Xbox 360: Game System or Home Entertainment System?

Posted on May 14, 2005

Every media outlet and game-related blog now has an article or feature on the new Xbox 360. A search on Yahoo News currently brings up over 1,500 entries. The Xbox website now has a good summary of the specs that come with the game system. Is it still okay to call this a game system since it can play music and video, show photos and rip music? Here is the product description from the Xbox 360 factsheet:

Amplify your music, photos, video, and TV. Watch progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. Rip music to the Xbox 360 hard drive and share your latest digital pictures with friends. Make the connection, and Xbox 360 instantly streams the digital media stored on your MP3 player, digital camera, Media Center PC, or any Microsoft Windows XP-based PC.

While the main purpose of the Xbox 360 is gaming, the Xbox 360 is really a home entertainment system which lately is what all game system seem to aspire to be. Just look at the recent PlayStation Portable launch which can play music, movies and connect wirelessly. And the upcoming Gizmondo device which can do even more.

NBC News reports that MTV wanted an exclusive announcement of the Xbox but they didn't quite get one because bloggers sent pictures and news around before the MTV debut:

Though Microsoft had planned on giving consumers their first peek at Xbox 360 in a half-hour MTV special Thursday night, some of the 200 people who attended the show's taping a week ago leaked pictures and specs on gaming Web sites and blogs last weekend.

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