zatoicchi
23.07.08, 11:03
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp will turn to users of its Xbox 360 to create new video games and broaden the types of games available on its console, taking a page out of the strategy books of Facebook and YouTube.
The world's largest software maker said on Tuesday that it will start selling "user-generated" games later this year on its online Xbox Live service and share up to 70 percent of revenue with the game developer.
Microsoft began offering game production tools in 2006 to amateurs and hobbyists under an initiative called "XNA," which allowed developers to create a game that could run on the Xbox, a Windows-based computer or its Zune media player.
User-created content is the backbone of many advertising-supported Web sites such as Facebook and YouTube, but the video game industry has relied mostly on deep-pocketed developers to create sequels or games based on licensed properties.
Microsoft turns to users for new wave of Xbox games (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2145896520080722)
The world's largest software maker said on Tuesday that it will start selling "user-generated" games later this year on its online Xbox Live service and share up to 70 percent of revenue with the game developer.
Microsoft began offering game production tools in 2006 to amateurs and hobbyists under an initiative called "XNA," which allowed developers to create a game that could run on the Xbox, a Windows-based computer or its Zune media player.
User-created content is the backbone of many advertising-supported Web sites such as Facebook and YouTube, but the video game industry has relied mostly on deep-pocketed developers to create sequels or games based on licensed properties.
Microsoft turns to users for new wave of Xbox games (http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2145896520080722)