Spring update may upgrade "Play Game" verbiage

by Dustin Burg { Apr 3rd 2007 at 1:30PM }

If you've listened to our most recent Fancast with guest Major Nelson, you'll know that he dropped a hint to what one of the new features will be for the Spring dashboard update. Major said that a new dash feature is one of those "simple things that I've been asking for since launch" and after doing some research, we think we've figured it out. Major has always been vocal about including some way to show what game is in the DVD drive, because right now it only says "Play Game" on the bottom when a game is in the drive. So, we're thinking the update will get rid of the "Play Game" text and display the name of the game that is in the drive, something along the lines of "Play Gears of War" or "Play Crackdown". It's something simple, something obvious, but is also something that would prove quite useful. Of course, we can't guarantee that this is what Major was talking about, but we are 84.7% sure we'll be seeing this feature implemented this Spring.

Also, our very own David Dreger informed us that all the early Xbox 360 dashboard screenshots (like the one above) included this feature where it listed what game was in the DVD drive. Convenient, ain't it?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Toph @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:40PM

That would actually come in handy for me..sometimes I forget which game is in the tray while I'm busy waiting for downloaded demoes or whatever and playing XBLA games..this could save some small wear and tear on the tray drive so I don't have to open and close it to see what the hell I'd forgotten!:)

DjDATZ @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:42PM

i would like to be able to open the drive without activating the game...and close the drive without it automatically booting up the disc.

basically...i'd like to have full control over the dvd drive without having to load up the game in the process.

mike @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:51PM

How about finally giving us the ability to get downloaded and unpurchased XBLA demos off of our achievement listings?

stephentur @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:50PM

Sweet...I share my Xbox with my 5 year old and I hate when I can't tell what game is in the drive. No more "Meet the Robinsons" cutting into my game time.

Josh @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:52PM

Finally! I wonder what else is in the Spring update.

Josh @ Apr 3rd 2007 1:55PM

This would also help when you already have "Gears of War" in the drive, but are in the dashboard. Then you accept a game invite to "Gears of War," and the console says "please insert the Gears of War disc." But it's already in there!

Maybe now the console will know and just start up the game?

Nathaniel @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:11PM

Creepy. I just mentioned this to my girlfriend last night :)

But yes, this is so stupendously simple that I can't imagine a single reason that it doesn't exist.

TexRob @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:05PM

I have been away from home, but there is a gripe I have about how it handles the trays when you have both an HD-DVD drive and the console tray. I just can't remember what it is right now, lol. I think it's not being able to eject an empty tray when you have the HD-DVD addon, maybe?

root @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:07PM

i hope it's a "slow but silent" DVD-spinning-mode

the "play:gamename" stuff isn't very useful at all. just a gimmick.

root @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:09PM

oh - and as well the option to delete xbla-demos from the gamerschore-bord...

this really would be nice...

Knuckles Dawson @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:13PM

Eidetic memory, FTW

nizzy1115 @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:25PM

"2. i would like to be able to open the drive without activating the game...and close the drive without it automatically booting up the disc.

basically...i'd like to have full control over the dvd drive without having to load up the game in the process."

You CAN. It's an option in the settings ;)

Joshua @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:20PM

I would like to just have a way to defrag my HDD or whatever I need to do because it's taking way too long to log in these days.

My only other request would be to have multiple pictues for blades in a customized theme.

AL7AIR @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:23PM

Even the PSP has this feature, and you don't have to stand up and walk across the room to open the drive ;) Laziness ftw!

fLUx @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:10PM

@#8 - "......i hope it's a "slow but silent" DVD-spinning-mode

the "play:gamename" stuff isn't very useful at all. just a gimmick........"

1) trust me, if it was spinning slow enough for it to be quite, it would boost loading times by 10-20%..

and 2) wtf?? Maybe you only play one game then? I know what I have in my tray most of the time, but others, I would rarther KNOW...

avinitski @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:35PM

DjDATZ > it already does that!

AL7AIR @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:48PM

@ avinitski
No it doesn't: You can only start up the Xbox360 to the Dashboard. But if you put a disc in the tray and close it while the box is on, it will start the game or movie. The PS3 and the PSP however can disable this auto-load feature.

Tony @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:50PM

"How about finally giving us the ability to get downloaded and unpurchased XBLA demos off of our achievement listings?"

Yes! This drives me nuts.

Justin U @ Apr 3rd 2007 3:14PM

Or, you could do like I do, and get a plate holder (Mom's), and set whatever game I currently have in the 360's case on it.

Fashionable, and practical!

Hexx @ Apr 3rd 2007 3:36PM

The "play game name" is useful if you have it boot directly to the dash. I'm totally loving this hint and your fancast... keep up the good work.

avinitski @ Apr 3rd 2007 3:48PM

AL7AIR > on mine you can put a dvd into the drive bt it doesnt have to start

Daryl @ Apr 3rd 2007 5:01PM

I hope this isn't the best new "thing" from the spring update.

It is cool though, but not that important.

BigD @ Apr 3rd 2007 5:15PM

Browser....give me a Browser

carrera594 @ Apr 3rd 2007 6:24PM

How about being able to have multi-person private chats. Instead of 2 have like 8. Makes it easier if you want to talk to alot of your friends. If you have any. lol jk

giddieon @ Apr 4th 2007 8:15AM

Oh man... that is going to be so wicked awesome... now we will all know what ga....oh fucking come off it... this is nothing to get jazzed about poeple... If this is news then spank my ass and call me Shirley...

