2008 was a phenomenal year for the Xbox 360, but I’m not here to get teary-eyed and nostalgic. Now that all the “Best of” and “Worst of” lists have been compiled, praised, scorned, and faded into darkness like New Year’s Eve, it’s time look ahead to what the future might bring. Or rather, what the self-righteous geek inside of me thinks Microsoft should do to please my every whim in 2009. Without turning this into a console argument let us know what you think the 360 needs to dominate the globe 2009 by
heading over to our forums (click here) and discussing this article!
10) Pandora – For the uninitiated and internet-defunct, Pandora is a free, online service that tracks your favorite bands and streams music from other potential favorites with uncanny accuracy. Imagine having your own digital DJ while waiting for your downloads, kicking back with a few friends, or playing a few rounds in Call of Duty to the fret-blasting power of DragonForce. I won’t wait in breathless anticipation for this one, but it would be a nice addition to the multi-media future of NXE.
9) One System to Rule – Variety may be the spice of life, but only if you know what you’re supposed to be cooking. As a former retail-clerk, I can tell you with absolute certainty that the average consumer has no idea what gigabytes, Jasper chips, or HDMI have to do with gaming. I can also tell you that if you bought a system outside of the previous year, lending $300 to a crackhead might have been a better investment. Microsoft, don’t be like Sony. Make this the year for one reliable system with all the bells and whistles.
8) More Single/multiplayer Relations – Taking your single-player team or character online isn’t new, but very few games have played with the concept in reverse. Instead of limiting multiplayer to a side-attraction, make it an integrated (albeit optional) part of the single-player experience by letting players transfer gear and progress from one to the other. Fable II’s pub game and limited multiplayer were steps in the right direction, but Lionhead got one thing wrong. If I didn’t want my friend shaking up my world as a visitor, I wouldn’t invite him in the first place.
7) Rare and Updated Classics – The best part about being a retro-collector is the pride in knowing that I am one of the few people in possession of certain games. The worst part is spending new prices and above for decade-old games that could be released on XBLA with minimal effort. Having updated graphics and controls is a definite bonus, as in the new Bionic Commando or Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, but I’m perfectly willing to take the classics “as-is.” How about Dracula X, Snatcher, or some more Neo Geo games? The Saturn and Dreamcast are like treasure troves of rarities begging for release (*cough* Radiant Silvergun).
6) Mandatory Host Transfers – Nothing on XBLA aggravates me more than getting booted from a game because the host had to leave. I would rather deal with 12-year olds questioning my sexuality in their prepubescent squeals. At least then I can mute them and let the trigger slip behind their heads. Pre-patch, I once spent 45 minutes cycling through COD4 lobbies without playing more than a few minutes. For a moment, I wondered why I bothered renewing my subscription.
