Comedy and horror shows will be ready for launch by this fall

Mar 31, 2008 22:06 GMT  ·  By

One good way of winning the console's war is to keep improving the services and products offered. Variety would be the key world - or at least that is what Microsoft seems to believe, since the company has reached an agreement with Hollywood producer Peter Safran to produce original shows for distribution on the gaming console. Even more, Scott Nocas, global marketing manager for programming of the Xbox Live entertainment service, admitted to New York Times, via a telephone call, that more deals like this will follow.

When asked about the type of programs he's having in mind for the Xbox 360 console, Peter Safran said that the first round of programs will be scripted (so not reality shows like The Amazing Xbox Race or The Xbox Survivor should be expected). Also, the focus will be on genres like comedy and horror because, according to him, they appeal to the Xbox 360 audience - generally males aged 14-34.

For now, it is not very clear whether the programs planned for the Xbox 360 will be free of charge or not, but we do know that Scott Nocas told New York Times that at least some of the shows will be supported by advertising. Also, the episodes will probably be no longer than 10 minutes (since the Xbox 360 user have to play some Halo, too) and we should expect to see the first ones during this fall.

"The Xbox is unique. It operates at a level outside of what we generally consider Web entertainment," Peter Safran said, adding that the new shows will be available exclusively via Microsoft's console for a while, then they might appear "elsewhere". And he probably is not talking about piracy and torrent sites.

So everything we can do right now is wait and see if this decision will be a successful one or not. 10 minutes of one's life for a bit more entertainment and a short break from playing games might be exactly what our (virtual) blood-thirsty brains need.