious headway in the eastern gaming publishers and developers. While companies like Capcom and Square Enix turned their nose up at the original X-Box for their Resident Evil and Final Fantasy games, the 360 managed to give them a good home, and I think gamers in North America rejoiced they they found out they wouldn't HAVE to buy a PS3 to play Final Fantasy. (Sure, it was better on the PS3, and I wouldn't really say that FFXIII was the pinnacle of the RPG game, but that's another story...) Lastly, Microsoft rush the 360 out the door a full year before their competition, giving them a full calender year to have a gaming library available before the first PS3 even hit the shelves. 
So now we are looking at the new X-Box. There are a lot of rumors out there, and there will be a ton more. Hell, I remember when the Dreamcast came out back in 1999, and the build up to that was insane with the rumors. I don't suspect that will change with this new system (or the new Playstation for that matter). However, I do know one thing. I am not entirely sure they will focus on the hardware as much as they will the evolution of X-Box Live. I believe in this next generation of hardware, Microsoft will focus less on what their hardware will be able to do (even though it'll be able to do a lot), and they spend far more time trying to sell you on X-Box Live as the gaming medium. Sure, there will be a new Kinect, and it's going to have pretty graphics and the like. However, Microsoft's big goal with the X-Box 360 is to get X-Box Live in your living room. When they first introduced Live back with the original X-Box, it was nothing more than playing games online with your friends. That's all. Good for some, not good for everyone. With the 360 though, Microsoft took Live in a whole new direction. While they pitched the console as the console to have for HD Gaming, they took what they built with gaming on X-Box Live and turned into it's own multimedia hub. Next time you're on Live, check out all the different things it can do. You can watch TV show, movies, listen to music, watch YouTube, sporting events, etc, etc. X-Box Live wasn't just about getting you and your buddies to frag each other at Halo until 4am on the weekend, it was also now about giving your mother something to watch when she had finished with the laundry and was tired of watching Judge Judy reruns. Your father could check out the highlights of the college game he missed last night with ESPN. Your sister could download the new Lady Gaga song. X-Box Live has evolved into so much more than it originally was, and I personally believe that we will see that as the focus of the new X-Box console. Sure, there will be talk about what the unit itself can do, but overall, don't be shocked to hear a lot more about Live and what Microsoft has in store for the future.
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