The Xbox Live Video Marketplace is growing, and growing fast. It’s actually digital distribution at its best if you happen to be a gamer. Jon Ferro, executive VP of Lionsgate, says “the Xbox gamer is the same moviegoer who wants to watch Saw III or Crank”. He’s got a point, it’s not like fans of a modern chainsaw massacre will rest their souls by watching Casablanca right? No offense, it’s a great movie but really, besides the love for something, there’s nothing in common there.
Ever since Microsoft launched this service, all partners involved have been awed by the power and reach of the Video Marketplace. Film distributors such as Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures alongside MTV Networks are already experiencing the immense potential this service is offering. Comments like “Xbox 360 has become one of the top distributors of our content direct to consumers’ TV sets over the internet” and “in nearly two months, Xbox has become our second highest performing digital distributor” have convinced Lionsgate, distributor of films like the Saw series, the Blair Witch Project and Crank, to join the party.
So, scaring the bejesus out gamers with certain games from 3rd party game developers just doesn’t seem to be quite enough… we now have to feel rising blood pressure while watching Saw III just to faint in the middle of our living-room and splash the carpet in a drewling fest of edibles. Yeah, we’re apparently crazy enough to eat before watching such a movie. Oh, and all this in HD. Yummy!
Originally Written By: Sebastian Nordlund
