Since the release of the Xbox 360 in late 2005 it’s become obvious that Microsoft has a hot console on their hands. Building on top of the already technologically advanced Xbox, the 360 offers features and convenience we have only dreamt of until now.
While the list is huge, some of the major value added features include: gamer points, Live Arcade, Live Marketplace, backwards compatibility, wireless controllers and even connectivity with networked PCs. A loved but controversial feature is automatic updating allowing patching of games or even the dashboard through Xbox Live.
Before video game consoles started connecting to the internet there was a clear divide between the games that ended up on PCs and the ones console bound. The PC offered much more versatility to the developer as they could release content updates and even patches over the internet. The result: PC games were many times rushed out the door bug ridden or even incomplete as the developer knew they could meet their launch date while still finishing the game at a later date. Things were sometimes so bad that games were released without multiplayer capabilities but instead a promise of an update in the future to add it. Many people complained and they had every right. They were mislead through and sometimes made to feel as if they were beta testing a game they just paid $50 for. There have even been times when a PC game already has bug fixes available before it’s hit store shelves, addressing issues that obviously missed quality testing. This problem was frustrating to many and they sought out refuge in consoles.