New Xbox Experience may help the Xbox in Europe
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jul 31st 2008 at 9:20PM }
click for New Xbox Experience gallery
European gaming mag Edge got a sneak peak at the New Xbox Experience before its big E3 reveal. Why? Because, according to Microsoft brass, Europeans are "a key part of us getting the next 20 million on" Xbox Live. Why? Because "the gameplay style in Europe is more casual, more collaborative and social." And what does that have to do with the New Xbox Experience? Microsoft is hoping the interface reboot will help the Xbox "become something that's relevant to everyone."
Xbox's Marc Whitten explains, "The idea is to move toward this channel metaphor, so you can see at a glance the types of things that I can do on my box, to make these things much more relevant about me." While there isn't much news about the working bits of the service, the column – the first in a series on the new interface – details some of the "whys" behind such a radical transformation. In fact, we'll leave you with another quote from Edge: "it's radical enough to make Xbox 360 feel like a whole new console."
Gallery: New Xbox Experience
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Haggard @ Jul 31st 2008 9:26PM
So what he's trying to say is that 360s don't sell in Europe because we can't understand the current menu system?
Menza @ Jul 31st 2008 10:10PM
I don't think it has anything to do with EU not understanding the interface. The current interface is cramped and dated; I think in part because they were very worried about players still on SDTVs and didn't take advantage of the extra screen real estate that HDTV offers. They have probably noticed that PS3 is doing well in EU and attribute that partially to the slicker, faster interface. The PS3 interface is very 'demoable'.. it's easy to understand and appreciate immediately, so it appeals to more people and those outside of the 'hardcore' demographic. Witnessing the 360 in action, non-owners come away impressed with some of the games and (ideally) want to make the purchase. Witnessing the PS3, non-owners are likely to be impressed by the hardware itself, and I think that's what MS is trying to change.
with the feeling "Oh, there are some cool games on this system"
WhoMe @ Aug 1st 2008 7:20AM
This UI is probably a vast improvement but the Xbox not selling in Europe has virtually NOTHING to do with the interface. If you believe that, you are a tool. And also, you should feel insulted for MS spinning this BS.
Why can't Euros access the other stores? Why don't Euros have access to a lot of features of the Xbox? How about they go and make online play free? That'll go a long ways toward selling more units. I think that's at least part of the success of the PS3 in Europe. I don't think Europe is as quick to use a credit card for these "virtual" services.
Heck, PSN is free, the store has a much better UI, it has zero adds despite being free, you have access to other continents' stores and you get dedicated servers. Even Home will be free, which has games you can play for free which you have to pay for on Arcade. Christ!
Granted, Xbox does a lot of things right and arguably has a more complete online service. But I don't see how they can justify charging for it when the discrepancy is that small. Even something a trivial as online play for a game you've purchased requires you to fork over the dough. :s
Not to mention the games on PSN are cheaper and more unique...
Duke @ Aug 1st 2008 10:06AM
There are a few things with that last point I disagree with:
"But I don't see how they can justify charging for it when the discrepancy is that small."
-Its not a small discrepancy too many of us who use it. You just characterized it that way, even though you before said it was "arguably has a more complete online service".
"Why can't Euros access the other stores? Why don't Euros have access to a lot of features of the Xbox? How about they go and make online play free?"
Live isn’t free in the states, but we pay. Why should you get it for free? Are you special? Also, you don't have all the access because you are in another area where there are different licensing deals, rules for distribution, royalty fees, region codes, etc. Stop acting like MS should have some magic way to make the entire world operate in a seamless manner. Nobody else can - including Sony. You won't get all the stuff in your store on the PS3 that they have in Asia and other places. Yet this is somehow a Euro complaint of MS all the time.
Now, you said, "Heck, PSN is free, the store has a much better UI, it has zero adds despite being free, you have access to other continents' stores and you get dedicated servers. Even Home will be free, which has games you can play for free which you have to pay for on Arcade. Christ!"
But I disagree about access to the stores - you are telling the network you live someplace you don’t, and thus subverting the store system to get access to asian content. You had to set an account as being in another country you don't live in - so don't act like sony gave you permission. They just haven't locked the regions down properly.
Also, all the consoles have games that you pay for when you dl, so what does the few games in Home (which are not at all deep!) have to do with downloadable titles being for pay? You need to cry to all the consoles over that. Also, none of the free games in Home are games that are actual titles you have seen before. They are not designed to be PSN or XBLA quality.
