Microsoft Allows You To “Free Your Avatar”

By Joe Haygood | December 15, 2008

Today, Microsoft announced a new way for Xbox Live members to interact with their newly minted avatars, and no, it is not another snow globe application (what the hell is that all about anyway).

Nope, the new initiative is called “Free Your Avatar” and with this new idea, comes a website, where you can take your avatar out of the Xbox Live arena, and put him into dektop wallpaper, screensavers, etc.  You will even be able to create festive cards that you can send to friends and relatives.

Now there are two problems I have with this initiative.  The first is that the new “Free Your Avatar” site works about as well as Xbox Live the day after Christmas.  Yes, so far this morning, I have not been able to try any of these “great, festive activities”, because the site will not load, and has not been able to load for the last fifteen minutes I have been writing this article.  Secondly, the idea is idiotic in practice.  Wallpapers I can understand, but why a screensaver?  So I can see my avatar dressed in the same outfit over and over, while cavorting on my screen?  Yeah, that sounds entertaining.  And don’t get me started on the cards, because I am sure that my in-laws would love nothing more than a Christmas Card with my avatar on it.

If anyone ever gets on the site this morning, let me know how it actually works.  I lack the patience to see if it will ever load.