MS shows redesigned XBL Games Store News

It's the first time a console has been re-invented through software, quite remarkable.

we shall see how much of a re-invention it is,

Pc's are re-invented each time a new windows OS comes out and it never seems to be getting any better!!! :P

@Negotiator

Who are you, Microsoft's PR?

It's not re-invented, it just looks different. Granted it has a couple of tweaks to functionality but other than that it's no more than a fancy theme. A theme heavily influenced by the competition.

A theme heavily influenced by the mod scene you mean!

I have to admit I like the changes to the interface - the old one has grown old and tired to my eyes.

As for the avatars, well, even my 9-year-old son sees them as a bland Mii rip-off, but to be honest they don't bother me that much - at least not until they start tanking over my console that is :)

"Pc's are re-invented each time a new windows OS comes out and it never seems to be getting any better!!! :P "

What a daft thing to say. How does it not get better? I can still remember when there weren't things as unified drivers and such (getting a printer to work could literally be impossible). I'm doing things now that just weren't there yet 10 years ago, how is that not an improvement.

"It's not re-invented, it just looks different. Granted it has a couple of tweaks to functionality but other than that it's no more than a fancy theme. A theme heavily influenced by the competition."

Forgetting all the added elements are we?

Mii HD...meh.

imo the xbox interface has needed an overhall for a long time - it was designed to do a number of things, and did them well until they piled on all those other things resulting in it to be too crowded and unintuitive now. From what i've seen of the new interface it looks much easier to use and this has only got to be a good thing - coupled with running games from the hdd i'm actually more interested in this than i am in gow2

Forgetting all the added elements are we?

No, hence:

Granted it has a couple of tweaks to functionality

Next time read.

I did read that and what they are adding can hardly be described as a 'couple of tweaks'.

@ login_name

Do you actually know what a "couple" means?

"Next time read. "

So it looks and acts completely different, does a ton more stuff, but it's not "re-invented"? What would be re-invented to you then?

er..., imo, in login's case it has little to do with objectivity, which is fine - he doesn't seem to dig Xboxes for some political reason, so no matter what it comes to happen, it will always be like that.

What new stuff does it do? Under the barrage of the Mii-ness I seem to have missed what's actually new.

@Xerx3s

Fair enough, but that would make the PS3 the first console to be "re-invented" through software since what Microsoft are doing is no more a re-invention than the inclusion of in game XMB, the re-designed store or trophies on PS3. No more than downloading and adding a new channel to the Wii even.

I'm not saying I don't like it, in fact I'm looking forward to it. I'm just saying it's not a re-invention via software. It's still the same old 360 playing the same old games via the same old controller. Copying games to the HDD or being able to group in the OS rather than in game is a nice tweak to the current system.

does it even matter whether it does new stuff or not? If it does the same stuff but in a better way that's a big enough improvement surely - people seem to be obsessed with features rather than the way the features are implemented - if it makes finding your downloaded games easier for example then thats great

THE WORLD IS MY CLAM!

he doesn't seem to think the 360 is above criticism for some political reason

Fixed that for ya. Don't mention it ;)

My first console this gen was a 360. The console I own most games for, and therefore play most on, is the 360.
Never mind, keep assuming though. You'll get it right one of these days.

I'm sorry login, if I am wrong (I am, quite often...), but as I'm a *Nix administrator I do get around a lot of fundamentalists in a daily basis.
;)

edit: I might have mistaken you by one of my mates, as I do find it weird how can one not adnit that it is a major diference like as in the 1st time a console does such. On the other hand I'm a bit worried, v 3.0 of Zune's sw killed my device (not sure if it was due to the upgrade but it did died one day after).

think it looks great

@login_name
"Fair enough, but that would make the PS3 the first console to be "re-invented" through software since what Microsoft are doing is no more a re-invention than the inclusion of in game XMB, the re-designed store or trophies on PS3. No more than downloading and adding a new channel to the Wii even.

