I just sat through G4’s live stream of the Microsoft press conference and first of all… gg Microsoft! Holy crap what an unexpectedly impressive showing. Despite all the crap you’ve put me through as a customer, I feel the pull… I feel the draw… I was genuinely excited at a lot of stuff I saw. One thing stood out (and still needs a bit of clarification), but is it true? Are we going to see the end of the (in my opinion) God awful dashboard interface?!?! Oh please be true. I don’t care if it ends up looking like the offspring of a Leisure Suit Larry/Hoyle Card games avatar convention meets Windows Vista’s Flip 3D Window changer.
It looks like Microsoft’s 3D avatar setup is being kicked into overdrive as we’ve been shown Rare developed it and it’s being incorporated into a lot of different facets of the system and games. It looks like Nintendo’s false-start on pushing Miis into casual games may be picked up by Microsoft and run with. It looks like Home’s promise of media sharing will be picked up by Microsoft and run with. Microsoft looks to be sanding down all the rough edges of their bladed dashboard and are relaunching the 360’s interface completely… this is no Fall Update, this is a Fall Upgrade! I’m sure the details will continue to trickle in until the upgrade arrives.
It looks like they’ve finally realized the 360’s Dashboard was getting outgrown as the system matured and evolved. While I’m not entirely sure I’m excited for their new interface, dubbed Xbox Experience, it’s clear they’re taking the edge off their existing dashboard. They’re trying VERY hard to appeal to the consumers currently uninterested in their system. I think they know existing customers will go through 5 layers of cute to chainsaw a Locust in half, but they’ve finally realized grandma won’t navigate 6 dashboard blades and various ups/downs/lefts/rights to get to Uno.
Kudos Microsoft. It may not be a slam dunk step in the right direction, but you get mega-props from me for at least realizing a step NEEDED to be taken. I’m hoping I didn’t misunderstand their presentation and the traditional dashboard is simply one more “channel” offered… once again… Microsoft has taken Nintendo’s “channel” approach and run with it. Microsoft has been criticized heavily in the past for their “me too” approach to things, but ultimately… even if you’re 2nd… if you do it right who cares?!
One thing’s for sure, I’m excited as hell to see what Nintendo and Sony have to say. The bar has been set… and set high. Netflix partnership, Final Fantasy XIII, actual uses for the Vision Cam. Nice showing Microsoft!
![[Post to Twitter]](http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this-small.png)
Tweet This
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
6 responses so far ↓
1 Ratchet8clank // Jul 14, 2008 at 2:53 pm
what do you mean they set the bar? they had people dancing, announced mii’s, i mean avatars, and got 3 exclusive songs for guitar hero world tour, although the dashboard upgrade may do it some good, i definately did NOT see that as very impressive.
2 BloodFever // Jul 14, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Am i alone in not liking the new desktop…
It just looks…so…i dunno..babyish and horrible.
And wasted space was what was moaned about before…well thsi wastes even more space by the looks of it.
And “avatars” ugh : /
Excited about the games though
Not all doom and gloom
3 Shane86 // Jul 14, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Sony and Nintendo are going to have to have some pretty damn big tricks up their sleeves to match this. I want a Dancing Don Mattrick avatar!
4 Kiltman67 // Jul 14, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I don’t really see any problems with the dashboard. It loads on the live screen, go right and you’re in the marketplace, go left towards your arcade/demo games and media, then just a few button presses and you’re sorted.
Only thing that irritates me is the amount of time it takes to load your games list.
5 Sean "Rothbart" Workman // Jul 14, 2008 at 4:53 pm
@Ratchet8clank: Personally, it’s the little things I liked the most about today. Shoving the dashboard into the dark little corner it deserves, a Netflix partnership, (via Major Nelson’s website) Copying games in their entirety to your hard drive for quicker/quieter play, gameshows with real prizes (and yes, I realize that realistically, I’ll never win anything worth winning in one of those games if I ever even get to play.)
While I will most likely enjoy Gears 2, Galaga Legions and more Portal, I personally couldn’t give two poops about Fallout 3, Resident Evil 5, or Final Fantasy XIII coming to the 360.
I was left scratching my head at You’re In The Movies and Lips (not in concept, I own Singstar PS3, but in execution — how can it _really_ work with your own music? Where to the charts, lyrics, and what you’re watching come from?)
Overall I think my initially SUPER LOW expectations are what set this presentation up as a “win” in my book. I wasn’t expecting anything worthwhile and came away with several things.
6 ThomasJay // Jul 15, 2008 at 5:32 am
My god, when was the last time Micro$oft had an original idea of their own? Don’t get me wrong, I love my 360, but this is ridiculous. I hate it.
I’d better not have to use that stupid avatar (unless I can buy a Darth Vader helmet).
Leave a Comment