The Xbox 360 PR Beast

Microsoft's press conference was different from Sony's in only a few small ways. I use the term "press conference" very loosely, because these aren't really conferences so much as ludicrously expensive infomercials.

It opened the same way, with mind-numbing techno music but instead of throbbing abstract designs, MS had bumper sticker slogans painting the walls in white light.

"Spend more quality time with your avatar."

"Trash talk things over."

Oh, Microsoft, you cut-ups!

But my favorite slogan, by far, was "Someone is always better. Be that someone."

That statement makes absolutely no sense. If everyone is that "someone"…

Microsoft's PR exercise was more polished than Sony's. Not by much, but the MS boys can at least act better than their Sony counterparts.

Probably, the only crucial piece of information worth mentioning about the "conference" is that Microsoft stated officially that the Xbox 360 will be backwards compatible; meaning the Xbox 360 will be able to play Xbox games.

Aside from that, it was just another loud and annoying sales pitch; part of the 'Mine is bigger than yours' mentality of big corporations.

For now, though, I'm going to smoke my cigarettes and sleep for as long as possible while trying to ignore the depravity and senseless excess of an industry that wants to be taken seriously, yet can't get out of the frat boy mentality.

Oh yeah, and The Killers still suck.

By William Vitka