If you want a closer look at the Xbox Guide, the next Live! interface recently announced at GDC, then head on over to the Xbox site. The demo shows off the same features Allard highlighted at the conference - customization of in-game stuff, music controls, and the Game Card (which tracks your online gaming stats). It's a good chance to see what the service will look like in action. Oh, and you can also see some Forza. Even with such a small image, you can tell how gorgeous the game is.
Overall, the Guide is impressive. It looks like it'll deliver on streamlining the online experience. The big question is, will people use its more revolutionary features, like microtransactions? What games will MS use to spotlight microtransactions? An MMOG? Halo 3? Interestingly, in the Guide clip, the narrator (Larry Hryb, Xbox Live Director or Programming) mentions "the next Halo." Hey, it ain't news, but it's a random factoid to chew on for lunch.
If you yearn for even more insight into Guide plans, head on over to Hryb's blog, Major Nelson. He was, understandably, one of the first guys to post breaking MS news at GDC. We definitely have him bookmarked for E3. His blogcasts are well-done and share just enough info to titillate. Yes, titillate. Online gaming is a fetish to some of us, okay?
