New Xbox Experience videos let you vicariously play dress up

You already know the Xbox 360 is getting new community features, a revamped dashboard, Avatars, and of course Netflix video -- all things we've been excited about since we saw them in action at E3 this year. There hasn't been much to go on since then, but we recently came across some short videos exhibiting Parties (which let users socialize and make plans while engaging in separate games and activities) and Avatar customization options; hopefully they'll hold you over until the features go live November 19th. We won't be held responsible for the brain deterioration caused by the vacuous marketing-speak accompanying the moving images, however. "It is where you get to enjoy entertainment -- that's the vision." Yes, it is.

[cheater912 @ Oct 27th 2008 10:34PM]

The update is going to be good. Lots of new stuff, even though it looks a little worse. Not too fond of the square blocks. Shiny blades are better IMO.

[Flashpoint @ Oct 27th 2008 11:33PM]

I'm waiting for my XBOX360 to get here from Texas. It Red Ringed of Death on me.

As soon as I get it back, I'll be more than ready for this new experience.

[Midknight @ Oct 27th 2008 10:35PM]

don't they realize that just a few small background changes would stiop this from liikung like a total wii ripoff...?

[Chris @ Oct 28th 2008 6:39PM]

you do realize the backgrounds are customizeable right? they just show it with plain white to show the "basic" look

[Erb @ Oct 27th 2008 10:39PM]

If only they had...

SLUMBER PARTIES!!!!!!

[noyp @ Oct 27th 2008 10:58PM]

Like OMG! That would be like so totally awesome!

[Valicore @ Oct 27th 2008 11:23PM]

While we wait for that, we'll have to make do with leaving the mic on while we sleep...

[Erb @ Oct 27th 2008 11:27PM]

You can't forget the bunny pajamas!

[Mam00th @ Oct 27th 2008 10:46PM]

Liger or Tigon?

[Connor @ Oct 27th 2008 10:51PM]

Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this...
But I don't like this. It seems to me that Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo are all trying to be the same thing. Wii being the original with the mii's then came the Sony's life at home thing, and now this. These companies are trying too hard to appeal to everyone, and then make it social like Facebook or something.

I rather keep XBL the same, and not have to pay as much or nothing at all, instead of this.
Just my 2¢.

[El Taco @ Oct 27th 2008 11:59PM]

You think you're the only one who doesnt like it? Cuz I was just thinking I was the only one who DOES like it! I like making my own avatar, it adds a personal touch to it.

[Alex Padilla @ Oct 28th 2008 12:12AM]

Agreed 100%.

The Wii is a smash hit. It appeals to almost everyone (the vast majority of hardcore gamers excluded). It's selling like hotcakes. It has more momentum than the Juggernaut [bitch!]. And because of this, Sony and Microsoft are each moving out of their comfortable territories and trying too hard to adapt to this "new" market demographic.

Microsoft doesn't need to do this. When a parent goes out to buy a kid a videogame console for Christmas or Hannuka or whatever holiday someone celebrates (Festivus, anyone?), that parent is going to be thinking of a Wii first, not of a 360 simply because of a new interface. In my opinion, this NXE is a frivolous attempt to simply a console that was ideally meant for power users but could also be played by anyone, should they have the right game in the disc tray.

Microsoft, just don't screw up the 360's successor with this childish rubbish.

[maveric101 @ Oct 28th 2008 1:02AM]

i use my xbox to play video games with friends and talk to them at the same time. i don't see how this really enhances that, unless it creates a cross-game party system, which would be cool. but really, i don't need to see all my friends avatars running around in some virtual world.

[John @ Oct 28th 2008 7:41AM]

I wouldn't have a problem with it if they at least TRIED to make it look different from Miis (no, making them have bigger bodies and more detailed clothing is not trying hard enough). The faces and scene lighting are identical to Mii. I just wish that Microsoft would try a little harder to be innovative with this stuff, considering that gaming is a creative business.

