E308: Dashboard overhaul and Avatars

by Terrence Stasse { Jul 14th 2008 at 2:27PM }

After our initial reveal of the Xbox 360 avatars, it was still in the realm of rumors. Now, after the Microsoft press conference, we can be sure that they are absolutely real. And they're just a small part of a much larger overhaul to the entire 360 Dashboard. Avatars will integrated into the larger 360 experience via a community "channel", when your friends come online, their avatars will appear in said channel.

Microsoft is also creating a party system via the community channel which will allow for users to chat in large groups, share the media from their hard drives, and more. Demonstrated was the ability to move the party from photos, to videos, to games all while keeping the party of Avatars and players together.

Also unveiled was "Xbox Live Primetime" which allows for Avatars to be used in a mix of game show, video game and traditional TV. Additionally, Microsoft promises to have "real prizes" available through Primetime.

Tags: avatar, e3, e3-08, e3-2008, e308, xbox-avatar, xbox-avatars

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Rell @ Jul 14th 2008 2:31PM

And Home...
http://i36.tinypic.com/sw37md.jpg

Gloqwi @ Jul 14th 2008 6:00PM

And what the Dashboard could have been:

http://bp2.blogger.com/_s7TzhGa9Ous/SGrwaeDVEXI/AAAAAAAAAP4/N7t5q7cuDbY/s1600-h/dash-2-0.jpg

TekTro @ Jul 14th 2008 2:31PM

Looks.... different
the dash was old but i dont really like this.

Neuromancer @ Jul 14th 2008 2:31PM

Not sure if this is much of an improvement over the old dashboard. The avatars are pretty much a shameless rip off of the Miis.

Mikhail @ Jul 14th 2008 2:31PM

Whats up with the WII looking avatars?

Rick @ Jul 14th 2008 2:32PM

XBox Avatars = me clawing my eyeballs out.

HORRIBLE, ALSO-RAN IDEA, MICROSOFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

itsburnsie @ Jul 14th 2008 2:33PM

While I appreciate all of this... "innovation", I'm worried they're kinda throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

I mean, stuff like gamerpics, gamercards, and friends lists were stuff that I LIKED about the 360 interface. Are they getting rid of those in favor of Avatars and "Community" channels?

If so, WTF Microsoft? Even Sony has stated they're not dumb enough to get rid of the XMB when home launches.

nomadic0ne @ Jul 14th 2008 3:53PM

I agree.
I like the Wii, but never really got into the Miis...
I liked the gamertags and the gamerpics and hope to god they include an option to choose between them.

As for the interface, I'm not impressed from the initial picture, but would have to see it in motion.
It looks like WAY more wasted space and I would guess it would take longer to scroll through those pages to find something.

Ah well.
Color me not impressed, but I'll reserve final opinion for when I see it live (heh. "Live" Get it?) and in motion.

Author X @ Jul 14th 2008 2:34PM

Man, I just got a 360 and I love the dashboard. That just looks... boring. And slapping a 2D interface or picture onto an unnecessary 3D environment has never impressed me :/

jtedesco33 @ Jul 14th 2008 2:41PM

I am in the Home beta and Home sucks, I was hoping MS wouldn't waste good money on a similar type service. Although I will laugh my ass off if this comes out before Home.

Timur Tabi @ Jul 14th 2008 2:36PM

The avatars are stupid. I hope there's a way to avoid making one.

Viridium @ Jul 14th 2008 3:19PM

Agreed. No Ava-tard for me, I'd prefer to stick with my Gamerpic.

What about those people who bought Dashboard themes and Gamerpics?

Cal @ Jul 14th 2008 3:40PM

Such a happy day ruined by dashboard changes and avatar =(

Rick @ Jul 14th 2008 2:40PM

And why is there so much wasted screen space? Was this concepted by retarded, blind chimps? Seriously, this makes me cringe! It's just awful.

What about all the people that paid for gamer pics and themes? Fuck 'em? All this 'innovation' better be optional.

dylan @ Jul 14th 2008 2:46PM

At least party up with Lego for some avatars with style, those plastic dough creatures look HORRIBLE!!!! And yes, the dashboard was the best feature about the 360, it is the reason I cite when I try to get friends to get an Xbox, I guess I won't try to convert any more friends...

mattclarkie @ Jul 14th 2008 2:46PM

The current dashboard is fine, it just needs a a slight re-ordering and tidy.

