Category: Gaming

Xbox 360 vs. Apple TV: an overlooked battlefront?

Posted on by admin


Crave, C|Net’s Gadget Blog, has posted a lengthy article about the often overlooked battle (if you can call it that) between the Xbox 360 and the Apple TV. They mention the install base (around 18 million 360’s compared to less than two million AppleTV’s), but they are claiming that the Xbox Live Video Marketplace is essentially untapped.

I would disagree, as Microsoft sees respectable sales, rivaling the likes of NetFlix and other on demand services. The article goes on to say that …”most of the future Xbox 360 owners are looking for something more than gaming and Microsoft is the only company that can provide it.” Not to shine a light on the competition, but I’m pretty sure Sony has gotten a good chunk of sales with the Playstation 3 since the definitive victory of BluRay! Why the article seems to ignore the fact that, while it may not have an on demand video service (yet), the BluRay feature is a driving force behind making the PS3 quite the home-entertainment choice.

So, even I say the article is a bit spotty – but it’s a good read and brings up some valid arguments about the future for the service.

UPDATE 1: As an additional side note, for our Mac owners out there, a new piece of software called Rivet promises to stream Mac video, music, and photos to the Xbox 360. Though it does carry an $18.95 price tag, there is a trial version for everyone to check out. Let’s hope Microsoft doesn’t get touchy and decide to block it’s functionality, some way, in a future dashboard update!

Better Know a Gamer: Issue #9: CardJoker

Posted on by admin

Nu: What’s your Gamertag, and what’s the story behind it?
My gamertag is CardJoker. The story behind it is that when I was younger, 9 or so, I thought of it and used it on my first ever online game. Since then, I have used it as my handle for everything gaming related. Best thing is, it doesn’t include any numbers or the famous x’s people like to use.

Nu: I’m always proud, too, to not have to clutter my gamertag with numbers and letters! Where are you from?
I’m from a small bordertown in Illinois called Antioch. It borders Wisconsin.

Nu: How old are you, and what do you do (school, job, family, hobbies)?
I’m 16 and am a student at my local highschool. Computers are a great hobby for me. I built my computer and upgrade it every so often when I have the money. Of course a 360 is a lot cheaper to upkeep.

Nu: My PC gaming days are pretty far behind me now. How long have you been gaming in general?
I’ve been gaming since I was way little. Infact, I taught myself to read because I couldnt read anything when I played games.

Nu: I’ve heard the same thing from non-English speakers/readers, learning the language so they could game! How long have you been a 360 owner?
I’ve been a 360 owner since it’s release.

Nu: What was one of your favorite Xbox / Xbox Live moments?
Playing Rainbow six: Vegas with a couple buddies from the internet.

Nu: Which Xbox 360 Achievement are you most proud of?
All of my Dead Rising achievements, mainly because they were, in my opinion, the toughest for me.

Nu: Are you currently working toward any achievements?
Nope, just waiting for that GTA IV.

Nu: What game(s) are you playing the most now?
Call of Duty 4 really, as that’s the only thing that really keeps me occupied. That, and Dead Rising. (Yes I’m a fanboy for Dead Rising go away.)

Nu: What’s playing now (what music do you listen to when away from your Xbox or when listening to music ON your Xbox)?
Has to be The Clash. When I’ve got the Guns of Brixton or London Calling playing, I feel the best.

Nu: You’re 16 you listen to The Clash? You shall rock for life. Do you try to stick with one Gamerpic, or change it frequently?
I stick to my Troll gamerpic, the one you get from some achievement in Shadowrun.

Nu: What is your current favorite Xbox related website to visit?
Any I can find, I love all the info.

Nu: What game are you looking most forward to in 2008?
Grand Theft Auto IV

Nu: Do you have an all time favorite game, for any console or the PC?
Dawn of War, has to be it.

Nu: Do you have any gaming buddies you frequently play with / want to make almost as famous as you?
Too many to list, though I’ve really only been playing with a friend, Lord Tydeus, for awhile now.

Nu: Any parting words for the droves of readers?
Stop playing the techno. Please people.

2008: Family fun, girl gamers, IPTV, and more!

Posted on by admin

While it was reported yesterday that video game sales in Japan are expected to peak this year, and fall over the next two to three years. Meanwhile, in the states, even the Christian Science Monitor admits that gaming is still tapping into new (see: female) audiences. So much so that the powers that be over at C|Net’s news.com have determined 2008 to be the year of gaming, and companies like Sigma Designs have started partnering with our beloved Microsoft to work on the ability to provide 16 simultaneous streaming video channels to a “set top box” – potentially even the Xbox 360. The pull the gaming industry has on other industries is growing, as the whole video game “fad” becomes more of a cornerstone of American living. Take that, Fox News.