I have no problem with Microsoft's gaming division. I have criticisms, sure, but I also have compliments.
They had a lot more understanding of the US market than Sony or Nintendo, and obviously more understanding of where the internet was going. They were ready for digital distribution and networked play, areas that caught Sony off-guard (Nintendo appears to still be off-guard). They were instrumental in getting smaller games, which would normally have been PC exclusives, to consoles.
My biggest criticisms of the Xbox brand have been that Gold offered no actual value for members--something which they might or might not address--with video services being closed off behind the pay-gate an especially bad move and that they had very little in the way of variety with their first-party offerings. In my personal opinions, the 360 didn't hold a candle to the PS3 when it came to first-party content. It seems like they're working on addressing the second point so we'll see if I end up with more interest in the XO than I had for the 360.
