XBOX Live: 5 Reason XBL Dominates the Online Market.

1. Friends- Players can now view other players friends list, and invite them.  Just select a players name and when the screen loads, press right on the Dpad. This directs users to the given players Personal profile, where the top option is: "View Friends." "View Bio" is the only other option, and it shows the players City/State & Motto. XBL has also given users the option to keep this info private.

  2. MSN Messenger- The intergration of MSN messenger into XBL took place a few months ago. So now, when user get an IM, it can be sent while playing online, as a text message and online notification from your computer you have hooked through the same router. Ahh, the Digital Age.

3. Xbox Originals- If you've been digging in XBL Marketplace chances are you've seen the Original XBOX games now offered for download. Games such as Halo CE, Fable & Crimson  Skies are available for 1,200 Microsoft Points, or roughly $12.00.

4. Music Videos- In addition to to Original Xbox, XBL also offers music videos from current industry stars. Of course they are not free.

5. Entertainment-With over 10 million users reached over 6 months earlier than microsoft expected, many XBOX Live users experienced downtime during the Holidays.

Why the surge in users?

One would believe that the christmas rush of new users are to blame, but according recent statements, the popularity and new user sign up had been a rising trend since the fall line up of #1 games began hitting shelves. 

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