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Avatars go professional, get business gear

by Xav de Matos { Mar 31st 2009 at 10:30PM }

Brand new Avatar threads are now available for your virtual-selves. This week's additions include business clothes for men and women ... just in case your Avatar was planning on attending a job interview or something. One thing to note before you dress up for that next online date, change your shoes. Business suits and sneakers don't work.

Male Business Attire

Blue Formal Shirt
Moleskin Pants
Waistcoat and Shirt
Suit and Tie (pictured)

Female Business Attire

Pencil Skirt
Slacks
Pinstripe Blazer
Twin Set

Joystiq survey: Xbox 360 E74 errors on the rise since NXE [update]

by Justin McElroy { Mar 19th 2009 at 2:40PM }

When we recently posted about the Xbox 360's E74 error and asked for your input, we weren't prepared for the staggering response we'd receive. Within a few hours, we had dozens of emails from readers like you who had experienced this particular hardware failure (typically caused, according to unofficial web reports, by a loose scaling chip). It was surprising to touch such a nerve, but what really knocked us for a loop was what we found when we started compiling the data sent to us.

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New western Avatar clothing for the cowboy in us all

by Dustin Burg { Mar 10th 2009 at 9:55PM }

Brand new Avatar apparel is available via the Xbox 360's Avatar customizer and, this week, it's all about the western flavor. The new western-wear is supposedly inspired by this week's South by Southwest celebration, but we think the design team just wanted to see what a female Avatar looked like in a knee high denim dress. Well ... now we know.

For the Cowboys

Black Cowboy Hat
Rodeo Jeans
Black Trench Coat
Western Duster
Cowboy Boots

For the Cowgirls

Cowgirl Shirt
Rhinestone Cowgirl Hat
Denim Skirt
Dungarees
Cowgirl Boots

Confirmed: NXE update on Xbox 360 game discs

by David Hinkle { Mar 4th 2009 at 4:40PM }

There was a rumor floating around today about NXE shipping on Xbox 360 game discs (via MCV) and, as you can imagine, we were surprised. So we put in a question to Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, who confirmed that Microsoft has begun including NXE with Xbox 360 games.

As to whether Tom Clancy's HAWX and 2K Sports' MLB2K9 will be the first games to feature the NXE update -- as the rumor suggested -- Major Nelson could not confirm. But, from here on out, expect the update to be included on all retail game discs.

Just in time for Valentine's, Avatars receive formal attire

by Dustin Burg { Feb 11th 2009 at 12:05AM }

Check your Avatar closet, because freshly pressed clothing has just magically been added. Spiffy new (and free) formal wear, in fact. Male Avatars now have the option to wear a black formal suit and blue dress-shirt combo. Female Avatars have the option to sport a sexy (can we refer to Avatars as sexy?) red dress. We're also told that the new duds are perfect for this weekend's special holiday. That is, if you express your romantic feelings over Xbox Live.

Rare: Unlockable Avatar duds coming 'in time'

by Dustin Burg { Feb 7th 2009 at 7:15AM }

Well aware that most all Avatar supporters, and non-supporters alike, demand clothing individuality, Rare art lead Lee Musgrave and producer Stacey Law recently hinted to VG247 that fashionable Avatar apparel may be treated like unlockable achievements ... sometime in the future.

"Games will be able to give away clothes and accessories just like Achievements," Musgrave admitted, being sure to vaguely note that such a feature would come "in time." As far as corralling developers' interest, Law is optimistic, making mention that their team is "currently working with multiple partners who have expressed interest in using Avatars."

It's either unlockable Avatar apparel, being able to change clothing colors or allowing us to put our Vision camera creativity to good use. Those are your options, Microsoft. Your call.

Reminder: 360 memory upgrade program ends Saturday

by Dustin Burg { Jan 29th 2009 at 10:00AM }

Last call for those Xbox 360 Arcade console owners who are looking to take advantage of Microsoft's NXE storage solution offer. The program -- which was setup to get Arcade console owners storage to install the NXE -- ends this Saturday, January 31st when Microsoft will pull the plug on the website. To receive either your free 512MB memory card or to take advantage of their 20GB HDD deal, simply head over to the official memory request website, enter your console information and review what storage solution offers you receive. There is no time for procrastination, so get to it!

[Thanks, Beagles]

Preview premium NXE themes before you buy

by Dustin Burg { Jan 28th 2009 at 8:30AM }

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes of the long defunct Dashboard Themes website, comes a new site that has the simple goal of giving XBLM consumers a chance to preview premium dashboard themes. NXE Themes has screenshots of the entire catalog of premium dash skins, including all free and paid content. It's quite the nice community service NXE Themes is offering, seeing that a premium download can cost upwards of 250 Microsoft points.

