Anyone who is a current-generation console player knows the score when it comes to online implementation from the big-three. Nintendo's GameCube online program turned into a complete abortion. Sony's PS2 service is an exercise in unadulterated mediocrity. Only Microsoft got its Xbox Live off the ground in style with a critical mass of players subscribing. Of course it helped that the Xbox actually shipped with a LAN port and there was no additional hardware to buy, but it also did not hurt that the service ran in a consistently solid manner and took advantage of the rapidly-expanding broadband subscriber base.

At E3 2005, all of the big three were touting the fact that their new consoles would have online capabilities. Being the first new console to launch, and having the online service that may very well have allowed Microsoft to go from zero to the number two console in this generation, Microsoft was naturally eager to show gamers what they had in store for them. Microsoft's Jeff Henshaw gave GameShark.com the 411 on the newest features and it was immediately clear that Microsoft has been listening to its Live subscriber base.

Henshaw's demonstration started out in a game of Kameo. While playing, a small popup appeared alerting the player that there was something coming in. At that point the player may choose to ignore the popup and go on with his game undisturbed. If he wishes to immediately look at the incoming message, he needs only press the "ring of light" button in the center of the wireless Xbox 360 controller and the system dashboard instantly shows up. You see, if connected to a network, Xbox 360 is always online while it is powered on.

Let's say that incoming item is a friends request from another gamer. You may or may not remember playing this fellow the other evening in a heated game of Halo 3, but whether you do or not, you can immediately pull up his Gaming Card to see what kind of user he is. The gaming card tells quit a bit about the user; what games he is playing, goals and awards he has achieved in games, and other user’s feedback.

Possibly most important, the Gamer Card tells the player what zone the inviting playing plays in. In an effort to make the new Xbox 360 experience as friendly as possible to a wide variety of players, Microsoft is setting up four different zones to play in: Family, Pro, R & R and Underground. Family is exactly what it sounds like; a safer place for younger children to go and play without the excessive profanity and trash talk that often accompanies online gaming. At the other extreme is Underground, where pretty much anything goes and that’s the way players like it.



Naturally the player will have his own Gamer Card too. Using the optional video camera, the player can even have a picture of himself on his Gamer Card. The player will have the ability to edit his information to reflect the person and gamer he is.



Through the Gamer Card, the player can quickly evaluate the person making the friends request, immediately accept or decline it, and then get back to his game.

Of course while the player has the service window open, he'll have the opportunity to do a lot more. While online he may notice that here is a new downloadable level for one of the games he owns. Where with the original Xbox it would require him to have the game disc inserted and running to download the new level, but with Xbox 360 he is immediately allowed to download content for any game he owns all at one time without ever changing the disc.



The Xbox 360 online service also allows for lots of ways to keep in touch with your ever-expanding friends list. Recorded voice, text and even video are possible, as well as real-time chat if one or more of your friends happens to be logged in at the same time.



While on you notice that a demo has been posted for that new game you've been looking forward to coming out next month. You’re just a brief download away from a chance to see and play the game for part of a level in the comfort of your own gaming area without having to compete with some snotty-nosed urchin who is monopolizing the abused demo kiosk at your local game store.

The service will also have a marketplace where players can buy stuff for their games. Examples given were anything from a new shirt for your player character to tangible goods for yourself. This marketplace is likely to feature micro-transactions: a purchase that costs only a few cents per transaction that would be charged to a credit card or deducted from a set amount of cash put into an account. (I don't care if it only costs a few cents, if I ever start buying extra clothes to dress up my on-screen avatars, I hope a friend will come over and put me out of my obvious misery with a bullet to the brain.)



Arguably one of the best parts of Xbox 360’s online service is the fact that the basic Silver service comes free of charge to the consumer. It offers all the chat, download and market services with no fee at all, other than fees for content with a price tag on it. The Gold service level adds in all the multiplayer options that has made Live so popular. The fee for the Gold service has not yet been announced, but we can hope it will be close to the current $50 yearly fee for Xbox Live.



With all this functionality, and probably more to be added, the online component of the Xbox 360 looks like it is shaping up well. Of course what gets shown at a trade show and what makes it to the actual system can vary greatly, but with a launch sometime this fall, we won't have too long to wait.