Xbox Live

The Beginning of Xbox LIVE

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The Xbox Live initiative was started in 2002 as a way for owners of the Xbox console to compete against one another online. It was by far Microsoft’s most risky investment as the previous attempt to start an online gaming network by Sega’s Dreamcast system failed.[22] Microsoft though, saw the opportunity to succeed where Sega failed, because while Sega was the first sixth-generation console to implement such a system, it lacked many of the features required to make an online gaming network run smoothly. The main problem was the internet connection; Sega used a normal dial-up, but a high speed connector is needed to run such a high powered system efficiently, and the only one available at the time was a broadband connection that wasn’t used by the general public. Another main concern was the storage space needed to allow users to save their content downloaded off of Xbox Live. Sega didn’t have much storage space at all, but you need almost a full computer’s hard drive to be able to save everything. That’s why Microsoft’s Xbox had the storage space of a computer, plus it came with a built in Ethernet connection so users would be able to connect to broadband easily.[2] So in 2002 when the service was unleashed it was a semi-success, but unfortunately for Xbox, there weren’t many titles for its users to play. Xbox Live continued on though and it ended up being Microsoft’s most beneficial investment as it now contains over seventeen million members worldwide.[18]

"The New Xbox Experience"

Microsoft always intended for Xbox Live to become more than just an online gaming network, so with the release of the Xbox 360, Microsoft also unveiled an updated version of Xbox Live which included the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Marketplace is an area where Xbox Live members can buy and download new arcade games or updates for already existing 360 games. Microsoft’s most innovative idea by far though, was the change in the 360’s user interface, simply named “The New Xbox Experience”.[20] Released to the general public on November 18, 2008, via an update on Xbox Live, “The New Xbox Experience” was designed by Microsoft to help compete against the more original user interfaces used by Sony and Nintendo. The software update includes everything from a slick new start up page, to a user controlled avatar designed to represent the user throughout Xbox Live. Also due to a new contract with Netflix, users will be able to stream videos off of the marketplace and view them on their televisions.[5] Xbox Live is by far the most popular gaming network and has helped keep Microsoft’s Xbox console a major competitor to Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s PlayStation 3.[13]

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