Xbox Video Marketplace Adds (Not Enough) Content

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The recent addition of video downloads pushed me into Microsoft’s Xbox 360 camp for this next generation console war. While showing potential, I documented several shortcomings of the Video Marketplace that MS needs to tighten up before this takes off. As soon as I voiced my lack-of-new-content complaint, a variety of video was added — When Zatz speaks, Gates obviously listens.

So I was pleased to see some movement after three weeks of no updates; However, Star Trek Enterprise just doesn’t do it for me (there’s no accounting for taste). But my real beef is with Mission Impossible 3 — I was pretty excited to see a current action blockbuster available for rent… until I realized it’s not high definition. What gives? Hello, Microsoft & Paramount: Those of us investing hundreds of dollars in tech toys probably have HDTVs and would like to use them as such. In fact, MovieBeam might want to think about that as well… I’ve yanked my unit from the AV rack and it is currently being used to collect dust.

Superman Returns is slated for Xbox release next week — Let’s hope it’s in HD! If not, I’ll spend more time (and less cash, err Points) getting schooled by teenagers in Gears of War online.

5 thoughts on “Xbox Video Marketplace Adds (Not Enough) Content”

  1. I thought you had commented that the SD downloads took a couple of days to show up. What would be the multiplier for HD content – wouldn’t it be take at least a week to download?

  2. During the initial onslaught of downloads, Kevin’s HD download of V for Vendetta took up to 46 hours to download. Things have smoothed out somewhat and are quicker these days — perhaps not quick enough for same night viewing, but surely same day. I downloaded Poseidon (HD) and while I don’t know precisely how long it took, I started at maybe 9PMish and it was complete when I woke up in the AM.

  3. I’ve downloaded two movies (one HD and one SD) as well as 8 HD TV eps. As Dave mentions, the initial service was painfully slow for downloads, but I’m getting a 42 minute HD ep of Enterprise in about 1h, 15m, plus I can start watching around the 75% mark. However, there’s no good reason I can think of that the new releases aren’t all available in HD upon release. It’s tough to tout “HD” gaming and entertainment if the SD movies are showing up first.

  4. Just like TiVo, this content is limited to only U.S. resident’s machines. My XBox doesn’t have any tv or movie content at all. Just the usual crappy trailers and game videos.

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