Don’t get me wrong, I love my XBOX 360.
It’s the best video console I’ve ever owned (and I’ve owned them all). The games are amazing, the Media Center integration is awesome. XBOX Live and XBOX Live Arcade are great value-added services. Even the hardware design is the best I’ve seen from a console.
So why is it a failure? I will tell you many reasons and they some are a product of Microsoft’s recent failures to embrace trends with agility and some are a product of Microsoft’s old-school mentality of producing hardware and software. The XBOX failed in three key areas:
Failure to create an open platform for third party (software) developers
I like to start with this because this annoys me greatly, especially as a developer. As you may or may not know, the XBOX 360 comes with what Microsoft calls a Dashboard. The dashboard is essentially a GUI for the XBOX 360 operating system. The dashboard performs essentially the same as Windows Media Center.
The dashboard is great as it allows me to connect to XBOX LIve, send messages, download games/demos, connect to my iPOD and Media Center, etc, etc. The drawback is the fact that I cannot build an application to run on the dashboard. I could create an RSS Reader to pull XBOX 360 news. I could build a plugin for last.fm. I could build a plugin to upload photos to flickr. The list is huge.
I honestly do not understand why Microsoft did this. As many software companies have proven – creating a platform for third party developers creates value for the community. Think of all the cool apps that would have already been created for the dashboard.
Failure to embrace the web
My XBOX 360 is connected to my home network giving me the ability to stream video and music from my servers. Awesome! But, there is no web browser. Imagine an open platform (above) with connectivity to the web. Think of all the value-added applications that could be created with the marriage of the web and an open platform for any developers. XBOX 360 users could download your plugin from a website and install it immediately (think of extensions for Firefox except on your XBOX).
The device is connected to the internet and I should be able to use the internet in the same manner as I do on my laptop. Why limit the use of your hardware? It’d be like an iPOD that only plays your MP3′s but cannot play podcasts. I want to IM, watch YouTube, check email, read RSS, and listen to the news in my living room, on my XBOX, over the internet.
And guess what happens when TV over IP gets popular? You already have the hardware in your living room.
Failure to embrace social networking trends
I think this is one of Microsoft’s biggest failures, especially with the current valuation and participation levels of social networks. Microsoft essentially has a cornered market of video game enthusiasts and failed to implement a way for these users (outside of the XBOX) to interact with each other. We’re all connected. We all have our gamertags and what not. Why not wrap a social network around it? It’s a large untapped resource that not only can be monetized – but has proven its ability to create value to large communities of people.
But hey, the games are fun!
technorati tags:xbox, video games, microsoft, social network, web, xbox 360
Related posts:
- Netflix HD Streaming on Xbox 360 = WOW Earlier this week it was announced that Netflix streaming would...
- Microsoft and the War for Your Living Room Why will Microsoft beat Apple to the living room? Windows...
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
You call this “An Article”? :D
Sony Fan – It’s my analysis. Call it what you want.
I completely agree with you. I think Microsoft limited the new 360 alot. Granted, I’m not a programmer or anything, but I would love to get other applications for my 360 to use more with my PC, and the internet.
Hmm…You’ve just described exactly what a modded XBOX does, so I doubt they would go that way.
yer i have to agree with you but if you think about it. what happened to the last xbox. if modded it was completely sweet but the thing is people exploited it for pirated games. the old xbox dashboard was crap and so is tho other one compared with the modded xbox dashboards. microsoft really need to see what an old modded xbox could do and implement it in. with the exception of pirated games.
dude you are truly whack
yes, lets leave the door wide open for people who love to exploit games.
360 may get a web browser in the future via update by microsoft
As far as the old modded xbox(s) go – there’s a new dashboard that copies the 360′s blades and acts in a sense as a media center extender. I may look into these.
Yes, the 360 could do a browser update but they need to support a keyboard first.
Also, with the new XNA development kit – it could lead to software development rather than game development. I will be looking into that for sure.
i completly agree, this is the reason why sony’s playstation is still beating microsoft’s xbox. I like both but, it would be a lot better you could browse the internet.
It has more applications than any othe console. Your reasons are not only false, but if true, arent’ even good reasons of failure.
I agree with Andy. More wiki’s that exploits every datafeeds from gamertags would be cool. The whole web2.0 mash-up.
Hey.
Yeah i agree with you. I think Microsoft should, for once, be a bit rational with decisions, instead of acting like one of its own programmes and being systematical with every choice made. They should do what Radiohead did with there new album, and embrace trends at the moment, instead of shooting themselves in the foot by caging and limiting the 360′s massive potential!
FTR: Radiohead allowed downloaders to choose how much they wanted to pay for the album. Genius i think..
Heh,
i agree, i was after a PS3 untill i summed it up, the ps3, was expensive, noone i knew had one, didnt integrate with my network, and the only reason i wanted one really, was because i could put linux on it? and just buy an xbox, all the games come out for the xbox just the same, there cheaper as there not bluray, and as for the developing your own applications for the xbox, ive heard over at torrent spy theyve made thier own firmware for the Xbox 360 disc drive, so you can play copies?… who KNOWS that this could lead too :D
UPDATE: The 360 Does have a browser :D !
heres where you ccan get it!
http://www.gamersreports.com/news/1293/browse-the-internet-on-your-xbox360/
Thank me later ¬_¬
Sorry mate, I disagree with you. Xbox is not that bad :p
I’m not saying the XBox bad – it just failed in some aspects
xbox needs free browser and messenger. Without them definitely will stay behind consol war with ps3 in 2009. Completly agree with Andy Brudtkuhl, thanks for the article.
@need browser I agree 100% – this would be HUGE