Microsoft has this story (hat tip: Joystiq) on Microsoft’s “big gamble” with XBOX Live.

Here’s the key quote:

Microsoft Corp.’s new Xbox 360 videogame console comes bundled with lots of bells and whistles, such as movielike graphics. But Microsoft’s bid to reshape the videogame industry largely is tied up in one feature: the machine’s emphasis on online play.

Microsoft is making a big — and risky — bet that videogame players will flock to the opportunity to play lots of games against each other over the Internet. The Xbox 360, released in the U.S. last month, lets users play more games online than the original Xbox. It also lets users purchase and download games …

But the big move into online gaming carries risks. It is not clear that companies like Microsoft and Sony will be able to lure large numbers of players — each has attracted a small fraction of users to online play with their previous consoles. The companies also must be careful about new business models for distributing games — such as games-on-demand — so as not to alienate game publishers, who still rely heavily on in-store sales. And games designed for multiple players have a mixed record of attracting customers …

It goes on to refer to hurdles to online play adoption — including Microsoft’s subscription fee for XBOX Live, and the high costs of broadband adoption.

Now, I personally love XBOX LIve warts and all — it’s the reason why I went insane trying to find an XBOX 360 (current location: local FedEx sorting facility). But XBOX Live is a nasty, intimidating place. I personally have felt intimidated running my own server on XBOX Live. Unless you have some friends to watch your back, you will encounter tons of sociopathic behavior from the hordes of teenagers and unmarried, virginal adult rednecks who permeate the service. Unless Microsoft does something significant to limit the casual player’s encounters with abusive “hardcore” or “pro” players, XBOX Live won’t be a mainstream service.

Their “zone system” that basically segregates players into different areas (such as “recreation,” “pro,” “underground,” and “family”) and “trueskill matchmaking” which only matches players of similar skill levels sounds like it could do a lot to limit the current problems. But from what I’ve read, it has not been really implemented into the first generation of XBOX 360 games.

Wow, in a stunning stroke of luck (perhaps prophecized by my scoring GTA: San Andreas for $7 yesterday), I woke up this morning to find that Circuit City had the XBOX 360 premium unit in stock. And, oddly enough, I was able to order it. Odder still, it shipped!

Truly bizarre. Circuit City is my new favorite store. Henceforth I will be banning Best Buy forever.

So, I found a copy of “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” at Blockbuster used for $7. I’d say that one definitely belongs in the “win” category. I’m not what I’d call a huge fan of the series, but it’s fun in a gangsta sandbox kind of way. Ultimately, it feels like you’re running around a completely empty city, but it’s got so much style and it’s written so well, that it’s easy to overlook its flaws.

As for my XBOX 360, I’m still on backorder. The window is starting to close on “noob” access to the launch games. The way XBOX Live works, the longer you wait to get into an online game, the more hostile it becomes to you. Granted, XBOX Live players are ALWAYS hostile, but there’s a special contempt reserved for “noobs.” New players aren’t welcomed on XBOX Live, and the harrassment you go through from your “teammates” when trying to learn a map that everyone else knows makes playing at all pretty much worthless. Eventually the window completely closes. I’d hate to be a new player trying to get into Halo 2 right about now, or a Perfect Dark Zero player who picked up the game after Christmas.

I found this rule out the hard way when I first jumped into XBOX Live way back when. The verbal raping I received on MechAssault and Ghost Recon: Island Thunder kept me offline for a very long time. I really don’t have the patience to put up with it now, so the longer I’m delayed in getting the system, the less enthusiastic I am about the first generation of XBOX 360 games. At this point, I can’t help wondering if I should wait to see what the PS3 has to offer, especially considering the XBOX 360 is unlikely to be widely available for purchase until after the PS3 launches sometime this spring.

Of course, I’ve promised my friend Michael I won’t abandon him to the XBOX 360 by himself. Part of the reason why I want it is so that we can play some cooperative games together. But I’m so pissed off at Microsoft and Best Buy for how they completely screwed up the launch that if it wasn’t for my friend I would boycott the system on the same principle that I boycotted the PS2.

Well guys, it’s the end of the year. And sadly, the only two topics I feel qualified to comment on any more are video games and television. Television list to come later. Here are my top picks for video games:

5) Battlefield 2 (PC): My favorite PC gaming franchise returns. Battlefield 2’s setting may not be revolutionary as most of what it does was already done in the free Battlefield: 1942 expansion Desert Combat, but the addition of real time strategy and RPG-style unlockables and experience points deserves merit. Still, something about the game feels off. It’s fun, but as in past installments, the maps are a little too sprawling, even when set for 8 versus 8.

4) Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (XBOX): Although it’s called “Battlefield 2,” BF2: MC has virtually nothing to do with the PC version of the game. It shares a similar modern setting and lacks the RTS enhancements of the PC version, but I favor it for its fast-paced play and focused map design. It make look like a PS2 game (which it effectively is), but it’s still a heck of a lot of fun. The addition of the a single player mode that’s almost enjoyable as the multiplayer game is a first for the Battlefield series. As in the PC version, most of my time was spent trying to collect medals and raise ranks.

3) Halo 2: Map Pack (XBOX): Halo 2 has the distinction of being one of the few games I continued to play long after it was first released. The Map Pack definitely extended its life considerably. Not exactly a full game, the new multiplayer maps are some of the best designed in the FPS genre. Nothing on any system — even the XBOX 360 (which I’ve yet to play, but I’ve read enough about its games to make this sagely assertion) — comes close to the excellence of Halo.

2) World of Warcraft: Who could have ever thought an MMORPG could actually be fun? I only played it a month, but I had a great time with my undead character. Definitely worth a spin.

1) Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3: Chaos Theory: Revolutionary sequel to the stealth classic. Forget Metal Gear, Splinter Cell is the best stealth franchise. Not only does it include one of the best single player games to be experienced on the XBOX, the adversarial multiplayer mode from Splinter Cell 2, but also an online cooperative mode that can only be played with two players. My friend Michael and I spent many a weekend last summer with this one. Despite some technical issues, the online coop alone was worth the price of admission.

There’s nothing there yet, but I’m currently setting up a site for the comic book I’ve been working on for the past year or so with Jake Warrenfeltz — the Alberic Heresies. Expect art,news and information, sample pages and more very, very soon.

The site is running WordPress which I have to say kicks Moveable Type’s ass in many ways. The only reason to use MT is it’s excellent (and easy to use) theme system. Otherewise, WordPress is the champ.

It’s been a rough few days, but things are improving. First Anya had pnemonia, was admitted to the hospital, then came home on Christmas Eve. Christmas day, Rachel couldn’t breathe, so it was off to the hospital again. No admission, thankfully, but she got her own regimen of antibiotics and nebulizer steam. Things were rough for awhile, but my mom came down and helped make everything better. Thanks mom!

Still no XBOX 360, but that’s okay. Tons of DVD’s — Serenity, Battlestar Galactica 2.0, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, I (Heart) Huckabees. Gift cards, clothes, a skillet for cooking.

And the Doctor Who Christmas Special, “The Christmas Invasion” came on in the UK, and of course, I found a way to see it. All I can say is that it’s brilliant, even better than the first season of the revived Doctor Who. The new Doctor, played by David Tennant takes things to the next level of all out Timelord greatness. Christopher Eccleston was also great last year, but Tennant LOVES Doctor Who, being a fan, himself. He plays him with more gusto, love, and balls out awesomeness than even Tom Baker. This guy IS the Doctor. Let’s hope he sticks around for a few seasons.

I have to say, the mix of camp and drama is much better than last year. When the U.N.I.T. scientists translate the alien invaders with their fancy alien-translator computer, I couldn’t help but crack up from this line:

Paraphrasing:

“Sycorax rock.”

“Sycorax rock? Is there something wrong with the translator?”

“No, it’s using the modern expression. As in — ‘the Sycorax rock!’”

There was just something wonderful and hilarious about an alien specious of planet-conquering barbarians declaring that they rock. It’s something one would have expected the Klingons to do, had they been written by cooler people.

Oh yes, The Doctor is back. He made my Christmas.

Cheers!

Anya has pnemonia and is in the hospital. Tina is staying with her. It’s not that bad, though — she should be coming home soon. But I’m exhausted. Taking care of Rachel and our Boston Terrier Archie is a full time job. I come home and I spend the whole evening managing both of them — even with twins, Tina and I trade off on responsibilities, and the nights get easier. But alone, it’s just me. No trade-off’s.

Anyone who says single moms are asking for it, or have it easy should go ahead and piss off. I’d love to see those big, red-blooded manly men who are so critical of single mothers take care of twins, much less a single baby.

I’ve finally figured out how to get Rachel to give me an hour or so to wash her bottles and eat dinner — I put her in her car seat with a choice of toys. She switches between the two, and is relatively content. That’s a trick I learned tonight — it probably won’t work tomorrow.

Okay, off to bed.

