It is 2013 and the next generation of video game consoles is likely on the horizon. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 are the kings of the rumor mill. Last time we list five things Sony needs to do to be successful in the next gen. And today it is Microsoft's turn. So what does Microsoft have to do to insure that the next iteration of Xbox is success? Here is our list of five things that will make Xbox 720 a success:
5. Blu-ray Integration: Even the biggest Xbox fan has to admit that it stunk not having a Blu-ray drive on the Xbox 360. Xbox Live's plethora of application for streaming high-definition movies lessened the blow, but not everyone has high-speed Internet. I also do not want to switch game discs like Mass Effect 2 and 3.
4. Free-to-play Games: It is time Microsoft embraces free-to-play triple-A titles on consoles. I want to see Microsoft's version of Planetside 2 on a home gaming console and games like Jurassic Park: Builder and The Simpsons: Tapped Out on Xbox Live. Toylogic's Happy Wars has attracted more than 1 million players on Live since it launched in October.
3. First Party Games: Halo, Gears Of War, Fable and Forza Motorsports are great titles, but Microsoft needs more exclusive games to compete with Sony's first party lineup. We need the next- Halo not the next Halo game in the series. There might not be a pro-baseball game on Xbox 360 in 2013 and yet Microsoft has not jumped back into the sports genre this generation.
2. Kinect 2.0: The original tech demos for the Kinect made the device look like a life-changer, but that is not what we got. The Kinect is cool for a few minutes and a couple of game types, but it ultimately gets use more as a remote control in my household than for gaming. Kinect 2.0 needs to change the way we watch video, listen to music, play video games and interact with our living rooms.
1. Improve Xbox Live: I consider Xbox Live far superior to Sony's PlayStation Network and PlayStation Plus, but the gap is getting smaller. Xbox Live Gold members deserve more exclusive demos, video and applications. The next Xbox Live service has to become more like a cable service with video apps included in its price. No more paying for Hulu, Vudu, CinemaNow and Netflix separately. I also want a Steam like service on Xbox Live digital video games on sale on the same days as the retail versions. Digital version should also cost less money than retail versions, because there are no game case, no discs and no printed materials.
