Microsoft will be releasing exclusive interactive animations, comedies, dramas, unscripted events, and live events on the Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft devices called Xbox Originals according to Xbox.com, the Xbox’s official website. There are 12 Xbox Original projects currently in the works.

Helmed by Xbox Entertainment Studios, Xbox Originals hope to deliver a, “one-of-a-kind entertainment experience you won’t find anywhere else” by creating original content with interactive elements “tailored to each show.”

Expansion into the television medium is part of Microsoft’s continued plan to create not just the next Xbox console, but an entertainment device that spans all consumer needs.

“Gaming is the heart and soul of the Xbox platform, and the objective of Xbox Originals is to bring more value to fans” Nancy Tellem, president of Xbox Entertainment Studios, said. “We believe Xbox Originals should embrace the way our fans think about traditional TV.”

A slew of big names are already working on content for Xbox Originals, including Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios (creators of Robot Chicken), Brett Conrad (producer of Sons of Anarchy), Sarah Silverman, Kudos (production company behind The Hour), and Simon Chinn (producer of Searching for Sugar Man).

The twelve projects currently in the works are:

Halo television series
Every Street United
Bonnaroo
Signal to Noise / Atari: Game Over
Humans
Halo digital feature
Deadlands
Extraordinary Believers
Fearless
Gun Machine
Untitled JASH Comedy/Variety Half Hour
Winterworld

According to Tellem, “[Xbox Originals are] the beginning of a long journey,” and one Xbox Entertainment Studios is “incredibly excited” to start traversing.

My Opinion

Well, I see some goods and I see some bads here. I’m all for a Halo series of any kind, but I can’t imagine Spielberg or Scott will have too much to do with whatever winds up on Xbox Live. They are busy people, and their names are worth more than their involvement to Microsoft. Still, original Halo content is forever a plus.

My biggest worry is the interactive elements. When I watch television, I never think, “this would be better if I had a game controller in my hand and had to push buttons,” and given the newness of this and the want to abuse shiny, new gimmicks, I can’t help but be wary of the first few things we’ll see.

I also wonder what this will do to the price of Xbox Live. I don’t balk at the $60 a year, but I sure don’t want it to go up. I don’t believe I’ll bother with most of this content, and so I don’t want to wind up paying for something I won’t use.