The New Xbox Experienced
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Nov 19th 2008 at 2:59PM }
Protip: Click on a phrase in the image above to view the related video.
Did ya hear? NXE is out today! And we wanna know how it's treatin' you! Take our poll, and then take a gander at our extensive video preview after the break (use the image above for easy navigation).
*Not just plain old boring "love" -- we're talkin' the "you love your
Avatar enough to wish Mini-Me jokes were still funny" kinda love.
Avatar enough to wish Mini-Me jokes were still funny" kinda love.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Wes Steele @ Nov 19th 2008 3:01PM
If only I could install this to try it myself. My 360 RRoD'd this morning. Figures.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 19th 2008 3:11PM
That's some bad fucking luck.
william @ Nov 19th 2008 3:15PM
exactly where is the my 360 died option?
Brian @ Nov 19th 2008 3:19PM
Got my 360 back from repair today but left the hard drive at the office.... duh.
James C @ Nov 19th 2008 3:31PM
Last night i went home to download the update for my xbox (as I had gotten in through Major Nelson) and it is just my luck that the TV and internet are out in my apartment. A guy cant come out till tomorrow. Great. Always happens when there is something cool going on!
forthekids85 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:33PM
I feel your pain. I got the RRoD on Monday. If nothing else, at least the opening-day hiccups should be ironed out by the time I get my console back.
browntown @ Nov 19th 2008 3:44PM
That sucks, but ur not missing much, the only worthwhile thing i think is the party system that should be awesome, but otherwise, i like how it looks, but it seems like its less functional, thank god they have the mini guide. Still sucks that u can't check it out.
Ryan LN @ Nov 19th 2008 3:02PM
I think I'm going to need some time to adjust.
jax sedrin @ Nov 19th 2008 4:12PM
Yeah...
As slick as it looks and as snappy as it feels, it's still not all that user friendly. In fact, I'd say it's even slightly less user friendly than the blades. You have to spend a lot of time hunting and learning where all the different functions are. At least with the blades, the blade names were all on the screen at once so you could give a reasonable guess as to where a particular function was located without scrolling through everything.
It probably won't be an issue once most people get used to it, but it's not a good setup for newbies.
ZaxCG2 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:55PM
I was thinking that myself. Tons more functionality, extra features, etc. But it looks like they've tried too hard to oversimplify everything to the point where you're going to have to hunt for specific functions. I'm sure everyone will learn to love it once some quality time is spent.
bearxor @ Nov 19th 2008 3:02PM
Where the option for 'I like it, but I'm really indifferent about it.'
I did sign up for Netflix today though. It's very nice.
Alien Lord @ Nov 19th 2008 3:08PM
I'm in the same boat, I like it but care more about games. Still the avatar feature is a nice touch and it's cool to see your Sig in the avatar speech bubble.
T @ Nov 19th 2008 3:50PM
I downloaded it a few days ago, made my avatar, and went on to play some games.
I turned my 360 on yesterday, and was like "Oh right...the NXE." when the new display popped up.
So I'm going to put myself sqaurely in the "indifferent" boat.
danny. @ Nov 19th 2008 4:05PM
@ Alien Lord: I don't like that because I had to change mine. When the Psychonauts milkman says it, it's not creepy, but when cartoon me says "my milk is delicious" I worry what my friends will think.
R @ Nov 19th 2008 3:03PM
Freaking killed the audio on my poor mans HD set up ( HDMI via computer monitor) Tried everything and it wont work, only works on my TV.
Im freaking pissed.
Nineset @ Nov 19th 2008 3:47PM
I'm sure you tried this but may as well post it anyway. A user said this worked for him on Major's twitter.
1. turn off xbox
2. remove hard drive
3. turn on xbox
4. push hard drive back in while xbox is on
5. let it reboot
and that was it. Hope it helps someone...
R @ Nov 19th 2008 3:50PM
yeah I tried that, but no luck. I posted it in the xbox forums, I guess we will see what happens.
R @ Nov 19th 2008 4:01PM
Ok, for anyone that reads this, if the work around doesnt work for you, keep trying. I did it like 5 times without it working, and now it has worked 2x in a row. everytime I turn off my 360 I have to redo it, but at least I know for sure its not any of my hardware. Something in the update fucked up the sound via HDMI.
SuperTedstr @ Nov 19th 2008 5:14PM
That's not all it messed up! It has killed video via HDMI for some of us as well. Not a great situation to be in...
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 19th 2008 5:42PM
Cell Block 4?
"I'm black yall, I'm black yall, I'm blackidy black and I'm black yall!"
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 19th 2008 5:43PM
oh wow, this reply definitely got attached to the wrong post.
starsforeyes(XBL) @ Nov 19th 2008 3:06PM
I know the removal of Sony was a bit of a blow, but I'm still really enjoying having Netflix on my 360. I'm a documentary nut so having access to all of those movies is really exciting.
I haven't had any hiccups or problems, yet. And if it's your thing the Avatars are fun to play around with.
I love the NXE so far, it nice to have a little change every once in awhile.
baby sea tuna @ Nov 19th 2008 3:18PM
As a fellow doc-nut, do you have any good recommendations for instant d/l movies?
ill trooper @ Nov 19th 2008 3:32PM
Some docs I'd recommend, no real order...
1. Sketches of Frank Gehry
2. The Rape of Europa
3. Lessons of Darkness
4. Gunnin for that #1 Spot
5. Who Killed The Electric Car
6. American Movie
7. CB4
Badboy1979 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:33PM
Just a FYI that might help a few people:
The vmcNetflix plugin for Vista Media Center allows you to stream all the movies in your instant queue (regardless of if it's Columbia Pics or not). I tried it this morning and it worked on my 360 in Extender mode.
While it's not as spiffy a UI as the NXE Netflix, it'll hold me over until the liscensing is fixed on those movies that I'm not able to watch thru the Dashboard.
FYI, the vmcNetflix plugin requires Vista Media Center and IE7 to be installed on your PC that's linked to your 360.
ogvor @ Nov 19th 2008 3:44PM
Taxi to the Dark Side
The King of Kong
Ralph Nader: An Unreasonable Man
Jesus Camp
Shut Up & Sing
No End in Sight
My Kid Could Paint That
These are great and even if you aren't really interested in their subject areas, they can really captivate you.
I've added these to my queue based on good word of mouth, but have't watched them yet:
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
King Corn
The Weather Underground
Helvetica
baby sea tuna @ Nov 19th 2008 3:46PM
Ill Trooper:
CB4, really? Everyone knows that Fear of a Black Hat is where it's at!
Seriously though, thanks!
Jack @ Nov 19th 2008 4:26PM
I'm gonna have to second "My Kid Could Paint That". I saw it in theaters and I loved it.
starsforeyes(XBL) @ Nov 19th 2008 4:42PM
Thank for the suggestions!
*Runs to fill up her queue*
ill trooper @ Nov 19th 2008 5:01PM
Tuna: The 'CB4' mention was just a joke, not a good one, but still a joke!
Ichi the One @ Nov 19th 2008 3:08PM
I've been in the NXE since phase 3, I love the new dashboard, but mostly for game installs. The 360's DVD drive noise has always bothered me, and I've had a 120GB HDD for a while. Currently have 15 games installed (only 7GB of HDD space left, but it'll be easy to manage).
The installs often make a good load time difference as well.
Rabidkeebler @ Nov 19th 2008 3:11PM
I know what you mean. Playing Fallout 3 or Fable II was distracting what with the diesel engine that powers the dvd drive.
GhostofGrendel @ Nov 19th 2008 3:55PM
Everything I've read so far has said that the load times between the HDD and disc are negligible. What games have you installed so far and what do you think your greatest gains have been? I want to install Force Unleashed anyone do an install on this game?
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:05PM
As far as load times go I've actually had 2 games that loaded longer after being installed. Mass Effect and Fallout 3 loaded on average 3 seconds longer for me after being installed. Everything else has been about equal so far, but Oblivion loaded about 2 seconds faster.
