Promises, Empty Promises!
For the record, I LOVE XBox 360’s Live Marketplace. Free Demos, free trailers, content like wallpaper and gamerpics that you can pay for. [Ever since the upgrade in June] there’s nothing I can see that is wrong with the service, accept the empty promises.
XBox Live has been out for many years. On the original XBox it was pretty much only a way to play online and not too much more. Microsoft had gamers foaming at the mouth for the XBox 360 version with all the stuff it could do and the content that it would have. It hit the market strong, a bunch of demos and trailers right when I brought the 360 home. I didn’t even put a game in the machine for the first hour or so, I was too busy playing my $400 Hexic HD.
It’s been just over half a year and the content has been anything but steady. During E3 week the content wouldn’t stop. I understand that that was a lot of content because of the Expo but we should really get more downloadable content more often.
I guess what really set me off was the fact that Street Fighter II’ Hyper Fighting is going to be pushed back yet again. It was originally announced in early 2006 and then 2nd quarter 2006. Now, 1 day away from the end of Q2, Capcom says that there is not yet an official release date. The Prey demo is also late (which I’ve been dying to play) with no explanation, the game has gone gold and is currently in the works of having all the discs made for shipping, but no demo yet?!?!?!?!!?!?!
Microsoft don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the Live service, just give gamers what they want more often. If you can’t, just give us an explanation and don’t leave us hanging. That’s all we ask.
[UPDATE] This is what I’m talking about. I get home the same day I write this column and check for any new demos and there is a demo for Top Spin 2: Wimbledon. WHO CARES ABOUT THAT GAME!!!