The ultimate online gaming platform
When I'm not racing, I'm usually playing an FPS. On Xbox Live, a longtime PC gamer such as myself noticed a handful of differences:
- You can kill someone without the text "HAXOR!" and a long list of swear-words appearing on your screen
- You suddenly forget to worry about other gamers using wallhacks or aimbots. I'm sure it still happens, but it's an issue far less widespread than on the PC
- You no longer get kicked from servers by over-zealous admins
- You no longer have to worry about downloading the latest drivers, that 2 per cent boost in FPS won't help you here, it's an even playing field
I could go on and on. All this, whilst sat on a couch as opposed to hunched over a desk.
It isn't just about the gaming, either. Having spent years downloading demos and patches, whilst trying to avoid signing up to file-sharing websites, it became clear that the whole experience was made easier via Xbox Live. Hundreds of game demos are just a few clicks away, and game patches are applied automatically.
On the PC, I'd use an instant messenger, TeamSpeak, All Seeing Eye and a few other bits and bobs to create the entire experience. With Xbox Live, all that functionality and more is just ready and waiting.
Multiplayer titles such as Project Gotham Racing 3, Ghost Recon, Gears of War, Forza Motorsport 2 and Call of Duty 4 have already provided some of the very best online gaming experiences I've ever had. I don't hesitate to say that it's primarily due to the Xbox Live environment.