Gaming Signal: Is The 360 About To Take Off?

Is The 360 About To Take Off?

The Motley Fool has an interesting article covering the 360 and Microsoft's Live service. In it, they argue that Live is a cash cow in the making, and that Microsoft's decision to write-off $1 billion for extended warranties is a good thing. And all because the Live service allows MS to sell high margin software, also known as TV shows and movies.

Indeed, if you look at Live Marketplace now, as opposed to a year ago, it's amazing at how many new media related items there are. Now, that website really sucks as far as information goes. Going into LM via the 360 shows you the wide array of TV shows and Films for rent. Many of them have both standard def and high def versions available.

Which brings me to Tim's favorite whipping boy, the 100 MB upgrade drive for the 360. If you want to download the HD features, especially if you want to have a couple of them available, you simply must have a larger drive. So not only will MS charge you the rental fee, you also have to bend over for a new drive, which equals more money for MS.

I haven't personally rented any movies from XLM yet, mostly because I don't have the drive space. But if this service, which appears to be doing well, means MS is making money so they can continue to offer a wide array of programming, I'm all for it. I even think this version of VOD compares favorably to cable offerings, but I'd have to actually try one out to see how you control it. There will definitely be more on this later.

Has anyone rented a movie from the Marketplace? What was your experience? (Looks mostly at Trent)

Nay sir! I have not "ahem" (rented) a movie from XBL as of yet. Although I constantly eye-ball the Robot Chicken episodes available on XBL with wanton desire. I think I will get the DVD's instead as they are short enough to rip and put on my phone or something else mobile to view when I am ultimately bored somewhere.... like when I'm at lunch with you JP.

Robot Chicken is truly one of the best animated shows ever. They amazingly push the envelope of "risque'" every episode but still RC somehow passes broadcast censor with flying colors. PURE GENIUS!

Posted by tditto on Monday July 09, 2007 at 3:42 PM