Source: 'Avatars' to be Microsoft's answer to Miis and Home

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 15th 2008 at 5:40PM }

Any time one video game company attempts to capitalize on another company's good idea, there's always a bit of backlash from the fans of the company copied. We can only imagine the kind of retribution Microsoft will soon face from fans of the Wii's Miis and the PS3's Home -- if our sources are accurate, their upcoming "Avatar" service bears a striking resemblance to Sony and Nintendo's pre-existing lookalike creators.

"Avatars", mentioned in an independent survey for Microsoft (as taken by an X3F tipster), will supposedly be used in place of gamer pictures, and will give Xbox Live subscribers an animated, customizable online persona. The meager amount of information provided for the service claims it will be available "this holiday for all Xbox Live connected members", and "this Spring for all new console owners."

This information lines up nicely with details recently relayed to Joystiq by a trusted source, who tells us that a robust "avatar" (source's term) creation service which blends the customization options of Home with the in-game functionality of Miis would comprise a substantial chunk of the 360's fall update. With the breath of E3 hot upon our nape, we're sure to hear something more concrete about this service in the coming month.

Tags: avatar, avatars, BreakingNews, Fall-Update, home, microsoft, Miis

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 15th 2008 5:50PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

FrankTheCrank @ Jun 15th 2008 8:00PM

Sticks fingers in throat and begins to dry heave.

Microsoft's typical answer to everything that is successful, emulate it.

bm @ Jun 15th 2008 9:35PM

I must second your HAHAHAHAHAHAHA and add a HAHAHAAHAHAAAAAAHAHAAA of my own. *cough*

Seriously, a message to all you Nintendo haters: Everybody copies the hell out of everything Nintendo does, they must be doing -something- right. Add this to the long, looong list of ways they have set standards for the industry throughout its history, and it's a company you just cannot disrespect without looking like a tool.

Korova Pyro aspect @ Jun 16th 2008 7:39AM

I havent seen anyone hating Nintendo for the Miis.

Your indignant generalization is amis

Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 16th 2008 8:12AM

@ bm

Uh...well one thing Nintendo didn't set the standard for was the use of CDs and DVDs in home consoles....or online gaming either.

I know you didn't say everything was standardized by Nintendo, but you must also give credit to others where its due.

marcus @ Jun 16th 2008 8:21AM

So considering Microsoft CHARGE YOU FOR USING ANIMATED MSN AVATARS who much are these going to be?

MS users get screwed again!

Ysleiro @ Jun 16th 2008 12:37PM

@Marcus the retard.

No MS doesn't charge you for using live. and they probably won't charge you for having an Avatar.

What they do charge you for is having a Gold account.

j.howlett @ Jun 15th 2008 5:50PM

really?

The Aggie CEO @ Jun 15th 2008 5:50PM

Sadly enough this will be out b4 Home is finished........smh

Syn @ Jun 15th 2008 6:19PM

Sadly, It doesn't take much effort for a cartoon animated avatar to be developed.

x silence x @ Jun 15th 2008 7:12PM

Sadly, Sony still has no cross game invites, in-game private chat, custom soundtracks or basic functions that the original Xbox had. HOME really shouldn't matter until these things launch.

I don't really care for avatars, but it's one more thing to add to an already complete online service.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 15th 2008 7:16PM

Sadly you still have to pay for Live

Radicoon @ Jun 15th 2008 7:21PM

God forbid I pay

Radicoon @ Jun 15th 2008 7:22PM

... $5 a month for a great service.

(stupid HTML less-than sign)

Slayer @ Jun 15th 2008 8:15PM

I don't understand. Will somebody please tell me what is so damn hard about paying 50 dollars a year for LIVE? It's 50 dollars a YEAR. There is absolutely no fucking reason to complain about that.

KeenCommander @ Jun 15th 2008 8:47PM

$50 is a Wii game, 4-5 CD's, a nice dinner, lots of fast food, among other things. It really is a little extravagant for something that has been free on PC for more than 10 years. Not that it's generally quite as cohesive of an experience in PC games, but $50 a year still seems rather excessive.

bm @ Jun 15th 2008 10:01PM

"Sadly, It doesn't take much effort for a cartoon animated avatar to be developed."

Sadly, I'll take the charm and personality of a Mii over any "realistic" retarded looking emo teen in Home.

sirpilf @ Jun 16th 2008 3:28AM

well then dont make your home character look like a retarded emo... its that easy. if you look like a retarded emo in real life, well then that sucks.

The Aggie CEO @ Jun 16th 2008 7:51AM

I just want my Home dammit.......fucka Avatar on Live.....

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 16th 2008 9:00AM

Rock Band has cross-game invites on PS3.

Do I want better features? Yeah, I think I do. I like Live.

Do I like paying for Live when they deliver me ads anyway? Nope. MS is just milking their users.

browntown @ Jun 16th 2008 9:47AM

Why should we have to pay for a service that is free on the pc and comeptitors. Im gonnga get a 360 eventaully, but i don't look forward to paying.

Josh @ Jun 16th 2008 11:47AM

Then why get a 360?

Ysleiro @ Jun 16th 2008 1:38PM

@ Josh

ummm because 360 has about 7 exclusive AAA titles and PS3 has only 1.

Maybe because as gamers we value games over anything else and 360 delivers in that aspect.

The Aggie CEO @ Jun 16th 2008 8:50PM

Thos titles you talkin bout what are they??

cause I guarantee you that 2 of them will be on the PS3 in a year or less.......lol

and its more than 1 AAA exclusive title on the PS3

Sora267 @ Jun 15th 2008 5:52PM

As long as they expand on the extremely limited characteristics that the Mii channel gives, I'm all for it.

NOTE:I own both a Wii and a 360; I know what I'm saying when I say the Mii channel lacks tons of characteristics.

voodoo_craig @ Jun 15th 2008 6:06PM

Damn right, I got so bored with my Mii I turned him into Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars.

I'd love a little emo Craig on my Gamercard....

DarkNessBear @ Jun 15th 2008 8:42PM

@Slayer 2 posts above.

REASON it's so damn hard to pay for Xbox Live every year is due to it's insane amount of ad's(everywhere, even on the dashboard covering up the theme you bought), paying for themes, paying for gamerpics and it's crappy moderation so any douche bag can send you some disgusting picture or harass you without getting any punishment.

ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 15th 2008 9:42PM

Exactly..

Lets not get it twisted. MS is clearly copying Nintendo and the whole "Mii" fad. However if they do it the right it could be even better. Especially with more customization and exra features.

Trippy Haps @ Jun 16th 2008 12:09AM

@DarkNessBear

I'm fairly certain you just described the internet.

Brian Fantana @ Jun 16th 2008 1:00AM

Voodoo Graig, that is truly awesome you turned your Mii into Admiral Ackbar.

And who gives a shit if MS borrows a bit from Nintendo. Last time I checked, Sony tried ripping off the big N's controller (very unsuccessfully), Sony is trying rip off MS's Achievements and Nintendo's Mii's with Home.

MS already gave people a limited online personality with Xbox Lives Gamercard and Gamerpic's. So what if they flesh it out a little. Mii' are a little too kiddie for most people, and Home realistic characters are a little too, well, realistic looking. I think a lot of people will dig this.