During Monday’s Microsoft Press Conference, the company announced what they are calling the ‘New Xbox Experience.’ One would imagine that is the reason why we were system update-less this Spring, because they’re completely reimagining and revamping their user interface to something more of a Vista-esque, Zune-ish nature.

One of the main concerns that were echoed throughout the community was, “What’ll happen to all my themes and Gamerpics I spent an unreal amount of spacebucks on, Microsoft?” You now have an answer, sort of.
Major Nelson was kind enough to take some screenshots of the new XMB Dashboard in action, displaying how themes will work in the new interface, though leaving us without an answer on the Gamerpic issue. I’ll let is slide for the time being, however, as the Major gave us an inadvertent glimpse of the new Xbox Live Marketplace.

And for those of you who missed MajorNelson.com’s guest blog by Xbox Live GM Marc Whitten, he detailed some of the projected big features in the Dashboard revamp and they are as follows:

• Play from hard drive. Copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive.  Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.
• Access Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web.  Browse and purchase Marketplace content whenever you want from Xbox.com and it downloads automatically to your console.  Purchase that new map, television episode, the latest Xbox LIVE Arcade game or set up a movie to watch when you get home from work.
• Dashboard built into the new Xbox Guide.  For everyone who loves the blades interface, it’s not going away; they are now built directly in to the new Xbox guide. Every feature and option is available right from the guide.  You can even access your full games library at all times.  No matter where you are (in dash or in game), immediately call up your games played list and directly launch a game.
• LIVE Party system.  Create a party of up to eight friends, and stay with them from one game to another, or watch a Netflix movie together, or share a slideshow of your personal photos.  It works with all Xbox 360 titles, not just upcoming games.  LIVE Party allows up to eight people to chat in the dashboard, so you can meet up before playing.
• Xbox LIVE Primetime. This whole new category of games is going to give you more reasons to get online with your friends.  Games will support everything you’d expect, like Achievements and leader boards, but many of these games will include real prizes. You can invite your friends, and even set a reminder for an upcoming show.  Each game is broadcast simultaneously, so everyone is answering the same questions.  Many events will have a live host, calling the shots as they happen.
• Avatars. Your online identity started as a Gamertag - it then grew into a personalized Gamercard. Now, it has evolved even further into avatars.  You can express your style, check out new outfits and share this with the community.  Avatars will also be integrated into Xbox LIVE Arcade games, LIVE Party, as well as retail games.
• New display support. Because you asked for it, we are adding 16X10 over VGA or HDMI, and support for 1440×900 or 1680×1050.

Things sure are getting interesting in the Microsoft camp.
Source: Major Nelson and Marc Whitten

Tags: E3 08, Microsoft, Xbox-Live

• New 360 Dashboard Update is Entirely Optional
• Dragon Ball Z Announced for PS3 and Xbox 360: First Screenshots
• First Gameplay Footage & New Screenshots for Tomb Raider Underworld
• First High-Res Resistance 2 Screenshots
• First Screenshots of Batman: Arkham Asylum
• New Mercenaries 2 Screenshots
• First High-Res Resistance 2 Screenshots
• New Bionic Commando Screens and Artwork

7 Comments »