Microsoft Says They’re ‘Not Happy With Ability to Find Content’ on Xbox Live

[APF]

Microsoft Says They’re ‘Not Happy With Ability to Find Content’ on Xbox Live

Microsoft knows Xbox Live’s design isn’t perfect. They admit Xbox Live’s interface was never designed to service the amount of content it currently holds.

“I think that we are not, I would say…happy with the ability to find and discover content as easily as we’d like for consumers to be able to do that,” said Aaron Greenberg, Microsoft’s product management director for Xbox 360 and XBL, to MTV Multiplayer last week.

That problem gets worse every week; forcing Microsoft to start introducing guidelines to remove underperforming, poorly reviewed XBL Arcade titles.

“I think a lot of that is we built Xbox Live Marketplace for a few hundred items and now we have 17,000 items,” said Greenberg. “We built a small store and we filled it with lots of lots of stuff. We’re feeling some of these growing pains and [the new policy] is one of those tradeoffs we’ve had to make.”

Microsoft had traditionally updated the XBL interface twice a year with annual spring and fall updates. Last fall’s upgrade included store re-design still featured. But Greenberg seems to admit that wasn’t enough.

Earlier this year, Microsoft was searching for a program manager to become “part of the Xbox LIVE team that’s responsible for creating a completely new way for mainstream audiences to enjoy the Xbox and LIVE.” Speculation pointed to Microsoft designing a revamped interface for XBL.

While Greenberg wouldn’t admit such a XBL revamp is in the works, he said there are changes in the work to reconcile some of the interface issues.

“Longer term, we’re looking to make the ability to find content and organize the 17,000 pieces of content we have a lot better,” he said.

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/06/04/microsoft-unhappy-with-xbl/

[Crushed]

That is one awkwardly worded sentence.

"Damn it, they can find content? Fuck!"

[Rman]

Terrible article title.

[Enl]

It's been 3 years and they're just now realizing this. Their last attempt at reorganizing the dashboard just made things even more confusing and hidden.

[AdmiralViscen]

So fucking update it, don't delete shit.

Delete 50 things and in 6 months you'll be right back where you are today.

[Rman]

MS really needs to steal some of the Apple's IU guys.  While I don't really shop at the iTunes Music Store--amazon ftw--I love their easy to navigate interface.

[duckman2000]

Well, what can you expect with an interface that looks and feels like an early Shockwave site?

[APF]

I don't like the UI any of the digital media stores I've used, and that includes ITMS, Steam, etc.  They all suffer from the same thing this article talks about: "we IA'd / comped it out with x number of products and never anticipated having to deal with and navigate through a crapton more despite the fact that we were hoping there would be a crapton of products and that people would buy them."

[hyp]

how bout a goddamn fucking SEARCH function?

[Joe Molotov]

No kidding, MS. The entire 360 dashboard is a poorly designed mess, why should the store be any different?

[The Sceneman]

I dont think its that bad, mainly becuase I always know what Im looking for. In terms of casual browsing for stuff, window shopping etc. its pretty bad. Yeah a search function would be really good

[Bildi]

No shit.

While you're at it, overhall the dashboard - I'm sick of seeing that stupid loading sign or waiting for my games list to populate.  The goddam Wii has a faster interface for fucks sake.  Load achievement details, leaderboards and your useless adds AFTER the games list has been populated you dumbasses.

[CajoleJuice]

The dashboard is pretty fucking awful. When my friend booted up his PS3, I was impressed by how its menu is not a piece of shit.

[The Fake Shemp]

The dashboard is pretty fucking awful. When my friend booted up his PS3, I was impressed by how its menu is not a piece of shit.

But to do the simplest things on the PS3 interface, like messaging your fucking friends, is more difficult than doing the same on the dashboard.

[AdmiralViscen]

Why isn't Zero Hero in here fighting all you MS trolls?

[chronovore]

I dont think its that bad, mainly becuase I always know what Im looking for. In terms of casual browsing for stuff, window shopping etc. its pretty bad. Yeah a search function would be really good

You've got a goal and a familiarity with the game console. What MS wants is for anyone to be able to navigate to what they want. People are talking about Apple iTunes' interface, but what needs to happen is something more like TiVO. "You played this game... these are similar." And the one that should really pop up immediately is, "You played this game; here's additional DLC for that" and toss in some first-hit are free content to get first-time users over their concerns about downloading.

MS also fails to make it clear that you can re-download anything in your purchase history; I've got friends that guard their HDD space like some girls guard their virginity.

[Mupepe]

The dashboard is pretty fucking awful. When my friend booted up his PS3, I was impressed by how its menu is not a piece of shit.

The PS3 interface still sucks.  Try looking through the settings area.  It's a mess.

[Brehvolution]

Why isn't Zero Hero in here fighting all you MS trolls?

This is a thread about XBL. I don't have a 360 so I would never have read this thread if you didn't link it from another thread.

So..... where is the trolling?

[AdmiralViscen]

Why isn't Zero Hero in here fighting all you MS trolls?

This is a thread about XBL. I don't have a 360 so I would never have read this thread if you didn't link it from another thread.

So..... where is the trolling?

Everyone is saying that the dashboard interface sucks wtf

Injustice!

[duckman2000]

The dashboard is pretty fucking awful. When my friend booted up his PS3, I was impressed by how its menu is not a piece of shit.

The PS3 interface still sucks.  Try looking through the settings area.  It's a mess.

It's built around a fast, clean and expandable tree system, which is how a professional would design it. It's lacking in terms of organization (why can't I split my video folder into subfolders?), but it will get there. And most importantly, the core design is there to actually get it there smoothly, which is more than can be said for the brutally clunky and cluttered hard frames of the 360 dashboard. It does fit in well with the overall rushed, primitive and rickety style of the 360 system though, so you have to give MS credit for being consistent.

[Brehvolution]

Why isn't Zero Hero in here fighting all you MS trolls?

This is a thread about XBL. I don't have a 360 so I would never have read this thread if you didn't link it from another thread.

So..... where is the trolling?

Everyone is saying that the dashboard interface sucks wtf

Injustice!

 
That is there opinion, not FUD.

[AdmiralViscen]

Why isn't Zero Hero in here fighting all you MS trolls?

This is a thread about XBL. I don't have a 360 so I would never have read this thread if you didn't link it from another thread.

So..... where is the trolling?

Everyone is saying that the dashboard interface sucks wtf

Injustice!

 
That is there opinion, not FUD.

I realllly think you underestimate how many PS3 owners there are on this site if you think the stuff you're constantly arguing against is something other than opinion.

[Brehvolution]

TBH, my worst meltdowns you see are when I'm drunk at night. I've learned to stay away from the gaming forum when I'm drinking.

[AdmiralViscen]

 

[evilol]

just microsoft being a piece of shit company. nothing to see here