Xbox Live survey leads to future peripheral speculation

Alright, so we've got Microsoft's HD DVD player finally hitting the hands of elated Xbox 360 owners, rumors of a 100GB 80GB hard drive, and an "all systems go" on the console's forthcoming Live Video service -- how could there possibly be anything else up ole Bill's sleeve? Apparently the company is at least pondering the release of several other goodies in the (hopefully) near future, including a premium (read: black) wireless controller with backlit buttons and rubberized grips ($59-$69), a "traditional joystick" for use with Xbox Live Arcade titles ($29-$39), a "mini-keyboard plug-in device" enabling text messaging and chat ($19-$29), and a long-awaited web browser built into Xbox Live (likely gratis). No, we didn't pull these four niceties out of a hat, but certain XBL members received a hint-filled survey that mentioned each of these devices (and bits of software) in particular, leading us to believe that at least some of these peripherals could see retail shelves before too long. The survey also made mention of an "iTunes-like" music service (Zune Marketplace?) that could offer $0.99 downloads or a $14.99 per month "rental service" similar to Napster and Rhapsody's current gigs. While nobody knows for sure what the (presumably positive) survey results will lead to in Redmond, we won't complain with Microsoft catering to our incessant demands.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

[John @ Nov 9th 2006 8:34PM]

as much as we all like to hate microsoft, they do actually listen to customer feedback and implement it into whatever they do. props to redmond.

[plong @ Nov 9th 2006 8:46PM]

Web browser sounds good to me. Xbox 360 V.1.1.
The live chat and keyboard should consider using msn messenger service somehow. That would really be nice.

PS3 anyone?

[myscrnnm @ Nov 9th 2006 8:48PM]

The premium controller looks a bit pricy. But I guess for backlit buttons, that's a pretty good deal. I'd want one if I had an Xbox 360.

[&& @ Nov 9th 2006 8:56PM]

Also, judging by the color differences, it looks like that black controller has rubberized sides and triggers. If MS managed to get these into stores, and implement a web browser and perhaps even Live Messenger into the 360 by this holiday season, say goodbye to the PS3.

[Will @ Nov 9th 2006 9:06PM]

haha, they said that a browser didnt belong in a console when sony announced that the ps3 would have one...now that they are the only console without one they think the opposite? where are all the people gettin on MS for copying the other companies??

[Will @ Nov 9th 2006 9:08PM]

&&: i promise you that you can forget about it launching this holiday season, if they're just now doing the survey it'll be atleast 4-6 months before any of this would be ready for launch

[myscrnnm @ Nov 9th 2006 9:13PM]

"If MS managed to get these into stores, and implement a web browser and perhaps even Live Messenger into the 360 by this holiday season, say goodbye to the PS3."

That won't be a problem, since SCEI will allow PlayStation 3 users to download firmware updates on a regular basis to upgrade the system software.

[Jake B @ Nov 9th 2006 9:20PM]

Regardless of them thinking it doesnt need to be in a console I think microsoft is doing the right thing. If a customer wants something, they should produce it, and that is exactly what they want to do. At least they have enough balls to go against what they said if the customers want a browser.

[jon @ Nov 9th 2006 10:18PM]

Yeh, that is exactly what I was thinking. Microsoft has the money to not have make it perfect in the beginning but with the resources to listen to what we are saying and implement them.

[sinjinn @ Nov 10th 2006 4:23AM]

theyre not listening to the customer , theyre copying sony and nintendo. lol.

[riggs @ Nov 9th 2006 9:23PM]

"haha, they said that a browser didnt belong in a console when sony announced that the ps3 would have one...now that they are the only console without one they think the opposite? where are all the people gettin on MS for copying the other companies??"

HEAR HEAR!

i agree, where are the sony bashers at? suddenly it got all quiet.

[NeoteriX @ Nov 9th 2006 10:04PM]

How about a real sized keyboard for some FPS lovin' ?

[Paul @ Nov 9th 2006 11:21PM]

My group of friends and I constantly are debating this. When I was growing up my parents were not huge into the whole buying of a separate gaming system but we always had a semi-decent computer so I naturally like the a mouse-keyboard combination more than a gaming controller, I feel that you have more control and accuracy with a mouse than with a joystick, especially in FPS games.

I always say, if you give me a mouse+keyboard on my computer vs. them on an xbox with their controllers I would kick their butts, luckily, I dont have to prove it. :)

[Green_Ogre @ Nov 17th 2006 8:16AM]

You CAN use a keyboard you dummy. You ever try pluggin in a USB keyboard into the 360? You can easily use it to type stuff out.

