Microsoft Allows You To “Free Your Avatar”

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.

NXE: Avatars to be used on some existing XBLA games

Microsoft announced today via Gamerscore Blog that in addition to upcoming games such as 1 vs. 100 that will make use of the Avatars service after the New Xbox Experience launches, some older Xbox Live Arcade games will receive software updates that will add support for Microsoft’s somewhat controversial avatars.

Uno, Bomberman Live, Hardwood Hearts, and Hardwood Spades will all receive free updates to support the Avatars. Gamerscore Blog also teases of a brand new game launching for XBLA that will be the first game to launch with Avatar support built-in. More details on this mysterious title are promised in the next few weeks. Lastly, the retail game Scene It? Box Office Smash that launched a couple of weeks ago will be updated when NXE launches to incorporate Avatars.

Gamerscore Blog via Joystiq

Major Nelson Shows Off Xbox 360 Avatars

Larry Hryb, of Major Nelson fame, has put up a new video showing off the Avatar experience that is coming to the Xbox 360 this fall.  You can see the creation and customization process, that will go into the Avatar experience.  While I am not a fan of the Avatars, I thought the large array of customizations were cool, although I don’ think we will see anything like we have on the Wii.

Also, I did spy the Gamer Picture in the My Xbox customizations, which makes me think that the Gamerpics will live on in the new experience.

Aeropodcast #41 - E3 Wrap Up and Thoughts with April May

Joe, Joe and latecomer George, talk about all the stuff that went down at E3, including the Xbox 360 interface, the lack of shock announcements, the wtf was that Nintendo conference and more. Stand out games for some of us included Fallout 3, Little Big Planet, Resistance 2, Final Fantasy XIII, the lack of the Halo announcement from Bungie and even Dance Cheer Squad USA. Well, maybe not that last one, but the rest are all great looking at this point.

As always, thanks to Mixmaster Stephen for putting the game together, and to Revolution Void for our bumper music. You can find Revolution Void at www.revolutionvoid.com.

Download the podcast from here or subscribe to the podcast using one of the services below: Also make sure to review us on iTunes and Digg the podcast.

Xbox Live Fall Update

Get ready for a whole new learning curve this Fall on your Xbox 360. Yesterday, during the Microsoft demonstration at E3, a truckload of new features came to fruition: The most obvious addition is the 3D interface which I quite like and is somewhat consistent with Media Center and Vista but still has its own flare. Then there’s the custom Avatar creator which some of you may feel borrows from other well known consoles, Netflix integration (Will other Countries get this feature?), Xbox Live Prime Time Channel and many, many more. Oh yeah and the guide with the blades is still around:

Microsoft E3 2008 Press Event

The show just started with the new spokesman of the company, Dave McKitrich, I think.  I did not get the name down fast enough. 

We start with a Fallout 3 skit.  Straight of of a 1950’s instructional video, we have a commercial for a space in the Vaults, common to Fallout 3.  Todd Howard just came out from Bethesda.  He said that a new trailer should be out in a couple of hours.  YAY, actual game footage.  Wow, this footage is smooth.  The enclave is still broadcasting footage.  The PIPBoy looks awesome.  You can pick up radio signals to play background music and sound.  That dude just exploded into pieces.  Very violent.  VATS looks really good, but could use some work.  Over 100 hours of gameplay.  Active combat seems to work well.  The game remembers your behaviors, just like the original game.  The enclave seems to not like you.  Mini nukes rule all.  DLC will be substantial for Fallout 3 and will be exclusive to Xbox 360 and Games for Windows.

June Takehashi (spelling is probably off), developer of Resident Evil 5 is showing off the new footage.  It is the first time a Resident Evil game is showing up on a Microsoft console.  Definitely has a Resident Evil 4 feel.  Chris is in Africa to investigate the spread of the zombie infection.  He is part of a new agency, the DFAA.  Online co-op is shown off.  The lady backing up Chris is Sheva Alomar (Speling may be off).  In co-op, you approach the game from different angles to solve puzzles it looks like.  They show Sheva shooting out a lock so Chris could continue on his journey.  The guys are being rushed to finish the demo.  Crazy chainsaw guys shows up just as they end the demo.  The game looks good.  Resident Evil will go on sale worldwide on Friday the 13th, March 2009.

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Rumor: Xbox 360 Will Have Mii Inspired Avatars

Xbox 360 Fanboy got some information on a new Xbox 360 Mii like system.

Giving the rumor more credibility is that the information contained in the image, supposedly taken from an online survey, conforms to details recently given to Joystiq by a trusted source. These “Xbox Avatars” certainly look to do everything that Miis do and more.

This is not surprising. It’s pretty obvious that Microsoft and Sony are looking at what Nintendo is doing and making their own version of Mii, the Wii mote, and other Wii features. Personally I think this would be so awesome if this rumor comes out to be true because I’m Wiiless.

Source: Xbox360 Fanboy