Xbox Live Moves Into The Limelight

[CaptStu]

Courtesy of Next Generation (www.next-gen.biz), Microsoft and digital content delivery specialists Limelight Networks have announced a new partnership that platform holder Microsoft hopes will vastly improve the reliability and functionality of its online service, Xbox Live.

In a joint statement made Thursday, Microsoft said that Limelight’s expertise in content delivery network services would boost the firm’s online offering by helping to deliver music, films and games via less congested Internet routes, reports Reuters.

While financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, Limelight, which already offers similar services to the likes of Dream Works, Facebook and MySpace, will also be able to utilize unspecified Microsoft technologies.
More Here (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6935&Itemid=2)

This is great news, I think. Anything to help the sometimes poor download speeds is a move in the right direction. Maybe now we can start streaming media directly from Live.

[Shadowstorm]

The only time where I have had a poor download speed is when I was downloading the C&C3 demo.

This is good news. Digital delivery FTW.

[Baron Samedi]

What, still no dedicated servers?

Let me guess, Limelight = bittorrent ;)

Sadly, the Limelight site sheds no light on just how they're able to achieve such performance.

[Serapth]

What, still no dedicated servers?

Let me guess, Limelight = bittorrent ;)

Sadly, the Limelight site sheds no light on just how they're able to achieve such performance.

No, they are a caching company. They replicate data all over the globe, so when you make a request for a file that is served from California but you live in New York, if Limelight has a cached server in New York, its served from there. Results in faster responses to you, plus reduced load on the source.


Someone at Microsoft must have had their head cut off over this. Microsoft has been spending BILLIONS on data centers to be able to provide just this type of service. Having to go to an outside firm is a show of weakness. Wonder if its stop gap?

[Roc Ingersol]

The existing Limelight network is more a web of content caching servers.

You ask for the Stranglehold demo and it caches the resulting data at all the limelight intermediaries along the way, so that subsequent requests from that corner of the network don't propagate all the way up. It spreads out the demand better than having a handful of huge data warehouses. Signing on with Limelight spares MS the time and expense of building out their own network.

Also: Live Silver needs free online play. Live Gold needs dedicated servers.

[Telefrog]

Microsoft buying Limelight in 5... 4... 3... 2...

[Serapth]

Interesting to note...

Limelight is behind Steam ( and Amazon Unbox video delivery service ) as well.

http://play.tm/story/2744

[MrMeatshake]

my initial thought was: 'outsourcing' - seems like they might be trying to do everything they do now through someone external for cheaper. which would make sense if they're thinking of stopping the charges for xbox live 'gold' membership - which surely cannot last forever when the PS3 has free online gaming??

[Morratut]

Live Silver needs free online play. Live Gold needs dedicated servers.

Best suggestion EVER!!!!

[Roc Ingersol]

which surely cannot last forever when the PS3 has free online gaming??
PS2 had free online gaming. As does the PC.
MS doesn't really have to let Silvers play online until those alternatives get their act together and offer good online gaming, for free.

But Steam pulling its head out of its ass and stepping into that void on the PC and Sony threatening to maybe kinda do something that resembles a coherent online experience should definitely be nudging Microsoft in that direction.

Best suggestion EVER!!!!
I do like to trot it out whenever anyone says 'Xbox Live'.
I figure if we say it enough maybe it'll become true.

[SPBTooL]

I actually commented to my wife last night how fast the live servers are for downloads. I did the CoD4 Beta last knight in about 20 min and the HD version of 300 in just a couple hours.

[MrMeatshake]

PS2 had free online gaming. As does the PC.
MS doesn't really have to let Silvers play online until those alternatives get their act together and offer good online gaming, for free.

But Steam pulling its head out of its ass and stepping into that void on the PC and Sony threatening to maybe kinda do something that resembles a coherent online experience should definitely be nudging Microsoft in that direction.

exactly my thoughts. with CS:S on steam, as soon as the PS3 gets a decent online shooter, MS are surely going to struggle to justify that extra payment.

[KingGorilla]

Great, another content delivery system that Microsoft will abandon in 6 months.

[Serapth]

Great, another content delivery system that Microsoft will abandon in 6 months.

Don't think you understand what this deal is. You, as the end user wont see any difference except when it comes to performance. If they cancel the deal two years down the road, you as the end user wont see any difference ecept when it comes to performance.

To you, this knews would be about the same as if Live was moved to a different internet provider. So long as their are no outages, it wont affect you in the least.

[Baron Samedi]

Okay, so let me get this straight: Live gaming is P2P, but Live Marketplace has dedicated servers?

[KingGorilla]

Don't think you understand what this deal is. You, as the end user wont see any difference except when it comes to performance. If they cancel the deal two years down the road, you as the end user wont see any difference ecept when it comes to performance.

To you, this knews would be about the same as if Live was moved to a different internet provider. So long as their are no outages, it wont affect you in the least.

I did misunderstand. I get gun shy when Microsoft makes another partnership like this. They have sold me, and people in general, on so many of these delivery systems, only to yank the plug a few months later.

[Edward351]

Except that cheap silver users wouldn't be able to play with paying gold members; creating two different pools of players. My guess is that more people will opt for free and speed advantages won't amount to much if you have no one to play with. Keep everyone together, make cheapskates watch ads.

[Serapth]

Okay, so let me get this straight: Live gaming is P2P, but Live Marketplace has dedicated servers?

In essence yes. There are some exceptions, like Chromehounds. Plus obviously, messaging, chat, friends lists, etc... are all dedicated servers aswell.

[phantomhitman]

Silly noobs, you think just online play is all that live offers? They will not reduce the cost, or give it away, unless someone can match the overall live service in one package.

[CptTripps]

I grabbed "Shooter" (SD) last night to watch. Normally I go browse around or play a game until it's ready so I started that process. I got up off my couch to load up Bioshock and by the time I sat back down it said "read to play". Cool indeed, less than two minutes.

[Johan]

Long live Live! I love it. I thought I would hate digital delivery of "stuff" but I am quite happy with it. I'm moving out of the 20th century. I'm no longer a Model-T Ford.

[Devolution]

exactly my thoughts. with CS:S on steam, as soon as the PS3 gets a decent online shooter, MS are surely going to struggle to justify that extra payment.

Maybe it's just me but even if the PS3 geta a decent online run and gun, I'll still say "fuck that" because of the controls. Plus no rumble effects? Get that shit out of here.

[Jack B]

I actually commented to my wife last night how fast the live servers are for downloads. I did the CoD4 Beta last knight in about 20 min and the HD version of 300 in just a couple hours.

That same thing happened to me. We downloaded 300 in HD, but wanted to watch a movie right away and since 300 was 5.6gb's I figured a few hours. Well, my girlfriend started to browse the 259 other movies and before she decided on another non HD movie it said, "300 was ready to watch". I said, WTF....????

We weren't planning to watch until later that night. I thought it might have been a mistake, because it had to be less than 20 or 30 minutes max, but we started to watch and it worked like a champ.

I've rented some other flicks lately like Pans Labrynth in SD and it was "Ready to watch" in about 60 seconds. Live is getting pretty quick. If they'd just launch IPTV, I may drop cable. Here's to hoping IPTV has a good channel lineup, is reasonably priced and is available in my area. A lot to hope for, but we'll see.

As for the movies on-demand. My Comcast only has about 100 movies and my Xbox 360 has 250+. That's impressive. Not sure how many people realize what's been slowly happening... :)