New Xbox Experience: Xbox Live Parties and photo sharing previewed

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 8th 2008 at 1:30PM }

We acknowledge that a number of you might be sick of Gamerscore Blog's weekly previews of the New Xbox Experience, but we assure you -- this one is worth checking out. Examined in the latest sneak peek is the Xbox Live Party system, which lets you congregate with seven of your online acquaintences, allowing you to participate in an eight-Avatar chatroom. You can also fire off an invite to everyone in your party with the push of a button, allowing your outfit to move between games with the greatest of ease (we hope). A video preview of this feature is included after the jump.

Also previewed is the oft-promised photo sharing feature, now heralded as the "Photo Party". This feature will allow users to share photos from a disc, camera or USB drive with their fellow partygoers, who can discuss and rate the images (hopefully, a filter for dong-related JPEGs will be implemented to thwart our more devious cohorts). Not mentioned in the preview is the supposed delay of the photo sharing feature -- could it now possibly be on-track for the NXE's Nov. 19 launch?

Curious about the New Xbox Experience? Check out our ridiculously informative nine-video feature, covering everything from Avatar creation, Netflix integration, and the 8-player party system to installing games to the hard drive, the new Marketplace, the Blade-like "Guide" interface, and more!

Tags: microsoft, new-xbox-experience, nxe, photo-party, photo-sharing, xbox, xbox-live-party

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Haggard @ Nov 8th 2008 1:33PM

"Photo party", or as it will later become known, "virtual circle-jerk"

Wulile @ Nov 8th 2008 1:54PM

Wait a second... he's talking about sex!!

Jakka @ Nov 8th 2008 2:04PM

...Because eight people fapping to same porn separetly is a waste of resources!

Chase @ Nov 8th 2008 4:28PM

It will give new meaning to "tea bagging". It'll be a... "tea party", if you will.

Mrblonde @ Nov 8th 2008 8:18PM

Ewwie!

Jim Halpert DM @ Nov 8th 2008 1:36PM

I downloaded Photo Party but can't use it cause the party system is not enabled in the preview, but I think it's possible it could make the launch.

My gamercard
http://card.mygamercard.net/nxe/Jim%20Halpert%20DM.png

Bowser the Baptist @ Nov 8th 2008 1:43PM

I have to admit, if that is indeed the new Avatars, they look really cute.

Jim Halpert DM @ Nov 8th 2008 1:47PM

Bye the way, if you'd like to check out other's gamercards for the NXE substitute their gametag using %20 for spaces for "Jim%20Halpert%20DM" in the URL

rTwelve @ Nov 8th 2008 2:18PM

dude that's not jim halpert

Jim Halpert DM @ Nov 8th 2008 5:12PM

Correction: Party system is now working for me. Seemed to have been a glitch.

Bowser the Baptist @ Nov 8th 2008 1:42PM

"fellow partygoers"

Gosh, I'm so, so cynical. It would be so easy to poo-poo people's fun, but I'll resist. They should really reconsider the Photo Party name. The Live image is already battered enough as it is.

As someone who believes Live is 99% filled with racists, homophobes, fascists, and eel sociopaths, I greet this news with apathy.

Jim Halpert DM @ Nov 8th 2008 1:44PM

It's more like 98.7%

Jakka @ Nov 8th 2008 2:12PM

98.73%

Badboy1979 @ Nov 8th 2008 3:30PM

I don't know how you've missed it but that's not just XBL... a large majority of any anonymous online community is like that.

It's just more noticable on LIVE because there's voice chat which is hard to monitor... unlike message boards and blogs, texting clients where there's a written record of what people say (and an easier way to see who needs to be banned)

Snowblind @ Nov 8th 2008 3:50PM

Yeah, I'm pretty sick of seeing Xbox Live getting so much flak. Have you guys never been online before? That's what things are like *everywhere* online. People are even jerks in Nintendo games, it just doesn't show as much without any form of communication.

Bowser the Baptist @ Nov 9th 2008 6:46AM

I hear that argument all the time and there would be some truth to it but for Microsoft's lackadaisical approach to policing the Live service. Their laissez faire attitude actively encourages this sort of behaviour, which draws in more sociopaths.

Live wasn't always like this. On the original Xbox, in the early days, you had your shitheads but they were carefully balanced out with those of us who wished to pleasantly game. But as the service has grown, the respectable has slowly been drowned out by the loathsome.

It's now in part of innate character of the traditional Live gamer to be a sociopath because it is an arena which they are instantly attracted. I believe if Nintendo had a codified voice service you wouldn't get the same level of bile on a daily basis. Just compare the comment sections on NWF and 360fanboy to see what I'm aiming at. There was a Solider Boy article on 360fanboy and the level of blind racism was incredible, some from even very respected posters. That would never occur on NWF. I guess what I'm saying is: Nintendo gamers are better people, better citizens, that the sociopath Xbox horde.

Xoviet chiK @ Nov 9th 2008 7:45AM

lackadaisical? codified?? laissez faire?!?

Your astute vocabulary prowess is rivaled solely by your inefficacy to concoct a disputation bereft of exaggeration and disinformation.

Bowser the Baptist @ Nov 9th 2008 8:32AM

I see nothing chimerical in what I have said, no mistruths; I just utter the unsaid; I speak for the silent, the pulverised, the demoralised. My views on the Live service correlate directly with the meek champions who now play without a voice.

I admit, I did lol though.

Snowblind @ Nov 9th 2008 11:09AM

Sorry no.

Like I said. WoW, Guild Wars, even Mario Kart has pretty much the same behaviour online, and there's little difference between how they're regulated. Xbox Live is no better or no worse. Voice communication is the only difference.

But you know, you could just mute the people who are bothering you or mute everyone entirely, except those on your friends list?

Jim Halpert DM @ Nov 9th 2008 4:42PM

Yes. The ***holes are everywhere. Watch your back.
wait! oh no! .....

Sinister Rouge @ Nov 10th 2008 9:38AM

"It's now in part of innate character of the traditional Live gamer to be a sociopath because it is an arena which they are instantly attracted."

Thanks for that in-depth psychological analysis there, I'll be sure to reference you in my online gaming behaviour dissertation.

I always find plenty of friendly people to play on Live with. Perhaps egotistical assholes attract each other? Certainly would explain your online experiences.

ExMcCloud @ Nov 8th 2008 2:10PM

Thats cool hopefully they can add little stuff like a house for my avatar and tuff like that...

Jakka @ Nov 8th 2008 2:14PM

I just want to make one an Emo...add a motto of "Nobody understands me!" or sth like that but written in Polish, and laugh at people!

Dr.Nerd @ Nov 8th 2008 2:41PM

Its not really gonna be like the nintendo wii because you'll only have 1 "mii" but a backround of you choice so overall its pretty decent for a "New Expirence" but its gonna have high exxpextations from most people.

Chris Wallace @ Nov 8th 2008 2:41PM

Just release it already, know what I'm saying.

Conor @ Nov 8th 2008 5:43PM

I agree.

Untouchable4rc @ Nov 8th 2008 2:53PM

ohhh DRJPEG'S...I hate those, thank god I uninstalled the program allowing them to be seen.

Anthony @ Nov 8th 2008 3:22PM

I'm not sick of previews. I'm sick of not having it.

The marketing period has been about 2-3 weeks longer then it needed to be.

Tidy @ Nov 8th 2008 7:26PM

The real question is, why even bother with a marketing drive? Is Microsoft so desperate for me to love them that they have to convince me a compulsory update is fun and wonderful?

Just update the damn thing and stop clogging up my RSS feeds with completely pointless marketing.