Mixed reactions to Xbox no longer being a game console

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confi rmed long-running suspicions
in the gaming community that his company is no longer focusing on
the Xbox primarily as a game console. In
a recent interview with a major US news outlet, Ballmer spoke about his enthusiasm
for the Xbox and Kinect motion-contro system as a family-oriented device. "Xbox
isn't a gaming console. Xbox is a family entertainment center. It's a place to socialize.
It's a place to watch TV", said Ballmer in his interview. Reactions have ranged from
disappointment to outrage, with questions
being raised about how many game
developers will continue to support the platform in the future, and what quality of
games will be available. On the other hand,
many other respondents on gaming forums
have agreed that the device's multimedia
features have made it a suitable familydevice for years, and it's only an expansion
of features.
Still others have taken exception to Ballmer's view of the Kinect system being
more "female-friendly" than controllers and joysticks, accusing him of sexism and being
out of touch. Meanwhile, Microsoft is getting
ready to launch TV streaming services on the
Xbox platform.