Avatars set for November 19th
Will you be forced in creation, or will you just not care?
With the Christmas season rolling in with new games for all systems, Microsoft is taking it one step further with the planned New Xbox Experience. Past reports have slated the new Dashboard update to be in November, and now thanks to the Tokyo Game Show, it’s been confirmed that it’ll release on November 19th worldwide. Interestingly enough, Scene It 2, a game that requires the Avatars, will be released on October 28th. Although the possibility of the Avatars appearing before the worldwide release date is slim to none, MR felt that it was worth mentioning.
In related Tokyo Game Show news, Microsoft’s Group Product Manager Aaron Greenberg stated that they’re “forcing you to have a visual representation of yourself, but you can make a pretty badass avatar.” What great consolation. If you don’t care for them, you can either make a half-assed avatar or just select a pre-made one.
Last but not least, a couple of comments about the NXE straight from “Leyvin” at Rare on Gamerscore blog. He states that the “NXE will be available free, as all previous updates have been. When you sign in after release, you will be shown the usual “There is an update for Xbox Live” message. This update will take longer than normal, so installation might take a short while.” As mentioned before, all the “previously purchased themes and gamerpics are still fully compatible, and will work seemlessly with the NXE Dashboard. You have the choice to not only choose Gamerpic or Avatar but use both at the same time if you choose to…”, he says.
In case you’re curious as to what the downtime late in September meant, Leyvin explains that it “was in order to update the current Live servers for NXE and the Holiday period influx of new subscribers. In-particular the addition of number of servers for games and marketplace storage.”
For now, “Marketplace searching” is a possibility, but according to Leyvin, “there is a particular issue with performance for such a task. Windows users are used to waiting for searchs while people on consoles are not.” He adds that “You may yet see this feature implemented or at least some form of easier sorting/quick-selection system. That isn’t to say it definately is there, but it is being looked in to. It might not be present in the initial release, you are likely to see this added later. If this is implimented you can be sure it won’t be limited to just those who own the chatpad, however that will make it a damn sight easier.”
Those who enjoy the current Dashboard, you have less than a month to bid your final farewells. Use your time wisely.
Somehow related news
- Dozens of real Avatars find their way to the Internet ()
- Nintendo finally sets Diddy’s PAL releases ()
- Piñatas run out of Rare’s hands in November ()
- Nuts & Bolts and BK XBLA’s European release date ()
- Of Themes and Friends ()