The new system looks O.K, but the Mii thing is daft. The gamercard with your rep and points and gamerpicture at the top of every blade was good, they should stick with that. I hope gamerpictures remain as an option as the Avatars look crap.

onesidezero2481 @ Jul 14th 2008 2:48PM

you guys worry way too much... i'm sure gamerpics will still be an option. has live really let us down yet? wait for further pics and vids of the new dashboard before you jump to conclusions

Rick @ Jul 14th 2008 2:53PM

Dude, were you watching this trainwreck being announced on G4? It's absolute shit. There's no info that I've seen yet about it being optional, but I'm very hopeful. I have a sinking feeling that we're going to get stuck with this mess, though.

Kevin Gass @ Jul 14th 2008 2:48PM

Are they changing the Guide blade as well?

AoE @ Jul 14th 2008 4:34PM

Yeah, in a cool way too (hopefully) apparently all the other blade content is going to be buried in the guide, so you have 1-button access to any part of your drive. Switch directly from game to xbla title, or video, or whatever, no need to return to the dash first.

Rk4n3 @ Jul 14th 2008 4:23PM

NO NO NO..... I didnt buy a freeking Wii !!!!!!!

OMG stupid avatars...

Next thing is we will be facing off against senior citizens on multiplayer. Are we gonna see a X-FIT coming out next?

Microsoft dont copy Nin-Dumbo!!!
no offense to Wii fans... not trying to start a flame war. I would rather have a webpage looking interface instead of some ridiculous bobbing avatar looking at me.
Sh1t

Mark @ Jul 14th 2008 3:06PM

To be fair, Even Nintendo doesn't bring up your Mii on the home screen. They use it in games, but the starting screen is more like dashboard or XMB on the other systems.

Muntrue @ Jul 14th 2008 2:51PM

Was lego batman already announced ?

mattclarkie @ Jul 14th 2008 2:52PM

A long time ago.

mattclarkie @ Jul 14th 2008 2:51PM

Looks like the Vista experience is being forced onto the 360.

The new dashboard layout seems a copy of Flip 3D in Vista, one of the features of Vista that I am not keen on.

tojfs7931 @ Jul 21st 2008 2:32PM

Wow you are right- the new dashboard is a sideways version of flip on vista!

OptimumEDGE @ Jul 14th 2008 2:52PM

Looks f'in awesome. I'm bored of the xbox interface, this looks new and refreshing.

Most of you act like this is some sort of finished product, these are relatively concept images.

Also people with negative comments tend to post or comment more on a topic than those with positive views. FYI to anyone actually reading these.

Mtr @ Jul 14th 2008 2:55PM

Actualy im live streaming the keynote and it was fully functional already.. looked crappy tho..

Stream:
http://livewire.ign.com/2008/e3/index.html

Rick @ Jul 14th 2008 2:57PM

It's not concept. It's functioning, was just demoed on G4 and is set to release this fall. It's way beyond the concept stage, kid.

I'm all for redesigning the dashboard but this is not a good direction. Wasted screen space, awkward navigation and those horrible avatars does not equal improvement.

OptimumEDGE @ Jul 14th 2008 3:11PM

The term "concept" does not equate dysfunctional, it can refer to a product early in design and or still in the works, man.

Ugh, feel like I'm surrounded by pretentious morons here.

Phocas @ Jul 14th 2008 8:47PM

Sadly, you are surrounded.. The sky is always falling around here. Remember, change is bad mmmmmk?

Vidd @ Jul 14th 2008 2:54PM

You know, I got an Xbox a few months ago and actually really liked the Dashboard.
It all flows well and there's a synergy that doesn't exist in the PS3 OS which feels like an upscaled PSP.

Microsoft had the best home console OS and I think they've messed it up.

nnarum23 @ Jul 14th 2008 2:54PM

Eh, not a fan. I like the current dashboard. I hope they give us an option to keep the current dash... :(

Taylor @ Jul 14th 2008 2:56PM

So far, this looks horrible... I hope that's just a bad first impression...
-Taylor

Mattchewie @ Jul 14th 2008 3:04PM

Ok seriously, Please..Please tell me the xbox community is seeing this for what it is. I have yet to see a really good ORIGINAL idea in this keynote.

