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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Gilwen" data-source="post: 2270770" data-attributes="member: 1871">From what I have read and the interviews I have seen MS is definitely marketing everythign with xbox live in mind. I've read that all the 360 games must incoporate live and are strongly encouraged to provide downloadable content (that wasn't from microsoft adn I haven't been able to verify that one from a MS source). They are upgrading the Live network to include such things as spectator mode, online tournaments and other competitions, and a online marketplace that would be used for more than just downloading free content but exclusive content among other things that can be purchased.  Online gaming is growing and MS  is seeing this as an opportunity, as with any opportunity in business it'll be costly in the beginning but I htink that is outweighed by the fact that it is growing quickly and eventually it will be come as mainstream as modem play became for the PC, which incidentally had the same arguements of costing to much and couldn't get the full benefit of the game with out an ISP and more hardware, now that isn't even given a second thought. I personally like playing online, it is much better than playing againist the compter and I usually don't even consider a game unless it can be played online. With these new consoles I can see more hardcore PC gamers coming over especially if the consoles will support KB and mouse. I think MS's will have success because the time to grab an opportunity is in the beginning not after everyone and his brother is doing it. MS is setting up XBL to be THE online gaming experience and so far they have done that IMO and will continue to do so. If sony keeps letting XBL dominate that market they'll find that the barriers to entry have grown and it'll cost just that much more money to get into it, niche or not online gamers probably tend to have more disposable cash (using everyones arguement that it costs alot to get the equipment and services that are required), companies are always wanting to get more of the cash sent their way so it makes sense for them to invest in online gaming. For example from <a href="http://www6.tomshardware.com/game/20021214/" target="_blank">Tom's Hardware</a> "Microsoft had obtained 150,000 users in the first week that played 5,000,000 games that first week, and logged over 1,000,000 hours of game play within the first week as well."150,000 users is nothing to laugh at especially in the first week and in the short time that the service has been available it has grown to over 1 million subscribers, in the grand scheme of things it is a niche but a big niche with disposable cash available.Gil</blockquote>

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