Speaking with Gamasutra, group product manager for Xbox Live, Aaron Greenberg, laid down some new specifics regarding the new Live Messenger functionality coming in the spring update. First, and most importantly, the service will be completely free to both Gold and Silver members. Big surprise, right? The Live Messenger integration is compatible with other versions of Messenger across the board, so users on 360 will be able to chat with users on PC and even mobile devices. Users can open up to 6 separate chats, but group chats are limited to 3 people. Greenberg uses the example of a player on a 360 chatting with a friend at work on a PC and a girlfriend on a cell phone all at once. We're not sure how often that kind of thing comes up, but it's cool nonetheless.
Greenberg also makes a point to allay fears regarding the new thumbboard peripheral. Greenberg notes that the device is very light and shouldn't interfere with the gameplay experience. Furthermore, Greenberg says that he uses thumbboards often, so the peripheral is second nature. Of course, USB keyboards are supported as well.
Discussing concerns of IM spam, Greenberg notes the messenger privacy features. The privacy features of the Xbox 360, including who you can and can't receive messages from, will apply to IM as well. There are also options like appearing online to Live friends but offline to IM friends. Finally, Greenberg says that the Xbox friends list is separate from the IM friends list and that IM friends have a different icon than the typical gamer picture associated with Xbox Live friends.
So, is cross-platform IM something that interests you? Would you be willing to drop a few bucks for the thumbboard? Will you use IM at all?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-11-2007 @ 5:06PM
Chappy said...
Free as in beer, or free until you type the lyrics of a "licensed" song; after which 500 points will be deducted from your account? Sorry Microsoft, but it's getting harder to give a crap.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 5:12PM
dunnypop said...
500 points. LMAO!
MSN'ing on the 360 interests me, since my computer isn't near my 360. I might be interested in the thumbpad, if it doesn't cost an arm / leg... but then again knowing M$, I wouldn't be surprised if it's $80.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 5:14PM
beardsly43 said...
I don't understand the 3 person limitation per chat room? Its text chat, COME ON.
While we are at it, how about we get a 4 person voice chat room? kthx.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 5:17PM
Phil Havens said...
I will probably not use the chat, but I might pick up the ThumbBoard to respond to messages on Live, because I hate sending voice messages. (also receiving them too. DON"T SEND ME VOICE MESSAGES!!!) lol
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 5:21PM
Crazed Geek said...
Does anyone know if you can IM Yahoo! contacts? I use Yahoo! almost exclusively for IM.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 5:25PM
belcho said...
I'm definitely interested in using IM on Xbox. I check MSN IM to see if my friends are online now, so this will be a natural progression.
I'm interested in the thumbboard, but only if it's very cheap (which it won't be).
My PC is right beside my Xbox anyway (for streaming music, etc.) so I use that now to send messages to my friends on Live.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 5:41PM
jai said...
If your yahoo friends have a hotmail address you can text them , come on, this is Microsoft, not adium.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 6:23PM
Crazed Geek said...
@jai: You realize that, for a while now, MSN/Live's been able to IM Yahoo users? I was just wondering if that functionality extended onto the 360?
Also, how dare you use the holy Adium's name in a falsified argument.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 6:24PM
gtpunch said...
IM- yes, already have it on the PC and celphone, why not 360 too. Thumbboard- no, looks cool but I have a USB wireless keyboard already.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 7:08PM
Lucky said...
Since it comes with it's own mic, I imagen it will have quite a price tag. If they make it resonable I might get it. If a USB key board is signicently cheeper I'll get one of them. The fact I got a USB extenton cable lieing around a plus towords the key board also.
It's a little sad to the the key board root, caues then you don't have the blessings of wireless.
=/
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 7:17PM
raymond said...
the little keyboard should be wireless instead that way you dont have to attach it to your controller.
Reply
4-11-2007 @ 8:40PM
Jai said...
@Crazed Geek
Nope, didn't know.
Reply
4-12-2007 @ 12:28AM
foehammer88 said...
I think it's cool, but I don't know very many people who use MSN messenger, almost everybody uses AIM. Over all I think it is useless. How about some key fixs and upgrades, not adding IMing abilities. How about a web browser? How about making the UI quicker and easier. How about adding DivX and Xvid support.
They should have put this on the bottom of the list. There are still plenty of other things that need to be addressed first.
Reply
4-12-2007 @ 1:50AM
Pinhead said...
Quote:
13.
"I think it's cool, but I don't know very many people who use MSN messenger, almost everybody uses AIM."
Fact: MSN is, at least in Norway, the most popular IM client by far. Same thing with many other users. 50% of users on this site have voted themselves as would-be users.
"Over all I think it is useless. How about some key fixs and upgrades, not adding IMing abilities."
Fact: They are not only fixing bugs, but also improving features like the "play game" tray information and achievement announcements.
"How about a web browser?"
Fact: An upcoming QWERTY keyboard attachment makes this feature a likely addition in the future.
"How about making the UI quicker and easier."
Fact: They are moving Marketplace to its own blade on the dashboard.
"How about adding DivX and Xvid support."
Fact: They are adding support for two new codecs. Not DivX and Xvid, but it's still a step forward.
"They should have put this on the bottom of the list. There are still plenty of other things that need to be addressed first."
Some people are never satisfied...
Reply
4-12-2007 @ 7:59PM
bakersdozen said...
i use a different email address for my msn messenger and xbox live account. will that mean i cant use it?
Reply
4-13-2007 @ 5:22PM
mike sixpack said...
Meh. MS flexing its monopoly again by pushing more proprietary crap onto the 360. I'm an ichat user anyways, so its basically useless for me.
Reply