Xbox Live's Marc Whitten announced that, starting in August, Xbox 360 owners will be able to download full Xbox 360 games. Titles shown in a dashboard mock-up included Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect and Civilization IV.
New games will be offered each week.
Microsoft points will not be required, as the service will support credit card purchases.
Whitten declined to say how closely the games will be released to regular retail releases. Prices were not announced.
* Games on Demand. Xbox LIVE has changed the way you play your games, and now we?re changing the way you access them, with the digital distribution of full Xbox 360 games. The Games on Demand channel will launch with a library more than 30 great games, from classic hits like ?Mass Effect,? ?BioShock? and ?Assassin?s Creed,? to family favorites like ?LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga? and ?Sonic the Hedgehog.? You?ll have access to a wide variety of great games, downloadable in only a few hours and at the touch of a button. We?ve also added the option to purchase Games on Demand directly with your credit or debit card.
* Great games on Xbox LIVE and Xbox LIVE Arcade. Xbox LIVE Arcade is keeping the fun rolling all summer long. We are continuing our commitment to quality and innovation by delivering five weeks of downloadable blockbusters with the second annual Summer of Arcade ? bringing you the biggest and best smash hits of the season including ?Shadow Complex,? ?Trials HD,? ?Splosion Man ?,? ?Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? : Turtles in Time Re-Shelled,? and ?MARVEL? VS. CAPCOM® 2.? And of course I?m excited to see the launch of our beta season of ?1 vs 100? today. I?m also already playing a ton of our newly announced game, ?Joy Ride,? and I can?t wait for you to experience it this holiday.
* Avatar Marketplace. Since the launch of NXE, millions of Avatars have been created on Xbox LIVE, giving our members a whole new way to express themselves online, in games, and in their social experiences. Starting this summer, you will see some great new ways to make your Avatar truly your own. First, we heard loud and clear from you that you wanted to get new avatar items as awards when playing games, and I?m happy to announce support for in-game Avatar Awardables. Second, you?re going to see some great new options with animated Props and full costumes to add to your Avatar. Finally, we?re continuing that spirit of customization and self-expression with a virtual closet full of premium clothing and interactive props to download and purchase for your Avatar. Whether its game-inspired gear or the latest fashion trends, there will be creative options for everyone to enjoy. You?ll also be able to easily access the new Avatar Marketplace directly through the Avatar editor.
* User Ratings. We?re adding a five star rating system that lets you easily rate any content in the Games Marketplace. Now you?ll be able to show your support for your favorite games and Game Add-ons on Xbox LIVE and also quickly organize by user rating to find the community?s favorite content. This has been one of your most-requested features, and we?re very happy to bring it to you this summer.e
* Performance Updates. We know that the details also matter. That?s why we?re making a series of updates based on your feedback. First and foremost, the entire Xbox LIVE service is being upgraded for improved performance including better guide and friends access. Some other things we?ve done based on your feedback include revamping the friends sorting list, Achievement views and improving our matchmaking support. There?s always room to improve, and your input really matters to us?so keep it coming!
Originally posted by: Queasy
Microsoft points will not be required, as the service will support credit card purchases.
Originally posted by: ric1287
they better release cheaper fuckin HDD options then.
Originally posted by: ric1287
ehh, nevermind. "Prices will match retail" = me never ever buying one. I refuse to pay "retail" price for an electronic copy of a game.
I don't understand why they can't have optional "cd-keys" for games. Let me install it to the HDD, register the cd-key on Live, and play without the disc. When I want to sell it, unregister the key and go on my way. They could even charge like $5 to register/unregister and make a little profit on the used game market.
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: ric1287
ehh, nevermind. "Prices will match retail" = me never ever buying one. I refuse to pay "retail" price for an electronic copy of a game.
I don't understand why they can't have optional "cd-keys" for games. Let me install it to the HDD, register the cd-key on Live, and play without the disc. When I want to sell it, unregister the key and go on my way. They could even charge like $5 to register/unregister and make a little profit on the used game market.
If by optional you mean that a person could choose to forgo the CD key and play with the disc in the drive, there'd be nothing to prevent someone from using your disc to play on their Xbox while you play with the CD key on yours.
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: ric1287
ehh, nevermind. "Prices will match retail" = me never ever buying one. I refuse to pay "retail" price for an electronic copy of a game.
I don't understand why they can't have optional "cd-keys" for games. Let me install it to the HDD, register the cd-key on Live, and play without the disc. When I want to sell it, unregister the key and go on my way. They could even charge like $5 to register/unregister and make a little profit on the used game market.
If by optional you mean that a person could choose to forgo the CD key and play with the disc in the drive, there'd be nothing to prevent someone from using your disc to play on their Xbox while you play with the CD key on yours.