[Jon Graft @ Oct 28th 2008 11:20AM]

How is Life similar to what the Wii is doing with the Mii? Life is a virtual life, you walk around a made up world, interact with each other, etc. Mii, you have a virtual blocky dude and that's about it. O_O Sounds like two completely different things.

[grull27 @ Oct 27th 2008 10:51PM]

Why don't they release it already?! I'm getting restless.

[vvtopkar @ Oct 27th 2008 10:53PM]

Patience is a virtue, old one.

[lowdef @ Oct 27th 2008 11:36PM]

mccain. cranky. mccain. SMAAAASHHH

[Valicore @ Oct 27th 2008 11:47PM]

Be patient, my friends! My friends it will come!

[one4show @ Oct 28th 2008 4:04AM]

You should have butters freeze you for two weeks just dont forget about him till the year 2546 to have him deal with weirdos and otters

[Someone is here @ Oct 27th 2008 10:52PM]

More or less memory and cpu than the previous dashboard?

[xcrunk @ Oct 27th 2008 10:54PM]

This is how Microsoft turns something good into shit, they get so worried about how others are successful then they attempt to emulate it, and in turn, water down their own brands.

360 was special, it was different, and now their f*cking it up.

Leave the Mii/Avatars to Nintendo.

[JerkfacedFed @ Oct 27th 2008 11:10PM]

you are so dumb.

they are doing an overhaul of the dashboard interface in order to break down the learning curve for casual users, while still leaving the blade interface (guilde button) for the tinkerers. they would NOT alienate their hardcore user base, as they are the reason xbxo 360 even exists. it is the casual user that drives $PROFIT$.

maybe if you finished high school you would understand how buying and selling works.

this is a great idea for all, it maeks the dashboard faster, it is quicker to access everything, and makes enumerating DLC much faster.

there are NO negatives, and you cant deny downloading it or else you cant get on live so stfu or go play your wii

[Anticrawl @ Oct 27th 2008 11:14PM]

I wish people would educate themselves before opening their traps. Avatars are a very small part of this fall's dashboard update, maybe if you weren't such an idiot you'd realize how great the NXE will be.

[Silicon Siren @ Oct 27th 2008 11:18PM]

@xcrunk

It is they're..... enough said.

[Justin @ Oct 27th 2008 11:31PM]

Agreed 100% brother. Leave all that "casual" shit to Nintendo and let them take the heat. 360 is the best and everyone knows it, and there's plenty to go around for everyone all ready. Live Avatars look like a DEAD MOOSE'S LAST SHIT!

[lowdef @ Oct 27th 2008 11:38PM]

i didn't know you could make a dead moose's last shit burp on command!!! shweet dude

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 28th 2008 12:19AM]

You guys realize that this includes MANY other features and IMPROVES PERFORMANCE.

[Oskin @ Oct 28th 2008 4:26AM]

Haven't read much about it but I kind of liked the blades too! Glad about the features I know they've added... I just don't think they should've wasted their time fixing something that wasnt broken in the first place... Anyway i don't care really as long of I don't get lost in the menu like with my PS3! Am I the only one who thinks changing the system preferences on the PS3 is a pain?

[Hife @ Oct 27th 2008 11:14PM]

"It is where you get to enjoy entertainment"

Finally!

Not to bash the NXE, but that has got to be the most Nintendo'ish thing Microsoft has ever said.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Oct 27th 2008 11:16PM]

I entered in to the preview thing that major nelson had going to download this days before it gets released but we'll find out tomorrow who was chosen. Only a thousand people will be chosen to download it. The Registration was full in about a day. I hope I Get picked and if Ido I hope I Won't get the RROD. Problem is they never said when you will download it. Is it the day before or the week before. Who Knows.

[Justin @ Oct 27th 2008 11:29PM]

Screw this crap, Live Avatars are a JOKE and an insult to the dedicated Microsoft/XBL fans. They're bull shit, look horrible, are a rip-off of Nintendo's Mii's, the list goes on...

[phinn @ Oct 27th 2008 11:43PM]

Wow this has gotta be the gayest thing I've ever seen on Xbox. Whata cheap Mii rip off and it's not even as good looking. Lol.