Finally, I don't know how online play is trivial. That’s just a strange comment to me. Its the online play that causes the need for servers hosting the games being played - its not trivial, its the root of the costs involved.
In the end, I think your attacks are incorrect and you are stretching. Its great that you think PSN has more unique games, as it does have some I agree, but that has little to do with the costs of the XBL gold (see last paragraph). Both companies charge for downloading game.
Duke @ Aug 1st 2008 10:21AM
I have to correct myself - I fogot that they are releasing some of the old titles in Home now. Still, I guess you have to see how the system plays before you can compare it to playing a PSN or XBLA game. Its not the same at all. (Of course, you won't believe that because you probably also think that Home is made of unicorns and rainbows and has to be the best experience in the world. That's what most fanboys around here seem to believe.)
WhoMe @ Aug 1st 2008 12:33PM
I don't know if your reading comprehension is at fault here or if you are deliberately trying to put words into my mouth.
I never said the EU needed to get free games or anything. Also, I believe there are no dedicated servers used with Xbox live. So the cost of that comes down solely on the player.
But then I guess some people love the nickle and diming crap and go "Yes sir, more paid themes and gamer pics, please!" and then proceed to bend over.
I won't bother to respond to your other comments, because some of them sure have some weird logic behind them.
NATO_Duke @ Aug 1st 2008 1:02PM
"I don't know if your reading comprehension is at fault here or if you are deliberately trying to put words into my mouth."
Nice. Screw you too.
"I never said the EU needed to get free games or anything."
Listen tough guy, don't say I cant read when you are clearing not backing your initial comments. You wrote: "Why can't Euros access the other stores? Why don't Euros have access to a lot of features of the Xbox? How about they go and make online play free?" Thats when I said you were no more special than the rest of us. See, thats you, as a Euro, asking for free play.
I didn't say you asked for all games free. Though, I did at one point mention your bit on Home having free games you have to pay for on Live. "Even Home will be free, which has games you can play for free which you have to pay for on Arcade. Christ!" There you are complaining about paying for games on XBLA when Home is giving some for free.
"But then I guess some people love the nickle and diming crap and go "Yes sir, more paid themes and gamer pics, please!" and then proceed to bend over."
Played Pain yet? How much was a character or a map? Yeah, its all MS nickle and diming.
You may not like my logic, but I think its mostly because it disagrees with your belief that you deserve something.
Mike @ Aug 1st 2008 2:41PM
WhoMe doesn't make any good arguments. You can get a silver account if you don't feel like paying. The PS3's online play is free but you're not guaranteed to something as basic as voice chat. To solve the problem I just bought both systems and don't mind paying the $50 a year which comes out to a little under $4.20 a month. Then again, I make good money and don't have to ask mommy and daddy if I can buy things.
"But then I guess some people love the nickle and diming crap and go "Yes sir, more paid themes and gamer pics, please!" and then proceed to bend over."
You're right. There are no micro transactions on the PSN. Sony and developers for the PS3 definitely don't want to make money.
"Not to mention the games on PSN are cheaper and more unique..."
Okay, maybe you do make one good point. I wouldn't say that they're that much cheaper, but definitely more on the unique side of things.
Saria the Cat @ Aug 1st 2008 3:50PM
I like you, Duke. I never interact with you but I always see you post intelligent comments and arguments. The fact that you have a cat as your avatar doesn't hurt, either.
I do want to know what the difference is between Duke and NATO_Duke, though.
Darkomatic @ Jul 31st 2008 9:32PM
I hope this push for casual gamers doesn't push the rest of us away. That or we'll just have to cycle back to PCs for hardcore gamers who don't really want to play Bing Bag Tic Tac Toe with motion control forever.
Shogan @ Jul 31st 2008 10:01PM
I know a lot of people don't like the new interface, but I love it. The current 360 interface is cumbersome, and things are not organized in a good way (particularly the video content, that's horrible). To me, this makes the system seem a bit less like a toy, and more like the awesome, multi-use system it truly is. I'm sure the ads will ruin a lot of the appeal though.
Menza @ Jul 31st 2008 10:13PM
Yeah I totally agree with you.
rv @ Jul 31st 2008 10:47PM
I agree with you that the marketplaces are badly designed, they need a complete overhaul. However, I think the blades are fine the way they are. They get the job done right now, but I am always open to try it if it seems better. Im not too excited about the new interface, but more about the features that come with it. Though I do think those same features could have been done on the old blades.