The only negative we can find with the site is the amount of bandwidth that is required. Dial-up users stay far, far away.

[Thanks, NBA Kirkland]

Pachter: Xbox 360 a 'gold mine' for Netflix growth

by Randy Nelson { Jan 27th 2009 at 6:30PM }

All-knowing, all-powerful games industry analyst, Michael Pachter, sees the partnership between Microsoft and Netflix as a very good thing for the latter's bottom line. GameDaily quotes the silicon seer as calling Xbox Live a "proverbial gold mine" for Netflix.

How's that? Pachter estimates that roughly one million Xbox Live Gold members are also Netflix subscribers, and that 200,000 or so of them signed up for Netflix after the debut of the New Xbox Experience in late November, 2008. Pachter's posse of prognosticators at Wedbush Morgan Securities feel that the influx of 360 owners to the video rental service "will continue at super-normal levels for quite some time."

In fact, Pachter expects to see "as many as 1 million [XBL Gold members] join as Netflix members in the next year," and furthermore predicts 35% of those who buy a 360 in 2009 will also purchase a Gold membership, hence the proverbial gold mine. Note to Netflix: We suggest you nix any plans to add the Leprechaun films for Instant Queue viewing, lest you wish for the rapscallion to make off with said gold.

Fresh Avatar apparel, more polos and pants

by Dustin Burg { Jan 14th 2009 at 8:45AM }

Today being an official Avatar Wardrobe Expanding Wednesday (patent pending), Microsoft has unleashed a bunch of new Avatar clothing selections. All of which can be accessed via the 360 dashboard's Avatar customizer.

The new apparel includes various jacket and polo combinations for male Avatars along with new bottoms and suspenders for dressing up. Female Avatars now have access to a Lavender polo, new shoes, and some trendy chinos. Check the break for a listing of all the new fashionable duds you can use to play Avatar dress-up.

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CES 09: MS solidifies Primetime's launch this Spring

by Dustin Burg { Jan 7th 2009 at 11:00PM }

More Xbox 360 news coming from CES, Microsoft has just announced that the long delayed New Xbox Experience feature Primetime will be releasing to the masses sometime this Spring. Microsoft's Robbie Bach demoed Primetime on stage, showing off Primetime's gameshow 1 vs. 100 all while showing what the experience will look and feel like. Primetime is the live, social and fully interactive Xbox Live channel that lets the community come together, play games and win prizes.

Queue the applause: Columbia Pictures films return to Netflix 360

by Randy Nelson { Jan 6th 2009 at 4:54PM }

Were you feeling super bad that Super Bad got yoinked from your Netflix Instant Queue mere hours after the launch of the NXE? Well, turn that frown upside-down, because it appears that the entirety of Columbia Pictures' streaming movie catalog is once again available to Xbox 360 owners.

Most of the catalog became accessible to Netflix 360 at the end of November, but site 360sync reports that everything is back as of today -- yes, even Super Bad. Of course, given the evidently squirrely nature of Netflix licensing, they could be gone again at a moment's notice. So, to ensure minimum trauma, "Watch Now" for real.

[Via X3F]

Columbia movies back on Netflix instant view

by Richard Mitchell { Jan 6th 2009 at 12:45PM }

Keen-eyed observers (or at least one keen-eyed observer, anyway) over at 360Sync have noticed that movies from Sony's Columbia Pictures are once again available for Netflix streaming on Xbox 360. After the titles were first yanked from the service in November, we later reported that most of the Columbia movies had returned, but it seems that now all of them are available once again. Just to be sure, we decided to see if our beloved Paprika had returned. Lo and behold, it has! Now go and add some movies to your queue! Do it because it's more fun than working.

Video: Possible future Avatar clothing options discovered

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 18th 2008 at 5:30PM }

The diligent folks over at Xbox Avatar Life have uncovered some YouTube videos of ... enterprising Xbox users that have discovered lots of currently unavailable clothing and accessory options for Avatars. All told, there are three videos covering the various hats, tops, shoes, pants, skirts, accessories and hairstyles for both male and female Avatars. Now, keep in mind that we have no idea when, or even if these options will ever be released, so don't get your hopes up about any particuar options. Actually, we're just going to disregard our own advice and say we can't wait for the puffy shirt. Check out all three videos after the break.

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Dress your Avatar in new formal apparel

by Dustin Burg { Dec 16th 2008 at 8:00PM }

Freshly sewn for inclusion in the Avatar customizer closet is brand new clothing for your Avatar that's mostly made up of formal wear. Male and female Avatars now have the option of wearing two new hats, a new shirt and a few new tuxedo suits including the blue gem you see to the right. Spiffy, right?

All new threads are accessible via the Xbox 360 dashboard's Avatar customizer and are marked with a gold star for your convenience. Have fun playing dress up.