Details on New Xbox Experience, Avatars, Netflix, Primetime, et al

What happens when you hit the guide button?

The new dashboard is a Wii bit fugly but at least they are attempting to address the issue of an idiotically, overcomplicated design that is the current dashboard. I swear, half the stuff we pay for on our account get tucked away into hidden recesses that require at least 10 different button presses to access. Let's see if this is an improvement.

I would have preferred slightly less cartoony Avatars. Of course the Avatar items from other games might look different. These might just be the stock type Avatars.

Clan support would've been huge or at least some group thingy. I guess party system is O.K. but let's see how unified it is. Ripping game to my Hard Drive is big but since they need to be in the system tray it kind've killed the whole thing. C'mon Microsoft I'm sure you can come up with some DRM system for it.

So basically the only thing I might ever care about on that list is the price cut...

Feh.

"You'll be able to keep your gamertag pics if you so choose, though they're encouraging everyone to transition to Avatars "

I dont care how much they encourage me, I aint switching. I dont care about my virtual self, Im a gamer, I hardly care about my real self :p. Seriously avatars remind me of create-a-character mode in games, something I find to be an incredible waste of time. Who cares what you look like in a video game your playing.

I highly expect a 199$ price point by next holiday season.

And also, Netflix rocks!

Personally, I'm really excited about the whole netflix thing. Currently I'm using the VMC netflix system to stream from my media center pc to my xbox. This will make it much faster, much more efficient.

I never minded paying for XBL bc it was worth it... But what these greedy bastards are doing at microsoft is killing my love for video games. I have 369 and Wii (which I never ever use) and Im thinking about investing in a PS3 for Home...we will see tomorow dont disappoint me Nintendo, although u probably will with you Captain Rainbow and all

ok for you guy who are getting mad about the avatars think about it we all love customizeing our spartans and elites in halo it kind of the same thing just more cartoonish i for one love the change

Avatars are so gay!! If I want a freaking avatar then I would get a Wii. This is total BS and is what I was afraid of with the popularity of the Wii. Microsoft is officially trying to make the 360 a gay ass Wii.

well that avatar looks like a dickhead

ill be sticking with my pictures thanks

I want my copy of From Russia With Love to work, dammit.

SD only :(

Hopefully they get on the HD train soon, for that I'll definitely grab a Netflix account.

The avatar thing is dumb. First: I want a refund for the one, lone gamerpic I purchased. Second: it used to take only a minute to create a new profile for someone who wanted to play with me. Now, whenever I play with someone new, it will take 20 minutes for them to make the stupid avatar, half of which will be spent deciding which color of hair it should have. This is why I don't play games on my Wii with people: everyone wants to create a Mii, and by the time they're done playing dress-up, there's no time to play the actual game.

YOu know when I hear crap like, OMG MICROSOFT IS RUINING GAMING BY ADDING AVATARS HURRR HURr. I have to wonder what the fuck is wrong with gamers? Seriously I've seen so much good stuff in today's press conference and this is what we're going to bitch about? Fucking Avatars? Are you goddamn kidding me? I don't even understand why it's getting so much hate. So you don't want the Avatar? Good. Then stay with your goddamn gamerpic. In the article it's stated that YOU CAN KEEP YOUR GAMERPICS!!! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THE GODDAMN AVATARS!! And to those bitching about the price, which makes absolutely no sense because they're the same people who are bitching about no more gamerpics, you don't have to fucking buy these things. It doesn't affect the quality of any of the games we're going to play, so who cares? And plus, you don't even have to buy stuff for your avatar, you can just fucking unlock them by playing games.

This is just another case of people overreacting to the dumbest shit. I mean so many good games and other stuff(like Netflix) is coming over to the 360, and instead about being happy about that, we instead bitch about the evil avatars and how Microsoft is going to destroy the gaming community.

why is it wrong/"evil" for Microsoft to do things to make money? it's why companies exist and it's how they pay people to design hardware and make games. a lot of the folks reading this board need to grow up and start living in the real world. if you don't want avatars don't use them. and if you don't want to pay for new designer shoes for your avatar, don't.

This micro transaction stuff is starting to get out of hand.

Charging song by song to play with your own songs in Lips? All the prime time stuff that I'm sure they'll add in a fee for? Come on Microsoft, give us something.

i dont see any ads?? :D
someone confirm this, please dont reply telling me that this time will in-game-ads,
and i will not be paying 400 points for a cool jacket for my avatar, don't know why, but i see it coming...

...release date?

So we have to be a Netflix subscriber too?

Scratch Canadians off the list.

Seriously, just stop talking if you think this whole update is gay just because Microsoft is adding avatars that look like Miis. And really do people actually really love the blades that much that they're thinking about keeping them over over the the new board???!!! Really, they don't have that great of a feel to them, and they're kinda annoying.

And really, really do shut up if you think Microsoft is abandoning "hard-core" gamers. They still are the only ones licensed to games like bioshock, halo, and gears of war, and will continue to do so.

And for all you people bummed about being "abandoned" now that you blew you're money on gamer pics and such, ummmmmm..... hate to break it to you but uhhh..... THEY'RE LIKE 2 DOLLARS!!!! Seriously why does everyone want a refund for them when you're probably gonna lose those few quarters in you're couch when your sitting there realizing how awesome this update really is. Really, how much time do some of you spend looking at other peoples gamer pics?????????????????????????!

yeah, the netflix thing is great...if you live in the U.S

how about throwing a bone to other countries, Microsoft?