springupdate
Latest
MVPs get Spring Update early
Those Microsoft MVPs sure like to brag. Godfree from Gamertag Radio took time out of his busy schedule just to let us know that he and the other MVPs have already received the impending spring dashboard update. You know, the one that has Live Messenger and an improved Marketplace and all that jazz? Yup, he's already got it. While we're a little miffed that we have to wait, all is not lost, as Godfree promises to give us all some first hand impressions during the next episode of GTR. For now, we'll just have to play more Guitar Hero II and dream of the Halo 3 beta.
Spring dash update features revealed?
Well, well, what do we have here? Word on the street is that Gamespot accidently posted a complete list of the new Spring dashboard update's features and even posted a demo video (embedded above), but then promptly pulled the article. But, unforgiving as the internet is, they didn't yank all the information before everyone and their mothers copied down all the features and mirrored Gamespot's video to YouTube. And our friends over at MyGamerCard.net were nice enough to round up all of the article's information in one convenient place. Among what Gamespot posted for new dash features is Windows Live Messenger integration, a new Marketplace blade, more informative "Achievement Unlocked" pop-ups, and a low power mode for downloading Marketplace goods. Gamespot's article and video also state that the Spring update will be dropping on May 7th. Whether Gamespot posted the news prematurely or were posting a very late (and evil) April Fool's joke, we aren't sure. But if this is what the Spring dash update has to offer then what new features are you looking forward to?[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]
Major Nelson teases new Dashboard details on Xbox 360 Fancast
If you haven't been listening to our very own Xbox 360 Fancast, you really ought to be! The team at Xbox 360 Fanboy just celebrated their tenth installment with a very special guest: Spring Dashboard rumors! Oh, and Major Nelson was there too. First, the bad news. According to Major (at around 0:39:45), the oft-requested clan support functionality ain't gonna be coming in the impending Spring update. That doesn't mean individual titles can't use the available API to support clans, but don't expect to see Dashboard level functionality.Now the good news: Major says (at around 0:40:30) that the update will include "simple things that I've been asking for since launch." 360 Fanboy put their thinking caps on and came up with a pretty convincing guess. Adding some "Play Game" verbiage to determine what game is in the drive is a feature that Major's been vocal about and, they remind us, early Dashboard screenshots (like the one pictures above) included this functionality. It's been a long time coming, so let's hope it is coming.Listen -- Xbox 360 Fancast 010 featuring XBL's Major NelsonSpeculate -- Spring update may upgrade "Play Game" verbiageDenied -- What's not in the spring update: clan support
What's not in the spring update: clan support
It's springtime again, which can mean only one thing. No, not the impending arrival of young couples making out behind the bushes at the park, it's time for Xbox 360 Spring update rumors. Clan support has been a rumored addition for a while now, and there are even some alleged pictures of it in action (see above). Before we define this a little further, let's just get this out of the way: clan support is not part of the upcoming spring update. This was confirmed by Major Nelson himself during our latest Xbox 360 Fancast.Now for clarification's sake, it's perfectly possible for any given game to have clan support. As such, screens like the one above may be legitimate. However, Major Nelson informed us that Microsoft has no plans to integrate clan support into the 360 itself. In other words, there are no plans to add universal clan support that spans multiple games. Clan support is offered by Microsoft, but it is up to developers to implement it into individual titles.So, there you go, no clan support in the spring update. Of course, that doesn't stop us from speculating about other features.[Thanks, todd]
Paradise by the dashboard light
Things to do in what are hopefully the final hours before the long-awaited Spring dashboard update becomes a reality:1. Watch and re-watch the above video walkthrough of the new features.2. Stare at the download screen for nostalgic purposes.3. Make aimless blog posts [Thanks SickNick](Update: The video is embedded after the break on accounta the autoplayin' and what have you. Seriously, GameVideos dudes, this should have been covered in Flash Embedded Video Player 101.)
