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Microsoft creating a virtual world?

Published on 12th October 2007 by Joe Martin

Could Xbox Live be getting a virtual world similar to Home on the PS3?

Apparently there was a Virtual Worlds Conference lately (which we weren't invited to, hmph) and Microsoft sent along Daniel Schiappa to represent them. For those not in the know, Dan is the General Manager of Entertainment Devices for Microsoft and his domain extends over both the Xbox 360 and the Zune.

Obviously, speculation was immediately rampant about why he was there at all and Austin360 took it upon themselves to get some answers.

Dan was originally cagey about why he was there and said that he couldn't say anything about anything until next year, but he eventually caved under pressure and talked about whether it was too late for Microsoft to try and bring a virtual world to the Xbox 360.

"Timing is definitely a concern...But I think we've got a good understanding now of the landscape, we have a strategic plan in mind ... if a year from now we don't have anything, then we probably won't have anything."

Hmm, great - that's cleared everything up nicely.

Speculation is still rife about what Microsoft could be thinking. Second Life on the Zune? A Home-alike on the Xbox 360? It's most likely going to be one of the two.

Would you buy-in to such a product or not? Let us know what you think in the forums!

26 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

cjoyce1980 12th October 2007, 11:47

please no.......! for the love of god shot yourself before you do something silly

AcidJiles 12th October 2007, 11:59

never like ps3 home idea am no more enthralled at the thought of ms doing the same.

Jamie 12th October 2007, 12:06

Seems like a waste of time to me.

mikeuk2004 12th October 2007, 12:15

I still dont get second life or home. I can see it be fun and interesting for kids, but not for me. Id rather play a game with missions and quests than run around a 3d world with kids running around naked because its cool to have no clothes on your AV going WTF?? all the time.

Zut 12th October 2007, 12:32

Dear god NO! Where the f*ck does all this hype over 'virtual worlds' come from? Second Life is the most boring and pointless 'game' I have ever witnessed.

Kufwit 12th October 2007, 13:10

We are losing enough personal contact with email/text ytype things anyway. Games like these are only generating a world full of people living robotic lives. For the good of humanity go out to the pub instead :)

kosch 12th October 2007, 13:15

oh dear =(

Darkedge 12th October 2007, 14:57

at least if they are doing it it's based on a very good backend and working infrastructure unlike Sony's

MilkMan5 12th October 2007, 15:21

Not my type of game, but obviously this type of “gaming” is in demand, otherwise Sony or MS would not bother with it.

Then again, MS feels Sony screwed up with the whole “home” things.
So now, here comes competition and I’m sure MS is loving it.

Javerh 12th October 2007, 16:11

World of Halo, anyone?

talladega 12th October 2007, 17:19

how has sony screwed up their home when its not out? i dont think having this home thing is that great and i probly wont use it but there will be many people who do. it is sort of neat how its going to be done but i dont care about it. just dont see how you can say they screwed it up and how its not on a good backend and working infrastructure. how do get that?

devdevil85 12th October 2007, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkedge
at least if they are doing it it's based on a very good backend and working infrastructure unlike Sony's

wow....talking before it's even out........and where is the evidence (I'm not talking personal experience) to backup this comment?

themax 12th October 2007, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkedge
at least if they are doing it it's based on a very good backend and working infrastructure unlike Sony's

And you know this how? Because the PSN isn't up to par with Live Home's infrastructure and backend are bad? How? Explain that to me.

Dvs98SK 12th October 2007, 18:22

I think it could be interesting at the least. I agree with most here though in that it isn't really my thing. I think Microsoft could pull it off better than Sony ever could though.

devdevil85 12th October 2007, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dvs98SK
I think it could be interesting at the least. I agree with most here though in that it isn't really my thing. I think Microsoft could pull it off better than Sony ever could though.

From what I've seen of Home so far I do not know what MS could pull off that would make their service any better/more innovative? They would probably make users pay extra to have access to spaces/places (i.e. demos/premium content) that will come free with the PS3....considering XBL's structure....

