Joystiq

Video: Creating an Xbox 360 Avatar

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2008-09-19T16:45:00+00:00

Xbox Live's Major Nelson has posted a new video, showing just how we'll go about creating tiny, polygonal and considerably more handsome versions of ourselves when the New Xbox Experience (that's fancy for "dashboard update") arrives this Fall. If you've been wondering how you'll outfit your Avatar with virtua-threads or which button elicits a burp (yes, really), peer past the break.

Of course, if you're the impatient type and just want to get back to your space mareenz, you can skip the whole process by simply selecting a random Avatar. Just don't blame us if you wind up as Shane Kim.

Gallery: New Xbox Experience

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:af0e0dcd-5cff-43a2-bd32-4841fe6a89d1&showPlaylist=true&from=msnvideo" target="_new" title="Avatars in the new Xbox experience">Video: Avatars in the new Xbox experience</a>

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Microsoft: No spring dashboard update this year

Justin McElroy — 2008-05-22T17:16:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

Sad news today for those among you that love ... functionality, as Microsoft's Xbox Live manager Marc Whitten revealed to Next Gen that there would be no spring dashboard update this year, debunking this rumor that circulated earlier this month. Whitten said that Microsoft instead focused on "building the proper infrastructure and scale for the service."

While we welcome updates and improvements to the infrastructure, we can't help but be a little disappointed. With Sony regularly evolving the PS3's functionality, a single update in a year for the (arguably more fully-featured) 360 dashboard seems a little paltry by comparison.

Other news to be gleaned from the Whitten interview: Underperforming XBLA titles will be delisted; the size/price limit of XBLA titles has been upped to 350MB and 1600 MS points, respectively; and a tool to fix the DRM 'fiasco' is due next month.

While there's no Spring update, Microsoft did show off quite a bit at this year's Xbox 360 Spring Showcase. From Gears of War 2 to Banjo-Kazooie, Ninja Gaiden 2, to Viva Pinata, check out our coverage of the event, including new screenshots and hands-on impressions.

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Rumor: 360 dashboard update to support game installs, 'motion sensor devices' [update]

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2008-05-14T08:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

It's becoming increasingly difficult for us to shamble out of bed and avoid stubbing our toe on some unconfirmed list of Xbox 360 features, fixes, enhancements and/or tweaks meant for the system's Spring dashboard update. Though we usually avoid the ones promising "full compatibility with Metal Gear Solid 4" or "online racial slur filters," this latest one proved unavoidable. Thank you, dear tipster, for leaving a concrete block at the base of our bed.

You'll find the "incomplete" list of unconfirmed features after the break, though we'll draw your attention to two in particular. "Calibration options for motion sensor devices." That certainly brings to mind the numerous Newtonian rumors of a Microsoft waggle wand we've encountered over the last few weeks. As for allowing games to "store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading?" We'll go make a sandwich while you guys discuss.

Update: Microsoft says: "We don't comment on rumors or speculation, but what we can tell you is we've never seen this list before."

Xbox LIVE

Option to delay sign-in to Xbox LIVE upon booting console (to allow user to set Online Status).
Option to promote Child Account from Family Settings.
Disallow Child Accounts (over 18) to override Family Settings by launching Privacy Settings through a title.
Option in Family Settings for Child Accounts to enable child-oriented/non-mature advertisements.
Introduce a group chat (4) for Private Chat and conferences through Video Chat.
Support to indicate media being watched to gamercard status (video content from Marketplace only).
Extend height for Bio field in Personal Profile, easier navigation through text.
More fields present in Personal Profile -- recent achievements, interests, games, movies, links, custom section.
Compact Personal Profile for new fields (navigating to field will open it up).
Mandatory option to delete duplicate titles from gamercard (excludes Games for Windows - LIVE). User disconnected from Xbox LIVE when booting any title until action complete.
Option to remove payment information from gamertag.
New payment methods for international users.
Download History on Account Management better organized -- games, genre, type, download date, miscellaneous.
Long descriptions of items on Marketplace can be scrolled using right stick.
Better organization of free content on Marketplace.
Option to 'ping' when testing connection.
Allow re-connection to Xbox LIVE if Ethernet cable is re-inserted whilst powered on.
New strip colours available to developers, staff gamercards.
New corner icon available to ambassadors.
Re-introduce Messages button for Inside Xbox updates only.
Option to store up to 10 messages permanently on server (excludes invites, status messages).
Increase character limit for text messages between friends only.
Option to disable invites from non-friends or all players.
Option to disable invites from titles not on gamercard (excludes demos).
Option to have smaller items moved up in Active Downloads.
Automatically re-connect to Xbox LIVE if disconnected unexpectedly (set intervals).
Option to download gamer picture (if available) from a gamercard being viewed.
Display random tips to replace static text on Xbox LIVE and Games blades.
New button on Marketplace for optional dashboard features -- uses Storage Device memory.
Option to donate Microsoft Points to anybody with a Windows Live ID.
Option to purchase Membership for charities (includes benefits).
Integrate file-sharing for selected titles on Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows - LIVE.
Disable notifications to friends of user repeatedly signing into service (set period).
Option to see 'snippet' of text message in notification.
Windows Live Mail integration - includes support for Xbox LIVE Vision.

Marketplace

Option to display gamer picture or standard picture as display picture in Windows Live Messenger.
Support for headset, Xbox LIVE Vision in Windows Live Messenger.
Support for limited 'winks' that display on dashboard interface. Option to disable 'winks' and 'nudges' added.
Notifications separate from Windows Live Messenger to Xbox 360 notifications.
Disable multiple languages from being used in any Xbox LIVE editable fields.