Ichi the One @ Nov 19th 2008 4:10PM
Everything loads faster. There are only two games that have been tested to actually load slower. Dead Rising loads considerably slower on occasion, and Halo 3 loads slower because it caches differently, hopefully that will get fixed.
Lost Odyssey load times are CUT IN HALF. Most games like Fallout 3 just shave off a few seconds. Mirror's Edge seems to load much faster, and some people say the mid-level loadings are completely gone, I haven't tested that yet.
Textures load faster in UE3 games like ME & Gears of War 2.
Young_Nastyman @ Nov 20th 2008 10:07AM
GTA IV went from a 1 min 19 sec to a 53 sec load time
Daniel @ Nov 19th 2008 3:08PM
The NXE install killed the audio on my 360 after the install. A call to tech support yielded nothing but a vauge promise of a follow up email within an hours time, which I of course never got. I sent Major Nelson a twitter about the issue, he replied back to me about it so he is at least aware of it.
http://twitter.com/majornelson/status/1013451877
Thankfully, I was able to find this fix through a PsS3 forum of all places:
http://www.ps3forums.com/showthread.php?p=3519755
Major Nelson knows of that thread now, he may be sending an update out to everyone about it soon.
R @ Nov 19th 2008 3:23PM
didnt work for me :(
Heyyou27 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:13PM
I kind of wish you didn't HAVE to make an avatar, but whatever. I don't have Netflix nor do I plan on getting it. The NXE seems to be quite a bit faster than the old dashboard, and that alone makes me satisfied. I installed Gears 2 to my hard drive and while it is faster, it's not as big of an improvement as I hoped.
Of course, I'll leave it installed for the noise reduction alone as I already have a 120GB hard drive anyways.
RiccochetJ @ Nov 19th 2008 3:26PM
Hmmm, I didn't have to make an avatar. I just turned off my xbox when that came up and when I booted up again, there was just a silhouette, so there is a way around it.
As for netflix, I just signed up this morning and I love it. While at work I just queued up some shows (heroes, friday night lights) and there they were when I went home for lunch. In glorious HD even!
I'm seriously contemplating upgrading to the fiber optic option through my ISP because of this so I can guarantee that netflix won't readjust in the middle of a movie.
baby sea tuna @ Nov 19th 2008 3:16PM
Where's the box for "I am an adult with a job and therefore haven't had a chance to download it yet"?
xFenixKnightx @ Nov 19th 2008 3:33PM
I'm looking for that one as well. =/
kastonie @ Nov 19th 2008 4:31PM
dude you need to get your priorities straight. Look whats more important? Job, making money, paying for a roof over your head or downloading and using NXE?
samfish @ Nov 19th 2008 4:59PM
Well my job involves masturbating into a cup all day, so I know where MY priorities are!
Marty @ Nov 19th 2008 5:18PM
Same here... but I got up early and downloaded it before I went to work. Couldn't help myself!
Eric @ Nov 19th 2008 3:23PM
I never really notice alot of noise coming from my xbox. But of course it's in my living room which is pretty big. If i was in a smaller area i might have noticed it. I want to know how the HD streaming is? What type of DL speed do you need for it to work right?
Dirty @ Nov 19th 2008 3:29PM
Looks good, however blacks look a little iffy. I am using a cable modem with moderate speed and it works for me (I got in early so there wasn't as much traffic.)
Keep in mind that not everything has HD streaming.
Capgun @ Nov 19th 2008 3:23PM
...So what was that about NOT having to make an avatar? Still, it didn't completely suck.
But anyway, I'm rather indifferent. Nothing too thrilling. Just seems overcomplicated compared to the blades.
Capgun @ Nov 19th 2008 3:25PM
Woah woah woah. What the hell? Must be Gold to friggin join a party? When did they decide this load of BS?
MooseMuffin @ Nov 19th 2008 3:27PM
I didn't have to make an avatar when I first got it last week. The "make an avatar" thing popped up immediately, but I could use the guide button and choose to go back to the dashboard without making one. I don't know if this changed when the released it to everyone, but I went without an avatar for 2 days.