e3 '08 - Microsoft keynote address...

I used to think that e3 was a great expo.  I used to take the week off, read as much as I could, play with other individuals that I could talk to about the event and I even had my own mecca to LA back in 04'.  But now the lack of intimacy of the event has made the 3-day extravaganza a little bit of a bore.  Used to be that e3 was the an all-in moment at the poker game for first party developers.  Now, it's just a jockeying point for 1st party execs to recite arbitrary stats, that couldn't be verified by the best financial analysts.  Fact is that these guys cook their virtual books before they take the stage in July.  And I've seen so much of in the last 14 years that I've grown tired of it.

That being said Microsoft has made an interesting move at this year's e3.  Their interesting list of features for the new and improved 360 dashboard has me a little excited for the fall update.  And there's the rub.   When exactly is their fall update going to be?  With a lackluster spring update, and the lack of games from June to late-October, and a plethora of mediocre XBLA games, the house of M has been one of respite.

Hopefully, this latest addition to the dashboard will quash statements from those within the community who bitch and complain about paying for XBL.  Say what you want about the free services from Sony and Nintendo, it is becoming more and more apparent that those services can't hold a candle to the innovations and adjustments that are made to XBL via dashboard updates.  And it should also be noted that these adjustments are tailored specifically from community members that use the product most.  When you think about it it's really quite impressive.