I’ve had some time to let everything we saw yesterday sink in and I’m ready to make my comments. Read on for my humble thoughts and opinions.
Dashboard 2.0: The New Experience
On the Xbox 360’s launch day when I first turned on my console, I remember thinking very clearly to myself that the Dashboard was going to be inadequate as time moved on. Being the professional designer that I am (you did know that, right?) I had concocted several solutions in my head that could potentially solve the problems that I foresaw.
Never in my wildest dreams did I image that they’d implement an entirely different front end interface!
I can’t say that I necessarily love it, but we really don’t know a lot about it yet. I know that significantly more information is coming and I’m fully intent on reserving judgment until then. Primarily, I want to know how it’s going to benefit the gamer enthusiast in me beyond 8 person partying in the dashboard. While neat, I can’t see myself using this very often (if ever).
What we really need to see is how this system will make getting around easier. I’ll tell you, from my limited exposure to it so far I would imagine it would make navigating your content harder. But, like I said, we really don’t know anything about it yet and we’ll have to wait for Microsoft to reveal more in greater detail.
Avatars
Cool? I guess? Can I dress him up in COG armour from Gears of War? I don’t know. This is obviously aimed at making the console more mainstream friendly and, while I’m on board with that, I hope they take the opportunity to expand the experience well beyond the horribly realized Miis.
Another important question that I’m curious to have answered is how these new Avatars will be monetized. Obviously paying for new shirts and whatnot is the equivalent of paying for gamerpics so I guess we’ll see that. But will they take it further.
Here’s another question. What’s going to happen to gamercards on Xbox.com and the rest of the internet? If gamerpics are going optional, will there be a backend system to essentially convert avatars into gamerpics. I guess only time will tell.
NetFlix, NBC, Universal
I’m pretty sure none of these apply to Canada so I’m not really getting worked up over them. The Canadian video marketplace is the equivelent of a bad joke (a very expensive one at that) which I’ve pretty much ignored up to this point. What I really want to see is the price reduced and the content signifiacntly expanded.
Games
This is what it all comes down to for me. Everything they showed was pretty much on my must-buy list. Fallout 3, Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Rock Band 2 and (of course) Final Fantasy XIII. There was lots of news and lots of new features announced. They’re all great and fantastic and I’ll be sure they’ll add to the experience.
A few of the more casual or mainstream games announced will also more than likely find their way into my living room. Maranda and I have quite a few non-gamer friends and games like Scene It have been a hit in the past.
Game Over
Now that we’re all said and done I think it’s safe to say that Microsoft is delivering a little something for everyone. Will the new mainstream focused dashboard deliver a better experience for the core gamer? That’s still up in the air. Regardless of whether it’s a hit or miss, at least we’ll have some fantastic games to play.
RSS
It really is too bad that our Video Marketplace turned out to be what it was. I think Greed was the main killer, and I think we really need better competition in Canada so that Multimedia producers take us more seriously. What would make the Xbox 360 that much better is access to Hulu from the 360.
Too bad Canada isn’t really able to strike a deal with Rogers or something and get an enhanced Rogers-On-Demand experience right through the 360. That would be pretty cool as well. Unfortunately, Microsoft has a contract with Bell in regards to MediaRoom on the 360, and they are holding back the technology.
As for avatars, I’m sure some of their items you put on them may be a replacement gamer pic when condensed down or something, but that is purely speculation. I wonder if our Avatars will be driving around our interface in the promotional car of the week. BMWs, Chevys, a Yaris…. Maybe that’s going to be the new advert scheme instead of Free games that people never want to play….
But, I like the new interface in a way, gives it that Vista look and feel. Who knows, maybe part of this interface is set to work with the rumoured motion controllers, and they just weren’t ready to show that yet? With 2010 being the launch of Windows 7, maybe the Xbox 360 will have a ‘touch’ like interface?
Only time will tell….
I’ve watched a few video’s and seen a few more screen shots and I have to admit… NOW I’m starting to get impressed. The way they implemented the old themes looks really sharp.
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