Dvs98SK 12th October 2007, 19:11

I doubt they would make you pay extra IMO. That would be a dumb move. It really doesn't matter though i wouldn't really mess with it. I tried Second Life and other games like that and i'm not really a fan.

devdevil85 12th October 2007, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dvs98SK
I doubt they would make you pay extra IMO. That would be a dumb move. It really doesn't matter though i wouldn't really mess with it. I tried Second Life and other games like that and i'm not really a fan.

Why do you and a lot of other people keep comparing Home to Second Life? Second Life is a game that people have paid $ for and play for the sole purpose of talking and being social over the internet....Home is a virtual world that you can waste your life on just as much as you can on videogames or watching TV (so I'm acknowledging that fact).....but the reason for Home is to allow you to virtually interact with the PSN community (PS3 owners rather than 'anybody and their dog' on Second Life, and also rather than contextually like XBL...and don't get me wrong, XBL is great, reliable and rather than seeing the person in a virtual world you see them in-game)....either way it's a wasted discussion because most people haven't spent the time on YouTube to watch the demonstrations (4 parts on YouTube btw) to actually see what Home will offer away from the Second Life comparison everyone is making it into.....Honestly I think 360 owners are just jealous or scared that they aren't getting the 'royal treatment' (we all know MS will follow Sony if Home meets expectations) because instead of pointing out Home's innovative ideas and needed features (i.e. Trophies), along with the fact that it's offered for free...they just decide to point out anything they see as being different/innovative and post negative comments about it, or they decide to pick out the integral parts/features of Home that are being used by MS or Nintendo and say that Sony is copying them....to me every console needs its moment to prove itself and bring to the table everything it can and this will be the year for Sony and from what I have seen so far it should be a good year...../rant

talladega 13th October 2007, 02:10

you mean next year... isnt home coming out next year?

but totally agree ^^^^

2JSC 13th October 2007, 02:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by talladega
you mean next year... isnt home coming out next year?

but totally agree ^^^^

I think an open beta is coming before Christmas, and the full release will be in the spring of 08.

talladega 13th October 2007, 06:09

yup. that sounds right.

HourBeforeDawn 13th October 2007, 07:08

wow we really are trying to kill our selves and not socialize in the REAL WORLD, how sad....

The_Beast 13th October 2007, 16:31

:( :( :(

devdevil85 13th October 2007, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by talladega
you mean next year... isnt home coming out next year?

I meant like a year time-span of things that need to progress for the console (of course most of it happening at or right after Xmas) such as games, Blu-Ray movies, applications like Home, The Eye, a price-drop in the US, etc. If these things flop then the console is pretty much going to stagnate, but I don't see that happening as Sony has been impressing me ever since they debuted the console itself (the PS3 is just an amazing piece of kit and its hard to deny it), trying to dig itself out of the hole it dug itself before the launch.....

Major 14th October 2007, 01:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zut
Dear god NO! Where the f*ck does all this hype over 'virtual worlds' come from? Second Life is the most boring and pointless 'game' I have ever witnessed.

Darkedge 14th October 2007, 14:08

MS has live which works very very well for online gaming and a social aspect with unified friends lists and everything. It's great.

Sony have none of that yet and home is supposed to do the lot - that what I mean, Sony have a big job ahead of them compared to MS which all they have to do is a 3d chat room to compete.

devdevil85 14th October 2007, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkedge
MS has live which works very very well for online gaming and a social aspect with unified friends lists and everything. It's great.

Sony have none of that yet and home is supposed to do the lot - that what I mean, Sony have a big job ahead of them compared to MS which all they have to do is a 3d chat room to compete.

it's more than just a 3D chat room Dark.......so MS would have to do a hell of a lot more than 'making the experience 3D' (it's not that easy) to actually compete and not look like they half-assed, all while offering the service for free to everyone, even the ones w/o a HDD (which idk how it'd be possible)......and tbh..MS doesn't have to do a darn thing....XBL (fast, reliable, easy) has its place and Home will have its......I guess all that money spent is getting PS3 owners something more for free...so that's good to hear....