Jump to content
Home
Forum
News
Search
Create New...
Close

New Xbox Experience Hands-On

By Chili327
in XBOX

 Share

Recommended Posts

Command Master Chief

Chili327

Posted
Posted

New Xbox Experience Hands-On

 

We've seen the New Xbox Experience twice this year, at E3 2008 where Microsoft first announced the update and later at a press briefing in San Francisco. We got the opportunity to install the New Xbox Experience on a console here in the GameSpot offices three weeks before the update's official launch on November 19. We've already written about most of the new features in past previews but we can now post screenshots of everything now that Microsoft PR isn't controlling the flow of pictures.

 

 

The new dashboard interface expands out to take advantage of high-resolution displays, and menus now display more information through graphics rather than through text.

 

 

Games and movies show up with full box cover art instead of nondescript text listings.

 

 

The new menu system is a little disorienting at first when we tried to overcome years of trained menu navigation, but we got accustomed to the new menus after a few sessions. It also helped that the new Xbox Guide is a miniaturized version of the old bladed menus. Whenever we got lost, we pulled up the Guide like a trusted map.

 

It might take some exploration, but you'll find everything eventually.

 

Players can select and customize their own virtual avatars. The system randomly generates several starting models to choose from, and you can further customize your avatar from there.

 

Character customization options include physical features such as height, weight, hairstyle, and hair color. Adjustable facial features include eyes, eyebrows, mouth, lips, facial hair, and even make-up.

 

The customization menu offers several clothing and accessory options and you can also save several outfits to make it easier to swap looks.

 

Take a gamer pic of your avatar after you finish. Use the analog sticks and left bumper to strike a pose.

 

We didn't have access to the fancy 2.0 Themes we've seen in past screenshots, but the default Xbox 360 theme looks pretty nice.

 

Microsoft also wants to make it easier for players to socialize with friends on the console. Xbox Live parties allow players to join up to 7 of their friends in a group with shared chat.

 

Groups can participate in activities such as a Photo Party where party members can upload photos in real time for everyone to enjoy.

 

 

The update also includes the debut of the Community Games channel where Xbox Live users can download games developed by the XNA developer community. We only saw three games in the channel this week: Culture, Netters, and Net Rumble but we expect that list to grow rapidly at launch.

 

Our preview build allowed us to download games to the console hard disk. The transfer process took less than 10 minutes for The Orange Box. The primary benefits are decreased load times and less noise from the optical drive.

 

The Netflix channel was also fully functional in the update. The channel allows Xbox Live Gold subscribers that also have Netflix subscriptions to stream Netflix video content directly to the Xbox 360. The available content is limited to whatever is saved in your "instant queue," so you won't be able to watch regular DVD movies or television shows unless they have a streaming instant play option in Netflix.

 

We found the free Netflix application in the video marketplace. During the installation process, the program generated an activation code that we entered into the Netflix Website to associate our Netflix rental account with the Xbox Live profile. The channel will display all the items you have in you instant queue on the Netflix Website. New items added to the list from the Web page show up in the Xbox 360 channel seconds later.

 

We were pleasantly surprised by how much content was actually available in the Netflix instant watch catalog, particularly current television shows. Older movies such as Bad Boys were only available in standard definition, but newer television shows such as Heroes and 30 Rock both streamed in HD, or as high-definition as streaming Netflix content can get. The frame rates in HD were satisfactory, but we did notice some choppiness and ghosting artifacts in scenes with fast-moving action.

 

Overall the New Xbox Experience looks polished and we look forward to its official November 19 launch. The Primetime channel won't be ready then, but it should appear as an update in 2009.

 

---------------------------

 

Its a lot better with the pics.. ;D

http://www.gamespot.com/hardware/blogs/hardware-insider/909185655/26652719/new-xbox-experience-hands-on.html?tag=nl.e577

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
Mentor

Xx-CHURCHY-xX

Posted
Posted

It comes out the 19th

 

but I already have it.. I signed up for the early releases aka "beta" but it's the actual entire update, just early. I got the invite yesterday and downloaded it today.. I wish I was in the first wave a few weeks ago but beggers can't be choosers.

 

This thing is awesome.. it's so much more organized and a lot easier to navigate. Things run very smoothly and the guide button is your ticket to EVERYTHING. The avatars are pretty cool, I guess, though I have yet to use the party feature since no one on my friends list has the NXE yet.

