Posted December 31, 1969 by Brian Callam

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, began discussing the newest breakthroughs in Microsoft's software and hardware by saying that 2004 was a "Great year of moving toward the digital lifestyle."

With over 6.3 million people that have Halo 2 and over 69 million hours of online Halo 2 game play through Xbox Live, as well as MMORPGs like World of Warcraft producing over 200,000 users Bill Gates hit the nail on the head when he stated that, "Gaming is becoming a social thing." People have taken gaming to a new level as they connect with their friends as well as people from around the globe. This type of gaming is the present and future of gaming.

Microsoft is moving up in the world of console gaming with the Xbox. Just last month the Xbox outsold SONY's Playstations for the first time ever. With huge hits like Halo 2 selling in the millions it is easy to see why.

Console gaming as well as computer gaming is headed in a direction of high-definition in games as well as targeting all age groups. Photographs and music are also going to become a major part of gaming as the games become more and more customizable to make everyone's gaming experience unique.

Microsoft previewed one such game in which customizing was one of the major aspects of game play. Forza Motor Sport is a racing simulation designed with the thought that people are unique so why shouldn't their games be unique to the user as well. The game offers a variety of methods to customize your vehicle. These include adding aftermarket parts which were designed from over 150 companies to make the parts and customizations realistic as well as different paint jobs.

The Xbox 2 we are sad to say was not unveiled by Bill Gates in his speech. Only the direction and views of where gaming is going for Microsoft as well as the industry as a whole were delivered by him. While this was a let down, watching Bill Gates take on Conan O'Brien while they previewed Forza Motor Sport was a great experience.