Xbox 360 makes play for the living room

updated 5:16 p.m. ET Nov. 20, 2005

REDMOND, Wash. - When Microsoft Corp. debuted its first Xbox in the fall of 2001, the videogame console was like a teenager — decked out in black, eager to fit in with the hip crowd and embarrassed to be seen with its parent company.

The newest version, Xbox 360, has no intention of being a boring grown-up.

But Redmond-based Microsoft says it has learned from some of its youthful mistakes. And after years of distancing the Xbox from its less hip progenitor —  maker of computer operating systems and spreadsheet software —  Microsoft is now more blatantly touting the console as integral to a long-term plan to dominate the connected home.

"I think the thing people have to realize is that digital technology is changing the home in a profound way," said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division and its Chief Xbox Officer.

When the Xbox 360 debuts in North America on Tuesday, it will still mainly aim to please so-called hardcore gamers —  primarily young men who spend hours each week tethered to a videogame console. Analysts say that's smart since the console doesn't offer enough other capabilities for those not addicted to gaming.

"First and foremost, Xbox 360 is a game machine, and so is anybody going to go out and buy an Xbox 360 if they're not a gamer because it's got multimedia capability? No," said Van Baker, a research vice president with Gartner Inc.

But over time, the company is hoping that other features will draw in more family members. These include the ability to listen to music —  even tracks from rival Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod —  look at family photos, watch DVDs and play electronic puzzle and card games.

Analysts also expect Microsoft to improve on features in its paid Xbox Live online gaming service that let users chat and interact with other subscribers. (MSNBC is a Microsoft - NBC joint venture.)

Battle for the living room
Advanced users will even be able to to link the Xbox 360 with a PC running the entertainment-centric Windows XP Media Center Edition as part of Microsoft's grander vision to provide a sophisticated digital entertainment hub.

The push is not new: Microsoft has been trying for years to break into the den, one of many ways it is looking to extend its Windows brand amid a saturated market for regular desktop PCs.

Analysts say it remains to be seen whether Microsoft can succeed at getting lots of people to use its products for things like watching movies and recording television.

While users are beginning to embrace more sophisticated technology for entertainment, many are still intimidated by the idea of using a computer to do something as simple as watch television.

"The question is: Will people really store content on the PC, set up a home network and then access content over the network?" said Matt Rosoff with independent analysts Directions on Microsoft. "That's still a pretty geeky thing to do,"

But Rosoff said other technical advances, such as more widespread broadband availability and the increasing popularity of high-definition televisions, are helping Microsoft's efforts.

MORE FROM GAMES

Games Section Front

10 best Wii games of 2009 Fitness video games are reshaping medium November video game sales slump at retail   Harry Potter is back, with a LEGO update Video games take bigger role in education 10 best PC games of 2009   'Avatar: The Video Game' crashes and burns   'Tony Hawk: Ride’ is an epic fail 10 best Nintendo DS games of the year FTC: Children still marketed violent content Games Section Front   Add Games headlines to your news reader: