It was quiet. It was later than expected. But it happened!
XBox Live Middle East has been launched. But is that a good thing?
Well, maybe not. If you sign in to the ME service, you don’t carry all your saved game data with you. You’ll essentially have to start all over again and you won’t have all the add-ons like Zune, for example. But I’m sure the necessary partnerships will be acquired…For example, XBox would have to find a music and cable partner here in the Middle East in order to offer similar apps to what you may get through your UK/Europe XBox Live account. But all in time, kids, all in time.
Indeed there could be a conflict very much like the iTunes Store paradox many face – two separate accounts and never the twain meeting. So far I recommend sticking with your old account. There could also be issues with release dates, licensing content and censorship – we may simply not get certain kinds of DLC. Then, who knows, we could be forced to open an XBox Live ME account and close the other. Eeep! Early days yet, so let’s see where this goes.
Smartglass is as Smart as…
Yes, Xbox is really going for it and released their Smartglass app which gives you constant Xbox Live connectivity on all your devices. So, I can waft around the Live universe on my iPad, for example. Now we could pretty much do that through our browsers and the Xbox app, but now it’s a more complete experience that totally mirrors that of your Live interface, and essentially acts like a remote control – which we kinda already have, but hey, why not? Just make sure the app on your Xbox and your mobile device is activated.
Hitman vs Dishonoured
And yes, I got Hitman: Absolution, and it rocks! I recommend you play Dishonoured then do Hitman. The former prepares you for an even fuller experience in the latter – though Dishonoured does some things better, so far. Hitman has a sense of realism as you make your way through crowded streets – really crowded streets – avoid cops, look for alternate methods of entry, assassination and escape and compare your scores to the global average. There will be times when you feel great and woefully idiotic. Both games will be great gifts for the gamer in your life. Especially if that gamer is you.
By Blakniss
