nzherald.co.nz technology editor Matt Greenop reports from the biggest event in the gaming calendar - the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, California.
Kiwi subscribers to Xbox Live will be able to watch 'instant on' high
definition movies as part of sweeping changes to the service announced
at Microsoft's pre-E3 press conference today.
The video marketplace that was launched in 2006, now called Zune HD, has come of age - and New Zealanders are on the list this time.
Rather than having to download content - as the eight countries that could previously access the service had to - a large selection of movies will be streamed straight onto consoles with the changes, in 1080p hi-def and carrying 5.1 sound.
New Zealand's less-than-lightning broadband speeds shouldn't be an issue
either, with Microsoft claiming movies are automatically scaled to suit
connection pace.
One improvement that we won't be seeing the benefit of is Netflix -
which gives American viewers and now UK users the chance to watch
television - including live broadcasts of Premier League football matches.
Another new feature called Live Party will allow several users in
different locations to watch the same movie or game.
Social additions
As it continues to push the Xbox Live realm as a 'social entertainment network', Microsoft has struck deals with social networking giant Facebook and microblogging high flyer Twitter to incorporate both into the 360.
Facebook users will be able to view status updates and full screen photos right on the Dashboard, and upload screenshots from games
directly onto Facebook.
"We're not only extending the walls of your living room beyond your home
to your friends in different corners of the world, we're creating the
definitive social network," Microsoft interactive exec John Schappert
told the gathered press.
Twitter will work in the same way as it does on a PC, with subscribed
feeds updated instantly onscreen.
* Matt Greenop is a guest of Sony PlayStation at E3 Expo.
