[Source Kotaku]

Ads Coming To Xbox 360 Dashboard?

By Luke Plunkett, 8:30 PM on Tue Jun 30 2009, 514 views (Edit post, Set to draft, Slurp)

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Oh dear. Sean Alexander, director at Microsoft's Advertising Business Group, has strongly suggested that you'll soon be seeing advertisements every time you fire up your 360 dashboard.

Apparently, Microsoft "plans to bring IAB specifications for rich media technologies, including Silverlight, to Xbox Live within the year". With Silverlight being Microsoft's version of/competitor to Flash, MediaPost say "Silverlight-powered media on Xbox will have the same appearance as ads seen on a Web browser".

Since the goal is for advertising companies to launch the same campaign across multiple platforms - desktop, TV, mobile phone and Surface (Microsoft's touch-screen table) - it sounds a lot like the tech would be used on the 360 to display ads on your dashboard.

This had better only be for Silver users. I'm not paying an annual fee to get stuck with ads.

We've contacted Microsoft for an explanation of how exactly this tech will be used with Xbox Live, and will update if we hear anything.

Microsoft Silverlight For Xbox Live Eases Creative Across Platforms [Media Post, via Gamasutra]

I agree with the article-- if this happens it better be to Silver members.

I wouldn't really mind an ESPN bottom line like the one right there. But anything other than that is really pushing it for me.

I think they might be talking about the Silverlight Smooth Streaming technology.

"Today, movie trailers are available in a high-definition (HD) format, but Silverlight will deliver 1080p HD and 5.1 surround sound without discs directly into the Xbox, Alexander says. "You can use that same creative asset on Web sites," he says. "It also makes it easy to integrate with other applications, such as online movie ticketing. For studios, it's all about selling tickets."

This could be used when you click on one of the ads in the current NXE. This is probably what they are talking about.

it looks so busy now.

what if they make it so it is free now?

I always flet the whole damn thing was ads.... nothing but wanting me to buy crap...


i prefer that little menu you get after pressing the x button with the mini blads, god i wish i could make that the primary GUI

edit:  but could this be a step towards free gaming for silver members, and gold members go ad free, id support that

sorry for the DP,\

That would be bullshit.

Live better go to $20 or less if this is the case, as we already seen plenty of $32 or less buy.com deals (hell it was $27 last week) so I'm sure MS can afford to lower the cost of Live, especially if it ends up being ad hell.