[Quikboy @ Oct 28th 2008 1:09AM]

The Wii Miis are good looking? Seriously?

You can change the color of your shirt, and even less color for your pants. There's your clothing options. Changing the face aspects has a lot of crude parts. If you ask me, at least the Xbox Avatars are better than the Miis on the Wii. Not that I'll be using it often.

I wish they had given a more graphically realistic human-look, similar to the avatars on the PlayStation Home.

[SlayerS @ Oct 27th 2008 11:45PM]

Now I remember why I canceled my Xbox Live subscription renewal.

What the fuck, Microsoft.

[Valicore @ Oct 28th 2008 12:28AM]

Yeah, you didn't renew because you spent all your f-ing birthday money on hella cheap weed and couldn't afford it.

[John @ Oct 28th 2008 7:29AM]

Californians need to GET. OUT.

[Aguiluz @ Oct 27th 2008 11:46PM]

I was leaning on the XB360, but that thing turned me off. :/


Not to bash on it, but to be honest.

[abib @ Oct 28th 2008 2:27AM]

you purposely miss out on one of the best contender in current generation because of some stupid avatar that you DONT HAVE to use and not in anyway interfere with the console gaming capabilities?

thank god for that! xbox live doesnt need another idiots on its network.

[Anticrawl @ Oct 27th 2008 11:53PM]

It is incredible the number of morons commenting on this article. How about some of you read up on the NXE and then form an educated opinion. I for one am glad most of you have this "omgawdz this r 2 gayz" mentality, get off my Xbox Live, we need more mature gamers in the community anyway.

[El Taco @ Oct 27th 2008 11:55PM]

Is it just me, or is November 19 the day the Wii came out? Coincidence, or no?

[MyHeadisFed @ Oct 28th 2008 12:09AM]

Who cares? As long as it plays the games I'm fine with it.

[c-dub @ Oct 28th 2008 1:00AM]

Cosign..as long as I can get on COD4 & 5(6 when it drops), and madden I'm good.

[Vander @ Oct 28th 2008 12:04PM]

That's right, people get upset about this update like if they where to spent 2 hours talking about the f * menu
Console: On
Controller: On
Xbox Live: Online
Let's f * play!

[Darren @ Oct 28th 2008 12:10AM]

Wii.

[Valicore @ Oct 28th 2008 12:26AM]

What in the hell are you all so damn pissed off about? "Damn it, if they keep adding features that will make more people buy it we'll have to switch to some obscure forum supported device so we can stay cool and hella 1337." A lot of you are acting like they should cater to you only. You're a consumer, a consumer who probably has gotten everything they could possibly sell you. Now that there is saturation in your demographic, they have to broaden they appeal to bring in new money. It's embarrassing to see so many people bitch about Microsoft adding stuff like avatars because of the fact that it appeals to a different demographic. Kinda like going from being the adored only child to the big bro/big sys. You act out when you see the new baby (or new demographic) getting attention once only afforded to you. That being said, Microsoft has a tendency to add useless, memory intensive bloatware to their products as time passes, and even I am a bit concerned that they'll go from doing a few things really well to trying to do all sorts of things but doing them badly.

[Robert @ Oct 28th 2008 1:13AM]

I agree 100%.
Is anyone really gonna care about avatars while playing Gears 2?
Hell no!!
All you avatar haters are probably gonna spend time customizing them anyways.

[absinthe party @ Oct 28th 2008 7:44AM]

I want to say that I don't care about cute-ing up some avatars, but at the same time I find myself spending hours at a time in Saint's Row 2 creating the perfect sweater vest/loafer ensemble to bust caps in bitches, so maybe I'm the target demographic?

[AJR @ Oct 28th 2008 1:29AM]

Personally the more I look at the pics of the new dashboard, I like it more and more. It's campy, yes, but I like it anyway.

[Bo @ Oct 28th 2008 3:01AM]

i wanna be LACKLUSTER