MS says half of NXE features were cut, Primetime in spring 2009

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 4th 2008 at 1:30PM }

Speaking to CVG, Microsoft's Jerry Johnson stated that many of the features originally planned for the upcoming New Xbox Experience were not implemented in the version being released later this month. Said Johnson, "Half the things we wanted to do we cut out of the service." However, Johnson also says that updating the NXE is much simpler than previous dashboard updates, noting an "architectural change" to the system saying, "All of a sudden we opened up the platform to say 'I don't have to wait until once or twice a year to release something onto the dashboard."

It seems the NXE is more based on individual applications, as Johnson noted the photo sharing application, saying that implementing it would be a simple matter of users spotting its "slot" on the dashboard and downloading it once it's available. The upshot of all this: no more waiting for biannual updates.

Johson also added that Primetime, the online social gameshow application, will launch in spring of 2009.

[Thanks, Xpandemic]

Tags: new-xbox-experience, nxe

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Michael @ Nov 4th 2008 1:37PM

What was left out...?

Mazrael @ Nov 4th 2008 1:38PM

As long as my games work, and the option for installs & the avatars are there.. there's not much else I need or want.. I'll be too busy playing games on my 360 to worry about other missing features..

TORO @ Nov 4th 2008 2:40PM

Can someone explain to me what "installs" is? Seems like a big feature...

DemonGSides @ Nov 4th 2008 3:19PM

Basically you put almost all of the game's disc information on your harddrive, by installing it, and this allows you to just pop the disc in, it spins a few times to register it being there and being the real disc, then it stops spinning.

Its supposed to speed up load times, but I doubt the difference'll be that drastic.

Project Ekim @ Nov 4th 2008 1:40PM

Well if avatars, installs and 8 player party chat is all there im ok, but if they cut one of those im going to be a bit angry.

slipknot0129 @ Nov 4th 2008 1:44PM

they took out the 16:10 resolution support 1440x900 and 1680x1050 on monitors! i tested it out!

protagonist @ Nov 4th 2008 1:51PM

This pisses me off. It the most important feature to me in the new update.

iFester @ Nov 4th 2008 2:45PM

Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!!!

Jason @ Nov 4th 2008 3:07PM

I have it set to 1680x1050. I'm using HDMI and the dowloadable update, dunno if these make any difference.

NeoK-182 @ Nov 4th 2008 1:46PM

well i'm glad that they made it easier to add features.

do kinda wonder what was left out.

Though like Ekim said, as long as theres avatars, hard drive installs, 8-person party chat and NXE runs as fast as everyone says i'm good.

Chase @ Nov 4th 2008 2:04PM

Just give me the party chat and installs, and you can do the rest later, Microsoft.

diamondxp @ Nov 4th 2008 2:08PM

Damnit! I was really looking forward to prime time I think will be revolutionary for gaming. I hope they fix little things so that the experience is much smoother. It has been hella slow lately I am hoping all that will change with the NXE update. Even with changes I am still boosted for the NXE.

Pudge @ Nov 4th 2008 2:14PM

Honestly, with Fallout 3, Fable 2, and Gears this Friday, I'm happy Primetime isn't ready for er..primetime... I'm having a hard enough time trying to fine time to play through everything.

Mazrael @ Nov 4th 2008 2:18PM

hm.. with resolutions.. why don't they support 768, as 720p gets a bit of a rescale.. ( I mean this through HDMI )

Orionzdrm @ Nov 4th 2008 2:22PM

As long as the system does not become like the PS3 every time I turn it on I need to install a new update.

Ian @ Nov 4th 2008 2:48PM

They seem to only want to do 2 major updates a year, with some behind the scenes stuff at most 2 times a year.

The_Doctor @ Nov 4th 2008 8:32PM

"All of a sudden we opened up the platform to say 'I don't have to wait until once or twice a year to release something onto the dashboard."

DBoyFlex @ Nov 4th 2008 2:43PM

Seems like whatever was left out was not talked about, at least not much. At first I thought they took something out that was previously hyped, maybe like installs, avatars, chat, etc. Seems like all we have heard is there, but they have plans on adding more. At least it is not a Fable 2 thing where they leave something out that was supposed to be there. (I know, it was patched day 1, but I try to use that as a what not to do, even though they ended up getting it done. Odd logic, but it makes me sleep well at night)

sp00ks @ Nov 4th 2008 2:48PM

what about streaming netflix? I would really like to have that feature available...anyone know if that was cut out?

jbuers @ Nov 4th 2008 2:59PM

HD Streaming Netflix is a go!

Tony Bowman @ Nov 4th 2008 2:56PM

so photosharing was taken out? was looking forward to that.

ushman @ Nov 4th 2008 3:00PM

No, you have to find the channel and then download it. It isn't rolled together with the update.

Tony Bowman @ Nov 4th 2008 3:21PM

ahh, very cool! some photographer friends and i were looking forward to it.

LuckyEMS @ Nov 4th 2008 3:40PM

the NXE is horrible

yeah its faster, but its also uglier, hard to navigate and ruins all the themes with some not even registering

TORO @ Nov 4th 2008 4:22PM

It's hard to imagine NXE being worse then the current XBL Marketplace.

Henry @ Nov 4th 2008 3:52PM

I would like to see a SlingPlayer application. That way I can watch my TV without ever leaving the xbox. If they can do netflix then there is no reason why a sling app couldn't happen.

El Capitaine @ Nov 4th 2008 4:33PM

@DemonGSides

No, the difference isn't that drastic.

It's about 9-15 seconds shaved off the initial load, plus a proportional amount shaved off of in-game loads. Not the biggest thing in the world, but great if you have a 120GB.

However, there is the equally important factor that the DVD drive doesn't need to spin. This'll cut down on the noise, allowing you to actually hear the game, and in addition it will save from wear and tear on the HDD.

So essentially -

20GB - Put the game you play the most. Possibly the second-most as well.

120GB - Any game you play even somewhat frequently, slap it on the HDD.

60GB - Follow 120GB plan until you begin to run out of space.

Robert @ Nov 4th 2008 4:50PM

I think you mean it will save wear and tear on the DVD - it would actually cause more wear and tear on the HDD.

Arnon @ Nov 4th 2008 6:21PM

No, it wouldn't. The reason being, is that the HDD of the 360 is external, which rules out a LOT of problems that normal HDD's encounter.

El Capitaine @ Nov 4th 2008 6:41PM

yeah...typo.

VanIslePimp @ Nov 4th 2008 8:47PM

Most of the features for the upcoming New Xbox Experience won't work outside of the U.S. anyways.

Sony @ Nov 5th 2008 12:28PM

I installed it already. Even though I'm mad I can't get on Live until the 19th, I am happy with the installs. The biggest improvements are: 1 - The console is quiet as hell. 2 - The games look better. I don't know how, but they do...maybe the textures load faster. (I see way more detail in Mass Effect. 3 - The load times have improved. (I can see studios taking advantage of the hard drive installs to optimize load times for those that do installs) You can navigate so quickly and access your information quickly. I'm just waiting for the 19th to check it on Xbox Live. I am annoyed I can't get on Live at the moment, I miss busting ass on COD4.