One on one interview

I completed two interviews, asking both gamers the same set of questions to try and see what they think to the added features on consoles.

Interviewee 1: 21, male, administration clerk

Interviewee 2: 17, male, student

Q1. What game console(s) do you use and how often?

I use Xbox and play basically everyday.

I use Xbox and Wii, mostly Xbox though, most days of the week. I rarely use the Wii so I’ll just talk about Xbox during this.

Q2: What features of the console do you use and how often?

When the features first came out I went on them to see what they were but I don’t anymore. Zune is too slow, it gets frustrating and the movies you can rent are mostly in HD which is pointless if you don’t have an HD TV, also downloading the HD movies is slow and irritating so I don’t use it. As for Facebook and Twitter, I don’t use Twitter anyway but the Facebook is like a limited version of it so you can’t access everything or upload photos or anything so I don’t see the point in using it when the original one on the computer is so much easier. So basically I don’t use any.

I use the online gaming depending on if I payed for the subscription. Or the market place a few times a year maybe, the music player and radio quite often and I used the Sky TV once but I didn’t like it.

Q3: What features do you think could be improved and why?

I don’t want any improved. In fact my improvement would be to remove them. A console is for gaming, not for social networking or downloading a film.

I’d remove the Facebook and Twitter applications as I think they’re pointless and unnecessary. I like the market place as I think its good to find out about new games, however I’d remove the advertising. Sky TV was difficult to navigate and slow loading, I got a free trial of it but I wouldn’t pay for it as its so expensive.              

Q4: What features do you think could be added to improve the console?

Like I said, I’d remove the features altogether.

I don’t think I’d add anything really. I think an Xbox is for playing the games, I don’t see the necessity of anything added on unless its gaming related.

Q5: What other media forms do you use whilst using the game console?

I might have my computer on so I can look up hints and tips for games, find out achievements, that kind of thing, although I now use my Ipod for that but it’s the same kind of thing. I might have music on, although on some games it’s already available, like it links to your music player or songs it thinks you’ll like or to your favorite radio station and plays that. Although on some games it’s really annoying to have music on as well, it distracts away from it so I just turn it off.

Occasionally music from my laptop or the internet for cheats on games.

Q6: What are your favorite games to play by yourself? With a friend? Online?

By myself I play role play games like fable or oblivion. With friends I prefer action and sport like PES, Forza and Gears of War. Online, Halo, Call of Duty, Bad Company, more action games.

Role play games when I’m by myself as it gives me a sense of accomplishment, like Mass Effect. Other than that I like first person shooters such as Gears of War, Call of Duty and Halo. With friends I like Guitar Hero and Gears of War and Halo. As for online, I think it depends on how big the game is, I like massive games where you can play against loads of people at a time.

Q7: How often do you play online against others?

Rarely. If I have friends over and we get bored of playing each other then we might play online against other people, but I find people online annoying. They slag everyone off, betray you, if you don’t react quickly enough they kick you out the game and at the same time they yell abuse down the headset, being unnecessarily aggressive and annoying. Having said that, if you chose carefully what to play online you can actually have some decent games. Like Battle Stations Pacific. It’s a niche game so you don’t get as many of the idiots. Plus it’s complicated and hard so people want to play a proper game, it’s not one that you can pick up for a quick 5 minute game.

If I have the Xbox live subscription then I play online all the time, however it’s expensive so I cant always afford it.

Q8: Do you feel that the added features on the console have changed how you use the original format?

As I don’t use the features on the Xbox, it’s not changed at all. If the original formats weren’t around or were difficult to access then I’d most likely use the Xbox. I hate the MSN feature, I forgot to say that before. The conversations keep popping up in the middle of a game and it’s just irritating. I play Xbox to remove myself from the outside world, I don’t want to be easily contactable. The sky TV would be useful if I had sky already, however it’s so expensive if you get it just for the Xbox so I don’t use it. I can only think that the sky would be the only thing that changed anything though. Also, all these features are on Xbox Live which is assuming you have an internet connection. So if you don’t, you won’t be able to use them anyway.

Maybe made me use the radio less? I don’t think I actually used the radio that much before anyway but its convenient that its on the Xbox so I guess I use that less.