OXM UK: Old Dash themes 'butchered' by NXE
by Randy Nelson 
{ Nov 19th 2008 at 4:00PM }
When it was first announced, one of the most-asked questions re: the New Xbox Experience was, "Will my old themes work with it?" Microsoft's answer was "yes." The UK' Official Xbox Magazine's answer is, "Er ... not really."
The magazine's staff has – along with creating a frighteningly accurate Avatar of Amy Winehouse – rounded up some of the themes that "work" especially poorly with the NXE. Its choices are strong, but have you found any more egregious examples? Or, conversely, which ones work especially well? Of course, there are always Themes 2.0.
The magazine's staff has – along with creating a frighteningly accurate Avatar of Amy Winehouse – rounded up some of the themes that "work" especially poorly with the NXE. Its choices are strong, but have you found any more egregious examples? Or, conversely, which ones work especially well? Of course, there are always Themes 2.0.
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!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BxGT @ Nov 19th 2008 4:05PM
Why would you pay for themes in the first place and is it just me or is that ozzy pop up FUCKING ANNOYING!.
Dirty @ Nov 19th 2008 4:07PM
Dude ad block plus for the LAST FUCKING TIME, TAKE ACTION OR STOP BITCHING.
LeadBoxx @ Nov 19th 2008 4:08PM
AD Block is AWESOME!
BxGT @ Nov 19th 2008 4:09PM
I do have adblock plus but at home, im at work right now using crapternet explorer.
Mr Khan @ Nov 19th 2008 4:16PM
One of the reasons why i frequent the sites that i do is that i don't need adBlock
And i shouldn't need it, unless i'm going to some seedy sides. Advertising should be non-intrusive, and bitching apparently helped get rid of the hummingbird
baby sea tuna @ Nov 19th 2008 4:17PM
Ugh, hopefully you're not stuck using IE6, like I am here. It's just awful.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Nov 19th 2008 4:18PM
A lot of us our at work without Firefox or the permissions to install it plus ad block. I have Firefox but I do testing in IE because I need active x. I shouldn't have to use ad block just for a site to function correctly should I?
PS. If anyone wants to play Left 4 Dead, CoD WaW, or Fable 2 co-op with me add me!
gb @ Nov 19th 2008 4:27PM
possible options for those without firefox\adblock:
1) Disable javascript
2) Use portable firefox from a thumb drive (http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable)
3) Get a different job :)
Dirty @ Nov 19th 2008 4:27PM
Sorry, I just get so angry sometimes.
Dirty @ Nov 19th 2008 4:29PM
Sorry, I just get so angry sometimes.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Nov 19th 2008 4:30PM
@gb
That's a great list and all, but why should we have to do any of those just for a site to function properly?
Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Nov 19th 2008 4:31PM
Does the comment system make you MAD?
BxGT @ Nov 19th 2008 4:36PM
OH NOES, i started a war before the first coffee break.
Dirty @ Nov 19th 2008 4:45PM
The comment system wouldn't like me when Im angry.
Pedobear @ Nov 19th 2008 4:46PM
God that ozzy ad is annoying. Is it just me or does it not go away without refreshing the page?
Haggard @ Nov 19th 2008 5:02PM
No Dirty!
It's not worth it!
LeadBoxx @ Nov 19th 2008 5:21PM
I'm also at work and I get to use Firefox. Lucky me I guess.
Tucker @ Nov 19th 2008 9:02PM
Not to mention the damn thing pops up when you click reply, 'returning', or even to vote someone up/down/etc. If you're going to do roadblock ads, joystiq, at least make sure the javascript works for the love of god!
Frojo @ Nov 19th 2008 4:05PM
i think you may just have to restart.. people say castle crashers doesn't work but it did when i started it up.. then i switched themes and now it has the grey part. I think maybe if you restart your box it'll work.
Dirty @ Nov 19th 2008 4:06PM
LoL at the winehouse avatar, but I dont think they would let you have needle haningout of your arm and some shitty teeth.
But yea, the themes work but look like crap. Kinda lame that they charged you for something but can no longer display it.
Tiptup300 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:07PM
I use the Rareware theme and it looks orgasmic. It was also free.
Orionsaint @ Nov 19th 2008 4:09PM
Some work well like the boom boom rocket one worked awesome for me.
http://flickr.com/photos/orionfotos/2988668936/
Guerrilla @ Nov 19th 2008 4:10PM
My Castle Crashes theme works great, but I think I'll be switching to the Fable II NXE theme when I have a moment to download it.
