RSSMicrosoft preps gamers for the Xbox Experience
By Tim Conneally | Published October 9, 2008, 2:35 PM
At last July's E3, Microsoft first announced its concept of an avatar-based community for online gaming, along with the ability to install games to the hard drive. At the Tokyo Game Show, the experience got a launch date: November 19.
With what's now being called the "Xbox Experience," gamers will be able to create customized avatars (similar to, but more tweakable than Nintendo's Miis) that can host "Live Parties" or engage in one-to-one chats with other users. These avatars will also be fixtures of new massively multi-player social games that are expected to arrive by the holidays like Scene It? Box Office Smash and Lips, a multi-player Karaoke game not unlike Singstar.
These additions fall under the well-worn "casual gaming" banner carried almost exclusively by the Nintendo Wii through this generation of consoles. Microsoft has stacked up an offering that includes: the lowest price for a console ($199 Arcade Edition), a large and active online community, and a dense library of streaming multimedia content, all wrapped up in a casual gaming-style environment.
If this does not secure at least some interest in the Casual Gamer demographic that GameStop's Daniel A. DeMatteo told The New York Times was fully driving console sales last holiday season, then we will be able to say once and for all that the Wii has changed the gaming market.
At least Microsoft is adding features while Sony's taking away features: PS2 compatibility (even in 160gb version), SD card compatibility, USB's, etc.
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|That is the ugliest, most childish looking crap...leave it to Microsoft to try ripping off the Wii. I definitely won't be installing this junk on my 360.
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|you can dump the game onto the HD, but you would still need the disc in the tray for authentication.
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|I'm intrigued about being able to install games to the HD. It would mean less disc swapping and faster load times. However, I wonder how they're gonna protect against renting games and dumping them to the HD. Not that I'd complain about that :)
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|You still need to put the disc in to play.
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|I'm sold on the ability to rip games to the HD. With a 360 that's located behind a closed cabinet it'll be a lot easier to switch games without the hassle. That'll be perfect--already have my entire movie collection stored on the media center pc & netflix access via 360. XBox is just used for games & playing music mostly anyway.
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|I'm a PS3 owner, no xbox nor wii... But am quite grateful for m$ and nintendo products.
What fan boy knob jobs out there don't realize that competition among the big boys (sony, nintendo, m$) heightens product quality and lowers price all around!
PS Fan boys: Remove heads from a** and realize Sony would rape you in price & quality without competition!
M$ Fan boys: Remove heads from a** and realize M$ would rape you in price & quality without competition!
Nintendo Fan boys: Remove heads from a** and realize Nintendo would rape you in price & quality without competition!
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|I am all for this.. Im sure its going to be voluntary. I love the fact I can stream my netflix movies when this comes out.
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|Pathetic. This is what Microsoft's trying to create to face off against PlayStation Home? No thank you xbox live I'll be playing for FREE on Home. "But- but- but Live is so much better even though you pay for it!" ha; yeah right. you wouldn't be sayin that if it was the other way around. PLAYSTATION FOREVER!
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|Truly, you are an idiot.
Fanboy = Fail
Home is still imaginary, its not out officially yet, so it has nothing to go up against it...and Life is a joke.
Plus the NXE has NOTHING to do with HOME, MS wants to go after the casual market and fix the dreadful blade system. (It was slow and cluttered)
MS didn't create the avatars either that was Rare's doing.
I think you may be 12 or you just act it can't really tell...
You get what you pay for...
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|I love my PS3, but I also own a 360 and I love playing online using Live...very cool no probs (too many little kids though)
Home will be great, for now PS3 is just as great as my 360, especially with the addition of trophies! (achievments) I'm almost level 5 already!
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|No thanks Microsoft, I'll be unplugging my 360 from the internet if they try to force this childish Wii crap. Hopefully it will be voluntary though.
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|From what I've read, you can choose to stay with the classic interface. So the avatars and stuff would be voluntary.
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|OK, so because they will add stuff to the live experience your refusing the update?.
I am sure that most of this will be voluntary.
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|The update would be welcoming but I wouldn't select the theme.
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|Stuff like the silly avatars they basically ripped off from the Wii, and I think the new interface sucks. I believe the avatars are optional, but the new interface is not. Personal opinion of course but yeah I'm refusing it. Besides, it adds absolutely nothing I would want anyway. Netflix and a bunch of other spamware.
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|I've been hearing the opposite, when you update the old interface is gone. There is some stupid mini version of it you can use but it's not even remotely the same thing.
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|You know... For some reason I don't quite trust you...
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|The new update also allows you to install games to the hdd, avatars, netflix a more casual environment, new gui.
Also you can access the old style blades by using the guide button
here's it in action to give you a better idea, honestly it looks pretty sleek but you can decide for yourself
http://kotaku.com/506092...rience-for-a-short-ride
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|Well, I could be wrong...I think that happened once before. But here's a link I found that has a bit of info: http://xbox360.qj.net/Ma...se-it-/pg/49/aid/122402
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|Major Nelson was wrong, it is mandatory but certain aspects of it are not, such as the avatars.
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|Wii crap or not, I'm looking forward to the Netflix integration.
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|i remember hearing that you will still be able to keep the old blad format aft the update, and avitars arnt required
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|Thanks, but it was actually a lame attempt of a joke regarding your nick...
http://scripturetext.com/1_john/2-22.htm
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|Installing games to the hard drive should speed up loading times but that's about it. You still have to put the disc in for the game you want to play. As for Netflix I'm not interested and don't want it, don't want the avatars, don't like the new bare interface.
As for the old blades guide, it just brings them up in a little window which is really pointless. So like I say I'm going to skip this. Personal opinion of course, I'm sure many people will like it.
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|i think avatars are a rip of the up and coming playstation home.
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