I'm not saying I don't like it, in fact I'm looking forward to it. I'm just saying it's not a re-invention via software. It's still the same old 360 playing the same old games via the same old controller. Copying games to the HDD or being able to group in the OS rather than in game is a nice tweak to the current system."

Have Sony reinvented anything or have they just incrementally released features that were announced before launch? (I genuinely don't know).

I'm really looking forward to this update but I also have a little problem justifying the use of the term "reinvented" here too. Sure, they've reskinned the dash and added new features, it's Xbox360 2.0 and should be much more user-friendly but it's not really reinvented; it's still a 360 dash that does the same old things in a different way (yes, along with new features but that in itself isn't enough to be reinvented, they're not that radical a departure from the things it used to do, IMO).

Granted, a significantly large change in the UI should be enough to mark it as reinvented and maybe I'm just jaded and overly cynical whenever I encounter a term that smacks of marketese but when you boil it all down is the basic UI even that significant a change? An awful lot of work has gone into this but you still scroll around lists of icons using the stick and make selections with a button, it's just that the "icons" are larger and the UI is organised in a different way. I'm looking forward to it but it's not the second coming.

If it was an oven or a shoe now as well as a console then it'd definitely have been reinvented. ;)

The update will, in actual fact, make day-to-day use of the console easier. It will be easier to party up, easier to browse the stores, easier to access media and installed games will load faster.

You will be doing the same basic things as before, but in a different way, and more efficiently.

The Miitoo's are a practically irrelevant part of the update, yet somehow people are unable to see past them. That indicates either a shallow perspective, lack of comprehension, jealosy or foaming retardation.

Edit: But I agree that perhaps 're-invention' is too strong a term.

Not really that keen on Mii HD, sorry Avatars, but still looking forward to the update as something to improve the overall feel and the use of the X360 Dashboard. Sure X360 will still be the same old X360 but anything that adds to that is no bad thing.

First entry for "reinvent" found after a quick google:

1. To make over completely.

From here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/reinvent

"The Miitoo's are a practically irrelevant part of the update, yet somehow people are unable to see past them. That indicates either a shallow perspective, lack of comprehension, jealosy or foaming retardation."

Hehe - I love how the next comment then mentions straight away how they're not keen on the avatars (although they then elaborate on the rest of the update) :D

I know it's worth mentioning, they are part of the update, but it's when people focus on them as if they were the sole focus of the update that gets annoying, at least most people on here realise that there is more to the update.

@Stoatboy

The issue here I think is that yes, the dash is being made-over completely so can be called a re-invention in isolation, but it's still the same hardware with the same games, so the end result (playing a game, browsing or playing a movie) is the same if slightly easier to achieve.

Either way I like new shineys so it gets a thumbs up from me. :)

"The Miitoo's are a practically irrelevant part of the update"

Really, have you told MS? They seem to think differently, as they have openly said they want to incorporate their crap Miitoo's into everything they do in the future.....

The impression I get is that this is principally an update to add features to Live. Given that the few months I've spent with the online service were mostly occupied with headslapping at the irritating attitudes of other players spoiling the fun, I didn't bother renewing that... The installation onto the drive sounds nice, but that's the only thing that it appears I'll benefit from.

I guess I'm the only one who enjoys Mii integration in Wii games/stuff and is looking forward to the avatars?!

Seriously, what harm do they do? A shovelware game without Mii/MiiHDs is as much a shovelware game with vapid 'edgy' 3D models as it is with little caricatures of your family, Jesus and Hitler. I find it improves already good games when they let me play as an icon of myself, and my friends with icons of themselves. Mario Kart was better for it, Bomberman Blast is better for it.

It's really no different to create-a-character features in games that have been about years - I hope all you people who bitch about Mii's/Mii HDs never make your own golfers in tiger woods, your own wrestlers in wrestling games, and play MMOs where everyone looks identical. A Star Wars MMO where everyone plays as Luke Skywalker is your ideal game.

