Xbox Live's beta test of 1 vs 100 last night was an unmitigated success. Granted it WAS a beta test and a lot (a large number) of users have no real concept of what a beta test is. Yes it ended up being limited to about 50k users and the audio commentary from the Game Host was choppy or missing at times. However within the bounds of a beta test it was incredible. The game play itself was flawless. The questions were fun and extremely varied in their topics.
Players appeared to be grouped in parties of 4. These parties could be split up in the actual game play, one of our foursome was in the mob for one round, but visually would stay together. In addition to the mob there was the One (with whom it seems the Game Host could have a private chat with and gather personal info to share with the rest of us). Most of the people were in the crowd which seemed to be just as much fun as the mob - with less pressure. Also after the first round or two chat was enabled and we were able to speak with one another while playing. I was very fortunate to have been grouped with a fun person, who was quickly added to my friends list.
In terms of advertising potential it is huge. The whole session was sponsored by sprint and through out the 110 minute playing time we were shown commercials on 'big screens' in the crowd area. There are varied possibilities for product placement here, they just remain to be utilized.
I hope that Microsoft will go ahead do some sort of stats tracking - similar to what Bungee does with their Halo product. It would get great to keep track of all your stats after games, see where you placed in the crowd, compared to the mob, etc, in single rounds, a night, or over all.
When this offering is ironed out so that everyone can play it could be one big group, OR split up in say 50k (pick a number) so that the chances of being in the Mob for big prizes are greater. I'd also like to see this taken further to bring other games shows. I seriously see that there is a possibility for this to replace prime time tv viewing (pay attention networks.....stop shoveling that crap at us!!)
This will be a major coup for Microsoft and perhaps get recognition for Xbox Live as the great platform it is.

from the RNC newsletter and...this is why i've stopped listening to any broadcasts from after 1963. they just get my blood boiling.

The uproar over $165 million in bonuses being dispensed to employees of AIG, the company receiving the largest amount of federal financial bailout funds, is another indictment of the rudderless Barack Obama White House.
American taxpayers are rightly outraged. AIG has received $170 billion in public funds to clear up its bad investment losses -- giving the American public 80% ownership of the firm. Now these public funds are going toward lining this failed company's employees' deep pockets.
And Democrats in Washington, however loud they may protest this use of taxpayers' funds, are directly responsible for this financial fiasco.
President Obama, who never ran any organization of any size before being elected to be the chief executive of the United States, continues to underwhelm as crisis after crisis reveals his lack of experience, judgment, and character.
He and his handpicked Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, are trying to lay blame anywhere but upon themselves for not limiting compensation payouts as a condition for receiving public funds.
But the truth is that the Obama Administration requested the exemption for AIG bonuses.
Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, inserted an amendment in the $787 billion boondoggle at the urging of the Obama team to ensure that.
Can you guess who received the most in campaign contributions from AIG in 2008? That's right -- Chris Dodd, who received over $103,000 in 2008, and almost a quarter of a million dollars since 2003.
Second on that list? Barack Obama, who also received over $100,000 in campaign cash...