Today, Microsoft unveiled the New Xbox Experience (or NXE for short), which basically amounts to a new menu system for the Xbox, but with Netflix streaming and a dash of the Mii characters from the Nintendo Wii added in for good measure. It’s pretty cool, and a much-needed improvement.
But yesterday, Microsoft also sent out a press release about the NXE that… well… I’ll just let you read the beginning paragraph.
In 1954, the introduction of color TV heralded the dawn of a new era in entertainment. On Nov. 19, more than 50 years after that dramatic shift, a new era in home entertainment begins with the New Xbox Experience as millions of Xbox 360™ consoles will transform instantly through the power of software. A bold new future begins now, where high definition entertainment is delivered in an instant, the best games share the stage with the best movies, and every experience is shared with friends and families, in the same room or around the world.
…Seriously? I can understand the difficulty in finding a great angle for a press release, but I think someone over-shot the mark by a bit with this one. Yes, the Xbox is cool. Yes, NXE is cool. But I’m not going to be bowled over that it’s a little easier to find my Xbox Live games and watch Escape from New York whenever I want.
Then again, having Escape from New York on-demand, all the time might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Snake Plissken is pretty badass.
LoveSac, makers of awesome alternative furniture, are throwing an even awesomer party at Barcade in Brooklyn on Nov 16th called the LoveSac NES Classic. Gamers are going to be playing each other in series of speed runs through retro Nintendo games, which basically translates to “a great excuse to drink beer and play Ninja Gaiden.” Consider us pumped. This thing is going to be great.
Anyway, Destructoid.com is running a poll right now to vote on which games are going to be played at the event, so head on over and make your voice heard!
Oh yeah, and there was that other election that’s going on today. Hopefully you voted in that one, too.
In an act of absolute brilliance on somebody’s part, MTV has launched MTV Music, which puts their entire back catalog of music videos online, on demand.
It looks like it contains VH1’s catalog as well (it is, after all, owned by MTV), because I just watched the Pop-Up Video for the Talking Head’s “Burning Down the House.” Did you know parents thought the video encouraged arson?
Just a little over a year ago, the idea of huge bands self-releasing new material was mostly unheard of. When Radiohead announced the release of In Rainbows with zero fanfare - a post on the band’s blog was the extent of the PR done - everyone pretty much freaked out. I won’t go further into the details, because I think I’ve covered it pretty well on this blog.
Sales data hasn’t been released for the album, so nobody knew how well it did. That data just came out and not surprisingly, it sold like crazy. Like 3 million copies crazy. 100k discboxes (at roughly $80 each), 1.75 million physical discs, and the rest digital sales. It’s a fantastic album, and I’m glad to see the sales reflect that. Let’s hope the next one is just as great.
Dan Aykroyd has been known to say some crazy stuff. He’s also able to say something so completely nuts that you can’t tell whether he’s serious or not. Therefore, I bring you Dan introducing his newest venture: Crystal Head Vodka.
It’s so pure, they quadruple filtered it. Through freaking diamonds.
My friend Jen is convinced this is the beginning of Ghostbusters 3’s viral campaign, and I can see it: the Ghostbusters all become known as C-list celebrities who will appear on any infomercial for any paranormal-ish luxury good they can. Ain’t it Cool says two of the writers from “The Office” are in line to co-write, which makes me interested. There’s also that Ghostbusters video game that should be coming out soon. I need to go back and watch the first one movie again, as it’s only gotten better with age. The second… not so much.
Everybody has heard of 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon, but I bet you didn’t know you could play the same game with Roy Orbison. He crossed paths with so many musical heavyweights during his career that you can connect him to most everybody through their influences and collaborations.
Click here to play 6 Degrees of Roy. By the way, The Soul of Rock and Roll, a 4-CD box set chronicling Roy’s entire career, is out today.
