Monday, September 19, 2011

Microsoft to Intergrate Cable with Xbox TV?

I've heard this rumor before and  it seems to have slowly picked up speed since Microsoft unveiled this at E3. Microsoft is talking to Comcast and Verizon about integrating cable to the Xbox 360. So you don't need a cable box, but you still have to subscribe to their services. I wonder if they'll have different options for the Xbox 360 or if it's just the same prices as a regular subscription. The details are still limited, but it seems all this does is give gamers another way to pay for cable. 

What's the point? I ditched my cable company because I was sick of paying for services and channels I don't watch. I didn't need 50,000 channels in pretty HD. (And I don't watch sports) I want a service where I can sign up for just a few channels. I was hoping when Microsoft announced its Xbox TV in June that it would take more independent approach.

If Microsoft is just getting rid of the cable box, but keeping high prices, unwanted channels and all other fun things about cable, I'll pass. I do hope in the future consoles will be able to provide a different way on how we watch TV, like Hulu or Netflix. (Although Netflix just freshly pissed off customers this morning with the Netflix blog post and an email)

Unless Microsoft changes its tune and grows a pair, (see this article where it reports Microsoft didn't want to "pick a fight with cable") Xbox TV won't make a big difference.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Video Game Summer Slump

Or why the Hell does summer suck so much for games?

I plan on writing a great deal more about this and why Fall and Winter is so full of game releases you need to be independently wealthy to buy them all.

Over the last few months I've been mostly playing Fallout New Vegas because of the DLCs. Especially Old World Blues, which as far as I'm concerned is one of man's greatest creations ever. Having the Wild Wasteland trait  makes it even better. For Venture Bros fans, there's James Urbaniak as Dr. O. With the Wild Wasteland trait, he reminds the Lobomites to wash the Walking Eye. When I first heard this, I jumped around like a dork and almost called my husband at work just to tell him.

Besides Old World Blues, I've played the other New Vegas DLCs. While I enjoyed Dead Money, the fact you can't go back after you leave is stupid. I'm playing through Honest Hearts right now. Lonesome Road is coming out soon too.

Yep, I'm pretty grateful for add-on content during the summer slump. I also played F.E.A.R. 3. While I really liked it for its improvement on the AI, the great environments and the generally awesome FPS game it is, it wasn't very scary. And that was pretty disappointing. I felt bad for Alma and Point Man and even Paxton. Fighting Wade at the end wasn't that challenging or exciting either. So meh, good FPS, bad horror game, I guess.


The only summer release game that I still really want to play is Catherine. I haven't had a chance to yet, but I'm interested. Still by the time I get my hands on Catherine, Gears 3 will be here and soon so will Skyward Sword, and Saints Row the Third, and COD, and Skyrim and so and so on. Sigh... by the time I catch up playing all these new ones, it will be Christmas 2012.