From my good friends at Best Buy:

Dear Best Buy Customer,

Thank you for your Xbox 360 order on BestBuy.com.

Due to high demand, we oversold our limited allocation from Microsoft. Your Xbox 360 is on backorder and will not be available for delivery by December 23. Backorders will be fulfilled in the order in which they were taken when future allocations of the console are received from the supplier.

We apologize for any inconvenience. If you would like to cancel this item from your order, modify the shipping address or have any questions, call us toll-free at 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289). We will not be able to modify your order to in-store pickup. For faster service, tell us the order number when you contact us.

Thank You.
Best Buy Customer Care

Well, I’m glad they appreciate my order. I’m also glad they’ve already put a hold on my credit card for it. Thanks guys!

So, here’s the question — will they eventually ship it to me, or will I stay in limbo forever? My guess is I will be in limbo forever. I love that all the thugs at the D.C. Best Buy who harassed me and the other losers in line have the system and can play it on their crappy, non-HD standard NTSC television sets, but I’m stuck with all my old games in crummy 480p on my HD set.

But wait, something’s wrong, here. It’s not that I don’t own an XBOX 360, they did charge me for it.

Here’s my favorite part of the email:

“Your Xbox 360 is on backorder and will not be available for delivery by December 23.”

So, I do own an XBOX 360 — I was charged for it after all. It’s just that, well, it’s on backorder. So, I’m going to sit back and use my machine telepathy to communicate with my XBOX 360, sitting on an assembly line somewhere across North America and the Pacific Ocean in the magic land of China where all electronics are made.

But wait, my machine telepathy tells me that my XBOX 360 hasn’t even been manufactured, yet! Why, its component parts don’t even exist.

Even so, it is mine. Best Buy said I have one, so it must be true.

As mentioned earlier, I lined up this morning at Best Buy to get an XBOX. Brian and I got there at 5:30 am and found about sixty people already waiting. I won’t go into too much detail, because I don’t want to repeat what I’ve written before, but there’s two key points I have to bring up:

1) Once again, I did not get an XBOX.

2) This time, these people made me genuinely scared.

The hostility was palpable as we arrived. This was not a happy line. By the time Best Buy opened up and handed out tickets, all hell broke lose. Those of us in the back were taunted by people in the front for not being lucky enough to get a ticket. People actually stole tickets from others in the front. The fault lines of D.C. society were exposed — black and white, rich and poor. It was ugly. Rather than let the ticketholders in, Best Buy employees stood behind closed doors, looking on nervously at the furious mob waiting outside.

Brian and I left, and I have to say, we were a little thankful that we didn’t get an XBOX 360. What would these people have done to us had we been fortunate enough to get a ticket?

I got home at about 7:00 am and went back to bed. Forty-five mintues later, my friend Mike called to let me know that there were XBOX 360’s for sale on Best Buy.com. He just got one. So I went online and placed my order.

Two hours later, Mike called back. His order was switched to “Backorder” and he said I should check mine. So I did and found the same situation — just minutes earlier, my XBOX 360 was scheduled to ship on Monday, now it was “backordered.” A call to Best Buy revealed that they wouldn’t fill the order for at least twenty-five days. But no matter, they still billed the credit card, putting a hold on the money. Now I’m locked in.

And really, really sick of the whole thing.

I ought to go ahead and change the name of the site, shouldn’t I?

Tomorrow, my friend Brian and I will be venturing out to Best Buy at 5am to wait in line yet again in another potentially futile attempt to each score an XBOX 360. The store should have at least 20 units for sale, and here’s hoping word hasn’t spread wide enough so we’re beaten by more dedicated campers.

My car is already half backed-in out on 16th Street. How nice will the universe be?

On an unrelated note, the “Dr. Dremo” jam comic that Jake and I contributed to got reviewed by a great Dr. Strange fan site. Dr. Dremo, as you may recall, is a character loosely based on Dr. Stephen Strange of Marvel comics’ fame (who, I might add, is sorely underused by his parent company, and was utterly ruined in the recent Marvel miniseries). Props are given to “Wang” and “Dremomu” in the review, two characters I added to the mythos. I wish I could claim that I created them, but they are merely ripoffs from the real Dr. Strange. I put them in because I have always wished that I could write the good Doctor, particularly in the 70’s-era continuity.

Although I didn’t read it, I heard that Marvel eliminated Strange in the “House of M” crossover. I sure hope this isn’t true, because he is a thoroughly awesome character. If Marvel ever has any interest in getting an unknown writer to do “Ultimate Strange,” someone give Joe Quesada my email address.