The new dashboard seems to be as other stated, a bit ugly and lots of wasted space, on tops of that looks a lot like vista which is pretty much doing alot of apple cloning.

The avatars is Wii's meet services that will be provided by home

Lips...well singstar

I mean I'm a usually pro sony, but I even admitted when trophies where needed but yes, they did copy gamerpoints etc...

AoE @ Jul 14th 2008 4:16PM

Wait... what? Did you fall of the apple cart yesterday dude? Please go back through history and point out the the single thing that MS did that WASN'T a ripoff of someone else's work. Did you find it yet? Here, let me help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bob

Now, aren't you glad they've learned their lesson and stick solely to ripping off others ideas?

uh-oh polio @ Jul 14th 2008 3:06PM

that shit looks ugly, i dont like it.

Conor @ Jul 14th 2008 3:20PM

I would of preferred an internet browser but avatars obviously were more sought after than the community!

I hope this is optional,also a big "hate to be you" to all those people who payed for themes/gamerpics as they might be getting screwed over on this one.

Jonman @ Jul 14th 2008 3:24PM

Key question is this:

Before Home, or after?

BrainDeadDan @ Jul 14th 2008 3:28PM

not sure how i feel about the dashboard... but i do like the new guide. Sometimes that old guide is really sluggish, this looks nice and compact.

webster1990 @ Jul 14th 2008 3:29PM

Oh, and the inevitable bitch fest of people wanting to stick with the old begins.

I like the new dash,
will look a bit livelier with different backgrounds. The community games look awsome and we finally get party chat that we always wanted. Plus with neat little touches like being able to see a picture of what is in the disc tray.

I love coverflow on my ipod and on itunes and this looks a lot like this and seems like it will be easier to navigate and looks a lot less cluttered (there are no adverts that i can see! Awesome)

I just want to see what the new Marketplace will look like

Rick @ Jul 14th 2008 3:42PM

I don't mind change at all, in fact I welcome it. But there appear to be some severe problems in the coming dashboard redesign. The avatars are embarrassingly bad and make me feel like I'm getting pushed into owning a Wii inside my Xbox. The pseudo-Coverflow interface seems a lot clunkier than the smooth-working tech it's ripping off from Apple.

I agree that the party chat is awesome, but if it's coming along with all the visual Wii-barf, I'd just as soon pass on it. Is this really the best the minds at Microsoft could come up with? Doubtful.

Lijik @ Jul 14th 2008 3:31PM

I like the avatars since they show how much of a wasted concept the Miis are.

The actual new dashboard, though? Ugh.

Azshros @ Jul 14th 2008 3:38PM

I really like the way this looks. Streamlined. Im intrested in the avatars. I mean the wii blows balls, but with a much more powerful system microsoft might pull this one off.

Rick @ Jul 14th 2008 3:45PM

What exactly is it in the concept of the Mii that was held back by inferior processing power? Now they have necks?

Azshros @ Jul 14th 2008 3:54PM

I was refering to the way they are laying out the dash board in general. With a more powerful system you can add things like avatars and such without loss of performance. As for the avatars. I like the idea.
maybe they can make your avatar dress like the character of the game you are currently playing while you are playing it, or something. Anything new is an improvement or can be improved upon. Not trying to keep your product freash is a bad idea.

And im not afraid of change.
(sorry for the rambling)

Sean @ Jul 14th 2008 3:47PM

Check out Gamerscore blog they have more details about the update.
-8 person voice chat!
-16 x 10 support!
and more...

Holy cow to MS hit this one out of the park...

http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/default.aspx

BrainDeadDan @ Jul 14th 2008 5:42PM

there we go. So the blades are still in and the guide is more than I thought it was.

Not to mention game installing, though not sure i would use it that much.

Ron @ Jul 14th 2008 4:03PM

Installing a game completely to HDD is a good feature. I can finally put my 120gb HD to work and I won't have to put up with that extremely loud DVD drive.

I didn't think I would be turning my 360 on again until Gears2, but the updates from today may warrant some use.