Not if the key is registered on live. If the key is used, the disk only works on the system where its installed, much like it works now.
The negative to this is that you'd have to be connected to the internet, but thatss where the the "optional" part comes in.
Originally posted by: peritusONE
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: ric1287
ehh, nevermind. "Prices will match retail" = me never ever buying one. I refuse to pay "retail" price for an electronic copy of a game.
I don't understand why they can't have optional "cd-keys" for games. Let me install it to the HDD, register the cd-key on Live, and play without the disc. When I want to sell it, unregister the key and go on my way. They could even charge like $5 to register/unregister and make a little profit on the used game market.
If by optional you mean that a person could choose to forgo the CD key and play with the disc in the drive, there'd be nothing to prevent someone from using your disc to play on their Xbox while you play with the CD key on yours.
Not if the key is registered on live. If the key is used, the disk only works on the system where its installed, much like it works now.
The negative to this is that you'd have to be connected to the internet, but thatss where the the "optional" part comes in.
But what mugs is suggesting is correct. Gamer 1 has internet, registers key online, and plays game without disc. Gamer 1 gives disc to gamer 2 who does not have internet, and gamer 2 plays game with disc.
Originally posted by: ric1287
ah damn thats true. Well, figure out how to prevent that magically, and its a full proof plan
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
This could be nice if they're smart enough to have 50+% off sales like Steam.
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
This could be nice if they're smart enough to have 50+% off sales like Steam.
Originally posted by: peritusONE
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
This could be nice if they're smart enough to have 50+% off sales like Steam.
Plus Kotaku posted an update where they asked Microsoft about possibly game rentals in the future, and Microsoft said that it would an interesting idea.
I think downloadable, full game rentals would be amazing. Surprisingly, I've never really considered that before, but it makes sense. Hell, if they wanted to, they could even compete with Gamefly by allowing 2 games downloaded at a time for $20-$25 a month (I think that's what Gamefly goes for now-a-days).
Originally posted by: peritusONE
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
This could be nice if they're smart enough to have 50+% off sales like Steam.
Plus Kotaku posted an update where they asked Microsoft about possibly game rentals in the future, and Microsoft said that it would an interesting idea.
I think downloadable, full game rentals would be amazing. Surprisingly, I've never really considered that before, but it makes sense. Hell, if they wanted to, they could even compete with Gamefly by allowing 2 games downloaded at a time for $20-$25 a month (I think that's what Gamefly goes for now-a-days).
Originally posted by: fatpat268
I'd be happy if MS gave me a way to put my own laptop hard drive in. It's inexcusable to charge so much for those HDD's that they sell.
But then again... I haven't touched the 360 ever since NXE came out. Personally the old interface was better.
Originally posted by: SunnyD
Originally posted by: fatpat268
I'd be happy if MS gave me a way to put my own laptop hard drive in. It's inexcusable to charge so much for those HDD's that they sell.
But then again... I haven't touched the 360 ever since NXE came out. Personally the old interface was better.
You do know you can turn off the NXE interface, right?
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: SunnyD
Originally posted by: fatpat268
I'd be happy if MS gave me a way to put my own laptop hard drive in. It's inexcusable to charge so much for those HDD's that they sell.
But then again... I haven't touched the 360 ever since NXE came out. Personally the old interface was better.
You do know you can turn off the NXE interface, right?
how? google says "no" thus far.
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: SunnyD
Originally posted by: fatpat268
I'd be happy if MS gave me a way to put my own laptop hard drive in. It's inexcusable to charge so much for those HDD's that they sell.
But then again... I haven't touched the 360 ever since NXE came out. Personally the old interface was better.
You do know you can turn off the NXE interface, right?
how? google says "no" thus far.
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: SunnyD
Originally posted by: fatpat268
I'd be happy if MS gave me a way to put my own laptop hard drive in. It's inexcusable to charge so much for those HDD's that they sell.
But then again... I haven't touched the 360 ever since NXE came out. Personally the old interface was better.
You do know you can turn off the NXE interface, right?
how? google says "no" thus far.
You don't really turn it off. Just hit the Guide button on the controller and you essentially get the old blades interface.
Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
Originally posted by: ric1287
Originally posted by: SunnyD
Originally posted by: fatpat268
I'd be happy if MS gave me a way to put my own laptop hard drive in. It's inexcusable to charge so much for those HDD's that they sell.
But then again... I haven't touched the 360 ever since NXE came out. Personally the old interface was better.
You do know you can turn off the NXE interface, right?
how? google says "no" thus far.
Yea... Pretty sure he's wrong on that one....