A few days ago I gave you my reasons to own an Xbox 360. I ended the list with a not-so official reason (Xbox 360 Laws) but a bonafied reason in my opinion that truly separates the Xbox 360 from others. That reason was the Xbox 360 community. I’m one of the people who believe that a strong community matters just as much as any technical reason for the success of the Xbox 360.
So I decided to list 5 reasons why I think the Xbox 360 community is the roxxors. (yes I said that just now)
DeaconBlade’s 5:
Members (you guys/gals) - I really can’t point out enough of you that make doing what I do personally here at Unscripted 360 any more enjoyable than it already is. I’m sure I speak for those who work for Microsoft as well when I say that each of you is as critical to the success of the product as you are to the community itself. Hey you all have some pretty interesting conversation and threads to read…that’s why I post so much.
TriXie - She’ll probably kill me for listing her in any type of list but I think in a one on one battle I’d take her so I’m not too worried. TriXie’s involvement and passion throughout the Xbox 360 community sometimes scares me as she puts more of herself into what goes on than you guys and gals probably understand. Plus she’s everyone’s favorite icon girl right? Having someone like her to define and sculpt the relationship between Microsoft and community is a real inspiration. Every community needs a TriXie. I loves me some her…ok I said it.
Gamerscoreblog Crew - What is there to say about Tony, John and the crew? Well for starters they’re about as goofy a crew as you’ll probably find on the web. They know they have tons of information that the community needs and while providing that information, they do an excellent job of maintaining humor instead of the corporate boredom. They’ve brought their jobs straight to the community really as they solicit feedback and act on several opinions right from Gamerscoreblog. I’m still waiting on that thing you mentioned during the Lost Planet dinner Tony.
Major Nelson - It’s not easy being as open to the community as Major Nelson is. What better place is there to get up to speed on everything happening with the Marketplace and the Xbox 360? The community can always tune in to one of his shows to get some official scoop. Beyond the suspect shirts he often wears, his drive to get you the information and response you need is another important community piece.
Blogs - I’m listing this because there are a ton of people from the Xbox team who maintain blogs filled with information as well as inside looks into their personality. There are also community members who are doing their things to give the community yet another component that makes us different. MVPs, on10.net, Wildchicken…there are way too many to list but the 360 community has definitely given new meaning to blogs.
Behind the scenes - Yeah okay so this is a 6th reason. I didn’t want to forget the people that you often don’t see but are always there. I know I’ve personally worked with some people on the Xbox team to solve issues and well they deserve a spot in this list as well. There are even Xbox.com personalities that you may have missed who have some cool articles for the community to read.
So go ahead and get on board this fantastic community train!
December 12th, 2006 at 10:38 am
Major Nelson is not paid for the time he spends on MajorNelson.com. He never had to do it, and he certainly is not required by MS to do a blogcast almost every Sunday afternoon, even doing them on holidays several times. I remember last year, Major recorded one at his sister’s house during Thanksgiving break, just so he could connect to the community right away post-launch..
Of course this is pointless to tell to an ignorant troll who believes Microsoft themselves purchased MajorNelson.com and controls everything, but to those who have followed his blog since he started it, and have common sense, it’s clear that it’s 100% Larry, free of charge.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:53 am
Being pro-Larry/pro-MS doesn’t make you any less of a troll dude, you’re just a troll for the other side.
It is beyond dispute that MS does in fact own MajorNelson.com. All registration shows that they do. Somebody not worldly enough to know about “intellectual properties” and “fruits of labor” rights within corporations really shouldn’t be calling others ignorant. MS has every claim of ownership since he uses at least a portion of their time to create the content. The fact you want to believe otherwise is not relevant. Heck, he’s doing MS a grand service with his propagada. I think they should be supporting it.
The bottom line is MS does have the best community and they should…they are the only ones that charge people a seperate fee to be a full part of it. They are not doing it simply out of the kindness of their hearts.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:57 am
So you think Larry is paid to do the blogcast?
December 12th, 2006 at 11:06 am
Do you think Larry is paid hourly or something?
He’s on salary for being the Director of Programming for Xbox Live.
That is not a 9 to 5 job, he doesn’t “clock out” to do his site.
Maybe that site wasn’t part of job requirements but it is part of his job. Without his position that site would be like any other useless blog on the net. Doing things beyond what is expected is what keeps him in that job. That is what keeps the thousands of other more qualified applicants from taking his job away from him.
December 12th, 2006 at 11:34 am
So it’s not required for his job, yet Microsoft registered and pays for the site? Maybe they bought it for him and said, “Dedicate several hours a week on this site…if you want”.
Any more insight on this vast conspiracy that has tricked millions of Xbox fans would be appreciated.
December 12th, 2006 at 11:46 am
You miss the point intentionally because you are a man of great blind faith.
The day you are ever hired as Director of anything you’ll know. Directors are expected to seek new means within the scope of their positions. What Larry does is within the scope of his position and the works produced take reliance upon his status.
What conspiracy? MS does and should own that work. Seems obvious to anybody looking at it from the outside.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Did you ever see his blog or blogcast when he started it? Half the time he wasn’t even talking about Xbox. When it started to get big when the Xbox 360 launched, he kinda had to start talking almost always about Xbox 360 because there was so much to talk about, and because the Xbox community had really taken hold of him. I think the way he behaved, and the way everything was structured for the fist year of the blog proves that it’s not MS operation, it’s just Larry himself, being awesome.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Just a guy doing his job promoting the product and company he works for. Not a superhero in any way. He’s not even very good at gaming.
There is so much about him you do not know. Stuff from sources far closer then you’d ever realize.
A shakeup in leadership in the Live division would do the Xbox a world of good.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Please tell us all about these dark secrets of Larry Hryb.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Get some help kid…
http://wellspringretreat.org/help/index.php