Games

Option to delete titles from gamercard with 0 gamerscore and 0 achievements (excludes some titles that will be re-added to launch another title).
Organize My Games at the Games Library section better (includes disc-based titles) -- sort by genre, platform (Games for Windows - LIVE), percentage completion.
Support to display friends leaderboards for disc-based titles.
Show dates of an achievement unlocked when comparing.
Preload Games Library upon dashboard bootup for faster access.
Game updates now shown as items in Memory, increased amount of updates on Storage Device
Option to delete game updates, removed 'cheat code' as no longer needed.
Support for more titles to display banner when accessing guide in-game.
Option to re-introduce awarded gamer pictures from titles that do not have their own re-introduce feature (requires saved game).
Disable gamer pictures from being awarded from trials.
Support for titles to store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading.
Synchronization to achievements offline/online that were deleted and then re-added from developers.

Media

Option to hold LT and RT for rewinding/fast-forwarding video content.
Option to delete individual music tracks from storage device.
Option to rip music CD at different quality.
Copy non-protected files (pictures, music, videos) from USB storage devices, CDs and computers to proprietary storage devices.
Support for menu, top-menu features on video content downloaded from Marketplace.
Section added for audio delivered through feeds (podcasts). Option to stream, download to Storage Device.
Support added for video titles/description to gamercard status.

Dashboard/Miscellaneous

Option to navigate quickly out of several menus back to respective blade home (applies to Games, Media, System).
New blade trim styles added.
Introduce expanded Inside Xbox as a portal to news, weather, entertainment, help and community features.
New sounds for various functions (notifications, blades, navigation).
Calibration options for display/sound.
Calibration options for motion sensor devices.
New effects for Xbox LIVE Vision and dashboard background.
Disable changing of Theme when on Memory to prevent 'hanging'.
Preload recent, limited items upon dashboard bootup on Memory.
Faster loading of Themes section on guide.
Option to see what items will not work offline due to DRM license changing from
Option to automatically associate new DRM to items downloaded for free.
Indicate 'charging' status on guide when Play & Charge kit is connected.
Option to change text colours on guide to better contrast some backgrounds.
Language improvements.
Word censor updated for fields.
Privacy Settings/Family Settings updated for new features.
Voice, picture messages can be read at Xbox.com (Gold accounts). [*]

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New Xbox 360 update doesn't do anything

Justin McElroy — 2008-04-18T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

The next time you fire up your 360 you'll be prompted to do a system update and we hope you're sitting down when it happens, because after it's complete you need to be prepared for the thrill of performance identical to before said update. No, there's nothing. Don't try poking around, you're just going to get your heart broken.

Genie paramour and Microsoft spokesman Major Nelson said the code is solely to "prepare for future growth of the service." We're hoping the update is tantamount to a young girl getting a saddle the night before her thirteenth birthday, only the metaphorical pony is the Spring Dashboard Update, information on which has been unusually scarce. We'll let you know when we get some.

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Fall Xbox 360 dashboard update revealed: download Halo December 2

Scott Jon Siegel — 2007-11-13T05:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

Official Xbox Magazine has the scoop on the Fall Xbox 360 dashboard update, and you better believe it's a doozy. UK-based CVG reports that the December 2 update will allow 360 owners to download and play Microsoft-published Xbox 1 games on their 360s.

Let's say that one more time: come December 2, you will be able to download full, original Xbox games to the Xbox 360. The initial list of available games includes Fable, Indigo Prophecy, Crimson Skies: High Road To Revenge, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex, Burnout 3, and, of course, Halo: Combat Evolved.

Games will cost approximately 1200 Microsoft Points, or $15 USD. Microsoft plans on re-releasing as many Xbox 1 titles as possible through Marketplace. Look out, Virtual Console.

Update: The CVG source has been removed, but Eurogamer has posted a similar report, dating the update for December 4th.

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Microsoft: IPTV not a part of Xbox Live Fall Update

Ross Miller — 2007-10-29T18:32:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

Turns out those images of an Xbox 360 with IPTV were legit. In a statement issued by Microsoft, the Redmond-based company acknowledged that the IPTV features "were inadvertently exposed while the customer's console was being serviced and is unrelated to the Fall Update."

The IPTV features, according to the statement, are part of the Microsoft Mediaroom services and will be made available to service providers by the end of this year, adding that it will be up to them to decide when the service is deployed. We've posted Microsoft's complete statement after the break.

"Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) features will only be available from the Xbox 360 through a service provider who has deployed Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV) services. This was an isolated incident where these features were inadvertently exposed while the customer's console was being serviced and is unrelated to the Fall Update. Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV), will be available to service providers by the end of the year. Microsoft's IPTV service providers will ultimately determine the timing of Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom deployments."

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Rumor: 360's IPTV features spotted in dashboard

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-10-27T09:20:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

Several images of IPTV options being displayed in the Xbox 360's dashboard have made their way into the blogosphere, courtesy of our pals* at X3F. According to tipster Aaron, the console recently returned from the oft-visited Microsoft repair center, only to display several new and seemingly incomplete menu additions. Appearing under the Media and System blades, mentions of DVR storage, live television services and pause buffers all seem to imply that the Xbox 360's IPTV services are close enough for us to start using words like "impending."

If these images are indeed proof of premature tweaks to the console (which still shows an older dashboard version number), one can speculate that IPTV may be introduced with this Fall's dashboard update. We've already asked Microsoft to comment, but if they treat this anything like the Arcade SKU, we can expect them to deny it until well after everybody's started watching TV on their consoles.

*This status may change should those bastards fail to return our copy of American Ninja 4.

Gallery: Rumor: Xbox 360 IPTV Dashboard Options

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