Your newly created Avatar shows up on your profile at Xbox.com
For those of you that didn’t know, the New Xbox Experience is now live and will automatically download to your 360 the next time you turn it on. The major features of the update are:
1. New Dashboard Interface
2. Avatars and Avatar integration in upcoming Live Arcade games
3. Xbox LIVE Party – up to eight friends in a voice chatroom that can also join games together
4. Netflix instant streaming in HD
5. Fully install any game on the HDD to speed up loading
6. Delete any games with 0 Gamerscore on your profile
I downloaded it this morning before I left for work and gave it a quick look. After a quick installation, there’s a cool dramatic opening that makes you feel like you’re about to experience something great. Before you get into the new Dashboard you are forced to create an Avatar, which I hastily did in 5 minutes. Not as much detail in terms of facial design compared to the Mii’s on the Wii (you can’t move facial features around on the face), but it’s ok. Thankfully, you have an option of either keeping your Gamerpic or using your Avatar as your new Gamerpic. I stuck with my current Gamerpic.
After I created my Avatar I just sort of browsed through the new Dashboard and noticed that it seems like there’s just a lot more advertising. It’s like Microsoft made everything more compact in order to throw more ads onto the screen! To be honest I was underwhelmed with the update considering I was pretty excited before it released. I guess the biggest thing will be the Xbox LIVE party feature, which I will still have to test out. I’m still skeptical though that the party feature will get you and all of your friends on one team. Only one way to find out though I suppose!
New Xbox Experience [Xbox.com]