To the people who are saying they don't care about Miis/Mii HDs - well done, 10 points. You've successfully registered your apathy towards an entirely free update which you never have to use. Success and glory shine upon you. 27 hot virgins are on their way right this bloody second.

"they have openly said they want to incorporate their crap Miitoo's into everything they do in the future"

But when you fold a little reality into that statement, you find it has very little impact on anything whatsoever. Just like Mii's in fact: they are fun if you want to explore them, but you can completely ignore them.

@LazyDan

I too quite like the cast of Mii's on my Wii and am looking forward to Mii-ing up my 360.

However, I would still like the 27 hot virgins if that's possible?

Still looks shit then...

Like Farticus said, the whole console isn't being re-invented, but the dashboard layout is. The look is being re-invented, but not necessarily the functionality behind that look. No really denying that.

It's great hearing from everyone how much they are going to hate the "Mii-too's" every other comment. Can't get enough - especially considering that once Home is released, every console will be home to a type of "Mii-too" so good luck escaping it!

"OMG, an extra feature that I never have to use. The horror!!!" I have a feeling you'll get over it. ;)

"But when you fold a little reality into that statement, you find it has very little impact on anything whatsoever. "

Well that was reality as it came from the horses mouth (can't be bothered to find link to article, sorry!). I do hope your right though farticusmaximus. I don't mind the actual look of the new dash, but I can't help but be slightly concerned when MS state that they intend to use a part of the update I really can't stand as much as they can in their future games (I do think he was only talking Live games tho so it's not like ALL games, then I really would cry!).

Oh, and for the last time to those saying it's optional - IT'S NOT!! Unless things have changed the only way to avoid all the crap coming with the new look is to confine yourself to a little box in the middle of the screen (the new guide), not the kind of "optional" people are looking for unfortunately. MS should look at Sony, Home IS optional (as far as I know!).

Hopefully they also let you preview wallpapers, themes and gamer pictures prior to purchasing them.
They don't really give you an idea of what they look like beforehand. I mean giving someone a chance to see what they are getting prior to buying is certainly not a new thing.

@ bad09

Yes, it is optional. You might have to create a character from the beginning, which MS said takes all of a few clicks, but after that nothing is forcing you to do anything with the avatar. The avatar isn't going to jump out of your TV, sit next to you and make you play games with it. It'll be scattered about the dash, here and there, but as nothing more than something that's on your screen. You won't have to tickle or pet it, it'll just be there.

Are you going to be able to deal with that - or will you just take any oppotunity you can to complain? Please, if you have a 360, just get rid of it so you can stop putting us through the torture of listening to bullshit from people who instead of just ignoring a feature they don't like, have to mention it incessantly as if it's going to be the new focal point of their lives. The article had nothing to do with avatars, and yet it's what half the comments are about...most of which from people who probably don't even own a 360.

@ ronuds

Whoa there high horse, let ronuds off!

I didn't come here to troll I was talking to people, not you strangely so why get so upset, did I hurt your feelings knocking 360 or something? Put me on ignore friend that way I won't upset you :)

I do find it strange that since I've been more critical of MS in recent months I get a lot more of this anger from some EGer's, 360 owners oddly. " damn xbots!!!!!" ;)

/ contemplates signing up to SDF for a giggle, looks for headbog and an application form

EDIT - spelt Whoa as wow, twat! - still not sure that's right tho :(

"Hopefully they also let you preview wallpapers, themes and gamer pictures prior to purchasing them."

Now that would be a good idea, and frankly I don't see how it got overlooked before.


@bad09

"looks for headbog"

Be careful, you may just find him. That would be as much fun as finding cancer in your balls. ;)

"Be careful, you may just find him. That would be as much fun as finding cancer in your balls. ;) "

LOL you do crack me farticus :)