Neuromancer @ Nov 19th 2008 10:31PM
There are themes specifically for the NXE now?
Mike @ Nov 19th 2008 4:17PM
That can't be Amy Winehouse, I don't see a crack pipe anywhere.
LordChimp @ Nov 19th 2008 4:43PM
I was going to say it could not be her because she does not look like a meth addict. Yours is still good.
sonic the plumber @ Nov 19th 2008 4:25PM
I was getting an error message appear on LIVE when I tried to look at the premium themes and then when you escaped that pop-up another would pop-up saying the content was no longer available.
Anyone else had this?
Badboy1979 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:38PM
Yeah, we're probably going to be getting a lot of download errors throughout the day as millions of users log on to download the NXE update.
The good thing is I haven't experience any problems in multiplayer gaming on XBL related to this.
YouStayClassy @ Nov 19th 2008 4:30PM
I see I was too late to get in first on the Amy Worthlesshouse crack jokes....dammit!
I'm using the Dark Knight Theme, it actually is pretty dang sweet still the way NXE frames it now.
Lone Starr @ Nov 19th 2008 4:35PM
This is why I never bought themes.
butaneko @ Nov 19th 2008 4:56PM
Exactly. I was wondering if I was the only one who never bothered changing my theme.
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Nov 19th 2008 5:21PM
You never bought themes because you knew they wouldn't work on NXE? Weird, I didn't buy them because I had no use for them.
Lone Starr @ Nov 19th 2008 7:41PM
Same difference, ;).
jumpshot @ Nov 20th 2008 10:16AM
0_0!!! You knew the future? How was it back then?
infernus @ Nov 19th 2008 4:35PM
Guess I'll be the only one to talk about the topic at hand: while I really like how the NXE Dashboard looks now, it really took a shit on old themes (or images you apply yourself). They're all stretched, I guess due to the fact that the old Dash never used the full screen because of the Blades and all. Then there's the floor that blocks more than half of the image. At least throw us a bone and let us change/use properties from other themes.
tl;dr NXE is great, slightly disappointed at Themes.
adhg @ Nov 19th 2008 4:39PM
Yea, my nice Rambo theme is cut in half now...thanks Microsoft.
Farseer (GDI) @ Nov 19th 2008 5:02PM
Dude, you just used "nice" and "Rambo" in the same sentence. lolz
Farseer (GDI) @ Nov 19th 2008 5:02PM
Dude, you just used "nice" and "Rambo" in the same sentence. lolz
Farseer (GDI) @ Nov 19th 2008 5:02PM
crap. sorry for the dp
Night Elve @ Nov 19th 2008 5:21PM
Sorry? Do you say sorry? That was your third post god damn!
=P
Farseer (GDI) @ Nov 19th 2008 5:50PM
should I shoot for four?
;)
Intentless @ Nov 19th 2008 4:39PM
Anyone able to find free NXE themes?
Superstar90 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:43PM
It does make the subway monkey so much better, by cutting out the part that says Subway and just showing the monkey head looming over. :D
DoucheVader @ Nov 19th 2008 4:51PM
Why is this any surprise from the console that brought you the Red Rings of Death.
David @ Nov 20th 2008 3:30AM
Why is this comment any surprise from a person that uses the user name with Douche in it?
SaltyGary @ Nov 19th 2008 4:46PM
I hope my South Park Critter Christmas one fits. In the 3 years I had this thing I bet I spent no more than $5 on themes and pics. If they don't work I am sure there will be stuff that will.
Pedobear @ Nov 19th 2008 4:46PM
I hope my idolmaster theme still works.
Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:53PM
MS said the themes would work. They work all right maybe just not as well as before. Free themes and an open platform FTW!
Cal @ Nov 19th 2008 4:54PM
They should at very least have given us an option to change the colour of the bottom half of the screen. On a vaguely related note we should also be able to choose the colour of our avatar clothing, not use shitty presets and their default colours...
Sirblakesmore @ Nov 19th 2008 5:05PM
I only wish we still had the option to customize the themes. What happened to that simple feature? I use pc wallpapers so I could care less about the old themes but I'm forced to use that bright silver case image when a darker one would look much better. Let's put that back where it belongs Microsoft!