OK, now the designs in back look hot. I'm in. I'm so in. Yes.

The Magnificen7

Looks like a bit of zune has rubbed off on the new inteface.

wetworker

so long as it doesn't cost "ms points" (what I meant to say in my earlier post) I won't try and kill anyone...

So does anyone else think that clubbing ballmer with a lead pipe would be supremely gratifying?

bpapa9013

@bpapa9013: I can totally expect this or better yet, for all the "Collector Edition" versions of games will offer shirts/gear specific to avatar. I would love to have a Halo helmet or GoW grenade in hand!

brakindeep

At first I didn't like the interface but after looking at it closer, I am starting to really like it. Especially if they make it simpler to navigate through XBL. It does take a little while to scroll through all the game data online.

brakindeep

Any word on merch/extras for your Avatar? Like getting a new shirt will cost 100 gamer points or some bs like that?

bpapa9013

that was a badass press conference thats all im saying

phantam

MS is hitting the ball out of the park with what they have said so far at E3. Cant wait to see what else is on the horizon.

Oh and the securing of FF XIII...that still has my mind blown.

yashichi8bit

@qwijybo:

My money is on November.. probably to go along with the Xbox b-day n whatnot.

PlasmaMachine

Any idea on a release date other than this fall?

qwijybo

Nice. Glad to know we don't have to use the Avatars if we don't want.

PlasmaMachine

^^ Meh,their icons still need work

EnzoFX

again EPIC WIN

ZetaCrossfire

"Here's what we just learned from Microsoft in their round table discussion on Xbox Live and the new Dashboard. First, the impetus for re-designing the dash was that the current content navigation is butt ugly compared to tv"

Fixed.

I do love my 360 (when I'm not busy returning them for RROD) - I'm looking very forward to something different. I wonder if they still worked with the iconfactory as well?

bitfactory

Am I one of the few people who think this was a terrible idea? I was FINE with the blades, sure they were a big laggy, but clean that up and you've got a shining example of game system user interface. I'd have liked the new Guide panel built right ontop of the original blade system, but this whole Flip3D main dashboard nonsense? It just looks bad... The avatars especially make me wonder who exactly designed this thing.

Cake_Eater

so what bout those people that bought themes? i've never paid for one but i can imagine that they'd be a little angry.

juniorlikespie

Press-conference was rubbish, except some functionality and FF13 announcements. Re-design is really ugly to as well, Microsoft really needs new designers and visualizers.

hezz05

So will themes/gamerpics be an issue at all anymore?

What about the themes/picture packs people have already spent MS points on? Will there be some compensation. I like the new design, but that just seems like something that should be addressed at some point.

TheScantronman

> Hard drive gaming is mostly for saving load times.

Mostly? Anyone want bet this is here to workaround the limitations of out of space on DVD for huge games? Rumors were that the next Forza or PGR or whatever was going to be multiple discs... If it lets you copy content to the HDD, it doesn't matter how many DVD's it was on to start with...

John Gardner

Hopefully there will be a way to disable this masterfully fugly and stick with a more basic layout. Let the people who just want to get on with it have a clean non-Cfu gotta beat you in the head with graphics layout.

full.tang.halo

No damn advertisements for Mountain Due on the Dash is probably the best new feature.

Wonder what becomes of all the people that got conned into paying money for gamerpics and themes?

Scaramanga

I have to say the blade system was kind of a waste of space as far as layout. I'm glad they are moving away from that. But I'm not sure I'm feeling the kiddie interface. Unless they have a Timmy avatar...TIMMY!!

dvda

Looks heavily influenced from Apple GUIs and Nintendo.

The "white" color as neutral and more friendly and approachable is definitely meeting mass appeal.

Shame the blades look which I thought was incredibly "hardcore" looking is getting toned down a bit. Not really bad, but fine nonetheless.

Ahhh...and MS's denial of "Avatars" is officially BS.

CutePuppyz

MS just lost points with me. They saved some by making the Avatars optional, but I'd still much prefer to keep the current dashboard, and just get some new features for it.

Rhainor

I am on the fence about this. I mean there was a reason I stayed away from the wii, aside from its overly disney-ish kiddie factor, I just wanted a more robust and what seemed like an adult/hardcore system. but this "improvement" seems to bring that wii-nish somewhat to the 360, noy to mention the Apple influences. I am really not sure if it is a good or bad step I am more considered with how it will function/load on my box, will it slow it down etc... (live is a snail right now as is)

rjupiter

Avatars are optional!??! Yes! And (I think) I like the new Guide. I'm warming up to this whole redesign, but I still need to see more of it....

tophtucker

@Scaramanga: Common people do you read? It says you can use your gamerpics instead of avatars if you want to. And I bet you they will find a way to fit the themes in to so everyone that payed for them wont get pissed off.

wazups2x

Hey, look, LEGO Batman! Wait, what were we talking about again?

Purple Dave

It would have been nice for Microsoft to think outside of the box, but at least they've 'emulated' the best bits from their competitors. I'm most looking forward to the game-dumping on to the HDD. Hopefully this will cut out the racket made by the disc-drive preparing for take-off. Also it will be interesting to see how long it takes the pirates to override the 360 checking that the game being played off the HDD is the same as the disc in the drive. I reckon about as long as it took them to achieve the same thing on the PSP.

zadek

I bought a theme once. Been using it since about a week after the XBox360 launched. I'd say that I got my $1.25 worth. And yeah, I'd rather keep it somehow (I did pay for it); but I'm not going to demand a refund for something that cost less than $2 that I used for a couple years.

Baladen

Does anyone actually think that you won't have to pay for avatar content? Seriously? At best it'll be a couple items in a pack for the cost of a current gamer pic or theme.
Now, what would be cool would be if playing games unlocked content as in; get the gnome achievement in Half Life 2, get a free gnome hat for your avatar. That sort of thing.

Numerous

@peerpul: Has nothing to do with the movie. It has it's own plot line.

Mr.SithNinja

lego tumbler ftw

peerpul

@Numerous: The unlocking would be a kewl idea. As for the Avatar costs I am positive that they say it is OPTIONAL meaning you have the OPTION to buy it.

Mr.SithNinja

I have to ask... is that lego batman? If so is it a dark knight type of game?

peerpul

Wow, this is definitely awesome. I think I'm starting to like the 360 again.

That new guide is, in my opinion, the best new feature.

metalgear08

Nice Change Bill... I bet I know who your voting for. ;)

DrZippy

I hope they add the ability to fast forward and rewind streaming music via wireless network which seems like it would be pretty easy, but still isn't present.

madballermintz

Hmmm, I don't like the new interface. It seems that Microsoft is attempting to be more "Vistaey" in its new products. This new step is not exactly a good one. The screen shows that you would be scrolling like an Apple Cover Flow thing, and I don't really like that. Hopefully this will be changeable and people who like the old ones can keep using it. Call me a Luddite and say I hate change, but I'm sure others will have something similar to say about it.

@Scaramanga: I'm sure Microsoft will probably let them use the themes by not changing to the new dash.

michaelleung

Lego Dark Knight will be sweet!

Asvetic

Oh great, there goes gameplay for a bunch of my games...boosting will be even easier, and Chromehounds will be completely changed b/c u need to capture combas's in order to keep verbal contact with your squad. Thanks ms for making an eight person chat anywhere, morons.

Professor_Goat