Think Forward

The Move to Dish Network

It took me getting completely fed up with Comcast due to their weak set top box technology and ridiculous prices to decide to move to Dish Network. I always knew that satellite providers had better prices and technology but I wasn't ready to completely change my infrastructure. Comcast again raised their prices so I decided now was the time. So I choose Dish Network. I didn't necessary choose Dish because of their price or large HD programming but because of their DVR.

I have two young children who like to watch a lot of Dora the Explorer and The Backyardigans. So I season pass the shows for them so they always have them to watch.
Now in my previous posts I mentioned I use the Belkin Pure AV remote TV. The only downfall to using that product to move my single set top box content to another room is that both rooms have to watch the same thing. So a typical scenario would be my kids would want to watch Dora in my bedroom and we would want to watch TV in the living room. With Comcast this is not possible. Dish offers a DVR that from a single set top box can drive two TV’s with separate experiences in each room, one HD and one SD. So the scenario that has now been enabled is all our DVR content can sit on one box and be accessed independently from two rooms. Now our kids can watch Dora in the bedroom and we can watch either live TV or DVR shows in the living room. This scenario is literally how I sold my wife on the switch that and the price.

Another attractive feature, which I have not yet had a chance to use, is that Dish did a deal with Archos so that you can transfer your DVR shows to the portable media player to take on the road.

Dish has made some great strides and innovations to really offer services that appeal to families. The next steps I would like to see is the DVR support 2 high definition TV’s, and enable remote access like a Sling Box offering from the DVR content as well. I would also like to see like the Archos deal another deal with a storage server so I can backup or store my DVR shows for archiving purposes.

All being said the switch to Dish was smooth and my experience has been great.

"Analyze This" How Important are Exclusive Video Game Titles

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070312/wen_03.shtml

On how important exclusive titles are this generation: Exclusive titles are important for console differentiation and will continue to be a focus for the proprietary studios of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.

However, I feel title exclusivity for other developers is less important then title differentiation. All three consoles have strengths, and I would advise [developers] to clearly develop with the console in mind, and I would stress differentiation within their titles.

This clearly poses a problem for smaller, more financially strapped developers who don't have the budget to develop what is in essence three separate games. My advice to them would be to really focus on the type of game experience they are hoping to provide for their customers and then pick the best one or two consoles that encompass the capabilities to deliver that experience.

On whether developers still benefit from developing exclusive titles: I think it is more advantageous for developers, especially the smaller, less funded ones, to focus their efforts on one console and deliver on a unique and innovative game experience. That will generate more buzz both in the media and word of mouth and excite retailers.

On console-moving exclusives to keep an eye on this year: Obviously for 360 we are hoping for a totally new and innovative Halo 3. I think Sony needs to knock one out of the park with a PS3 SOCOM and Metal Gear Solid. Nintendo has too many unique opportunities to name them all.