Microsoft acknowledges the mobile Xbox question, Live Anywhere due for a comeback?
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted July 21st 2009 3:43PM
posted July 21st 2009 3:43PM
In an interview with Kikizo, Microsoft VP Shane Kim talks briefly about Xbox Live and the possibility of moving it into the handheld game space -- which could definitely / maybe / someday happen, as the company seems to understand the importance of mobile media for its users. While hard at work trying to devise a mobile device strategy, however, its apparently decided that its resources are best spent developing home hardware and "more inviting and innovative experiences for a broader audience, things like 1 Vs. 100, Joy Ride, Beatles Rock Band," not to mention social media and streaming 1080p HD, all of which "combine to broaden the brand perception" of the platform. Also dropped in the interview were hints at plans for "a service in Live that will extend to other platforms," which sounds an awful lot like Live Anywhere, doesn't it? Check out that read link for the whole megillah, and for the time being: if you really need an Xbox portable, give us a call. We know a guy.
[Via Yahoo]
[Via Yahoo]
Ooooohhh! Tiny Ben Heck toys! Recession antidote!
If Microsoft ever wants to move into the handheld arena, they'd be stupid not to hire Ben Heck. The guy is a genius.
2010 Microsoft: "Obama says: it's time to put down the Xbox, and pick up the ZuNatal MobileHD Xbox 7. Phone."
WTF engadget? I submitted this story yesterday afternoon to you guys with the exclusive link to the site it was discovered and credit goes to Yahoo? Seriously, PC World had this news long before Yahoo! had it.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/168718/microsoft_portable_xbox_device_is_coming.html
You know that guy probably knows something about the Zune that he isn't saying. Must be hard for those guys to know all these little details and not being able to say anything.
I don't want Microsoft trying to squeeze a gaming system into the Zune UNLESS they learn from Sony's failures and give us a device like the PSP with Internet Explorer and DUAL ANALOG STICKS so we can play proper 3D games.
The games don't have to be super spectacular, they just have to have good control and their own access to XBOX Live.
Considering how crappy the PSP is as a gaming device, Microsoft only has to improve on its design to have a winner. In fact, since most people already recognize that XBOX is better than PS3, Microsoft could call their portable ANYTHING (Xbox Roam) and IT WOULD SELL LIKE HOTCAKES.
Halo Roam, Rainbow 6 Vegas Roam, Call of Duty Modern Roam, etc.
I could make billions off their brand equity.
Yeah, for a crappy gaming device, the PSP has gone pretty good with 50 million sales wouldn't you say?
Quant,
"Considering how crappy the PSP is as a gaming device, Microsoft only has to improve on its design to have a winner."
Are you serious? Have you even picked up a PSP? That screen is gorgeous. The DS Lite looks like a toy next to the PSP. Sure more games, touch...blah blah blah...you still ain't playing Street Fighter on the DS Lite. PSP is a good device, just hobbled some by the UMD, which Sony is just about to ditch.
As far as XBL in a portable format? So are we talking another $50 a year? Is there a discount if you already subscribe? If Microsoft does it, it's going to be something along the lines of the iPod Touch with App Store, like Sony is now moving towards.
There really hasn't been a NEW contender in this space for some time outside the iPod Touch. The time is right for some new hardware. PSP2.0, New iPod Touch, XBOX mobile. DSi, doesn't seem like a good enough upgrade. Although it's selling well.
Nerdy Desi
PSP sells based on hype, but, I find it funny that the Nintendo DS remains the system of choice for gamers. You know why? CAUSE THE PSP's CONTROL SUCKS. PERIOD. How the FK did you go from 2 analog sticks 2 one and expect to play a 3D game still?
You ever play a FPS on PSP? IT SUCKS.
XCRUNK
As far as a portable XBOX LIVE, I don't believe MS would actually need to make people pay more than the $50 they are already paying. Many Xbox Owners don't even have Xbox Live. As I see it, the current $50 for the service could transfer to whatever Xbox Live device you have and an XBL portable could have Ad Hoc Lan play just like DS.
Did you really call the iPod Touch a contender? Its not. I own an iPhone and I clearly see that the only multiplayer games its getting are MMORPG's like iMob and iKnights and all the other clones of those games. iPod Touch doesn't even have a control system for serious gaming.
The PSP as a device is just fine. The problem's with the countless numbers of people developing an endless number of ways to pirate the hell out of the system so that only the most famous of new releases even get a chance at cracking the NPD charts.
A MS portable would inevitably get cracked soon after its release; wonder how well Live Gold will fare on the portable front to keep users from going astray.
Muu, you really think the flaw with the PSP is the cracking issue? Really? You know that most people that buy these devices don't read forums full of methods to crack things don't you? The PSP has a few problems that hurt the market appeal - the price, the controls and the UMD are the biggies that pushed people away.
"PSP sells on hype"
wow. yeah you shouldnt post anymore.
Internet explorer??? PFFF..
So, I've got my Sega Game Gear in one hand (bought in 1991) and my PSP in the other (bought in 2006) and I can't help but think something has gone wrong with portable gaming. You've got to be kidding me that 15yrs later this is where we are with portable gaming, think of the computers that were available in 1991 compared to computers today. Portable gaming is suffering from something I can't understand. I guess consumers have been geared to expect little from their portable devices. Nintendo and Sony both are looking to push units to stupid parents over the Holidays more than anything with these devices. Xbox Portable or whatever has the opportunity to be a game changer if done right but I don't expect that if it happens it will. Maybe if MS hires Sega and they dust off the old hardware department over there to get some R&D going, then we might be onto something...
Can someone tell Sony to drop the whole "shapes" thing on their controllers? Being different is great but being different and really being the same is just annoying... everyone loves buttons named A, B, C, X, Y, Z, L, R so why change a good thing?
What the hell happened to that Xbox Game Integration with the Zune HD? It was supposed to be shown at E3. Yet we saw nothing. And why not just bring Live Anywhere to the Zune HD as an App?
Maybe they will, we don't know much of anything about the HD.
Not even a damn release date. I want one now! :(
He said: "the whole migillah" lol
Hey MS, see all the great games on the iPhone? How about some Live integration? (I know, I know, but crazier things HAVE happened)
Whose hand is that?
Pretty funny photoshop.
i'd like to see them make a portable gaming device like the PSP (as opposed to a service for windows mobile or zune). it's probably not the best idea for them now as they said, so i know i'd be waiting a while.
This should have been the direction instead of the Zune. I actually thought they would have done this years ago riding the whole Halo success wave with maybe a Halo for mobile. Seems like its more money to make in the portable gaming space than the standalone PMP market.
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG
Microsoft branded XPhone with Zune and Xbox convergence features
YEAY!!
More amazing ways to increase your ability to own areas where they can place Adverts!!!
When you look at the spec's of the zune hd i think they could really make that an xbox mobile device
psp only has a 300 mhz clock!
when you look at phone's now. they are running higher than that!
I Think they could!
Microsoft should make an add-on for the Zune HD that will have good gaming controls (like a toggle, XYAB buttons, etc.) and hopefully won't be too large. Add games to the Marketplace on the device, and the Zune HD will also serve as a great way for Xbox Live Anywhere to exist.
Windows Mobile 7 should also support Xbox Live Anywhere with a better framework. Xbox Live Anywhere can then work well on a cellphone.
Come on Microsoft, you can do this.
Hey that image looks familiar!...
That's OK though, my Bill Paxton Pinball machine will take a dump all over every project I've ever made, you just wait!
Bill Paxton is the Man!!! I can't wait.