Xbox 360 Game News, Reviews, and Columns - XboxFocus

Five Features Xbox Live Needs

by Steve Wysowski March 23rd 2008 10:09 PM CDT13 Comments

For me, Xbox LIVE was the sole reason to purchase an Xbox 360 in November of 2005. As launch swiftly approached, my ambivalence towards Microsoft's new, creamy system wasn't finding any answers. I wasn't too interested in the launch games the system was releasing with, and I wasn't too faithful to the original Xbox at all (nor did I own one at the time). However, when I saw all the features that the 360's new online service was expected to boast, I was convinced.

Two and a quarter years later, I can easily say I made a good investment. I have spent a good thousand hours with my 360 (yeah, an RROD is on its way no doubt), and I have never spent as much time on any other system as I have with my  box. While the Xbox 360 has been awesome, and the games have been great, it is Microsoft's LIVE service that has kept me playing for so long. Xbox LIVE is truly Microsoft's air and water, and without it I doubt the Xbox brand would be half of what it is. It was my original reasoning for purchasing the system, and it has paid off in every way possible.

While Xbox LIVE is far and beyond a better service than its competitors, there are still some problems that can be fixed and some additions that can be added to put LIVE in a separate universe (although its annual fee would probably pull it back in anyway). So, I have listed the top five additions I believe Microsoft should consider to add to Xbox LIVE when its spring update rolls around.

5. More Friends For Those Who Have Them

One-hundred people isn't much in a network of millions. Anyone could comprehend ythat, but why hasn't Microsoft? I have been constantly adding and deleting friends for my list is always peaking, and it hurts when I have to part ways with one of the buddies I have connected with. A simple upgrade that would double the current number would be acceptable, but why stop there? Three-hundred or four-hundred would be perfect, especially for those who have hefty friends lists like me.

4. Conference Chats

As of right now, Xbox LIVE only permits you to talk to one person at a time. The system in place works fine, as usage is rather simple and effective. But still, there have been times when I have wanted to talk to two people at the same time, yet can't because the system doesn't allow me. It would be a simple service, something along the lines of a lobby chat that you'd see in any particular game. Since many would want this to be used while playing a game also, the service would have to be executed in the side-menu screen as well as through the dashboard. Not exactly a huge mind-blowing addition, but it would definitely make a difference in how you communicate with your friends over the service.

3. Clan System

Gaming clans (like mine) despise being required to use outer sources to rank themselves against other professional teams. Sites like GameBattles, MLGonline, and GotFrag are all excellent fill-ins, but the hassle of having to go onto the internet to organize your clan's inner features, as well as having to find matches is an enormous pain. All of this could be omitted if a simple, intuitive system was in place on Xbox LIVE, but none has been seen as of yet. The service would be for all clans as well, whether it be a single or multi-game team.

You could have a reporting system, leaderboards, challenge creator, match finder, and a simple team creating system all on the dashboard and accessible through the side-menu. While many of these features would have to be executed well by developers in order to work, it would break down the walls that have been holding developers back from creating a fully-fledged clan system.

2. Internet Browser & E-Mail Service

Certainly one of choices I desire the most, an internet browser and E-Mail service would make life less arduous for gamers. We have been clammoring for some form of a basic internet service for quite some time now. The fact that Nintendo Wii owners have a pretty decent one despite all of the Wii's online shortcomings is a shot in the face to all those who own gold memberships. It's not as if we're calling on Microsoft for a large task, as the prepared Internet Explorer 7 is perfectly suitable for all that we are asking.

However, if Microsoft were to release a version of IE on Xbox LIVE, it better be perfect. Anything less than standard-speed load times, fast image loading, and full JAVA and Flash support would be a disapointment. Also, since many would like to use the browser while playing a game it would have to be accessible through the side-menu as well as through the dashboard.

As for an in-house E-Mail service, something fully integrated with Xbox LIVE would be preferred. I'd like to be able to receive and send E-Mails without any charge either on an pre-created address, but an Xbox.com name would be fine if necessary. The latter wouldn't be as much of an annoyance mainly because an excellent E-Mail service would make up for it. Seems like less of a shoe-in than a decent browser, but there is no reason not to think that the company who owns Hotmail.com, the world's most popular E-Mail service, couldn't pull it off.

1. A Better Social Networking Service

Last November, Microsoft tried to jump into the whole social networking craze with the most effortless update to hit Xbox LIVE to date. The new banner, bio, and "view friends" additions served little purpose, and in effect caused inconvienient spikes of lag on the menu screen and dashboard. It was interesting to see Microsoft give the social networking a go, but the attempt really was a failure on all fronts.

But I'm suggesting Microsofts throw all the stops out this time. I'm looking for an LIVE- integrated service similar to that of Facebook and MySpace. Here, gamers can comment on and showcase all of their recent achievements, update a scrolling blog, upload photos and videos (whether it be of themselves or montages), organize tournaments, keep a calendar, and anything else Microsoft deems fit for such an inclusion.

Xbox LIVE is about meeting and playing with people, and what better way with others than that.