Filed under: Fun, Games, Internet, Web services, Microsoft, P2P
Microsoft integrating Instant Messaging on Xbox
First instant messaging distracted us from our day to day work, now it's set to distract our gaming life too.Microsoft has announced that they will be integrating Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 consoles. This new addition allows users to chat straight from their televisions using Messenger.
How will users type though? Well, Microsoft has developed a virtual keyboard on the Xbox 360 where users scroll through letters, or users can always plug in a USB keyboard to consoles. Microsoft will also be launching a QWERTY text input device that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller that supports text and instant messaging as well.
Do DLS readers think Instant Messaging is a good addition to the Xbox? Or is it just another potentially distracting 'feature'?
[via TechCrunch]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
spencer.r said 9:23PM on 4-09-2007
Depends... can it do group chats? Hehe. Or PROPER voice chats? if so, it's a 100% improvement. Especially if it can be done along side other more time consuming/non gaming tasks (like downloading demos or handling account information updating/ point payments... if they set it up to supplement/ improve upon the existing message system the Live service is a big step forward
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Acer589 said 9:42PM on 4-09-2007
As long as it is possible to automatically disable them when you are playing a game, or the come up with an unobtrusive way to in form you of a message (ring of light). I think it is a great feature.
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Shoaib said 11:37PM on 4-09-2007
Sony needs to get AIM compatibility with the PS3.
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Pixelantes Anonymous said 10:15AM on 4-10-2007
I'm with 2 on the disabling. I don't want IM popups during gameplay.
My other problem with this is that Microsoft seems to want to replace the friends list on XBL with the Messenger buddy list. That's fine in itself, because the two really are quite similar, but the problem is that I think Microsoft will leave it at that. The friends list in XBL is one of the most lacking features on the system. No grouping or tagging, limited to 100 users (reported to go up to 700 with the new system), and has no social networking features that would really make it a lot better. I just think Microsoft is going to a completely wrong direction here.
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