[PS3FTL+10 @ Nov 9th 2006 10:50PM]

"haha, they said that a browser didnt belong in a console when sony announced that the ps3 would have one...now that they are the only console without one they think the opposite? where are all the people gettin on MS for copying the other companies??"

IT'S CALLED LISTENING TO THE WANTS/NEEDS OF CUSTOMERS!
SOMETHING SONY DOESN'T DO!

[Jico @ Nov 9th 2006 10:51PM]

Backlit buttons? I generally spend my time looking at the screen, not my contoller.

The rubber grips sound nice though.

[rawr @ Nov 9th 2006 11:03PM]

I would much rather be typing to people than talking, so the keyboard is a plus. I don't like talking to people I don't know. These addons sound pretty frickin sweet.

[Paul @ Nov 9th 2006 11:28PM]

I thought that at first to, but I was convinced for several reasons.

1. If you are playing a FPS as a member of a team and you need to coordinate an attack, or alert your teammates of an enemy, you don't have time to type it out on the keyboard. You cant just stop running, and start typing out some strategy, you will die.

2. If you keep watching the lower parts of the screen to see what other people are typing, you take your eyes off of the places were an enemy could pop up and shoot you before you can react. With a push to talk, you can keep your eyes on the battle and relay commands.

3. There are millions of people connected to the internet and the compression software distorts your voice slightly (usually) so I don't think there is any real danger of someone starting to stalk you because they tracked you down by your voice.

Despite these arguments for voice chat, I understand why people don't use it.

I use a headset when I do talk online, so I can hear what they say easily, however, this can make it look like you are talking to yourself and I feel that there is a general stigmatism associated with talking to strangers online that people frown upon, so if there are other people in the room with me, I tend to turn the voice chat off and just use the keyboard.

[Aaron @ Nov 10th 2006 12:03AM]

Wait, does the 360 not accept USB keyboards/mice? I haven't tried doing it yet, but it seems like it should. I would think keyboard support comes before iPod support.

I would like a bigger hard drive, as long as it's under $100. You can get a 250 GB hard drive for your PC for that much, so they better be good about the pricing on that.

Lastly... If you need a controller with backlit buttons, you're probably not good enough at video games to care enough to buy it in the first place. I guess they're just trying to make it flashy.

[dml @ Nov 13th 2006 5:01PM]

For what it is worth, Aaron, all of the keyboards I've tried with my XBox 360 work with no problems, including wireless (with USB dongles). I have no idea what this "mini-keyboard plug-in device" is, but it sounds like it has high profit margins.

[jarg @ Nov 10th 2006 10:55AM]

Here's an image that surfaced sometime last year: http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/231/xboxqwerty9vo.jpg

[matt @ Nov 10th 2006 2:35AM]

f**k M$. What use are these new perpherals on dead console?

http://forums.xbox.com/7864073/ShowPost.aspx

[Brad @ Nov 10th 2006 8:48AM]

Like Sony hasn't copied anything from anyone else? I'm sure Nintendo would beg to differ.

They all do to some extent to stay competitive.

[Nate @ Nov 10th 2006 9:09AM]

Everybody copies someone else!.. and because of it WE get better products in the end!

[Camperton @ Nov 10th 2006 9:22AM]

I hope the arcade joystick has an old school look.

[Giltronic @ Nov 10th 2006 10:26AM]

in the end, microsoft will dominate all and own the world.
i for one welcome our microsoft overlords.

[Aaron @ Nov 10th 2006 3:09PM]

I see, so it's just a peripheral for the controller. OK, that makes sense. Looks like it would replace the headset, though.

[Louis S. @ Nov 12th 2006 12:13AM]

"I see, so it's just a peripheral for the controller. OK, that makes sense. Looks like it would replace the headset, though."

That's where the Wireless headset comes in. ;P

From what I hear, the Wireless headset syncs directly to the 360 through radio waves and doesn't connect to the controller at all. That leaves the slot open for additional peripherals.

[Aaron @ Nov 12th 2006 1:58AM]

Ah, neato. Guess they've got it all covered then. I'm not sure I need a headset at all, though.... So far I haven't heard anyone on Xbox Live that's worth listening/talking to. Which is not to say there aren't any, but the majority of them seem to be drunk, stupid, or both.

[Aaron @ Nov 10th 2006 1:13AM]

Cool, that's good to know. I got a 360 just the other day and haven't explored everything it can do yet.

I don't know what the mini-keyboard thing is either, but I hope they don't start pretending you need their special keyboard to type on your 360. I'm guessing they won't exactly advertise the USB functionality when (or if) it comes out.