The New Xbox Experience: Avatars Comments by Tom Bramwell

OH NOES I HAVE TO SPEND 3 SECONDS MAKING SOMETHING THAT I CAN JUST TURN OFF WHAT WILL I DO

;)

I'm going to be all over these Avatars on release. First thing I do when I get a sports or wrestling game is to make a little version of me, same with Miis. And I'm likely to change outfits for different games :-D

True, they dont force you to have an avatar but like Home on the PS3 I would prefer Microsoft and Sony to put more time and development into making great GAMES!

I want games games games!

And I already have facebook and myspace so this is uneccesary thank you

"At least it can be said that Nintendo, and to an extent Sony with home are doing something "original" off their own backs. Microsoft show zero originality with these avatars. God they are bad. "

Ah, it is funny when sony or nintendo copy something it is considered originality but when ms copies something, people moan about the lack of it.

As long as I cant have dashboard-sex in public - I dont want it.

As much as I like designing my characters in games such as Oblivion, The Sims, Tiger Woods and Top Spin I have no desire to create an avatar of myself in public

You really have too much time on your hands to bother moaning about these avatars... just wait and see, try them and then express an opinion instead of wasting lungs months before on a couple of pics.
I'm not too excited about the avatars either but I think the new dash is much better than the old one and I'm looking forward to 1 vs. 100... very interested in this kind of experiment.

I am still wondering how long it will take MS to slip adverts back in to the new dash, they arent simply going to ignore that revenue stream after opening it up with the current dashboard.

Isn't the 360 supposed to be a more "mature" console?

"Also if this makes the console start up time any worse than it already currently is I'm going to switch all multiplatform title purchases to the PS3."

Sorry, what? Lol. PS3 is like a bloody PC starting up.

And there is nothing whatsoever original about Home, they've basically made a lame version of a game called second life, ever heard of it?

People are so quick to attack MS yet they conveniently ignore rip-offs that other people do.

I've never liked the 360 dashboard. Find it too gaudy so I liking this new version. Wont bother with the avatars much though - I actually am not concerned with things like gamerscore etc anyway

"Also if this makes the console start up time any worse than it already currently is I'm going to switch all multiplatform title purchases to the PS3."

Sorry, what? Lol. PS3 is like a bloody PC starting up.

I was wondering what the hell he was talking about there...my 360 takes what, 3-4 seconds to start up. Hardly a long time...

yes, like a pc that starts immediately and goes to an XMB

Yeah, I can't wait to have EG Burnout Team Livery.

Probably something inspired by Kris Akabusi.

@DUFFKING

"This reminds me of when Epic released a free map or something for UT2003 out of the blue and it wasn't very good.

Everyone acted as though they'd just been raped."

This isn't quite the same. If they had released the map in polace of the existing maps, so everybody had to use the new map and had no choice in the matter, now that comparison would stand.


"You don't like it then just avoid it, it's not difficult"

Can someone clarify this once and for all, before I just end up looking like a dick (oops, too late).

Is this optional? Can I opt out? Can I not have avatars on my screen everytime I look at a friend's profile page, and can I avoid having an avatar of my own. Avatars eh, can I not have on? I don't want an avatar, I'm sure they are very nice anbd clean up after themselves, but I don't want one. The Dash was much in need of an overhaul, and this new version looks great... except for the avatars, which I don't like. Can I not have one, please? No avatars for me, is this possible?

If someone can answer that question, I will give them a big cyber thumbs up (with both thumbs). Can't say fairer than that.

No kanga, you can't opt out.

You can choose to use the Guide Button to produce the new look guide-button menu, which by all accounts has all the functionality of the existing dash.

You cannot, as I understand it, completely avoid the new dash.

Your little douchebag, by the looks of it, is capable of having a speech bubble with your existing gamerpics in them.

GAY!!!

i like the idea of a daylie game show on live :)
also like the idea of the avaters. also good for ingame

i dont see what the problem is, there's too many people here acting like someone's kicked their door down and pissed on their kids on christmas day

Right that's it! I'm cancelling my live subscription and never doing a dashboard update again...that'll learn them. And another thing, if it gets any slower I'll be getting my swingball out on the lawn and playing that instead. ;)

@ agparrot
What was your "My Little Douchebag" song again?

