[E3] Xbox 360 gets avatar system, new dashboard

[estranged]

Looks quite nice to me. Can't wait for it :yes:

Seconded. Current dash looks a bit dated imo. Nice to get a change.

[Unimatrix Xero]

ohh WOW i like that!!! gimme gimme gimme!!!!

[insomniac9]

Wow! I like the look of the new dashboard, I'm fed up of the current one.

[hjf288]

How I interpreted the apple statement was: OMG THEY STOLE COVERFLOW!!!! APPLE FANBOYS UNITE!

I think it looks sweet and cant wait...

[Ayepecks]

I liken the new dashboard to the DiRT's dashboard if anybody remembers it. I think that is the key reason why I will enjoy this new one. Everybody raved about DiRT's dashboard before even getting into the game, but when it comes to the 360, complaints are rampant. I know there are so many things wrong with that comparison, but no matter what MS had to show, people are going to complain.

So why didn't they talk about some of the stuff Major Nelson did that is pretty huge like hard drive installs?

I don't really understand your comparison because I'm not really sure what you're talking about.

Like I said, though, I'm sure this new dashboard will eventually grow on me. I haven't got to use it myself, either, so I'm sure it'll just take a little bit of getting used to.

[Brad.]

I don't really understand your comparison because I'm not really sure what you're talking about.

Like I said, though, I'm sure this new dashboard will eventually grow on me. I haven't got to use it myself, either, so I'm sure it'll just take a little bit of getting used to.

Basically he meant that whatever MS do when changing things, people will always give the ideas stick.

Poor comparison, but he admitted it :p

[HawkMan]

I don't really understand your comparison because I'm not really sure what you're talking about.

Like I said, though, I'm sure this new dashboard will eventually grow on me. I haven't got to use it myself, either, so I'm sure it'll just take a little bit of getting used to.

because it's a bad comparison.

YEah sure the DiRT menu may have looked cool in some way. but damn, all those animations and the slow camera flowing from yoru selection to the next.

It's the very manifest of annoying slow to use GUI's. people want to play the game, they don't want to spend 10 minutes in the enu first because someone though it was cool to have long ass slow animation between every menu choice.

at first I feared the new dasboard ight suffer from this slowness due to the speed the ites scrolled in the "flip 3D" interface, but it's no that slow and that's not the main part of the menu either so I think it'll work out, and if there are complaints I'm sure MS will increse the animation speed like they did with the blades.

[rusonjitsu]

Marc Whitten Letter on the New Xbox Experience

Today, Marc Whitten shared the following letter with us concerning the new Xbox experience:

Dear Xbox LIVE Member,

When we launched Xbox 360 in November 2005, Xbox LIVE was integrated directly into the console. Back then, Xbox 360 was the first system to deliver access to experiences beyond just the disc in the tray. With the Xbox guide and dashboard you had access to everything on your console as well as your community.

We also imagined that Xbox experience would continuously improve over time, through the power of software.

Since launch, you?ve always pushed us to continuously innovate. It is because you spoke with one loud voice that we added new features like background downloading, 1080p support, movies and TV shows, video chat, a Marketplace blade and instant messaging.

Over time, as we?ve delivered more and more content into the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, we?ve heard from many of you that it has become increasingly difficult to find the games and content you want.

And that brings us to today.

Because of your feedback, we started rethinking the entire Xbox experience. What we discovered was that we could not only provide a better experience for you, but also something that reaches out to new audiences.

What John Schappert unveiled for the world on stage at E3 was just a sneak preview, so I wanted to share some deeper details on some of the new features in the new Xbox experience.

Here is a look at some additional features you will find interesting:

Play from hard drive. Copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive. Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.

Access Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web. Browse and purchase Marketplace content whenever you want from Xbox.com and it downloads automatically to your console. Purchase that new map, television episode, the latest Xbox LIVE Arcade game or set up a movie to watch when you get home from work.

Dashboard built into the new Xbox Guide. For everyone who loves the blades interface, it?s not going away; they are now built directly in to the new Xbox guide. Every feature and option is available right from the guide. You can even access your full games library at all times. No matter where you are (in dash or in game), immediately call up your games played list and directly launch a game.

LIVE Party system. Create a party of up to eight friends, and stay with them from one game to another, or watch a Netflix movie together, or share a slideshow of your personal photos. It works with all Xbox 360 titles, not just upcoming games. LIVE Party allows up to eight people to chat in the dashboard, so you can meet up before playing.

Xbox LIVE Primetime. This whole new category of games is going to give you more reasons to get online with your friends. Games will support everything you?d expect, like Achievements and leader boards, but many of these games will include real prizes. You can invite your friends, and even set a reminder for an upcoming show. Each game is broadcast simultaneously, so everyone is answering the same questions. Many events will have a live host, calling the shots as they happen.

Avatars. Your online identity started as a Gamertag - it then grew into a personalized Gamercard. Now, it has evolved even further into avatars. You can express your style, check out new outfits and share this with the community. Avatars will also be integrated into Xbox LIVE Arcade games, LIVE Party, as well as retail games.

New display support. Because you asked for it, we are adding 16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440x900 or 1680x1050.

This is only the beginning. Over the next few months, we will share more details on the upcoming changes.

See you online,

Marc Whitten

Gamertag- Notwen

Source

[giga Veteran]

The new guide with all the blades looks decent:

[Neo003]

Look's cool, better than those kiddy colour they had before. I hope they made some changed the way you an customize the theme and wallpaper.

[|Rapture|]

do not want D:

[Guest]

The update and dashboard both look and sound astounding, props to Microsoft.

Now we must play the waiting game :(

[PaulCabby]

The new guide with all the blades looks decent:

aaah much better.

i quite like the kiddy coloured dashboard we have now

[Slane]

I like the current dashboard, it just needs to be updated. Don't really care, since dashboard isn't where I spend the majority of my time, unless I'm looking for a new arcade game. So it really doesn't bother me.

[null.]

The avatars definitely look like the ones on the Wii, but in HD.

The menu in the screenshot looks quite similar to the one found on the Zune. Looks quite nice, more simple, a bit like XMB.

[Ayepecks]

The new guide with all the blades looks decent:

That indeed does look very nice, actually. I'm glad they have a shutdown button right there -- I've wanted one of those.

[Michael1406]

I like the look of this, I didn't like the blades when I had a 360.

[+Mystic MVC]

That indeed does look very nice, actually. I'm glad they have a shutdown button right there -- I've wanted one of those.

Because holding the guide button down a couple seconds longer is worse? :p

[Ayepecks]

It's just silly, I think. I've always said that. Why not just have a button?

[AimLXJ]

I like it :)

[QuietStorm21A]

I luv cant wait i am totally hyped about this new update. I am glad MS is listening to the gamers about the dashboard and making it better overall.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

Apple? How? :blink:

maybe because Apple uses and overkills the Grey look on everything they own?

I would like it better if they would add a background to it.

[DELTETHISACCOUNT]

I'm not too sure if I'm digging the update. If the new layout proves to be more functional and easier to handle, then I'm all for it. But from what I'm seeing, I don't know if I can dig it...

And the avatars... no. I pray that they provide an option to disable it.

[Elessar]

All i care about is that they fix the lagginess currently present when using the dashboard.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Love it :)

I hope we can change the colour of the background though, while it looks good with the 360 colour code, I want to make good use of the contrast for my tv lol :p

I'll miss the blades though, but I think it's just amazing how MS have pretty much relaunched the console almost. They've brought so much new life to it :yes: