Back in May we ran our Redesigning the PS3 column about fixing some of the issues with the current Playstation model. It went over like tepid water on ice cream. At that time we asked about your XBox 360 concerns. How would you fix any issues with the 360? What about it do you dislike?
This article covers the majority of the concerns, focusing on some surprising issues and some expected ones. Read one for the full redesign.
The Guts
The biggest complaints about the XBox 360 are about its internals. From the RRoD to the various E-errors, the 360 has been plagued by hardware failures. The majority of 360 owners are on their 2nd or 3rd XBoxes, something that cost Microsoft money and gave the consumer headaches. Improving the hardware isn’t about plugging little changes into place, either. Fixing the RRoD will not alleviate the E74 error, for instance. What is needed here is an overhaul of the internals. A “rebooted” 360’s internal design might not change any graphics or capabilities, but it will improve performance by providing a cohesive functional machine.
First: Fix the RRoD and E74/78 errors with an improved internal cooling method, heat sinks, and smaller package. Make sure all of these are designed to work together as a unit, instead of just updating one at a time. This will also help reduce fan noise.
Second: Reduce the disc drive noise by moving to a slot-loading drive. Extra pieces in a disc tray allow for more rattle and part breakage.
Third: Remove the flimsy flipper door over the USB that tends to get stuck. Go to an open USB port, since more and more players have extra peripherals that are plugged into the system anyways.
Fourth: Better video codec support. Many core gamers utilize higher quality formats than the traditional Mpeg. Including DIVX/XVID improvements.
Fifth: Fully utilize the HDD by allowing users to copy videos, photos, and music to and from the USB drive.
Sixth: Update the controllers. The d-pad needs severe improvement to be more functional at angles, and the controllers should rely on built-in rechargable batteries instead of AA’s. Understanding that a Play-and-Charge kit is available, this still costs money to a consumer that can spend the $20 towards XBLA games. Plus, AA batteries are soooo 2006.
The UI
The latest version of NXE (Nixxie!) added a few tweaks and features. The experience is vast improved over the original blades, but at times is still confusing when searching for specific items. Here are a few options that would improve the user experience.
First: Customizable channels. This level of personalization is pretty absent in consoles, yet always a plus. It wouldn’t take much to allow users to create their own layer of windows based on what they prefer to access on a regular basis.
Second: Better interaction with portable devices, such as Zunes or Live Anywhere, to access Live data and stream video and music, like the PS3 and PSP currently do. Microsoft has been promising this for years, yet it remains in vaporware. People will use this, as can be seen with the popularity of Sony’s take on it.
Third: Gaming lobby and multiplayer standards need to be implemented. Loading into Live is one thing; playing online with friends is a unique experience each time a new game is popped into the machine. A server-side standardization of gaming lobbies, player-to-player interaction, and multiplayer setup would help alleviate the burden from developers… and would make the experience much easier to consistently access.
The Business
Many critics felt that Microsoft was often chasing other console-makers for features. When Sony released the PS3, XBox countered with the ill-fated HD-DVD drive. When Nintendo’s motion play and Miis took off like a rocket, Microsoft aped it with avatars and is embracing pseudo motion control with Natal. Microsoft has also blundered on occasion with consumers and pricing, offering up too many SKUs and confusing the consumer as to what they were purchasing. The business side of things needs to improve.
First: Microsoft has done a great job of dropping the price of the 360 over the years, yet the peripherals (especially the ridiculously-priced HDDs) have stayed the same or even gone up in price. With technology costs always going down Microsoft should do the consumers a huge favor and drop the prices of these objects du jour. I know I’ve been waiting to upgrade my HDD from the 20 gig that it came with, yet the incredibly high price of a new one is holding me back. That is money lost for the big green X by many consumers.
Second: Be a leader, not a follower. Natal and NXE were the first real shots for Microsoft to showcase their innovation since the launch of the 360. The avatars are often referred to as Mii knock-offs, even though they are superior. The channel-like layout mimics iTune’s coverflow. Microsoft needs to build on this year’s great E3 showing by becoming focused on their consumer (which is and always will be the core gamer, not the casual gamer) to serve them best. Continue working with companies like NetFlix to provide optimal experiences and don’t try to force a casual game just to compete with the Wii and iPhone. Focus focus focus on what core gamers want.
Third: The online shopping costs for XBox are unneeded. Live needs to be free, plain and simple. More and more people are finding free-to-play online gaming as their preferred choice, and XBox needs to reflect that need. Also, the lack of any real sales of XBLA games hasn’t been well received. A week where I can save 20% on a game I don’t want to purchase isn’t a good business model. This is digital media, Microsoft. Sales should come often, and at better prices (50% off, or by receiving free XBLA games with the purchase of new full games from stores). And while we’re at it, there shouldn’t be a price for XNA. If creativity is to ever really take hold for the system’s indie fans the XNA workplace needs to go free to allow more potential creative types the opportunity to try it. The next Peter Molyneaux might be strapped for a few bucks to buy it.
In Conclusion
Microsoft, for all intents and purposes, has done a fairly good job of maintaining the XBox through software updates. However, a few widely-known hardware issues prevent it from ever being the “perfect game system”. Some tweaks here and there, and an updated inner chipset would go great lengths in satisfying gamers.
3 Comments