I was wondering what the hell he was talking about there...my 360 takes what, 3-4 seconds to start up. Hardly a long time...

Could just be my console (it's a near launch one) or my internet connection (although I doubt that because I pretty much never have any other problems) but when the ethernet cable is in I generally have to watch the little circle loading screen for 30 seconds or more. Without the live connection with it's accompanying adverts etc yes, it's about 4 seconds before I can start using the console.

@agparrot

Thank you.

/thumbs up, both thumbs

/shoots agparrot for being the messenger bearing bad news

See THAT is my point. I am all for choice, but here there is no choice. Its a minor thing and I'm sure I shall recover my composure (and dignity, once I stop ranting), but its a matter of principal.

I generally have to watch the little circle loading screen for 30 seconds or more.

Wow. Get that looked at. That is definitely not normal.

@ agparrot
What was your "My Little Douchebag" song again?

haha Madafunkola,

I will dig it up from whichever other comments thread I put it in - I can tell it is going to need the verses modified as more info about My Little Douchebags are released.

edit: (this is clearly work in progress)

My Little Douchebag
He has his glad rags
Look at him waving
or is he just craving...

...a fix of some teamplay
some internet 8-way?
My little douchebag,
won't ever be too sad

with his friends in the new dash
some people think it's gash
but I'll download some clothes and
dress him in robes fit for

my little douchebag
la la la la la la laaaa.

/Deeply unconvinced

The more I hear about the Avatars, the more I like it... Not ground breaking by any means, but it certainly could be fun.

Like I said before, the only thing that will make me like this is when they enable me to have the lancer from GoW and run around the screen, chainsawing the other avatars. That would be brilliant. They could make it into a mini game. :D

@kangarootoo: but you do have a choice - if you don't like aspects of the new dash, just hit the guide button, that has ALL the old (and new) functionality, but styled in a mini-'old dash' way. Personally, I'm really looking forward to all the new features of the dash (party mode, primetime looks interesting, the new layout). The Avatars, well they don't offend me like they seem to offend lots of other people... all in all, I'm very excited about it's release!

I'm being somewhat dramatic about it all really. I think the new dash design is ace, and I really wouldn't sacrifice it just to avoid the avatars. Its just a choice thing, and its the principal that bugs me more than the actual avatars themselves.

I'll get used to it I suppose. I had just got kind of fond of my XBL gamertag piccy, and I can't see an animated cartoon stickman being as good.

Maybe I'll print a little gamertag pic and stick it to my telly over the top of where the avatar will be shown.

Good to hear about the extra guide button functionality though (I think can't really picture it in my head from your description). Got any links that go into more detail?

i will probably play with this for about 5 mins then just make do with whatever i have got left, If they start making appearances in online games and you can have heavy customisation such that you can look like a complete ejit in front of your friends then all the better and may make me play with them for maybe 10 mins total.

Unless they gimme my Doom gamerpic, I will unlikely switch any time soon.

EDIT: Here you go kanga, it's in the last few minutes of this video

*laughs at all the hypocritical 360 fanboys who sneered at Miis when the Wii came out*

This would be a much better comment with links, and we could all have a good laugh at it.

It's free so whatever, looks alright

"It's not going to be a T-shirt with a Banjo logo on it or anything like that."

Well, crud. I wanted a Kazooie shirt!

Too little, too late. Nobody cares for the 360 and this will change nothing about that fact. Funny how MS keeps saying they're not in direct competition with the Wii but do nothing but rip it off... But it is impressive that they've been able to pull it off before Sony launches home, if we'll ever see that this gen...

"Ah, it is funny when sony or nintendo copy something it is considered originality but when ms copies something, people moan about the lack of it."

No, but that's the typical reaction of an MS fanboy: It's in the eye of the beholder... And let's be fair, nothing of value was ever created in-house by MS. They rip off (badly) or buy out. It's hard to shake that business culture.

So wait, if having a total visual overhaul forced on you is not grounds for loud complaint if you happen not to like it, under what circumstances is it OK to express your displeasure? Just because something is free doesn't mean you can't complain about it if you have a problem with it.

