New 360 Features

[Kassidy]

E3 2008: Microsoft Announced Avatar System
Mii? Home? The Blade is coming to cut you down!
by IGN Staff

July 14, 2008 - Microsoft announced today a new part of the Microsoft Blade and Xbox OS intergration -- an Avatar system similar to the Nintendo Wii. The system integrates with a variety of games and is also ready for all games by Rare (and in fact were created by Rare for Microsoft.)

Avatars express your persionality -- you can customize hair, clothing and everything else about you. The avatars are fully 3D and are animated in the Blade. This shows up on the user system. You can buy new clothes and other items (including assumedly pay-for-DLC). Avatars are visable right on the frontend and are attached to all user profiles, so your friend list will automatically show the 3D version of your character.

Although Microsoft didn't announce any new locations for Avatar chat, there was a fly-by sequence shown at E3 that featured an outdoor scenario similar to the Wii Parade area. Microsoft did announce a "Party" area where you can share photos, chat, and do other things online with groups. There are also games (set up as Game Shows) on Xbox Live Primetime that groups can play together.

The system is designed to be very easy to integrate for developers as well as very easy to create for users. The editing system appeared to be incredibly simple to create an avatar (although the face editing system was not shown.) The first game shown for the Avatar system was called Uno Rush, and also a version of 1 versus 100 was shown as part of the Primetime game channel.

Xbox 360's Avatar system will come with the new Microsoft system update to be released this fall.

 

[Kassidy]

E3 2008: Install 360 Games on Your Hard Drive
The upcoming Dashboard update will make it happen. More new features inside.
by Ryan Geddes

July 14, 2008 - At its E3 press conference, Microsoft announced a ton of new features for the re-imagined Dashboard, which will go live in the fall.

But a few important details weren't mentioned at the show that trickled out later in the day instead. Chief among them was the announcement that, with the new Dashboard, 360 gamers will be able to install disc-based games to their hard drives and play from there, just like their arch-nemeses, PS3 gamers. The disc will have to stay in the tray, but the DVD drive will not spin, which should improve load times and keep the console running quieter and cooler.

Microsoft also announced that you'll now be able to access Xbox Live Marketplace content on the Web. When the Dashboard update goes live, gamers will be able to visit the Xbox.com Web site to browse and purchase content, which will then be automatically downloaded to their consoles. The new update will also introduce 16X10 display over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440x900 or 1680x1050.

These three announcements are part of a larger overhaul of the Dashboard, and there's apparently more to come.