Mike @ Aug 1st 2008 2:42PM
I'll reserve judgment until I can get my hands on it. I know, it's a very unique sentiment.
Obie @ Jul 31st 2008 11:06PM
The new look is growing on me. I am interested to see how other features such as advertising will fit in the final design.
Ben Hourigan @ Jul 31st 2008 11:39PM
That's "sneak peek
Tom @ Aug 1st 2008 1:40AM
I just don't understand, why are they charging 150 Microsoft points for the Heroic Map Pack, that is supposed to be free now and the Legendary is lowered to 600 points minus the Bungie Pro Subscription.
Exo @ Aug 1st 2008 4:14AM
because its only a mock up and isnt real
Duke @ Aug 1st 2008 9:49AM
..I don't understand why master chief has to be on the screen all the time.
I kid.
newmiyamoto @ Aug 1st 2008 5:58AM
EDGE is a BRITISH magazine, not European (there is a difference). It is also by far the best gaming magazine in the world (not that it has much competition).
JonnyDee @ Aug 1st 2008 7:34AM
Agreed! Love EDGE.
Neuromancer @ Aug 1st 2008 10:11AM
It's an Earth magazine.
Yeah I love Edge, I like their retrospectives. The ones on Earthworm Jim and Carmeggedon were particularly awesome.
Vinnie_PT @ Aug 1st 2008 7:23AM
Newsflash: consoles that have no advertising can't compete with the hugely advertised Playstation brand.
Flood the TV with commercials and people will buy it.
Many of my friends don't even know there is an alternative to the PS3.
dark_inchworm @ Aug 1st 2008 9:46AM
"Many of my friends don't even know there is an alternative to the PS3."
Where in the hell do you kids live?
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 1st 2008 8:26AM
Games are made of lower quality and higher price tags nowadays ¬_¬
Its not the interface Europeans are concered about.
Christopher Grant @ Aug 1st 2008 8:41AM
Lower-quality? As opposed to when? Last year I saw some of the highest quality (and, not unsurprisingly, best) games ever made released (BioShock, Portal/Orange Box, Call of Duty 4, Uncharted). This year we've already had MGS4, GTA IV, and a Madden game that critics seem to unanimously agree actually improves on the formula instead of just cashing in.
So, again, what are you talking about?
Duke @ Aug 1st 2008 9:53AM
Where do you come up with lower quality? What, COD4 or Halo was lower quality than Pong or something? Games are not made with lower quality now than any other time they were made. The production values are through the roof, as is the attempts to make detailed themes and stories. Also tack on MP as a norm for most games these days in order to extend your use of them.
You're talking out your ass.
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 1st 2008 10:41AM
Think of how many games are released, the list you gave me for both consoles in a small fraction of the entire listing of games on each console, that and the fact very few are original anymore, quality doesn't necessarily mean the money spent ont he game, its a multitude of different things, so before you two go slamming me with bs, why not ask me what I meant?
And to enlighten you, what I meant by quality was the concept of creating with originality in mind, great story writing and pretty much looking for innovative ways to change gaming, yes, there are the few games that are superb, you clearly gave me that list, but if you compare a lot of games to games that came out before, AI hasn't changed that much, in a lot of games, they are still as dumb as shit, while few other games show off the fact that AI can in fact be intelligent and think tactically rather then just do the same thing they did back on N64, enviroments are only damagable in some games, plots....well I'll give this one a miss, because I think devs are thinking a bit better now, Bioshock and MGS4 being 2. Originallity, while there, is slim, and I can see why, production values mean devs prefer to play it safe, and thus originality falls short, meaning very few games actually 'change'. Tekken is still same old Tekken, DMC is still same old DMC etc etc, while the likes of GT5 do tweak things a little to make things better, mainly down to consumer pressure. Most games jump into the FPS, Racing, MMORPG, RPG, and other typical genres (mostly FPS because FPS games are so easy to make compared to the others from the looks of things, no plot needed, no intelligence needed, just make a war, simple as that), you only tend to see originality on DS, Wii and PSP, mainly because they are cheaper to develop for, and so not too bad to take risks. Thus the introduction of brain training, harvest moon (which has been going on for some time now), echochrome, locoroco, patapon etc, all of which I doubt would ever see the light of day if it were just 360 and PS3.