 

Everything is made a lot easier by this update.. I'm enjoying it very much so far. Checking your details for every game right off the dashboard is pretty badass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Command Master Chief

-Rooster-

Posted
Posted
Chili-Palmer ]

Must've been mistaken for "PS HOME" ;D

 

Xbox doesn't work like PlayStation.. it just works. So does PS3?

 

Sorry Chilli, when HOME comes out, Xbox will be owned. No ammount of updates to the box will mean anything. I predict when HOME comes out that you will subtly make your way over to PS3. :-*

 

Man I was hoping that we would see shili on PS3 too. :-\

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Command Master Chief

BigMoneyNacku

Posted
    •  Staff
Posted
Chili-Palmer ]

Must've been mistaken for "PS HOME" ;D

 

Xbox doesn't work like PlayStation.. it just works. So does PS3?

 

Sorry Chilli, when HOME comes out, Xbox will be owned. No ammount of updates to the box will mean anything. I predict when HOME comes out that you will subtly make your way over to PS3. :-*

 

 

I find that hard to believe considering PS3 has released ZERO games and/or features that work upon release. ::)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Command Master Chief

Chili327

Posted
  • Author
Posted
BigMoneyNacku ]
Chili-Palmer ]

Must've been mistaken for "PS HOME" ;D

 

Xbox doesn't work like PlayStation.. it just works. So does PS3?

 

Sorry Chilli, when HOME comes out, Xbox will be owned. No ammount of updates to the box will mean anything. I predict when HOME comes out that you will subtly make your way over to PS3. :-*

 

 

I find that hard to believe considering PS3 has released ZERO games and/or features that work upon release. ::)

Totally.!!

 

I cant believe a level headed guy like War-Pig just said that..!? (in true fanboy fashion)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Collaborator

Arcaicviper

Posted
Posted
Chili-Palmer ]

Must've been mistaken for "PS HOME" ;D

 

Xbox doesn't work like PlayStation.. it just works. So does PS3?

 

Sorry Chilli, when HOME comes out, Xbox will be owned. No ammount of updates to the box will mean anything. I predict when HOME comes out that you will subtly make your way over to PS3. :-*

LMFAO ;D ;D ;D...LMFAO ;D ;D ;D you wish, it probably wont even work without around a thousand patchs!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Proficient

WARPIG

Posted
Posted
Chili-Palmer ]
BigMoneyNacku ]
Chili-Palmer ]

Must've been mistaken for "PS HOME" ;D

 

Xbox doesn't work like PlayStation.. it just works. So does PS3?

 

Sorry Chilli, when HOME comes out, Xbox will be owned. No ammount of updates to the box will mean anything. I predict when HOME comes out that you will subtly make your way over to PS3. :-*

 

 

I find that hard to believe considering PS3 has released ZERO games and/or features that work upon release. ::)

Totally.!!

 

I cant believe a level headed guy like War-Pig just said that..!? (in true fanboy fashion)

 

 

;D ;)

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Command Master Chief

CDBS14

Posted
Posted
BigMoneyNacku ]
Chili-Palmer ]

Must've been mistaken for "PS HOME" ;D

 

Xbox doesn't work like PlayStation.. it just works. So does PS3?

 

Sorry Chilli, when HOME comes out, Xbox will be owned. No ammount of updates to the box will mean anything. I predict when HOME comes out that you will subtly make your way over to PS3. :-*

 

 

I find that hard to believe considering PS3 has released ZERO games and/or features that work upon release. ::)

 

RESISTANCE2 WORKED BETTER THAN GOW2 ON RELEASE.

 

don't say no, because to this day it takes forever to start a match on gears2, the matchmaking needs am upgrade.

 

and R2 has 30v30 NO LAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Command Master Chief

Chili327

Posted
  • Author
Posted
CDBS14 ]

RESISTANCE2 WORKED BETTER THAN GOW2 ON RELEASE.

 

don't say no' date=' because to this day it takes forever to start a match on gears2, the matchmaking needs am upgrade.

 

and R2 has 30v30 NO LAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[/quote']Good example, but i haven't played either, so i cant confirm or deny. ;D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
 Share
Go to topic listing

Military including Active, Reserve, Veteran and Dependents get 50% off of our Spec Ops Premium Experience

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By visiting this site you agree to our Privacy Policy and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search