Xbox 360 used more for video/music apps than for gaming

[CeeKay]

http://gamasutra.com/view/news/167350/Consumers_using_Xbox_Live_for_media_more_t%20han_gaming.php

Households are spending an increasing amount of time with the Xbox 360's online platform -- and they spend more than half of their time watching videos and listening to music, instead of playing games.

The popularity of Xbox Live's entertainment offerings is evidence that Microsoft's "trojan horse" strategy for its Xbox 360, which aims to set up the gaming system as a digital media hub installed in people's living rooms, is working.

"What we're seeing is that people are turning on the Xbox to play games and then keeping it on afterwards to get other types of entertainment," said Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Division SVP Yusuf Mehdi, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Consumers spend an average of 84 hours a month on Xbox Live playing online games, and checking out videos and music -- 30 percent more than they spent a year ago. For comparison, households spend about 150 hours a month watching TV on average.

personally I find myself spending more time on Netflix than 360 games too.  of course that's more gaming time than my other consoles combined; my PC is my gaming workhorse nowadays.

[Calavera]

http://gamasutra.com/view/news/167350/Consumers_using_Xbox_Live_for_media_more_t%20han_gaming.php

Households are spending an increasing amount of time with the Xbox 360's online platform -- and they spend more than half of their time watching videos and listening to music, instead of playing games.

The popularity of Xbox Live's entertainment offerings is evidence that Microsoft's "trojan horse" strategy for its Xbox 360, which aims to set up the gaming system as a digital media hub installed in people's living rooms, is working.

"What we're seeing is that people are turning on the Xbox to play games and then keeping it on afterwards to get other types of entertainment," said Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Division SVP Yusuf Mehdi, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Consumers spend an average of 84 hours a month on Xbox Live playing online games, and checking out videos and music -- 30 percent more than they spent a year ago. For comparison, households spend about 150 hours a month watching TV on average.

personally I find myself spending more time on Netflix than 360 games too.  of course that's more gaming time than my other consoles combined; my PC is my gaming workhorse nowadays.

With this is mind, why in their right mind would MS push for a new console? It just doesn't make any sense, the 360 is still selling well in the US. Games on it still look good. I understand that the gaming press expects them to because it's been longer then 5 years since the 360 was introduced, but I'm not seeing a real demand for a new console outside of the gaming press and "hardcore" gamers...

[corruptrelic]

MS just recently announced there were no plans for a new Xbox anytime soon so not sure who's pushing for it.

As for the article I'm the opposite I use my 360 exclusively for singleplayer gaming, see no point of paying for Live just to use netflix when I can do it for free on my PS3, PC, or even Android phone.

[CeeKay]

With this is mind, why in their right mind would MS push for a new console? It just doesn't make any sense, the 360 is still selling well in the US. Games on it still look good. I understand that the gaming press expects them to because it's been longer then 5 years since the 360 was introduced, but I'm not seeing a real demand for a new console outside of the gaming press and "hardcore" gamers...

if they are pushing for a new console it's probably so they're not the last out of the gate in the next generation, which, for better or worse, Nintendo is kicking it off this fall.

[Bullwinkle]

MS just recently announced there were no plans for a new Xbox anytime soon so not sure who's pushing for it.

As for the article I'm the opposite I use my 360 exclusively for singleplayer gaming, see no point of paying for Live just to use netflix when I can do it for free on my PS3, PC, or even Android phone.

I didn't know you needed Gold for Netflix.  That's stupid.

It works better on the PS3 anyway.  I use my PS3 more for video watching than gaming at this point, I'll admit.

[Chaz]

See, I keep seeing lipsync problems when using Netflix on the PS3.  I'm going to try and experiment and kill my gold subscription at the end of April, and see if I can deal with Netflix on the PS3, but might wind up going back to the 360 for it.  I'll also miss being able to use voice commands to pause videos.  I've become strangely attached to it.

I definitely use my consoles more for media than games, but lately, I barely play any games on any systems.

[Bullwinkle]

The voice sync thing does happen, I've noticed.  It usually fixes with an exit and restart, but it's annoying when it happens, for sure.

[El-Producto]

I think it's absolutely rediculous that you require a Gold sub for Netflix.

We cancelled cable, and do a lot of Netflix watching.  I have it running on 3 TV's, with PS3, Wii and 360.

I don't do anything on the 360 that requires Gold, other than Netflix.
When this 360 dies, I will be replacing it with a PS3.. a much more user friendly media streamer.

[Calavera]

I think it's absolutely rediculous that you require a Gold sub for Netflix.

We cancelled cable, and do a lot of Netflix watching.  I have it running on 3 TV's, with PS3, Wii and 360.

I don't do anything on the 360 that requires Gold, other than Netflix.
When this 360 dies, I will be replacing it with a PS3.. a much more user friendly media streamer.

I'm surprised that this comes up every time the 360 as a media box comes up. There are some costs that MS has to bear to provide the Netflix App. More importantly, it gets a lot of people to buy Gold Subs (yeah, it's the real reason).

Might I suggest a Roku box? It's $50 for a 720p box and it does DD5.1 (no point in 1080p anyway, Netflix doesn't stream it for almost everything). No annual Gold sub required. Works quite well and if you pair it with an Amazon Prime membership you can even avoid the $9/mo to Netflix.

[El-Producto]

Why then can Sony and Nintendo provide the app free of charge?

Yeah, I might look into a Roku or other streaming box as well.

[Calavera]

Why then can Sony and Nintendo provide the app free of charge?

Yeah, I might look into a Roku or other streaming box as well.

It's really just to move Gold subs now. It's a desirable feature, they're bundling it with something people might not otherwise buy. People complain, but buy it anyway. It at least made some sense when they had the party feature because it was using MS's servers for VoIP/"matchmaking". Now that it's been removed, it doesn't make as much sense.

[El-Producto]

Anyway, it's not a huge deal.

I just buy codes for 30 bucks from people at CAG.

Still beats the hell out of paying for cable.

[ras752000]

The voice sync thing does happen, I've noticed.  It usually fixes with an exit and restart, but it's annoying when it happens, for sure.

Happens to me too like once per episode.  Usually I just back it up a few frames (d-pad left 2 or 3 times; enough to make it re-buffer) then I'm good for the rest of the show.

[Jumangi]

This is comparing online gaming to other services, not all gaming on the 360.

Sent from Tapatalk

[Purge]

This is comparing online gaming to other services, not all gaming on the 360.

Sent from Tapatalk

Agreed. They're talking about gold subscribers actually using more than just the online games.

I don't know if that speaks volumes about the other services, or the disgust at the human chaff that can be found in public games online (as opposed to on the couch with you).

[TiLT]

if they are pushing for a new console it's probably so they're not the last out of the gate in the next generation, which, for better or worse, Nintendo is kicking it off this fall.

Nintendo isn't kicking off the next generation with the Wii U, if that's what you're referring to. They're finally catching up with the current generation. When the real next generation shows up, the Wii U will look horribly outdated.

[Calavera]

if they are pushing for a new console it's probably so they're not the last out of the gate in the next generation, which, for better or worse, Nintendo is kicking it off this fall.

Nintendo isn't kicking off the next generation with the Wii U, if that's what you're referring to. They're finally catching up with the current generation. When the real next generation shows up, the Wii U will look horribly outdated.

I think Nintendo has pretty much confirmed that they aren't doing the spec-race any more. They're just trying to do interesting control schemes instead.