If you have “play Xbox 360″ written on the November 19th box of your 2008 calendar, you may want to pencil in “allow extra time for system update” as that is the official day we will be transitioning over to the New Xbox Experience. Expect a serious visual facelift along with new features like Netflix streaming, ripping games straight to HDD, being able to customize personal avatars, party-style gaming, and overall improved loading times. Reception was mixed at best when Microsoft first announced the upcoming changes, but how do you feel about it these days? The fine print that “customizing avatars requires a 256 MB memory unit or greater” is certainly a nuisance but will mainly affect only Core or Arcade 360 owners. Unfortunately those are probably the same (and perhaps only) people who would actually enjoy the whole Mii-esque avatar creator. A video showing a walkthrough of the New Xbox Experience, including lots of hands on time with the Xiis, is waiting for you after the jump. I first thought I would enjoy messing around with the avatars but I get less and less interested as time goes by. Like the world needs one more little bs angel walking around anyways.
Posted by ReverendTiki on October 9, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I like that background from the pic! I hope this is as good as M$ is making it out to be
Posted by Tristan on October 9, 2008 at 3:03 pm
OMFG! Are the avatars really called “Xii’s”?
Posted by CrazedOne1988 on October 9, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Well this will be an interesting transition.
Posted by Ken Raves on October 9, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Bungie Day theme better still rawk…AND SO SHOULD MY ANIME GIRLS!
Posted by Fogun on October 9, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Is it just me, or does it seem like they made the black girl in the front row look stereotypically black?
Posted by sonofmacphisto on October 9, 2008 at 5:29 pm
‘New Dashboard Download Complete’ Bleep bloop! (What? No new achievements? LAME!)
Anyway, should be fun. Looks pretty slick.
Posted by snorkle256 on October 9, 2008 at 6:18 pm
NETFLIX STREAMING!!!
Can you tell which part I like best?
Posted by nyhitman0401 on October 9, 2008 at 7:08 pm
When can we download it bs angel, do you know?
Posted by Queen 0f Blades on October 9, 2008 at 7:19 pm
“Xiis” ? Can’t they get, oh, I dunno, sued or something over that?
It might be explained in the videos, but I’m gonna ask anyway: Are we still going to be able to use the themes and gamerpictures we spent our hard-earned cash on? Because I will be more than just a tad pissed off if I don’t get to use them and they don’t give out some sort of MS Point refund. I know it says everything is non-refundable, but nobody bought this stuff in the past expecting that some sort of then-unknown major overhaul would make it all obsolete.
Posted by Queen 0f Blades on October 9, 2008 at 7:20 pm
@ nyhitman0401
If you have “play Xbox 360″ written on the November 19th box of your 2008 calendar…
Somebody needs to brush up on their reading skills. :P
Posted by nyhitman0401 on October 9, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Ok, ill write it on my calander!
Posted by bs angel on October 9, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Xiis is my silly term, not theirs. :)
Yes, all of your purchased themes and gamerpics will still be usable with the new Dashboard thankfully. I’d be upset if that weren’t the case as well Queen 0f Blades.
Posted by AT-AT on October 9, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I wonder if the Avatars will be forced on you, as it showed taking a gamer pic of your avatar (which might suggest them coexisting, would not please the anti avatar crowd, me included). My 7th column better not have a sleeping animation instead of a simple “Away”.
Posted by nyhitman0401 on October 9, 2008 at 8:34 pm
@ bs angel,
Did I do something to anger you in any way, because your not responding to my E-Mails.
Posted by bs angel on October 9, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Of course not nyhitman0401. I just checked my inbox and I only have one message from you and it was sent this morning. I’ve had a busy day (which I’m sure you could tell since I only got one article up and it was way late!) but I will get back to you soon. :)
Posted by Kelly on October 9, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I am neither looking forward to the New Xbox Experience or fearing it. It won’t really phase me seeing as whatever disc is in my 360 auto plays & the only time I look at my Dashboard now is to DL stuff I hear about over the net first eliminating the need to check the marketplace..
Other then that I don’t care for it.
Posted by nyhitman0401 on October 9, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Ohhhhh I thought you didn’t like me no mores…
Posted by rowboat 000 on October 9, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Should be an improvement, but I’m not too excited about it. As far as the themes and gamerpics bought, it has been confirmed that they will be usable on the new interface.
Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/majornelson/2674486108/
Oh, the streaming netflix will rock! The HDD copying will at least be good for my poor DVD drive. I still fear the RROD, so hopefully all goes well. Here’s an example of the HDD vs DVD load times…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc9tzrK5IbU
I say I don’t care about the avatars, but I lie. I’ve never gotten to play around with the mii’s because I refuse to buy a wii.
Posted by Ragingterror on October 9, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Being able to rip games to the hard drive is certainly a great feature for increased performance and portability of your games. I wonder how much this will drive sales of their (absurdly over priced) 120 GB HD?
Posted by rowboat 000 on October 10, 2008 at 5:56 am
Yeah, my measley 20 GB HDD won’t be downloading many games. And I’m not dropping $150 on 120GB anytime soon.
As for portability, you still have to have the disc in the drive to play the game. So…lame.
Posted by Queen 0f Blades on October 10, 2008 at 11:32 am
Thanks Hawty. :)
Posted by DethPwn on October 10, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I like the avatar idea, but if they shove this frickin’ thing down our throats I will anally rape them on the Internetz. It’ll probably be visible once you see sum 1s gamercard or something to that effect. (Gamerpic FTW!!!)