New Xbox Experience - Dashboard & OS Upgrade

[Melbosa]

Starting to see some reviews and such on the new features coming.  I'm sure you have seen some preliminary articles or vids earlier, but thought I would start a thread as this is coming down to us 360 users next week.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=290745&page=1

This article focuses on the new "optional" install your game on your Hard drive for faster load times.  Interesting to see what games this helps with and what it doesn't.  And notably on the PS3, for most of the games I own, there isn't an option... on first launch of the game it installs a wack of stuff to the HD.  Makes renting a pain when you are short on HD space.

But the more interesting options I find, or you do, please share.  I was unaware of this feature above (I must be living in a black hole), but it is one I am looking forward to.

[Mr. Analog]

I for one am really looking forward to this new "install on hard drive" feature.

The load time for some games is crazy. Maybe I've been spoilt by the convenience Steam gives me with the games loading off my speedy hard disc but loading some games is sick.

[Lazybones]

http://kotaku.com/5083721/so-does-installing-a-game-to-the-360s-hdd-really-help-improve-load-times

Some games will see an improvement, others will not. Future games will probably be designed to take advantage of it.

[Melbosa]

http://kotaku.com/5083721/so-does-installing-a-game-to-the-360s-hdd-really-help-improve-load-times

Some games will see an improvement, others will not. Future games will probably be designed to take advantage of it.

LOL that just sums up the article I posted about load times .

[Melbosa]

The load time for some games is crazy. Maybe I've been spoilt by the convenience Steam gives me with the games loading off my speedy hard disc but loading some games is sick.

Man, you think the 360 is bad, you should see my PS3!!!!

[Mr. Analog]

The load time for some games is crazy. Maybe I've been spoilt by the convenience Steam gives me with the games loading off my speedy hard disc but loading some games is sick.

Man, you think the 360 is bad, you should see my PS3!!!!

"It's a Sony"

[Lazybones]

Update lands tomorrow.

[Melbosa]

Lazy, did you get in on the beta?

[Mr. Analog]

Man, I'm lookin' forward to this.

[Lazybones]

No I did not, however nearly everything I have read about it indicates it will be a very good upgrade.

[Lazybones]

Just found out about this
http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/11/17/sign-up-for-the-preview-you-re-in.aspx

Raeofsunshine just logged in and it is updating now, I will let you guys know how it is when I get home.

[Lazybones]

It is a shock to the system, but you soon realize you can see FAR more information than before. The Guide button brings up a mini blade like menu that makes jumping around to the areas very easy.

The Avatars lack the detailed customizations of the miis making them more like mr potato head than the mii system that lets you squish features together to create unique looks.

[Mr. Analog]

Crap! I forgot to check this out last night.

[Melbosa]

So there is a Netflix option for Movie Streams, but I'm not sure if this is available in Canada.

Some interesting things about the Netflix service through the 360 though:

* Only for Gold Subscribers: http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/10/09/xbl-why-paying-for-netflix/
* And Sony Pictures does not allow streaming at the moment through Netflix: http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/11/18/sony-blocks-netflix-360-movies/

I didn't see it in my initial look through this morning of the new dashboard/update this morning, but it might still be there.

[Lazybones]

According to posts they were doing it as a staged roll out, so it may not have been available first thing this morning.

Netflix is not available in Canada.

You can now download XNA / community games though, didn't get a chance to download any last night.

[Lazybones]

Lazybones	Raeofsunshine	Melbosa	Tonnica	Mr. Analog	Cova

[Thorin]

Instead of Miis, they're...  EXies?

[Melbosa]

LOL Thorin.  They are called Avatars, and I actually bought one of the games you can use your Avatar in!

Check this one out: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/a/akfkxboxlivearcade/.  Game is addictive!

[Lazybones]

those images are linked to xbox live so the should update when we edit our avatars.

[Thorin]

LOL Thorin.  They are called Avatars

Heh, I like the name eXies...

I actually bought one of the games you can use your Avatar in!

Check this one out: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/a/akfkxboxlivearcade/.  Game is addictive!

Looks addictive.  Although why the @%&# I have to install Silverlight to look at screenshots is beyond me!  @%&#ing Microsoft trying to stuff crap down my throat again.  I don't want Silverlight, for @%&#'s sake!

(end rant)

[Cova]

I'm gonna reply here by cut'n'pasting a few things I happened to read just before reading this thread.  Those other people's thoughts are fresh in my mind, and they said it better than I can.

Looks addictive.  Although why the @%&# I have to install Silverlight to look at screenshots is beyond me!  @%&#ing Microsoft trying to stuff crap down my throat again.  I don't want Silverlight, for @%&#'s sake!

From slashdot comment, originally about silverlight on linux, but the idea applies here:

Personally I don't really care about silverlight. if a site I go to uses it, then I assume that I am not the target user and go somewhere else. It is neither here nor there, the information will be available somewhere in another more friendly format, and if not, then I didn't really wanted to see it anyway.

And about the avatars..., god I hate them.  Here's what Paul Thurrott has to say about them (and keep in mind this guy's normally a huge pro-MS guy)

I don't want to belabor the point, but I think these Avatars--and the fact that you are required to make and use on--are a huge mistake. The Xbox 360 is the haven of hard core gamers in console land, and while I agree that Microsoft is wise to pursue the bigger if less sophisticated market that bought record numbers of Wiis over the past two years, I don't think it should punish its hard core fans by requiring them to use Avatars. Here's the thing: You see this lame little cartoon moron every time you boot into the dashboard, and all of your friends will see him when they try to find you or check out your information online. It's there whether you want it or not.