BTW, that doesn't mean to say that it was superior back then to now, lower production meant anyone could make crap back then and higher production means people take time with stuff now, but that also means devs play it safe, and when they play it safe, they rarely think outside the box. There are very few platformers to pick up, very few party or arcade games to pick up (apart from Wii of course), very few games played simply for humour (timesplitters), very few puzzlers or strategic games. But the most annoying part of all this is the fact that because devs have to make the money back somehow for the production costs, we get charged left right and center, that means buying the game, (subscription fees for MMORPGS) buying extra content, buying maps etc, paying for online usage (XBL), paying for any accessories needed (Guitar hero) plus the songs, tracks etc to go with it. When you think about how much we spend on gaming, who knows what that money could have gone towards :( All to get Halo, play online and get extra maps, something you'll forget about in a few years when Halo 6 comes out and is doing the same thing it was doing in Halo 3 but with better graphics. Lol, I dunno, just figured I'd bring it up.
I would much appreciate questions rather then insults Duke, or maybe I should insult you for no reason when you say something I don't agree with.
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 1st 2008 10:49AM
Also, notice how most of the games you mentioned are sequels from games that were original and high quality in the past.
Duke @ Aug 1st 2008 12:12PM
Yeah, I was a bit too heavy in my response. Sorry to insult. That being said, I still don't agree with your argument. Yes, there is a lot more expense in gaming, but thats how the world has gone over the years. Everything inflates and gaming is no different.
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 1st 2008 12:40PM
Apology accepted. I know you won't agree with me, and I'm not going to try and deter your opinions in anyway because like anyone you are entitled to your opinions, its just I personally feel that a majority of games have become quite saturated. I don't feel as excited for games as much as I used to, and in this sense I agree with Yahtzee, I automatically take the view a game will be meh until it can proove to me otherwise. Here was me all hyped for the new Tekken, I didn't expect drastic changes like blood and clothes ripping although those would be great bonuses nor did I want any fighting style elements (other then keeping people in the air which is stupid) to change, but I did expect at least fatigue, realistic damage, GRAVITY, and destructible enviroments, all the things to make the game seem a new but same experience. No, I was rewarded with the same old Tekken with better graphics and I am supposed to call that 'quality'.
Here I was expecting to play more shoot em ups where enemies react realistically to being shot at, shoot a shoulder, they fly back, shoot a leg, they limp, shoot at thier heads they die, some games find it difficult to introduce headshots still let alone anything else, lol, and very few AI make any effort to take cover, lol
Lord Bowser @ Aug 2nd 2008 6:02AM
"you only tend to see originality on DS, Wii and PSP, mainly because they are cheaper to develop for, and so not too bad to take risks."
I agree with most of what Maverick says, but the quoted paragraph needs to be empahasised again. I have been saying this for so long, but I'll say it again just in case somebody missed the point: most "next-gen" games are the same as their Dreamcast counterparts, now with newer, sexier clothing. Don't buy into the expensive 360 hype.
The reason people like me and Maverick have become so jaded with the 360 is not because it is a bad console, because surely it's not, even with the RROD, but the current software matches up to the hardware. You still have the same numbskull enemies running and and taking pot-shots in generic shooter 2024. It's all so scripted and lacks any sort of dynamism. And let's not even touch on the atrocious stories: looking back at the GTA4 reviews and reading stuff like 'the greatest story of 2008, regardless of the medium' is frankly embarrassing. Why pay more money for the same experience? An experience we can achieve for cheaper on older hardware.
And as for the PSP and DS, my favourite platforms, they clearly show that brute force is not needed to craft a compelling game. At times, with games such as TWEWY, the shallowness of the 360 experience is all too clear to see.
riggs @ Aug 1st 2008 9:15AM
i like how the UI looks in that screenshot
JizzyB @ Aug 1st 2008 1:15PM
Maverick, do have to agree with you on a lot of games this gen being prettied up previous gen games. I don't know if the tech STILL isn't there or not but I did expect a lot more out of AI than we've gotten so far. Some games, GTA for example, do have the reactions that you're talking about, only they aren't permanent which I found somewhat saddening. You shoot a guy in the shoulder he drops his hands for a second but then goes right back to shooting at you normally. Leg, he limps for a couple steps then chases you normally. So there is progress just not where people like you and myself to a certain extent imagined it.
Good thing we have a few years left in this gen, huh?