Also, what is with this whole "avatars that inevitably look like Fisher-Price toys from 1978" trend? Am I the only person who wants an avatar creation system that is capable of being as caricaturish or as photorealistic as possible?

"This would be a much better comment with links, and we could all have a good laugh at it. "

Not to mention that most people think it's p00 (you must be reading different comments as I haven't read one positive one).

"No, but that's the typical reaction of an MS fanboy: It's in the eye of the beholder... And let's be fair, nothing of value was ever created in-house by MS. They rip off (badly) or buy out. It's hard to shake that business culture."

And that's a typical comment from a nintendo fanboy, so far up their own arse that they can't see how much bs their are cramming our of their mouth. Not that anything less was to be expected from you.

"Nobody cares for the 360"

Obviously you care enough to post your petty hate posts. Not that anyone will care for it as the rest of us will be playing all those awesome games on that machine nobody cares for.

"Not that anyone will care for it as the rest of us will be playing all those awesome games on that machine nobody cares for"

The rest of you is but a rather vocal but nonetheless very small group. And rather over-represented at EG forums, which isn't surprising as the EG staff consists entirely of hardcore pixel lovers.

But you made me laugh by calling me a Nintendo fanboy and as I' not in to good a mood tonight, that's appreciated. :)

The rest of you is but a rather vocal but nonetheless very small group. And rather over-represented at EG forums, which isn't surprising as the EG staff consists entirely of hardcore pixel lovers.
But you made me laugh by calling me a Nintendo fanboy and as I' not in to good a mood tonight, that's appreciated. :)

@Les

huh???...over 20 million console owners is a very small group?
aww Les, you're still a condescending, constipated twit.
BTW, when have you ever been in a good mood?

"The rest of you is but a rather vocal but nonetheless very small group. And rather over-represented at EG forums, which isn't surprising as the EG staff consists entirely of hardcore pixel lovers. "

Irony.


"But you made me laugh by calling me a Nintendo fanboy and as I' not in to good a mood tonight, that's appreciated. :) "

I know what I am but you clearly have delusions about what you are, which is rather sad.

Christ Les, you really are a sad angry wanker. Go die of aids or something so we can all have a laugh at your expense please.

I'm a 360 owner and have enjoyed my Mii since day 1, first on a friends Wii and now on my own, as it's a frighteningly accurate representation of myself.

I will also enjoy making an avatar on my 360, and not moaning about it like the horde of miserable bastards posting here. Some people need to learn what *fun* is.

Wow. Get that looked at. That is definitely not normal.

Wilco and obviously I retract that part of my objection. I assumed it was normal as it's been like that since the last time the dashboard updated.

Some people need to learn what *fun* is.

Fun is not having to make an avatar I don't want to have. Miis are entirely avoidable and in the context of of playing wii sports with nephews/nieces I kind of like them (hell I even updated mine when I grew a beard and again when I put on some weight). This avatar wank isn't optional and since the only game younger people play on my 360 (Viva Pinata) doesn't use them is also utterly irrelevant to how I want to use my console.

@Chaote-Imagicka

Avatars are no more intrusive than Mii's. 3 clicks and you never have to touch them again. Stop being a drama queen.

Good to see the rare boys are spending their days casually recreating Hitler in Miitoo form. nothing more important to be getting on with?

Viva Pinata 2 better rock hard with bells on thats all I know.

actually come to think of it, will your avatar be able to visit your garden? or fuck up someone elses over live?

I'd just like to add my "this looks shit" comment.

This looks shit.

I thought I was buying into a mature brand console. Not some kiddy widdy toss.

"Your little douchebag, by the looks of it, is capable of having a speech bubble with your existing gamerpics in them."

what a load of shit.

I have a daft, immature and explicitly non-human gamertag - based for no reason whatsoever on cats.

I chose an equally daft, immature gamer pic on the same theme. It worked in a daft, immature way. Having a little playmobile representation of a person breaks it. So - points wasted on gamerpics, more points to spend on changing my gamertag - just because someone wanted to "humanize" the thing.

Don't like the style either ... too realistic to look like caricatures, not detailed enough to look realistic. Other than the clothing it looks like Mii V1.1 but that's subjective.