What an awesome update... the sarcasm is seething from every part of my body on this one...

Way to hype the shit out of nothing....

Xtor @ Apr 3rd 2007 6:40PM

The 360 had another feature before it was released, in media, a box appeared with the artwork of the playing song and the progress bar.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l45/X7or/media.jpg

DeadPlasmaCell @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:12PM

That would be nice for DVD movies as well.. Unless I leave my copy of "Titty Titans 4" or "Ass Master 7: Def-con 2" in the 360

/needs to go check

Bennyishere @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:50PM

Can't wait for the update! My Wishlist:

I agree with AL7AIR. Although you can deactivate booting the game when booting the console, inserting a disc will auto-play it.

Achievements for trial games listed on your profile is also annoying.

Having to wait 30 seconds between each song because your playlist is over 100 songs is also annoying... At least that's how it is with Shuffle Mode. And a 100 song playlist limit when playing from device is also annoying...

Other than that... Loads of features MS! A Marketplace redesign is cool too. Just to get something new :P

Virtua Fanboy @ Apr 3rd 2007 9:05PM

That is a pretty cool feature but I what I seriously want is an update w/the HD DVD player. Such as when you play a DVD the Xbox Guide Menu makes no noise but when you go back to the Dashboard the noises come back. Cool. But when you play an HD DVD the Xbox Guide Menu noises play and it's kind of annoying. Also when you stop a DVD and then go back to it the DVD will resume in the same spot it left off. However w/an HD DVD it starts from the first. HD DVD and DVD movies should work the same.

nickgenova @ Apr 4th 2007 11:23AM

think! we've been asking for group chats foreverrrrr

Watson SE @ Apr 4th 2007 2:05AM

Did anyone notice that the X-button has been changed too? It doesn't say "Shutdown" in our current dashboard versions, right?

JustCC @ Apr 4th 2007 2:50AM

Check this out. Some pathetic fanboy's attempt at downplaying this new dash feature. He says that it's "pathetic" for Microsoft to "copy" something that the PS3 already had out of the box! First entry on this link:

http://techni.livejournal.com/

h0mi @ Apr 4th 2007 3:47AM

"How about finally giving us the ability to get downloaded and unpurchased XBLA demos off of our achievement listings?"

Definitely want to see this over the "now playing" thing.

DA360 @ Apr 4th 2007 9:09AM

Well, there's several things I been wanting them to add. This was defently one of them, something that was in the dash before launch and something that should of stayed. I also know of several people who keep their discs in the drive on their 360, and this would really help. Possibly, as a bonus (not really needed), even make it so it has a animated background (or a static image) when you have "Play Game" selected (or maybe have it temporarily change the dash theme on compatible games if its enabled).

I also been wanting more VGA resolutions for 16:10 and normal 5:4 monitors to support my monitors native resolution (though this has been partially conformed (finally)), as well the option to change the VGA refresh rate (which might of helped some people having issues with it).

Also, as people say, make it so you don't have to be connected to Xbox Live on certain Xbox 360's to have the full version of Xbox Live Arcade games. They need to be able to re-associate themselves to your Xbox 360 after you rather replaced it or got a new HDD. I can understand the Live check as a anti-piracy measure, but it gets annoying when people can't access Live or when its down and/or people have replaced their Xbox 360 or HDD (since they currently only associate themselves to your 360 once).

Many have been demanding for a web browser (though I don't see what a big use would be for one, but I see some using the Wii browser allot) and MS has been making a big deal out of BigFish, and maybe its a clue from Major Nelson reporting about it that they might be using a version of it on the 360. Doubt it though. But even though some think its not needed, a web browser would keep those who want it happy. Possibly make it a downloadable option as well that shows up in "Demo and More" or possibly somewhere on the dash once you download it.

I am sure there's many other tweaks they could do as well. But I do hope the one Major is suggesting is true, its been something that should of been in the 360 since day 1.

NuttyKev @ Apr 4th 2007 10:03AM

What I always wanted is to be able to tell what movie your friends are watching, instead of just saying "Watching a Movie" or "Watching a HD-DVD". then we could make fun of them when we see they are watching Brokeback Mountian.

Jarrett Kaufman @ Apr 4th 2007 1:56PM

I, too, have been waiting for this for quite some time. I really hope this is it.

The other thing I want is for the system to be able to read folder hierarchies. I hate how when I read a disc, flash drive, or Windows Media Connect share that every single file is listed in one list instead of letting me use the carefully-laid-out folder structure I created.

RHP @ Apr 4th 2007 1:27PM

This would certainly be useful, and I was really hoping to see it about a year ago, but I guess better late than never.

I'd still like to see some form of limited browser capability from within the Xbox. It would really help out when I want to review strategy guides or achievement lists.

tek428 @ Apr 4th 2007 3:04PM

XBOX....nah...get a Wii!

http://www.bloggingwv.com

samg @ Apr 5th 2007 4:23AM

Anyone look at the graphic and see the text that somehow makes me think they are adding the "spectator" feature to Live games? HmmmmMMmm

slyst @ Apr 7th 2007 12:02PM

How about using achievements as gamer pics?
Remember Maj. Nelson opened up comments on his blog for the community. There were a lot of duplicate requests for all kinds of stuff. It is possible there could be a lot of little things added to the functionality rather than some huge single thing.