Order Pizza Hut from Your Xbox 360 with Kinect - Yes, This is Sadly Real

[Shawn Zipay]

No, the Xbox 360 is not a gaming console. Yes, there are ads all over it that promote a lot of non-gaming related companies and products. Typically though, the ads are usually contained to the world of entertainment.

Sadly, today saw a couple of new ads popping up. First off, Kirk Hamilton at Kotaku noted that a Dashboard ad for McDonald's was nothing more than a continuous loop of people eating a Wrap. Alright, sure that's bad enough but it gets even more sad.

Pizza Hut and Microsoft have teamed up to launch a dedicated application for Xbox Live that will let users order food directly through their consoles. Yes, the return of EverQuest II's /pizza command is back for an all-new age.

The dedicated app lets users make use of their Kinects to virtually customize their pizza. You can also use voice commands if you're feeling extra lazy and can't even move a limb. The app also allows you to link your Xbox Live and Pizza Hut accounts to streamline the order process in the future.

You can even share your orders with your friends on Facebook as it is integrated directly into the app itself. Let's see what Major Nelson has to say about this partnership.

"We're always looking at ways to give our audience more of what they're interested in," he said. "If you look at our audience, they love pizza. I mean, who doesn't? It has international appeal, and Pizza Hut is a recognized brand that matches up well with the Xbox brand."

"Instead of popping open a computer — maybe lots of people don't have a computer, or don't have one sitting in same room as their console — it allows users another way to place an order."

Yeah, another way to place an order. Screw human interaction by placing a PHONE CALL when you can flail your arms in front of a TV to slather a tenth layer of meat on your extra-large pie.

Even Michael Pachter agrees with me. Right?

"[It's] not at all important. I can do it with my cell phone, don't see how it makes things easier to do so through the Xbox. Sounds really lame, with extremely limited market potential."

I really cannot wait to see what wonderful ads the Dashboard on the next Xbox will bring to the table.

I want you, the readers of this article to go back and read this story story again in the most defeated voice you can possibly imagine. Because that is exactly how I felt as a gamer and as a human being when typing this up.

(via Polygon)

[K-16]

I don't have to re-read it. I already had an extremely jaded voice in my mind narrating this article as I read it the first time, before I even ran into your request.

[papasmurf128]

This helps me confirm the fact that I will get a PS4, no matter what the new Xbox has to offer. I fear things won't change even with another "multimedia" console from Microsoft. What next, an accessory that helps feed you the pizza so you don't have to move at all?

[Shawn Zipay]

Essentially how I feel as well, papsmurf. MS has extended its reach far beyond what I care to have in a gaming console, if you can even call it that anymore.

Though Sony does have some entertainment focused stuff in the PS3, it's nowhere near as horrendous as the 360. They just throw the ads in your face as soon as you boot into the Dashboard, every damn time.

[K-16]

I'm beginning to think that if this keeps up, Sony Computer Entertainment will disban their entire marketing and advertising department and layoff its staff, because they will no longer need them with Microsoft's counter-productive shenanigans. At least until Nintendo regains confidence from third-parties and PC/Android alternatives settle into the market, SCE can potentially lead in the next-generation competition. Quite frankly, Sony can silently watch Microsoft implode from the sidelines ironically having done nothing to instigate it.

This looks like a prime opportunity to make a review where two journalists will order the same pizza, one from the Xbox 360, and the other from a phone while in the middle of a game. I want to see who finishes their order first. I have difficulty seeing the app being less of a hassle compared to the phone. I would love to read their findings.