So what does this spritely little doppelganger do, exactly? Not much. If you navigate to the My Xbox Channel, you'll see your Avatar subtly animating as he stands there next to one of the panels in that channel. And he's there when you view your Gamercard from within the Xbox Channel (but not, thankfully, from within the Xbox Guide).

The most cringe-inducing use of Avatars comes when you navigate to the Friends Channel, because there you'll see a seemingly never-ending list of these stupid little cartoon figures, each one representing a friend and, no doubt, carefully created to look as much as possible like the people they represent. I swear, I involuntarily shudder every time I go by this channel now. It's terrible.

Microsoft has also created a handful of games in which, get this, you actually play using your own Avatar. The games, as you might expect, are all pretty basic and include such things as UNO, Scene It? Box Office Smash, Kingdom for Keflings, and Hardwood Hearts. And here I was thinking that we could only get more sophisticated than sending live video to other players during a game of checkers. My bad.

Look, most of what's happening in the NXE is excellent stuff. But the Avatars are so absolutely cringe-worthy that I'm docking Microsoft a full star in my rating for this update. They're terrible, and they should not be forced on players. I don't want to look at other people's Avatars, ever, let alone my own. Seriously, just spare me. And explain to me why Microsoft spent so much time on this silliness and yet I still can't upload a photo from the Web or my PC to used as a Gamer picture.

Exactly.

So if you're wondering why I have the old-guy avatar, it's because I randomly hit something so I could get out of the 'choose an avatar' screen.  If I could go back to not having an avatar, I would.  Right now the only thing I could ever see myself doing with it is if I was REALLY bored, I might try and make it look like something offensive just to make more work for MS so they have to moderate this rediculous thing they forced on us.

[Mr. Analog]

Well, finally got it installed on Friday...

My initial reaction was this:
"Microsoft must have been really afraid of Nintendo when they redesigned the dashboard"

Seriously the look and feel, the cutesy music and imagery to the avatar creation they took a lot from Nintendo's playbook. Is this good or bad? For me I see it as against the grain a bit, like putting a "Hello Kitty" sticker on an AK-47. XBox is supposed to be this "rad" experience for people who will spend $4K on a new HD tv/reciever, not a warm fuzzy cuddly gaming machine like Wii.

The menus are great, immediately usable and easy to find stuff on the surface.

The avatar creation system is really bad, not due to lack of options or anything like that but, the fact that you must create an avatar after logging in for the first time is a bit of a pain in the ass. Being forced to pick an avatar from which to start from is also a pain in the ass and completely unnecessary.

I don't see how the avatars will fit into the kinds of games I'm playing on the XBox. It's not like Wii games which use the avatars.

The upgrade was a mixed bag for me, on one hand it cleaned up the menus, but on the other it added a bunch of useless fluff that I couldn't care less about.

[Lazybones]

Well pushing the Xbox button now brings up the mini blades instead of those silly left and right side things that used to be there, it lets you jump around much more quickly.

I am also glad that you can now scroll the descriptions of items your self instead of waiting and waiting.

Digging through large lists is also much easier.

[Tonnica]

I gave the new interface a try yesterday. I'm liking the mini-blades that come up the best and find I'm using the XBox button a lot now. That's fine with me, it's easy to associate the XBox button with "big ol' menu button".

I don't like the eXies (good name for 'em by the way) very much. They look and feel out of place with the rest of the XBox experience. It feels too much like they're trying to appeal to the significant other and family of the console owner. The customization selections aren't too bad but don't jump out at me as cool. If there were game-themed outfit packs that were sold along with themes I'd be a little bit more interested. A Vault 101 jumpsuit or TF2 Spy uniform would be a pretty cool add-on that would infer what my favourite game was.

[Melbosa]

I agree the Avatar system shouldn't be imposed, and that was wrong on Microsoft's part.  I do also agree that they are probably trying to appeal to the Nintendo market more this this addition, but have failed a bit in that department.

But as with most Microsoft initial launches of new features; give it time and you may see those "specialty costumes" released for your Avatar should you get a specific achievement or finish a game.  Microsoft usually refines down these features or steals the best ideas from others

[Tonnica]

But as with most Microsoft initial launches of new features; give it time and you may see those "specialty costumes" released for your Avatar should you get a specific achievement or finish a game.  Microsoft usually refines down these features or steals the best ideas from others

Now THAT would be awesome. The achievements system on XBox games is great and it'd be a nice bit of bragging rights to have unlocked something for your avatar via achievements. Like "Heck yea I have all the Medic achievements I can give my avatar a bonesaw".

I'd be totally up for that. It's wait-and-see for what Microsoft decides to do, but as you say there's a good chance they'll take the idea and polish it more to the XBox crowd and style. (re: hardcore lol)

[Mr. Analog]

that they are probably trying to appeal to the Nintendo market more this this addition, but have failed a bit in that department.

I think it's mostly the conflicting messages they've been sending through their marketing scheme since the XBox.

All the Microsoft marketing has been squarely centred around teenage boys (and older gamer guys) but its all been fairly turgid and then all of a sudden out of the blue they want to soften the image?

It's a 180 on the 360!

[Lazybones]

I have seen article stating that an initial batch of free avatar customization updates are coming followed by pay ones that follow the avatar / theme model they have already established.